Abstract: A method for leaching molybdenum and/or rhenium from a sulfide ore and/or concentrate containing such, the method comprising the steps of: Exposing the ore and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution of chlorine-based oxidizing species in which the sum of the concentrations of hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid is at least 10 mol % of the chlorine-based oxidizing species; Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the molybdenum and/or rhenium by the hypochlorite and/or hypochlorous acid, thereby decreasing the pH such that the predominant chlorine-based oxidizing species becomes chlorine; Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the molybdenum and/or rhenium by the chlorine thereby producing a pregnant leach solution; and Passing the pregnant leach solution to a means for metal recovery.

Abstract: A method for leaching copper and molybdenum from an ore, residue and/or concentrate containing such, in which more than 1% w/w of the total molybdenum is present as a sulfide and in which more than 1% w/w of the total copper is present as an oxide, the method comprising the steps of: exposing the ore, residue and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution of chlorine (I)-based oxidizing species of a pH of at least 3.0; oxidizing the molybdenum by the chlorine-based oxidizing species thereby providing a treated ore, residue and/or concentrate and a reduced aqueous solution of chlorine-based oxidizing species; leaching the treated ore, residue and/or concentrate by exposing the treated ore, residue and/or concentrate to an aqueous ammoniacal ammonium carbonate solution to form a pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum; and passing the pregnant leach solution containing both copper and molybdenum to a means for metal recovery.

Abstract: A method for leaching zinc from a zinc-bearing carbonate ore, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the zinc-bearing carbonate ore to elevated temperatures of between about 300° C. and about 900° C. thereby producing a roasted ore; subjecting the roasted ore to an aqueous acid or alkali leach thereby producing an aqueous zinc solution; and subjecting the aqueous zinc solution to a zinc recovery step.

Abstract: A method for leaching cobalt from a non-lateritic oxidized cobalt ore, the method comprising the method steps of: curing the non-lateritic oxidized cobalt ore to be leached through the application of an aqueous solution of a cobalt reducing agent selected from the group: iron (II) salts, sulfite salts, sulfur dioxide, and combinations thereof; at a pressure of between about atmospheric pressure and about 5 atmospheres, at a temperature between about 5° C. and about 65° C.; wherein the pH of the aqueous solution of the cobalt reducing agent is between about 1.0 and 10.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for leaching one or more target metals from an ore, the method comprising the method steps of: curing the ore to be leached through the application of an aqueous solution of a curing agent, producing a cured ore; leaching the cured ore at atmospheric pressure through the application of an ammonium carbonate solution containing free ammonia, producing a pregnant leach solution; and passing the pregnant leach solution to a means for metals recovery.

Abstract: A method for leaching zinc from a zinc-bearing carbonate ore, the method comprising the steps of: subjecting the zinc-bearing carbonate ore to elevated temperatures of between about 300° C. and about 900° C. thereby producing a roasted ore; subjecting the roasted ore to an aqueous acid or alkali leach thereby producing an aqueous zinc solution; and subjecting the aqueous zinc solution to a zinc recovery step.

Abstract: A method for extracting zinc from an aqueous ammoniacal zinc solution containing impurities, the method comprising the steps of: (i) contacting the aqueous ammoniacal zinc solution containing impurities with an organic phase comprising an ammonium salt of an organic extractant dissolved in a hydrophobic diluent, allowing transfer of the zinc to the organic phase and transfer of ammonium to the aqueous phase, thereby providing a zinc-enriched, ammonium-depleted organic phase and an ammonium-enriched, zinc-depleted aqueous phase containing impurities; (ii) separating the zinc-enriched, ammonium-depleted organic phase from the ammonium-enriched, zinc-depleted aqueous phase containing impurities; (iii) contacting the zinc-enriched, ammonium-depleted organic phase with an aqueous solution containing positively charged species, allowing transfer of the zinc from the organic phase and transfer of positively charged species from the aqueous phase, thereby providing an aqueous zinc solution and an organic phase con