Diversified Canadian miner Teck Resources has joined Freeport McMoRan, BHP and Mitsubishi Corp as an investor in copper processing technology company Jetti Resources and will assess Colorado-based Jetti’s proprietary chemical catalyst at its operations.
Jetti says it has developed and commercially deployed the catalyst that is claimed to enable efficient and effective heap and stockpile leach extraction of low-grade copper in sulphide ores such as chalcopyrite. The company said last June it had raised US$50 million in an equity funding that involved BHP, Freeport, Mitsubishi and Orion Resource Partners. It has former senior copper executives from BHP, Anglo American Corp and Rio Tinto on its board.
Jetti said its technology could be “well suited for application at a number of Teck’s assets with potential copper resources outside of existing mine plans”.
“Jetti’s technology integrates seamlessly with existing leach technology to recover copper trapped in ore which was previously not considered for traditional processing,” it said.
Teck’s evaluation has reportedly commenced and could lead to a commercial deal.
“Teck and Jetti will also work together to measure and assess the environmental benefits which could result from the application of Jetti’s technology to already mined material,” Jetti said. “Such benefits are expected to include reductions in water consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and power consumption.”
The size of Teck’s investment in Jetti wasn’t disclosed.
