Combined grinding and leaching apparatus for ores and wastes and methods of use thereof

A method for grinding or comminuting a metal-containing ore, substrate, mine-waste, or radioactive waste, comprising the steps of:

• a. adding the metal-containing ore, substrate, mine-waste, or radioactive waste to an apparatus comprising;
• i. a container comprising inner walls that define an open end and a closed end for the container, and a lumen for retaining the ore, substrate, mine-waste or radioactive waste, with two or more elongate ribs projecting inwardly from the walls and extending from the closed end towards the open end of the container, wherein the inner walls of the container define the lumen as a cylindrical lumen for the container, defined by a continuous, cylindrical side wall portion extending between the open and closed ends of the container, and a substantially circular floor portion at the closed end of the container, the elongate ribs extending such that they radiate from a centre of said circular portion and continue along said cylindrical side wall portion from the closed end to the open end of the container;
• ii. a powered, rotatable spindle extending into and axially aligned with the container, substantially equidistant from side walls of the inner walls of the container;
• iii. a plurality of from 2 to 20 grinding arms arranged about and extending from the spindle such that each comprises at least one free end that passes with a clearance of from 0.01 mm to 20 mm from each of the ribs on the inner walls of the container, as the spindle is rotated, wherein the grinding arms other than the grinding arm or arms adjacent the closed end of the container are at least substantially uniformly elliptical in cross-section, or at least substantially uniformly circular in cross-section, with the grinding arm or arms adjacent the closed end of the container have having a substantially square or rectangular cross-section, wherein the grinding arms adjacent the closed end of the container, during operation and rotation of the spindle, pass adjacent the portion of the elongate ribs that radiate from the centre of the substantially circular floor portion at the closed end of the container, with a clearance of from 0.5-10 mm therefrom;
• and
• iv. a motor to drive axial rotation of the spindle and attached grinding arms within the container;
• and
• b. applying power to the motor thereby to rotate the spindle and attached grinding arms, to grind or comminute the metal-containing ore, substrate, mine-waste, or radioactive waste.