Patent ID: 7429286
Filing Date: 2008-09-30
Classification: B09C,C12P,C22B,Y02P,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for recovering precious metal values from a refractory sulfide ore, the process comprising: a. crushing the refractory sulfide ore to a size in the range of approximately 0.25 inch to 1 inch; b. separating the crushed refractory sulfide ore into a fines fraction and a coarse fraction; c. forming a heap with the coarse fraction of the refractory sulfide ore; d. producing a concentrate of refractory sulfide minerals from the fines fraction; e. spreading the concentrate on top of the heap; f. biooxidizing the ore in heap, including the concentrate of refractory sulfide minerals; and g. hydrometallurgically treating the biooxidized ore to recover precious metal values.