Metso From Ore to Metals: Metso Outotec Offers Complete Solution to Recover Precious & Base Metals from Cengiz Mazidagi

An innovative design and collaborative installation allowed Metso Outotec to construct first-of-its-kind extraction technologies that set the standard of delivery success in Turkey.

The Eti Bakır Mazıdağı site is located in Mazıdağı, Turkey, and belongs to Cengiz Holding. The Cengiz group has been investing in infrastructure projects dating back to the late 1970’s. Their investments in the energy and mining industries, along with other corporate activities in the area, have enabled Cengiz Holding to grow into a family of 35 companies and affiliates, with an annual revenue exceeding 5 billion USD. Due to their involvement in various construction projects, they are the only Cobalt producer in Turkey, and globally, one of the largest Cobalt producers.

The site became aware that there were economically viable precious and base metals remaining inside the calcine of the roasting in Mazıdağı, but were struggling to recover them. This is when Metso Outotec stepped in to support the customer, from concept planning to realization. The collaboration between the local personnel, the business line and the product line colleagues allowed Metso Outotec to offer the optimal solution for the customer’s needs. Due to this innovation, the site was able to recover the promised amount of metals. Eventually, the process became an orchestra of plants seamlessly working together to concur their shared goal.

CHALLENGES

• Recovery of precious metals & minerals from pyrite concentrate

• Optimum technology selection for effective Leaching & extraction

• Beneficiation process selection for limited & complex phosphate deposit in the project site

An Established History Together

The customer relationship that Metso Outotec has with Cengiz Holding is not a new one – the companies have been consistently working together for over 50 years. Historically, Metso Outotec has had an installed base in the Eti Bakir concentrator and smelter sites since 1970.

The latest investments of Cengiz Holding is almost a showcase of Metso Outotec technologies. In every major site that belongs to them, there is a complete delivery of a greenfield concentrator or a metals refining site.

With regards to the Eti Bakır Mazıdağı site, Metso Outotec has delivered multiple items already, such as a phosphate beneficiation plant, roasting plant, off gas cleaning , sulfuric acid plant, and also a Leaching, SX and EW plant for the recovery of Co, Zn, Cu. Considering the complete size of the complex, Metso Outotec deliveries comprise of roughly 60% of the whole operation and is thus the heart of the main process sites.

It was this pre-established trust built between the two that presented Metso Outotec with the task to recover the precious metals. Osman Akay - Solution Sales Director for Metals BA, highlights the importance of our successful history working together that led to this opportunity.

“Our metal solution technologies, references and successful track record come from the previous installations at their other sites,” says Osman. “The unique solution was our ability to combine different technologies to work in harmony for such a complex site.”

SOLUTION

• Roasting plant for pyrite concentrates

• Gas cleaning & sulfuric acid plants

• Calcine leaching & solvent extraction plants

• AG Mill, Thickeners, Filters & Courier online analyzers for Phosphate Beneficiation Plant

Rising Up to the Occasion

The same feed that they process in Mazidagi was utilised by another company in Turkey, which led to the site becoming aware of the remaining precious metals. Unfortunately for the other company, it proved to be too much of a challenge to recover. However, with a first-of-its-kind innovation, Metso Outotec believed in creating the right solution for them.

The customer wanted to recover metals like Co, Zn, Cu from pyrite, whilst also wanting to produce fertilizer by utilizing the phosphate resources. The first challenge they faced was that there was a phosphate reserve in an abandoned area, where human resources is challenging no matter what operational plans there are. On the other hand, there is the pyrite resource that is far away from phosphate and also carries other valuable metals. The main questions Metso Outotec supported the customer with was: How can we bring these together, what can we recover from this combination, and what technologies are applicable?