Expertise

Our expertise at the service of mining innovation

We combine scientific expertise, technological innovation, and a commitment to sustainability and advanced infrastructure to support mining companies in optimizing their processes.
With our specialized laboratories and world-class equipment, we turn your ideas into concrete, sustainable, and efficient solutions.

Comminution

Corem has the expertise and a wide range of equipment to perform the full spectrum of tests required for the design and optimization of grinding circuits. Modern equipment such as HPGR and IsaMill are among the options available at our facilities.

FLOTATION

Corem’s pilot plant is equipped with a wide range of equipment: mechanical cells, flotation columns, and all the equipment necessary for the proper functioning of a flotation circuit capable of processing up to several hundred kilograms per hour. In addition, over several years of research, Corem has developed a range of hydrodynamic tools that enable the auditing and optimization of flotation circuits in factories.

Pelletizing and thermal processes

Corem draws on internationally recognized expertise in optimizing the composition of iron ore pellet types and their firing cycle. Physical firing simulators (pot-grate and grate-kiln cooler) are used to optimize firing conditions for both the moving grate and rotary kiln processes.

Physical separation

Thanks to this equipment, Corem can take gravimetric separation further to produce pre-concentrates or process finer ores with small differences in density.

Extractive metallurgy / hydrometallurgy

Corem has a comprehensive extractive metallurgy and hydrometallurgy division capable of handling all mineral acids and bases at high temperatures or high pressures on a laboratory and semi-industrial scale.

MINERALOGY

Corem uses state-of-the-art equipment and applies proven procedures to ensure the preparation of representative subsamples from samples originating from the laboratory, pilot plant, or directly from the deposit. Samples from all sources (crushing, grinding, screening, shaking table separation, dense media separation, magnetic separation, etc.) can be studied as is or mounted in high-quality polished sections/thin sections.

Mineralurgy Analytics and Technology

M.A.T drives innovation at the crossroads of mineral processing and advanced digital technologies. Our team develops and integrates cutting-edge solutions in machine vision, sensor design, data science, and automation to tackle real challenges in mining operations.

Our ISO accreditations and certifications

ISO/CEI 17025:2017 Analytical Services Laboratory (ASL) accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) through the Quebec Standards Office (BNQ). For more information, check ISO certificate/CEI 17025:2017 and scope of accréditation of LSA

ISO 9001:2015 Pyrometallurgical Characterization Laboratory (LCP)

ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management System (EMS)

To successfully complete the assignments you entrust to us

Corem has also developed expertise in simulating different types of mills and comminution circuits and has recognized software (e.g., JKSimMet) and simulators developed in-house.

Corem’s experts work in synergy and combine their flotation expertise to solve problems related to the processing of gold, sulfides, iron ore, oxides, phosphates, graphite, nickel, lithium, and other industrial, critical, or strategic minerals.

Corem is one of the few research centers with the capacity to perform chemical and mineralogical characterization of samples, laboratory development of a concentration process, pilot-scale validation of the concentration process, and evaluation of the properties of pellets produced from the concentrate, all under one roof. Corem has also developed expertise and tools for the mineralogical characterization of dry, cooked, or reduced iron ore pellets, briquettes, and extrudates. Corem has all the equipment and expertise necessary to determine the properties of iron ore pellets in accordance with ISO and other international standards. Corem is an active member of the ISO/TC/102 committee for the development of ISO standards on iron ore and pre-reduced iron ore.

Corem has a wide range of physical separation equipment for laboratory and pilot-scale work. In addition to standard equipment such as spirals, hydraulic classifiers, and magnetic separators, Corem has the latest generation of gravimetric separators such as the Reflux Classifier and an industrial ore sorter.

Corem can carry out extractive metallurgy and hydrometallurgy projects on matrices of varying complexity for the separation and concentration of a multitude of elements, from base metals, light metals, and precious metals to other critical and strategic metals. Corem has extensive expertise in, among other things, gold cyanidation processes, the transformation of natural graphite into battery-grade graphite, the transformation of spodumene into lithium precursors, the production of battery-grade Ni from concentrates or rejects, rare earth processing, and the concentration of apatite and production of phosphoric acid.

Corem has an MLA (FEG) and a TESCAN TIMA that enable quantitative mineralogy studies to be carried out on various ores and process samples. These studies contribute to modal analysis and determine particle size distribution, mineral size, liberation of minerals of interest, mineral associations, and theoretical separation curves.

Corem’s mineralogy experts work closely with metallurgists during process development, diagnosis, or optimization to fully understand the behaviour of ore particles during processing and adapt the process accordingly.

From prototype development to deployment in plants, we transform raw process data into actionable insights that enhance performance, efficiency, and sustainability. With expertise spanning mechatronics, instrumentation, modelling, AI, and mineral processing, we bridge the gap between cutting-edge technology and industry application needs.