1 General Albion Process Description

The Albion Process is a combination of ultrafine grinding and oxidative leaching at atmospheric
pressure. The feed to the Albion Process is a concentrate containing base or precious metals, and
the Albion Process is used to oxidise the sulphide minerals in the concentrate and liberate these
metals for recovery by conventional means.

The Albion Process technology was developed in 1994 by Xstrata PLC and is patented worldwide.
There are three Albion Process plants currently in operation. Two plants treat a zinc sulphide
concentrate and are located in Spain (4,000 tpa zinc metal) and Germany (18,000 tpa zinc metal). A
third Albion Process plant is operating in the Dominican Republic treating a refractory gold/silver
concentrate, producing 80,000 ounces of gold annually. A photograph of the Las Lagunas IsaMillTM
and oxidative leaching circuit is shown in Figure 1. Xstrata Technology is currently completing the
design and supply of an Albion Process plant for the GPM Gold Project in Armenia. Procurement
has begun for this project, with civil works on site advanced. The GPM Gold Project will commission
in September, 2013.

The first stage of the Albion Process is fine

grinding of the concentrate. Most sulphide minerals
cannot be leached under normal atmospheric
pressure conditions. The process of ultrafine
grinding results in a high degree of strain being
introduced into the sulphide mineral lattice. As a
result, the number of grain boundary fractures and
lattice defects in the mineral increases by several
orders of magnitude, relative to un-ground minerals.
The introduction of strain lowers the activation
energy for the oxidation of the sulphides, and
enables leaching under atmospheric conditions. The
rate of leaching is also enhanced, due to the
increased mineral surface area.
Figure 1
Las Lagunas Albion Plant Fine grinding also prevents passivation of the
leaching mineral by products of the leach reaction.
Passivation occurs when leach products, such as iron oxides and elemental sulphur, precipitate on
the surface of the leaching mineral. These precipitates passivate the mineral by preventing the
access of chemicals to the mineral surface.

Passivation is normally complete once the precipitated layer is 2 3 m thick. Ultrafine grinding of a
mineral to a particle size of 80% passing 10 12 m will prevent passivation, as the leaching mineral
will disintegrate prior to the precipitate layer becoming thick enough to passivate the mineral. This is
illustrated in Figure 2.
 Leached particle
95 % dissolved
Unleached prior to
particle passivation

Figure 2
Mechanism of Passivation of Sulphide Minerals

After the concentrate has been finely ground, the slurry is then leached in agitated vessels, and
oxygen is introduced to the leach slurry to oxidise the sulphide minerals. The agitated leaching
vessels are designed by Xstrata and are known as the Albion Leach Reactor. The Albion Leach
Reactor is agitated using dual hydrofoil impellers and oxygen is introduced to the leach slurry at
supersonic velocity to improve mass transfer efficiency and ensure efficient oxidation of the
sulphides. The Albion Leach Reactor is designed to operate at close to the boiling point of the slurry,
and no cooling is required. Leaching is carried out autothermally, and the temperature of the leach
slurry is set by the amount of heat released by the leaching reaction. Heat is not added to the
leaching vessel from external sources, and excess heat generated from the oxidation process is
removed through humidification of the vessel off gases.

2 Ultrafine Grinding and the IsaMill Technology

Ultrafine grinding requires a different milling action than found in a conventional ball mill, due to the
fine nature of the grinding media required. In most ultrafine grinding mills, an impeller is used to
impart momentum to the media charge. Media is agitated through stirring, and the resulting
turbulent mixing overcomes the tendency of fine media to centrifuge. Abrasion is the major
breakage mechanism in a stirred mill. The common aspects of a stirred mill are a central shaft and a
series of impellers attached to the shaft. These impellers can be pins, spirals, or discs.
In stirred mills, two configurations are common. In the first, the mill shaft and grinding elements are
set up vertically within the mill. This type of configuration is limited in size to typically 750 kW of
installed power or less. This limitation is brought about by the large break out torque imposed on
the impeller located at the base of the media charge, due to the compressive load of media sitting
vertically on the impeller.

