LEACHING ORES

摘要

A process for leaching an ore containing sulphidic copper-containing mine rals is disclosed. The process includes carrying out an aerated oxidising le ach of a part of the ore and causing reactions with a source of iron such as pyrite in the ore and producing an acidic leach liquor containing ferrous i ons, ferric ions, and copper ions in solution. The process also includes car rying out a leach of another part of the ore using the leach liquor produced in step (a) under conditions that minimise reactions with a source of iron such as pyrite in the ore and producing a leach liquor containing copper ion s in solution.