Patents by Inventor Mark James Fennel

Mark James Fennel 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).

  • Recovering Metal from Metal-Bearing Material
    Publication number: 20230392232
    Abstract: A method of recovering a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal sulfide-containing material in a mined material that is “non-economic” to recover metals from using conventional recovery options before the invention was made is disclosed. The method includes mixing (i) the metal sulfide-containing material and (ii) pyrite and forming agglomerates, leaching agglomerates with a leach liquor and microbes and removing a metal from the metal sulfide-containing material and forming a pregnant leach liquor containing metal, and recovering the metal from the pregnant leach liquor. A heap leaching operation for a metal sulfide-containing material is also disclosed. A flotation circuit for an ore processing plant for a metal sulfide-containing material is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Mark James Fennel, Ralph Peter Hackl, Paul Leslie Brown, Adam James Burley, Javiera Del Pilar ALCAYAGA ZÚÑIGA, Yure Anton MLADINIC MUÑOZ
  • Metal Recovery by Leaching Agglomerates of Metal-Containing Material/Pyrite
    Publication number: 20220033933
    Abstract: A method of recovering a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal-containing material, such as a metal-containing material that has been categorized by a mine operator as being “non-economic” from the perspective of recovering the metal from the material. Mixing (i) the metal-containing material and (ii) pyrite and forming agglomerates. Leaching agglomerates with a leach liquor, with pyrite generating acid and heat that facilitate recovering the metal from the metal-containing material, and forming a pregnant leach liquor containing metal. Recovering the metal from the pregnant leach liquor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Inventors: Mark James Fennel, Ralph Peter Hackl, Paul Leslie Brown, Adam James Burley, Javiera del Pilar Alcayaga Zuñiga, Yure Anton Mladinic Muñoz
  • Metal recovery by leaching agglomerates of metal-containing material/pyrite
    Patent number: 11236407
    Abstract: A method of recovering a metal, such as copper or nickel or zinc or cobalt, from a metal-containing material, such as a metal-containing material that has been categorized by a mine operator as being “non-economic” from the perspective of recovering the metal from the material. Mixing (i) the metal-containing material and (ii) pyrite and forming agglomerates. Leaching agglomerates with a leach liquor, with pyrite generating acid and heat that facilitate recovering the metal from the metal-containing material, and forming a pregnant leach liquor containing metal. Recovering the metal from the pregnant leach liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Rio Tinto Technological Resources Inc.
    Inventors: Mark James Fennel, Ralph Peter Hackl, Paul Leslie Brown, Adam James Burley, Javiera del Pilar Alcayaga Zuñiga, Yure Anton Mladinic Muñoz