A method for leaching secondary and primary sulphides of copper in a ferrous chloride medium with iron-oxidising bacteria adapted from the crushing of the mineral from the mine, includes steps of: mixing the mineral from the crushing with concentrated sulphuric acid; transporting the material mixed with sulphuric acid by means of a belt; adding a liquid leaching solution at an intermediate point during transport on the belt, the solution consisting of: iron (II) sulphate to reduce the redox potential of the solution-mineral mixture to values less than 550 mV Ag/AgCl; iron (III) sulphate; bacteria and archaea of the mesophile- and thermophile-type belonging to the genera Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum and Sulfulobos; and sodium chloride to produce a chlorinated environment in solutions. The method also comprises the subsequent steps of: heaping the material on heap pads; during the resting step, injecting air warmed by a liquid/air exchange system; and leaching the heaped material.

A method for leaching secondary and primary sulphides of copper in a ferrous chloride medium with iron-oxidising bacteria adapted from the crushing of the mineral from the mine, includes steps of: mixing the mineral from the crushing with concentrated sulphuric acid; transporting the material mixed with sulphuric acid by means of a belt; adding a liquid leaching solution at an intermediate point during transport on the belt, the solution consisting of: iron (II) sulphate to reduce the redox potential of the solution-mineral mixture to values less than 550 mV Ag/AgCl; iron (III) sulphate; bacteria and archaea of the mesophile- and thermophile-type belonging to the genera Acidithiobacillus, Leptospirillum and Sulfulobos; and sodium chloride to produce a chlorinated environment in solutions. The method also comprises the subsequent steps of: heaping the material on heap pads; during the resting step, injecting air warmed by a liquid/air exchange system; and leaching the heaped material.

A process for bio-oxidation of sulfides in mineral ore having a metal such as gold occluded or dispersed within the ore as a sulfide is disclosed. The first step comminutes the ore into particles with a size distribution having a P80 of less than 0.25 inch with minus 106 micron particles in the range of 15% to 40% by weight. Agglomerates are formed by adding to the comminuted ore particles an acidic inoculate solution including water, with the solution further including microorganisms capable of bio-oxidizing the sulfides. The agglomerates are then placed in at least one bio-reactor containment vessel to form an ore bed. The process continues by bio-oxidizing the sulfides in the ore bed; then re-circulating the solution through the ore bed, and continuing the bio-oxidation until a desired bio-oxidation level is achieved. Thereafter, the metal is recovered from the ore.

A process for bio-oxidation of sulfides in mineral ore having a metal such as gold occluded or dispersed within the ore as a sulfide is disclosed. The first step comminutes the ore into particles with a size distribution having a P80 of less than 0.25 inch with minus 106 micron particles in the range of 15% to 40% by weight. Agglomerates are formed by adding to the comminuted ore particles an acidic inoculate solution including water, with the solution further including microorganisms capable of bio-oxidizing the sulfides. The agglomerates are then placed in at least one bio-reactor containment vessel to form an ore bed. The process continues by bio-oxidizing the sulfides in the ore bed; then re-circulating the solution through the ore bed, and continuing the bio-oxidation until a desired bio-oxidation level is achieved. Thereafter, the metal is recovered from the ore.

The present invention relates to a species of genus Pseudomonas identified as Pseudomonas BR11571, termed Candidatus Pseudomonas metallosolvens, having Accession Deposit Number DSM 32538.

The present invention relates to a species of genus Pseudomonas identified as Pseudomonas BR11571, termed Candidatus Pseudomonas metallosolvens, having Accession Deposit Number DSM 32538.

The subject invention provides safe, environmentally-friendly, compositions and methods for extracting minerals and/or metals from ore. More specifically, the subject invention provides for bioleaching using a composition comprising one or more biosurfactant-producing microorganisms and/or microbial growth by-products. In specific embodiments, the composition comprises biosurfactant-producing yeasts and/or their growth by-products.

Providing a method for selecting minerals containing arsenic. A peptide comprising an amino acids sequence according to the following formula: (T, S, N, or Q)-(H, P, or W)-(E, or D)-(H, P, W, R, or K)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(T, S, N, or Q)-(H, P, or W)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(T, S, N, or Q)-(L, I, V, F, or A) wherein one amino acid is respectively selected from each group defined by paired parentheses.

Providing a method for selecting minerals containing arsenic. A peptide comprising an amino acids sequence according to the following formula: (T, S, N, or Q)-(H, P, or W)-(E, or D)-(H, P, W, R, or K)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(T, S, N, or Q)-(H, P, or W)-(L, I, V, F, or A)-(T, S, N, or Q)-(L, I, V, F, or A) wherein one amino acid is respectively selected from each group defined by paired parentheses.

A method of processing a pyrite-containing slurry including removing pyrite from the pyrite-containing slurry and forming (i) an inert stream and (ii) a pyrite-containing material. Using the pyrite-containing material in a downstream leach step in which pyrite in the pyrite-containing material generates acid and heat that facilitates leaching a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal-containing material.