Process of recovery of base metals from oxide ores

A process of recovery of base metals from an oxide ore including a first metal selected from the group consisting of iron, magnesium and aluminum, and a second metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and copper, the process comprising:

• contacting the oxide ore with at least one of ferric or ferrous chloride to form chlorides;
• heating the mixture of the oxide ore and the at least one of the ferric or ferrous chloride to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and hematite;
• contacting the hydrochloric acid with base metal oxides of the second metal included in the oxide ore to form second metal chlorides;
• and
• selectively dissolving the second metal chlorides leaving first metal oxides in solid state,
• wherein the oxide ore is stacked in a heap and leached with sulfuric acid at least one of prior to or during selective dissolution of the second metal chlorides.