Abstract: This invention pertains to a method for in-situ mining of copper values from ore formations and, more particularly, this invention pertains to oxidative in-situ mining of copper wherein, for example, an oxygen-acid, a ferric iron-acid or a nitrate-acid lixiviant is being employed for recovering copper values. Further, this invention pertains to the recovery of copper from a deposit in which the ratio of pyrite to chalcopyrite is low. Still further, this invention pertains to a combination of acid-preinjection, monitoring, acid adjustment and additional monitoring or tell-tale ion monitoring for acid supply increase or decrease in the ore formation as steps in a combination for rendering highly controllable the acid preinjection process, thus providing further improvements to in-situ mining processes.

Abstract: This invention pertains to recovery of metal values from ore deposits found at great depth; more specifically, the invention pertains to the recovery of metal values from an ore deposit by explosive fracturing of the ore formation at a depth at which the deposit is economically inaccessible by surface mining. Still further, this invention pertains to a method for explosive fracturing of a formation containing metal values at depth whereby hydraulically assisted fracturing is used to propagate an explosive shock wave so as to obtain a more desirable medium in which metal value recovery can be practiced.