What is metallurgical accounting and how can we use it to improve productivity? - Mining & Mineral Processing Southern Africa

What is metallurgical accounting?

Metallurgical accounting is a comprehensive system of data collection, analysis, and reconciliation that tracks the flow of materials through a mineral processing plant, from the ore input to the final product. It involves measuring and reporting the quantities and qualities of raw material inputs, intermediate products, and final outputs, ensuring the accuracy and efficiency of the entire mining or processing operation.

Here are the key aspects of metallurgical accounting:

1. **Mass Balance**: Tracks the material flow and reconciles inputs, outputs, and losses to ensure that mass entering the system equals the mass exiting, accounting for losses during the process.

2. **Metal Balance**: Measures the distribution of valuable metals throughout the process, monitoring how much metal is recovered, lost, or remains in intermediate stages.

3. **Sampling**: Accurate and representative sampling is crucial for reliable metallurgical accounting. Samples are taken at various stages of the process to assess material composition and metal content.

4. **Data Collection and Reconciliation**: Data is gathered from various points (e.g., feed, concentrates, tailings) and reconciled to ensure consistency across the entire process. Discrepancies are investigated to identify any inefficiencies or issues.

5. **Process Control and Optimization**: The results from metallurgical accounting help to fine-tune process parameters, optimize recovery rates, reduce losses, and improve overall operational efficiency.

6. **Reporting**: Metallurgical accounting provides detailed reports on the performance of the plant, offering insights into recovery rates, product quality, and efficiency. These reports are essential for internal review, regulatory compliance, and investor relations.

7. **Economic Evaluation**: It helps in determining the economic value of the metals recovered and provides crucial data for financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. Effective metallurgical accounting is critical for maintaining transparency and maximizing the profitability of mining and mineral processing operations.

What is the AMIRA code of practice for metallurgical accounting?

The **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** is a globally recognized framework designed to standardize and improve the practices of metallurgical accounting in mining and mineral processing operations. Developed by the **AMIRA International** organization (an industry-funded research organization), the code sets guidelines for consistently tracking, measuring, and reporting the flow of materials through processing plants to ensure transparency, accuracy, and reliability in metallurgical accounting. Here are the key principles and components of the AMIRA Code of Practice:

### 1. **Transparency and Accuracy** The code emphasizes transparency in metallurgical accounting by ensuring all aspects of material measurement, sampling, and reporting are conducted rigorously and consistently. The goal is to provide accurate and verifiable data on the quantity and quality of materials at every stage of the process.

### 2. **Material and Metal Balance** The AMIRA code enforces the principle of performing detailed mass and metal balances across the entire processing chain. This means that all input materials, intermediates, and final products must be accurately measured, and the data must balance when accounting for losses, storage, or inefficiencies.

### 3. **Representative Sampling** A core tenet of the code is the importance of proper, representative sampling throughout the plant. This ensures that the samples taken for analysis accurately reflect the material stream's composition, allowing for precise metallurgical accounting. The code stresses the need for carefully designed sampling systems and procedures.

### 4. **Data Reconciliation and Validation** The code outlines a systematic approach to data reconciliation, where discrepancies between measured inputs and outputs are investigated and corrected. The objective is to ensure all reported figures are validated, reliable, and capable of being independently verified.

### 5. **Auditable Process** The AMIRA code requires that all aspects of metallurgical accounting be auditable. This means that the procedures, measurements, calculations, and reporting should be documented and maintained in a manner that allows external auditors to review and verify the process's accuracy and integrity.

### 6. **Standardization of Definitions and Metrics** The code aims to standardize key definitions, methodologies, and metrics across the mining industry to ensure consistency. For instance, it provides specific guidelines on how terms like "recovery," "yield," and "losses" should be defined and calculated to prevent discrepancies between different operations.

### 7. **Regular Calibration and Maintenance** All equipment used for measurement (e.g., weightometers, flow meters, sampling systems) must be regularly calibrated and maintained to ensure accuracy and reliability. The AMIRA code includes guidelines on how often and in what manner this should be done.

### 8. **Continuous Improvement and Best Practices** The AMIRA code encourages ongoing assessment and improvement of metallurgical accounting practices. This involves staying up to date with technological advancements, refining procedures, and ensuring that best practices are always followed.

### 9. **Governance and Accountability** The code assigns clear accountability for metallurgical accounting within the organization. This means establishing designated personnel or teams responsible for overseeing the accuracy and transparency of the accounting process, as well as for reporting to management and external stakeholders.

### 10. **Regulatory and Stakeholder Reporting** The code outlines procedures for transparent reporting to stakeholders, investors, and regulators, ensuring that metallurgical accounting is consistent with legal and financial obligations.

### Importance of AMIRA Code in Industry:

- **Enhances Operational Control**: Provides a better understanding of material flows, allowing for improved process optimization and decision-making.

- **Improves Investor Confidence**: Accurate and auditable metallurgical accounting increases transparency, which is crucial for investors and regulators.

- **Standardization**: Establishes a uniform set of practices across the industry, allowing for comparability and consistency between operations. The AMIRA code is widely adopted in the global mining industry to ensure rigorous, accurate, and auditable practices in metallurgical accounting, essential for maintaining the integrity of mining operations and financial reporting.

Who has applied the AMIRA code of practice and what are the results?

The **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** has been widely adopted by numerous mining companies and mineral processing operations globally. Companies that implement the AMIRA code aim to improve the accuracy, transparency, and reliability of their metallurgical accounting systems. Here are some examples of organizations and industries that have applied the AMIRA Code of Practice and the results they have achieved:

### 1. **Anglo American**

- **Application**: Anglo American, a leading global mining company, has applied the AMIRA Code of Practice at several of its operations, including copper, iron ore, and platinum mines.

- **Results**: By implementing the AMIRA standards, Anglo American reported significant improvements in the accuracy of its metal accounting systems. They achieved greater consistency in reporting production volumes, enhanced mass and metal balancing procedures, and increased transparency in financial reporting, which helped to build investor confidence and improve operational control.

### 2. **Rio Tinto**

- **Application**: Rio Tinto, one of the largest diversified mining companies, has applied the AMIRA Code across its mineral processing operations, including iron ore, copper, aluminum, and diamond mining.

- **Results**: The adoption of the AMIRA Code led to more accurate material tracking, especially in complex processes like iron ore beneficiation and copper concentration. This resulted in fewer material losses, improved recovery rates, and more robust data for internal audits and external reporting. It also enhanced the company’s ability to identify inefficiencies in the production process and optimize its mineral recovery systems.

### 3. **Newmont Mining Corporation**

- **Application**: Newmont, a major gold mining company, implemented the AMIRA Code at its various global operations, including in North America, Africa, and Australia.

- **Results**: Newmont saw improved reconciliation between production targets and actual outputs. The company reported more reliable financial forecasting and better regulatory compliance due to the enhanced transparency provided by the code. Newmont’s internal audits were streamlined, and the risk of financial discrepancies was reduced, resulting in more confidence from stakeholders and investors.

### 4. **Gold Fields**

- **Application**: Gold Fields, a prominent gold producer, applied the AMIRA Code to its operations in South Africa, Ghana, and Australia.

- **Results**: The company reported a more structured and standardized approach to metal accounting across its global operations. The accurate reporting of material flow and improved sampling practices led to better control over the metallurgical process. This ensured compliance with regulatory standards and reduced discrepancies in production reporting. As a result, Gold Fields improved its profitability and minimized metal losses during processing.

### 5. **Glencore**

- **Application**: Glencore, a leading diversified natural resource company, integrated the AMIRA Code of Practice at its metallurgical plants for processing copper, zinc, lead, and other metals.

- **Results**: The implementation of the AMIRA standards allowed Glencore to refine its metal balance and data reconciliation procedures. The company saw improved process control, higher recovery rates, and a reduction in material loss across its operations. It also contributed to better stakeholder confidence due to the transparency and auditability of the company's metal accounting reports.

### General Results Observed Across the Industry:

1. **Increased Transparency and Investor Confidence**: Mining companies that adopt the AMIRA Code have reported improvements in their financial reporting and transparency. Investors and regulators have greater confidence in the accuracy of the production data and financial forecasts.

2. **Improved Process Control**: By adhering to the code’s principles, companies are able to implement more accurate material and metal balance calculations. This leads to better control over the plant’s metallurgical processes and optimized recovery rates.

3. **Reduced Discrepancies and Losses**: The code helps to standardize practices and minimize discrepancies between the expected and actual production figures. Companies have reported fewer material losses and improved efficiency in metal recovery.

4. **Regulatory Compliance and Auditing**: The AMIRA Code ensures that metallurgical accounting practices meet global regulatory standards. Companies have reported easier regulatory compliance and more effective internal and external audits.

5. **Enhanced Data Accuracy and Sampling**: Proper sampling and measurement protocols as stipulated in the code result in more accurate and representative data, allowing companies to fine-tune their operations and improve profitability.

### Challenges:

- **Implementation Costs**: Some companies report that the initial implementation of the AMIRA Code involves significant investment in training, equipment upgrades, and new procedures. However, the long-term benefits often outweigh these costs.

- **Cultural Change**: For some organizations, adopting the code requires a cultural shift within the company, as it involves rigorous documentation and new accountability measures, which can take time to embed within existing operational frameworks. Overall, the application of the AMIRA Code has yielded positive results for many mining companies, leading to more robust metallurgical accounting practices and stronger financial performance.

Anglo American

**Anglo American**

- **Application**: Anglo American, a leading global mining company, has integrated the AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting across multiple operations, including its copper, iron ore, and platinum mining activities. The company implemented this code to improve the precision and reliability of its metallurgical accounting processes, which are crucial for ensuring accurate reporting and operational control.

- **Results**: By adopting the AMIRA standards, Anglo American achieved several notable improvements:

- **Increased Accuracy**: The company saw significant improvements in the accuracy of its metal accounting systems, ensuring that the flow of materials and metals through its processing plants was correctly tracked and documented.

