Technologies
GeoBiotics developed and patented technologies for biooxidizing or bioleaching sulfide ores and concentrates in an engineered heap environment. The two principal technologies are GEOCOAT® and GEOLEACH™. Both technologies incorporate the patented HotHeap™ control philosophy to ensure optimum biological performance.
GEOCOAT®
GEOCOAT® offers a unique approach to bacterial leaching (also referred to as "biooxidation" or "bioleaching") by combining the low capital and operating costs of heap leaching with the high recoveries generally associated with other oxidation methods (roasting, pressure leaching, or stirred-tank biooxidation). GEOCOAT® is applicable to the biooxidation of refractory sulfide gold concentrates, and to sulfidic copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc, and polymetallic base metal concentrates.
GEOLEACH™
GEOLEACH™ is a proprietary whole-ore bioleaching technology used to recover copper and other base metals from primary and secondary sulfide ores. In the GEOLEACH™ process, ore is agglomerated, placed in an engineered heap, and the heap is then operated in a similar fashion to a GEOCOAT® heap. The pregnant leach solution containing the metal values is then further processed for specific metal recovery. The GEOLEACH™ technology maximizes heat conservation through control of aeration and irrigation rates.
HotHeap™
HotHeap™ is a sophisticated, proprietary process control management system designed to optimize biooxidation conditions (temperature, pH, Eh, solution chemistry) through the control of irrigation and aeration rates. HotHeap™ control of irrigation and aeration in a GEOCOAT® or GEOLEACH™ heap:
- Maximizes heat accumulation within the heap
- Minimizes the oxidation period
- Maximizes the extent of sulfide oxidation
- Maximizes the gold or base metals extraction