Energystore Group Pty.Ltd is an Australian company. The founder of the company and the inventor of the Flexicone system (flexible cone) is Mr. Valery Borodinov. Today, the company manufactures Flexicone centrifugal concentrators, as well as equipment for the extraction of gold and other valuable metals from refractory ores and concentrates. We have also developed unique technologies: Flexicone Oxidation sulphide ore oxidation technology and Flexicone Leaching iodine-iodine and chloride-hypochlorite leaching technology for leaching gold and platinum group metals from ores and concentrates.
We offer high quality equipment, laboratory analytical services, commissioning services, as well as after-sales technical support and fast delivery of equipment, consumables and spare parts with DHL express courier services from our production sites in Australia and Russia.
Our philosophy is to be leaders in our disciplines both in Australia and abroad, aiming to provide cost effective solutions for mining operations.
Our goal is to provide gold and mineral processing equipment at affordable capital and operating costs. Therefore, our clients are not only large companies, but also small and medium artels and miners. We have broken the general consensus that the leaching process is only for large mining operations. Now you can start cost-effective operation with a small leaching plant and processing of ore or placer concentrates from 50 kg / day. Using Flexicone centrifugal concentrators, ultrasonic vortex mills and Flexicone oxidation technology, ore or tailings can be processed with low levels of gold, silver and platinum group metals. Flexicone oxidation and cyanide-free leaching process with recycled reagents and water without generating hazardous fumes, solid or liquid waste. Suitable for operation in densely populated areas and remote areas without the need to ship expensive reagents. Our latest development is the co-generation of energy in the process of ore oxidation (Flexicone air-sulfide batteries). This generated electricity can be used in DC and AC cycles.
Flexicone Mercury Environment Program
Many gold deposits currently contain too small gold to effectively use the tray extraction technique. Therefore, mercury amalgamation is very popular for extracting gold, especially in artisanal gold mining.
It is estimated that world production of artisanal gold is 225 tons. One million people work, of which 40% are women. Only 20% of produced artisanal gold is sold through official channels. For example: in Latin America, more than 1 million artisanal gold miners mine 115 to 190 tons of gold, throwing out more than 200 tons of mercury per year. From 2 to 8 miners mined 1 kg of gold per year. Mercury is an effective, simple and very inexpensive reagent for extracting gold (1 kg of mercury is equivalent in value to 1 g of gold). The Netherlands and Germany are the main suppliers of mercury. It is estimated that the environment is contaminated with more than 1 kg of mercury per kg of gold produced.
Toxicity of mercury.
Mercury (an element with the symbol Hg) is a liquid metal at room temperature, which is used in thermometers, electrical switches or relays, as an amalgamic material during tooth restoration. One of the amazing chemical properties of mercury is the ability to dissolve many other metals, such as gold or silver, to form amalgams. Mercury is present on earth in the form of a native metal (rarely) or in cinnabar (HgS) and is extracted from it by heating.
Mercury and most of its compounds are extremely toxic and can cause severe chronic diseases such as kidney failure, arthritis, memory loss, depression, hallucinations, suicidal tendencies, respiratory failure and even death.
A major industrial disaster was the discharge of mercury compounds into Minamata Bay, Japan. It is estimated that more than 3,000 people suffered from various deformities, severe symptoms of mercury poisoning or death from the so-called Minamata disease.
In artisanal gold mining, mercury is released, which makes a significant contribution to the deposition of aspheric mercury. When mercury is used in the process of merging with gold, when the amalgam is heated, a large amount of mercury is released, which is absorbed by inhalation.
Mercury that enters the pond quickly turns into even more toxic methylmercury. Methylmercury can accumulate in the body sediment of creeks, fish, and food chains.
The population living downstream from the source of mercury contamination is constantly exposed to the toxic products of mercury conversion, although it is not involved in artisanal gold mining.
Conclusion
Artisan gold mining using mercury for small-scale mining is associated with a high risk not only for miners and their families, but also has a long-term adverse impact on the environment and at different levels of the food chain. Not only people living along the polluted side, but also those who live far away from the source of mercury are constantly exposed to mercury and products of its compounds.
Using centrifugal concentrators, the largest disaster in small-scale mining can be stopped and make mining more profitable !!!!!!
If you are an artisanal gold miner or trade with miners from countries: South and Central America, Africa, Madagascar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia PNG, Indonesia, Asia and the Pacific Islands, Mongolia, please contact us for a 50% discount within UN Mercury Environmental Program.