In the second configuration the mill shaft is aligned horizontally within the mill chamber. This
configuration, which is used in Xstratas IsaMill, is more cost efficient at motor sizes in excess of
500 kW. There is very little break out torque required to begin to agitate the media charge, which
limits the motor size to that required for grinding only.
The IsaMill is a large-scale energy efficient continuous grinding technology specifically developed
for rugged metalliferrous applications. Xstrata supplies the IsaMill technology to mining operations
around the world, with over 100 mills installed in 9 countries worldwide. The IsaMill uses a very
high energy intensity of 300kW/m3 in the grinding chamber, resulting in a small footprint and simple
installation. The IsaMill can be scaled up directly from small scale laboratory tests. Xstratas
IsaMill, is installed in more than two-thirds of the worlds metalliferrous ultrafine grinding
applications. The grinding media size for the IsaMill is within the size range 1.5 3.5 mm. Media
can come from various sources, such as an autogenous media screened from the feed ore, silica
sands or ceramic beads.

Xstrata will provide the IsaMill as a packaged Grinding Plant, consisting of the mill, slurry feed and
discharge systems, media handling system, all instrumentation and control and all structural steel
and platforms. Some of the IsaMill Grinding Plant components are shown in Figure 3 and 4. The
IsaMill Grinding Plant incorporates all of Xstratas operational and design experience gained from
over 100 IsaMill installations, ensuring a trouble free commissioning.

The IsaMill will contain up to eight discs on the shaft, with each disc acting as a separate grinding
element. The operating mechanism for the IsaMill is shown in Figure 5. This allows the IsaMill to
be operated in open circuit without the need for cyclones. The IsaMillTM produces a sharp size
distribution in open circuit, as the feed must pass through multiple distinct grinding zones in series
before reaching the Product Separator. This plug flow action ensures no short circuiting, and
efficiently directs energy to the coarser feed
particles.

The Product Separator is a centrifugal separator at

the end of the mill shaft that spins at sufficient rpm
to generate over 20 g forces, and this action is
responsible for the sharp classification within the
mill. The IsaMillTM can be operated in open circuit at
high slurry density, which is a key advantage for the
leaching circuit, as the entry of water to the leach is
limited, simplifying the water balance.

The IsaMillTM uses inert grinding media that

produces clean, polished mineral surfaces resulting
Figure 3
in improved leaching kinetics. A steep particle size
IsaMillTM Feed and Media Systems
distribution is produced in the mill. The 98 %
passing size in the mill is typically less than 2.5 times the 80 % passing size, and very little coarse
material enters the leaching circuit, resulting in very high leach recoveries.

The IsaMillTM is the highest intensity grinding technology available (>300kW/m3), meaning it is also
the most compact, with a small footprint and low profile. The IsaMillTM is oriented horizontally, with
the grinding plant accessed by a single platform at an elevation of approximately 3 m. Access to the
mill and maintenance is simplified by the low operating aspect of the IsaMillTM and the associated
grinding plant. Maintenance of the IsaMillTM is similar to routine maintenance for a slurry pump.
 Figure 4
IsaMillTM Grinding Plant Layout

The internal rotating shaft in the IsaMillTM is counter-levered at the feed inlet end so the discharge
end flange and grinding chamber can be simply unbolted and slid off using hydraulic rams. A shut
down for inspection and replacement of internal wear parts takes less than 8 hours. Availability of
99% and utilisation of 96% are typical of the IsaMillTM.

Scale-up of the IsaMillTM is straight forward. Laboratory test results are directly scaled to commercial
size with 100% accuracy. The IsaMillTM has a proven 1:1 direct scale-up to reduce project risk.

