Patents Assigned to Newmont Gold Company and Outomec U.S.A., Inc.
  • Patent number: 4979986
    Abstract: A method of treating a gold-bearing ore to render the gold component of the ore more amenable to standard cyanidation treatment in a reduced amount of time is disclosed. An aqueous slurry of the gold-bearing ore is introduced into at least one vessel. An oxidizing agent, such as chlorine gas, an alkali metal hypochlorite and an alkaline earth metal hypochlorite, is rapidly introduced into the vessel so that it intimately contacts the aqueous slurry. While the oxidizing agent is being introduced into the vessel, the slurry is agitated with agitating means including a plurality of impeller blades that provide high shear agitation and a large interfacial surface area between the oxidizing agent and the liquid phase of the slurry to enhance the mass transfer of the oxidizing agent so that it becomes substantially completely adsorbed by the aqueous slurry in about 5 to about 15 minutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1990
    Assignee: Newmont Gold Company and Outomec U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Hill, Kenneth A. Brunk