1. Mike Rockandel
Principal Advisor Process
Qualifications: BSc Metallurgical Engineering (1974);
University of British Columbia
Languages: English
Career Background:
More than 40 years of process experience including, development, design, equipment specification
and selection, Hazop analysis, commissioning and startup planning and supervision and operations
supervision and technical team management.. Skilled in process modelling with tools such as
Metsim, SysCad, HSC. The work has been broad based covering projects in the metallurgical,
industrial minerals, chemical, and environmental industries. Currently hold ninepatents, six patents
relating to soda ash processing, one relating to heavy metal recovery from waste and one related to
mercury recovery from chlor-alkali waste and one of MAP inventors.
Career History:
August 2014 – Present
Rio Tinto, Technical and Innovation Group
Chief Advisor Process
Manage a team of process engineers in technical support of Rio Tinto Americas operations.
Technical Reviewer La Granja primary copper sulphide heap leach project.
October 2008 -August 2014
Rio Tinto, Technical and Innovation Group
Principal Advisor Process
Participation and review on the Refinery precious metals plant process for Tellurium removal.
Modelling of the smelting response of Oyu Tolgoi copper concentrate.
Assisted IOC on improvements to the tails flume system to prevent overflow during upset periods
A member of the Integrated Value Chain Evaluation team for the Oyu Tolgoi concentrator. My
responsibility was evaluation and recommendations to increase value of the flotation circuit.
Project lead on RT KUC copper recovery from acid mine drainage. SX, IX, cementation were examined
and ultimately chose an advanced cementation technique utilizing vibrating mills. Plant is in normal
operation.
Engineering manager and technical support on the prefeasibility study for Phase 2 – Oyu Tolgoi (65,000
t/d) copper/gold concentrator in Mongolia. Duties included; engineering document and progress review,
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2. development of annual water balance, mass balance development, operating cost LOM development,
PFD/PID and specification review, assisted in final report write-up.
T&I representative for the detailed design of Kennecott Utah Copper’s Molybdenum Autoclave Project
(patented MAP). Lead the development of late stage modification of: Rhenium Continuous IX design,
Molybdenum Oxide two-stage calcination, selenium removal and various other optimization studies.
Project Lead for Kennecott Utah Copper smelter Continuous Ion Exchange (CIX) Rhenium recovery
project. This culminated in a success commercial installation.
Project lead on the KUC arsenic Slag Concentrate Leach Study. The goal was to remove arsenic from
the circuit and therefore reducing the arsenic content of the anodes.
Project lead for Kennecott’s acid mine water neutralization and tailings line scale prevention.
T&I representative on refinery cathode quality study.
T&I representative on the Kennecott Copper Heap Leach Pilot project (chalcopyrite/pyrite). Duties have
included technical reviews and consultation to the plant personnel.
Lead the development of an integrated mass/energy balance for KUC smelter and refinery. The model is
utilized to predict smelting and refining performance and the deportment of precious metals and
impurities with changing feed stock.
Representative to Escondida on the heap leach expansion.
T&I representative to the Rio Tinto Minerals Jadar project – Lithium and Boron recovery in Serbia.
January 2008 – Octoberr 2008
Baja Mining
Manager of Process Engineer
Owner’s Representative for process engineering related to the development of Baja Mining’s proposed
polymetallic plant designed to produce 60,000 mtpa Cu, along with cobalt, zinc sulfate and manganese
carbonate by processing 10,000 tpd of clay based oxide ore. Duties have included; over-seeing AMEC’s
design effort, updating the mass/energy balance and design criteria, flow sheet optimization, test work
development and supervision. The project which is currently in start-up is a complex hydromet plant
including; copper SX/EW, zinc SX and zinc sulfate crystallization, cobalt SX/IX/EW, sulfur burning,
double contact acid plant, thermal d-salination, oxidative and SO2 reductive leaching and a 6 stage
CCD.
