Approach brings greater understanding

摘要

THE ACID HEAP leaching of copper is not controlled directly by ore particle size. Rather, an analysis of commercial and laboratory column leach data has shown that the system is diffusion-controlled on a macro scale. Following research carried out by the AJ Parker Centre's PhD department and AMIRA, a shrinking core diffusion model was developed to help operators understand the heap leaching process. According to Graeme Miller of Miller Metallurgical Services, the model can accurately track the progress of commercial heap leaches and also account for changes in acid concentration and irrigation rate. Miller told ALTA delegates that over 10 sets of commercial data had been analysed, with all showing a behaviour consistent with using the model.