Orrum Gold
Refractory Ore Specialists
about us
Orrum Gold is a South African based geological and metallurgical consultancy founded in 2017. The company began its journey working on and developing a processing solution for gold bearing calcine tailings. Through this process, the company has developed expertise in refractory ore metallurgy, mineral processing, operations, and tailings project development.
The flowsheet has shown subsequent application across a range of metals and materials ranging from primary ores through to tailings and waste streams. The company has established relationships with laboratories, testing facilities and engineering firms and are able to provide a range of services that assist clients with maximising the value of their ore and waste streams. The company is active in research and development to improve and expand the range of services offered to industry.
SERVICES & SECTORS
Materials: Ore & Tailings
- Refractory Gold Ores: RoM & Concentrates (Pyritic, Arsenical, Carbonaceous & Double Refractory, Refractory Tailings)
- Polymetallic Pyrite Concentrates (Precious Metals, Base Metals, Heavy Metals, REE's)
- Roaster & Oxidation Residues (Gold Calcines, Pyrite Calcines & Cinders, Zinc Calcines & Precipitates, BIOX & POX Tailings)
- Pyritic & Sulfidic Tailings
- Dusts, Slags, Precipitates & Other Metallurgical Wastes
Recoverable Metals*
*R & D FOR NEW METALS ONGOING
PROJECT SERVICES
- Ore Assessments
- Geological, Metallurgical & Project Consulting (Refractory Gold Operations, Pyritic Operations, Tailings Projects)
- Testwork Programs (In-House, Independent ISO Labs)
- Piloting Campaigns
- Flowsheet Development & Plant Design
- Feasibility Studies
- Project Management
- Project Servicing & Opportunity Development (Financing, Joint Ventures, Toll Treatment)
Flowsheets & Processes*
*NOT EXHAUSTIVE
BUSINESS CASE
Orrum’s primary area of expertise is the recovery of metal from tailings and waste streams. These materials are the products of treatment circuits or flotation plants. In both cases the possibility of recovering additional value is often present. In treatment circuits, incomplete metal recoveries can cause high-grade material to leave the plant as tailings — metal that is often still recoverable.
In the case of flotation plants – especially on polymetallic or base metal mines – the suppression of gangue minerals like pyrite can result in economically significant quantities of metal being lost to the tailings. Pyrite within mineral deposits has shown a tendency to incorporate a range of critical metals, including precious, base, and heavy metals. Known as ‘fools gold’ due to its perceived barrenness, pyrite and pyritic tailings offer low-cost opportunities to recover additional critical metals from waste streams and tailings dams. The potential for co-extraction and high recovery rates from these pyritic sources enables waste to be transformed into value.