Dump leaching

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Dump leaching is an industrial process to extract precious metals and copper from ores.^[1]

Dump leaching is similar to heap leaching, however in the case of dump leaching ore is taken directly from the mine and stacked on the leach pad without crushing where, in the case of gold and silver, the dump is irrigated with a dilute cyanide solution that percolates through the ore to dissolve gold and silver. The solution containing gold and silver exits the base of the dump, is collected and precious metals extracted. The resultant barren solution is recharged with additional cyanide and returned to the dump.

This method of leaching is usually suitable for low grade ores because it is very low cost. However, it operates with slow kinetics and may take up about 1 to 2 years to extract 50% of the desired mineral.

References

↑ Atak, Önal & Çelik 1998, pp. 439–440.

Bibliography

Atak, Suna; Önal, Güven; Çelik, Mehmet Sabri (1998), Innovations in Mineral and Coal Processing: Proceedings of the 7th International Mineral Processing Symposium : İstanbul, Turkey, 15–17 September 1998 (Illustrated ed.), Taylor & Francis, ISBN 978-90-5809-013-3 .

Extractive metallurgy

Metallurgical assay Non-ferrous Extractive Metallurgy

Mineral processing
(by physical means)

Comminution	Stamp mill Arrastra Crusher AG mill SAG mill Pebble mill Ball mill Rod mill IsaMill

Sizing	Ore sorting Vanning Hydrocyclone Trommel Cyclonic separation Mechanical screening

Concentration	Froth flotation Jameson Cell Panning Jig concentrators Knelson concentrator Magnetic separation (Magnetation) Rocker box Dry washing Buddle pit

Pyrometallurgy
(by heat)

Smelting	Iron smelting Lead smelting Zinc smelting Flash smelting ISASMELT furnace Refractory linings

Refining	Cupellation Parkes process Bottom-blown oxygen converter Poling IsaKidd process

other	Calcination Roasting Liquation

Hydrometallurgy
(by aqueous solution)

Leaching	Lixiviant Heap leaching Dump leaching Tank leaching In-situ leaching Gold chlorination Gold cyanidation Bayer process

Amalgamation	Patio process Pan amalgamation

Electrometallurgy
(by electricity)

Electrolysis	Electrowinning Hall–Héroult process Castner process

by-products

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