Sustainable mining

This is where it all started more than a century ago. In the magnesite-rich region of Yerakini, northern Greece, the ore is extracted by open pit methods. After blasting, the RoM material is transported by own trucks (dumpers) to the beneficiation departments. In parallel, pre-concentrated magnesite is produced from the RoM old stockpiles via mobile processing units (screening & magnetic separation).

The RoM material is crushed, screened at various size fractions and washed, whereupon it passes through different beneficiation processes (X-ray/camera/laser sorting, magnetic separation, dense media) depending on the desired chemistry of the kiln-feed magnesite. Overall, at Yerakini, there are 14 optical/X-ray sorters (8 camera, 5 laser and 1 X-ray), two classifying units, four magnetic separation lines and one dense media cyclone installation.

Calcination on site comes next: 3 rotary kilns and 1 shaft kiln, with a combined calcination capacity of 520 tpd, are fed with magnesite to produce caustic calcined magnesia and deadburned magnesia at ~900°C and ~1.800°C respectively. The caustic calcined magnesia RoK (run of kiln) is then conveyed to the CCM final processing plant for final milling and classification, whereas the deadburned magnesia RoK goes to the DBM final processing plant to produce basic monolithic refractories or specialty DBM powders for high-end applications.

Here in the heart of Turkey, with our friends from Akdeniz Mineral Kaynakları A.S. (a part of Grecian Magnesite since 1993), we operate three adjacent open pit mines (Sazlik, Eldizen & Aktepe) to extract premium quality magnesite. The RoM material goes through pre-beneficiation on site and then travels 5km to the main plant in Erenköy, where it is crushed, screened at various size fractions, washed and dried, before going through different beneficiation processes -magnetic separation, sensor-based sorting- depending on the desired chemistry of the kiln-feed magnesite.

At Erenköy and Aktepe/Sazlik, 3 grizzlys, 2 drum magnet lines, four magnetic separation lines, 2 hand-sorting lines and 1 X-ray-based sorting line and drying unit, produce kiln-feed magnesite, that goes to the calcination plant in Kümbet, 10Km away, to be fired at ~900^oC in 1 rotary and 2 shaft kilns with a calcination capacity of 100 tpd. The caustic calcined magnesia RoK is then further crushed, milled and classified to order at the CCM final processing plant.

On the island of Evia, Greece, we own mining rights of one of the purest magnesite deposits on the entire planet; the renowned “Agia Triti” mining concession, which above ground, is a place of exceptional natural beauty and of relatively untouched flora and fauna habitats. 

After years of geological mapping, geotechnical investigation, laser scanner surveying works, and core drilling exploration, we recently started the Koutzi UG mine: a green, small scale, surgical, underground mine with narrow vein mining techniques for the extraction of high-quality raw magnesite.

Our Koutzi UG mine is operated by electric and battery powered equipment for an immaculate “green” performance. In addition, remote control mechanical excavation of ore & waste eliminates the use of explosives' resulting in favorable ventilation conditions and a safer, healthier work environment for our miners!

The mine’s annual production capacity is 50,000 MT RoM out of an estimated 11 million MT of reserves. That means at least one hundred years of top-quality magnesite flow, guaranteed. It also points to a champion of sustainability and environmental responsibility - Grecian Magnesite at its best!