Method for ammoniacal leaching of copper from oxidised copper ores

摘要

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for leaching copper from a oxidised copper ore, wherein at least 5% of the copper present in the oxidised copper ore is an oxidised copper compound, the method comprising the method steps of: applying an aqueous solution of a curing agent to the oxidised copper ore, producing a cured ore; forming a leach solution by applying an ammoniacal solution that has an ammonium carbonate content of less than 20 g/L to the cured ore, producing a pregnant leach solution containing copper; and passing the pregnant leach solution to a means for recovering copper.