- **Consistency in Reporting**: Anglo American achieved greater consistency in reporting production volumes, both internally and to external stakeholders. This helped reduce discrepancies and errors in financial forecasts and production reports.

- **Enhanced Mass and Metal Balancing**: Improved mass and metal balancing procedures led to more accurate reconciliation of materials at various stages of the production process. This contributed to better process optimization and material recovery.

- **Transparency in Financial Reporting**: With more precise and auditable metallurgical data, the company increased transparency in its financial reporting. This boosted investor confidence, as shareholders and stakeholders had more reliable and accurate data on production performance and financial outcomes.

- **Improved Operational Control**: The enhanced metallurgical accounting practices allowed Anglo American to gain better control over its operations. It enabled the identification of inefficiencies and bottlenecks in production, leading to more effective process management and cost optimization. Through the implementation of the AMIRA Code, Anglo American strengthened its overall performance in metallurgical accounting, translating into more reliable operations and improved investor relations.

What operations in Anglo American have successfully applied the AMIRA code of practice?

Anglo American has implemented the AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting across several of its major mining operations. While specific mines and processing facilities are often not publicly detailed in reports, the company has widely applied the code in operations dealing with high-value metals and minerals to improve accuracy, efficiency, and transparency.

Here are some of the operations likely to have applied the AMIRA Code based on Anglo American's portfolio:

### 1. **Copper Operations**

- **Los Bronces Mine (Chile)**: One of Anglo American’s largest copper mines, Los Bronces has likely implemented the AMIRA Code to ensure accurate metal balancing and reporting. This is critical for copper recovery, given the complex ore-processing operations.

- **Collahuasi Joint Venture (Chile)**: This operation, where Anglo American is a partner, is one of the world's largest copper producers. Adopting the AMIRA Code ensures that copper production and reporting are transparent and auditable.

### 2. **Iron Ore Operations**

- **Kumba Iron Ore (South Africa)**: Anglo American’s Kumba operations, including the Sishen and Kolomela mines, are large iron ore producers. The adoption of the AMIRA Code would improve accuracy in material balance, mass flow, and ore recovery rates, which is crucial for the effective processing of iron ore.

- **Minas-Rio (Brazil)**: As one of Anglo American’s flagship iron ore projects, Minas-Rio likely applies the AMIRA Code to maintain high standards of metallurgical accounting, especially given its complex pipeline transportation and ore beneficiation process.

### 3. **Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Operations**

- **Mogalakwena Mine (South Africa)**: The world’s largest open-pit platinum mine, Mogalakwena, has likely implemented the AMIRA Code to optimize the metal accounting for platinum, palladium, rhodium, and other precious metals. This would help streamline material tracking, improve recovery, and ensure accurate reporting of high-value PGMs.

- **Amandelbult Complex (South Africa)**: Another major platinum operation, Amandelbult, would benefit from the enhanced transparency and efficiency brought by the AMIRA Code in its metal accounting processes, especially given the complex ore and metallurgical processes involved in PGM recovery.

### 4. **Nickel Operations**

- **Barro Alto (Brazil)**: Anglo American’s nickel operations, such as Barro Alto, are likely applying the AMIRA Code to improve mass and metal balancing during nickel ore processing and refining. Given the challenges in nickel production, accurate metallurgical accounting is critical for optimizing recovery rates and ensuring regulatory compliance.

### 5. **De Beers Diamond Operations**

- **Venetia Mine (South Africa)**: As Anglo American owns De Beers, the Venetia diamond mine could also adopt principles from the AMIRA Code, focusing on transparency and control in the mining and processing of high-value diamonds. Accurate tracking of diamond yields would be critical for operational efficiency and investor confidence.

### Benefits Observed in These Operations:

- **Increased Metal Recovery**: Improved metallurgical accounting practices have led to better tracking of valuable metals such as copper, iron ore, platinum, and nickel, resulting in optimized recovery rates and reduced losses.

- **Transparency in Reporting**: These operations benefit from greater transparency in production reporting, which enhances investor confidence and helps meet regulatory requirements.

- **Enhanced Process Control**: By applying the AMIRA Code, these operations have gained better control over production processes, enabling them to identify bottlenecks, reduce inefficiencies, and increase profitability. The implementation of the AMIRA Code across these high-value operations has helped Anglo American standardize metal accounting processes, reduce discrepancies, and achieve more reliable and auditable reporting.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice on Copper operations in Anglo American group

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice** for metal accounting in copper mines is essential for enhancing the accuracy, transparency, and efficiency of metallurgical accounting processes. Copper mining involves complex operations with numerous stages of ore extraction, processing, and refinement. The AMIRA Code helps streamline these processes by providing a structured framework for tracking, measuring, and reporting material flows, thereby ensuring consistency and accountability.

### Key Aspects of the AMIRA Code Application in Copper Mines

#### 1. **Accurate Metal Balancing**

- **Copper Mass Flow**: In copper mining, the ore passes through various stages such as crushing, grinding, flotation, and concentration. The AMIRA Code ensures that the flow of copper ore and concentrate through these stages is accurately tracked and balanced. This includes measuring the input ore at the feed, monitoring intermediate products, and reconciling with the final copper concentrate output.

- **Metal Recovery**: The code emphasizes the importance of tracking metal recoveries at each stage of the process. By implementing proper sampling, data collection, and balancing, mining companies can accurately determine copper recovery rates, which are critical for operational efficiency and profitability.

#### 2. **Representative Sampling**

- **Sampling Systems**: One of the core requirements of the AMIRA Code is the implementation of rigorous and representative sampling systems. In copper mining, this means taking samples at various stages, such as from the feed, flotation cells, tailings, and final concentrate. These samples are used to determine copper grades, metal content, and overall material composition, ensuring accurate metallurgical data for metal accounting.

- **Sample Integrity**: The AMIRA Code ensures that the sampling process is unbiased and representative of the material stream. This eliminates the risk of errors or manipulation in metallurgical accounting and ensures the credibility of the data reported to stakeholders.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Validation**

- **Reconciliation of Inputs and Outputs**: The AMIRA Code emphasizes the reconciliation of the material and metal flow at every stage of the copper mining and processing cycle. This ensures that all inputs (e.g., ore feed) and outputs (e.g., concentrate, tailings) are accurately accounted for, with any discrepancies between expected and actual results being identified and addressed.

- **Auditable and Reliable Data**: Copper mines that implement the AMIRA Code benefit from a systematic approach to data validation. The code requires that all metallurgical data be auditable, meaning that external auditors or stakeholders can review the process, ensuring transparency and accountability in copper production reporting.

#### 4. **Operational Control and Optimization**

- **Process Monitoring**: The AMIRA Code helps copper mines monitor various operational parameters, such as copper grade, throughput, and recovery efficiency. Continuous data collection and reconciliation allow for real-time adjustments in processing conditions, improving overall process control and minimizing losses.

- **Optimized Recovery Rates**: By following the AMIRA Code, copper mines can maximize copper recovery rates through more effective monitoring of flotation circuits, grinding efficiencies, and ore blending. This leads to better overall production performance and reduced waste.

#### 5. **Transparency in Reporting**

- **Stakeholder Confidence**: Implementing the AMIRA Code ensures that copper mining companies provide accurate and reliable reports on copper production volumes and metal content. This enhances transparency and builds confidence among investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.

- **Regulatory Compliance**: Copper mining operations must comply with local and international regulations for environmental and financial reporting. The AMIRA Code facilitates compliance by ensuring that all metallurgical data is collected, validated, and reported in a consistent manner.

### Benefits of Applying the AMIRA Code in Copper Mines

1. **Improved Metal Recovery**: Accurate accounting of copper ore and concentrate enables copper mines to optimize metal recovery rates, reducing material losses and increasing production efficiency.

2. **Enhanced Financial Reporting**: By adhering to the AMIRA Code, copper mines provide reliable and verifiable data, leading to more accurate financial forecasting and investor relations.

3. **Reduced Material Losses**: Proper sampling, data reconciliation, and metal balancing minimize the risk of discrepancies in material flow, ensuring that valuable copper is not lost during the production process.

4. **Operational Efficiency**: The ability to track and monitor copper material at every stage allows mining companies to fine-tune their processes, improving throughput, reducing downtime, and maximizing profits.

5. **Auditability and Transparency**: The AMIRA Code ensures that all metallurgical accounting processes are auditable, meaning copper mines can provide transparency to stakeholders and comply with international best practices.

### Example:

**Los Bronces Copper Mine (Chile)**

At Anglo American’s **Los Bronces Copper Mine**, the AMIRA Code is likely applied to ensure rigorous metal accounting. The mine benefits from precise copper mass balancing across its complex ore-processing operations, reducing material losses and optimizing copper recovery rates. Improved sampling systems ensure that copper grade measurements are accurate and representative, leading to more reliable financial and operational reporting.

### Example:

**Collahuasi Joint Venture (Chile)**

The **Collahuasi Joint Venture**, one of the largest copper producers globally, has adopted the AMIRA Code to enhance transparency and accountability in copper production. By implementing the code, Collahuasi ensures that copper production is accurately tracked from ore extraction to concentrate output. This results in improved process control, optimized recovery rates, and more reliable financial data for stakeholders.

### Conclusion

Applying the AMIRA Code of Practice for metal accounting in copper mines is essential for improving the accuracy and reliability of copper production reporting. By ensuring representative sampling, accurate data reconciliation, and auditable processes, copper mines can optimize their operations, improve recovery rates, and enhance transparency in financial reporting.

Application of the AMIRA code of Practice on iron ore mines in The Anglo American group

The **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** is widely applied in iron ore mining operations to enhance transparency, accuracy, and reliability in tracking ore flow and production output. Given the large-scale nature of iron ore mining and the complexity of processing and beneficiation, implementing this code helps mining companies achieve consistent material balance, precise reporting, and operational efficiency.

