Patent · US Expired

Bacterially assisted heap leach

US6969499B1 · kind B1 · utility

3Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 24, 2000
Grant dateNov 29, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 27, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S423/17
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A bacterially assisted heap leach characterized by the steps of: providing an ore heap to oxidize sulphide minerals therein; providing a biological contactor inoculated with ferrous iron oxidizing bacteria; providing at least one leach solution pond to feed solution to, and receive leach solution from both the heaps; and bleeding a portion of the leach solution and passing same to a means for metals recovery.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.