US3860689A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for treating high magnesium nickeliferous laterites and garnierites
Assignee: Viridian Inc Canada
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Filing: 1973-07-19
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Granted: 1975-01-14
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Expires: 1993-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of improving the responsiveness of high magnesium nickeliferous lateritic and garnieritic ores to the known reduction roast ammonium carbonate leach process. According to the method, following reduction roasting and quenching of the ore particles, they are subjected to attrition in order to rub off an outer layer therefrom and to expose surfaces beneath the layer to penetration by the quench solution whereby the proportion of nickel extracted by subsequent leaching of the particles is substantially increased. Optionally before or after attrition the particles are soaked in quiescent non-oxidizing ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution. A sulphur-bearing additive may also be combined with the ore particles prior to reduction roasting.
Inventors
- 👤 Verner Blakey Sefton
- 👤 David John Ivor Evans
- 👤 Donald Robert Weir
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 16:11
CPC Classifications
C; C22; C22B; C22B23/00; C22B23/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S423/00; Y10S423/09; Y10S423/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
The process as claimed in claim 1 further including mixing the lateritic and garnieritic ore particles, prior to the reduction step with a sulphur-bearing additive added in amount sufficient to provide a sulphur content in the mixture of between about 0.2 and about 5 percent by weight.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein said additive is pyrite.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quenched particles prior to attrition are soaked in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the absence of a free oxygen-containing gaS for a period of about 3 hours or longer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quenched particles, following attrition, are soaked in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the absence of a free oxygen-containing gas for a period of about 3 hours or longer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the quenched particles both prior to and following attrition are soaked in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the absence of a free oxygen-containing gas for a period of about 3 hours or longer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
166 words
In the process in which nickeliferous lateritic and garnieritic ore particles containing in excess of about 5% magnesium by weight are treated to reduce nickel oxides therein to metallic form and the reduced particles are quenched in aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution then are passed to a first leach stage in which they are leached with a like solution in the presence of free oxygen after which the resulting first stage leach residue is separated from solution and is passed to a second leach stage in which it is leached with a like solution in the presence of free oxygen and part of the resulting second stage leach solution separated from the residue is recycled to the leaching operation the improvement which comprises subjecting the first stage leach residue to attrition in order to rub off an outer layer therefrom and to expose surfaces beneath said layer to penetration by the quench solution whereby the proportion of nickel extracted in the leaching operation is substantially increased.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process as claimed in claim 7 further including mixing the lateritic and garnieritic ore particles, prior to the reduction step with a sulphur-bearing additive added in amount sufficient to provide a sulphur content in the mixture of between about 0.2 and about 5 percent by weight.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process as claimed in claim 7 wherein said additive is pyrite.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the quenched particles prior to attrition are soaked in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the absence of a free oxygen-containing gas for a period of about 3 hours or longer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first stage leach residue following attrition is soaked in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the absence of a free oxygen-containing gas for a period of about 3 hours or longer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the quenched particles both prior to and following attrition are soaked in an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution in the absence of a free oxygen-containing gas for a period of about 3 hours or longer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-13 | 1978-07-15 | 1979-01-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-13 | 1982-07-15 | 1983-01-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-13 | 1986-07-15 | 1987-01-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |