Key points
- TMC’s pilot processing campaign converted seafloor polymetallic nodules into an alloy containing critical battery metals.
- The results move TMC closer to building a full scale metallurgical processing plant.
- TMC’s planned dual pyro and hydro metallurgical process targets near zero solid waste, unlike conventional land based mining.
- The company says residues would be recycled to the smelter instead of becoming tailings.
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The work bringsThe Metals Company one step closer to realizing its ambition of pursuing full-scale metallurgical processing plant to produce critical battery metals
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The Metals Company Processing Pilot Campaign Converts Seafloor Nodules into Alloy Containing Critical Battery Metals (Photo: Business Wire)
Led by The Metals Company’s Head of
“From a metallurgical perspective, nodules are a great feedstock to work with,” said
This latest stage in The Metals Company’s pilot processing program brings the company one step closer to realizing its ambition of building a full-scale metallurgical processing plant and advances the company’s mission of eliminating the solid waste streams and harmful tailings and residues associated with conventional land-based metal mining and production.
“These encouraging results show that nodules could provide an attractive alternative to land-based ores for securing high-volumes of the critical metals needed to achieve energy independence,” said
The Metals Company’s metallurgical strategy is to use a flowsheet which utilizes conventional equipment in a process that intends to generate near-zero solid waste. Compared to land-based ores, polymetallic nodules have relatively lower levels of harmful elements, and the company’s planned dual pyro / hydro-metallurgical process is expected to allow for residues to be recycled to the smelter and for the selection of reagents that produce products instead of waste.
About The Metals Company
**TMC the metals company Inc. (
