What is leaching a heap?
Heap leaching is an industrial process for extraction of precious metals and minerals by dissolution from ore with liquids known as leaching solutions. The process is commonly used to extract metals such as gold, copper and yellow uranium cake, except for several other minerals. The leaching of the heap is usually done on an open and slightly sloping terrain covered with a waterproof plastic sheet or a clay layer on which a pile of crushed ore is located. The heap is sprayed with a leaching solution that penetrates or flows through it and dissolves and carries metals as possible. The solution is then collected, sent to the processing plant for treatment to separate valuable elements, recondition and sent back to the heap for the next cycle. 6-Memental impact. The advantages of the environmental process of leaching heap are lack of emissions from furnaces and there is no need for destructive extraction of rare natural fuel sources. There is also a very low risk of contamination of the environment or poisoning of humans and animals due to leaks andDrain toxic chemicals. Solutions of leaching are usually diluted cocktails of alkaline cyanide or sulfuric acid, which, although they sound dangerous, generally pose negligible risks. The cost of processes is also very low compared to the financial point of view from a financial point of view.
Application of leaching techniques to extract metals and minerals from maternal ores has been used for centuries; Improvement of iron sulphate is one of the first examples of the process. The basic principle of leaching heap is simple compared to other methods. The ore beam is crushed first and then accumulates to an impermeable or waterproof surface. Usually it is a plastic leaf or specially created clay beds located on a gentle slope that helps to collect a solution. The solution is sprinkled onto the heap and left to soak the red slowly to dissolve the target element and other mineralsly along the way.
As soon as the solution reaches the waterproof layer at the bottom of the heap, it is directed to the collection area or leaching pond if it is pumped for treatment. During the treatment process, the dissolved elements are separated and the solution is reconstructed to its original concentration before recycling for further use. The leaching process of heap is used to extraction of metals such as gold, copper and nickel and can be used on ores and mining ores of low degrees, which are generally considered to be of no commercial value. The process is also produced by Yellowcake, a concentrate leached by a zuranous ore used in the production of a nuclear reactor fuel.