The IsaMill is available in the following models:

M500 (300 kW), capable of throughputs in

the range 2 6 tonnes per hour
M1000 (500 kW), capable of throughputs
in the range 10 16 tonnes per hour
M5000 (1200 and 1500kW), capable of
throughputs in the range 20 60 tonnes
per hour
M10000 (3000kW), capable of
throughputs in the range 60 100 tonnes
per hour

Figure 5
IsaMillTM Operating Mechanism
3 Oxidative Leaching

After the sulphide concentrate has been finely ground, it is then leached under atmospheric
conditions in an oxidative leach consisting of interconnected Albion Leach Reactors. The Albion
Leach Reactor is an atmospheric leaching vessel that has been designed by Xstrata Technology to
achieve the oxygen mass transfer required for oxidation of the sulphide minerals at low capital and
operating cost.

Oxygen is injected into the base of the Albion Leach Reactors using Xstratas HyperSpargeTM
supersonic injection lances. The design of the HyperSpargeTM injection system is carried out in
conjunction with the design of the agitation system to ensure high oxygen mass transfer rates are
achieved in the reactor. The agitator unit power is moderate, and the impeller tip speed is chosen in
combination with the HyperSpargeTM injection velocity to provide the required mass transfer rates.

The Albion Leach Reactor has a corrosion resistant alloy steel shell and base, supported on a ring
beam or raft foundation. The tank aspect ratio is designed to achieve high oxygen transfer rates and
capture efficiencies. Xstrata Technology has developed fully modular tank shell systems, which can
be rapidly installed on site in one third the time of a field welded tank and at much lower costs. The
Xstrata modular reactor designs require no site welding. The modular Albion Leach Reactor is shown
in Figure 6.

The reactor is fitted with a centrally mounted agitator

consisting of one or more hydrofoil impellers. The agitator
sizing and impeller geometry is chosen by Xstrata
Technology using in house correlations and testwork data to
provide sufficient power to meet the oxygen mass transfer
requirements in the leach vessel, as well as provide adequate
solids suspension and gas dispersal. Impeller arrangements
and spacing are also designed to assist in foam control within
the vessel. The agitator is mounted off the tank shell, and
modular maintenance platforms and structural supports are
provided as part of the Albion Leach Reactor.

Key design aspects of the agitator, such as the solidity ratio,

the impeller diameters and tip speeds and the overall
pumping rate are determined in combination with the design
of the oxygen delivery system to provide the optimum mass
transfer rates in the reactor.

HyperSpargeTM supersonic oxygen injection lances are

Figure 6 mounted circumferentially around the reactor, close to the
Albion Leach Reactor base. The HyperSpargeTM is mounted externally to the tank,
and penetrates through the tank wall using a series of
sealing assemblies. This design ensures that no downtime is incurred for maintenance of the oxygen
delivery system, as all HyperSpargeTM units can be removed live for inspection.
 The HyperSpargeTM injects oxygen at supersonic
velocities in the range 450 550 m.s-1. The
supersonic injection velocities result in a
compressed gas jet at the tip of the sparger that
incorporates slurry via shear resulting in very
high mass transfer rates within the Albion Leach
Reactors.

The unique design of the HyperSpargeTM means

that the agitator power required for the Albion
Leach Reactors is much lower than is required in
Figure 7 a conventional system. Oxygen capture
HyperSparge efficiencies of 85 % or higher are achieved in
Albion Plants within the Xstrata group using the
HyperSpargeTM system. A typical HyperSpargeTM
assembly is shown in Figure 7. The high jet
velocities at the tip of the HyperSpargeTM keep
the nozzle clean and eliminate blockages.

The HyperSpargeTM is incorporated in an overall oxygen addition and control system developed by
Xstrata, consisting of in stack off gas monitoring and control of the HyperSpargeTM delivery pressure.
The oxygen control system is used to maintain high oxygen capture efficiencies within the Albion
Leach Reactor.

