The present invention relates generally to a process for con- trolled leaching and sequential recovery of two or more met- als from metal-bearing materials. In one exemplary embodi- ment, recovery of metals from a leached metal-bearing material is controlled and improved by providing a high grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) and a low grade pregnant leach solution (““LGPLS”) to a single solution extraction plant comprising at least two solution extractor units, at least two stripping units, and, optionally, at least one wash stage.

Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, leaching the roasted metal hearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution, conditioning the pregnant leach solution to thrill a preprocessed metal bearing material; and leaching the pre- processed metal bearing material in acid medium.

Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and a leach medium comprising ammonia and ammonium carbon- ate, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.

Various embodiments provide new methods of rhenium recovery. The methods can include subjecting a metal-bear- ing solution to an activated carbon bed, and adsorbing rhe- nium onto the activated carbon. The methods can also include heating a basic aqueous elution solution and eluting the rhe- nium from the activated carbon with the heated elution solu- tion.

The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodi- ment of the present invention relates to a process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advanta- geous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.

The present invention relates generally to a process for removing dissolved or colloidal silica from a pregnant leach solution (“PLS”). More particularly, an exemplary embodi- ment of the present invention relates to a, process which mixes PLS with an acid source, preferably lean electrolyte, to induce formation of colloidal silica that can then be collected and removed. Additionally, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, at least one silica seeding agent is added to induce formation of colloidal silica, at least one flocculant is added to induce aggregation of the colloidal silica, and a solid-liquid separation process is utilized to remove advanta- geous amounts or substantially all of the colloidal silica, thereby providing relief from supersaturation of dissolved silica in the metal recovery processes.

The present disclosure relates to a metal recovery process comprising a solvent extraction process. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a plant with a first and second circuit. A high-grade pregnant leach solution (““HGPLS”) is provided to the first and second cir- cuit, and a low-grade pregnant leach solution (“LGPLS”) is provided to the second circuit. The first circuit produces a rich electrolyte, which can be forwarded to a primary metal recov- ery, and a low-grade raffinate, which can be forwarded to a secondary metal recovery process. The second circuit pro- duces a rich electrolyte, which can also be forwarded to the primary metal recovery process. The first and second circuits are in fluid communication with each other.

In various embodiments, the present invention provides an electrolytic cell contact bar having a first pole and a pair of second poles. The second poles are opposite in charge to the first pole and each of the pair of second poles are adjacent to and parallel to the first pole. In various embodiments, the contact bar may include an electrode holder capable of hold- ing at least one electrode.

The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extrac- tion techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extrac- tion circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.

A radio-based position location system for determining a relative position of a first object with respect to a second object may include a first radio operatively associated with the first object. A first directional antenna having at least a high gain region is mounted to the second object so that the high gain region is directed generally outwardly from the second object and defines a first detection zone. A second directional antenna having at least a high gain region is also mounted to the second object and is oriented so that the high gain region is also directed generally outwardly and defines a second detection zone. A second radio connected to the first and second directional antennas exchanges radio signals with at least the first radio to determine the relative position of the first object with respect to the second object at least in part by determining a time-of-flight of a radio signal. The radio sig- nals are primarily exchanged via the first directional antenna when the first object is in the first detection zone, whereas the radio signals are primarily exchanged via the second direc- tional antenna when the first object is in the second detection

In various embodiments, the present invention provides an electrolytic cell contact bar having a first pole and a pair of second poles. The second poles are opposite in charge to the first pole and each of the pair of second poles are adjacent to and parallel to the first pole. In various embodiments, the contact bar may include an electrode holder capable of hold- ing at least one electrode.

The present invention relates generally to a process for con- trolled leaching and sequential recovery of two or more met- als from metal-bearing materials. In one exemplary embodi- ment, recovery of metals from a leached metal-bearing material is controlled and improved by providing a high grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) and a low grade pregnant leach solution (““LGPLS”) to a single solution extraction plant comprising at least two solution extractor units, at least two stripping units, and, optionally, at least one wash stage.

Various embodiments provide new methods of rhenium recovery. The methods can include subjecting a metal-bear- ing solution to an activated carbon bed, and adsorbing rhe- nium onto the activated carbon. The methods can also include heating a basic aqueous elution solution and eluting the rhe- nium from the activated carbon with the heated elution solu- tion. The methods can also incorporate an ion exchange as a rhenium recovery apparatus.

The present invention relates to a method and article for manipulating an amount of organic material entrained in an aqueous phase of a solvent extraction process. The method includes estimating an interfacial shear stress between an aqueous phase and an organic phase of a solvent extraction apparatus, estimating an amount of organic material entrained in the aqueous phase based on the estimated inter- facial shear stress, and manipulating one or more solvent extraction process parameters to manipulate the amount of organic material entrained in the aqueous phase. The method and apparatus can be used to improve performance of and reduce operating costs associated with the solvent extraction apparatus.

