TIDMAXM
RNS Number : 3656P
Alexander Mining PLC
24 October 2012
24 October 2012
Alexander Mining plc
('Alexander' or the 'Company')
First 'HyperLeach(R) ' Patent Granted in Australia for a Method
of Oxidative Leaching of Sulfide Ores and/or Concentrates
Alexander is pleased to report that it has received notification
that its MetaLeach Limited ("MetaLeach") subsidiary has been
granted a patent for a Method of Oxidative Leaching of Sulfide Ores
and/or Concentrates in Australia, patent number 2010251875. This is
the core patent for MetaLeach's HyperLeach(R) technology and has a
standard term of twenty years from the effective date of 26 May
2010 (being the date of original filing).
The patent describes a method for leaching one or more target
metals from a sulphide ore and/or concentrate containing such, the
method comprising the steps of:
(a) Exposing the ore and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution
of chlorine-based oxidising species in which the hypochlorous acid
comprises at least 10 mol% of the chlorine-based oxidising
species;
(b) Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the target
metals by the hypochlorous acid, thereby decreasing the pH such
that the predominant chlorine-based oxidising species becomes
chlorine;
(c) Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the target metals by the chlorine;
(d) Allowing and/or facilitating the dissolution of the target
metals by the solution species formed during the oxidation by
hypochlorous acid and / or chlorine; and
(e) Passing the pregnant solution produced thereby to a means
for metal recovery.
Martin Rosser, Chief Executive Officer, said: "The granting of
our first HyperLeach(R) patent is a notable achievement. The
technology described in the patent has the potential application
for converting sulphide concentrates, the source of the majority of
the world's base metals production and resources, through to metal
at the mine site. This would eliminate associated expensive
concentrate transport costs and replace smelting and roasting,
which would in turn remove the associated environmental problems.
It also opens up the possibility of heap leaching some sulphide
ores, notably chalcopyrite, the main copper ore."
HyperLeach(R) process
MetaLeach's HyperLeach(R) process, although less advanced in its
commercialisation than AmmLeach(R) , has very significant potential
for application. HyperLeach(R) is a hydrometallurgical process
which has been developed by MetaLeach for the extraction of metals,
especially copper, zinc, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and rhenium
from sulphide ore deposits and concentrates. The process utilises
chlorine based chemistry to solubilise metals from ores under
ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The HyperLeach(R)
process can be operated as either heap leach or tank leach.
Currently nearly all base metal sulphide ores are processed and
concentrated on--site using froth flotation before being shipped
off site to a smelter and refinery for further processing. The
costs involved in selling an ore concentrate include road
transport, shipping, smelter and refinery charges and can include
penalty costs imposed by the smelter, which are deducted from the
payable metal in the concentrate supplied. In addition, in many
situations mine owners may not be paid for valuable metal
by--products contained in the concentrate. Taken altogether, these
charges and costs can amount to up to 40% of value of the metal
produced from a mine.
There is considerable scope to do more on--site processing to
value add using hydrometallurgy to generate higher returns for mine
owners and to make uneconomic ore bodies economic. Although the
HyperLeach(R) process was initially developed to treat directly low
grade ores to produce high value metal products on--site at
competitive operating costs and relatively low capital costs, the
process could also be successfully applied to a wide range of
concentrates and mattes.
One of the key benefits of the HyperLeach(R) process is that,
unlike some new technologies, it requires no special purpose built
equipment, only the addition of an appropriate leaching circuit or
leach pads and collection ponds. Unlike previous chlorine based
processes, HyperLeach(R) does not require chlorine gas to operate,
the oxidant can be generated on--site via industry standard
chlor--alkali technology. If a low-cost source of chlorine gas is
available, then the oxidant can be generated from this. A key
feature of the HyperLeach(R) process is that it operates at ambient
temperatures and pressure and is eminently suitable for heap
leaching.
The HyperLeach(R) process is extremely rapid, with flotation
concentrates being leached within minutes. The resultant solution
is readily processed using conventional solution techniques,
including solvent extraction. The rapidity of reaction and
selectivity for sulphides makes HyperLeach(R) an excellent
technology for heap leaching of base metal sulphide ores which are
too low grade to treat using the conventional grind, float and
smelt processes.
The current copper commodity market is primarily supplied by
treating chalcopyrite ores typically grading >0.8% copper by the
conventional process. There are few unexploited world class ore
bodies with >0.8% copper head grades and the next generation of
mines will be closer to 0.6%. This head grade is likely to be
uneconomic using the conventional process due to increasing power
costs, unless the price of copper increases significantly. Over the
past twenty years all major companies have tried to develop low
cost hydrometallurgical processes for such chalcopyrite ores,
notably for heap leaching. Thus far, none seem to have been put
into production. HyperLeach(R) has excellent prospects for being a
breakthrough technology in chalcopyrite heap leaching.
In addition to chalcopyrite, HyperLeach(R) has been shown to be
effective for treating nickel ores, concentrate and mattes;
treating molybdenite ores, concentrates and flotation tailings;
removing zinc from lead concentrates; reducing arsenic in copper
flotation concentrates and removing impurities from copper
concentrates.
HyperLeach(R) can also be used as a pre-treatment for
MetaLeach's AmmLeach(R) technology to provide synergism between the
processes. HyperLeach(R) solubilises and mobilises target metals
from sulphides with AmmLeach(R) leaching the target metals
selectively. This combination allows processing of a whole ore body
from the oxide cap through the transition zone to the sulphide
basement using the same plant by moving from AmmLeach(R) to
HyperLeach(R) as the ore body is mined.
Forward Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward looking statements, being
statements which are not historical facts, including, without
limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization,
exploration results, resource or reserve estimates, anticipated
production or results, sales, revenues, costs, "best-efforts"
financings or discussions of future plans and objectives. There can
be no assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such
statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties
that could cause actual results and future events to differ
materially from those anticipated or projected. Important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the
Company's expectations are in Company documents filed from time to
time with the TSX Venture Exchange and provincial securities
regulators, most of which are available at www.sedar.com. The
Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update
such statements unless required by law.
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Martin Rosser Matt Sutcliffe
Chief Executive Officer Executive Chairman
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7770 865 341 Mobile: +44 (0) 7887 930 758
Alexander Mining plc
1st 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
Nominated Advisor and Broker
RFC Ambrian Limited
Samantha Harrison / Jen Boorer
+44 (0) 20 3440 6800
Public/Media Relations
Britton Financial PR
Tim Blackstone
+44 (0) 20 7242 9786
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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