METHOD OF TREATING A SULPHIDE MINERAL OR MIXED SULPHIDE AND OCIDE MINERAL FOR THE RECOVERY OF COPPER, NICKEL AND/OR ZINC

摘要

A method of treating a sulphide mineral or mixed sulphide and oxide mineral for the recovery of copper, and/or nickel, and/or zinc, including the following steps: constructing a heap of agglomerated ore of said mineral; inoculating the heap with a solution containing aluminium, and/or magnesium, and/or sodium, and chloride ions, as well as a mixed culture consortium of microorganisms which contains a salt resistant strain of Leptospirillum ferriphilum Sp-Cl (DSMZ, DSN22399) and a sulphur oxidising microorganism which is halophilic or halotolerant; and storing a leach solution draining from the heap.