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Typical Gold Process Flowsheet with Added AZTEC Upflow Reactor Circuit.
generating additional production. Over the life of the operation, this can significantly strengthen net present value (NPV), improve internal rate of return (IRR), and enhance reserve conversion metrics. For marginal orebodies operating near economic thresholds, even modest improvements in overall recovery can shift project viability. ESG peformance meets economic performance While higher recovery drives profitability, environmental performance is becoming equally central to project success. Lower residual cyanide translates to improved regulatory compliance, reduced detoxification requirements, and lower long-term environmental risk exposure. In an industry where ESG metrics influence investment decisions as strongly as production metrics, technologies that simultaneously enhance recovery and reduce environmental impact carry increasing strategic weight. A shift in mindset Historically, tailings were viewed as the inevitable endpoint of the processing cycle. Today, that perception is evolving. As gold prices increase, operating costs rise, and investors demand stronger returns with lower environmental risk, the industry is reassessing every stage of the value chain. Rather than expanding plant footprints or increasing mining intensity, producers can achieve stronger outcomes through smarter process integration with the AZ-UFR. Redefining what “final” means Conventional leaching circuits will always recover the majority of economically accessible gold. But the notion that tailings represent the absolute limit of extraction has been changed with the AZ-UFR. By installing the AZ-UFR, producers can economically capture a significant portion of residual gold, strengthen project economics, reduce environmental impact, and extend the productive life of existing assets. In doing so, tailings are no longer viewed solely as waste — but as an opportunity. And in a sector where incremental improvements can translate into millions of dollars in value, this shift will prove transformative. n
AZTEC Upflow Reactor Bolted Design.
AZTEC Upflow Reactors.
processed, intensified recovery effectively creates a secondary gold stream. The incremental ounces contribute directly to revenue, often delivering short capital payback periods. Once capital investment is recovered, the system continues
March 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 9
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