Processes for improved recovery of one or more pile leaching metal contents and / or ore tailings containing the metal contents

摘要

The disclosed invention provides a process for enhanced recovery of one or more metal values from heap and/or dump leaching of ores containing the metal values, the process comprising: (a) providing a high grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of fresh high grade ore containing a first metal value; (b) subjecting the high grade leach solution to a first solvent extraction of the first metal value and applying the resulting first aqueous raffinate to leach fresh high grade ore; (c) providing a low grade leach solution obtained by heap or dump leaching of partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore of the first metal value; and (d) subjecting the low grade leach solution to a second solvent extraction of the first metal value, separate from the first solvent extraction of the first metal value, and applying the resulting separate, second aqueous to leach partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore, wherein the first and second aqueous raffinates are not intermixed prior to being applied to their respective ores for leaching. Alternatively, the first and second raffinates may be intermixed prior to being applied to their respective ores for leaching, providing that the aqueous raffinate applied to fresh high grade ore comprises at least 60% by volume of the first aqueous raffinate and the aqueous raffinate applied to partially leached ore or fresh low grade ore comprises at least 60% by volume of the second aqueous raffinate.