Mass Copper Mass Copper Mass Copper -600 +300 0% 1% 35% 87% 65% 13% -300 +212 2% 3% 67% 91% 33% 9% -212 +106 16% 22% 11% 61% 89% 39% -106 +53 16% 22% 2% 37% 98% 63% -53 66% 51% 4% 29% 96% 71% Total 100% 100% 6% 40% 94% 60% The test achieved an overall copper recovery of 40% at a product mass pull of 6%. Because this test simulates the NovaCell™ treating the entire rougher tails stream, no material bypassed the CPF to the tailings thickener. Thus, the results are directly comparable to the product outputs shown in ¡Error! No se encuentra el origen de la referencia. and ¡Error! No se encuentra el origen de la referencia., indicating a higher overall copper recovery with a lower product mass pull. This performance was achieved without desliming or separate fine and coarse flotation stages. By treating all particle sizes within a single device, the NovaCell™ offers a clear opportunity to simplify circuit design, reduce processing complexity, and lower both capital and operating costs in mineral concentrators. Case Study 3: NovaCell pilot plant trail on Mantos Blancos rougher tailings material The Mantos Blancos mine is a copper-silver deposit located in the northern region of Chile and is owned by Capstone Copper (Capstone). In 2023, Capstone wanted to investigate NovaCell™ in a tailing scavenging application and provided a dry sample of the plant tailings for testing. At a feed grade of 0.17% Cu, a copper recovery of 74% was achieved at an enrichment ratio of 5.1 after 45 minutes of flotation. Recovery of both coarse and fine copper particles were observed indicating strong economic potential for the NovaCell™. In 2024, a continuous NovaCell™ pilot plant trial commenced for a six-month period. The primary objective was to confirm the metallurgical performance at pilot-scale. Capstone Copper defined the performance criteria as follows: • stage copper recovery > 40%, adjusted for residence time and the expected particle size distribution. • product upgrade ratio > 5.0 • product mass pull < 12% To facilitate quick installation and operational efficiency, the NovaCell™ pilot plant was designed within two 20-foot shipping containers, as illustrated in ¡Error! No se encuentra el origen de la referencia.. The plant was fully instrumented and fitted with an automated control system, enabling continuous and stable operation throughout the campaign. The nominal feed rate was ~1.7 (dry) tph.
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