METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECOVERING METAL VALUES FROM DEEP-LYING ORES BY IN-SITU MINING

摘要

K-0489-KCC A process for recovering copper, nickel, and other metal values from deep-lying ore deposits by in-situ mining comprises forcing an ammoniacal leach solution containing oxygen bubbles under high pressure through an injection hole into a leaching interval of a deeplying ore deposit. The two-phase leach solution under high pressure(more than 500 psi) penetrates the deposit through cracks, fissures and fractures, leaching the metal values along the way. The leaching solution migrates over a period of time to receiving holes spaced from the injection hole and from which pregnant leaching solution is withdrawn. The pregnant solution is then processed for recovery of the metal values. The two-phase leach solution is formed in a gas sparging unit comprising porous sintered powered metal tubes into which gas is introduced as minute bubbles which become intermixed with the ammoniacal leach solution flowing through the tubes.