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Iberian partners with UBC to research X-leach formula
2016-09-22 08:34 ET - News Release
Mr. Rick Gliege reports
UBC RESEARCHERS TO COLLABORATE WITH IBERIAN MINERALS ON X-LEACH CYANIDE ALTERNATIVE
Iberian Minerals Ltd. has arranged a research collaboration for the eco-friendly HM X-leach, non-cyanide-based leach formula with the University of British Columbia's NBK Institute of Mining Engineering. The collaboration is awarded through Mitacs, a national not-for-profit training and research organization, which connects companies with university researchers who apply their specialized expertise on a research challenge. Interns transfer their skills from theory to real-world application, while the companies gain a competitive advantage by accessing high-quality research expertise.
For the previous 12 months, the Iberian technical team, which is working in conjunction with Met-Solve Laboratories, has been developing and testing the unique X-leach formula on a number of different ores, concentrates, tailings and electronic waste.
The patent-pending X-leach formula has been developed to be a non-toxic, economical and effective alternative to cyanide and acid-based lixiviants. Independent testing has proven that the X-leach formulas and processes are typically faster than cyanide and have effective recovery rates to 99 per cent.
The research collaboration, awarded by Mitacs, is for one year and is valued at $45,000. Through a Mitacs accelerate internship, Iberian Minerals will develop a close relationship with the UBC NBK Institute of Mining faculty, which will be overseeing the PhD student/intern on his research and development of the HM X-leach.
Hanif Jafari, BSc, MEng, the selected intern for the project, has entered into the UBC PhD program in mining and mineral process engineering. Mr. Jafari was most recently an associate researcher with UBC for over two years focusing on chemical analysis, analyzing testwork data for processing plants, and applying processing methods such as flotation and leaching, gravity, and magnetic concentration. In addition, he has worked as a field and mining engineer on various projects in Iran from 2007 to 2011. Mr. Jafari will be working closely with the company's technical team at the Iberian Minerals laboratory in Coquitlam.
"We are proud to be part of this impressive research team assembled by Mitacs," commented Duane Nelson. "The University of British Columbia has a world-class team of researchers, including Dr. Marcello Veiga, Hanif's supervisor, who has extensive experience as a metallurgical engineer and environmental geochemist. We look forward to working with this team to advance our innovative non-cyanide-based leach formula."