Exhaust gas from the oxidative

leach is inert, and so the Albion
Leach Reactor is fitted with
sectional lids and an off gas
stack to vent steam from the
vessel to a safe working height.
As the Albion Leach Reactors
operate at close to the boiling
point of the slurry, significant
water vapour is released from
the vessel with the exhaust gas,
which assists in overall process
water balance. The off gas stack
is designed as a natural chimney
to vent this exhaust gas to a safe
working height. The exhaust gas
Figure 8 it typically vented, however
Albion Leach Reactor Roof Section condensers can be fitted if
required to recover the
evaporated water. The Albion Leach Reactor has a modular lid assembly, incorporating an agitator
moat seal and sliding roof section to allow easy removal of the agitation mechanism for
maintenance. This is shown in Figure 8.
Each Albion Leach Reactor has modular Internal
baffles to assist mixing and prevent slurry
vortexing, as well as a modular slurry riser to
prevent slurry short-circuiting and assist in
transport of coarser material through the leaching
train.

The Albion Leach Reactors are connected in

series with a launder system that allows gravity
flow of the slurry through the leach train. All
Albion Leach Reactors are fitted with bypass
launders to allow any reactor to be removed from
service for periodic maintenance. This is a low
cost leaching system that is simple and flexible to
operate, and the overall availability of the
oxidative leach train is 99%. Xstrata
Technologys launder design accommodates
froth, preventing a build-up of foam in the leach
train. The Launder Assembly is shown in Figure 9.

No internal heating or cooling systems are required Figure 9

Launder System
in the Albion Leach Reactors. The vessel is allowed
to operate at its equilibrium temperature, which is typically in the range 90 95 oC. Heat is provided
by the oxidation of the sulphide minerals, with heat lost from the vessel by humidification of off gas.
No direct or indirect temperature control is required, simplifying tank construction and maintenance.
No external cooling towers or flash vessels are required.
4 Oxidative Leach Chemistry

The Albion ProcessTM leach circuit oxidises sulphide minerals to either elemental sulphur or sulphate.
This process liberates significant heat, and the oxidative leach is allowed to operate at a temperature
close to the boiling point of the slurry. Typical operating temperatures are in the range 93 98 oC.

At these operating temperatures, mineral leaching will occur in two steps. In the first step, the
mineral sulphide is oxidised to a soluble sulphate and elemental sulphur.

Step 1 MS + H2SO4 + O2 = MSO4 + So + H2O (A)

In the second step, the elemental sulphur is then oxidised to form sulphuric acid.

Step 2 So + H2O + 3/2 O2 = H2SO4 (B)

These reactions can be catalysed by the action of ferric iron under acidic conditions. The oxidative
leach can be operated under a range of pH conditions, varying from acidic to neutral. The control pH
will set the amount of elemental sulphur oxidation via reaction B. The extent of elemental sulphur
oxidation can be varied from a few percent to full oxidation by control of the leach pH. This is the
main control loop employed in the oxidative leach, with pH varied within the range 1 6.

Nickel and cobalt concentrates are leached under oxidising acidic conditions. Under these
conditions some elemental sulphur oxidation is required to provide acid for the leach and the
background acidity is held in the range 5 15 gpl. The leach acidity is maintained by either the
addition of acid, or by allowing Reaction (B), the oxidation of elemental sulphur, to proceed.
Elemental sulphur oxidation will proceed readily under the conditions found in the oxidative leach at
acidities below 10 gpl, and slows significantly as the acidity approaches 15 gpl. In this way the Albion
acidic leach is self regulating, oxidising elemental sulphur as required, maintaining the acidity.

The oxidative leaching of nickel-cobalt concentrates is a two stage process. The economic metals are
first leached in oxygenated acidic solution, and the acidic leach slurry is then neutralised to
precipitate iron and other deleterious elements such as arsenic, prior to separation of the leached
solids and recovery of the nickel and cobalt metals from the neutralised leach solution. Some of the
common leach reactions are outlined below. While the oxidative leach is a ferric leach, the leach
reactions are presented as the oxygen equivalent to provide a better indication of reagent usage.

4.1.1 Pentlandite series

The most common of the cobalt and nickel bearing minerals are the pentlandite series. Nickeliferrous
and cobaltifferous pentlandite can have complex compositions, and the reactions shown below
assume equimolar quantities of iron and cobalt or nickel in the mineral.