### Key Aspects of AMIRA Code Application in Iron Ore Mines

#### 1. **Accurate Ore Flow and Metal Balancing**

- **Mass Flow Monitoring**: Iron ore mining involves multiple stages, including extraction, crushing, screening, beneficiation (often through Dense Media Separation, magnetic separation, or gravity concentration), and shipment. The AMIRA Code ensures accurate mass balancing throughout the entire process, from the ore entering the processing plant to the final product (iron ore concentrate or lump ore) being dispatched.

- **Process Efficiency**: By applying the code, iron ore mines can track how effectively raw material is converted into saleable product. This is essential for optimizing processes such as comminution, classification, and separation to maximize iron recovery and reduce waste.

#### 2. **Representative Sampling**

- **Sampling Protocols**: The AMIRA Code requires rigorous sampling at various points in the mining and beneficiation process. In iron ore mining, representative samples are collected from different ore streams, such as ROM (run-of-mine) stockpiles, process feeds, tailings, and final product streams (lumps, fines, pellets, etc.).

- **Iron Grade Determination**: Accurate sampling allows for precise determination of iron content (Fe grade) at each stage of the beneficiation process. This is crucial in iron ore mining, where the value of the product is directly tied to its grade and impurity levels (such as silica and alumina).

- **Ensuring Sample Integrity**: The code enforces best practices for sampling equipment, frequency, and techniques, ensuring that the collected samples represent the ore flow, thereby improving the accuracy of the metallurgical accounting.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Validation**

- **Reconciliation of Ore and Product**: The AMIRA Code requires detailed reconciliation of material input (run-of-mine ore) and output (concentrate or lump). This includes reconciling mined volumes, feed rates, and final product tonnages, identifying any discrepancies between expected and actual results. Iron ore operations particularly benefit from reconciling ore grades and product quality, ensuring optimal process performance.

- **Continuous Improvement**: Regular reconciliation helps iron ore operations identify inefficiencies in their beneficiation process, enabling continuous improvement in areas such as grinding, classification, separation, and material handling.

#### 4. **Process Optimization**

- **Ore Beneficiation Control**: The AMIRA Code supports process optimization by helping iron ore mines monitor key parameters like feed grade, iron recovery, and tailings content. Accurate metallurgical accounting allows operations to fine-tune their beneficiation techniques (e.g., flotation, magnetic separation, gravity concentration) to maximize iron yield while minimizing impurity levels.

- **Quality Control and Consistency**: By maintaining an accurate record of iron ore grades throughout the process, the code ensures that operations can consistently produce high-quality iron ore products that meet market requirements. This is especially important for delivering ore to steel producers with strict quality specifications.

#### 5. **Transparency in Reporting**

- **Stakeholder Confidence**: Implementing the AMIRA Code allows iron ore mining companies to provide stakeholders, including investors and regulators, with reliable and auditable production reports. This increases transparency in terms of tonnage mined, grades produced, and overall financial performance, fostering greater trust.

- **Regulatory Compliance**: Many jurisdictions have stringent regulations regarding resource reporting and environmental impact. The AMIRA Code facilitates compliance by standardizing how production data is gathered, verified, and reported.

### Benefits of Applying the AMIRA Code in Iron Ore Mines

1. **Improved Ore Recovery**: By following the AMIRA Code, iron ore mines can optimize ore recovery through more accurate material tracking and process control, reducing losses and increasing profitability.

2. **Reduced Discrepancies**: The code ensures that there are fewer discrepancies between forecasted and actual production, as mass and metal balancing are conducted with precise reconciliation and sampling methods.

3. **Enhanced Financial Accuracy**: Iron ore operations that adopt the AMIRA Code can report financial results based on more reliable data, leading to improved investor confidence and more accurate forecasting.

4. **Optimized Beneficiation Processes**: By monitoring iron recovery at each stage, mines can identify inefficiencies in beneficiation and adjust their processes to maximize output and reduce waste, improving overall operational efficiency.

5. **Auditability and Regulatory Compliance**: The AMIRA Code provides a standardized framework that meets international best practices, making iron ore operations more auditable and compliant with industry and regulatory standards.

### Example:

**Kumba Iron Ore (South Africa)**

At Anglo American’s **Kumba Iron Ore** operations, which include the Sishen and Kolomela mines, the AMIRA Code is likely applied to manage the flow of high-tonnage iron ore. These mines implement the code to ensure that the entire value chain—from ore extraction to final concentrate production—follows best practices for material and metal balance. This enables the operation to produce reliable and consistent iron ore products while optimizing the recovery of high-grade ore, ensuring process efficiency and meeting market demands.

### Example:

**Minas-Rio Iron Ore Project (Brazil)**

Anglo American’s **Minas-Rio Project** has a complex beneficiation process that includes pipeline transportation of ore slurry over long distances. Applying the AMIRA Code at this operation helps in monitoring ore flow, maintaining accurate mass balancing, and ensuring consistent product quality. The code ensures that the processes involved in the beneficiation and transportation of iron ore are tracked with precision, minimizing material losses and improving operational control.

### Conclusion

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in iron ore mines is crucial for improving the accuracy of ore flow tracking, optimizing beneficiation processes, and ensuring transparency in production reporting. Through precise sampling, reconciliation, and data validation, the code helps iron ore mines achieve operational efficiency, maximize recovery, and reduce discrepancies in reporting. By adhering to these practices, iron ore operations enhance their financial reporting, improve stakeholder confidence, and maintain compliance with regulatory standards.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice on PGM mines

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in **Platinum Group Metals (PGM) mines** is crucial for ensuring transparency, accuracy, and efficiency in the production and reporting of high-value metals such as platinum, palladium, rhodium, and other PGMs. Given the complex nature of PGM ore processing, which involves multi-stage extraction, separation, and refining, the AMIRA Code provides a systematic approach to material flow and metal balance, improving operational control and financial reporting.

### Key Aspects of AMIRA Code Application in PGM Mines

#### 1. **Accurate Metal Balancing**

- **Multi-Metal Tracking**: PGM ores contain a mixture of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and other metals like gold, nickel, and copper. The AMIRA Code ensures that the flow of each metal is accurately tracked from the ore to the final product. This is critical in PGMs due to the high value of these metals and the need for precise separation and refining.

- **Mass Flow and Reconciliation**: The AMIRA Code mandates that mass flow and metal balancing are maintained at every stage of the process, from mining and ore concentration to smelting and refining. Accurate tracking is especially important when dealing with the small quantities and high value of PGMs.

#### 2. **Representative Sampling**

- **Sampling of Complex Ore Streams**: PGM mining and processing involve ore streams that contain varying proportions of multiple metals. The AMIRA Code emphasizes representative sampling at all stages, including mining, flotation, smelting, and refining. Proper sampling ensures accurate determination of PGM concentrations, metal recoveries, and final product quality.

- **Tailings and Intermediate Products**: Representative sampling is also essential for tailings and intermediate products (such as matte from smelting). This ensures that metal losses are minimized and that valuable metals are not lost during the recovery process.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Validation**

.- **Reconciliation of Multiple Metals**: In PGM mining, it is crucial to reconcile the various metals present in the ore with the final output. The AMIRA Code ensures that the total quantity of PGMs mined, processed, and recovered is reconciled with the final metal output, allowing for accurate reporting of metal recovery rates.

- **Identification of Discrepancies**: The code emphasizes the identification of discrepancies between the expected and actual production, enabling mines to pinpoint issues in the beneficiation, smelting, or refining processes that could lead to metal losses or inefficiencies.

#### 4. **Process Optimization and Control**

- **Recovery of PGMs**: The AMIRA Code helps PGM mines optimize recovery rates by ensuring that material flow and metallurgical data are continuously monitored and reconciled. This is particularly important in flotation, where different metals respond differently to separation techniques, and in smelting and refining, where PGMs need to be carefully extracted without contamination from base metals.

- **Smelting and Refining Efficiency**: The complex process of smelting PGM concentrates and refining them into pure metals requires precise control over the recovery of multiple PGMs. The AMIRA Code ensures that metal losses are minimized and recovery is maximized through continuous monitoring of process parameters and material balances.

#### 5. **Transparency in Reporting**

- **Reporting Multiple Metal Outputs**: The AMIRA Code facilitates accurate reporting of the production of multiple PGMs, as well as other by-products like nickel, copper, and gold. This is essential for financial reporting, as PGM mines must account for the sale of all valuable metals produced.

- **Stakeholder Confidence and Auditability**: By implementing the AMIRA Code, PGM mining companies can ensure that production data is reliable, transparent, and auditable. This increases stakeholder confidence, especially given the high value and market sensitivity of PGMs.

### Benefits of Applying the AMIRA Code in PGM Mines

1. **Improved Metal Recovery**: Accurate accounting of PGMs, along with other metals present in PGM ores, allows mining companies to optimize recovery rates and reduce metal losses during beneficiation and refining.

2. **Enhanced Financial Reporting**: By applying the AMIRA Code, PGM mines provide more reliable production reports, leading to accurate financial forecasting and greater confidence among investors.

3. **Reduced Discrepancies**: The code ensures that discrepancies between expected and actual metal output are minimized, reducing the risk of underreporting or inefficiencies in metal recovery.

4. **Optimized Smelting and Refining**: Continuous monitoring of metal balances during smelting and refining processes allows PGM mines to make adjustments that enhance metal recovery, reduce energy consumption, and improve process efficiency.

5. **Auditability and Regulatory Compliance**: The AMIRA Code ensures that metallurgical accounting data is auditable and complies with both local and international regulations, reducing the risk of non-compliance and providing transparency for stakeholders.

### Example:

**Mogalakwena Platinum Mine (South Africa)**

**Mogalakwena** is the world’s largest open-pit platinum mine and one of Anglo American’s flagship PGM operations. The AMIRA Code has likely been applied to ensure accurate material flow tracking, enabling precise reporting on the recovery of platinum, palladium, rhodium, and other metals. By following the AMIRA Code, the mine can optimize its flotation processes, improve smelting efficiency, and ensure reliable financial reporting on the production of PGMs.

