BASE METAL RECOVERY FROM A TAILINGS DUMP BY BACTERIAL OXIDATION

摘要

A method of recovering base metal froma tailings dump which includes the steps of: aeratinga surface layer of the dump; adjusting the pH and themoisture content of the surface layer to provide conditionsfavourable for bacterial oxidation of sulphide minerals;allowing bacterial oxidation to take place for a controlledperiod; after the controlled period removing the oxidisedsurface layer and adding water thereto to form a slurry;separating the slurry into solids and a solution; andrecovering base metal from the solution.