Fine-mineral recovery unlocks untapped value

FineTech Minerals uses its InverSep® flowsheet and patented BerthaSep® separators to effectively recover ultra-fine mineral particles left behind by conventional processes.

Mining is a three-stage materials handling process: excavation, liberation and separation. After the ore has been excavated, comminution takes place to liberate the valuable mineral particles from the gangue, whereafter any one of several separation methods are used to separate valuable particles form gangue. No matter how well-optimised the comminution circuit, some valuable particles will always be over-ground, thus creating the many inevitable fragments that are too fine for conventional technologies to effectively recover.

Invert, always invert.

Rudy Niemoller, FineTech’s geologist and founder, formulated FineTech’s InverSep® process trying to answer the question: how does one unlock the remaining value in the massive tailing dumps seen around Gauteng and the Northwest, where the expensive excavation and liberation have already been done? It soon became clear to him that the remaining value in both historic, and current-arising tailings lies within the ultra-fine fraction, where valuable particles smaller than 100 microns pass through conventional processes directly to tailings.

Starting out in a little corner rented from Mintek, Rudy developed FineTech’s novel flowsheet, planning to use commercially available separators in a novel manner. It soon became clear that conventional separators would not be effective, and the long-time Charlie Munger fan invented the BerthaSep separator, an inverted up-flow separator, forming the cornerstone of FineTech’s IP.

From Waste to Value

FineTech’s proprietary technology targets the ultra-fine fraction that conventional plants cannot. The patented BerthaSep® separator, designed for selective recovery of particles under 106 microns, consistently delivers chromite recoveries above 75%. These modular, plug-and-play plants operate alongside host facilities, requiring no additional feed or excavation — only slurry, water, and power. The result: new revenue streams at no capital cost to the resource owner, plus reduced environmental footprint and rehabilitation liability.

FineTech’s first commercial-scale plant, commissioned at Clover Alloys’ Rietfontein Chrome Plant, has proven both technically and commercially successful. The plant also doubles as a profitable test bed, where ongoing refinements to the InverSep® process drive even greater efficiency.

Continuous Improvement and Operational Excellence

At its Pretoria research facility, FineTech continues to refine its process through extensive laboratory and pilot-scale test work. Numerous trial campaigns have been completed across commodities such as UG2 and LG6 chromite, cassiterite, iron ore, and ferrochrome tailings. This pipeline of ongoing R&D ensures that FineTech’s plants remain at the cutting edge, delivering ever-higher recoveries while lowering environmental impact.

The company’s commitment to operational excellence is also evident in its partnerships. FineTech works hand-in-hand with resource owners to design flowsheet solutions tailored to each site’s mineralogy and tailings profile. This approach not only maximises technical performance but also ensures commercial viability for both parties. 

Skin in the game

FineTech believes in true alignment with its partners. Rather than charging for technology access, the company provides fully-funded solutions or joint venture partnerships that share both risk and reward. Host mines supply slurry, water, and power — FineTech brings the process, the plant, and the operational expertise.

This “skin in the game” model means resource owners can unlock immediate value from ultra-fine tailings without incurring upfront capital expenditure. In return, FineTech benefits from long-term revenue sharing agreements that reflect actual plant performance. The result is a partnership structure where both sides are invested in sustainable success.

A Strategic Partner for African Mining

With successful commercial operations already in place and technical collaborations underway with leading players across the Bushveld Igneous Complex, FineTech is positioning itself as a strategic partner in Africa’s mining future. By converting waste into value, the company not only strengthens profitability but also supports the sector’s ESG commitments — reducing waste, lowering rehabilitation liabilities, and ensuring more efficient use of mined resources.

For African mining operators, the message is clear: in a world of rising costs and tighter margins, the next frontier of value lies not in new ore, but in what has already been mined. FineTech Minerals is unlocking that frontier.