1. “Smart Irrigation in Heap Leaching”
Desafío:
“Smart Irrigation in Heap Leaching”
July, 2019

2. Introduction and Context
The Open Innovation in Mining Program, Expande, is a public-private initiative designed and carried out by Fundación Chile. It aims to drive innovation and enable a better future for the global mining industry, strengthening the mining ecosystem in Chile, along with constituting a collaborative model that generates the best solutions for the high complexity challenges of mining.
In this context, Antofagasta Minerals has requested Expande to scout for suppliers in the local and international ecosystem that can provide solutions for the challenge “Smart Irrigation in Heap Leaching”.

3. “Smart irrigation in heap leaching”
Challenge
“Smart irrigation in heap leaching”
CONCENTRADORA
DESCRIPTION OF CHALLENGE:
Develop a technological solution for Centinela leaching plant that allows defining the ILS and Refining solution irrigation strategy for the 102 modules of the dynamic pad, with the aim of maximizing copper recovery and economic benefit.
SCOPE OF THE CHALLENGE:
The technological solution should consider a software that uses the current information available to define and update the distribution of the available irrigation flows at the plant, both ILS and refining, to irrigate each leaching module.
The input variables for the software are:
- Copper and acid concentrations, based on the analysis of daily composites in irrigation and in the percolation of each of the modules.
- Total irrigation flow of ILS and raffinate solution and estimated flows for each module.
- Characterization of the ore loaded in each module, in terms of total copper and soluble copper grades, percentage of fines and carbonate grade.
- Geometallurgical information of mineral loaded by module, including characteristic curves of recovery and consumption of acid (P&D).
- Evaporation rate and other operating parameters as surface per module.
BACKGROUND – PRIOR SOLUTION ATTEMPTS:
There is no background in Centinela of previous attempts.
EXPECTED BENEFITS:
Maximize copper recovery in the dynamic pad.
Minimize the consumption of sulfuric acid by finding the economic optimum.
Optimize the use of the leaching platform (pad).
MAIN PERFOMANCE INDICATORS:
Increase the copper recovery per module in X p / p.
Acid consumption kg H + / kg Cu ​​produced.
Define economic indicator that maximizes the benefit per module.
HIDROMETALURGIA
AREA OF INTEREST:
Heap Leaching
INTERESTED MANAGMENT:
Operaciones Planta
Excelencia Operacional
PROCESOS MINA
TRANSVERSAL

4. Suppliers send background information
Descripción del proceso 2
Scouting
Suppliers send background information
Solution prequalification
Client decides following steps 5 1 3 4
Background information review
Demoday
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25-07 to
TBA
Deadline
25-07 to

5. Requested Documentation
To participate in this Scouting stage, enclose a presentation that includes the following:
Company experience in software for irrigation control in heap leaching.
Description of the solution proposed. Use schemes, images and/or videos if they exist.
Maturity level of the solution on TRL scale.
Success stories in the mining industry.
Business model during the pilot implementation.
This document can be provided in a free format (pptx or pdf) and can be a presentation or brochure about what is being requested.