A method of leaching copper from a copper sulfide ore which includes adding a potential adjustment agent for lowering a potential of a leaching solution obtained after leaching copper from the copper sulfide ore by using iodide ion and iron (III) ion, the leaching solution being stored in a tank for storing the leaching solution.

Provided is a method for efficiently promoting a leaching reaction of copper. Equipment for leaching copper includes a reactor for leaching reaction and a controller for oxidation-reduction potential. The reactor is configured to be provided with a leaching solution containing iodine and iron. The reactor is configured to be capable of being tightly sealed during the leaching reaction. The controller for oxidation-reduction potential is configured so that, during the leaching reaction, the oxidation-reduction potential of the leaching solution can be maintained at 500 mV (based on Ag/AgCl reference) or higher.

Provided is a method for efficiently promoting a leaching reaction of copper. Equipment for leaching copper includes a reactor for leaching reaction and a controller for oxidation-reduction potential. The reactor is configured to be provided with a leaching solution containing iodine and iron. The reactor is configured to be capable of being tightly sealed during the leaching reaction. The controller for oxidation-reduction potential is configured so that, during the leaching reaction, the oxidation-reduction potential of the leaching solution can be maintained at 500 mV (based on Ag/AgCl reference) or higher.

This application addresses an integrated smart system to control the variables involved in the process for melting mineral concentrates. Specifically, it addresses an integrated smart system that allows the whole melting process operation to be controlled, measuring the mineralogical quality and quantity of the concentrate that is injected into the melting furnace, as well as variables such as the temperature, the level of the liquid phases and the percentage of copper within the furnace. In this manner, by reading said variables, it acts autonomously on manipulated variables, considering uncertainties, allowing a stable temperature to be maintained in the reactor, allowing products to be obtained at the required quality and controlling the liquid phases therein, among other controlled variables, to achieve efficient melting.

Compositions and methods are provided that provide recovery of metals such as copper, nickel, cobalt, indium, and other metals are recovered from mine tailings, in situ ore bodies, or postconsumer waste. An amine-containing lixiviant is utilized to generate an aqueous solution of the desired metal from insoluble salts present in the source material. Metals can be recovered and further purified by various processes, including extraction into an immiscible organic solvent, electrowinning, crystallization, and chemical reduction. Spent lixiviant can be regenerated and recycled back into the metal recovery process.

THIS invention relates to a method of recovering metal values such as gold, copper, nickel, zinc and uranium from ores containing said metal values. The method includes the steps of crushing an ore (10) to provide a sand containing metal values with a P.sub.80 of less than 5 mm but greater than 1 mm; classifying the sand (12) to remove a finer fraction to provide classified sand with a P.sub.10 of greater than 0.15 mm, and a P.sub.90/P.sub.10 ratio of less than 25 and greater than 3, forming a heap (18) from the classified sand, and distributing leachant and air through the heap to leach the values from the sand in a pregnant leachate, from which the leached values may be recovered. The invention also relates to a heap formed from ore processed by this method.

THIS invention relates to a method of recovering metal values such as gold, copper, nickel, zinc and uranium from ores containing said metal values. The method includes the steps of crushing an ore (10) to provide a sand containing metal values with a P.sub.80 of less than 5 mm but greater than 1 mm; classifying the sand (12) to remove a finer fraction to provide classified sand with a P.sub.10 of greater than 0.15 mm, and a P.sub.90/P.sub.10 ratio of less than 25 and greater than 3, forming a heap (18) from the classified sand, and distributing leachant and air through the heap to leach the values from the sand in a pregnant leachate, from which the leached values may be recovered. The invention also relates to a heap formed from ore processed by this method.

The present disclosure relates to the use of a wetting agent such as a non-ionic wetting agent and a reagent comprising a thiocarbonyl functional group, for example, in a method/process or use for extracting a base metal such as copper from a material comprising the base metal. Such methods/processes can comprise contacting the material under acidic conditions with the wetting agent and the reagent comprising the thiocarbonyl functional group; and optionally recovering the base metal.

A method of extracting metals from polymetallic sulphide ores or concentrates comprising at least Cu, Zn, Pb and Ag, comprising a first step of atmospheric leaching in sulphate medium in the presence of recycled silver for extracting Cu and Zn and a second step of atmospheric leaching in chloride medium for extracting Pb and Ag.

A mineral processing method capable of efficiently separating a copper mineral from a molybdenum mineral is provided. The mineral processing method includes: a conditioning step of adding sulfite as a surface treatment agent to a mineral slurry containing a copper mineral and a molybdenum mineral; and a flotation step of performing flotation using the mineral slurry after the conditioning step. The hydrophilicity of the copper mineral can be selectively enhanced by sulfite, so as to be able to produce a difference in hydrophilicity between the copper mineral and the molybdenum mineral. Therefore, the molybdenum mineral can be selectively caused to float, and the copper mineral and the molybdenum mineral can be efficiently separated from each other.