Gekko Systems launched the InLine Leach Reactor (ILR) in 1997 as the world’s first commercial intensive leach production unit. Originally designed to treat high volumes of concentrate from the IPJ as a continuous unit, the ILR was converted to batch operation and found wide-spread application treating batch centrifugal concentrates in gold mines around the world. The batch ILR is particularly suited for high-grade low tonnage (less than 20 tonnes per batch), whilst its counterpart, the continuous ILR, is suited to treat higher-volume and lower-grade concentrates (from half a tonne an hour upwards).
The ILR is a world-leading technology. Its operation was proven in Australia but it was Africa that first embraced the technology and in particular, recognised the security benefits of replacing a shaking table with an enclosed intensive leaching unit.
Since its original conception the unit now treats both coarse and fine concentrate feeds and leaches both silver and gold. The very first prototype, R&D ILR is still installed at Henty Gold Mine in Tasmania.
The first installation of a commercial ILR unit was in Africa at Ranger Minerals, Abosso project. This year a new generation ILR3000 batch automatic unit was installed and successfully commissioned with recoveries of 98-99% achieved on start-up.
Currently, over 100 units are installed worldwide into all major gold regions of the world. The ILR has the largest installation base and treatment of concentrate volumes globally. Intensive cyanidation has become a standard inclusion for engineered gold processing plants and increasingly common for silver.
Gekko conducts intensive leach test protocols on ore bodies amenable to leaching. This protocol was developed specifically for the capability of the InLine Leach Reactor.
