Leaching aids and methods of using leaching aids

A leaching solution for an ore, the leaching solution comprising:

• a lixiviant;
• and
• a leaching aid comprising one or more compound comprising formula (I):
• R(AO)nB)m(AO)nH)p (I)
• wherein each AO group is, independently, an alkyleneoxy group selected from ethyleneoxy (“EO”), 1,2-propyleneoxy (“PO”), 1,2-butyleneoxy, and styryleneoxy;
• each n is independently an integer from 0 to 40;
• B is H;
• R is a group selected from formula (II) to (VIII):
• R1C(CH2O)3 (II)
• wherein R1 is H, methyl, ethyl, or propyl;
• C(CH2O)4 (III);
• OC(CH2O)2 (IV);
• N(CH2CH2O) (V)
• (R2)xN(CH2CH2O)y (VI)
• wherein R2 is a C1-C4 alkyl, y is 1-3 and x+y=3;
• O(CH2)rO (VII),
• wherein r is 2 to 6;
• and
• O(CH(CH3)CH2)O (VIII);
• and
• wherein when R is formula (V) or formula (VI) when y is 1, m is 1, and p is 0,
• wherein when R is formula (IV), formula (VI) when y is 2, formula (VII) or formula (VIII), m is an integer from 1 to 2, and p is an integer such that the sum of m plus p equals 2,
• wherein when R is formula (II) or formula VI when y is 3, m is an integer from 1 to 3, and p is an integer such that the sum of m plus p equals 3, and
• wherein when R is formula (III), m is an integer from 1 to 4, and p is an integer such that the sum of m plus p equals 4;
• wherein the lixiviant is at a concentration of about 1 g/L to about 50 g/L of the leaching solution, and
• wherein the one or more compound is at a concentration of about 1 ppm (by weight) to about 2000 ppm (by weight) of the leaching solution.