Technology & Process
Integrated hydrometallurgy for a polymetallic mineral system
Natércia is being developed around an integrated hydrometallurgical strategy designed to recover value from nickel, cobalt and magnesium within the same mineral system.
Heap Leaching · MHP · MgSO₄ · Downstream Ni–Co Refining
Process strategy
A process strategy built around Heap Leaching
Sulfuric-acid heap leaching is the core extraction platform under development for Natércia. The strategy combines selective ore preparation and homogenization with solution-based processing, enabling nickel, cobalt and magnesium to be addressed through an integrated hydrometallurgical route.
Selective ore management
Defined and homogenized ore lots.
Heap leach platform
Solution-based extraction from the weathered mineral system.
Integrated recovery
Ni, Co and Mg within a common processing strategy.
Integrated Hydrometallurgical Route
Conceptual process route under development for the Natércia Project.
Technology development
Process development in practice
The Natércia processing strategy is being progressively developed through physical testwork, solution-chemistry studies and product-recovery trials.
Column leaching
Heap-leach development and column testwork.
Solution chemistry
Solution conditioning and purification testwork.
MHP test product
Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate produced during Ni–Co recovery testwork.
Value recovery
From one mineral system to multiple value streams
Ni–Co stream
MHP
Primary Ni–Co intermediate
The core route targets Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate as the initial nickel–cobalt product, establishing a defined intermediate while preserving the pathway toward greater downstream integration.
Magnesium stream
MgSO₄
Integrated magnesium valorization
Magnesium is evaluated as a recoverable component of the process solution rather than solely as a processing burden, creating the potential for an additional product stream alongside nickel and cobalt.
Downstream development
Beyond intermediate production
MHP
SX-based separation & purification
NiSO₄ + CoSO₄
MBR's medium-term technology roadmap extends beyond intermediate production. The development strategy includes solvent-extraction-based separation and purification aimed at nickel and cobalt sulfate products.
This downstream pathway is conceived as a modular extension of the core hydrometallurgical platform, enabling progressive vertical integration as technical development advances.
Medium-term development pathway. Not implemented at commercial scale, and not a requirement for the initial MHP route.
Scale-up strategy
Progressive technology de-risking
Development is focused on progressively validating the integrated route, connecting key unit operations and building the engineering basis required for future scale-up.
- 01
Process development
- 02
Integrated validation
- 03
Pilot scale-up
- 04
Engineering development
Building an integrated critical-minerals platform
Natércia combines geological and metallurgical development with hydrometallurgical innovation and a progressive pathway toward downstream integration.