(Alliance News) - Alexander Mining PLC said Monday its subsidiary, MetaLeach Ltd, has been granted a patent for a method of ammoniacal leaching of copper from oxidised copper ores, namely Australia patent 2015268083.
The patent describes a method for leaching copper from an oxidised copper ore, wherein at least 5% of the copper present is an oxisdised compound.
The method itself comprising of the following steps: applying an aqueous solution of a curing agent to the oxidised copper ore, producing a cured ore, forming a leach solution by applying an ammoniacal solution that has an ammonium carbonate content of less than 5 grams per litre to the cured ore, producing a pregnant leach solution containing copper; and passing the pregnant leach solution to a means for recovering copper.
The patent has a standard term of 20 years with effect from May 28, 2015, which was the date of the original filing.
Shares in Alexander Mining have been suspended in London since late November, after announcing that it was in advanced negotiations for the acquisition of energy saving lighting firm eLight Group Holdings Ltd.
By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com
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