Recovery of metals from ore

A method for bio-leaching metal-containing oxide ore comprising:

• a. admixing a sulfur containing compound with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur to form a mixture;
• b. agglomerating a metal-containing oxide ore with the mixture to form agglomerates having an average size greater than about 6 mesh and less than about 1 inch;
• c. forming the agglomerates into a heap having a top and a bottom;
• and,
• d. applying an aqueous solution to the top of the heap, wherein sulfuric acid is systemically formed to leach at least a portion of the oxide ore.

A method for recovering a metal selected from the group consisting of precious group metals and platinum group metals from an ore or concentrate containing one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc, the method comprising:

• a. admixing a sulfur containing compound to the ore or concentrate;
• b. forming a heap;
• c. contacting the heap with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach the metal in the ore to form a metal-rich leachate and a residue;
• d. separating the leachate from the residue;
• e. grinding the residue to a size suitable for flotation processing;
• f. floating the ground residue to form a concentrate rich in one or more metals selected from the group consisting of precious group metals and platinum group metals;
• g. upgrading the concentrate to form a high grade product suitable for final refining.

A method for recovering a metal selected from the group consisting of precious group metals and platinum group metals from an ore or concentrate containing one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc, the method comprising:

• a. separating the ore into a majority fraction and a minority fraction;
• b. floating the majority fraction to form a low grade base and a concentrate rich in one or more metals selected from the group consisting of precious group metals and platinum group metals;
• c. mixing the concentrate with the minority fraction to produce a mixture;
• d. forming the mixture into a heap;
• e. contacting the heap with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach metals to form a residue and a metal-rich leachate containing one or metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc;
• f. admixing a sulfur containing compound with the microorganism at a time prior to, during, or after the microorganism contacts the ore;
• g. separating the metal-rich leachate from the residue;
• h. subjecting the residue to flotation to form a concentrate rich in one or more metals selected from the group consisting of precious group metals and platinum group metals;
• i. upgrading the concentrate to form a high grade product suitable for final refining.

A method for recovering metal from a metal-containing oxide ore comprising:

• a. providing a metal-containing oxide ore, wherein the metal-containing oxide ore contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc;
• b. contacting the metal-containing oxide ore with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach the metal in the ore to form a metal-rich leachate and a residue;
• c. admixing an amount of a sulfur containing compound with the microorganism at a time prior to, during, or after the microorganism contacts the oxide ore to leach at least a portion of the oxide portion of the ore;
• and
• d. separating the metal-rich leachate from the residue.

A method for recovering metal from a metal-containing ore comprising:

• a. contacting the ore with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach the metal in the ore to form a metal-rich leachate and a residue;
• b. admixing a sulfur containing compound with the microorganism at a time prior to, during, or after the microorganism contacts the ore;
• and
• c. separating the metal-rich leachate from the residue, wherein the metal-containing ore contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc, and further contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of precious metals and platinum group metals.

A method for recovering metal from a metal-containing ore comprising:

• a. contacting the ore with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach the metal in the ore to form a metal-rich leachate and a residue;
• b. admixing a sulfur containing compound with the microorganism at a time prior to, during, or after the microorganism contacts the ore;
• and
• c. separating the metal-rich leachate from the residue, wherein the metal rich leachate contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc, and wherein the residue contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of precious metals and platinum group metals.

A method for recovering metal from a metal-containing ore comprising:

• a. contacting the ore with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach the metal in the ore to form a metal-rich leachate and a residue;
• b. admixing a sulfur containing compound with the microorganism at a time prior to, during, or after the microorganism contacts the ore;
• and
• c. separating the metal-rich leachate from the residue, wherein the metal-rich leachate is contacted with a microorganism selective to reduce sulfate for a period of time to form metal sulfides.

A method for recovering metal from a metal-containing or e comprising:

• a. contacting the ore with a microorganism s elective to oxidize sulfur for a time sufficient to leach the metal in the ore to form a metal-rich leachate and a residue;
• b. admixing a sulfur containing compound with the microorganism at a time prior to, during, or after the microorganism contacts the ore;
• and
• c. separating the metal-rich leachate from the residue, wherein the metal-containing ore contains one or more metals select ed from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, copper, and zinc, and wherein the metal-rich leachate contains zinc.

A method for bio-leaching metal-containing ore comprising:

• a. admixing a sulfur containing compound with a microorganism selective to oxidize sulfur to form a mixture;
• b. agglomerating a metal-containing ore with the mixture to form agglomerates having an average size greater than about 6 mesh and less than about 1 inch;
• and,
• c. forming the agglomerates into a heap having a top and a bottom;
• and
• applying an aqueous solution to the top of the heap, wherein sulfuric acid is systemically formed, wherein a metal-rich leachate is collected at the bottom of the heap, and wherein the heap contains one or more metals selected from the group consisting of precious metals and platinum group metals.