Mining giant Metso has landed a significant equipment package deal for one of Canada’s most promising gold-copper projects.
Finnish mining technology leader Metso will supply a comprehensive processing equipment package for Artemis Gold’s Blackwater mine expansion in British Columbia, Canada. The contract includes not just crushers and grinding mills, but also a full suite of slurry handling equipment critical to modern mineral processing operations.
What’s in the Package?
Metso’s delivery covers the full comminution and classification workflow:
Crushing & Grinding:
- Superior MKIII primary gyratory crusher – The workhorse for primary size reduction
- Nordberg HP Series cone crushers – Industry-standard secondary crushing
- Premier 18,000 kW SAG mill – Semi-autogenous grinding power
- Premier 18,000 kW ball mill – Final grinding stage
Slurry Handling & Classification:
- Vertical and horizontal slurry pumps – The critical link in moving ore through processing
- MHC hydrocyclones – Particle size classification
- RockSense particle size analyser – Real-time process optimization
Why Metso Won the Contract
Jeremy Langford, President of Artemis Gold, highlighted three key factors:
“We have been impressed with Metso’s proven operating equipment, their financial commitment to build a comprehensive service repair facility in Prince George, BC, as well as their steadfast commitment to provide strong local service support at the mine site. Metso is a trusted partner that shares our vision to help build a more diversified and sustainable British Columbia economy.”
The local service infrastructure—including the new Prince George repair facility—was clearly a decisive factor in a remote mining location where equipment uptime is everything.
Sustainability in Focus
Giuseppe Campanelli, President of Metso North and Central America, emphasized the broader impact:
“We are very pleased to be supporting Artemis Gold in their continued development of the Blackwater Mine. We believe our Metso Plus equipment and services will bring added sustainable value with positive impact to the environment and community in the central BC area.”
The “Metso Plus” approach signals a focus on lifecycle performance, energy efficiency, and community impact—not just equipment delivery.
The Slurry Pump Angle
While the crushers and grinding mills grab headlines, the vertical and horizontal slurry pumps are the unsung heroes of this operation. Moving abrasive ore slurries 24/7 in a hard-rock mining environment demands pumps engineered for extreme wear resistance and reliability. Metso’s slurry pump technology—likely from their Orion or Sala series—will be tested in one of North America’s most demanding mining applications.
