Ensci Inc.

Arthur C Riese

Thomas J Clough

John W Sibert

A process for recovering a first metal, e.g., gold, from a carbonaceous ore comprising contacting the ore with an added metal component other than an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal component in an amount effective to at least promote the oxidation of carbonaceous material in the ore, the contacting occurring at conditions effective to (1) chemically oxidize at least a portion of the carbonaceous material, and (2) at least partially liberate the first metal from the ore; and recovering the first metal from the ore.

Metal value recovery from carbonaceous ores

A process for at least one of (1) recovering at least one first metal other than manganese from a first ore containing reducible manganese, and (2) recovering at least one second metal from a second ore containing the second metal and at least one metal sulfide of a metal other than the second metal and manganese; the process comprising at least one of: (A) contacting the first ore with an aqueous composition and a material containing at least one metal sulfide in the presence of a metal redox couple more positive than about +0.1 versus the standard hydrogen electrode, W. M. Latimer convention, at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce at least a portion of the manganese, (2) oxidize at least a portion of the metal and/or the sulfide from the metal sulfide, and (3) at least partially liberate the first metal from the first ore, and recovering the first metal from the first ore; and (B) contacting the second ore with an aqueous composition and at least one reducible manganese-containing material in the presence of a metal redox couple more positive than about +0.1 versus the standard hydrogen electrode, W. M. Latimer convention, at conditions effective to (1) chemically reduce at least a portion of the manganese, (2) oxidize at least a portion of the metal and/or the sulfide from the metal sulfide, and (3) at least partially liberate the second metal from the second ore, and recovering the second metal from the second ore.

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Toluca Lake, CA, United States of America

Arthur C Riese