The evolution of the Cadia 40-foot SAG mill to treat the Cadia East orebody: a case study of incremental change leading to operational stability

T. Waters, A. Rice, J. Seppelt, J. Bubnich, B. Akerstrom

14th AusIMM Mill Operators' Conference 2018, 29-31 August, Brisbane

ABSTRACT

The Concentrator 1 plant at Cadia transitioned from Cadia Hill open pit to the Cadia East block cave ore body in 2013. As a result of this change, major plant upgrades were required to achieve the desired throughput while treating more competent ore. The 40-foot (40') SAG mill now receives a feed of predominantly high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) product with a minor component of secondary crushed ore at a combined F80 of 17mm. This significant reduction in feed size to the SAG mill has markedly changed the operating characteristics of the mill, which has been extensively studied since commissioning in 1998.

This paper examines the operation of the 40' SAG mill in its new configuration in the Concentrator 1 circuit. Operational stability is highlighted as a significant factor in delivering mill performance, which has been achieved through several key improvement projects utilising a theory of constraints framework. Five years of successful project implementation has progressively lifted the maximum processing rate of Concentrator 1 from the design estimate of 2455 t/hr to above 3000 t/hr.

AUTHOR DETAILS

T. Waters (1), A. Rice (2), J. Seppelt (3), J. Bubnich (4), B. Akerstrom (5)

1. MAusIMM, Senior Plant Metallurgist, Newcrest, Cadia Valley Operations, Orange, NSW, Australia. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2. MAusIMM, Short Interval Control Specialist, Newcrest, Lihir Operations, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

3. MAusIMM, Ore Treatment Manager, Newcrest, Cadia Valley Operations, Orange, NSW, Australia. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

4. MAusIMM, Plant Metallurgist, Newcrest, Cadia Valley Operations, Orange, NSW, Australia. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

5. MAusIMM, Metallurgical Superintendent, Newcrest, Cadia Valley Operations, Orange, NSW, Australia. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

CEEC acknowledges and thanks The Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for organising the 14^thAusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference (MillOps 2018). 

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