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COPPER WASTE DUMP LEACHING

J. T. WOODCOCK

1967encopperleachingminingwasteenvironmentextraction

Abstract

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Copper waste dump leaching has emerged as a vital process due to the significant volumes of low-grade waste rock available from open-cut mining operations, with production rates reaching up to 250,000 tons per day. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the controlled leaching process that allows for the profitable extraction of copper from waste dumps. Utilizing various techniques, leach solutions—comprising spent solutions from cementation combined with make-up water—are applied to the surface of the dumps at rates of up to 12,000 gallons per minute. Factors controlling the copper content in the dump effluent, such as alternating wet and dry periods, leach solution volume, and redox potential, are examined. The research finds that oxidation processes, reliant on oxygen, ferric ions, and bacteria, are critical for the dissolution of copper minerals. Additionally, the study outlines the significance of physical factors in solution penetration and highlights that recovery methods, primarily through cementation with iron, are subject to increasing advancements, including the use of sponge iron and potential solvent extraction followed by electrolysis. This paper ultimately discusses the broader applicability of dump leaching techniques for other metals, contingent upon developing economically viable recovery methods.

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Cite This Work

@article{39387884-f8d4-425a-b720-1bae2f1d2748,
  title={COPPER WASTE DUMP LEACHING},
  author={J. T. WOODCOCK},
  year={1967},
  language={en}
}
TY  - JOUR
TI  - COPPER WASTE DUMP LEACHING
AU  - J. T. WOODCOCK
PY  - 1967
LA  - en
ER  -

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