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Project description |
The Blanco Project, belonging to Minera Salar Blanco SA, hereinafter MSB, seeks the production of lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) and potassium chloride (KCI).The Project will be located in the Cordillera de los Andes, in the Atacama Region of Chile, specifically in the northern sector of the Maricunga Salar basin, at approximately 3,760 meters above sea level. The Project foresees the approximate production of 20,000 t / year of lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) and 58,000 t / year of potassium chloride (KCl) for approximately 20 years of operation plus 2 years of start-up. The processes for the production of these products begin with the extraction of brine from the field of wells located in the mining properties of MSB, located in the northern sector of the Salar de Maricunga. Once the brine extraction process has begun, it is taken to a transfer well in order to homogenize the brine coming from the different wells. The transfer basin is composed of two pools from which the brine is conducted through a 10 km long brine product to the solar evaporation ponds, which are located north of the salt area. The brine from the brine product will discharge into the first pond and after having fulfilled the residence time stipulated by the operation area, it will be transferred to the next pond. The residence time depends on the evaporation and saturation of the brine, which produces a precipitation of the salts that will later be harvested when the levels defined for this purpose are reached and sent to the discard tanks if they correspond to halite, or to the storage of the potassium chloride plant (KCl) if they correspond to byproduct salts (Silvinite or Carnalite). The concentrated brine that reaches the last evaporation pond is the one with the highest concentration of lithium. This is sent to the process plant for the production of lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ). On the other hand, the collected salts of sylvinite and carnallite enter the KCl plant for the production of potassium chloride (KCl). Both plants and auxiliary facilities are located in the northern area of the evaporation ponds, 14 km north of the brine extraction area. The lithium carbonate plant (Li 2 CO 3 ) corresponds to a chemical plant, where lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) is generated as a final product . The brine that enters the plant will be sent in the first instance to the salt removal plant, which, through a process of evaporation and forced crystallization, will allow obtaining a brine with higher concentration in lithium and eliminating salts such as calcium chloride and The tachyhydrite will be sent to the deposit of calcium chloride-tachycardia discard salts. From the salt removal plant, the resulting brine will be sent to the solvent extraction process, which will allow the extraction of boron present in the solution. Subsequently, the boron-free brine, will pass to the stages of calcium and magnesium removal, using the recirculation of mother liquor and a soda ash solution, which allows to promote the formation and precipitation of magnesium carbonate (MgCO 3 ) and calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), which are filtered and sent to the discard pond. To ensure the elimination of magnesium remaining in the solution, a second stage of magnesium removal is carried out through the use of lime slurry, which allows the formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg (OH) 2 ) that will be filtered and sent to the discard pond. The brine, already with very low contents of magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca), enters a stage of ion exchange, where by using resins adsorbs the waste and allows to obtain a brine free of any unwanted element to enter the carbonation stage. In this stage, a solution of soda ash (Na 2 CO 3 ) is added to the brine in order to precipitate the lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ), which is filtered and dried for its micronization and packaging in maxisacos They are stored in the warehouse until they are dispatched. In relation to potassium chloride (KCl), as mentioned above in the process of extraction of salts (called harvest), the salts of sylvinite and carnallite are removed from the respective solar evaporation ponds. These salts are collected and admitted to the potassium chloride (KCl) plant. In a first stage, silvinite undergoes a process of size reduction through crushers and impact mills. Subsequently the pulp obtained from the milling is sent to the flotation processes, where additives and antifoams are added, which allow to give the potassium chloride crystal (KCl) hydrophobic properties, which allows the valuable product to float and separate it. On the other hand, the carnallite concentrate is treated in conjunction with the concentrate obtained from the flotation process of the silvinite salts, which join the leaching process with water. Subsequently, the solids obtained from the potassium chloride (KCl) plant are dried and transported to a bulk storage area. Finally, the lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) will be dispatched to its final destination by the Port of Angamos, in Mejillones. In the case of potassium chloride (KCl), commercialization is considered as the final destination in Coya Sur as well as the Port of Angamos, both locations in the Antofagasta Region. The water resource for the Project under evaluation will be obtained from the water rights of a well (CAN-6) constituted by a flow granted of 62 l / s, which is located on the eastern slope of the Maricunga salt flat. There will be an aqueduct, which will transport the industrial water by means of a drive system, from the CAN-6 well to the process sector, specifically to the industrial water accumulation pool, which will have an approximate length of 24 kms. There will be a mechanical evaporation plant for water treatment, which will allow the removal of the salts present in the water of the CAN-6 well, and generate soft water without boron. Of the treated water, one part will be used both for the production processes, and the rest, for its purification for the use of the camp and auxiliary facilities. The energy required by the Project for its operation will be obtained from a connection to the existing 23 kV line, which comes from the Mantos de Oro S / E through a set of medium voltage power lines, with postaciones, as well as through channeling at ground level in the salt sector. The Project also includes a set of facilities for the management of surface runoff water, mainly for the pools, salt deposits and roads sector. For the purposes of the present description, and based on both functional and geographical criteria, the parts, works and actions of the Project were grouped into 3 (three) main groups:
- Wells Extraction Sector, includes the facilities associated with the extraction of brines in the mining properties of MSB in the Maricunga salt flat. The main works associated with this sector are the field of wells, the transfer well and the brine product.
- Processes Sector , includes the facilities associated with the process, such as the area of pools (solar evaporation pond, discard pond, reservoir), deposit area of discard salts and storage of salts (deposits of halite and chloride discard salts) of calcium-tachyhydrite and preparations of salts of silvinite and carnalite), Industrial area (lithium carbonate plant (Li 2 CO 3 ), potassium chloride plant (KCl), auxiliary facilities (Blanco camp)) and management system runoff waters.
- Linear Works, covers the industrial water transport systems, the electric transmission system through the medium voltage lines and the modification to the C-173 route.
objectiveThe main objective of the Project is to allow the production of 20,000 t / year of lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) and 58,000 t / year of potassium chloride (KCl) for commercialization. |
