A method and system are provided for the creation of vertical and horizontal freeze wells, in a dome-like pattern around the ore body, as a hydraulic barrier to ensure the ISR mining solution and the mined minerals do not flow out of the ore body. A method to formulate a suitable mining solution used for ISR mining, where the lixivant does not freeze when using the freeze dome containment method and where the resulting PLS has a high concentration of dissolved minerals and thus eliminates the need for the solvent extraction/ion exchange step during processing is also described.

A method and system are provided for the creation of vertical and horizontal freeze wells, in a dome-like pattern around the ore body, as a hydraulic barrier to ensure the ISR mining solution and the mined minerals do not flow out of the ore body. A method to formulate a suitable mining solution used for ISR mining, where the lixivant does not freeze when using the freeze dome containment method and where the resulting PLS has a high concentration of dissolved minerals and thus eliminates the need for the solvent extraction/ion exchange step during processing is also described.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an artificial ground freezing method having good coolant thermal efficiency without a gas-phase coolant being released into the ground or into the air. For that purpose, the present invention has: a freeze pipe (1: casing) for freezing the ground buried in the ground and a coolant circulation pipe (2) provided on the inside of the freeze pipe (1), wherein the coolant flowing inside the coolant circulation pipe (2) is carbon dioxide; and a coolant apparatus (10) that cools and supplies the carbon dioxide to the coolant circulation pipe (2), the coolant circulation pipe (2) comprising a first coolant circulation pipe (2A) on which a plurality of micro-coolant passages (2A delta) is formed, wherein the tip portion (tip portion in the ground) of the first coolant circulation pipe (2A) is connected to a plugging member (3: bottom socket) that connects the plurality of micro-coolant passages (2A delta) of the first coolant circulation pipe (2A) to a coolant supply side and coolant return side.

An apparatus for freezing ground comprises a freezing head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first conduit for introducing a first cooling medium or a second cooling medium different therefrom into an interior of the freezing head. The first conduit opens into the interior a second conduit introduces the second cooling medium into the interior of the freezing head or draws the first and/or the second cooling medium off from the interior of the freezing head. The second conduit opens into the interior of the freezing head, the apparatus has at least three separate connections, namely a first connection, via which the first cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, a second connection, via which the second cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, and a third connection, via which the first or the second cooling means can be drawn off from the interior of the freezing head.

An apparatus for freezing ground comprises a freezing head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first conduit for introducing a first cooling medium or a second cooling medium different therefrom into an interior of the freezing head. The first conduit opens into the interior a second conduit introduces the second cooling medium into the interior of the freezing head or draws the first and/or the second cooling medium off from the interior of the freezing head. The second conduit opens into the interior of the freezing head, the apparatus has at least three separate connections, namely a first connection, via which the first cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, a second connection, via which the second cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, and a third connection, via which the first or the second cooling means can be drawn off from the interior of the freezing head.

A method and system are provided for the creation of vertical and horizontal freeze wells, in a dome-like pattern around the ore body, as a hydraulic barrier to ensure the ISR mining solution and the mined minerals do not flow out of the ore body. A method to formulate a suitable mining solution used for ISR mining, where the lixivant does not freeze when using the freeze dome containment method and where the resulting PLS has a high concentration of dissolved minerals and thus eliminates the need for the solvent extraction/ion exchange step during processing is also described.

The invention relates to a method for producing a contiguous frozen mass in an area of ground wherein at least one first cooling lance is introduced into the area of ground in which the contiguous frozen mass is to be generated, wherein a first fluid coolant is fed into the at least first cooling lance to support the formation of a contiguous frozen mass which surrounds the at least first cooling lance, the first coolant evaporates during formation of the contiguous frozen mass and the evaporated coolant is displaced out of the at least first cooling lance into a means for holding and/or dissipating the evaporated coolant. In this context, it is provided according to the invention that noise emissions generated during the creation of the contiguous frozen mass are minimised by a soundproofing means. The invention relates further to a device for performing the method according to the invention.

An apparatus for freezing ground comprises a freezing head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first conduit for introducing a first cooling medium or a second cooling medium different therefrom into an interior of the freezing head. The first conduit opens into the interior a second conduit introduces the second cooling medium into the interior of the freezing head or draws the first and/or the second cooling medium off from the interior of the freezing head. The second conduit opens into the interior of the freezing head, the apparatus has at least three separate connections, namely a first connection, via which the first cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, a second connection, via which the second cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, and a third connection, via which the first or the second cooling means can be drawn off from the interior of the freezing head.

An apparatus for freezing ground comprises a freezing head extending along a longitudinal axis, and a first conduit for introducing a first cooling medium or a second cooling medium different therefrom into an interior of the freezing head. The first conduit opens into the interior a second conduit introduces the second cooling medium into the interior of the freezing head or draws the first and/or the second cooling medium off from the interior of the freezing head. The second conduit opens into the interior of the freezing head, the apparatus has at least three separate connections, namely a first connection, via which the first cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, a second connection, via which the second cooling medium can be introduced into the interior of the freezing head, and a third connection, via which the first or the second cooling means can be drawn off from the interior of the freezing head.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an artificial ground freezing method having good coolant thermal efficiency without a gas-phase coolant being released into the ground or into the air. For that purpose, the present invention has: a freeze pipe (1: casing) for freezing the ground buried in the ground and a coolant circulation pipe (2) provided on the inside of the freeze pipe (1), wherein the coolant flowing inside the coolant circulation pipe (2) is carbon dioxide; and a coolant apparatus (10) that cools and supplies the carbon dioxide to the coolant circulation pipe (2), the coolant circulation pipe (2) comprising a first coolant circulation pipe (2A) on which a plurality of micro-coolant passages (2A delta) is formed, wherein the tip portion (tip portion in the ground) of the first coolant circulation pipe (2A) is connected to a plugging member (3: bottom socket) that connects the plurality of micro-coolant passages (2A delta) of the first coolant circulation pipe (2A) to a coolant supply side and coolant return side.