The document describes Nichromet's cyanide-free gold extraction technology as a green alternative to conventional cyanidation processes. It provides an overview of the Nichromet process, which involves controlled oxidation, acid leaching, and base metal treatment to extract precious metals from ores. The technology has been successfully piloted at ton scale on various material types. It offers advantages over cyanidation such as faster reaction times, ability to treat difficult ores, and produces inert solid wastes without liquid effluent. The document discusses a potential project to demonstrate the technology at the Faille B gold deposit in Haiti.

1. Nichromet Extraction
Gold Technology
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

2. Nichromet Cyanide-Free
Gold Extraction Technology
Nichromet Extraction Inc.
3700, Lac Noir Street
Thetford Mines (Qc)
418-423-7247
www.nichromet.com
 A green alternative to
the classical cyanide approach
 Give access to ores
refractory to cyanidation
 Less costly than the
classical processes without
environmental mortgage on residues
 Can be implemented as modular
plant
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

3. Vision
Develop an economic alternative to
classical cyanide process for gold
extraction, while keeping a sustainable
development approach minimizing the
impact on the environment.
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

4. Overview of the Process
Sulphides
Ores
Controlled
Oxidation
Acid
Leaching
Base Metals
Halogens
Treatment
Sulfuric Acid
Precious Metals
Inert Tailings
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

5. Nichromet Process Flowsheet
REALISE PAR
David Lemieux
PAGE
1 SUR 1
DATE DE MODIFICATION
2013-02-12
TITRE
Sector 00 : General Flowsheet
# DE DESSIN
Bag House
To Atm
To Arsenic
Stabilization
Copper
Extraction
Chlorination
Reactor
Deaeration
Tank
Larox filter
Pregnant
Brine
Holding
Tank
Carbon to
Gold
Recovery
Reverse
Osmosis
Polishing
Filtration
Na2CO3
Ca(OH)2
Electrolysis
Cell
Oxidation
Fluidized Bed
Arsenic
Scrubber
SO2
Scrubber
Concentrate
From
Concentrtor
Tailings
Hypohalides
Holding Tank
Concentrated
Brine
Holding Tank
Iron
Precipitator
Carbon In
Column
Gypsum
Iron
Precipitation
Copper
Cementation
Blister
Copper
Iron
Removal
Calcium
Precipitator
Polished
Brine
Holding Tank
Hematite
Oxidation
Pre-Treatment
Copper
Removal
Gold Circuit
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

6. Advantages Over Cyanide
Faster Reaction Time
Process time of few hours instead of few days
Legal issues
Cyanidation has been banned in many countries
and some States in USA (ex:Wisconsin)
Extraction of silver and PGM if present
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

7. Environmental Advantages
No cyanide
No tailings pond (elimination of spillage hazard)
No liquid effluent
Solids residues devoided of sulphides and base metals
No acidic lixiviate or contaminants from tailings site
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

8. Characteristics of the
Nichromet Technology
 Green
• Cyanide-free process
• Sulfide is recycled as sulfuric acid
• No waste water, no tailing pond
and no air pollutants
• Solid wastes : inert and stable,
even when using high arsenic ores
Fast
• Leaching time of 2 hours instead of 2
days for cyanide
 Flexible
• Can handle base metals (bulk
flotation : higher efficiency)
• Can treat carbonaceous ore
• Can handle telluride
contamination
 Profitable
• Process cost ($/oz gold) similar to
cyanide
• Capital cost lower (10-15%) than
cyanide
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

9. Successfully piloted at the ton scale
on a wide range of materials
Sources Type
Grade
(g/T)
Barren
Solid (g/T)
Yield (%)
1: Canada
(Quebec)
Ore 2,58 g/T 0,07 g/T 97,5 %
2: Canada
(Quebec)
Ore 3,45 g/T 0,34 g/T 93,2 %
3: Canada
(Quebec)
Ore 13,9 g/T 0,79 g/T 95,4 %
4: Canada
(Ontario)*
Conc. 55,3 g/T 4,79 g/T 94,0 %
5 : Eastern
Europe*
Conc. 7,5 g/T 1,48 g/T 91,0 %
6: Canada
(Quebec)*
Conc. 53,5 g/T 3,56 g/T 94,1 %
*Flotation concentrates requiring pre-treatment by oxidation
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

10. Environmental Recognition
Grant of 700 k$ from Green Technologies
Demonstration Program of Quebec
Government in 2011-2012
Grant of 5 M$ from Sustainable
Technology Development Fund of
Federal Governement in 2013
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

11.  Current gold estimated resources (3,2 MT)
 Gold : 339 000 oz Au @ 3,27 g Au/T
 Copper : 28 Mlbs @ 0,4 %Cu
 Exploitation permit in force
 Mining plan
 Near surface resources (open pit potential, low operating cost)
 20 M$ investment done in exploration to date
Somine Haïti Project vs
Nichromet Technology
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

12. Phase I
Bring the top layer of the deposit into production
with a modular plant to process oxides
concentrate
15 M$ investment for the modular plant only
Potential of 25 000 oz Au/year
Phase II
1000 TPD Mine and full scale processing plant
Gold production rate of 35 000 oz Au/yr
Investment for Nichromet processing plant of 35
M$
 Nichromet is currently conducting a demonstration
program for the application of its technology on the
Faille B deposit.
Great Potential for a
Nichromet plant in Haïti
Rodger Allen Gold Mine

13. Toward a Greener
Gold Industry
Rodger Allen Gold Mine