Method and apparatus for solar heating a mining leach solution

A method for extracting metallic material from ore, the method comprising the steps of:

• accumulating a heap of ore on an impervious pad;
• positioning a plurality of emitter tubes in a spaced relationship to each other on the ore heap, each emitter tube having a plurality of emitter openings;
• positioning at least one main conduit on the ore heap, the main conduit being in fluid communication with a supply of leach solution;
• distributing the leach solution from the main conduit to a plurality of heat absorbing tubes in fluid communication with the main conduit, the plurality of heat absorbing tubes being positioned in a laterally spaced parallel relationship relative to each other;
• positioning a reflecting panel between each adjacent heat absorbing tube to reflect solar energy toward the heat absorbing tubes;
• transferring the solar energy from the heat absorbing tubes to the leach solution to heat the leach solution to an elevated temperature above an ambient temperature while the leach solution is within the heat absorbing tubes;
• transferring the solar-heated leach solution from the heat absorbing tubes to the emitter tubes;
• emitting the solar-heated leach solution from the emitter openings of each emitter tube such that the leach solution percolates through the heap of ore;
• collecting the leach solution from the impervious pad after the leach solution has percolated through the ore heap;
• and
• recovering the metal contained in the leach solution after the leach solution has percolated through the ore heap.