The Elements of Innovation Discovered
The Elements of Innovation Discovered
Mining accelerator to fund up to 30% of gold leach pilot plant Metal Tech News - November 21, 2022
During testing carried out in 2020, EnviroMetal Technologies recovered 93.2% of the gold from a two-metric-ton concentrate sample at the 3 Aces project in Canada's Yukon.
Canada's Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator has awarded EnviroMetal Technologies Inc. up to C$1.74 million toward the commercialization of a much more environmentally sound alternative to cyanide for leaching gold from ore, concentrates, and other feedstocks.
EnviroMetal's potentially game-changing metals recovery technology is based on a proprietary blend of five ingredients that are FDA approved for human consumption that can dissolve gold contained in ores, concentrates, and recycled electronics. The dissolved aurum is then recovered with a diamond-based electrochemical process developed by the British Columbia-based company.
Independent testing has shown that the EnviroMetal solution is faster and more effective than cyanide at leaching gold from ore and concentrates.
Further details from SGS testing of EnviroMetal gold recovery technology can be read at An EnviroMetal alternative to cyanide in the December 8, 2021 edition of Metal Tech News.
A clean technology that could not only replace cyanide for gold recovery but has the potential to outperform the toxic and corrosive chemical is a perfect fit for MICA – reducing environmental risk and long-term liabilities is one of three primary mandates for this mine technology funding initiative.
EnviroMetal's pilot plant was one of 16 projects to receive a total of nearly C$12 million during the inaugural round of MICA funding.
"We are excited that from over one hundred funding submissions received by MICA, a diverse panel of mining professionals representing a broad range of mining interests, recognized the potential of EnviroMetal's technology to displace existing gold recovery technologies, and chose to contribute funding for the next phase of our technology commercialization," said EnviroMetal Technologies President and CEO Wayne Moorhouse.
MICA is contributing 30% of the estimated C$5.8 million cost to engineer, construct, and operate a pilot plant to demonstrate the viability of EnviroMetal technology at a commercial scale. This piloting project is expected to get underway in the coming weeks and run for 2.5 years.
"We offer an economically superior and sustainable option for many gold miners and the funding contributions from MICA will accelerate our work with mining partners to demonstrate technology readiness at commercial scale," Moorhouse added. "Participation in the MICA Network will also give us broader exposure within the mining industry and provide additional non-financial support."
MICA was created in 2021 through an initial C$40 million federal investment from Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund. Led by the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation, MICA Network brings together stakeholders from a wide range of fields to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies to make the mining sector more productive and sustainable.
Upon awarding its first C$11.5 million to EnviroMetal and 15 other applicants, MICA is calling for proposals for its second round of funding of up to C$18 million to accelerate made-in-Canada technologies that make mining more productive and sustainable.
A complete list of the companies and technologies that received MICA funding can be read in a Nov.16 announcement by the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator Network.
With more than 16 years of covering mining, Shane is renowned for his insights and and in-depth analysis of mining, mineral exploration and technology metals.
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