Large Scale Hydrometallurgical Test Facilities Of Phelps Dodge Mining Company

The Process Technology Center of Phelps Dodge Mining Company (PDMC) .operates several test facilities in support of PDMC's hydrometallurgical operations. Installations for small leach columns, 15 cm. to 60 cm. (6 in. to 24 in.) in diameter, and large leach columns, 1.8 m. (6 ft.) in diameter, are complemented by a test facility for SX/EW operations. The history of and reasons for the development of these facilities: are described and original standard equipment is discussed. A primary goal in constructing these facilities was achieving a high degree of flexibility to allow for testing of new equipment and new leaching and SX/EW technologies as they are developed. Along with this challenge, construction of a filly integrated SX/EW test facility on a small scale brought its own set of challenges.