Abstract: A method for extracting base and precious metals, all contained in refractory minerals, using aqueous media. The method includes mixing the mineral (Cu2S, CuS, CuFeS2, Cu5FeS4, FeS2, FeAsS.NiS, (Ni,Fe)xSy), ground to an appropriate size (2.5 centimetres), with a specific dose of solid reagent in a rotary agglomeration drum and then adding slightly acidified water to obtain a defined water content (5-8%) depending on the type of gangue contained in the metal-containing solid, thereby forming an agglomerate that will form a heap, which is subsequently allowed to stand for a period of several days (20-60 days), during which the conditions required to transform the refractory matrix into a highly soluble solid will be generated. Finally, appropriately regulated irrigation is applied, thus resulting in extraction of the metal by simple aqueous washing.

Abstract: A process for recovering copper from heap leach residues, the process comprising treating heap leach residues to provide treated heap leach residues providing improved permeability of a heap of the treated heap leach residues, and leaching the heap of the treated heap leach residues with a leaching solution. Treating the heap leach residues includes: a) blending the heap leach residues with additional material to provide a blend; or b) agglomerating the heap leach residues; or c) both blending the heap leach residues with additional material and agglomerating.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a high-purity Ru alloy target for sputtering and its manufacturing method, which are capable of reducing harmful substances as much as possible, refining the crystal grains as much as possible so as to make the film thickness distribution during deposition to be uniform, and preventing deterioration in adhesiveness with an Si substrate, and which are suitable in forming a capacitor electrode material of a semiconductor memory, as well as a high-purity Ru alloy sputtered film obtained by sputtering this Ru alloy target. In order to achieve the foregoing object, the present invention provides a high-purity Ru alloy target, wherein the content of the platinum group elements excluding Ru is 15 to 200 and remnants are Ru and inevitable impurities.

Abstract: A method for evaluating a batch of scrap material, subsequent to processing of the batch, to determine the content of precious metal present in the batch prior to processing of the batch, includes introducing a predetermined amount of a tracer into the batch, prior to processing, processing the batch and the tracer into a homogenous mixture, assaying a sample portion of the homogenous mixture to assess the amount of tracer in the sample portion, and to assess the amount of precious metal in the sample portion, and ascertaining the content of the precious metal in the batch prior to processing of the batch by applying to the assayed amount of the precious metal a ratio between the predetermined amount of tracer introduced into the batch prior to processing and the assessed amount of tracer in the sample portion.

Abstract: An agglomeration process for metallurgical by-products and waste products is described, utilizing the sulphate material present in the metallurgical waste and by-products, which involves reacting the sulphate with water and optionally with an added alkaline earth metal compound. Sulphuric acid may also be added to the particles to be agglomerated. The obtained mixture is extruded or cast, and allowed to harden before being used in recycling to an extractive process. The agglomeration mechanism involves one or more of, hydration of a water soluble sulphate, precipitation of a water insoluble alkaline earth metal sulphate and hydration of a water insoluble sulphate.

Abstract: A process for forming agglomerates of metallurgical dust containing metal sulphates for recycling to extractive processes includes adding lime particles and a small amount of water, forming a mixture and extruding the damp mixture and allowing the extruded agglomerates to become hard and shape retentive. The material agglomerated may be water soluble metal sulphate containing particles or mixtures of such particles with other value metal bearing waste or by-products of metallurgical processes. Optionally additional binding agents comprising cement and hydrocarbonaceous substances such as wax may be added to the mixture.

Abstract: A method of producing direct reduced iron from pellets, lumps and fines of iron oxide. A mixture of iron oxide raw material is introduced to an apparatus which separates the lumps and pellets from the fines. The lumps and pellets are then introduced to a shaft furnace for direct reduction to iron. Fines are conveyed to a series of circulating fluidizable beds which allows intimate contact with reducing gas to facilitate the direct reduction of the iron oxide fines to metallized iron.

Abstract: Agglomerating agent and method for use in heap leaching of mineral bearing ores. A moderate to high molecular weight anionic polymer preferably in combination with lime provides a highly effective agglomerating agent. The anionic polymer is preferably a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The polymer preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1 to 8 million or higher.

Abstract: A method for hydrometallurgical processing of friable concentration products containing precious nonferrous and ferrous metals comprising preliminary magnetic separation of friable products to pass ferrous metals into the magnetic product and to produce a nonmagnetic fraction containing nonferrous and precious metals. The nonmagnetic fraction is treated with an alkali solution in the autoclave at 80.degree.-190.degree. C. and an oxygen pressure of 0.1-0.8 MPa, passing aluminium into the solution and obtaining a solid sediment. The sediment is treated with a sulfuric acid solution in the autoclave under a surplus oxygen pressure, passing nonferrous metals into the solution and producing enriched concentrate of precious metals in the solid sediment.

Abstract: Agglomerating agent and method for use in heap leaching of mineral bearing ores. A moderate to high molecular weight anionic polymer in combination with lime provides a highly effective agglomerating agent. The anionic polymer is preferably a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The polymer preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1 to 8 million or higher.

Abstract: Agglomerating agent and method for use in heap leaching of mineral bearing ores. A moderate to high molecular weight anionic polymer in combination with lime provides a highly effective agglomerating agent. The anionic polymer is preferably a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The polymer preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1 to 8 million or higher.

Abstract: Agglomerating agent and method for use in heap leaching of mineral bearing ores. A moderate to high molecular weight anionic polymer either alone or in combination with cement provides a highly effective agglomerating agent. The anionic polymer is preferably a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The polymer preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1 to 8 million or higher.

Abstract: Agglomerating agent and method for use in heap leaching of mineral bearing ores. A moderate to high molecular weight anionic polymer either alone or in combination with cement provides a highly effective agglomerating agent. The anionic polymer is preferably a copolymer of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The polymer preferably has a molecular weight of from about 1 to 8 million or higher.

Abstract: Precious metal values, particularly gold and silver, are liberated from refractory, carbonate ores by adjusting the molar ratio of sulfide to total acid consumers to between about 1.2 and about 3.2 in the ore feed to a pressure oxidation process. The ore is contacted with oxygen to oxidize sulfide in the ore with at least about 65 percent of the sulfide oxidation occurring in a first oxidation zone at a temperature above about 360.degree. F. The oxidation of sulfide forms at least about 5 grams of free sulfuric acid in the first oxidation zone. The oxidation process is continued in subsequent oxidation zones. A gas stream is removed from the oxidation zones and oxygen is separated from carbon dioxide and other inerts in the gas stream and the purified oxygen is recycled to the oxidation zones.

Abstract: Noble metal or diamond values are recovered from ore slurries by contact with pellets of oil, coal and bitumen as a secondary binder. The pellets are of a size above 0.75 mm and contain 2% bitumen and 18% lighter oil fractions. The pellets do not disintegrate and size range remains constant.

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for extracting gold from gold ore. The apparatus and process save capital and operating costs in the extracting of gold from gold ore and include comminution and leaching of the ore, and more particularly the apparatus and process reduce the costs for the ore grinding, and make a fine ore grinding superfluous without having to accept a reduction in the gold yield during leaching. The gold ore is subjected to a product bed stressing and interparticle crushing in the nip of a high-pressure roller press before being leached and the product that has been product-bed-comminuted and subjected to interparticle crushing and the product agglomerates thereby formed are piled on a heap that is sprayed with a lixivium.