Patent ID: 8597933

Claim:
A method of treating a sulphide mineral or mixed sulphide and oxide mineral comprising bioleaching the mineral in a chloride ion solution with a mixed culture consortium wherein: a) the chloride ion content is in the range of about 5,000 ppm to about 30,000 ppm; b) the chloride ion solution contains at least one of the following: aluminium, magnesium and sodium; c) the temperature of the solution is in excess of about 10° C.; d) the pH of the solution is in the range of about 1 to about 3; and e) the mixed culture consortium contains at least a salt tolerant strain of Leptospirillum ferriphilum which is strain Sp-Cl deposited at the DSMZ under the accession number DSM22399, and a sulphur oxidising microorganism which is halophilic or halotolerant, which consortium enhances the rate of ferrous iron oxidation.