A cable handling device may include a clamp assembly having a first member having a jaw end and an arm end and a second member having a jaw end and an arm end. The first and second members of the clamp assembly are pivotally connected together so that when the arm ends are moved away from one another the jaw ends move away from one another and vice-versa. A proximal end of a first elongate electrically insulated handle is mounted to the arm end of the first member of the clamp assembly. A proximal end of a second elongate electrically insulated handle is mounted to the arm end of the second member of the clamp assembly.

A system and process for recovering copper from a copper- containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent/solution extraction tech- niques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of provid- ing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, condi- tioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution in mul- tiple electrowinning stages, without subjecting the copper- containing solution to solvent/solution extraction prior to electrowinning.

Various embodiments provide a leaching solution monitor- ing module comprising a first leaching solution distribution system interface, a flow meter in fluid communication with the first leaching solution distribution system interface, the flow meter in fluid communication a 3-way pressure regu- lator, and a second leaching solution distribution system interface in fluid communication with the 3-way pressure regulator.

The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extrac- tion techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system comprises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solution is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary

A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglom- erated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal- bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The aug- mented ore can then be formed into a heap.

A system and method for recovering a metal value from a metal-bearing ore material are provided. A metal-bearing ore can be mixed with certain substances and to form an agglom- erated ore. In an intermediate state, between agglomeration and heap formation, bacteria can be added to the metal- bearing ore material to produce an augmented ore. The aug- mented ore can then be formed into a heap.

This invention relates to a system and method for producing a metal powder product using conventional electrowinning chemistry (i.e., oxygen evolution at an anode) in a flow- through electrowinning cell. The present invention enables the production of high quality metal powders, including cop- per powder, from metal-containing solutions using conven- tional electrowinning processes and/or direct electrowinning.

The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extrac- tion techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system com- prises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solu- tion is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.

The present invention relates, generally, to a method and apparatus for recovering metal values from a metal-bearing materials, and more specifically, a process for recovering copper and other metals through leaching, electrowinning using the ferrous/ferric anode reaction, and the synergistic addition of ferrous iron to the leach step.

The present invention relates generally to a process for con- trolled leaching and sequential recovery of two or more met- als from metal-bearing materials. In one exemplary embodi- ment, recovery of metals from a leached metal-bearing material is controlled and improved by providing a high grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) and a low grade pregnant leach solution (““LGPLS”) to a single solution extraction plant comprising at least two solution extractor units, at least two stripping units, and, optionally, at least one wash stage.

A cover structure for covering a portion ofa surface ofa body of water includes a first plate having a brim, a second plate having a brim, the second plate overlying and spaced apart from the first plate, a support structure coupling the first plate to the second plate, and the cover structure having a specific gravity for maintaining the first plate in a position covering a portion of the surface of a body of water, and maintaining the second plate below the portion of the surface of the body of water.

The present disclosure relates to a process and system for recovery of one or more metal values using solution extrac- tion techniques and to a system for metal value recovery. In an exemplary embodiment, the solution extraction system com- prises a first solution extraction circuit and a second solution extraction circuit. A first metal-bearing solution is provided to the first and second circuit, and a second metal-bearing solu- tion is provided to the first circuit. The first circuit produces a first rich electrolyte solution, which can be forwarded to primary metal value recovery, and a low-grade raffinate, which is forwarded to secondary metal value recovery. The second circuit produces a second rich electrolyte solution, which is also forwarded to primary metal value recovery. The first and second solution extraction circuits have independent organic phases and each circuit can operate independently of the other circuit.

Systems and methods for basic leaching are provided. In various embodiments, a method is provided comprising leaching a slurry comprising a copper bearing material and an ammonia leach medium, adding copper powder to the slurry, separating the slurry into a pregnant leach solution and solids, and performing a solvent extraction on the pregnant leach solution to produce an loaded aqueous stream.

The present invention relates generally to a process for con- trolled leaching and sequential recovery of two or more met- als from metal-bearing materials. In one exemplary embodi- ment, recovery of metals from a leached metal-bearing material is controlled and improved by providing a high grade pregnant leach solution (“HGPLS”) and a low grade pregnant leach solution (““LGPLS”) to a single solution extraction plant comprising at least two solution extractor units, at least two stripping units, and, optionally, at least one wash stage.

Various embodiments provide a process roasting a metal bearing material under oxidizing conditions to produce an oxidized metal bearing material, roasting the oxidized metal bearing material under reducing conditions to produce a roasted metal bearing material, and leaching the roasted metal bearing material in a basic medium to yield a pregnant leach solution.