PROCESS FOR EXTRACTION OF NICKEL, COBALT, AND OTHER BASE METALS FROM LATERITE ORES BY USING HEAP LEACHING AND PRODUCT CONTAINING NICKEL, COBALT, AND OTHER METALS FROM LATERITE ORES

摘要

The present invention embodies a process for extraction of nickel, cobalt, andother metals from laterite ores by heap leaching, and of the product obtainedas well,characterized by the fact that it is comprised of crushing (I), agglomeration(II), stacking(III), and heap leaching (IV) stages, with this last stage being a continuous,counter--current,heap leaching system with two or more stages, comprised of two phases, one ofwhich is composed of the ore (solute), and the other is composed of theleachingsolution, or solvent, which are supplied at opposite ends of the series ofstages and flowin opposite directions. Upon cessation of leaching in the last stage, itssolute is removedand a new stage is introduced at the first position, formed by new ore(solute) to beleached by the solvent solution, which is introduced from the last stage,percolating orflowing through all the previous stages until it reaches the first stage,being separated ifloaded with target metals (PLS).