Recovery platinum group metals from oxides ores

A method for recovering from an ore at least one platinum group metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, rhodium and ruthenium, said platinum group metal being disseminated through said ore in at least one form selected from the group consisting of said platinum group metal in the elemental state, ferro-alloys of said platinum group metal and at least one platinum group metal compound selected from the group consisting of sulfides, arsenides, tellurides, selenides, antimonides, and bismuthinides, which comprises:

• reducing the particle size of said ore to a size less than about 100 mesh;
• roasting said ore at an elevated temperature of about 275.degree. C. to 750.degree. C. sufficient to free up occluded platinum group metal in said ore and to decompose by oxidation any platinum group metal compounds present in said ore thereby rendering said platinum group metal leachable,
• and subjecting said ore to leaching with a sulfuric acid solution maintained at a pH of less than about 1 during leaching, said solution containing an amount of a soluble bromide compound at least sufficient to form a soluble platinum group metal bromide complex while maintaining an amount of an oxidizing agent in said solution at least sufficient to provide a redox potential of at least about 700 mv as determined against Standard Calomel Electrode (SCE) to maintain said platinum group metal in an ionic form conducive to forming a soluble bromide complex,
• thereby dissolving substantial amounts of said at least one platinum group metal and form a solution thereof,
• and recovering a product predominantly of said platinum group metal from said solution.