Patent ID: 6309533
Filing Date: 2001-10-30
Classification: B09B,C02F

Abstract:
Procedure for protecting water from acidity caused by passing relatively oxygenated water through a body of a sulphide mineral, wherein the procedure includes the steps of:providing a permeable layer of a protective material;providing the layer in such a manner and position relative to the body of sulphide mineral that the layer intercepts the water prior to the water entering the body;wherein the protective material comprises grains of material A and grains of material B;wherein material A comprises a sulphide mineral;wherein material B comprises a material that is more electro-positive than the sulphide mineral;wherein the materials A and B are electrically-conductive; thoroughly mixing the grains of materials A and B, whereby, on a random average basis, the grains of material A are in intimate touching contact with the grains of material B;passing the water into the layer, and maintaining electrolytic continuity in the layer, whereby the grains of materials A and B, where they touch, form galvanic cells, material A being the cathode thereof and material B being the anode.