August 2005 – December 2008
Aker Kvaerner
Senior Principal Process Engineer
Lead Process Engineer on Kennecott MAP molybdenum project
Assistant Process Engineer on Freeport McMoran Morenci copper pressure leach project
Assisted CMEC (Chinese Machinery Export Company) in the preparation and bid on the ETI Soda 1 MM
mtpy soda ash facility in Beypazari, Turkey. This project is still being negotiaited.
Lead process engineer for the feasibility study for the Columbia SM calcium carbonate conversion
project that is proposing to produce 50,000 tpy of food grade calcium carbonate.
Lead process engineer/project manager for a pre-feasibility study for ETI Maden, Turkey to produce
15,000 mt/y of sodium borate anhydrous from pentahydrate..
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3. Lead process engineer for a feasibility study conducted for Wold Trona Company investigating solution
mining of Trona in Green River, Wyoming.
Performed mass and energy balances for the Phelps Dodge high temperature copper pressure leach
operation commercialized in Bagdad, Arizona. Performed the subsequent mass and energy balances for
the proposed conversion of the operation to medium temperature with elemental sulfur generation.
Performed mass and energy balances for the gas handling system upgrade at Inco’s nickel smelter in
Sudbury, Ontario.
Updated mass and energy balances for the Thai Cooper Smelter.
Lead process engineer for a bankable feasibility study for the ETI Banks trona project in Beypazari,
Turkey. The process included an underground mine, coupled with conventional monohydrate technology.
Kvaerner designed, supervised and coordinated the pilot effort that processed the material from
calcination, through dissolving, polishing, forced circulation crystallization and drying.
Lead process engineer for a conceptual study for Rio Tinto’s Kazan property near Ankara, Turkey. The
study examined various conventional and solution mining options coupled with co-generation. The
project included dynamic and steady state modelling of saturated solar ponds. Kvaerner is also assisting
with the process development and test design.
August 2004 -August 2005
Rio Tinto, Diavik Diamonds and Minerals
Manger of Process Expansion Project
Responsible for acquiring capacity data and managing the proposed recovery expansion
project.
June 1996 -July 2004
Aker Kvaerner
Lead Process Engineer
Lead Process and startup engineer for American Soda’s soda ash and sodium bicarbonate
solution mining project in northwest Colorado. The processing facility designed to produce
800,000 short tons of soda ash and 150,000 tons of U.S.P. quality sodium bicarbonate
uses innovative solution mining and carbon dioxide stripping technology combined with unit
operations similar to those used at the Green River soda ash operations.
Lead Process Engineer for the in-progress engineering design for the Magadi Soda
Company. A novel re-crystallization process was developed to produce 365,000 mtpy of
high quality soda ash from the Lake Magadi, Kenya deposit. The project includes; trona
dredging, washing, roller mill grinding, flash calcination, re-crystallization and fluid bed
drying. The project included extensive process development at the lab and pilot scale.
Contracted to Botash in Botswana to perform a de-bottlenecking study for their solution
mining process. The plant that produces about 300,000 tpy of soda ash is very similar in
design to the former Searles Lake plant in Trona, CA.
Lead Process Engineer for a US Borax study to upgrade trona from Owen’s Lake. The
process included trona crushing, sulfate removal, filtration and partial calcination of the
product. This project is in the permitting stage.
Lead Process Engineer for an IMC Chemicals study to produce Burkeite and expand
sodium borate production at their Trona, CA works. I also assisted in the design of a de-
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4. bottlenecking effort that added heat exchange and carbonation capacity to the bicarbonate
crystallization area.
Startup Engineer for the OCI Wyoming’s soda ash plant Unit 6 expansion. This expansion
increased soda ash production by 800,000 tons per year.
Process Engineer studying a number of debottlenecking projects for the OCI Wyoming
Units 3, 4, and 5 refineries. Projects included: evaporator capacity increase, dust handling
system improvements, dissolver area computer simulation and equipment capacity
evaluation, ore handling capacity, reagent automation, thickener automation and pumping
system modification, product cooling and screening, decahydrate recovery, and CCD
upgrading. As part of the effort a dynamic simulation computer model was prepared for
Units 3,4 and 5.
Lead process engineer for the proposed TG soda ash expansion project based upon
processing mine water. The flow sheet included; carbon dioxide stripping, decahydrate
crystallization and other conventional monohydrate processing steps.
