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Heap Leach Plant Design & EPCM

KCA engineered the third heap leach in the world — 500+ projects later, we remain the heap-leach reference firm.

KCA engineered our first heap leach at Manhattan, Nevada in 1972 — only the third heap leach in the world. Five decades and 500+ projects later, the heap-leach flowsheet is still our defining capability. From bench-scale column tests through bankable feasibility, detailed design, EPCM, commissioning, and operations review — KCA covers the entire heap-leach lifecycle from one Reno facility.

1972 · Manhattan, NV
First heap leach
500+
Heap leach projects
21,100 TPD (Ivrindi)
Largest delivered
74
Modular plants delivered

Pad Design & Geotechnical

Heap pad layout, liner system specification, leak-detection design, slope stability, and stage-build sequencing. KCA designs pads for capacities from 500 TPD pilot heaps to 21,000+ TPD industrial operations.

Crushing & Agglomeration

Two- and three-stage crushing circuits, optional HPGR for finer crush sizes, and agglomeration with cement or lime to stabilize fines and improve heap permeability. Pulp-agglomeration designs (Dolores) for ultrafine ores.

Solution Application & Collection

Drip or sprinkler irrigation design, pregnant-solution collection ponds, barren-solution return systems. Engineered for the application rate matched to column-test kinetics on your specific ore.

Recovery Plant

ADR (Adsorption / Desorption / Recovery), Merrill-Crowe, or hybrid flowsheets sized to PLS flow and grade. Standardized modular packages or fully custom site-built.

Doré-Bar Production

Electrolytic cells, mercury retorts where applicable, tilting-crucible smelting furnaces (3 KCA models: 225T / 430T / 800T), matched scrubbers, and gold-room layouts that meet US, Mexican, Turkish, and Australian regulatory limits.

Cyanide Destruction & Closure

INCO SO₂/air or peroxide cyanide-destruction circuits. Tailings dewatering. Closure planning consistent with permit conditions and post-closure water-treatment requirements.

Reference Projects

Where KCA has deployed this.

Related Capabilities

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