New approaches for extracting and recovering metals from mine tailings

• Published in: Minerals engineering Vol. 106; pp. 71 - 78
• Main Authors: Falagán, Carmen, Grail, Barry M., Johnson, D. Barrie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15.05.2017
• Subjects: Acidophile; Bioleaching; Copper; Silver; Tailings; Silver; Bioleaching; Acidophile; Copper; Tailings

[Display omitted] •Mineral tailings from two copper mines were bioleached under different conditions.•Greatest copper extraction was achieved at extremely low pH, at 45°C and under oxidative/reductive conditions.•Copper present in tailings PLS was selectively precipitated as CuS by biogenic H2S.•Mic...