The Goldstrike pressure oxidation plant process and engineering design, construction and commissioning

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 85, No. 956, 1992

K.S. Fraser, Kilborn Inc., Toronto, Ontario H.J.H. Pieterse, Barrick Goldstrike Mines Inc., Elko, Nevada K.G. Thomas, American Barrick Resources Corporation, Toronto, Ontario

A pressure oxidation plant to pretreat refractory sulphide ore at the Goldstrike plant in Nevada, was commissioned in early February 1990. The plant, with a nominal capacity of 1363 t/d, was commissioned over a one-week period and achieved design capacity and availability within ten weeks an unusually short period for a plant of this complexity. The pressure oxidation process is conducted under elevated temperature and pressure conditions, and in a corrosive environment. These conditions demand that the process and engineering design of the plant be carried out in a much more sophisticated and detailed manner than is normally required in a conventional gold plant. This paper provides an account of the process and engineering design of the Goldstrike pressure oxidation plant with special emphasis on the design of the vessels, slurry pumps, piping, valves, and control systems.

Mots Clés: Mineral Processing, Goldstrike pressure oxidation plant, Pressure oxidation plant, Refractory sulphide ore, Process design, Engineering design, Gold, Nevada.