In embodiments, pressurized fluid containing reagents of formulated mixtures of solids, liquids and gasses are delivered into a cased well then into the heap or pile to open or stimulate new horizontal and vertical fluid pathways, channels, plus drains from the open bottom of the well to the bottom of the heap or pile for fluid collection. This delivery method may also drain any fluids that are retained and pooled in the heap or pile. The removal of pooled fluids will increase the inter-particle cohesion and friction in the heap or pile, thus adding geotechnical stability and resistance to movement of the heap or pile. The cased wells may also add shear strength to the collective to retard movement of the heap or pile.

A method of processing a gold-containing ore that contains reactive sulphide minerals that includes selecting processing conditions to optimize liberating gold in reactive sulphide minerals and processing the ore in accordance with the selected processing conditions and liberating gold in the reactive sulphide minerals. In other words, when there are reactive sulphide minerals and “barren” minerals in an ore, the invention focuses on liberating gold in the reactive sulphide minerals only.

A method of processing a gold-containing ore that contains reactive sulphide minerals that includes selecting processing conditions to optimize liberating gold in reactive sulphide minerals and processing the ore in accordance with the selected processing conditions and liberating gold in the reactive sulphide minerals. In other words, when there are reactive sulphide minerals and “barren” minerals in an ore, the invention focuses on liberating gold in the reactive sulphide minerals only.

The invention relates to a method for recovering precious metals from electronic waste utilising biometallurgical techniques. In one aspect, a method of recovering one or more target metals from electronic waste, includes (a) removing at least a portion of non-target material from the electronic waste or grinding to a preselected size particle to give pre-processed electronic waste; (b) contacting the pre-processed electronic waste with a lixiviant such that at least a portion of the target metal(s) dissolve into the lixiviant to produce a pregnant solution; (c) contacting a microorganism with the pregnant solution such that at least a portion of the target metal(s) ions biosorb to the microorganism wherein the microorganism becomes metal laden and the pregnant solution becomes barren; (d) substantially separating the metal laden microorganism from the barren solution; and (e) recovery of the target metal(s) from the metal laden microorganism.

The invention relates to a method for recovering precious metals from electronic waste utilising biometallurgical techniques. In one aspect, a method of recovering one or more target metals from electronic waste, includes (a) removing at least a portion of non-target material from the electronic waste or grinding to a preselected size particle to give pre-processed electronic waste; (b) contacting the pre-processed electronic waste with a lixiviant such that at least a portion of the target metal(s) dissolve into the lixiviant to produce a pregnant solution; (c) contacting a microorganism with the pregnant solution such that at least a portion of the target metal(s) ions biosorb to the microorganism wherein the microorganism becomes metal laden and the pregnant solution becomes barren; (d) substantially separating the metal laden microorganism from the barren solution; and (e) recovery of the target metal(s) from the metal laden microorganism.

The present disclosure relates to processes for treating a coal associated material, e.g., acid mine drainage, while simultaneously recovering a high-grade rare earth preconcentrate suitable for extraction of commercially valuable rare earth oxides. Disclosed herein are methods for preparing a hydraulic pre-concentrate enriched in rare earth elements and critical minerals. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing a pregnant leach solution from the disclosed hydraulic pre-concentrates. The present disclosure also relates to systems and plants for carrying out the disclosed processes. Also disclosed are compositions produced by the process disclosed herein in which the compositions comprise rare earth elements. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

A process for separating a fusion mix sample comprising a slag material and a collector material using a separator. The separator comprising a plurality of impact members configured to rotate. The process comprising the steps of providing a solid fusion mix sample and loading the solid sample into the separator. Dislodging the slag material from the solid fusion mix sample by rotating the impact members and contacting the rotating impact members and the solid fusion mix sample. Separating into a first fraction substantially comprising the collector material and a second fraction substantially comprising slag material.

Alkaline oxidation process for treating refractory sulfide ore or concentrate particles enriched in a metal to be recovered comprising stages in which refractory ore or concentrate particles are surface-oxidized in an alkaline oxidation step in alkaline liquid phase with calcium hydroxide forming an alkaline slurry, which slurry is thereafter mechanically activated to remove passivating coatings from the surface oxidized refractory ore particles.

The present invention relates, on one hand, to a metal cementing apparatus (1) formed by a vessel (2) with a liquid phase formed by a solution (3) containing noble metal, and a solid phase formed by a cementing metal or a less noble metal in contact with the solution (3), where one of said phases moves at a high speed with respect to the other one, and the difference in speeds allows the cementation of the noble metal on the solid phase, and the simultaneous detachment and separation thereof, and comprises means for generating the movement of at least the phase with the high speed and removing means for removing the precipitated noble metal. The invention describes, on the other hand, a continuous cementation method consisting of passing a continuous flow of solution in a vessel (2); reacting the solid phase with the liquid phase, where one of said phases moves at a high speed with respect to the other one, causing the fixing of the noble metal and the simultaneous detachment thereof; removing the precipitated noble metal.

The present invention relates, on one hand, to a metal cementing apparatus (1) formed by a vessel (2) with a liquid phase formed by a solution (3) containing noble metal, and a solid phase formed by a cementing metal or a less noble metal in contact with the solution (3), where one of said phases moves at a high speed with respect to the other one, and the difference in speeds allows the cementation of the noble metal on the solid phase, and the simultaneous detachment and separation thereof, and comprises means for generating the movement of at least the phase with the high speed and removing means for removing the precipitated noble metal. The invention describes, on the other hand, a continuous cementation method consisting of passing a continuous flow of solution in a vessel (2); reacting the solid phase with the liquid phase, where one of said phases moves at a high speed with respect to the other one, causing the fixing of the noble metal and the simultaneous detachment thereof; removing the precipitated noble metal.