PJSC “MMC “Norilsk Nickel”, Polar Division, Norilsk, Russia:

M. I. Ryabushkin, Head of Scientific and Technical Department, e-mail: ryabushkinmi@nornik.ru
A. F. Petrov, Head of Laboratory, Center for Engineering Support of Production
V. A. Lyubeznykh, Chief Engineer, Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant
L. Yu. Brusnichkina-Kirillova, Chief Specialist, Center for Engineering Support of Production

In 2015–2016, the studies in Nadezhda Metallurgical Plant (NMP) Laboratory of Production Engineering Support were aimed at determining the potential to process NMP low-nickel pyrrhotite product (LNPP) and Talnakh Concentrator (TC) dump tailings stockpiled in the tailing dump as well as technogenic materials from the concentrators storage ponds using the current NMP hydrometallurgical line flowsheet. Compared to state pyrrhotite concentrate fed to NMP hydrometallurgical line the low-nickel pyrrhotite product containing 0.6–0.8% Ni and 2.5–3.0 g/t PGM is a lean material with lower processing profitability. The supply of stale pyrrhotite concentrate to NMP will cease in 2018 following the depletion of pyrrhotite storage. There is quite a lot of technogenic materials of higher Ni content accumulated in the Polar Division but their recycling at other operations is difficult in terms of logistics and technology. The results of laboratory studies proved the possibility to process TC LNPP and technogenic materials in a process of pressure-oxidative leaching at NMP. The pressure oxidation performance for mixture of 72.5–77.5% TC LNNP and 22.5–27.5% technogenic materials (from TC storage pond and Norilsk Concentrator Severny settling pond) was similar to that of basic stale pyrrhotite leaching. The leaching residence time was prolonged by 10–15%, while the flowrate of surfactant (commercial lignosulfonate) was kept at the same level. In the course of full-scale tests, nickel and copper mass fractions in the hydrometallurgical process target product in the form of autoclave sulfide concentrate (ASC) declined by 1.21% abs. and 0.56% abs. respectively and lower content of non-ferrous metals in initial feed caused the sulfide concentrate yield to fall by 4.6% abs. The Ni recovery into ASC rose by 5.6% abs., while the copper one decreased by 3.7% abs.

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