Title:
IMPROVED METHOD FOR METAL HEAP AND DUMP LEACHING COUPLED WITH METAL SOLVENT EXTRACTION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO2006041695
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The disclosed invention provides a process for enhanced recovery of one or more metal values from heap and/or dump leaching of ores containing the metal values, the process comprising: (a) providing a high grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of fresh high grade ore containing a first metal value; (b) subjecting the high grade leach solution to a first solvent extraction of the first metal value and applying the resulting first aqueous raffinate to leach fresh high grade ore; (c) providing a low grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore of the first metal value; and (d) subjecting the low grade leach solution to a second solvent extraction of the first metal value, separate from the first solvent extraction of the first metal value, and applying the resulting separate, second aqueous to leach partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore, wherein the first and second aqueous raffinates are not intermixed prior to being applied to their respective ores for leaching. Alternatively, the first and second raffinates may be intermixed prior to being applied to their respective ores for leaching, providing that the aqueous raffinate applied to fresh high grade ore comprises at least 60% by volume of the first aqueous raffinate and the aqueous raffinate applied to partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore comprises at least 60% by volume of the second aqueous raffinate.
Inventors:
KORDOSKY GARY A (US)
NISBETT ANDREW (US)
HEIN HANS C (CL)
NISBETT ANDREW (US)
HEIN HANS C (CL)
Application Number:
PCT/US2005/034889
Publication Date:
September 08, 2006
Filing Date:
September 27, 2005
Export Citation:
Assignee:
COGNIS IP MAN GMBH (DE)
KORDOSKY GARY A (US)
NISBETT ANDREW (US)
HEIN HANS C (CL)
KORDOSKY GARY A (US)
NISBETT ANDREW (US)
HEIN HANS C (CL)
International Classes:
B01D11/00; C22B15/00; C22B19/00; C22B23/00
Foreign References:
| US20030230171A1 | 2003-12-18 | |||
| US5919674A | 1999-07-06 | |||
| US5316567A | 1994-05-31 | |||
| US4039405A | 1977-08-02 |
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