The installation of the OnLine Gold Analyser (OLGA) and Carbon Scout took place earlier this year as part of the METS Ignited project, a collaboration between Gold Fields, Orway IQ, CSIRO, Curtin University and Gekko Systems. This collaborative project that brings together a range of solutions will revolutionise the industry’s ability to measure gold circuit inventory and recovery in real time, move it into the digital world and provide opportunity for full automation. The project started in October 2020 and is due to finalise in December 2021.
The preliminary data of the OLGA and Carbon Scout at Gruyere is positive as the automated sampling systems display similar results in comparison with the manual samples. Results are displayed further down the article.
The installation crew (Gekko and Gruyere)
“A great project showcasing many groups and companies coming together to make a paradigm shift. Matt Dixon our project manager on site and Ross Dankbaar our project superintendent along with KPP did a fantastic job coordinating, designing and installing the system in some challenging times. Looking forward to finishing off the commissioning process and seeing the results.”
Tim Hewitt, General Manager – Gruyere
OLGA is a world first onstream analyser designed to continuously read low grade gold grades in slurries and solutions, giving operations the ability to see and control their plants in real time. The alternative traditional sampling methods involve significant delays – of up to one or two days for feedback. Preliminary data from the OLGA at Gruyere is displayed below.
OLGA (orange “RealTime” chart) reads Au ppm every 10mins. Manual samples (Lab Ass) were collected 3 times a day by Met Techs via Aqua regia. The data indicates strong correlation between the automated OLGA and manual assay data.
The Carbon Scout is a self-contained, ground-level sampling system which will improve carbon concentration measurements in carbon-in-leach and carbon-in-pulp circuits. Uniquely, multiple other data points include slurry density, pH, DO and gold loading on carbon. Data profiles are provided in every tank, every hour. The data below displays readings from the Carbon Scout vs Manual samples at Gruyere for a full month.
The data shows an average difference between the automated Carbon Scout and manual samples of 1.5 g/l. The darker blue bar chart indicates Carbon Scout results. There is a strong correlation in the automated Carbon Scout and manual data collection.
The combination of OLGA and Carbon Scout, supported by the Gekko Sample Delivery System means all CIL/CIP sampling can be done conveniently and safely at ground level. Each tank is sampled by a pumpless delivery system. All samples in the plant including leach feed and tails will be delivered through this system to potentially alleviate the need for expensive cross cut samples.
The Gekko Carbon Scout and OLGA at Gruyere
The team of Orway IQ will deliver the data through the Trinity program. With the MillROC data system and the Gekko technical team utilising the data for system analytics. Real time dashboards will display the data.
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