2Fe4.5Co4.5S8 + 18H2SO4(a) + 9O2(g) = 9FeSO4(a) + 16So + 9CoSO4(a) + 18 H2O

 2Fe4.5Ni4.5S8 + 18H2SO4(a) + 9O2(g) = 9FeSO4(a) + 16So + 9NiSO4(a) + 18 H2O

In addition to the pentlandite series, other cobalt and nickel sulphides, such as millerite, voliarite and
linneite can be readily leached in the oxidative leach.

4.1.2 Cobaltite

Cobaltite is often present as a combination of rimming on pyrite and intimately housed within the
pyrite lattice. Cobaltite will leach according to the following reaction:

4CoAsS + 6 H2O + 11 O2(g) = 4 CoSO4(ia) + 4 H3AsO3(a)

In the reaction above, the arsenic liberated on oxidation of the cobaltite is shown reporting to
solution as Arsenic(3+). Liberated arsenic can then be oxidised in the leach circuit to Arsenic(5+)
according to the reaction:

4 H3AsO3(a) + 2O2(g) = 4 H3AsO4(a)

This reaction is favoured by the presence of pyrite, as pyrite surfaces have a catalytic effect on
arsenic oxidation. The extent of oxidation of Arsenic (3+) to Arsenic (5+) will depend on the leach
conditions, however over 70 % of the arsenic would be expected to be present in the leach as
Arsenic (5+).

4.1.3 Pyrite

Pyrite is one of the major gangue minerals present in many sulphide concentrates. The pyrite
oxidation reaction in the leach will be:

FeS2 + 7/2O2 + H2O FeSO4 + H2SO4

Pyrite will not form elemental sulphur at leach acidities below 25 gpl, and so elemental sulphur
formation is not expected from pyrite within the oxidative leach circuit. Significant pyrite leaching will
not occur until most of the base metal sulphides have leached to completion, due to the galvanic
effects, as pyrite is cathodically protected relative to these minerals.

4.1.4 Pyrrhotite

Pyrrhotite is also a common iron bearing sulphide in cobalt/nickel sulphide concentrates. Pyrrhotite
will oxidise readily under the conditions found in the oxidative leach, with the formation of elemental
sulphur predominating. The leach reaction for Pyrrhotite is outlined below.
 Fe7S8 + 3.5 O2(g) + 7H2SO4 = 7FeSO4 + 7H2O + 8So

In addition to the sulphide leach reactions listed above, ferric iron will be continually re-oxidised in
the leach by the injection of gaseous oxygen, according to the reaction:

2FeSO4 + O2 + H2SO4 Fe2(SO4)3 + H2O

Elemental sulphur will also be progressively oxidised in the leach, according to the reaction:

So + 3Fe2(SO4)3 + 4H2O 4H2SO4 + 6FeSO4

The acid demand for the leach will be met largely by the oxidation of pyrite and elemental sulphur
within the leach train. Sulphuric acid will also added to the oxidative leach to neutralise gangue acid
consumers. Sulphuric acid can be added as concentrated acid, or as acid in raffinate or spent
electrolyte streams, depending on the overall process flowsheet and metal recovery circuit chosen.

4.2 Neutralisation

Both iron and sulphur, in the form of sulphates and acid will be liberated in the oxidative leach, along
with minor levels of other deleterious elements such as arsenic, aluminium and silicon. On
completion of the oxidative leach, the slurry will be neutralised to precipitate iron, acid and
deleterious elements. Two iron precipitation circuits are commonly employed in mineral sulphide
leaching circuits Goethite and Jarosite.

The neutralisation circuit will be operated using the same Albion Leach Reactors as used in the
oxidative leaching circuit, to ensure commonality of spares and simpler maintenance. The intertank
launder system will be the same as employed in the oxidative leach, and all reagent mains will have
dosing points extending through the interface between the leach and neutralisation stages. This will
allow several tanks to be operated as either leach or neutralisation vessels, providing flexibility for
differing concentrate compositions.