### Example:

**Amandelbult Complex (South Africa)**

At the **Amandelbult Complex**, which is another major PGM mining operation under Anglo American, the AMIRA Code helps maintain high levels of accuracy in tracking ore processing and metal recovery. This is essential given the complexity of extracting multiple PGMs from low-grade ore, and the need for precise smelting and refining processes. By adhering to the AMIRA standards, Amandelbult improves recovery rates, reduces metal losses, and ensures transparent production reporting.

### Conclusion

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in PGM mines is vital for improving the accuracy and transparency of metal tracking, optimizing the recovery of high-value PGMs, and ensuring reliable financial reporting. By enforcing representative sampling, precise metal balancing, and continuous data reconciliation, PGM mines can enhance their operational efficiency, minimize metal losses, and meet the stringent requirements for reporting and stakeholder confidence.

AMIRA code of practice on Nickel operations

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in **nickel mining operations** is critical for ensuring accuracy, transparency, and reliability in the tracking and reporting of nickel production. Given the complex processes involved in extracting and refining nickel, the AMIRA Code helps mining companies optimize recovery, reconcile metal balances, and ensure compliance with financial and operational standards. This framework is especially important for maintaining consistent production data and improving process efficiency.

### Key Aspects of AMIRA Code Application in Nickel Operations

#### 1. **Accurate Metal Balancing**

- **Multi-Stream Metal Flow**: Nickel mining often involves processing ores that contain other metals, such as copper, cobalt, and precious metals. The AMIRA Code ensures that the metal flow of nickel and these co-products is accurately tracked at all stages, from mining and beneficiation to smelting and refining. This is crucial for maintaining a consistent and auditable record of metal balances.

- **Ore Grades and Reconciliation**: The code emphasizes the reconciliation of input (run-of-mine ore) with output (nickel concentrate or refined nickel). This ensures that the amount of nickel in the ore mined is accurately tracked through the beneficiation and refining process, leading to more precise metal balancing.

#### 2. **Representative Sampling**

- **Ore and Process Stream Sampling**: Nickel operations typically involve complex ore types (e.g., laterites or sulfides), which require rigorous sampling at various stages, including crushing, grinding, flotation, and hydrometallurgical processes. The AMIRA Code enforces representative sampling techniques to ensure that metal content is accurately determined throughout the process.

- **Sampling Integrity**: By ensuring that sampling methods are unbiased and representative, the AMIRA Code helps nickel operations maintain the integrity of the metallurgical accounting process, reducing the likelihood of discrepancies between actual production and reported results.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Validation**

- **Ore Flow and Metal Output**: In nickel mining, it is crucial to reconcile the mass flow of ore and the nickel content through each stage of processing. The AMIRA Code requires continuous reconciliation between the mined ore, intermediate products (e.g., matte or sulfide concentrates), and final metal output. This improves the accuracy of metallurgical accounting and allows for the detection of discrepancies or inefficiencies in the processing stages.

- **Identification of Losses**: Through detailed data reconciliation, the AMIRA Code helps identify potential losses of nickel during beneficiation, smelting, or refining. This ensures that operations can optimize their processes to recover as much nickel as possible.

#### 4. **Process Optimization and Control**

- **Nickel Recovery Optimization**: By applying the AMIRA Code, nickel operations can closely monitor their recovery rates, ensuring that nickel is efficiently extracted from the ore. This is especially important in complex processes such as pyrometallurgy (smelting) or hydrometallurgy (leaching), where optimization can significantly impact metal recovery.

- **Tailings and Waste Management**: The code helps manage material balance in tailings streams, ensuring that nickel losses in tailings are minimized. Proper tracking allows for improved environmental management and recovery strategies from waste streams, contributing to more sustainable operations.

#### 5. **Transparency in Reporting**

- **Nickel Production Reporting**: The AMIRA Code enhances the transparency of production reporting by ensuring that nickel mining companies provide accurate, auditable, and reliable data on their metal output. This is crucial for both financial reporting and compliance with regulatory bodies.

- **Stakeholder Confidence**: By following the AMIRA Code, nickel operations can increase the confidence of investors, regulators, and stakeholders through transparent and reliable metallurgical accounting. Accurate production reporting fosters better financial forecasting and strengthens the company's reputation.

### Benefits of Applying the AMIRA Code in Nickel Operations

1. **Improved Metal Recovery**: The AMIRA Code helps nickel mines optimize their recovery rates by ensuring accurate material flow tracking and process monitoring. This reduces losses and improves overall profitability.

2. **Enhanced Process Efficiency**: Through rigorous sampling and reconciliation, nickel operations can identify inefficiencies in beneficiation, smelting, and refining processes, enabling continuous improvement in metal recovery and throughput.

3. **Reduced Material Losses**: The code ensures that nickel losses are minimized through improved tracking and reconciliation of ore and process streams. This reduces wastage and improves the environmental footprint of the operation.

4. **Financial Accuracy**: Nickel mines that implement the AMIRA Code provide more reliable production and financial data, enhancing investor confidence and ensuring compliance with international standards.

5. **Auditability and Regulatory Compliance**: The AMIRA Code enforces a framework that is auditable and compliant with global best practices, helping nickel operations meet regulatory requirements and ensuring transparent production reporting.

### Example:

**Barro Alto Nickel Mine (Brazil)**

At **Anglo American’s Barro Alto Nickel Mine**, the AMIRA Code likely plays a critical role in ensuring accurate metal balancing and reporting. Barro Alto uses both pyrometallurgical processes (such as smelting) and hydrometallurgical processes to extract nickel from lateritic ores. By applying the AMIRA Code, the mine can track nickel flow from ore extraction through to final product, ensuring that recovery rates are maximized and that production data is accurate and transparent. The code also assists in the optimization of smelting and refining operations, reducing metal losses and improving overall efficiency.

### Example:

**Codemin Nickel Refinery (Brazil)**

The **Codemin Nickel Refinery**, also owned by Anglo American, processes nickel concentrate and produces high-purity nickel metal. The AMIRA Code helps ensure that all stages of the process—from concentrate feeding to final nickel production—are rigorously monitored and reconciled. Accurate material flow tracking and regular reconciliation of input materials and outputs ensure that production is optimized and losses are minimized, enhancing the financial and operational performance of the refinery.

### Conclusion

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in nickel operations is essential for improving the accuracy of metal balances, optimizing nickel recovery, and ensuring transparency in production reporting. By enforcing representative sampling, continuous data reconciliation, and auditability, the AMIRA Code helps nickel mining companies enhance operational efficiency, reduce material losses, and meet regulatory requirements. This ultimately improves the financial performance of nickel operations and strengthens stakeholder confidence.

Application of the AMIRA code of Practice for De Beers Diamond operations

The **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** has principles that can be adapted to the unique characteristics of diamond operations, such as those at **De Beers**, one of the world's leading diamond mining companies. While the AMIRA Code primarily focuses on metal accounting, its principles of transparency, accountability, and accuracy in material flow management are relevant and beneficial to diamond mining. De Beers can apply this code to improve production tracking, valuation of ore, and overall operational efficiency across its diamond mining operations.

### Key Aspects of AMIRA Code Application in Diamond Operations

#### 1. **Accurate Material Tracking**

- **Ore to Diamond Flow**: In diamond mining, accurately tracking the flow of kimberlite or alluvial ore through the extraction and processing stages is essential. The AMIRA Code emphasizes proper material tracking, which helps De Beers ensure that the quantity of ore mined and processed is consistently reconciled with the number of diamonds recovered.

- **Mass Flow and Balancing**: By applying the principles of mass flow balancing from the AMIRA Code, De Beers can track the tonnage of ore fed into the processing plant and the carats of diamonds recovered, ensuring accurate accounting for all material inputs and outputs. This helps improve efficiency in sorting, washing, and crushing operations, where diamonds are separated from kimberlite or gravel.

#### 2. **Representative Sampling**

- **Sampling of Kimberlite and Alluvial Ores**: The AMIRA Code encourages the use of representative sampling, which can be adapted for diamond operations to ensure accurate assessment of diamond-bearing ores. Representative sampling is critical for determining the diamond grade (carats per ton) of kimberlite and alluvial ore, guiding decisions on mine planning and processing plant throughput.

- **Sampling at Key Processing Stages**: Representative sampling is also vital at different stages of the recovery process (e.g., during dense media separation, X-ray fluorescence, and final sorting). Consistent sampling protocols help to validate recovery efficiency and optimize the processing plant's performance, ensuring minimal diamond loss during operations.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Validation**

- **Diamond Recovery Reconciliation**: In diamond operations, reconciliation is critical to ensure that the number of diamonds recovered aligns with the ore mined. The AMIRA Code’s emphasis on regular reconciliation can help De Beers validate its recovery systems (e.g., dense media separation, grease tables, X-ray sorting) to ensure that recovery rates are optimized and any discrepancies are quickly identified and addressed.

- **Loss Identification and Reduction**: The AMIRA Code can help De Beers identify and minimize losses during the recovery process, such as diamonds lost in tailings or processing inefficiencies. By reconciling production data at each stage of processing, De Beers can ensure that diamond losses are minimized and recovery efficiency is maximized.

#### 4. **Process Optimization and Control**

- **Optimization of Recovery Techniques**: The AMIRA Code helps standardize and optimize various stages of diamond recovery. In De Beers' operations, this involves refining key processes such as crushing, screening, dense media separation (DMS), and X-ray fluorescence sorting. The principles of the AMIRA Code guide continuous monitoring and adjustment of these processes to improve recovery rates and reduce inefficiencies.

- **Diamond Concentration Optimization**: The code also aids in managing the concentration of diamonds at different stages of recovery. Accurate mass balancing ensures that the proper amount of ore is processed to recover the desired quantity of diamonds, helping to optimize throughput and ensure efficient use of resources.

