Is a 10 TPD Containerized Leaching Plant Right for Your Somalia Gold Project?

A British client is evaluating a first-time gold project in Somalia. Early field photos suggest a modest ore body with possible iron content and potentially sub-optimal gold deportment. Given the limited tonnage and the need for a fast, low-footprint startup, a 10 TPD containerized leaching plant is a pragmatic pilot solution—provided that basic test work confirms technical viability and economic merit. This note outlines the current status, risks, required test program, and the containerized flowsheet concept.

modular mineral processing - Is a 10 TPD Containerized Leaching Plant Right for Your Somalia Gold Project?

Project Context

  • Location: Somalia; project owner: UK-based client
  • Status: early-stage detecting/prospecting; limited tonnage at present
  • Data available: field photographs and preliminary observations only; no assays yet
  • Initial impression: ore may include iron phases; visual inspection indicates it is not an ideal free-milling type, but confirmation requires laboratory testing

Key risks and unknowns

  • Head grade (g/t Au) and variability across the prospect
  • Gold deportment: free-milling vs refractory (locked in sulfides/oxides or silica)
  • Mineralogy: iron oxides/sulfides (e.g., magnetite, hematite, pyrite) that may consume cyanide or require pre-treatment
  • Gangue chemistry: cyanide consumers (copper, reactive iron), acid-generating sulfides
  • Throughput sustainability: can the site reliably supply 10 TPD?
  • Water, power, reagents, logistics, and security conditions in field operations

Essential test work before plant selection

  1. Head grade and variability
  • Fire assay (Au, Ag) on multiple composites and variability samples
  • Size-by-assay to understand gold distribution across size fractions
  1. Mineralogy and liberation
  • QEMSCAN or MLA; optical microscopy; SEM on polished sections
  • Sulfur speciation (S2–, S0, SO4) and total S; sulfide mineral ID
  • Magnetics check for iron oxide content; simple hand magnet and lab test
  1. Gravity and leach response
  • Gravity recoverable gold (GRG, 3-stage) to quantify free gold
  • Bottle-roll cyanidation at varying grind sizes (e.g., P80 150, 106, 75 μm)
  • Cyanide consumption profiling; cyanicide screening (Cu, Fe, As, Sb)
  • Carbon activity and adsorption kinetics tests if CIP/CIL is considered
  1. Rheology, filtration, and tails
  • Settling tests for thickening/clarification
  • Detox test (e.g., SO2/air or peroxide) if required by local regulation

Technical implications

  • If GRG > 40%: add a small centrifugal concentrator and shaker table ahead of leach to capture coarse free gold and reduce cyanide consumption.
  • If gold is refractory (locked in sulfides or silicates): cyanidation alone may underperform; consider flotation to produce a small concentrate for intensive leaching or external treatment. For very refractory ores, oxidative pre-treatment (roasting, POX, BIOX) is beyond the scope of a 10 TPD container plant.
  • High iron or copper content will increase cyanide and lime consumption; budget accordingly and evaluate SART or alternative strategies if Cu is elevated.

Containerized 10 TPD leaching solution (concept)

  • Footprint: packaged within a standard 40’ HQ container; compact layout suitable for constrained sites
  • Throughput: nominal 10 tons per day; best suited as a pilot/demonstration or for small deposits
  • Civil works: minimal; 1–2 m elevation difference sufficient for gravity flow between units; steel skids and modular connections reduce install time
  • Utilities: diesel genset or site power; raw and process water storage included; reagent make-up skids integrated
  • Safety and compliance: enclosed cyanide handling area, spill containment, gas ventilation, and operator walkways

Information required from the client to proceed

Representative samples (50–200 kg) for the test program
Site coordinates, elevation, climate, logistics constraints
Available power, water source/quality, security, and workforce
Target product (dore vs concentrate), project timeline, and budget range

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