Patents Assigned to Freeport Minerals Corporation
  • Publication number: 20210332458
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 28, 2021
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Publication number: 20210238708
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitoring module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regulator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Warren Dean, JR., Christopher Wooten, Chase Zenner
  • Patent number: 11053566
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Patent number: 10975455
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitoring module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regulator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Warren Dean, Jr., Christopher Wooten, Chase Zenner
  • Publication number: 20210087653
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for separating a liquid from organic particles. The mixer-settler extraction cell includes a flow distributor. The flow distributor comprises a chevron-shaped series of welded plates, which separates the incoming flow stream of liquid and organic particles from one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven Richardson
  • Patent number: 10858721
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for separating a liquid from organic particles. The mixer-settler extraction cell includes a flow distributor. The flow distributor comprises a chevron-shaped series of welded plates, which separates the incoming flow stream of liquid and organic particles from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven Richardson
  • Patent number: 10793958
    Abstract: A process and system is provided for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anand Raman, Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Patent number: 10767242
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
  • Patent number: 10662502
    Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach
  • Publication number: 20200063236
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Publication date: February 27, 2020
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Patent number: 10501821
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M Morgan, Barbara J Savage, David G Meadows, Wayne W Hazen
  • Publication number: 20190284657
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
  • Patent number: 10370738
    Abstract: A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglomerated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal-bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The augmented ore can then be formed into a heap. Bacteria from the heap may be fortified to assist in bacterial growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Christine Rae Green, Gabriel Elias Bowman
  • Publication number: 20190177864
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M. Robertson, Thomas R. Bolles, Wayne W. Hazen, Lawrence D. May, Jay C. Smith, David R. Baughman
  • Publication number: 20190119781
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitoring module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regulator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Warren Dean, JR., Christopher Wooten, Chase Zenner
  • Patent number: 10246789
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Wayne W Hazen, Lawrence D May, Jay C Smith, David R Baughman
  • Patent number: 10190190
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitoring module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regulator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Warren Dean, Jr., Christopher Wooten, Chase Zenner
  • Publication number: 20180305832
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extraction techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anand Raman, Jason M. Morgan, Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Publication number: 20180305788
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second circuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason M. Morgan, Barbara J. Savage, David G. Meadows, Wayne W. Hazen
  • Publication number: 20180298505
    Abstract: Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Applicant: FREEPORT MINERALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joanna M Robertson, Thomas R Bolles, Dennis D Gertenbach