Process for leaching metals from laterite ores

摘要

A process for recovery of one or more base metal values from a laterite ore is disclosed The laterite ore may comprise limonite and/or saprolite, and the process has the steps of contacting the laterite ore with an organic acid to form a slurry, allowing the slurry to react at an elevated temperature of from 60°C to 200°C for a period not exceeding six hours, and separating the aqueous solution containing metal values from the solids in the slurry.