Ever-growing demand for critical minerals, especially copper, means the mining industry faces a growing supply shortage. Loop Hydrometallurgy has introduced the Halion Loop technology, a new hydrometallurgical process that enables mines to produce high-purity copper on-site, reducing reliance on traditional smelting. This innovative process is built on a saltwater-based extraction method that minimises costs, water usage, power consumption, and carbon emissions.
Unlike conventional technologies that require high temperatures, high pressures, and complex refining processes, the Halion Loop simplifies copper recovery while making it economically viable to process low-grade, polymetallic, and arsenic-contaminated ores.
A key feature of the technology is its next-generation electrowinning cell, which reduces power consumption for copper recovery by up to 70 per cent, giving it the lowest carbon footprint of any copper extraction method globally. Trials in 2024 demonstrated the capabilities of the Halion Loop. According to Loop Hydrometallurgy, the process achieved 99 per cent copper extraction from ores with as little as eight per cent copper content and from particles as large as 1080 microns.
Optrix has developed ARDI, a DataOps platform designed to consolidate, analyse and visualise operational data from mining machines and processes. ARDI acts as a centralised data integration tool, bringing together multiple data sources into a single accessible interface.
The technology has already demonstrated its value in several key areas, including remote monitoring, where it provides real-time visualisation of mining activities. It has also been instrumental in data-driven decision-making, helping companies identify inefficiencies and optimise performance. Machine learning capabilities within ARDI further enhance its impact, allowing for predictive maintenance enhanced performance.
By analysing operator behaviour and machine performance, the platform can highlight areas for improvement, leading to increased productivity and reduced equipment downtime. In mineral processing, ARDI has been used to fine-tune plant operations, improving throughput while minimising energy consumption.
Currently in its growth stage, Optrix is expanding its presence in the mining sector by providing a comprehensive solution for digital integration. With the ability to create a single source of truth for mining operations, ARDI is helping companies bridge the gap between raw data and actionable insights, making digital mining operations more efficient, cost-effective and sustainable.
