Gekko Systems announces successful commissioning of Cyanide Detox System at Phoenix project

Gekko Systems has announce that the successful commissioning and formal acceptance of the Cyanide Detox System by the Rubicon Minerals Corporation for its Phoenix Gold Project in Red Lake, Ontario took place in June 2015. Gekko Systems specialises in cyanide destruction, modular plant technology and gravity separation and stated: “Its commitment to providing cyanide detox systems with best practice environmental and financial sustainability is unsurpassed.”

Rubicon Minerals Corporation is an emerging gold producer focused on extracting the maximum recovery of resources with the lowest possible carbon footprint. “Gekko’s experience gives us great confidence in the successful design and operation of this critical process ensuring we continue a responsible and environmentally sustainable development,” said Don Emms, Project Manager and Mill Superintendent for Rubicon. After months of collaborative planning, Gekko Systems designed the Cyanide Detox System specifically to meet the needs of the Phoenix Gold Project. The plant incorporated many design features gleaned from 30 years’ experience by Gekko Systems’ Principal Detox Consultant, Randy Agius, now retired.

The Cyanide Detox System uses the proven SO2/oxygen (INCO) process to destroy cyanide in the plant’s leach tails, and is capable of reducing it to less than 1ppm weak acid dissociable (WAD) cyanide. The main reagents are liquid sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxygen. Gekko’s Process Engineer for North American Projects, Ben Adaszynski, says: “Oxygen is used in place of the more conventional air compressors resulting in lower power consumption, better process flexibility and reduced overall operating costs.”

“The low power consumption and reduced operating cost is realised through the use of advanced VSA oxygen generation technology supplied by PCI Gases. The units’ low power consumption and maintenance costs, combined with high oxygen gas utilisation result in a projected payback period of less than six months compared to conventional air blowers,” said Nick Katsikaros, Head of the Gekko Detox Team. The supplied plant included the cyanide destruction tank, liquid SO2 handling, storage and dosing systems, oxygen generation and dosing system and full process control instrumentation.