Mintek
Mintek is South Africa's national research and development organisation for all aspects of mineral processing, extractive metallurgy and related technology. Originally established as a minerals research laboratory by the government of South Africa in 1934, it is still partly funded by the state with a mandate to "promote mineral technology and to foster the establishment and expansion of industries in the field of minerals and products derived therefrom".
In collaboration with minerals and metal producers locally and internationally, Mintek develops and transfers new technology to industry for processing, extracting, refining and utilising minerals and mineral products. Mintek offers R&D expertise, service test work, and technologies for the gold, platinum-group metals, base metals, ferro-alloys, and industrial minerals sectors.
History
Mintek has its origins in co-operation between the government of South Africa and the University of the Witwatersrand.Mintek, South Africa’s National Minerals-Research Organisation was founded in 1934 to assist the Mining Industry to operate more effectively and profitably, has achieved international recognition for its contributions. The Mining and minerals industry of South Africa has been extremely innovative, and many notable advances in extraction, refining and manufacturing technologies originating there have impacted on the minerals industry worldwide.
Mintek works with industry and other R&D organisations to research, develop and implement new and improved technologies in the minerals and metallurgical sectors. South Africa has become a world leader in this technological niche, with a successful record of technology export.
Mintek’s research complex is situated in Randburg, about 15 km north of Johannesburg and within easy reach of Johannesburg International airport.
Minerals Research Laboratory
- 1934 MRL established at the Department of Metallurgy and Assaying, University of the Witwatersrand.
- 1935 Andalusite benefication project started. First sponsored project. First scholarships awarded.
- 1936 First published papers
- 1938 Early investigations of refractory gold ores.
- 1939 First investigations of PGM concentration. First overseas exhibition.
- 1941 Project on recovery of apatite from Foskorite.
- 1942 Vermiculite investigation. First patent.
- 1944 Name changed to the Government Metallurgical Laboratory.
- 1945 Investigations of Witwatersrand uranium ores began.
- 1946 First uranium concentration and leaching tests.
- 1947 First uranium pilot plant.
- 1949 First on-site uranium leaching plant.
- 1950 Ion exchange incorporated on uranium pilot plants.
- 1952 First full-scale uranium leaching plant.
- 1953 Secret report on ion exchange for uranium recovery.Pic R Porter.
- 1955 Pilot plant for electrolytic manganese metal.
- 1957 Improvements of apatite recovery process.
- 1959 First solvent extraction testwork for uranium. Philip Lloyd, PhD thesis.
- 1960 Start of uranium refining programme.
- 1963 Work started on fundamentals of flotation. Uranium solvent extraction piloted at Buffelsfontein.
- 1965 National Institute for Metallurgy.
Government Metallurgical Laboratory
- 1966 Purlex process piloted. National Institute for Metallurgy Act.
- 1967 Harmony U plant converted to solvent extraction.
- 1969 Pyrometallurgy Research Group established at the University of the Witwatersrand.
- 1970 Harmony U plant converted to Purlex.
- 1971 Start of UG2 PGM investigations.
- 1972 Work completed on Rössing flowsheet development.
- 1973 First S&T outreach programme.
- 1974 First continuous flotation pilot-plant campaign. Certified Reference Materials programme started. First INFACON Congress. Measurement and Control Research Group established at UCT.
- 1975 First UG2 pilot plant campaign.
- 1976 Move to new Randburg premises. CIP investigation starts.
- 1977 Base metals process development. First commercial NIMCIX plant at Blyvooruitzicht.
- 1978 Started work on alternative UG2 smelting technology. Guide on the preparation of reference materials prepared for the ISO.
- 1979 Implementation of submerged-arc furnace control . First “plasma” arc smelting tested in UK.
- 1980 First application of multivariable milling control Mintek.
- 1981 Council for Mineral Technology established. Incorporation of the AEB’s Extraction Metallurgy Division. First full-scale CIP plant.
- 1982 Pilot 3.2 MVA DC furnace commissioned at Mintek. First micro-processorbased multivariable controller for milling circuits developed.
- 1983 First industrial UG2 concentrator commissioned. Start of bacterial oxidation studies.
National Institute for Metallurgy
- 1984 UG2 smelting technology transferred to industry. First investigations of PGM recovery from float tails.
- 1985 Study completed on base metal recovery by solvent extraction. Improved andalusite recovery process developed.
- 1986 AS&TS Award for contributions to understanding of the CIP process. Work started on strong-base resins for gold recovery. First MF2 plant.
- 1987 Pilot plant development of the MF2 flowsheet for PGM recovery.
- 1988 DC smelting technology commercialised. National Productivity Award for milling control.
- 1989 ICP-Mass Spectrometry introduced for analysis of PGMs. Large-scale demonstration of bacterial oxidation of pyritic concentrates.
- 1990 First pilot-scale study of atmospheric pollution in the Vaal triangle.
- 1991 Minfurn carbon-regeneration technology implemented. Evaluation of flowsheets for heavy minerals concentration.
- 1992 First Minstral controllers exported. Initial investigation of bioleaching for base-metal sulphides.
- 1993 FloatStar tested on an industrial PGM concentrator. Development of a low- cost nickel-free stainless steel. NIMCIX tested for water treatment.
- 1994 FloatStar flotation circuit control commercialised. Large-scale DC smelting facility commissioned.
- 1995 DC smelting technology implemented for ilmenite. Expanded support for SSMEs.
- 1996 Bi-national cyanide study started with AMIRA. Analytical laboratory receives SABS 0259 certification.
- 1997 First Minataur hydrometallurgical gold refinery commissioned. Minfurn carbon-regeneration technology exported to South America.
Council for Mineral Technology (MINTEK)
- 1998 Bacterial oxidation implemented for refractory gold. First QEMSCAN acquired for automated mineralogical investigations.
- 1999 “Own” income passes 50% to total. MINIX gold-selective resin introduced to industry - RIP technology adopted by Penjom gold mine, Malaysia.
- 2000 Project AuTEK launched. Large-scale demonstration of DC arc ferronickel smelting from laterite ore.
- 2001 DC smelting technology implemented for cobalt recovery. Cyanide laboratory commissioned. AuTEK Nanotechnology programme initiated.
- 2002 Quality system achieves ISO 9001 certification. Bioleaching of copper suiphide concentrates demonstrated at Industrials AuTEK Biomedical programme initiated. Peñoles, Mexico. Mineral Economics and Strategy Unit formed.
- 2003 Environmental management system achieves ISO 14001 certification.
- 2004 OSH system achieves ISO 18001 certification. First ConRoast PGM smelting demonstration.
- 2005 Large-scale demonstration of copper heap bioleaching at Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, Iran.
- 2006 LeachStar gold-circuit controller commercialised.
- 2007 Braemore Platinum ConRoast demonstration starts. Cyanide lab receives ISO 17025 certification.
- 2008 100th installation of Minstral furnace controller. ConRoast smelter upgraded.
- 2009 Diamond provenance project launched. Minfurn technology extended to water purification, food industries.
Divisions