Typical Improvement Ranges and Caveat

Proven Across Ore Types & Scales

The Continuum Physics methodology has been applied across:

Porphyry copper systems

Carlin-type gold deposits

Skarn polymetallic operations

Block cave and open-pit mines

From mid-tier operations to large-scale processing plants exceeding 100 ktpd, CPS-driven diagnostics consistently identify structural value opportunities.

Publicly Reported Case Studies

Operational Context

Bottlenecks across crushing, grinding, and flotation limiting annual production performance.

Peñasquito - Polymetallic (Au-Ag-Zn-Pb)

Operation: Newmont
Processing Scale: ~130 ktpd large-scale concentrator

Cortez – Carlin-Type Gold

Operation: Barrick Cortez
Processing Context: High-intensity blast trials linked to mill performance

Physics Context

Cross-circuit energy and constraint analysis identified coordinated optimization opportunities across comminution and flotation stages.

Quantified Outcome

• +7% annual throughput (vs 2020 baseline)

• >US$300M annual free cash flow uplift

Operational Context

Fragmentation variability and blast movement uncertainty were limiting mill throughput potential.

Physics Context

Higher-intensity blasting trials revealed >US$1M incremental value potential from blast movement optimization. Integrated mine–dispatch–mill modeling showed improved energy transfer efficiency.

Quantified Outcome

• +16% achievable throughput via integrated mine-to-mill strategy

• >US$1M incremental value from blast optimization

Cadia Hill – Porphyry Copper-Gold

Operation: Newcrest (now Newmont)
Processing Context: SAG circuit & blast-feed control

Operational Context

Feed size variability impacting SAG mill stability and limiting throughput.

Physics Context

Drill pattern tightening, increased powder factor, and improved drilling quality reduced SAG feed from 100→80 mm.

Quantified Outcome

• ~10% SAG throughput uplift

• ~200 tph throughput increase

• Improved circuit stability

Antamina – Skarn Cu-Zn

Operation: Compañía Minera Antamina
Processing Scale: Large-scale (>100 ktpd class)

Operational Context

Throughput variability and optimization opportunity across crushing and grinding.

Physics Context

Mine-to-mill optimization integrating Metso PTI analysis identified structural throughput improvement.

Quantified Outcome

• +30% throughput credited to optimization

• Historical context: 4,400 tph average (2011), +60% vs pre-2007

Cerro Corona – Cu-Au

Operation: Gold Fields La Cima S.A.A.
Processing Type: Hard ore campaigns

Operational Context

Throughput constraints during harder ore campaigns while maintaining grind size.

Physics Context

Process integration and optimization (PIO) aligned energy application with ore hardness profile.

Quantified Outcome

• +14.8% throughput on target hard ore

• +5.7% overall throughput

• –9.3% SAG specific energy

• Product size maintained

Reference

(Source Link)

Newmont (May 2023). "Full Potential Program Unlocks Significant Value from Former Goldcorp Operations"

Reference

Powell, M., Kanchibotla, S., Jokovic, V., Hilden, M., Bonfils, B., Musunuri, A., Moyo, P., Yu, S., Young, J., Yaroshak, P., Yalcin, E., & Gorain, B. (2018). Advanced mine-to-mill application at the Barrick Cortez mine. In Proceedings of the 14th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2018. The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

(Source Link)

Reference

Hart, S., Valery, W., Clements, B., Reed, M., Song, S., & Dunne, R. (2001). Optimisation of the Cadia Hill SAG mill circuit. SAG 2001, Vancouver, Canada.

(Source Link)

Reference

Samuel, M. (2012). Mine-to-mill mastery: Antamina boosts throughput for hard ores with support from Metso PTI. CIM Magazine, 7(7), 44–46.

(Source Link)

Metso case study, Increased production and energy efficiency for optimized Antamina mine.

(Source Link)

Reference

La Rosa, D., Caron, K., Valery, W., Diaz, R., & Mamani, H. (2015). Blast Fragmentation Impacts on Downstream Processing at Goldfields Cerro Corona. 11th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting.

(Source Link)