Senior Process Engineer for the development of the Owens Lake Soda Ash property in
Owens Valley, California (numerous patents). Responsible for all aspects of the process
development from beaker scale through three stages of piloting and on to preliminary
engineering. Co-inventor of a patent for a process to de-colorize brine. Process
Representative to Owens Lake Soda Ash Company on the design of a proposed 600,000-
tpy soda ash facility. Responsible for preparation of mass and energy balances; assistance
in preparation of design criteria; specification and selection of equipment; preparation of
P&IDs; conceptual mine plan development; and technical input for the environmental impact
report. In the early development of the project extensive modelling and testing of a
saturated non-convective solar pond was required.
Performed a study for Gencor, South Africa, which compared a stand-alone zinc pressure
leach versus a roast-leach plant. The study included flow sheet preparation, material and
energy balances, operating and capital cost estimation, and an environmental assessment.
On the Magnolia power plant project in Burbank, CA I prepared the specifications and bid
comparisons for the Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD system and reagent skids. I interfaced with
the ZLD vendor Aquatech, checking PID’s, material and energy balances and operating
procedures and manuals.
May 1991 – June 1996
Universal Dynamics
Process Manager
Supervised Alcan Aluminum, Kitimat BC, Two Dry Scrubber replacement and upgrade
projects for potlines 1-3 and then 7 and 8. This included the installation of alumina
injection, reaction ducting, dust recovery and pneumatic conveying systems for product
alumina.
Developed and co-invented a hydrometallurgical process for the removal and recovery of
mercury from chloralkali plant water treatment residues (patented ReMerc). Three
commercial plants have been constructed in the USA since 1993.
Supervised and provided process design for a fluid bed sodium chlorate drying, pneumatic
conveying and truck/rail bulk loadout system at BC Chemical, Prince George, BC.
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5. Process design for an expansion of Continental Lime’s precipitated calcium carbonate
circuit.
May 1990 – May 1991
Residuals Management, Denver CO
Process Manager
Provided technical direction on the development of the municipal wastewater detoxification
process (patented Detox) and subsequent heavy metal recovery facility. Co-inventor of
Detox process. Engineering studies and pilot scale test work were completed.
Provided consultation and technical direction to Superfine Sulfur in the development of their
emulsified sulfur process. The project included design and operation of a 10 kg/min pilot
plant that produced agricultural grade emulsified sulfur. Lead the development of a process
for the recovery of high purity sulfur from geo-thermal and volcanic sulfur sources. The work
included laboratory test work and pilot plant design. The primary goal was the removal of
detrimental components; arsenic, selenium, tellurium and mercury from the elemental sulfur.
Performed material and energy balances and economic evaluation for a new low
temperature technology for depolymerizing Polyethylene Terepthalate (PET) to Di-methyl
Terepthalate (DMT) and ethylene glycol. The project, a joint venture between, the Alberta
Research Council and Alberta Environmental Systems proposed to recycle post consumer
PET.
May 1987 – May 1990
Graeton Technology, Hong Kong
Process Manager
As the Operations Manager for Graeton Technology, Hong Kong was responsible for all
operational aspects of the plant including managing several phases of expansion and
product diversification. Graeton had developed a novel process for producing lead-based
stabilizer lubricant systems for PVC processing. The process utilized ammonium acetate /
oxygen pressure leaching to dissolve lead metal that was subsequently precipitated with
ammonia and ammonium sulphate to produce tri-basic lead sulphate. The plant included;
pressure leaching in steam heated jacketted reactors, ammonia recovery, flash drying,
packaging, metal stearate production by fusion and Sandvik belt flaking.
May 1978 – May 1987
Cominco Ltd., Trail BC, Canada
Metallurgical Engineer
Responsible for troubleshooting and de-bottlenecking the former Cominco Con Gold Mine
arsenic trioxide plant. The work included; laboratory, pilot plant and field process
verification. The process featured a number of complex interactions between various
oxidative states of antimony and arsenic. This led to a successful pilot-scale test and
commercial implementation. The changes and improved operation were critical in the sale
of the property.
