Metallurgical Testwork at Laboratory and Pilot Plant Levels

Example: Retained as consulting metallurgist by Peregrine Metals Ltd. for their Altar copper project in San Juan Province, Argentina. This resource stood at 1.3 x 10⁹ t of ore-grade material prior to this year’s drilling program, which is now ending. Originally managed the leach portion of the Phase 1 testwork. Managed Phase 2 of the metallurgical testwork, an integrated program covering both copper heap leaching and flotation. This work supported issuance of a Preliminary Assessment and updated NI 43-101 report. Initiated a separate program to study recovery of gold from the leach cap and an adjacent epithermal quartz resource.

Technology Assessments and Process Selection

Example: Manager for worldwide technology study of the barite and antimony industries; for numerous copper projects involving heap/dump leaching, cementation, ion exchange, and SX-EW; for projects to produce metallic salts; for study of sulfur recovery from gypsum; and for projects to reprocess spent petroleum catalysts.

Engineering Reviews

Example: Coordinated effort to increase profitability and metallurgical performance at a Mexican silver-lead operation, including a critical review of the lead flotation approach versus a combination of differential flotation and cyanidation, plus tailings retreatment by agglomeration and heap leaching. Provided liaison with outside contractor during prefeasibility and feasibility studies.

Owner’s Engineer Liaising with E & C Contractor

Example: Overall coordinator for solvent extraction development, involving laboratory circuit testing to establish process chemistry, pilot plant operation to confirm chemistry and establish mixersettler design criteria, and preparation of technical design package. Follow-up activities included contractor liaison, construction monitoring and start-up assistance, and ongoing review of circuit performance and evaluation of new reagents.

Plant Startup and Commissioning

Example: Worked closely with corporate legal group in licensing technology for use outside the company. Activities included initial feasibility assessment of intended application, preparation of contract documents, and liaison with licensee for technology transfer, facilities engineering, construction monitoring, plant start-up, and operating performance.

Plant Audits

Example: Coordinated and was onsite manager for in-depth performance audit of copper silicate ore leaching operation. The upstream interface was with mine planning to establish ore reserves, constraints on mining rate, and blending potential to control ore grade and type at the crusher. The downstream interface was with sales to establish chemical and cosmetic criteria for marketing the electrowon cathode as electrorefined equivalent. Close liaison with operating division line and staff groups was maintained throughout the project.

Due Diligence Studies for Property Acquisition

Example: Consulting metallurgist to confidential client for due diligence evaluations on three copper mine-to-leach properties (Chile, Mexico and U.S.A.) being considered for acquisition. The main areas reviewed were the metallurgical testwork, the proposed leach parameters and designs for the heap leach and SX-EW facilities.

Risk Assessment

Example: Lead Technical Consultant on a detailed risk assessment of a potential run-of-mine (ROM) dump leach operation at Newmont’s Batu Hijau mine in Indonesia. The main concern was the water balance associated with the heavy seasonal rains at the site, plus the potential impact this could have on the proposed SX-EW operation.