heap leaching

Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics
8th Edition
ISBN:9781259696527
Author:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Publisher:J.M. Smith Termodinamica en ingenieria quimica, Hendrick C Van Ness, Michael Abbott, Mark Swihart
Chapter1: Introduction
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1.1P
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4.
4.
(a) For copper there are advantages and disadvantages to using heap leaching versus milling,
flotation, and smelting. The decision will depend upon both the type and size of the ore
body. Under what circumstances might heap leaching be the preferred option and why?
Some mines make use of a combination of heap leaching and more conventional
processing routes. How might this be advantageous?
(b)
(c)
A new copper mine is planning on using an on-off leaching system in which the leach
pad is reused, with the leached material being placed onto waste dumps. The cycle will
consist of 1 months for heap construction, 12 months of leaching and 1 month for
disposal. A number of separate leach pads will be used to ensure continuous production.
The planned rate for the ore to be processed by leaching is 60 000 tpd. The SG of the ore
is 2.4 and the stacked heap will have a voidage of 20%. The heaps will have a height of
15m. How much land area is required in order for the heaps to achieve this production
rate? Include an additional 15% to account for the non-vertical slopes at the edges of the
heap and the space for ancillary equipment.
(d) The average copper grade of the ore is 0.7 %. The total pregnant solution flowrate from
all the leach pads is 8 000 m³/hr, with an average concentration of 1.8 kg/m³, with the
concentration of copper in the lixiviant that is irrigated onto the heap being 0.2 kg/m³
(ignore any solution or copper losses to the environment in these calculations). What is
the average copper recovery for the process?
3
Calculate the pH of the acidic and basic solution below.
(a) 0.003 mol/L HNO3
(b)
0.003 mol/L NaOH
Transcribed Image Text:4. 4. (a) For copper there are advantages and disadvantages to using heap leaching versus milling, flotation, and smelting. The decision will depend upon both the type and size of the ore body. Under what circumstances might heap leaching be the preferred option and why? Some mines make use of a combination of heap leaching and more conventional processing routes. How might this be advantageous? (b) (c) A new copper mine is planning on using an on-off leaching system in which the leach pad is reused, with the leached material being placed onto waste dumps. The cycle will consist of 1 months for heap construction, 12 months of leaching and 1 month for disposal. A number of separate leach pads will be used to ensure continuous production. The planned rate for the ore to be processed by leaching is 60 000 tpd. The SG of the ore is 2.4 and the stacked heap will have a voidage of 20%. The heaps will have a height of 15m. How much land area is required in order for the heaps to achieve this production rate? Include an additional 15% to account for the non-vertical slopes at the edges of the heap and the space for ancillary equipment. (d) The average copper grade of the ore is 0.7 %. The total pregnant solution flowrate from all the leach pads is 8 000 m³/hr, with an average concentration of 1.8 kg/m³, with the concentration of copper in the lixiviant that is irrigated onto the heap being 0.2 kg/m³ (ignore any solution or copper losses to the environment in these calculations). What is the average copper recovery for the process? 3 Calculate the pH of the acidic and basic solution below. (a) 0.003 mol/L HNO3 (b) 0.003 mol/L NaOH
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