This helps to maintain contact of the cyanide solution with the disseminated metal. Poor recoveries are obtained as a result of channeling caused by this mechanism. It can also produce ponding in the interior of the heap, causing solution head to build up in the heap. This can result in a permit violation as cyanide solution exits the side slope and containment area. Poor recoveries are obtained due to channeling caused by this mechanism.
Agglomeration can be a major expense in operating a heap leach.
Control of costs is essential to good operation. BetzDearborn requested an opportunity to address the problem. A representative sample of ore was taken and tests were run to determine the cost-effective amount of BetzDearborn agglomerating polymer necessary, based on the fines content of the ore. At the completion of the column tests, a decision was made to run a full-scale test. Because of significant variations that developed later, more testing and adjustments were made to determine the precise ratio of BetzDearborn polymer and cement needed during times of processing very high fine-content ores.