AA316 – Value-added Alumina Product from Low-grade Feedstock: from Concept to Test Work and Beyond

Abstract

Currently, the Bayer process is the predominant technology used to produce smelter grade alumina. Due to the dwindling supply of high-grade bauxite, coupled with the challenges of processing red mud generated by the energy intensive Bayer process, there is an interest in exploring options of alumina extraction from “low-grade” mineral resources. The Thor Polymetallic Black Shale deposit is a sizeable low-grade aluminium deposit, located in Tisdale, Saskatchewan, which is under development by the Canadian Energy Metals Corp. (CEM). Hatch has developed a preliminary flowsheet to process the Black Shale deposit to produce value-added alumina products. The flowsheet comprises acidic leaching, hydrometallurgical purification and recovery, and pyrometallurgical upgrading. This paper presents results from a related, iterative, proof-of-concept bench-scale test-work program, conducted at the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) in 2024. CEM commissioned a second, larger-scale, semi-continuous pilot program which is currently underway at SRC.