Python
Modular processing plant either installed deep within mines or above ground
- The Python is an award-winning, environmentally conscious mining plant
- Consumer 75% less power than conventional recovery methods
- Can be adopted to suit specific operational needs
The Python is an award-winning, modular, ore-concentration plant. It’s cleverly designed to increase revenues, lower operating costs and deliver better environmental outcomes.
Installed above ground or deep within mines, the Python specialises in utilising energy-efficient comminution, gravity separation and flotation processes to reduce the ore to a coarse size, which reduces the downstream processing energy costs.
The resultant mineral-rich fraction, concentrated to 10-30% of the original mass, requires much less energy to be hauled to the surface, which drastically improves returns.
Gekko’s Python plant processes ore underground or above ground with massive energy cost savings.
A Proven Approach
Innovative modular components of the Python can fit neatly in a linear ‘snake-like’ workflow. Precisely engineered to a low footprint design, the compact Python can operate inside a mine, or as an aboveground plant. Only 2.3 metres wide and 5 metres tall, the slimline plant allows vehicles to pass safely and maximises available headspace for efficient ore processing when installed underground.
The Python saves energy by crushing ore to coarse particles. This material is then fed to a gravity separation circuit, such as the InLine Pressure Jig and/or flotation, to extract mineral-rich particles.
The Python significantly enhances mine efficiency and returns by installing it upstream of a conventional processing plant and pre-concentrating the ore. This results in huge savings when gangue is rejected ahead of downstream processing.
Potential Total Mine Cost Savings: 15 – 25%
High ROI is achieved when environment and life-of-mine costs are low. Pre-concentration by the Python is proven to:
- Reduce processing power costs – fine crushing is not required
- Reduce haulage energy costs by 70% – the concentrate is much smaller
- Reduce overall wear and tear of downstream equipment
- Lower ventilation requirements
- Improve waste disposal – gangue remains underground as backfill
- Protect the environment with efficient water use, improved air quality, less noise, less visual impact and better mine remediation
- Improve mine safety and work conditions
Award winning
The Python’s design excellence was recognised in 2010 when it received the prestigious Premier’s Design Award and Minerals Processing ‘Plant of the Year’ recognition.
Accelerated Cash Flow
The Python components are modular, and are ready-designed for efficient ore concentration. Rapid manufacturing, quick delivery and fast installation ensure immediate cash flow.
Environmental Benefits
The Python delivers efficient water use, improved air quality, less noise pollution and less visual impact compared to other plants. It offers better mine remediation with improved waste disposal.
Lower Power Consumption
The Python uses less than 10kWh/t of total process power. It consumes 75% less power than conventional recovery methods, such as crushing, milling and leaching.
Longer Life of Mine
The Python extends mine life by decreasing the ore deposit’s cut-off grade and by using less selective mining methods.
Flexible/Flexibility
The flexible modular components of the Python can be arranged and adapted to suit specific operational needs.
The Python achieves high-recovery, low-energy processing in a narrow, portable plant. The Python is well suited to gold mining and is also adaptable to other minerals that can be separated by gravity and/or flotation, such as diamonds, tin and coal.
How the Python Works
The Python concentrates more than 90% of the valuable deposit in a high mass pull concentrate (of 10 to 30% of the feed mass) using coarse and fine crushing, wet screening, continuous gravity concentration, flash or conventional flotation and water recycling.
The Python’s high recovery and efficiency are achieved by Gekko’s continuous gravity separation device, the InLine Pressure Jig.
Immediate Benefits
The Python shrinks a conventional processing plant to a size that can be operated underground and close to the deposit, or aboveground with a marked reduction in equipment footprint.
The Python saves millions in capital infrastructure investments compared to installing a conventional mine processing plant. The Python can be designed and built-to-order in approximately eight months, compared to two or more years; it requires approximately ten-fold less concrete foundations; and can be installed on-site in six weeks, rather than six months.
Gekko’s lean mining concepts and the Python aim to accelerate returns for mines that may lose commercial viability if they overcapitalise on infrastructure.
While the processing uptime is 80% compared to 95% for conventional plants, the massive upfront capital savings and time saved is remarkable.
Full-time remote technical support is available through Gekko’s 24/7 service packages, to improve uptime and handle operational and recovery issues.
Designed for Global Shipping
The Python modules are compact enough to be transported worldwide in 40ft shipping containers.
Such innovative design engineering means cost savings for customers, who will receive their Python plant to their site, ready for installation by Gekko’s mechanical and technical team.
Gekko oversees all transport, installation, commissioning, staff training and technical support of Python plants to ensure operational success.
The latest Python news
Python charges ahead with underground processing
After the successful on-time delivery of two 55 tph modular Python crushing and gravity plants to TMAC Resources’ Hope Bay mine in Northern Canada in 2016/17, Gekko has progressed in developing a new 30 tph underground model.
Gekko achieves major milestone at Hope Bay
Gekko Systems is pleased to announce the successful completion of the first stage of the Hope Bay Project.
The major milestone encompasses the design, manufacture and shipping of Gekko’s Python process plant with the capacity to treat 1,000 tonnes of mill feed per day, and a concentrate treatment plant capable of treating up to 300,000 ounces per annum.
Gekko Systems awarded Canada project
TMAC Resources Inc. recently placed an order with the Ballarat-based company, Gekko Systems, to design and build two surface modular Python plants followed by a concentrate treatment plant in Hope Bay, Canada. The project, located within the Arctic Circle, will be delivered in two stages over a two-year period with its completion of the 1000 tpd stage 1 plant estimated by the end of 2016.