#### 5. **Transparency in Reporting**

- **Production Reporting**: Applying the AMIRA Code ensures that De Beers' production data—such as the tonnage of ore processed and the carats of diamonds recovered—are consistently reported with a high level of accuracy and transparency. This enhances the quality of production reports submitted to stakeholders, including regulators and investors.

- **Revenue Reconciliation**: For diamond mining companies, the transparency provided by the AMIRA Code helps reconcile production volumes with revenue from diamond sales. Accurate reporting of diamond recovery, coupled with precise valuation of diamonds (based on size, quality, and market conditions), strengthens financial transparency and investor confidence.

### Benefits of Applying the AMIRA Code in Diamond Operations

1. **Improved Recovery Efficiency**: The principles of the AMIRA Code help De Beers optimize its recovery techniques, reducing diamond losses and improving the overall efficiency of its operations. This is critical given the high value of diamonds and the need to maximize recovery from each ton of ore.

2. **Enhanced Process Control**: By focusing on material flow and mass balancing, the AMIRA Code enables De Beers to maintain control over its processing operations, ensuring consistent and predictable recovery rates across its mines.

3. **Accurate Valuation and Reporting**: The application of the AMIRA Code ensures that diamonds are accurately valued and production data is consistently reported. This improves financial transparency and enhances the credibility of De Beers' production reports.

4. **Reduced Material Losses**: The code encourages the use of rigorous reconciliation and sampling procedures, which help identify any discrepancies or inefficiencies in the recovery process. This leads to reduced material losses, ensuring that more diamonds are recovered and fewer are lost during mining and processing.

5. **Auditability and Regulatory Compliance**: The AMIRA Code’s emphasis on transparency and accuracy in material flow helps ensure that De Beers' diamond operations are fully auditable and compliant with international and local regulatory standards.

### Example:

**Jwaneng Diamond Mine (Botswana)** At De Beers' **Jwaneng Mine**, one of the richest diamond mines in the world, the AMIRA Code can be applied to enhance the accuracy of material flow and diamond recovery. The mine uses advanced technologies such as DMS and X-ray fluorescence sorting to recover diamonds from kimberlite ore. By applying the AMIRA Code, Jwaneng can optimize these processes, improving recovery rates, minimizing losses, and ensuring accurate production reporting.

### Example:

**Venetia Diamond Mine (South Africa)**

The **Venetia Mine**, De Beers' largest diamond mine in South Africa, benefits from the application of the AMIRA Code to ensure that all material flow is properly accounted for. The code’s emphasis on sampling, reconciliation, and process control helps Venetia optimize its recovery of diamonds from large-scale open-pit and underground operations. This ensures transparency in production reporting and improves financial performance.

### Conclusion

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in diamond operations like De Beers can significantly enhance the accuracy of material tracking, optimize recovery processes, and improve transparency in reporting. By focusing on representative sampling, regular reconciliation, and process optimization, De Beers can ensure that it maximizes diamond recovery, minimizes losses, and maintains consistent, auditable production reports. This helps the company achieve greater operational efficiency and strengthens stakeholder confidence in its financial reporting.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice at Rio Tinto

**Rio Tinto Application of the AMIRA Code of Practice**

**Application:** Rio Tinto, a major global mining company with diverse operations across minerals like iron ore, copper, aluminum, and diamonds, has implemented the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** across its mineral processing facilities. The application of this standardized framework enhances the company’s ability to maintain accuracy, transparency, and accountability in its metallurgical accounting practices. Rio Tinto applies the AMIRA Code in:

- **Iron Ore Operations**: Particularly in beneficiation and pelletizing processes.

- **Copper Operations**: Across concentration plants and smelting operations.

- **Aluminum and Bauxite**: To track and optimize alumina extraction.

- **Diamond Operations**: To improve transparency and accuracy in diamond recovery.

**Results:** The implementation of the AMIRA Code has delivered significant benefits across Rio Tinto’s operations:

- **More Accurate Material Tracking**: The company saw a marked improvement in tracking ore from extraction through to final product. This was especially beneficial in complex processes like

**iron ore beneficiation** and **copper concentration**, where multiple stages of processing require precise material flow management.

- **Reduced Material Losses**: The adoption of the AMIRA standards allowed Rio Tinto to minimize material losses at various stages of production, particularly in iron ore and copper operations, where minimizing metal or mineral losses can substantially improve profitability.

- **Improved Recovery Rates**: By optimizing the mass balance in its metallurgical processes, Rio Tinto has been able to improve the recovery rates of valuable materials, reducing inefficiencies and increasing output.

- **Enhanced Data for Internal Audits**: The code provided a more robust foundation for internal audits, ensuring that the material balances were accurate and that discrepancies were minimized across operations. This has led to better compliance with both internal standards and external regulations.

- **Optimization of Production Processes**: The detailed material tracking enabled Rio Tinto to identify inefficiencies in its mineral recovery systems. By doing so, the company could optimize its production processes, leading to cost savings and higher overall productivity.

- **Transparency in External Reporting**: With improved metallurgical accounting practices, Rio Tinto has provided more transparent and auditable data to external stakeholders, including investors and regulators, enhancing its credibility and reliability in the global market.

In summary, the application of the AMIRA Code has strengthened Rio Tinto’s ability to manage and account for material flow in its operations, contributing to improved performance, reduced losses, and greater transparency in both internal and external reporting.

Application of the AMIRA code in Alumina extraction

**Aluminum and Bauxite: To Track and Optimize Alumina Extraction**

In Rio Tinto’s **aluminum and bauxite operations**, the application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** plays a crucial role in ensuring precise tracking of material flows during **alumina extraction** from bauxite ore. Alumina is the key intermediate product in the production of aluminum, and accurate accounting of this process is vital for operational efficiency, profitability, and transparency.

### **Application of the AMIRA Code in Alumina Extraction:**

#### 1. **Material Tracking from Bauxite to Alumina:**

- **Bauxite Mining:** The AMIRA Code ensures the accurate measurement of the amount of bauxite ore extracted from mining sites. This ore is then tracked through various stages of crushing, washing, and pre-processing to prepare it for alumina extraction.

- **Refining Process (Bayer Process):** The Bayer process, used to extract alumina from bauxite, involves dissolving the ore in sodium hydroxide at high temperatures. The AMIRA Code helps track the quantity of bauxite fed into this process and the amount of alumina produced, ensuring minimal material loss and precise mass balancing.

- **Alumina Yield and Recovery:** By applying the AMIRA Code, Rio Tinto can monitor the efficiency of alumina recovery from bauxite ore. This ensures that alumina output is maximized, with losses during processing being minimized.

#### 2. **Representative Sampling and Quality Control:**

- **Ore Quality Sampling:** The AMIRA Code enforces consistent and representative sampling of bauxite ore to assess its quality and alumina content. This helps to optimize the refining process, as ore quality can vary depending on the deposit. Understanding the ore’s composition ensures that processing parameters are adjusted for maximum efficiency.

- **Alumina Concentration Monitoring:** Throughout the Bayer process, alumina concentration is continuously monitored. The AMIRA Code’s focus on regular sampling ensures that Rio Tinto can optimize this step, producing higher-quality alumina with reduced energy consumption and costs.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Process Optimization:**

- **Mass Balance Reconciliation:** The AMIRA Code ensures that there is continuous reconciliation between the amount of bauxite mined and the alumina produced. Any discrepancies in the mass balance can be quickly identified and resolved, allowing Rio Tinto to fine-tune its operations for improved efficiency.

- **Identification of Losses:** The code also helps identify material losses during the refining process, such as alumina lost in residue streams. By detecting and addressing these losses, Rio Tinto can improve alumina recovery rates and reduce operational waste.

#### 4. **Operational Efficiency and Cost Savings:**

- **Energy and Chemical Consumption:** Alumina extraction is an energy- and chemical-intensive process. By applying the AMIRA Code to track material inputs and outputs, Rio Tinto can optimize its use of energy and chemicals (such as sodium hydroxide), reducing costs and improving the environmental sustainability of its operations.

- **Refining Capacity Optimization:** The accurate tracking of bauxite ore and alumina allows Rio Tinto to optimize the capacity of its refineries, ensuring that they operate at peak efficiency without exceeding their limits or causing bottlenecks.

#### 5. **Transparency and Reporting:**

- **Production Reporting:** The AMIRA Code facilitates the transparent reporting of alumina production volumes. Rio Tinto can provide accurate data to stakeholders, including investors and regulators, about the quantity of bauxite processed and alumina produced, ensuring compliance with industry standards and improving investor confidence.

- **Internal Audits and External Compliance:** The standardized accounting practices enforced by the AMIRA Code also support Rio Tinto’s internal audits, helping to ensure that the company’s alumina operations meet regulatory and environmental standards. This is especially important in ensuring the sustainability and ethical management of its operations.

### **Results of AMIRA Code Implementation in Alumina Extraction:**

- **Improved Alumina Recovery:** Rio Tinto has achieved higher alumina recovery rates by optimizing the Bayer process and reducing material losses, resulting in increased output and profitability.

- **Operational Efficiency Gains:** Through better tracking of materials and process monitoring, Rio Tinto has improved the efficiency of its refining operations, reducing energy consumption and chemical usage, which translates into cost savings.

- **Enhanced Data Integrity and Reporting:** The application of the AMIRA Code has led to more reliable and transparent data in production reporting, helping Rio Tinto maintain strong relations with regulators, investors, and other stakeholders.

- **Sustainability and Waste Reduction:** The company has been able to reduce waste by identifying inefficiencies in the refining process and optimizing the recovery of alumina from bauxite, contributing to more sustainable operations.

In summary, Rio Tinto’s use of the AMIRA Code in its **aluminum and bauxite operations** has led to greater accuracy in tracking material flows, improved alumina recovery, and enhanced operational efficiency, all of which contribute to cost savings, sustainability, and transparency.

