A method and apparatus for in situ examination of ore behaviour and indicators throughout heap leaching

Abstract

The application provides a method and device for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indexes in the whole heap leaching process, and relates to the technical field of hydrometallurgy. The method comprises the following steps: selecting ore samples from the ore to be stacked to obtain a comprehensive ore sample; setting column leaching devices in different regions of the heap during the stacking process; dividing the comprehensive ore sample into multiple column leaching devices to obtain multiple column leaching test units; spraying the heap containing the multiple column leaching test units to simultaneously carry out column leaching tests during the heap leaching process; taking out the column leaching test units one by one at different stages of the heap leaching process; analyzing the ore residues in each column leaching test unit that has completed leaching reaction at different stages to obtain technical indexes of the ore samples, which represent the leaching behavior of the ore to be stacked. Through the method provided by the application, the problem that the real reaction behavior of the ore material and the change process of the physical and chemical properties thereof in the heap leaching process cannot be comprehensively, continuously and in-situ reflected during the current investigation and analysis process is solved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of hydrometallurgical technology, and in particular to a method and apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process. Background Technology

[0002] Heap leaching is a hydrometallurgical technology widely used in industrial production and semi-industrial / industrial trials, particularly suitable for the development and utilization of low-grade, large-scale ores. To predict or simultaneously investigate the leaching behavior, process adaptability, and key technical and economic indicators of the ore during heap leaching, various experimental studies are typically conducted in stages. These include: small-scale laboratory studies, such as shake-flask leaching and stirred-air leaching tests; and further scale-up experiments, such as column leaching tests. The results of these experimental studies are often used to guide the determination of heap leaching process parameters and the design and operation of industrial heap leaching systems.

[0003] However, due to differences in experimental methods, scale, environmental conditions, and operating procedures at different stages, the process indicators obtained at different stages often deviate significantly and cannot be fully corroborated. In particular, due to differences in the reaction vessel and its surrounding environment, even when using the same ore properties and leaching agent system, the results obtained from experiments at different stages will still be significantly inconsistent, reducing the guiding significance of the experimental conclusions for actual heap leaching operations.

[0004] Analysis revealed that the above differences mainly stemmed from the following aspects: In column leaching tests, the test ore sample is loaded into a columnar reactor with well-defined geometric boundaries, and the sample is confined by the container boundaries. However, in actual heap leaching operations, the ore pile is stacked at a natural angle of repose, resulting in different liquid seepage and solid-liquid mass transfer within the container compared to the actual conditions in heap leaching operations.

[0005] If a column leaching reactor is set up indoors, it is difficult to simulate the outdoor natural conditions encountered during heap leaching operations, such as diurnal temperature variation, ambient temperature changes, wind speed, and humidity. If the column leaching reactor is placed outdoors, the different materials of the reactor column and the differences between the external environment of the ore column and the internal environment of the ore pile often lead to excessive heat preservation or excessive heat dissipation of the ore column, resulting in a difference from the actual heap leaching environment.

[0006] The combined effect of these factors makes it difficult for column leaching tests to accurately reflect the actual reaction environment and leaching behavior within the ore heap during heap leaching operations. Currently, there is a lack of effective means to address these discrepancies. In actual research and application, the results often rely on the experience and judgment of researchers, engineers, and production personnel to qualitatively correct or extrapolate the experimental results. This affects the reliability of the research findings and the scientific validity of the conclusions, and introduces significant uncertainty into the analysis and control of process parameters during heap leaching production. Ultimately, this impacts plant investment, construction, and production operations, resulting in substantial economic losses. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, one objective of this invention is to provide a method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process, thereby solving the problem that current investigation and analysis methods struggle to comprehensively, continuously, and in-situ reflect the true reaction behavior and physicochemical property changes of ore materials during heap leaching. A second objective of this invention is to provide an apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process.

[0008] To achieve one of its objectives, in a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process, the technical solution of which is: A method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process, comprising the following steps: S1. In the heap building process of heap leaching, ore samples are selected from the ore before it is piled up to obtain a comprehensive ore sample. S2. During the pile building process, column immersion devices are installed in different areas of the pile body; S3. The ore composite sample is divided into multiple column leaching devices to obtain multiple column leaching test units; S4. Spray the pile containing multiple column immersion test units according to the preset process parameters so as to carry out column immersion tests simultaneously during the pile immersion process. S5. During different periods of the heap leaching process, each of the column leaching test units at different leaching stages is taken out one by one; S6. Analyze the ore leaching residue in each column leaching test unit that has completed different stages of leaching reaction to obtain the technical indicators of the ore samples in different regions of each column leaching test unit. S7. Based on the aforementioned technical indicators, determine the leaching behavior of the fed ore throughout the entire heap leaching process.

