Patent ID: 8802042
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process of recovery of base metals from an oxide ore including a first metal selected from the group consisting of iron, magnesium and aluminum, and a second metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt and copper, the process comprising: contacting the oxide ore with at least one of ferric or ferrous chloride to form chlorides; heating the mixture of the oxide ore and the at least one of the ferric or ferrous chloride to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and hematite; contacting the hydrochloric acid with base metal oxides of the second metal included in the oxide ore to form second metal chlorides; and selectively dissolving the second metal chlorides leaving first metal oxides in solid state, wherein the oxide ore is stacked in a heap and leached with sulfuric acid at least one of prior to or during selective dissolution of the second metal chlorides.