How AZTEC Mining Upflow Reactor Boosts Gold Recovery by Up to 50% From Tailings in Africa

By Raymond Awiagah

At a time when mining companies across Africa are under pressure to improve efficiency, recover more value from existing operations, and meet increasingly strict environmental standards, innovation in mineral processing is becoming more important than ever.

At the 19th West African Mining and Power Expo in Accra, Ghana, one company drawing attention from industry professionals is AZTEC Mining, a Mauritius-based mining technology firm introducing a patented solution designed to transform gold recovery from tailings.

Speaking in an interview with Behind The Brand Global, Jeantelle Strydom, Marketing Director of AZTEC Mining, explained how the company’s technology is reshaping how mining operators view tailings management and secondary gold recovery.

Turning Tailings Into Value

According to Jeantelle Strydom, AZTEC Mining’s flagship innovation which is “the Upflow Reactor” is designed to recover additional gold from leached tailings before they are sent to tailings storage facilities.

She explained that by integrating the reactor into existing processing circuits, mining companies can achieve an additional 10% to 50% gold recovery, depending on ore characteristics and operational conditions.

This approach transforms tailings from a waste product into a secondary source of value, a shift that could significantly improve profitability in mature mining operations.

How the Upflow Reactor Works

Strydom described the system as a patented high-energy processing technology that enhances gold recovery from already leached material.

In conventional mining operations, ore is processed through agitated leach tanks before residual waste is sent to tailings storage facilities. However, significant amounts of recoverable gold often remain in this material.

The Upflow Reactor introduces a high-energy mixing zone where tailings undergo further processing, enabling additional gold extraction that conventional systems typically miss.

Unlike traditional agitated tanks, the reactor concentrates energy into a smaller processing zone, improving interaction efficiency and unlocking additional recovery from low-grade residual material.

ESG Benefits: Reducing Cyanide Levels

Beyond improved recovery rates, Strydom highlighted the environmental advantage of the technology.

One of the key benefits of the Upflow Reactor, she noted, is its ability to reduce cyanide levels in final tailings, an important consideration for environmental compliance in modern mining operations.

As ESG standards continue to shape mining regulations globally, technologies that improve both operational output and environmental safety are becoming increasingly critical.

Proven Industrial Application

Strydom further confirmed that the technology is not experimental, but already in active industrial use.

According to her, the Upflow Reactor has been operational for approximately three years at Barrick Gold’s Kibali Mine, one of Africa’s major gold mining operations.

She also noted that a new installation is currently underway in South Africa, expanding the technology’s footprint within the continent’s mining sector.

Why Mining Companies Are Paying Attention

In an industry where profitability is closely tied to recovery efficiency, the ability to extract additional gold from tailings presents a significant opportunity.

Even modest improvements in recovery rates can translate into substantial financial gains, particularly in large-scale operations.

Combined with its ESG benefits and compatibility with existing plant infrastructure, the Upflow Reactor offers mining operators a practical upgrade rather than a complete system overhaul.

Conclusion

AZTEC Mining’s showcase at the West African Mining and Power Expo highlights the growing importance of innovation in tailings reprocessing and sustainable mineral recovery.

As explained by Jeantelle Strydom during the interview, the Upflow Reactor represents a shift toward smarter, more efficient, and environmentally conscious mining practices.

With deployments already in operation and more in progress, the technology signals a broader movement within the industry toward maximizing value from existing resources while reducing environmental impact.