Heap bioleaching process

1. A method of operating a microbial mediated ore heap leaching process comprising:

providing a microbial population to the heap

operating the heap in a manner such that a temperature in the heap is between about 45° C. to about 60° C.;

determining a carbon supply limiting temperature which is defined as a temperature within the range of about 45° C. to about 60° C. at which carbon supply becomes limiting to microbial activity;

adding organic carbon to the heap to raise the temperature in the heap to a temperature greater than the carbon supply limiting temperature when the temperature in the heap is at about the carbon supply limiting temperature.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the organic carbon is at least one of the following:

(a) molasses; and

(b) yeast, or a yeast extract.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the organic carbon is added at a concentration of 10-1000 mg l −1 .

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising adding carbon by means of at least one of the following: by enriching the carbon dioxide content in an air stream supplied to the heap; and by adding carbonate-containing minerals to the heap.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising adding heat to the heap.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein the heat is added by means of at least one of the following:

(a) by heating an irrigation solution which is supplied to the heap;

(b) by heating air which is supplied to the heap;

(c) by solar heating the heap;

(d) by applying thermal insulation to the heap to reduce heat losses; and

(e) by adding heat which is generated in a tank leaching operation to the heap.

7. A method of operating a microbial mediated ore heap leaching process comprising:

providing a microbial population to the heap

operating the heap in a manner such that a temperature in the heap is between about 45° C. to about 60° C.;

determining a carbon supply limiting temperature which is defined as a temperature within the range of about 45° C. to about 60° C. at which carbon supply becomes limiting to microbial activity;

adding heat to the heap to raise the temperature in the heap to a temperature greater than the carbon supply limiting temperature when the temperature in the heap is at about the carbon supply limiting temperature wherein the heat is added by means of at least one of the following:

(a) by heating an irrigation solution which is supplied to the heap;

(b) by heating air which is supplied to the heap;

(c) by solar heating the heap;

(d) by applying thermal insulation to the heap to reduce heat losses; and

(e) by adding heat which is generated in a tank leaching operation to the heap.

8. A method according to claim 7 further comprising adding carbon to the heap.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the carbon is added by means of at least one of the following: by enriching the carbon dioxide content in an air stream supplied to the heap; by adding carbonate-containing minerals to the heap; and by adding organic carbon to the heap.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the organic carbon is at least one of the following: molasses; and yeast, or a yeast extract.

11. A method according to claim 9 wherein the organic carbon is added at a concentration of 10-1000 mg l −1 .

12. A method of operating a microbial mediated ore heap leaching process comprising:

providing a microbial population to the heap

operating the heap in a manner such that a temperature in the heap is between about 45° C. to about 60° C.;

determining a carbon supply limiting temperature which is defined as a temperature within the range of about 45° C. to about 60° C. at which carbon supply becomes limiting to microbial activity;

adding heat to the heap from a source external to the heap to raise the temperature in the heap to a temperature greater than the carbon supply limiting temperature when the temperature in the heap is at about the carbon supply limiting temperature.

13. A method according to claim 12 wherein the heat is added by means of at least one of the following:

(a) by heating an irrigation solution which is supplied to the heap;

(b) by heating air which is supplied to the heap;

(c) by solar heating the heap;

(d) by applying thermal insulation to the heap to reduce heat losses; and

(e) by adding heat which is generated in a tank leaching operation to the heap.

14. A method according to claim 12 further comprising adding carbon to the heap.

15. A method according to claim 13 wherein the carbon is added by means of at least one of the following: by enriching the carbon dioxide content in an air stream supplied to the heap; by adding carbonate-containing minerals to the heap; and by adding organic carbon to the heap.

16. A method according to claim 14 wherein the organic carbon is at least one of the following: molasses; and yeast, or a yeast extract.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the organic carbon is added at a concentration of 10-1000 mg l −1 .

18. A method of operating a microbial mediated ore heap leaching process comprising:

providing a microbial population to the heap

operating the heap in a manner such that a temperature in the heap is between about 45° C. to about 60° C.;

determining a carbon supply limiting temperature which is defined as a temperature within the range of about 45° C. to about 60° C. at which carbon supply becomes limiting to microbial activity, wherein the carbon supply limiting temperature is determined using a sample of the ore in a heap leaching simulation column separate from the heap;

changing at least one heap operating parameter to raise the temperature in the heap to a temperature greater than the carbon supply limiting temperature when the temperature in the heap is at about the carbon supply limiting temperature.

19. A method according to claim 18 wherein the step of changing the at least one operating parameter is stopped when the temperature in the heap is above 65° C.

20. A method according to claim 18 wherein the step of changing the at least one operating parameter is carried out while the temperature in the heap is in the range of 45° C. to 60° C.

21. A method according to claim 18 wherein, at a heap temperature which is in the range of 45° C. to 60° C., air flow to the heap is controlled so that the air flow does not cool the heap and carbon is added to the heap to enhance the activity of microbes that operate in this temperature range.

22. A method according to claim 18 wherein, at a temperature below 45° C., the air flow rate to the heap is used for simultaneously controlling the addition of carbon to the heap, and for regulating the temperature of the heap.

23. A method according to claim 18 wherein the at least one operating parameter is changed by means of at least one of the following: adding carbon to the heap; and adding heat to the heap.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein the carbon is added by means of at least one of the following:

(a) by enriching the carbon dioxide content in an air stream supplied to the heap;

(b) by adding carbonate-containing minerals to the heap; and

(c) by adding organic carbon to the heap.

25. A method according to claim 24 wherein the organic carbon is at least one of the following: molasses; and yeast, or a yeast extract.

26. A method according to claim 25 wherein the organic carbon is added at a concentration of 10-1000 mg l −1 .

27. A method according to claim 23 wherein the heat is added by means of at least one of the following:

(a) by heating an irrigation solution which is supplied to the heap;

(b) by heating air which is supplied to the heap;

(c) by solar heating the heap;

(d) by applying thermal insulation to the heap to reduce heat losses; and

(e) by adding heat which is generated in a tank leaching operation to the heap.

28. A method of operating a microbial mediated ore heap leaching process comprising:

providing a microbial population to the heap

operating the heap in a manner such that a temperature in the heap is between about 45° C. to about 60° C.;

determining a carbon supply limiting temperature which is defined as a temperature within the range of about 45° C. to about 60° C. at which carbon supply becomes limiting to microbial activity;

adding carbon to the heap and heat external to the heap from a source external to the heap to raise the temperature in the heap to a temperature greater than the carbon supply limiting temperature when the temperature in the heap is about the carbon supply limiting temperature.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the carbon is added independently of the heat.