Method and apparatus for extraction of metal values from metal bearing ores
AssigneeAfrican Oxygen Limited
InventorMark S. Hallinan
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Abstract
This invention relates to the extraction of metal values from metal bearing ores. More specifically, according to the invention, in a process for extracting metal values from metal bearing ores, there is provided a method of enhancing metal value recovery from the ore. The method comprises introducing, upstream of a metal recovery section 26, a gaseous or liquid agent capable of promoting recovery of the metal values from the ore, into the gland service water from at least one of the pumps 30. The introduction of the gaseous or liquid agent is by means of an arrangement 35. The agent may be oxygen.
Claims14
A process for extracting metal values from an ore bearing a desired metal, which comprises:
- (a) milling a wetted ore containing the desired metal to produce an ore containing slurry;
- (b) adding a lixiviant to the slurry;
- (c) dissolving the desired metal from the slurry in the lixiviant to thereby leach the desired metal;
- (d) absorbing the dissolved metal from the lixiviant with activated carbon particles in a carbon-in-pulp absorption section;
- (e) separating the carbon particles from the slurry;
- (f) recovering the desired metal from the carbon particles;
- (g) conveying the slurry to and within each of steps (a) through (f) along pipelines, some of which pipelines are fitted with pumps, wherein some of the pumps are centrifugal pumps comprising a housing and a rotatable pump shaft, with glands or seals being provided around the shaft where it passes through the housing;
- and
- (h) adding water to the glands via a gland service water arrangement, with conduits and tank,
- wherein the improvement comprises introducing, prior to step (f), and after the formation of the ore-containing slurry in step (a), a gaseous or liquid agent, which agent is capable of promoting recovery of the metal values from the ore, into the gland service water arrangement of at least one of the pumps.
An apparatus for extracting metal values from an ore bearing a desired metal, which comprises:
- (a) a mill for wetted ore to produce an ore containing slurry;
- (b) means for adding a lixiviant to the slurry;
- (c) metal leaching means for dissolving the desired metal in the lixiviant;
- (d) a carbon-in-pulp section containing an absorber for absorbing the dissolved metal from the lixiviant with activated carbon particles;
- (e) a separator for removing the carbon particles with metal from the slurry;
- (f) a recovery means for removing the metal from the carbon particles;
- (g) means for conveying slurry to and within devices (a) through (f) via pipelines wherein some of the pipelines are fitted with pumps, and wherein some of the pumps are centrifugal pumps comprising a housing and a rotatable pump shaft, with glands or seals being provided around the shaft where it passes through the housing;
- and
- wherein the improvement comprises means for introducing, prior to entry of the carbon particles with metal into the recovery means, a gaseous or liquid agent, which agent is capable of promoting recovery of the metal values from the ore, into the gland service water of at least one of the pumps, wherein the metal is gold, the lixiviant is calcium cyanide, and the agent is oxygen or an oxygen-containing gas.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.