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<p>Placer gold mining operations generate large volumes of tailings, often regarded as waste despite containing recoverable quantities of valuable and critical minerals. This study explores the technical and economic feasibility of recovering critical raw materials—zircon, monazite, and scheelite—from the tailings of the Angoran Chay placer gold mine in Iran. Representative samples of the tailings were analyzed to determine average grades of 3.2&#xa0;kg/t for zircon, 1.6&#xa0;kg/t for monazite, and 1.3&#xa0;kg/t for scheelite. A processing flowsheet was designed using a combination of gravity concentration, magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, and selective leaching, tailored to the mineralogical characteristics of the tailings. A comprehensive techno-economic assessment was conducted through discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, evaluating both single-product and multi-product recovery scenarios over a 15-year project horizon. The findings show that single-product recovery, especially zircon alone, is not economically viable under current conditions. Monazite and scheelite recoveries yield modest profitability with IRRs of 17.94% and 14.68%, respectively. In contrast, integrated recovery scenarios significantly improve the economic outlook. The most favorable configuration—recovering all three elements—achieves a Net Present Value (NPV) of USD 202,148, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 16.83%, and a payback period of 6 years. Sensitivity analysis revealed that recovery rates and product prices are the most critical factors affecting profitability. The study highlights the potential of reprocessing placer tailings as a sustainable strategy for critical mineral supply, offering both economic return and environmental benefits through resource circularity.</p>

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Techno-economic assessment of multi-element recovery from placer tailings: Transforming waste into value

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月10日

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  • Hesam Dehghani,
  • Mahshad Abbasi

摘要

Placer gold mining operations generate large volumes of tailings, often regarded as waste despite containing recoverable quantities of valuable and critical minerals. This study explores the technical and economic feasibility of recovering critical raw materials—zircon, monazite, and scheelite—from the tailings of the Angoran Chay placer gold mine in Iran. Representative samples of the tailings were analyzed to determine average grades of 3.2 kg/t for zircon, 1.6 kg/t for monazite, and 1.3 kg/t for scheelite. A processing flowsheet was designed using a combination of gravity concentration, magnetic separation, electrostatic separation, and selective leaching, tailored to the mineralogical characteristics of the tailings. A comprehensive techno-economic assessment was conducted through discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, evaluating both single-product and multi-product recovery scenarios over a 15-year project horizon. The findings show that single-product recovery, especially zircon alone, is not economically viable under current conditions. Monazite and scheelite recoveries yield modest profitability with IRRs of 17.94% and 14.68%, respectively. In contrast, integrated recovery scenarios significantly improve the economic outlook. The most favorable configuration—recovering all three elements—achieves a Net Present Value (NPV) of USD 202,148, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 16.83%, and a payback period of 6 years. Sensitivity analysis revealed that recovery rates and product prices are the most critical factors affecting profitability. The study highlights the potential of reprocessing placer tailings as a sustainable strategy for critical mineral supply, offering both economic return and environmental benefits through resource circularity.