Patent ID: 7648643

Claim:
A composition of matter for extracting metal ions from a metal containing ore, consisting essentially of: a) a product prepared by the process of combining a high purity acid selected from at least one of phosphoric acid, fumaric acid or acetic acid with water selected from at least one of deionized water and filtered water and an ammonium compound selected from at least one of anhydrous ammonia and buffered ammonium nitrate used in a ratio of approximately 1 lb. to approximately 5 lbs. of ammonium compound per gallon of water, heating the mixture to approximately 140° F. to form mixture (I), placing mixture (I) in a pressurized vessel and heating the mixture to temperatures in a range between approximately 250 F. and approximately 400 F., then, cooling the mixture, and after the mixture is cooled, adding a stabilizing amount of the starting mixture (I) forming a low PH acid (LpHAC) product that is not an irritant; and b) water selected from the group consisting of fresh water, sea water, brine, and a mixture thereof is combined with the product from a) to form an aqueous metal extracting solution that extracts metal ions from a metal-laden ore in soil and rock at a recovery rate between approximately 75% and 98% of total metal in the ore.