Abstract: This application relates to an improved method for oxidizing multimetallic sulphide ores and concentrates, using a combination chemical/biological leaching process and at least three different types of bacteria. The treatment process for multi-metallic ores such as arsenopyrite can be made to work rapidly and to as much as 98% sulphide oxidation, when the finely ground ore or concentrate is leached in agitated, air sparged tanks, with strains of three different bacteria, T. thiooxidans, T. ferrooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans. L. ferrooxidans is quite similar to T. ferrooxidans and obtains its energy for growth from the oxidation of ferrous iron. The process of the invention may conveniently be a continuously operating process utilizing more than one stage. Most of the chemical/biological action using the bacterium T. thiooxidans preferably takes place in the first stage, while in the subsequent stages the activity of T. thiooxidans is decreased in favor of the activity of the bacteria T.

Abstract: This application relates to an improved method for oxidizing multimetallic sulphide ores and concentrates, using a combination chemical/biological leaching process and at least three different types of bacteria. The treatment process for multi-metallic ores such as arsenopyrite can be made to work rapidly and to as much as 98% sulphide oxidation, when the finely ground ore or concentrate is leached in agitated, air sparged tanks, with strains of three different bacteria, T. thiooxidans, T. ferrooxidans, and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans. L. ferrooxidans is quite similar to T. ferrooxidans and obtains its energy for growth from the oxidation of ferrous iron. The process of the invention may conveniently be a continuously operating process utilizing more than one stage. Most of the chemical/biological action using the bacterium T. thiooxidans preferably takes place in the first stage, while in the subsequent stages the activity of T. thiooxidans is decreased in favour of the activity of the bacteria T.