A goethite based circuit is described below, however Xstrata has operational experience in both
goethite and jarosite circuits. When the neutralisation stage is operated as a goethite circuit, the
following key control parameters are set:

Ferric levels in all tanks are maintained at less than 1 g/L at all times and the temperature
is maintained at over 85 degrees. This ensures that iron precipitates as goethite, and any
arsenic as a stable ferric arsenate.

The circuit is operated with precipitated solids recycle to partially neutralise acid exiting
the leach train and provide seed to the neutralisation circuit. This enhances crystal growth at
the expense of nucleation, and improves the settling and filtration properties of the
precipitate.
 The pH profile across the neutralisation circuit is progressively increased in discrete steps
to minimise supersaturation of both iron and sulphate in the neutralised solution. This ensures
a stable crystalline precipitate and minimises nucleation and scale formation.

The oxidative leach discharge slurry is initially neutralised to a pH of 1.8 2.2 in the first
neutralisation reactor, by adding recycled neutralised product. The pH is then increased in the
subsequent neutralisation vessels to 3.5 - 4, with oxygen added to assist ferrous oxidation to ferric.
Cobalt and nickel will not precipitate from solution at this terminal pH, however iron removal will be
complete. Any residual ferrous iron present in the leach discharge will be oxidised at the more
neutral pH to ferric iron.

Ferric iron will then be precipitated as goethite:

1/2Fe2(SO4)3 + 3/2CaCO3 + 5/2H2O FeO.OH + 3/2CaSO4.2H2O + 3/2CO2

Goethite and the analogous phase, ferrihydrite, will be the favoured iron precipitates in the
neutralisation stage, due to the operating temperature of approximately 85-95oC. Minor hematite
formation will also occur.

Iron will co-precipitate with arsenic in the neutralisation stage according to the reaction:

Fe2(SO4)3(a) + 2H3AsO4(a) + Ca(OH)2 + 4H2O 2FeAsO4.2H2O + CaSO4.2H2O + 2H2SO4

Arsenic will be fixed in the residue as ferric arsenate. To ensure a stable ferric arsenate is formed, the
neutralisation circuit operating conditions must favour precipitation of ferric arsenate through growth
onto existing particles of crystalline ferric arsenate over nucleation and precipitation of amorphous
iron arsenic phases. These considerations are taken into account in the design of the neutralisation
circuit, and some of these key principles were outlined earlier.

Either oxygen or air can be used as the oxygen source in the neutralisation stage. Oxygen is
recommended to promote the iron and arsenic oxidation kinetics and to prevent excess heat loss
due to humidification of off-gas. High temperatures in the neutralisation circuit are important in
forming a stable arsenic precipitate.
5 Process Flowsheet Nickel/Cobalt Concentrates

A flowsheet for the Albion ProcessTM for nickel-cobalt concentrates is shown in Figure 10. Following
the Albion ProcessTM, there are several options available for nickel recovery from the final solution,
including the following:

Nickel and cobalt recovery as a mixed hydroxide for sale or further refining
Nickel and cobalt recovery as a mixed sulphide for sale or further refining
Nickel and cobalt recovery by solvent extraction and electrowinning

The current flowsheet outlines nickel recovery as a mixed hydroxide precipitate, however Xstrata
Technology would study the best nickel and cobalt recovery methods for the client once the
composition of the concentrate is better understood. Xstrata is the worlds third largest producer of
nickel and cobalt and operates the worlds largest cobalt and nickel solvent extraction and
electrowinning plants at its Nikkelverk refinery in Norway.

A bulk sulphide concentrate containing nickel, cobalt and potentially platinum group metals would
be delivered as slurry to the Albion ProcessTM Plant. The slurry would be thickened prior to delivery,
to 45 % w/w solids. The Albion ProcessTM does not require a high grade concentrate, and a rougher
concentrate is suitable for feed to the leach. Slurry would be milled in an IsaMillTM circuit to an 80 %
passing size of 10 12 microns prior to transfer to the oxidative leaching circuit. The IsaMillTM would
operate in open circuit.

