Industrial minerals

Innovative solutions supporting project financing and development.

We understand that the industrial minerals business is different from other mining sectors. Our thorough understanding of these unique markets combined with our capability to deliver industrial minerals projects globally make us a valuable flexible partner to assist you through every step of the project.

We provide full capabilities from initial resource analysis studies through to detailed engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) and construction management (EPCM) for industrial minerals globally. Our team adds value at every project stage, with comprehensive expertise working on mining projects involving complex salt-processing technologies, such as potash and lithium brine, as well as other hard rock deposits.

Today our industrial minerals experience and expertise includes recent and ongoing studies and projects around the globe in potash, lithium and diamonds in addition to others like phosphate and gypsum.

Potash

A recognised global leader in potash mining and processing, we have worked, and in many cases continue to work, on every major potash property in Canada, as well as significant deposits overseas. In the last 10 years, we have undertaken dozens of studies and projects at potash mines and mills. We apply our operations and consulting expertise to assess deposits, design and supervise metallurgical testing programs, install and operate pilot plants and demonstration plants, conduct feasibility studies, and prepare efficient and cost-effective mine and plant designs. Our recognised centre of excellence for potash process studies and design in Saskatoon, Canada, has been continuously involved in the development and improvement of potash mines, mills and ancillary facilities around the world.

As K+S Potash Canada's design and project management partner, we provided engineering, procurement and construction management services for the multi-billion dollar Bethune mine, the first new potash plant built in Saskatchewan in 40 years and world's most modern potash facility. The K+S Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of standard and speciality fertilizers and the world's leading producer in the salt business.

Lithium

We offer a full range of expertise and resources for the investigation, assessment and development of lithium mining projects whether they be salt/brine or hard-rock lithium projects.

For lithium brine-based projects, we provided consulting and engineering support in North America, South America and Europe, and worked with a number of independent contractors on lithium brine projects in Chile and Argentina. The exploration and development of lithium brine deposits requires close collaboration among experts in basin analysis, geophysics, hydrogeology, brine chemistry, laboratory and field testwork, resource estimation, and process design.

We also provide comprehensive services and EPCM support for lithium hard-rock lithium projects (primarily recovering and processing spodumene), working with leading companies in the industry on projects in Chile, Australia, Europe and the US.

Diamonds

From resource development, managing exploration and testwork through to providing comprehensive EPCM services, we played an integral role in most of the diamond projects developed in Canada, as well as properties in South Africa, Namibia, Angola and Botswana. Globally, we are one of the best-recognised authorities on diamond resource evaluation.

We provided EPCM for Canada's first diamond mine, Ekati, in the Northwest Territories and overcame logistical challenges providing EPCM services on the Victor diamond mine, Ontario’s most remote and inaccessible mine.

Leveraging our global team from Canada, UK, and South Africa, we provided studies, resource and reserve audits for the Debswana operating diamond mine in Botswana to maximise efficiency and improve operational stability at the largest open-pit diamond mine in the world. Most recently, we have provided EPC on the Cullinan Mill Extension project in South Africa.