Patents by Inventor Gregory R. O'Neil

Gregory R. O'Neil has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Pretreatment/agglomeration as a vehicle for refractory ore treatment
    Patent number: 4961777
    Abstract: An agglomerative heap leaching method for recovering gold, silver or other metals from low grade refractory ores. Hypochlorite compounds are incorporated directly into the ore agglomerates as they are formed. This provides ample time and opportunity for the hypochlorite to destroy, modify or passivate refractory components of the ore thereby improving metal recovery in the subsequent cyanide leaching step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesus W. Perez, Melvin J. Barrois, Thomas H. McCord, Gregory R. O'Neil
  • Treating refractory gold ores via oxygen-enriched roasting
    Patent number: 4919715
    Abstract: Gold-containing ores, having refractory sulfidic matter or a combination of refractory sulfidic matter and refractory carbonaceous matter, are processed to recover their gold values. The process uses an ore roasting procedure that utilizes a two-state, fluidized bed roaster. The process also employs a pure oxygen atmosphere during roasting. A carbon-in-leach step is desirably used to extract gold values from the roasted ore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: Freeport McMoRan Inc.
    Inventors: Jay C. Smith, Thomas H. McCord, Gregory R. O'Neil
  • Recovery of gold from carbonaceous ores by simultaneous chlorine leach and ion exchange resin adsorption process
    Patent number: 4723998
    Abstract: A gold recovery process is disclosed in which the gold content of ores, including carbonaceous ores or mixtures of carbonaceous and oxide ores, is extracted by a simultaneous chlorine leach and ion exchange resin adsorption procedure. The process eliminates or reduces the degree of oxygenation and cyanidation required to conduct a standard gold extraction process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1988
    Inventor: Gregory R. O'Neil