PROCESSING OF MIXED COPPER-BEARING ORES WITH PRELIMINARY GRAVITY CONCENTRATION AND BIOLEACHING OF NONFERROUS METALS Russian patent published in 2013 - IPC C22B15/00 C22B11/00 C22B3/18 

FIELD: metallurgy.

SUBSTANCE: proposed method comprises grinding, gravity concentration of ore and processing of concentrate. Note here that ore is ground to 0.6 mm-particle size. Gravity concentration is carried out at straight-flow small-filling sluice to produce concentrate, commercial product and tails. Said concentrate and commercial product are subjected to bioleaching at separate cycles using bacterium complexes consisting of copper-adapted autotropic thionic bacteria Ac.ferrooxidans, Ac.thiooxidans in active growth phase. Degree in decrease in material directed to bioleaching at gravity concentration makes 1000-1500. Biological vat leaching is conducted at the number of bacteria making at least 10⁷ cell/ml, S-to-L ratio of 1:5-1:9, active or moderate aeration and at 15-45°C for 90-120 hours.

EFFECT: efficient and nonpolluting process.

3 cl, 1 ex