MGX Minerals Inc has announced the engagement of global mining equipment supplier Metso-Outotec for its British Columbia silicon project.
Vancouver-based MGX said Metso has been tasked with providing design, equipment, and mechanical engineering for the processing of high-grade silica from the company’s wholly owned Gibraltar silica deposit into silicon metal 3303# grade. The primary piece of processing equipment is a submerged electric arc furnace (SAF) that generates heat up to 1,600 degrees Celsius sufficient to melt the quartzite. The liquid metal is then tapped and poured into bricks and rough crushed into 3-4 inch pieces for shipment.