HEAP LEACH PROCESS

摘要

The invention discloses a method of controlling a heap leach process through controlling an irrigation rate of a heap as a function of at least one of an aeration rate of the heap, a determination of advection at least at one predetermined point in the heap, and a determination of temperature at least at one predetermined point in the heap. Also disclosed is for the aeration t o be forced and for the method to include the step of controlling the aeration rate as 10 a function of a determination of the oxidation rate of material within the heap. The invention also extends to a method for the introduction of microorganisms into the heap of material, a method for increasing the temperature of heap of material for heap leaching, a method of determining a n optimum heap configuration for a bio-assisted heap leach process of an ore heap, and a method of enriching the environment of microorganisms embedded i n a heap of material for bio-assisted heap leaching.