Patent US5368028A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3915499A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3915499A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Acid pre-treatment method for in situ ore leaching
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1974-07-23
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-07-23
Abstract
Abstract An acid leaching method for the recovery of a desired element from a subterranean rubblized body of primary ore containing the element and also having associated therewith a carbonate mineral wherein the rubblized ore body is flooded with an aqueous acidic solution in order to release carbon dioxide from the associated carbonate mineral. After a substantial portion of the available carbon dioxide is released and removed from the ore body, as by venting to the atmosphere, an oxidizing gas is introduced into the flooded, rubblized ore to oxidize the ore and form an acid leach solution effective in the presence of the dissolved oxidizing gas to dissolve the ore and cause the desired element to go into solution. The leach solution is then circulated to the surface where the metal values are recovered therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard G Mallon
- 👤 Robert L Braun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 11:55
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/28
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
AN ACID LEACHING METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF A DESIRED ELEMENT FROM A SUBTERRANEAN RUBBLIZED ORE BODY OF A PRIMARY ORE CONTAINING SAME AND ALSO HAVING ASSOCIATED THEREWITH A CARBONATE MINERAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. FLOODING SUBTERRANEAN RUBBELIZED ORE BODY WITH AN AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTION, THEREBY DECOMPOSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED CARBONATE MINERAL AND RLEASING CARBON DIOXIDE, B. DISCHARGING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE RELEASES CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE ORE BODY, C. INTRODUCING AN OXIDIZING GAS INTO THE FLOODED, RUBBLIZED ORE BODY THEREBY OXIDIZING SAID ORE TO FORM AN ACID LEACH SOLUTION EFFECTIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF OXIDIZING GAS TO
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
AN ACID LEACHING METHOD FOR THE RECOVERY OF A DESIRED ELEMENT FROM A SUBTERRANEAN RUBBLIZED ORE BODY OF A PRIMARY ORE CONTAINING SAME AND ALSO HAVING ASSOCIATED THEREWITH A CARBONATE MINERAL COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: A. FLOODING SUBTERRANEAN RUBBELIZED ORE BODY WITH AN AQUEOUS ACIDIC SOLUTION, THEREBY DECOMPOSING AT LEAST A PORTION OF THE ASSOCIATED CARBONATE MINERAL AND RLEASING CARBON DIOXIDE, B. DISCHARGING A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE RELEASES CARBON DIOXIDE FROM THE ORE BODY, C. INTRODUCING AN OXIDIZING GAS INTO THE FLOODED, RUBBLIZED ORE BODY THEREBY OXIDIZING SAID ORE TO FORM AN ACID LEACH SOLUTION EFFECTIVE IN THE PRESENCE OF OXIDIZING GAS TO
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method according to claim 1 further defined by maintaining the acidic solution in contact with the rubblized ore body for a period of time sufficient to release a substantial portion of the available carbon dioxide and discharge same from the ore body prior to introduction of the oxidizing gas.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 1 further defined by the aqueous acidic solution being an aqueous sulfuric acid solution.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1 further defined by the primary ore being a primary sulfide ore.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 4 further defined by said desired element being copper, said ore being primary copper sulfides, and said oxidizing gas being oxygen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 5 further defined by flooding the rubblized ore body with an aqueous acidic solution having a pH in the range of from substantially 0.1 to substantially 2.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method according to claim 1 further defined by locating a primary ore deposit containing the desired element existing beneath the water table, and detonating a contained nuclear explosive in said ore deposit to form a chimney of rubblized ore at a substantial depth beneath said water table subjected to the hydrostatic pressure head of the vertical displacement of said chimney therefrom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 7 further defined by said desired element being copper, said ore being primary copper sulfides, and said gas being oxygen.
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) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |