Method for leaching metal bearing ores
OwnerHenry Von Kohorninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Disclosed is a method for above-ground leaching of metal bearing ores comprising (a) providing an ore body to be leached having positioned therein void-creating members, said members being positioned substantially vertical or at an angle to the horizontal plane in order that they are capable of being pulled out of said ore body in a substantially upward direction; (b) partially performing the leaching; (c) removing said members by pulling out in a substantially upward direction, thereby creating internal voids and causing shifting of ore in said ore body; and (d) completing the leaching.
Claims41
A method for above-ground leaching of metal bearing ores which comprises:
- (a) providing an ore body to be leached having positioned therein void-creating members, said members being positioned substantially vertical or at an angle to the horizontal plane in order that they are capable of being pulled out of said ore body in a substantially upward direction;
- (b) partially performing the leaching;
- (c) removing said members by pulling out in a substantially upward direction, thereby creating internal voids and causing shifting of ore in said ore body;
- and
- (d) completing the leaching.
A method for the extraction and recovery of metals from ores by above-ground leaching comprising:
- 1. providing a plurality of sets of removable void-creating members inserted in the ore body to be leached, wherein:
- a. each set of said members comprises at least two hollow, elongated members of which a first inner member having a smaller cross-section has been inserted into a second outer member having a larger cross-section,
- b. a void space is created between said inner and outer members, and
- c. said sets of members are positioned in the ore body in a vertical attitude or at an acute angle to the vertical plane;
- 2. partially leaching the ore;
- 3. removing said outer members by pulling them out upwardly so as to create a void directly between the ore and the said inner members, causing movement of ore filling said void and of nearby ore;
- 4. Continuing partial leaching of the ore;
- 5. removing said inner members by pulling them out upwardly, so as to create a second void in the ore, causing additional movement of ore filling said second void and of nearby ore;
- and
- 6. completing the leaching.
The method of extracting metals from ores by above-ground heap leaching, wherein during the leaching the crushed ore pieces are caused to shift slightly at least twice at chronologically separated points in time by providing void-creating members in the ore body to be leached and removing said members by pulling them out in two or more chronologically separated steps.
A method for the extraction of metals from ores by above ground leaching, comprising:
- 1. commencing the construction of an ore body by depositing on a leach pad a layer of crushed ore, said layer having a plurality of peaks or ridges separated by hollows;
- 2. placing upon said peaks or ridges a plurality of rigid sheets, each sheet being supported by at least two peaks or ridges, so as to create voids below said sheets wherein said sheets;
- a. cover at least a major area of said ore layer,
- b. have perforations permitting the leaching solution, but not the ore pieces, to pass through them,
- c. are strong enough to support the weight of the ore deposited thereon in completing the ore body, and
- d. are subject at least in part to corrosion by the leaching solution,
- 3. completing the construction of the ore body by depositing additional crushed ore on said sheets, and
- 4. leaching the ore, thereby, during the leaching, impairing the structural integrity of said sheets by the corrosive effect of the leaching solution to such an extent as to cause their breaking up under the weight of the ore, thus causing movement of the individual crushed ore pieces in filling said voids.
A method for the extraction of metals from ores by above ground leaching, comprising:
- 1. providing on a leach pad or on an ore layer previously deposited on a leach pad, rigid sheets, said sheets resting on a plurality of spacing support members so as to create voids below said sheets, wherein said sheets:
- a. cover at least a major area of the leach pad
- b. have perforations permitting the leaching solution, but not crushed ore pieces of nominal size, to pass through them, and
- c. are strong enough to support the weight of the ore deposited thereon in completing the ore body, and
- wherein said support members;
- a. prior to leaching, are strong enough to support the weight of the ore deposited on the sheets in completing the ore body, and
- b. are subject at least in part to corrosion by the leaching solution;
- 2. completing the construction of the ore body by depositing crushed ore on said sheets;
- and
- 3. leaching the ore, wherein, during the leaching, the structural integrity of said support members is impaired by the corrosive effect of the leaching solution to such an extent as to cause their breaking up under the weight of the ore, causing movement of the ore in filling said voids.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.