News
July 2009
Cortez Hills Project Nears Completion
The Cortez Hills project in Nevada, owned by Barrick Gold USA, is nearing the final stages of completion. ThyssenKrupp Robins was selected to design and supply a complete new 9 mile long belt conveyor system for transporting gold ore from an above ground mine in the Cortez Hills to an existing Heap Leach Plant. The system is designed to handle 1,000 stph.
The ThyssenKrupp Robins scope of supply included a belt feeder and five conveyors that make up the conveying system. The 90 ft long variable speed belt feeder will transfer primary crushed ore to the first of the 5 conveyors, which vary from 200 ft to 38,000 ft in length.
The most complex conveyor of the system is the 38,000 ft regenerative overland conveyor that runs at 900 fpm with a 2 mile long downhill section that drops 900 vertical feet. This is followed by a long radius horizontal curve section. A unique control system was developed to verify that the proper belt tension is achieved between the drives.
The project is expected to be completed by the 1st quarter of 2010.
The conveyor route from the mine is being prepared for conveyor installation. The conveyed ore will discharge at the existing plant in the distance.