Method and apparatus for leaching metal from mining ore

Abstract

Porous leach pipe and method for leaching metals from mining ores. The porous pipe may be buried beneath the surface of a pile of mined ore, providing a more even and uniform distribution of the leaching solution across the pile, increasing metal yields, reducing water consumption and eliminating pooling and ponding of the solution on the top of the piles as occurs with prior art drip line emitters.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for leaching metal from mining ore, comprising a microporous leach pipe adapted to be buried beneath a surface of a pile of mining ore, the microporous leach pipe comprising a flexible microporous tubular wall of rubber or plastic material having a porous sponge-like structure with a multiplicity of interconnected irregular shaped pores such that a leach solution under pressure in the pipe will seep through the wall at a rate of from 0.5 to 2.0 gallons per 100 feet per minute. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the microporous wall has a pore size in a range of from 0.001 to 0.004 inch. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the length of the microporous wall is at least 100 feet. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the microporous wall has a wall thickness of at least 0.05 inches. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the microporous wall has an inner diameter of at least 0.25 inch. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the microporous wall has a pore size in a range of from 0.001 to 0.004 inch, a wall thickness of from 0.05 to 0.5 inch, an inner diameter of from 0.25 to 1 inch, and a length of at least 100 feet.