Newmont Mining Corporation

Newmont Gold Company

Newmont USA Limited

David L Hill

James A Brierley

Iii Lowe Lawrence Deloss

Disclosed is a particulate of an ore material having a metal value metal value and a matrix material having a sulfur content wherein the sulfur is present in an oxidation-reduction state of zero or less, the particulate comprising (a) a core particle of the ore material, with the core particle having a size of less than about two inches; and (b) a layer of particles of the ore material and an inoculate of sulfur biooxidizing bacteria in admixture with the particles; wherein the particulate has sufficient strength to retain at least about 95% of a void volume for a column height of about 6 feet for at least 200 days when continuously bathed in a solution comprised of the inoculate or a nutrient therefor. Also disclosed is a heap comprising a plurality of the particulate.

Particulate of sulfur-containing ore materials and heap made therefrom

Biooxidation process for recovery of metal values from sulfur-containing ore materials

A hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of one or more metal values from a metal ore material in the presence of clays and/or fines material said ore material being comprised of one or more metal values and a matrix material having a sulfur content wherein the sulfur is present in an oxidation-reduction state of zero or less. The process comprises forming particulates from particles of said ore material, particles comprising said clays and/or fines material, an acid-resistant polymeric agglomeration aid and an inoculate comprising bacteria capable of at least partially oxidizing the sulfur content; forming a heap of said particulates; biooxidizing the sulfur content and recovering those one or more metal values.

Biooxidation process for recovery of metal values from sulfur-containing

A hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of one or more metal values from a metal ore material in the presence of clays and/or fines material, said ore material being comprised of one or more metal values and a matrix material having a sulfur content wherein the sulfur is present in an oxidation-reduction state of zero or less. The process comprises forming particulates from particles of said ore material, particles comprising said clays and/or fines material, an acid-resistant polymeric agglomeration aid and an inoculate comprising bacteria capable of at least partially oxidizing the sulfur content; forming a heap of said particulates; biooxidizing the sulfur content and recovering those one or more metal values.

Biooxidation process for recovery of metal values from

A process for biooxidation of sulfides in a heap of mineral ores by freeing precious metals dispersed or occluded within said ores as pyritic or arsenopyritic sulfides and the like; the process comprises forming particulates from ore particles with an inoculate comprising bacteria capable of attacking, by biooxidation, sulfides and/or elemental sulfur in said ore particles; from these particulates a heap is constructed; and the biooxidation takes place in such heap by adding to or dispersing within the heap a leaching solution, circulating the leaching solution within the heap and recovering the precious metal values from the heap; recovery may be accomplished with a cyanide, thiourea, or a thiosulfate lixiviant.

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Elko, NV, United States of America

David L Hill