Surface Mining Chapter 7

HEAP LEACHING AND
AQUEOUS MINING IMPACT

INTRODUCTION
Heap leaching is a process used in mining to extract valuable metals such as gold,
silver, copper, and uranium from ore.
It involves piling crushed ore onto a heap and then applying a solution, usually
containing chemicals such as cyanide or sulfuric acid.
The environmental impact of heap leaching and aqueous mining can be significant,
particularly if the process is not properly managed.
• Chemicals used in the process can leach into the surrounding soil and groundwater, potentially
contaminating local water sources and harming wildlife.
• Efforts are being made to minimize the environmental impact of heap leaching and aqueous
mining through the use of safer chemicals, improved waste management practices, and better
monitoring and reporting of environmental impacts.
HEAP LEACHING
Is an industrial mining process used to extract precious metals, copper, uranium,

and other compounds from ore using a series of chemical reactions that absorb
specific minerals and re-separate them after their division from other earth
materials.
Leaching is a solid-liquid extraction method in which the process of separating

solid metal waste was mixed with leaching reagent such as sulfuric acid, nitric
acid and hydrochloric acid.
Similar to in situ mining, heap leach mining differs in that it places ore on a liner,
then adds the chemicals via drip systems to the ore.
Pregnant leach solution or pregnant liquor solution (PLS) is acidic metal-
laden water generated from stockpile leaching and heap leaching Pregnant leach
solution is used in the solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX/EW) process.[
Heap leaching is widely used in modern large-scale mining operations as it
produces the desired concentrates at a lower cost compared to conventional
processing methods such as flotation, agitation, and vat leaching.
PROCESS
The mined ore is usually crushed into small chunks and heaped on an
impermeable plastic or clay lined.
leach solution to dissolve the valuable metals.
The solution then percolates through the heap and leaches both the target and
other minerals. This process, called the "leach cycle,"
The leach solution containing the dissolved minerals is then collected, treated
in a process plant to recover the target mineral
Agglomeration machine is a device that
causes material to gather into rounded
balls
The rotary drum agglomerate works by
taking the crushed ore fines and
agglomerating them into more uniform
particles
Altering the concentration of acid over

time in order to produce a solution that
can be economically treated
GOLD HEAP LEACHING PROCESS
Gold is extracted from low-grade gold ores using the adaptable and affordable heap leaching (HL) process. First, the ore
is crushed into tiny particles in this process. The gold-containing solution is leached by spraying leaching solution onto
the substantial heaps.
The gold was then extracted from the liquid using techniques such as carbon adsorption, a device to displace zinc
powder, and others. The procedure includes:
1. Crushing and Screening
2. Set Heap Leaching Site
3. Sodium Cyanide or CNLITE Gold Dressing Agent Spraying and Leaching
4. Carbon Adsorption
5. Zinc Powder Displacement Device
SUMMARIZED GOLD HEAP LEACHING PROCESS
Raw ore treatment of heap leaching (Crushing and screening)

Using a jaw crusher or cone crusher, the raw ore is reduced to small
particles (30–50 mm), which are then either immediately heap leached or
pelletized into larger lumps and heaped by forklift.
SET THE HEAP LEACH SITE
The moderate slope hills (natural grade 5–15) that are close to the mining site
are typically the heap leaching sites. Prior to consolidating the material as the
foundation, remove all weeds and loose sand.
 Leach liquid flows freely into the stationary tank because to the high sides
and low midsection. To stop leaks, the garden is covered with geomembrane.
To stop rainfall from entering the storage yard, a 0.4-meter ridge of dirt must
be constructed as a ditch around the area. Additionally, before stacking the
ore, create a 0.3-meter-thick layer of lean ore.
HEAP SPRAYING
Then the large piles will be sprayed by the leaching solutions, through which
the gold-containing solution will be leached from the piles. The pregnant
liquid will flow into pregnant solution pool. Then used the gold ore
processing method of adsorption of activated carbon, zinc powder
displacement device and so on to separate gold from the liquid. The tail liquid
will be recycled.
Heap spraying
The effect of heap on recovery and solution
grade
. Characterization of the physical and hydraulic (hydrodynamic) properties of ore-for-leach

focuses on the direct measurement of the key properties of the ore, namely:
The relationship between heap height and ore bulk density (density profile)
The relationship between bulk density and percolation capacity (conductivity profile)
The relationship between the bulk density, porosity and its components (micro and macro)
The relationship between the moisture content and percolation capacity (conductivity
curve)
The relationship between the aforementioned parameters and the ore preparation practices
(mining, crushing, agglomeration, curing, and method of placement)
APPARATUS USED
• Modular crushing plant

