Alexander Mining PLC Zinc Patent Granted in USA (8333D)
February 03 2015 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMAXM
RNS Number : 8333D
Alexander Mining PLC
03 February 2015
3 February 2015
Alexander Mining plc
("Alexander" or the "Company")
Patent Granted in United States for a Method for Leaching Zinc
from a Zinc Ore
The Company is pleased to report that it has received
notification that its MetaLeach Limited ("MetaLeach") subsidiary
has been granted a patent in the United States for a Method for
Leaching Zinc from a Zinc Ore. The patent, number 8,871,001, has a
standard term of 20 years from the effective date of 19 February
2010 (being the date of original filing of the PCT Application from
which the United States patent is derived).
Description
The patent, the Australian equivalent of which was granted on 30
August 2012, describes a method for leaching zinc from zinc-bearing
carbonate ore. The method comprising the steps of: subjecting a
material consisting essentially of a zinc-bearing ore containing
the zinc-bearing carbonate ore to elevated temperatures of between
about 300 degC and about 900 degC in the absence of additional
reactive reagents, thereby producing a decomposed material and
carbon dioxide; subjecting the decomposed material to an aqueous
acid or alkali leach thereby producing an aqueous zinc solution;
and subjecting the aqueous zinc solution to a zinc recovery
step.
Background
Sulphide deposits have dominated production of primary zinc.
Current estimates are that approximately 95% of the zinc mined
worldwide is mined from sulphidic ore deposits, in which the ore is
typically mixed with sulphides of copper, lead and/or iron. After
grinding the ore, froth flotation is used to separate minerals from
the gangue, taking advantage of differences in their
hydrophobicity. The concentrate is either smelted or undergoes
roasting (to produce zinc oxide and sulphur dioxide), acid leaching
(typically using at least some of the sulphur dioxide to produce
acid) then electro-winning to recover zinc.
Unlike sulphides, zinc oxide is not readily separated from
gangue materials by gravimetric means. Accordingly, the zinc oxide
component of a mixed zinc oxide-zinc sulphide ore is typically
discarded. However, increasing zinc demand has resulted in
increased interest in recovering zinc from non-sulphide zinc ores,
such as oxides and carbonate ores.
This patent complements those in the AmmLeach(R) family by
expanding the range of ores which can be treated. Where zinc is
present in combination with other metals the pre-treatment
separates the zinc rendering it leachable. The patent is primarily
intended for and complementary to use in combination with
AmmLeach(R).
Enquiries:
Martin Rosser Matt Sutcliffe
Chief Executive Officer Executive Chairman
Mobile: +44 (0) 7770 865 Mobile: +44 (0) 7887 930
341 758
Alexander Mining plc
1(st) Floor
35 Piccadilly
London
W1J 0DW
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7292 1300
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7292 1313
Email: mail@alexandermining.com
Website: www.alexandermining.com
Northland Capital Partners
Limited
Nominated Adviser and
Joint Broker
Matthew Johnson / Gerry
Beaney
+44 (0) 20 7382 1100
Hume Capital Securities
plc
Joint Broker
Guy Peters / Abigail Wayne
+44 (0) 20 3693 1470
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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