[0009] As one of the preferred solutions, in step S1, the selected ore sample is thoroughly mixed evenly, and the same particle size distribution as the ore in the pile is maintained to obtain the composite ore sample.

[0010] As one of the preferred solutions, step S2 includes: S21. According to the preset shape of the pile to be stacked, a column immersion device is set in the central area of ​​the preset pile shape, and at least two column immersion devices are set at equal intervals along the circumferential direction in the surrounding area of ​​the preset pile shape. S22. During the stacking process, the height of the column immersion device is set according to the preset height of the stack to be stacked, so that when the column immersion device is buried in the stack, the height of the column immersion device is level with the height of the stack.

[0011] As one of the preferred solutions, in step S3, according to the number of column leaching devices and the content of the ore composite sample, the ore composite sample is divided into multiple column leaching devices in equal quantities, and a monitoring probe is set at a different position in each column leaching device. The monitoring probe includes at least one of a temperature probe, a dissolved oxygen probe, a pH probe, and an ORP probe. In step S4, during the column immersion test, at least one of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and ORP is collected by the corresponding monitoring probe during the column immersion test of the column immersion test unit.

[0012] As one of the preferred solutions, in step S5, the spraying cycle is divided into multiple periods based on the number of column immersion devices, with the entire spraying cycle as the reference. At the end of each period, one column immersion test unit is taken out, so that each column immersion test unit corresponds to the leaching stage of different periods in the spraying cycle.

[0013] As one of the preferred options, the technical indicators include a combination of one or more physicochemical parameters among leaching residue hardness, elemental content, phase composition, mineral composition, particle size distribution, and microbial distribution.

[0014] As one preferred embodiment, the multiple column immersion devices have the same shape and size.

[0015] As one preferred embodiment, the column immersion apparatus includes a column inserted into the reactor core, the column being made of a corrosion-resistant material; wherein... The column includes a column wall surrounding a column cavity, into which the packaged ore composite sample is placed. The column wall has multiple leaching holes that allow the leaching liquid to flow between the ore composite sample and the pile.

[0016] As one of the preferred options, the column is a hollow cylindrical or hollow square column with openings at both the top and bottom. A grid is detachably provided at the lower opening, and a lug for extracting the column immersion device is provided at the upper area.

[0017] To achieve the second objective, the present invention provides an apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process, the technical solution of which is: An apparatus for implementing the method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process as provided in the first aspect of the present invention, comprising a column leaching apparatus, a monitoring probe, and an analysis apparatus; The column immersion apparatus includes: A column, made of corrosion-resistant material, is used to fill the heap body in the heap building process of the heap leaching process; the column includes a column wall surrounding a column cavity for loading a composite ore sample, and the column wall has a plurality of leaching holes that allow the leaching liquid to flow between the composite ore sample and the heap. The monitoring probe includes at least one of a temperature probe, a dissolved oxygen probe, a pH probe, and an ORP probe; the monitoring probe is installed at different positions within the column immersion apparatus. The analytical device is used to analyze the technical indicators of the ore leaching residue formed from the ore composite sample after leaching in the column leaching device.

[0018] Compared with the prior art, this application has the following advantages: The method provided in this application integrates and synchronously conducts column leaching tests and heap leaching operations within the heap body. This ensures that the column leaching test units maintain consistency with the actual heap leaching heap body in terms of ambient temperature, seepage pattern, gravity conditions, and external climate conditions. This allows for in-situ observation of ore behavior throughout the entire heap leaching process, effectively avoiding the problem that column leaching tests cannot accurately reflect the true reaction environment and leaching behavior within the ore heap during heap leaching operations due to differences in the reaction vessel and its surrounding environment. It also effectively compensates for the technical deficiency of difficulty in in-situ observation of ore properties during actual heap leaching operations. Furthermore, by preparing a comprehensive ore sample during the heap construction stage and using this comprehensive ore sample as a unified initial sample for the column leaching test, effective characterization of the overall properties of the ore fed into the heap is achieved. Additionally, by deploying column leaching test units within the heap body and removing them in stages during the heap leaching process, in-situ, staged observation of ore reaction behavior during heap leaching is achieved. By removing the column leaching test units instead of directly sampling the heap body, problems of ore mixing and sampling disturbance within the heap are avoided, improving the reliability of sample analysis results.

