PROCESS FOR TREATING HIGH MAGNESIUM NICKELIFEROUS LATERITES AND GARNIERITES

摘要

1445059 Leaching nickel-bearing ores SHERRITT GORDON MINES Ltd 18 June 1974 [11 July 1973] 26855/74 Heading C1A The proportion of nickel extracted is substantially increased in the process in which nickeliferous lateric and garnieritic ore particles containing more than 5% Mg are treated to reduce the nickel to metallic form and the reduced particles are quenched in an aqueous ammoniacal (NH 4 ) 2 CO 3 solution then leached in a like solution in the presence of free oxygen to extract the nickel, by subjecting the quenched particles to attrition in order to rub off an outer layer therefrom and to expose underlying surfaces to penetration by the leach solution. Sulphur-containing material may be added prior to roasting and the quenched particles may be soaked in the absence of oxygen for more than three hours before and/or after attrition.