Application of the AMIRA code of Practice in Iron ore pelletizing

**Iron Ore Operations: Application of the AMIRA Code in Beneficiation and Pelletizing Processes**

In Rio Tinto's **iron ore operations**, particularly in the processes of **beneficiation** and **pelletizing**, the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** plays a pivotal role in ensuring accurate material flow, optimizing recovery, and improving the overall efficiency of the production process. These operations are critical for converting raw iron ore into a high-quality product suitable for steel production.

### **Application of the AMIRA Code in Iron Ore Beneficiation and Pelletizing:**

#### 1. **Iron Ore Beneficiation:**

- **Material Flow Tracking:** The AMIRA Code ensures precise tracking of material throughout the beneficiation process, where the raw iron ore is processed to increase its iron content and reduce impurities such as silica, alumina, and phosphorus. Accurate mass balancing at this stage is critical to optimize the yield of high-grade iron ore.

- **Ore Characterization and Sampling:** The code emphasizes representative sampling of the ore before and after the beneficiation process. This ensures that the quality of the iron ore feed is consistently monitored, allowing for real-time adjustments to enhance recovery and minimize the loss of valuable material.

- **Tailings Management:** The beneficiation process generates tailings (waste material), which must be carefully monitored. By applying the AMIRA Code, Rio Tinto can better account for the material lost in tailings, minimizing iron losses and ensuring that waste management processes are efficient and environmentally sound.

#### 2. **Iron Ore Pelletizing:**

- **Pellet Feed Monitoring:** In the pelletizing process, fine iron ore is processed into pellets suitable for use in blast furnaces or direct reduction plants. The AMIRA Code ensures that the feedstock entering the pelletizing process is accurately measured and reconciled with the final pellet production.

- **Mass Flow Control:** Throughout the pelletizing process, the AMIRA Code’s principles of material flow tracking help to ensure that the amount of iron ore being processed matches the volume of pellets produced. This ensures that production targets are met and minimizes discrepancies between raw material input and output.

- **Optimization of Pellet Quality:** Representative sampling during the pelletizing process ensures that the pellets produced meet quality specifications such as size, strength, and iron content. The AMIRA Code helps Rio Tinto maintain consistent product quality, which is critical for end-use applications in steelmaking.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Recovery Optimization:**

- **Mass Balance Reconciliation:** One of the core applications of the AMIRA Code is the continuous reconciliation of mass balances in beneficiation and pelletizing plants. This ensures that all material inputs (ore, additives, and binders) and outputs (concentrate, pellets, and tailings) are accurately accounted for, leading to more reliable production data.

- **Improved Recovery Rates:** By applying the AMIRA Code, Rio Tinto is able to identify areas where material losses occur and take corrective action. This leads to improved recovery rates of iron ore concentrate from the beneficiation process and higher output of iron ore pellets, ensuring that resources are used efficiently.

#### 4. **Process Optimization:**

- **Beneficiation Process Optimization:** By tracking material flow and analyzing the performance of each stage of the beneficiation process, Rio Tinto can optimize its operations to improve the recovery of iron while reducing energy and reagent consumption.

- **Pelletizing Process Efficiency:** The application of the AMIRA Code in pelletizing operations allows for the fine-tuning of critical process parameters, such as drying, mixing, and firing conditions. This helps Rio Tinto optimize pellet production, ensuring higher output and quality while minimizing energy costs.

#### 5. **Reporting and Transparency:**

- **Production and Financial Reporting:** The AMIRA Code enhances the transparency and accuracy of Rio Tinto’s production reports. By providing more accurate data on iron ore concentrate and pellet production, the company can present clearer, more reliable information to investors, regulators, and other stakeholders.

- **Internal and External Audits:** The standardized accounting practices enforced by the AMIRA Code allow for more robust internal audits and compliance with external regulations. This helps Rio Tinto maintain high operational standards and ensure that production figures are verifiable and auditable.

### **Results of AMIRA Code Implementation in Iron Ore Operations:**

1. **Improved Material Tracking:** The application of the AMIRA Code has led to more accurate tracking of raw iron ore from mining to the production of concentrates and pellets. This has reduced discrepancies in material flow and minimized losses, leading to more efficient use of resources.

2. **Higher Recovery Rates:** By optimizing the beneficiation and pelletizing processes, Rio Tinto has improved the recovery of iron ore, leading to higher production of high-grade concentrates and pellets, which boosts overall output and profitability.

3. **Increased Operational Efficiency:** The AMIRA Code has enabled Rio Tinto to identify inefficiencies in its beneficiation and pelletizing operations, allowing the company to streamline production, reduce energy consumption, and lower operational costs.

4. **Transparency and Reliability in Reporting:** The accurate material accounting provided by the AMIRA Code has improved the quality and transparency of Rio Tinto’s production data, ensuring that internal audits and external reports are consistent and reliable.

5. **Sustainability and Waste Reduction:** By applying the principles of the AMIRA Code, Rio Tinto has been able to reduce material losses in both beneficiation and pelletizing processes, which contributes to more sustainable operations with less waste generation.

### **Examples of Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Operations Benefiting from AMIRA Code Implementation:**

- **Pilbara Iron Ore Operations (Australia):** Rio Tinto’s vast iron ore operations in the Pilbara region have implemented the AMIRA Code to improve the efficiency of their beneficiation plants, resulting in optimized recovery rates and reduced waste.

- **IOC (Iron Ore Company of Canada):** At IOC, the application of the AMIRA Code in both beneficiation and pelletizing has led to enhanced production control, improved quality of iron ore pellets, and more accurate tracking of materials from the mining stage through to final product.

### **Conclusion:**

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in Rio Tinto’s **iron ore beneficiation and pelletizing** processes has resulted in more accurate material tracking, improved recovery rates, and increased operational efficiency. By optimizing these processes, Rio Tinto has been able to minimize losses, reduce costs, and ensure transparent and reliable production reporting, all of which contribute to the company’s profitability and sustainability.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice on Copper consenration Plants

**Copper Operations: Application of the AMIRA Code in Concentration Plants and Smelting Operations** In Rio Tinto's **copper operations**, the application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** is crucial for ensuring accurate tracking of material from ore to final copper product. The code helps improve process efficiency, material recovery, and the transparency of production data, particularly in complex operations like **concentration plants** and **smelting operations**.

### **Application of the AMIRA Code in Copper Concentration Plants:**

#### 1. **Ore Concentration and Mass Balancing:**

- **Material Flow Tracking:** The AMIRA Code ensures precise accounting of copper ore as it moves through the concentration process. This involves crushing, grinding, and flotation, where the ore is separated into copper concentrate and waste material (tailings). Proper tracking is essential to maintaining high recovery rates and minimizing losses.

- **Flotation Process Control:** In the flotation stage, where copper is separated from other minerals, the AMIRA Code enforces rigorous sampling and material balancing, allowing operators to optimize reagent usage, flotation times, and other parameters for maximum copper recovery.

- **Tailings and Concentrate Management:** The code provides guidelines for accounting the mass of both tailings and copper concentrate, ensuring that all material is tracked. This helps identify any process inefficiencies or potential losses of valuable material.

#### 2. **Ore Grade and Recovery Monitoring:**

- **Ore Grade Sampling:** The AMIRA Code’s focus on representative sampling ensures that the copper grade in the feed ore and in the final concentrate is consistently monitored. Accurate ore grade tracking allows for process adjustments to maximize copper yield, especially as the composition of ore bodies can vary significantly.

- **Recovery Rate Optimization:** By continuously tracking the copper recovery rates at different stages of the concentration process, Rio Tinto can identify opportunities to improve recovery. The AMIRA Code ensures that these recovery rates are accurate and reflective of actual production.

#### 3. **Data Reconciliation and Production Control:**

- **Mass Balance Reconciliation:** One of the key features of the AMIRA Code is continuous mass balance reconciliation across concentration plants. This ensures that the total mass of copper-bearing ore entering the plant matches the mass of copper concentrate and tailings produced, minimizing discrepancies and improving process control.

- **Concentrate Quality Assurance:** The application of the AMIRA Code ensures that copper concentrate meets required quality standards. By accurately tracking the copper content and impurities in the concentrate, Rio Tinto can optimize the blending of concentrates to achieve the desired quality for further processing or sale.

### **Application of the AMIRA Code in Copper Smelting Operations:**

#### 1. **Smelting and Refining Process Control:**

- **Material Flow and Copper Tracking:** In the smelting process, copper concentrate is converted into blister copper through smelting and converting stages. The AMIRA Code ensures that the amount of copper in the concentrate is accurately tracked as it progresses through these stages, reducing material losses and improving overall copper yield.

- **Recycling of By-products:** The AMIRA Code also tracks the recovery of valuable by-products from smelting, such as sulfur and precious metals (e.g., gold, silver). This helps maximize the overall value extracted from the ore and ensures that by-products are properly accounted for.

- **Slag Management:** Copper slag, a waste product from the smelting process, must be carefully managed. The AMIRA Code ensures that material lost to slag is minimized, and any recoverable copper from slag is accurately tracked and processed.

#### 2. **Blister Copper Production and Refining:**

- **Blister Copper Yield Optimization:** By applying the AMIRA Code, Rio Tinto can continuously monitor the yield of blister copper during the smelting process, ensuring that the maximum amount of copper is recovered from the concentrate.

- **Refining and Purity Monitoring:** The code helps ensure that the final copper purity meets market requirements by accurately tracking the removal of impurities (such as sulfur, iron, and oxygen) during refining. This enhances the quality of the final product, which is crucial for downstream applications in industries like electronics and construction.

#### 3. **Data Integrity and Financial Reporting:**

- **Production Data Reconciliation:** The AMIRA Code ensures that the quantity of copper produced at the smelter aligns with the quantity of concentrate processed. This minimizes discrepancies between production data and financial reporting, leading to more reliable and auditable records.

- **Financial Reporting and Transparency:** By providing accurate, transparent production data, Rio Tinto can confidently report its copper output to investors and regulators. This enhances stakeholder confidence and ensures compliance with regulatory standards.

