Gangues and Clays Minerals as Rate-Limiting Factors in Copper Heap Leaching: A Review

Abstract

Heap leaching is a firm extractive metallurgical technology facilitating the economical processing of different kinds of low-grade ores that are otherwise not exploited. Nevertheless, regardless of much development since it was first used, the process advantages are restricted by low recoveries and long extraction times. It is becoming progressively clear that the selection of heap leaching as an appropriate technology to process a specific mineral resource that is both environmentally sound and economically feasible very much relies on having an ample understanding of the essential underlying mechanisms of the processes and how they interrelate with the specific mineralogy of the ore body under concern. This paper provides a critical overview of the role of gangues and clays minerals as rate-limiting factors in copper heap leaching operations. We aim to assess and deliver detailed descriptions and discussions on the relations between different gangues and clays minerals and their impacts on the operational parameters and chemical dynamics in the copper heap leaching processes.

Heap leaching of gold from the destructured oxidized ore of the Belsu deposit, Republic of Kazakhstan

“…However, a big problem is the destructured and clay ores, which reduce the seepage of the gold-dissolving solution, which leads to decrease of gold extraction [11][12][13][14][15]. Based on the extensive experience of heap leaching operations, agglomeration of crushed ore can be successfully considered and used as a pretreatment of ore that contains a significant amount of fines and clay minerals [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].…”

Characterization of firebricks used in copper smelting furnaces of the 19th century, Atacama, Chile

“…The growth of these metallurgical centres gave rise to settlement that housed the mining workers and their families, and which included facilities for commerce, religious worship, art and culture, education, transport (rail links), cemeteries, and offices Toro, et al, 2021). The copper produced was mainly exported to the UK.…”

Development of an analytical model for copper heap leaching from secondary sulfides in chloride media in an industrial environment

“…Leaching processes in recent years have been used to treat oxidized copper ores, being a useful technological alternative to treat low-medium grade ores [14][15][16][17]. However, oxides available for treatment are becoming scarce mainly due to overexploitation [18].…”