New autoclave officially opened at Campbell mine

Gold producer Placer Dome (TSE) officially opened its new pressure oxidation plant at the Campbell mine near Red Lake, Ont., on Oct. 3.

The new autoclave facility will provide a major environmental boost for the mine, which has been in operation since the late 1940s and which has been using a flotation-calcine-leach system to treat the refractory arsenical ore. The pressure oxidation system, applying Sherritt Gordon technology which is replacing the roasting plant, was started up during the summer. Total cost of the project was about $24 million.

By switching to autoclaving, Placer will avoid emitting sulphur dioxide into the air in the treatment process. Other advantages include the fixing of arsenic in an insoluble form and the immobilization of heavy metals. The Campbell mine produced 254,998 oz. gold in 1990 at a cash cost of US$166 per oz.