[0019] The advantages of the device and the method described above over the prior art are the same, and will not be repeated here. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solution of this application, the drawings used in the description of this application will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the steps of an embodiment of the method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process described in this application; Figure 2 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the column immersion apparatus described in one embodiment of this application when it is built into the pile; Figure 3 This is a top view of an embodiment of the column immersion apparatus described in this application when it is built into the pile. Figure 4 This is a diagram illustrating the composition of a column immersion apparatus according to an embodiment of this application.

[0022] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 1. Stack body; 2. Column immersion device; 21. Column body; 22. Immersion hole; 23. Hanging lug; 24. Grid. Detailed Implementation

[0023] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0024] To better understand the technical solution of this application, the technical principles of heap leaching and column leaching will now be explained: Heap leaching: Heap leaching is an industrial technology for extracting metals from low-grade ores, widely used for the recovery of metals such as gold, silver, copper, uranium, nickel, and cobalt. The heap leaching process mainly includes ore crushing, ore pretreatment, heap building, spraying, leachate collection and metal recovery, and tailings treatment. Heap leaching has advantages such as low operating costs, low investment costs, suitability for processing low-grade ores, simple operation, and high resource utilization. However, it also has drawbacks such as long leaching cycles, difficulty in monitoring reactions within the heap, and difficulty in controlling process parameters. Heap leaching operations are generally used in industrial production and semi-industrial / industrial trials. In practical engineering applications, the ore processing scale of heap leaching is usually large, with annual ore processing capacities reaching tens of millions of tons or more.

[0025] Column leaching: Column leaching is an experimental research method that uses a reactor to leach ore, typically simulating industrial heap leaching processes in a laboratory setting. The reactors used in column leaching are usually cylindrical, but regular shapes such as cuboids can also be used. Column leaching is mainly used to extract target metals from ores or solid materials. Its core principle is to fill the material to be leached into a vertical cylindrical container, inject a leaching agent from the top of the column to ensure sufficient contact between the solution and the material, dissolve the target components, and then collect the leachate for subsequent recovery. By analyzing the collected leachate (composition, metal concentration, pH, etc.) and leaching residue, researchers can evaluate the leaching effect.

[0026] Because its solution flow and leaching mechanism are very similar to those of heap leaching, column leaching can be used relatively reliably to guide heap leaching operations. Compared with small-scale test methods such as stirred leaching and shake flask leaching, column leaching can also be used to study heap leaching process parameters. It is often used to investigate how process parameters such as ore particle size, feed pH, leaching agent concentration, spray intensity, and temperature affect leaching rate, leaching velocity, permeability, and material usage. Generally, column leaching uses less than 500 tons of ore and has a heap volume of less than 500 cubic meters.

[0027] Although column leaching tests can provide relatively reliable data, there are still significant differences between laboratory conditions and actual heap leaching operations. Column leaching tests and heap leaching operations are conducted step-by-step and in stages. Besides the limitations mentioned in the background section, where differences in the reaction vessel and its surrounding environment make it difficult for column leaching tests to accurately reflect the actual reaction environment and leaching behavior within the ore heap during heap leaching, the following shortcomings also exist due to the inherent limitations of heap leaching itself: In actual heap leaching operations, due to objective factors such as the large scale of the leaching heap, the relatively extensive operation methods, and the difficulty in achieving precise operation with large-scale mechanization, key information such as ore reaction behavior, material state evolution, and changes in physicochemical properties during heap leaching is difficult to effectively monitor and accurately obtain. Specifically, this is mainly reflected in the following aspects: 1) The properties of the ore in different areas of the heap are difficult to accurately determine before the heap leaching begins; Because heap leaching operations involve multiple stages such as mining, crushing, ore pretreatment, and heap building, and each stage has a long operating cycle, the ore fed into the heap at different times or stages throughout the entire operation cycle may vary significantly in terms of mineral composition, particle size distribution, pore structure, and water content. This can lead to significant differences in ore properties in different areas within the same leaching heap. Under these circumstances, it is impossible to accurately determine the properties of the ore as a whole or in different parts of the heap.

