Patent ID: 9011574
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for leaching copper and molybdenum from a material, selected from a group consisting of one or more of an ore, residue and concentrate containing such, in which more than 1% w/w of the total molybdenum is present as a sulfide and in which more than 1% w/w of the total copper is present as an oxide, the method comprising the steps of: Exposing the material to an aqueous solution of chlorine (I)-based oxidizing species of a pH of at least 3.0; Oxidizing the molybdenum by the chlorine-based oxidizing species thereby providing a treated material and a reduced aqueous solution of chlorine-based oxidizing species; Leaching the treated material by exposing the treated material to an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution to form a pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum; and Passing the pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum to a means for metal recovery.