COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR AGGLOMERATING ORE

摘要

The binder composition for agglomerating ore fines of the invention is a mixture of (1) a reactive calcareous component, (2) a reactive siliceous and aluminous component, and (3) a sulfate compound. Preferably, the binder composition is comprised of 10 to 80 % by weight lime as the calcareous component, 5 to 50 % by weight fly ash as the siliceous-aluminous component and 10 to 80 % by weight sulfate compound such as gypsum. Most preferably, the siliceous-aluminous component is a low carbon content fly having less than about 0.5 % by weight carbon content. The preferred lime component of the binder composition is either a high calcium line with greater than about 90 % by weight CaO content or a dolomitic lime. In the process for recovery of metals from ores having ore fines of the metals, the ore fines are first agglomerated by adding thereto a binder composition, the binder composition comprising about 10 to 80 % by weight lime, 10 to 80 % by weight sulfate compound and 5 to 50 % by weight siliceous-aluminous material. A leach bed is formed of the agglomerated ore and the bed is leached with a leaching agent to thereby form a leach liquor. The metal values are recovered from the leach liquor.