Kidd Creek research turns waste into new products.

• Position: Falconbridge Ltd.'s Kidd Creek metallurgical operations - Mining Report

Waste not want not.

It's an old concept which has become widely accepted at Falconbridge Ltd.'s Kidd Creek operations in Timmins.

In 1989 the company allocated $10 million for research and development, primarily to find ways of reducing pollution and treating secondary materials.

Early last fall the company began operating a $28-million indium plant at its metallurgical site east of Timmins. The plant draws the mineral from dust produced during the copper smelting process. The dust was previously regarded as waste.

Now company officials are ready to put another waste material from the smelting process to use. Work is expected to begin later this year on a liquid sulphur dioxide (|SO.sub.2~) plant which will draw the substance from the gases produced during copper smelting.

Both projects help diversify the company's product line and provide the residents of the Timmins area with a cleaner environment.

It has been a little more than a year since Falconbridge Ltd. began operating its indium plant at the Kidd Creek metallurgical site.

According to Warren Holmes, vice-president and general manager at Kidd Creek, the months have been filled with learning experiences.

"It has not been what you would call a smooth start up," Holmes admitted. "We have had to deal with variables in the feed materials but, on the other hand, now we're capable of treating feeds with high variables."

Indium is a byproduct of copper smelter cottrell dust. The dust is subjected to an acid leach process in order to recover copper, zinc, silver and lead. Through solvent extraction indium is also removed.

Company officials have known about the presence of indium in the ore mined at Kidd Creek since the 1970s. However, it took a 10-year research and development program to determine the feasibility of building the plant.

The plant, which employs about 21 people, can produce 55 tons of the material daily.

Indium is utilized in semi-conductors and electronics, solder, liquid crystal displays, batteries, nuclear control rods, dental fillings and rear-window defrosters for automobiles.

The indium is sold to the Indium Corporation of America which, in turn, markets the substance around the world.

At press-time the metal fetched between $225 and $250 per kilogram on the open market.

Under its supply agreement, Kidd Creek will eventually provide one million ounces per year when it reaches full capacity.

"There is such a wide variety of uses because indium is such a good conductor and...