Occidental Research Corporation

Kennecott Corporation

Won C Park

Robert A Hard

Peter M Di Giacomo

Jacob J Mu

Michael J Redman

Walter W Harvey

Peter J Lingane

A process for producing phosphorus pentoxide from phosphate ore includes the mixing and formulation of a feed mixture of phosphate ore with lime and solid carbonaceous material in amounts to produce a feed mixture having a CaO/SiO.sub.2 mole ratio greater than about 8.0. This mixture is formed into pellets which are then exposed to radiation eminating from an oxidation zone, preferably within a rotary type kiln, in order to heat the pellets to a temperature sufficient to reduce the phosphate by reaction with the solid carbonaceous material to form elemental phosphorus vapor without substantial melting of the pellets. Sufficient oxygen-containing gas is provided to cause oxidation of the elemental phosphorus vapor within the oxidation zone to produce phosphorus pentoxide.

Process for producing phosphorus pentoxide

The instant disclosure relates to a method of tracing the flow of a solution for extracting values from an ore, wherein such extraction leaves behind an extracted ore, which method comprises

Identification of fluid flow under in-situ mining conditions

Disclosed is a method of economically exploiting deep set porphyry ore bodies of the type containing metal values such as sulfidic copper nickel or uranium minerals and minerals capable of absorbing copper, uranium and nickel ions. The method involves establishing communication with the ore body through access and recovery wells and passing fluids sequentially therethrough. If necessary, thief zones of as low as 25 to 50 md in igneous rock of 1 to 5 md are prevented from distorting flow, by the injection of a polymeric solution of macromolecules with molecular weights of the order of 5 million along the entire wellbore, the higher permeability zones initially accepting the majority of the flow and being impaired at a much faster rate than the less permeable zones. In a first stage, the permeability of the leaching interval is stimulated as an ammoniated solution of sodium, potassium, or ammonium nitrate or chloride contacts calcium containing minerals to promote ion exchange, resulting in clay contraction or calcium carbonate dissolution. In a second stage, the leaching interval is primed as calcium ion is displaced with an aqueous solution of ammonium salt, a calcium sulfate scale inhibitor, and oxygen gas. In a third stage, a two-phase lixiviant comprising entrained oxygen containing bubbles and an ammoniacal leach liquor having a pH less than 10.5 and less than 1.0 mole/liter ammonia is passed through the leaching interval to solubilize copper, nickel, uranium and other metal values.

In situ exploitation of deep set porphyry ores

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Irvine, CA, United States of America

Won C Park