• Agglomerates
• Jaw Crusher
• Belt Conveyor
• Reagent silos for cement, quicklime and other reagents
• Aqueous reagent make-up and dosing systems
• Pachuca Tanks Ores of gold, uranium, and other metals are commonly batch-leached in large air-
agitated vessels known as Pachuca tanks. A typical tank is a vertical cylinder with a conical
bottom section usually with a 60° included angle, 7 m (23 ft) in diameter and 14 m (46 ft) in
overall height
ADVANTAGES OF HEAP LEACHING
 Heap leaching can be a low cost means of treating low grade metalliferous
ores, especially where the ore body is oxidized. So if there is Larger waste
rock dumps may result in a greater magnitude or extent of environmental
impacts associated with mineralized waste disposal
• Low cost
 High recovery rate
 Low capital investment
 Flexibility
 shorter processing
DISADVANTAGE (ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT) OF HEAP LEACHING
The negative side of heap leaching on the environment is the concentration of the
process chemicals used in the heap leach circuit is similar to that in conventional
minerals processing facility.
It can also have significant environmental impacts like :
a) Acid mine drainage
b) Soil erosion
c) Air pollution
d) Wildlife displacement
e) Waste disposal
ACID MINE DRAINAGE
Acid mine drainage occurs when the chemical solution used in heap leaching
seeps into nearby water sources, contaminating groundwater, streams, and
rivers
This can have toxic effects on plants and animals, leading to a loss of
biodiversity and ecosystem damage.
The chemicals used in the process can strip away topsoil, leading to the loss
of fertile land and impacting local ecosystems.
SOIL EROSION
Heap leaching mining can lead to soil erosion due to the removal of topsoil
and vegetation.
This can cause significant damage to local ecosystems, as soil erosion can
lead to the loss of fertile land and impact the quality of nearby water sources.
To prevent soil erosion, mining companies must implement proper soil
conservation practices, such as re-vegetation and erosion control measures.
AIR POLLUTION
- Heap leaching mining can also contribute to air pollution through the
release of dust and gases into the atmosphere from crushing and processing
of ore can generate dust particles
- In addition, heap leaching can produce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
gases, which can contribute to acid rain and smog formation.
- To mitigate air pollution, mining companies must implement proper dust
suppression measures, such as using water sprays or enclosing crushing
and processing equipment.
WILDLIFE DISPLACEMENT
Also heap leaching result in the displacement of wildlife and destruction of
their habitats. can lead to the clearing of vegetation and disruption of natural
ecosystems. This can force wildlife to migrate to new areas, where they may
struggle to find food, water, and shelter.
To minimize the impact on wildlife, mining companies must conduct
thorough environmental assessments before beginning operations. They must
also implement measures to protect and preserve natural habitats,
WATER DISPOSAL
Heap leaching mining can generate large amounts of waste material,
including rocks, soil, and other debris. This waste material must be properly
disposed of to prevent contamination of nearby water sources and ecosystems
Mining companies typically store waste material in designated areas called
tailings ponds. These ponds are lined with impermeable materials to prevent
leaching of contaminants into the surrounding environment
Overall, while heap leaching can be an effective mining method for extracting
minerals from low-grade ores, it is important to consider its potential
environmental impacts and take steps to mitigate them. Proper waste
disposal, water management, and soil conservation practices can help
minimize the negative effects of heap leaching on the environment
THANK YOU

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HEAP LEACHING AND

AQUEOUS MINING IMPACT

Is an industrial mining process used to extract precious metals, copper, uranium,

Leaching is a solid-liquid extraction method in which the process of separating

Altering the concentration of acid over

Raw ore treatment of heap leaching (Crushing and screening)

. Characterization of the physical and hydraulic (hydrodynamic) properties of ore-for-leach

• Modular crushing plant

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