### **Results of AMIRA Code Implementation in Copper Operations:**

1. **Improved Copper Recovery Rates:**

- By applying the AMIRA Code’s material tracking and process optimization principles, Rio Tinto has achieved higher copper recovery rates both in concentration plants and smelting operations. This translates to increased output and reduced copper losses, improving overall profitability.

2. **Optimized Smelting Efficiency:**

- The implementation of the AMIRA Code has led to better control over the smelting process, reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and maximizing the production of high-quality blister copper.

3. **Reduced Material Losses:** - Rio Tinto has been able to identify and address material losses throughout the copper production process, particularly in flotation and smelting stages, where losses of valuable copper can significantly impact the bottom line.

4. **Improved Data Transparency:** - The AMIRA Code ensures that production data is accurate and consistent, leading to more transparent internal audits and external reporting. This builds confidence among investors, regulators, and other stakeholders in Rio Tinto’s copper operations.

5. **Sustainability and Environmental Benefits:** - By optimizing recovery rates and minimizing waste through more accurate metallurgical accounting, Rio Tinto’s copper operations are able to operate more sustainably. Reducing material losses and waste generation contributes to the company’s broader environmental goals.

### **Examples of Rio Tinto’s Copper Operations Benefiting from AMIRA Code Implementation:**

- **Kennecott Utah Copper (USA):** At Kennecott, Rio Tinto has applied the AMIRA Code to improve the efficiency of its copper concentration and smelting operations, leading to better recovery rates and reduced material losses. The code’s implementation also helped in tracking by-products like gold and silver, enhancing the overall profitability of the operation.

- **Oyu Tolgoi (Mongolia):** Rio Tinto’s joint venture at Oyu Tolgoi, one of the largest copper-gold mines in the world, applies the AMIRA Code to optimize its complex copper concentration and smelting processes, ensuring high recovery rates and improving process control in this large-scale operation.

### **Conclusion:**

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in Rio Tinto’s **copper concentration plants and smelting operations** has resulted in enhanced copper recovery, reduced material losses, and more transparent and reliable reporting. By optimizing these processes, Rio Tinto has improved operational efficiency, increased profitability, and strengthened its reputation for accurate and transparent metallurgical accounting in copper production.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice in Diamond recovery at Rio Tinto operations

**Diamond Operations: Application of the AMIRA Code to Improve Transparency and Accuracy in Diamond Recovery** In Rio Tinto's **diamond operations**, applying the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** plays a significant role in ensuring **accurate material tracking**, **transparent reporting**, and the **optimization of diamond recovery**. Unlike metals, diamond mining and recovery involve a complex set of processes to extract, grade, and account for valuable diamonds, making precise accounting essential to reduce losses, improve recovery rates, and ensure transparent reporting to stakeholders.

### **Application of the AMIRA Code in Diamond Recovery:**

#### 1. **Material Flow and Diamond Recovery:**

- **Accurate Ore Tracking:** The AMIRA Code enforces the precise tracking of diamond-bearing ore from extraction through processing, ensuring that the total volume of ore mined matches the material entering the recovery plant. This is crucial for accurately assessing the diamond yield.

- **Ore Grade Monitoring:** The code ensures that the grade of the diamond-bearing ore (i.e., carats per tonne) is continuously monitored through representative sampling. Understanding the ore’s grade is critical to optimizing the recovery process and ensuring that the final diamond recovery matches expected yields based on ore quality.

#### 2. **Diamond Processing and Sorting:**

- **Concentration Process Optimization:** Diamonds are typically recovered through dense media separation (DMS) or other sorting technologies like X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and grease tables. The AMIRA Code helps ensure accurate material flow tracking through these processes, maximizing diamond recovery and minimizing losses.

- **Sampling at Recovery Stages:** The code calls for regular and representative sampling at different stages of the recovery process. This allows Rio Tinto to assess the performance of its diamond recovery circuits, identify inefficiencies, and adjust processing parameters to ensure maximum diamond yield.

- **Loss Minimization in Tailings:** Diamond recovery inevitably produces tailings (waste material), and applying the AMIRA Code ensures that any diamonds lost in the tailings are minimized and accurately accounted for. Regular sampling and audits of the tailings streams help Rio Tinto identify any recovery inefficiencies.

#### 3. **Diamond Grading and Reconciliation:**

- **Accurate Diamond Grading and Sorting:** Once recovered, diamonds are sorted and graded by size, quality, and carat weight. The AMIRA Code ensures that the diamonds are tracked through each stage of this sorting process. This transparency is crucial to providing accurate production reports and ensuring that the quality and value of the diamonds are correctly assessed.

- **Mass Balance Reconciliation:** By applying the AMIRA Code, Rio Tinto can ensure that the total mass of diamonds recovered from ore matches the expected recovery based on the initial ore grade. This reconciliation is essential for verifying that all diamonds are accounted for and that there are no discrepancies between ore processed and diamonds recovered.

#### 4. **Data Integrity and Transparency:**

- **Production Data Reporting:** The AMIRA Code helps improve the accuracy and reliability of production data, which is vital in diamond operations where discrepancies in recovered diamonds can lead to significant financial and reputational impacts. Rio Tinto can confidently report production figures, ensuring that stakeholders, including investors and regulators, receive accurate and transparent data.

- **Auditable Processes:** The application of standardized accounting principles allows Rio Tinto to maintain robust internal audits of its diamond recovery operations. This ensures that all diamonds recovered are properly accounted for and minimizes the risk of unreported or misplaced diamonds, which can damage the company’s reputation.

### **Results of AMIRA Code Implementation in Diamond Operations:**

1. **Improved Diamond Recovery Efficiency:**

- The AMIRA Code has led to better tracking and optimization of Rio Tinto’s diamond recovery processes. By identifying losses during recovery stages and optimizing sorting and concentration technologies, Rio Tinto has been able to improve recovery rates and minimize diamond losses.

2. **Increased Transparency in Reporting:**

- The application of the AMIRA Code ensures that Rio Tinto’s diamond production data is accurate and transparent, which is critical for maintaining trust with investors, regulators, and the market. The enhanced transparency in reporting contributes to better financial and operational control.

3. **Better Control Over Tailings and Waste Streams:**

- By applying the AMIRA Code to the management of tailings, Rio Tinto has been able to reduce the loss of recoverable diamonds in the waste material. This has resulted in fewer diamonds being lost and higher overall recovery efficiency.

4. **Optimized Sorting and Grading Processes:**

- The AMIRA Code’s emphasis on accuracy and transparency has improved Rio Tinto’s ability to track diamonds through the sorting and grading process. This has led to more reliable data on the quality and value of the recovered diamonds, which is critical for sales and financial reporting.

5. **Enhanced Stakeholder Confidence:**

- The application of the AMIRA Code has strengthened investor confidence in Rio Tinto’s diamond operations by providing more reliable and transparent production and financial data. This transparency also supports compliance with regulatory requirements and contributes to Rio Tinto’s reputation as a responsible and ethical operator in the diamond industry.

### **Examples of Diamond Operations Benefiting from AMIRA Code Implementation:**

- **Argyle Diamond Mine (Australia):** Before its closure, the Argyle mine, once one of the largest sources of pink diamonds globally, applied the AMIRA Code to enhance its recovery operations. Accurate material tracking and diamond accounting were critical to managing such a high-value product, ensuring transparency and accurate reporting throughout the mine's operations.

- **Diavik Diamond Mine (Canada):** At Diavik, Rio Tinto has applied the AMIRA Code to improve the transparency and efficiency of its diamond recovery operations. The code has helped reduce discrepancies in production data, leading to more reliable audits and improved confidence in the mine’s financial reports.

### **Conclusion:**

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** in Rio Tinto’s **diamond operations** has significantly improved the transparency and accuracy of its diamond recovery processes. By optimizing material flow tracking, improving recovery rates, reducing losses in tailings, and ensuring accurate reporting, Rio Tinto has enhanced operational efficiency and built trust with stakeholders. This results in a more sustainable, profitable, and transparent diamond operation.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice at Newmont Mining Corp.

**Newmont Mining Corporation: Application of the AMIRA Code** **Application:**

Newmont Mining Corporation, one of the world’s leading gold producers, has applied the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** across its global operations, including sites in **North America, Africa, and Australia**. The company adopted the AMIRA Code to standardize its metallurgical accounting practices, improve transparency, and enhance production and financial data accuracy.

### **Key Areas of Application:**

1. **Gold Recovery and Processing:** - The AMIRA Code was applied across Newmont’s gold processing plants to ensure that ore is accurately tracked from the mining stage through processing and final gold production. This was crucial in enhancing the accuracy of gold recovery and mass balance reconciliation.

2. **Ore Tracking and Production Control:** - By applying the AMIRA Code, Newmont ensured the precise tracking of ore from the mine through crushing, grinding, and gold recovery processes. This helped streamline production targets and ensure that output data accurately reflected the quantity of gold being recovered.

3. **Tailings and By-product Management:** - The code also guided the tracking of tailings and by-products from the gold extraction process, helping to identify and minimize any potential loss of recoverable gold. This improved the efficiency of Newmont’s gold recovery operations and reduced waste.

4. **Internal Auditing and Compliance:** - Newmont used the AMIRA Code to ensure that all metallurgical data was consistently accurate, making internal audits more straightforward and minimizing the risk of discrepancies. This also helped Newmont maintain regulatory compliance, particularly in regions with strict environmental and production reporting standards.

### **Results:**

1. **Improved Reconciliation Between Production Targets and Outputs:** - Newmont reported significant improvements in reconciling planned production figures with actual outputs. The use of the AMIRA Code ensured that discrepancies were minimized, helping the company meet its production targets more accurately.

2. **Enhanced Financial Forecasting:** - The standardized metallurgical accounting practices provided by the AMIRA Code led to more reliable financial forecasting. Newmont was able to project its production figures and financial performance more accurately, which helped the company improve its strategic planning and budgeting processes.

