Copper Leaching Using Mixed Explosive-and-Reagent Pretreatment of Ore Body

Abstract

The mixed explosive-and-reagent effect exerted on a cemented mineral mass, which simulated an ore body, by explosive charges arranged in reagent solutions was investigated. Pretreatment of the model material by explosive injection of different reagent systems leads to pre-oxidation of copper contained in the material, which stimulates its subsequent leaching. The maximal increment in copper recovery in pregnant solution reached 83% relative to the check value. For the pre-oxidation of copper contained in the model material, the mixed explosive-and-reagent treatment used: electrically activated solution sodium bicarbonate and peroxide, mixture of sodium hydroxide and peroxide, sodium hypochlorite and distilled water. The complexing agent in copper leaching was agent Jin Chan in standard and activated states. It is found that activation of solutions using electrochemically treated sodium bicarbonate before adding the complexing agent enables higher effective recovery of copper from model materials after mixed explosive-and-reagent injection preparation.