HELSINKI, Finland, Dec. 1, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Metso Minerals will partner with Talvivaara Mining Company Ltd. on research and development. The agreed cooperation is part of the Talvivaara Mine's measures to come up with a Bankable Feasibility Study in 2006 to back up major investment decisions for the Talvivaara Mine. Metso Minerals brings to the project technological know-how and resources for rock processing and bulk materials handling process development and will use the project also for its own technology development purposes.
The Talvivaara polymetallic deposits in Sotkamo, Finland comprise the largest known sulphide nickel resource in Europe, with 340 million tons of classified resources. The ore bodies contain also substantial amounts of copper, zinc and cobalt. Talvivaara plans to utilize the so-called bioheapleaching technology in its ore beneficiation process. In bioheapleaching the metals are recovered by the assistance of the ore's natural bacteria in a heap.
In the project, Metso Minerals will develop the rock processing and bulk materials handling process to create the optimum environment for bioheapleaching, enabling the process to economically produce the maximum amount of metals. The ore is crushed to a size of 8 mm and piled into large heaps for the process to function.
Metso Minerals will utilize the process and technological know-how emerging during the project in developing its global mining technology. Once in operation, the Talvivaara mine will bring Metso significant equipment and aftermarket potential.
Metso is a global technology corporation serving customers in the pulp and paper industry, rock and minerals processing, the energy industry and selected other industries. In 2004, the net sales of Metso Corporation were approx. EUR 4 billion, and it has some 23,000 employees in more than 50 countries. Metso's shares are listed on the Helsinki and New York Stock Exchanges.