The slurry would then be oxidised in the oxidative leaching circuit in a series of Albion Leach
Reactors. The reactors would operate at a temperature in the range 90 96 oC, with a residence time
of 24 hours. Cobalt and nickel recovery to the leach solution would be over 98 %. The level of
oxidation will be sufficient to liberate the cobalt, nickel, precious and platinum group metals. Acid
would be dosed to the leach as required to maintain the acidity in the range 5 8 gpl.

The oxidised slurry would then be neutralised to a pH of 3.5 with limestone slurry to remove iron and
aluminium. Neutralisation would precipitate iron as goethite, aluminium as alunite and acid as
gypsum. The neutralised slurry would be filtered, and the filtrate directed to the nickel recovery
circuit.

Neutralised filter cake would be re-pulped and transferred to a dedicated plant for recovery of the
precious metals and platinum group metals. No precious metals and platinum group metals will be
soluble in the acid sulphate leach liquor and will all report to the oxidised residue.

The solution from the neutralisation stage may require additional purification, depending on the
composition of the concentrate. In the flowsheet described, it has been assumed that further
purification is not required prior to nickel recovery, and solution from the neutralisation stage would
be transferred to a mixed hydroxide precipitation stage using magnesium oxide to precipitate a
mixed nickel/cobalt hydroxide for filtration and sale. Recycled mixed nickel/cobalt hydroxide product
would also be added to the precipitation vessels to act as seed.
Approximately 80 90 % of the nickel and cobalt would be recovered to the mixed nickel/cobalt
hydroxide product, with the remainder left in solution for recycle to the leach. This will ensure a high
grade mixed nickel/cobalt hydroxide product.

Filtrate from the magnesium oxide precipitation stage will be treated with lime slurry to recover
residual economic metals, with the precipitate recycled to the oxidative leach circuit. The solution
phase after lime precipitation would then be returned to general process water to bleed magnesium
from the Albion ProcessTM Plant.

Figure 10
Flowsheet for the Treatment of Nickel-Cobalt Concentrates using the Albion ProcessTM
6 Engineering and Project Development Services

Xstrata Technology is the developer and owner of the Albion ProcessTM technology and offers the
technology to clients worldwide.

Xstrata Technology provides lump sum equipment design and supply packages to all Albion
ProcessTM clients. The scope of supply includes the full Albion ProcessTM plant, inclusive of all
structural steel, piping and launders, platforms, stairways and support structures. Full civil and
foundation design can be included in the Xstrata Technology scope of work. Construction is supplied
by the client, with supervisory labour provided by Xstrata.

The Albion Process plant package provided by Xstrata Technology is low cost and low risk, and
incorporates all of Xstratas knowhow in the 20 year development history of the IsaMillTM and Albion
ProcessTM technologies. Xstrata Technology can work with our clients EPCM contractor to ensure
that the Albion ProcessTM plant interfaces with all other plant areas in an efficient manner.

Xstrata Technology involvement in a project usually begins at the testwork stage, with a testwork and
project development program designed for the client by Xstrata and our marketing partner Core
Resources. All testwork is carried out at an approved testing facility. Xstrata can provide a range of
Engineering Studies in support of the testwork programs to provide capital and operating cost data
for the Albion ProcessTM plant. Xstrata Technology can also provide Feasibility Study services,
ultimately leading to a lump sum equipment design and supply package, which is fully guaranteed
by Xstrata.

As an introduction to the Albion Process TM technology, Xstrata can provide desktop capital and
operating cost estimates for an Albion Process TM plant at no cost to our clients, once provided with a
concentrate composition and planned throughput.

For more information on the Albion ProcessTM, please refer all enquiries to:

Duncan W. Turner PhD Mike Hourn

General Manager- Technology Manager Hydrometallurgy
Albion Process P/L Xstrata Technology
44 Corunna Street Albion, QLD 4010 Level 10, 160 Ann St, Brisbane, QLD 4001
Ph +61 7 3637 8105 Ph +61 7 3833 8539
Fax +61 7 3637 8199 Fax +61 7 3833 8555
Email: dturner@coreresources.com.au Email: mhourn@xstratatech.com.au

Website www.albionprocess.com


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