Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – In situ conversion of solid to fluid – Input and output wells
Patent
1976-09-20
1977-08-30
Purser, Ernest R.
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
In situ conversion of solid to fluid
Input and output wells
175 69, E21B 4328
Patent
active
040450848
ABSTRACT:
A process is disclosed for in-situ mining of copper from a subterranean ore body characterized, at least in part, by the presence of a sulfidic ore and by natural, microscopic fracture openings. The process comprises forcing a stable, two-phase lixiviant comprising an aqueous phase, a multiplicity of gaseous, oxygen-containing bubbles having a size sufficient to pass through the natural fracture openings in the ore body, and a surfactant for enhancing the formation of the bubbles and for minimizing bubble coalescence through the ore body to leach copper.
The aqueous and gaseous phases of the lixiviant are mixed at the surface and injected into the leaching interval through an injection hole, or preferably, are mixed in a subterranean sparger within the hole above the leaching interval. The pregnant liquor is recovered through one or more production holes and, after the copper is recovered, the lixiviant may be reconstituted and recirculated.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3498674 (1970-03-01), Matthews
patent: 3708206 (1973-01-01), Hard et al.
patent: 3937520 (1976-02-01), Sievert
patent: 3999803 (1976-12-01), Coursen
Davidson Donald H.
Hard Robert A.
Hsueh Limin
Huff Ray V.
Kennecott Copper Corporation
Lorusso Anthony M.
Purser Ernest R.
Sniado John L.
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