Leaching methods and apparatus
OwnerNeil L. Carpenter, Clark Goodmaninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a leaching process to recover a selected element or mineral from a gangue, an AC current is applied to the mixture to accelerate the rate at which chemical reactions occur. If the treated material is located in a subsurface earth formation, the AC current may further generate gases in situ to assist in moving and circulating the leaching solution in the formation and to bring the dissolved mineral value to the surface through a borehole or the like. This acceleration of the chemical reactions can shorten the effective leaching time from weeks or months to a matter of hours or days, thereby greatly affecting the rate of recovery of the mineral value and making such leach mining economical on a commercial basis.
Claims27
A process for removing in situ a first chemically reactive element from a generally insoluble gangue material in an ore bearing formation, comprising the steps of
- drilling a borehole into said ore formation,
- introducing a selected leaching solution containing a second chemically reactive element into said ore formation through said borehole,
- passing an electric current through said leaching solution and said ore formation for chemically reacting said first and second chemically reactive elements which remain in solution in said leaching solution and
- withdrawing said leaching solution and said first chemically reactive element through said borehole.
Apparatus for in situ leach mining of a first chemically reactive element from an ore bearing formation comprising
- a borehole penetrating said ore bearing formation,
- first means for introducing a selected leach solution having a second chemically reactive element into contact with said ore bearing formation through said borehole,
- second means for passing an electrical current through said leach solution and said ore formation adjacent said borehole for chemically reacting said first and second chemically reactive elements, and
- third means cooperating with said borehole for withdrawing said leach solution containing said first chemically reactive element.
Apparatus for in situ leach mining of a first chemically reactive element from an ore bearing formation, comprising
- a plurality of boreholes penetrating said ore bearing formation,
- first means for introducing a selected leach solution having a second chemically reactive element into contact with said ore bearing formation through at least one of said boreholes,
- second means for passing an electrical current through said leach solution and said ore formation between selected boreholes for chemically reacting said first and second chemically reactive elements, and
- third means cooperating with at least one of said boreholes for withdrawing said leach solution containing said first chemically reactive element.
A process for removing in situ a first chemically reactive element from a generally insoluble gangue material in an ore bearing formation, comprising the steps of
- drilling a plurality of boreholes penetrating said ore bearing formation,
- introducing a selected leach solution containing a second chemically reactive element into said ore bearing formation through at least one of said boreholes,
- passing an electrical current through said leaching solution and said ore formation for chemically reacting said first and second chemically reactive elements which remain in solution in said leaching solution,
- withdrawing said leaching solution and said first chemically reactive element through said at least one of said boreholes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.