GEOLEACH ™

The GEOLEACH ™ technology is applicable for whole ore systems where the metals occur as sulfides. The driving force behind the GEOLEACH ™ process is that most sulfide whole ore leaching systems have enough energy present in the sulfides to allow the heap to obtain very high temperatures but poor heat management prevents significant temperature rise. Without significant increase in temperatures beyond ambient within the heap, sulfide leaching kinetics are extremely slow and in the case of chalcopyrite extraction is limited by passivation. The GEOLEACH ™ technology is designed to maximize heat conservation through careful control of aeration and irrigation rates. GEOLEACH ™ has built on the best industry knowledge around the operation of bioleaching facilities and added to this the HotHeap™ control/operating philosophy. GEOLEACH ™ is very similar to conventional whole ore acid heap leaching systems but with the addition of a system to maintain biological activity and maximize heat conservation. The process is simple, robust, and ideally suited to operation in remote locations