Worked on design and coordinated the start of Cominco’s zinc fume leaching plant which
de-halogenated lead slag fuming dust using a sodium carbonate leach.
Superintendent for Cominco’s Zinc Pressure Leach Plant, involved in the final stages of
design, start-up planning, training and plant start-up. The project featured the first oxygen-
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6. sulfuric acid leach to operate above the melting point of sulfur. The process produced zinc
sulfate solution and marketable molten elemental sulfur. I supervised the plant from startup
through achieving in excess of 100% of plant design.
Research and Development Engineer responsible for troubleshooting operating plants
including bi-polar lead refining and lead refinery arsenic fluoride scrubbing.
Worked on computer simulation and developed a dynamic simulation of a crossflow SO2
scrubber which was used to successfully size Cominco’s acid plant tail gas scrubbing
system. Helped develop the Modbal program which was used to simulate Cominco’s
modernization plan. I was responsible for the simulation of several plant areas including;
the acid plants, fertilizer operations and Kivcet smelter.
May 1974 – May 1978
Texasgulf, Timmins, ON, Canada
Research Metallurgist and Mechanical Engineer
Responsible for troubleshooting acid plant corrosion problems and leach plant pumping
problems.
Assisted in the development of a three-stage hydrometallurgical process for the treatment
of a low-grade lead concentrate. Work included laboratory test design, pilot plant design
and supervision, specification and selection of pilot plant equipment. The process included
oxygen pressure leaching of a mixed; lead, copper, zinc sulfide concentrate below the
melting point of sulfur, sulfur leaching
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2008 - Present Rio Tinto, Salt Lake City, UT
2008 Baja Mining, Vancouver, BC
2005-2008 Aker Kvaerner, Tucson, AZ
2004-05 Diavik Diamond Mines, NWT
1996-04 Kvaerner, San Ramon, CA
1991-96 Universal Dynamics, Vancouver, BC
1990-91 Residuals Management Inc., Denver, CO
1988-90 Graeton Technology Ltd., Hong Kong
1987-88 Mining Transactions, Walnut Creek, CA
1978-87 Cominco Metals Ltd., Trail, BC
1974-77 Texasgulf, Timmins,
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7. sulfuric acid leach to operate above the melting point of sulfur. The process produced zinc
sulfate solution and marketable molten elemental sulfur. I supervised the plant from startup
through achieving in excess of 100% of plant design.
Research and Development Engineer responsible for troubleshooting operating plants
including bi-polar lead refining and lead refinery arsenic fluoride scrubbing.
Worked on computer simulation and developed a dynamic simulation of a crossflow SO2
scrubber which was used to successfully size Cominco’s acid plant tail gas scrubbing
system. Helped develop the Modbal program which was used to simulate Cominco’s
modernization plan. I was responsible for the simulation of several plant areas including;
the acid plants, fertilizer operations and Kivcet smelter.
May 1974 – May 1978
Texasgulf, Timmins, ON, Canada
Research Metallurgist and Mechanical Engineer
Responsible for troubleshooting acid plant corrosion problems and leach plant pumping
problems.
Assisted in the development of a three-stage hydrometallurgical process for the treatment
of a low-grade lead concentrate. Work included laboratory test design, pilot plant design
and supervision, specification and selection of pilot plant equipment. The process included
oxygen pressure leaching of a mixed; lead, copper, zinc sulfide concentrate below the
melting point of sulfur, sulfur leaching
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
2008 - Present Rio Tinto, Salt Lake City, UT
2008 Baja Mining, Vancouver, BC
2005-2008 Aker Kvaerner, Tucson, AZ
2004-05 Diavik Diamond Mines, NWT
1996-04 Kvaerner, San Ramon, CA
1991-96 Universal Dynamics, Vancouver, BC
1990-91 Residuals Management Inc., Denver, CO
1988-90 Graeton Technology Ltd., Hong Kong
1987-88 Mining Transactions, Walnut Creek, CA
1978-87 Cominco Metals Ltd., Trail, BC
1974-77 Texasgulf, Timmins,
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