Houston Duo Constructs Barge and Equipment to Harvest Gold from Tailings Ponds

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Juneau, Alaska – A pair of resourceful miners from Houston, British Columbia, are making waves in the Alaskan gold scene with a patented recovery system demonstrating impressive results in historic mine tailings. Stan and Chris Spletzer are poised to deploy their custom-built dredge barge in the Thane Road area of Juneau, following an initial invitation in 2016 from local lease holders.

The focus is on reclaiming gold from the remnants of the Alaska-Juneau (AJ) Mine, which operated from 1917 to 1944. The mine’s closure was attributed to a combination of factors including escalating labor costs, declining gold prices, and the demands of World War II. At its zenith in the 1930s, the AJ Mine was a major employer, sustaining approximately 1,000 workers and processing an astounding 90 million tons of gold-bearing ore.

what makes this endeavor especially noteworthy is the location of the tailings. Decades ago, material from the AJ Mine, along with the nearby Treadwell mine, was used to expand Juneau’s shoreline, effectively building roughly one-third of the modern city on these gold-bearing remnants.

Initial testing by the Spletzers proved remarkably encouraging. Utilizing fresh water sourced from the mountains, they processed material collected during low tide. “We were surprised to consistently find visible gold with each bucket processed through our system,” Stan Spletzer shared.

A 2011 Geological 43-101 report had already identified the Thane Road area as a potential prospect, but the Spletzers’ findings suggest even higher gold values than previously estimated. The late howard Lockwood, a Juneau resident and veteran of gold recovery techniques, reportedly told Spletzer he hadn’t witnessed equipment capable of such gold production capacity in his 60 years of experience.

Driven by these results, the Spletzers designed and constructed a unique dredge barge. Unlike conventional dredging operations that rely on scuba divers, their 20-by-40-foot vessel utilizes twin 42-inch jigs integrated into their patented system. This design is intended to minimize the impact of wave and tidal action, a common challenge for traditional sluice systems.

The barge was fabricated in Houston, B.C., at the Spletzers’ own shop, and is nearing completion. The project represents a potential new chapter for gold recovery in Juneau, offering a novel approach to unlocking resources from a well-known, yet largely untapped, source.

What potential liabilities could arise from disturbing ancient tailings ponds, even with a closed-loop system, regarding unforeseen contaminants beyond gold and cyanide?

The Rise of Tailings Reclamation: A New Gold rush?

A Houston-based duo is making waves in the resource recovery sector with their innovative approach to gold extraction from tailings ponds. these ponds, frequently enough byproducts of historical mining operations, contain significant amounts of residual precious metals that were previously uneconomical to recover. This project represents a growing trend in tailings reclamation and secondary gold recovery, driven by advancements in technology and increasing environmental concerns. The team’s custom-built barge and specialized equipment are designed to efficiently process these tailings, perhaps unlocking considerable value from what was once considered waste.

Understanding Tailings Ponds and Their Gold Content

Tailings are the leftover materials after the valuable components have been extracted from ore. Historically, these materials, often a slurry of finely ground rock and chemicals, were deposited in large impoundments known as tailings ponds. While frequently enough perceived as environmental liabilities, these ponds can contain surprisingly significant concentrations of residual gold.

Cyanide Leaching: Many gold mining operations utilize cyanide leaching to dissolve gold from ore. While effective, this process doesn’t capture all the gold, leaving a measurable amount in the tailings.

Fine Gold Particles: A significant portion of the gold remaining in tailings exists as extremely fine particles, making customary recovery methods inefficient.

Environmental Concerns: Tailings ponds pose environmental risks,including potential groundwater contamination and dust pollution. reclamation efforts, like this Houston duo’s project, can mitigate these risks while simultaneously recovering valuable resources.

The Houston Duo’s Innovative Approach

The core of this operation is a custom-designed barge equipped with a series of processing units. Unlike large-scale mining operations, this mobile setup offers several advantages:

Mobility & Versatility: The barge allows for targeted processing of multiple tailings ponds without the need for extensive infrastructure progress. This is notably useful for smaller, abandoned mine sites.

Closed-Loop System: The equipment is designed as a largely closed-loop system,minimizing water usage and reducing the environmental impact. Water is recycled and treated before being returned to the pond.

Multi-Stage Processing: The system employs a multi-stage process to maximize gold recovery:

1. Dredging: A specialized dredge extracts the tailings slurry from the pond.

2. Screening & Classification: The slurry is screened to remove larger debris and classified by particle size.

3. Concentration: Techniques like gravity concentration (e.g., jigs, spirals) and potentially enhanced gravity separation are used to concentrate the gold-bearing material.

4. Gold Recovery: Final gold recovery is achieved through methods like elution or amalgamation, depending on the specific characteristics of the tailings.

Technologies Employed in Tailings Gold Recovery

Several technologies are crucial for prosperous gold recovery from tailings.The Houston duo’s setup likely incorporates a combination of these:

Enhanced Gravity Concentration: Modern gravity concentrators are far more effective than traditional methods at capturing fine gold particles.

Cyanide detoxification: If cyanide is present in the tailings, a detoxification process is essential to neutralize it before discharge. Technologies like the INCO SO2/Air process are commonly used.

Water Treatment: Effective water treatment systems are vital for removing contaminants and recycling water. This includes settling ponds, filtration, and potentially reverse osmosis.

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF): Used for rapid, on-site analysis of tailings composition to optimize processing parameters.

Real-time Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of process parameters (pH, conductivity, gold concentration) ensures optimal performance and environmental compliance.

Economic Viability and Market Trends

The economic viability of tailings reprocessing depends on several factors:

Gold Price: Fluctuations in the spot price of gold directly impact profitability.

Tailings Grade: The concentration of gold in the tailings is a critical determinant.

Processing Costs: Efficient and cost-effective processing is essential.

Environmental Regulations: Compliance with environmental regulations adds to the overall cost.

However,with gold prices remaining relatively high and advancements in recovery technologies,secondary gold production from tailings is becoming increasingly attractive. The market for recycled gold is also growing, driven by sustainability concerns and investor demand.

Case studies in Tailings Reclamation

While the Houston duo’s project is relatively new, successful tailings reclamation projects exist globally:

Newmont Corporation (Nevada, USA): Newmont has invested heavily in reprocessing tailings at several of its Nevada gold mines, significantly increasing gold production and reducing environmental liabilities.

AngloGold Ashanti (South Africa): AngloGold Ashanti has undertaken extensive tailings reprocessing projects to recover residual gold and rehabilitate historical mine sites.

Various Projects in China: China has a large number of tailings ponds, and numerous companies are actively involved in reprocessing them to recover gold and other valuable metals.

Practical Tips for evaluating Tailings Reprocessing Opportunities

For investors or companies considering tailings reprocessing, here are some key considerations:

Thorough Site Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the tailings pond, including its size, composition, and historical mining practices.

Detailed Sampling & Analysis: Collect representative samples of the tailings and analyze them for gold content, cyanide levels,