Abstract: A method for the heap leaching of manganese-containing ores, the method characterized by the steps of: (i) beneficiating the manganese-containing ore and separating into a coarse fraction and a fine ore fraction; (ii) combining the fine ore fraction with a sulfide ore material to produce a combined ore fraction; (iii) stacking the combined ore fraction to form at least one heap; and (iv) applying a lixiviant to the heap to produce a pregnant leach solution (PLS) containing dissolved manganese values, wherein the lixiviant is added to the or each heap in the presence of soluble iron.

Abstract: A sulfate process for producing titania from a titaniferous material (as herein defined) including a step of leaching said titaniferous material with a leachant to form a process solution that includes an acidic solution of titanyl sulfate and iron sulfate, wherein said sulfate process further includes a filtration step comprising filtering said leachant to at least substantially remove titanyl sulfate particles from said leachant prior to supplying said leachant to said leach step.

Abstract: An improved micronutrient fertiliser comprising leach tailings from a sulphur dioxide leach process for the recovery of manganese or manganese sulphate products and a method for the production of such an improved micronutrient fertiliser, the method comprising the step of blending the leach tailings with a ore or waste containing the appropriate level of sulphide ions that will give the required rate of manganese leaching for the specific soil type.

Abstract: A method for the heap leaching of manganese-containing ores, the method characterised by the steps of: (i) beneficiating the manganese-containing ore and separating into a coarse fraction and a fine ore fraction; (ii) combining the fine ore fraction with a sulfide ore material to produce a combined ore fraction; (iii) stacking the combined ore fraction to form at least one heap; and (iv) applying a lixiviant to the heap to produce a pregnant leach solution (PLS) containing dissolved manganese values, wherein the lixiviant is added to the or each heap in the presence of soluble iron.

Abstract: A process for the hydrometallurgical processing of manganese containing materials, the process characterized by the combination of a manganese dioxide containing feedstock and an acidic solution to form an acidic solution to be leached, and passing a volume of sulphur dioxide gas through that leach solution as the leaching agent, whereby no sintering or roasting pre-treatment step of the feedstock is undertaken and the levels of dithionate ion generated in the leach solution are less than about 5 g/l. Also described is a process for the production of electrolytic manganese dioxide.