Minerals and Metallurgy

Platform Overview

Delivering Industry Support Today, Developing Next Gen Technology, Processes and Products for Tomorrow

The Minerals and Metallurgy Platform supports current minerals industries with process improvements and efficiencies while anticipating next-generation technologies and products. Researchers work to define Minnesota’s mineral resources and demonstrate competitive, responsible resource use and seek new opportunities.

Our staff expertise and testing capabilities in mineral characterization, mineral processing and metallurgy are recognized by regional and international clients. Discovery and operational research teams work together across our facilities in an innovative approach to minerals and metallurgy.

With facilities located in northern Minnesota near Lake Superior (NRRI Duluth) as well as the Mesabi Iron Range (NRRI Coleraine), NRRI labs are strategically positioned to serve mineral resource-based industries and their product supply chains. 

Platform Goals

  1. Perform discovery research aimed at advancing the state of the art in technology and mineral processing.
  2. Perform operational research aimed at addressing our clients needs on schedule and on budget.

Minerals and Metallurgy Capabilities and Expertise

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Expertise

NRRI has deep expertise and capabilities in the following areas:

  • Economic Geology & Geometallurgy
  • Mineral and Material Characterization
    • Geology
    • Mineralogy
    • Metallogy
    • Geometallurgy
  • Mineral Processing
    • Comminution
    • Screening
    • Beneficiation
    • Agglomeration
  • Metallurgy
    • Pyrometallurgy 
    • Hydrometallurgy
  • Secondary Products

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Meet Our Experts

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Bench Scale to Pilot Scale Capabilities

NRRI has bench to pilot scale capabilities, which decreases capital investment for our clients and decreases risk in product development. 

Bench Scale Testing and Development

The purpose of bench-scale testing is to:

  • Generate basic characterization and metallurgical data
  • Develop and/or test a process flowsheet
  • Determine the process parameters for pilot-scale testing
  • Test multiple process variants at a small scale (lbs/Kgs) for time and cost efficiency
  • Narrow the scope of the work for pilot testing
  • Sizing of equipment used at this scale is generally 5 to 10 orders of magnitude smaller than industrial scale

Pilot Scale Testing and Development

The purpose of pilot-scale testing is to:

  • Validate a process flowsheet
  • Assess technical aspects that cannot be detected on smaller-scale (e.g., impurity buildup in products over time, effect of recirculation of water and slurry streams, etc.)
  • Work with tons of material at a scale that facilitates development of data for industrial plant design
  • Generate bulk materials for further characterization and down-stream testing
  • Sizing of equipment is generally 2 to 4 orders of magnitude smaller than industrial scale