The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1992
James A Brierley, Sandy, UT (US);
David L Hill, Elko, NV (US);
Newmont Gold Co., Denver, CO (US);
Newmont Mining Corporation, Denver, CO (US);
Abstract
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.