3. **Better Regulatory Compliance:** - With the enhanced transparency and accuracy provided by the AMIRA Code, Newmont was able to meet regulatory reporting requirements more effectively. The improved accuracy of production data and audit trails helped Newmont maintain compliance with financial and environmental regulations across its global operations.

4. **Streamlined Internal Audits:** - The adoption of the AMIRA Code simplified internal audits by ensuring consistent, accurate metallurgical data throughout its operations. This made it easier to identify any inconsistencies or potential risks in production and financial reporting, ultimately improving Newmont’s internal controls.

5. **Increased Stakeholder Confidence:** - The application of the AMIRA Code enhanced transparency and reduced the risk of financial discrepancies, which increased the confidence of Newmont’s stakeholders, including investors. The company’s ability to demonstrate accurate production data and financial integrity was a key factor in building trust with its shareholders.

### **Conclusion:**

The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** at Newmont Mining Corporation has resulted in more accurate gold recovery data, improved financial forecasting, streamlined internal audits, and enhanced regulatory compliance. These improvements have strengthened Newmont’s operational efficiency and built greater confidence among its investors and stakeholders.

Application of The AMIRA code of Practice at Glencore

**Glencore: Application of the AMIRA Code of Practice**

**Application:** Glencore, a global leader in diversified natural resources, has integrated the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** across its **metallurgical plants** for processing key metals such as **copper, zinc, lead**, and others. The code was implemented to standardize the company’s metal accounting processes, improve process efficiency, and enhance data integrity across its extensive operations.

### **Key Areas of Application:**

1. **Copper, Zinc, and Lead Processing:**

- The AMIRA Code has been applied throughout Glencore’s copper, zinc, and lead processing plants. This includes tracking metal content from ore extraction through to smelting and refining, ensuring accurate reconciliation between ore processed and the final metal output.

- The code enforces rigorous material balancing throughout key processing stages such as crushing, grinding, flotation, and smelting, which helps maintain high recovery rates and minimize material loss.

2. **Ore and Concentrate Tracking:**

- By applying the AMIRA Code, Glencore ensured precise tracking of metal-bearing ore from extraction to concentrate production. This helped refine metal balancing procedures, ensuring that each ton of ore processed is accounted for in the production system, reducing discrepancies and improving yield predictions.

3. **Smelting and Refining Operations:**

- The AMIRA Code also played a critical role in Glencore’s smelting and refining operations by ensuring accurate tracking of metals through high-temperature processes. This allowed the company to optimize material recovery and reduce losses that typically occur during complex processes such as metal refining.

4. **Data Reconciliation and Financial Reporting:**

- The integration of the AMIRA Code improved Glencore’s ability to reconcile metal production data with financial reports. This ensured that production figures matched metal sales and inventory data, providing transparency and consistency in the company’s reporting to stakeholders and regulators.

### **Results:**

1. **Improved Process Control:**

- With the AMIRA Code’s guidelines on material tracking and reconciliation, Glencore achieved better process control across its metallurgical operations. The code provided structured procedures for managing complex flows of materials, helping the company optimize its processing and recovery methods.

2. **Higher Recovery Rates:**

- The adoption of the AMIRA standards led to improved metal recovery rates, particularly for copper, zinc, and lead. By reducing material losses and optimizing the efficiency of smelting and refining processes, Glencore was able to extract more value from its ore, enhancing overall profitability.

3. **Reduction in Material Loss:**

- The implementation of more precise metal accounting practices minimized material loss during the various stages of ore processing. This reduction in loss, especially during critical stages like smelting and flotation, resulted in significant cost savings and improved the overall operational efficiency of Glencore’s metallurgical plants.

4. **Increased Transparency and Auditability:**

- The AMIRA Code brought greater transparency and auditability to Glencore’s metal accounting practices. The standardized data reconciliation processes allowed for easier internal and external audits, which improved compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

- The ability to accurately track and report metal production data boosted stakeholder confidence, as investors and regulators could rely on the accuracy of Glencore’s reporting.

5. **Enhanced Stakeholder Confidence:**

- The application of the AMIRA Code helped build trust with stakeholders by providing more accurate and reliable production data. The improved auditability of metal accounting reports reassured investors and regulators of Glencore’s commitment to transparency and operational integrity.

### **Conclusion:**

By implementing the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting**, Glencore has successfully improved process control, achieved higher recovery rates, reduced material losses, and enhanced transparency in its reporting. These improvements not only optimized the company’s metallurgical operations but also strengthened its relationship with stakeholders by ensuring accurate and auditable production data.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice on Base Metal processing

**Copper, Zinc, and Lead Processing:** Glencore has applied the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** across its **copper, zinc, and lead processing plants** to improve the accuracy and reliability of metal tracking and reconciliation. This involves:

1. **Tracking Metal Content:**

- The AMIRA Code ensures that the metal content of ore is tracked precisely from the point of extraction through various stages, including **crushing, grinding, flotation, smelting**, and **refining**. This allows Glencore to maintain a clear understanding of how much metal is present in the ore and how efficiently it is being recovered throughout the process.

2. **Accurate Reconciliation:**

- The code enhances the reconciliation process between the ore processed and the final metal output. This reconciliation ensures that the quantity of metal extracted and refined corresponds accurately with the initial ore grades, minimizing discrepancies and improving yield estimations.

3. **Material Balancing:**

- Throughout key processing stages such as **crushing, grinding**, and **flotation**, the AMIRA Code enforces rigorous **material balancing**. This ensures that the flow of material and metal content is closely monitored, allowing Glencore to optimize recovery rates and minimize material loss.

4. **Smelting and Refining:**

- In the **smelting** and **refining** stages, the code's application ensures that any metal losses are identified and minimized. It also provides a framework for accurately measuring and tracking metal recoveries through these complex and high-temperature processes.

By implementing these practices, Glencore has been able to maintain **high recovery rates** and minimize losses across its **copper, zinc, and lead** operations, leading to improved operational efficiency and greater transparency in reporting.

Application of the AMIRA code of practice for Ore and concemtrate Tracking

**Ore and Concentrate Tracking:** Glencore’s implementation of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** has significantly enhanced the tracking of **metal-bearing ore** from extraction through to **concentrate production**. This application focuses on several key aspects:

1. **Precise Tracking of Metal-Bearing Ore:** - The AMIRA Code provides a structured approach to track the flow of metal-bearing ore at every stage of the processing chain. From the moment ore is extracted, it is continuously monitored through subsequent processes such as crushing, grinding, and flotation until it is converted into a concentrate.

2. **Refinement of Metal Balancing Procedures:** - By applying the AMIRA Code, Glencore has refined its metal balancing procedures. This involves establishing accurate relationships between the input of ore and the output of concentrate, allowing for better management of material flows and ensuring that discrepancies between the amounts of ore processed and concentrate produced are minimized.

3. **Accounting for Each Ton of Ore Processed:** - The AMIRA Code requires rigorous documentation and tracking of each ton of ore processed. This level of accountability ensures that all material is accounted for, which helps in identifying potential losses or inefficiencies in the production system.

4. **Reduction of Discrepancies:** - Enhanced tracking and refined balancing procedures contribute to a significant reduction in discrepancies between expected and actual production outcomes. This accuracy supports Glencore’s ability to make informed decisions regarding operational adjustments and optimizations.

5. **Improved Yield Predictions:** - With better tracking and reconciled balances, Glencore can more accurately predict yields from ore processing. This forecasting capability is essential for operational planning, resource allocation, and financial forecasting, ultimately leading to enhanced profitability and efficiency.

By effectively implementing the AMIRA Code, Glencore has improved its ability to track metal-bearing ore, refined its metal balancing processes, reduced discrepancies, and enhanced yield predictions throughout its operations. This results in greater operational transparency and efficiency, solidifying Glencore's position as a leader in the natural resources sector.

Application of The AMIRA code of practice on Smelting and Refining operations

**Smelting and Refining Operations:** The application of the **AMIRA Code of Practice for Metal Accounting** has been pivotal in enhancing Glencore’s **smelting and refining operations**.

Here’s how the code has contributed to improving these critical processes:

1. **Accurate Tracking of Metals:** - The AMIRA Code ensures that metal tracking is precise throughout the high-temperature smelting and refining processes. By maintaining detailed records of metal inputs and outputs, Glencore can monitor the flow of metals at every stage, ensuring that nothing is unaccounted for.

2. **Optimization of Material Recovery:** - By implementing rigorous tracking and reconciliation procedures outlined in the AMIRA Code, Glencore has been able to optimize material recovery rates. This means that the company can efficiently extract as much metal as possible from the ore, minimizing waste and enhancing overall productivity.

3. **Reduction of Losses:** - The complex nature of smelting and refining processes often leads to material losses due to inefficiencies or inaccuracies in tracking. The AMIRA Code helps mitigate these issues by providing structured methodologies for monitoring metal flows, which helps identify and address potential sources of loss during these critical operations.

4. **Enhanced Process Control:** - With accurate tracking and balancing of metals, Glencore can implement better process control strategies. This ensures that operations are running as efficiently as possible, and adjustments can be made in real-time to optimize performance and recoveries.

5. **Improved Data for Decision-Making:** - The comprehensive data generated from adhering to the AMIRA Code enhances Glencore’s decision-making capabilities. Management can rely on accurate and transparent metal accounting reports to make informed decisions about operational improvements, resource allocations, and financial planning.

6. **Compliance and Reporting:** - The adoption of the AMIRA Code also aids in compliance with regulatory requirements and internal standards. The rigorous documentation and reporting processes foster transparency, which is essential for stakeholder confidence and audit processes.

By applying the AMIRA Code to its smelting and refining operations, Glencore has significantly improved the accuracy of metal tracking, optimized material recovery, reduced losses, and enhanced overall operational efficiency. These improvements not only contribute to better financial outcomes but also support Glencore's commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management.

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