[0028] 2) The properties of the ore within the heap are difficult to investigate in situ during heap leaching; Heap leaching processes typically last for a long time. Under the combined effects of continuous solution seepage and gravity, the internal structure of the heap 1 undergoes dynamic changes, ore particles migrate, and the contact relationships, pore structure, and local density between ore particles are constantly adjusted, resulting in changes in the position of the ore within the heap after leaching. This dynamic evolution process makes precise positioning and in-situ investigation difficult.

[0029] 3) It is difficult to take in-situ samples of the leaching residue during or after heap leaching; During or after heap leaching, due to the scale of the heap, large mechanical equipment is often required for unloading or sampling. This type of operation is usually quite crude, resulting in inaccurate in-situ sample collection. The obtained leaching residue samples from the heap are mixed with samples from other locations, which weakens the reliability of the comparative analysis results of samples before and after leaching.

[0030] In addition to column leaching tests, heap leaching operations can also be assessed by directly collecting leaching residue and leachate from the heap itself. However, this method often requires long-term sample collection. Furthermore, due to differences in ore properties before and after heap entry, the number of samples collected from a single heap area and at the same time point is limited, making it difficult to represent the overall reaction state of the entire heap. Collecting large quantities of samples over a long period is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, and can also negatively impact heap leaching operations. Therefore, under the limitations of current technology, heap leaching becomes a typical "black box" or "grey box" system, where its internal reaction mechanisms, leaching behavior, and key process parameters are difficult to accurately and in real-time understand, often preventing the achievement of optimal economic indicators in industrial production.

[0031] Therefore, current heap leaching operations, whether conducted through column leaching tests or by sampling leaching residue or collecting leachate from the heap itself during actual leaching, cannot comprehensively, continuously, and in situ reflect the true reaction behavior and physicochemical changes of ore materials during heap leaching. Common problems include incomplete observation of changes in ore materials during the reaction process, large sample sizes, poor sample representativeness, and poor consistency in periodic observations. Furthermore, current analytical methods cannot overcome the technical limitations of not being able to conduct in-situ, comparative studies of ore changes before and after heap leaching, or of the differences in physicochemical properties between different regions.

[0032] Therefore, a comprehensive understanding and revelation of the heap leaching process, and in-situ investigation of the changes in ore before and after heap leaching treatment, to better guide plant construction and production, is one of the bottleneck problems that relevant units urgently need to solve. Breaking through this bottleneck can enable process research and development to better serve production practice.

[0033] Based on the above description, the technical solution of this invention application will be described as follows: The present invention aims to effectively characterize and conduct in-situ investigations of the reaction behavior and property changes of ore materials throughout the entire heap leaching process, covering the entire operation cycle before, during, and after heap leaching, without interfering with the normal operation of heap leaching. This will enable a comprehensive understanding of the entire heap leaching process and improve the scientific rigor and reliability of heap leaching process analysis and engineering applications.

[0034] Reference Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a flowchart illustrating the steps of the method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process, as shown in this invention. Figure 1 As shown, this invention provides a method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process. The method includes the following steps: S1. In the heap building process of heap leaching, ore samples are selected from the ore before it is piled up to obtain a comprehensive ore sample.

[0035] The heap leaching process spans a long period of time, and the source and processing status of the ore entering the heap vary in stages. This results in significant inconsistencies in mineral composition, particle size distribution, pore structure, and chemical properties of the ore in different areas of the heap. Sampling at a single location or at a single time point is insufficient to reflect the overall characteristics of the ore entering the heap.

[0036] In this step, ore samples are selected from the ore pile during the heaping stage and before it is fed into the heap, and these samples are mixed to form a comprehensive ore sample that reflects the overall properties of the entire ore pile. This comprehensive ore sample covers the characteristics of different batches, sources, and states of ore fed into the heap during the heaping process. For example, a comprehensive ore sample can be collected from the discharge conveyor belt of the crusher. Therefore, the average mineral composition, particle size distribution, and physicochemical properties of the ore fed into the heap can be uniformly characterized before heap leaching begins, thus avoiding the randomness and biases caused by sampling from a single area. This provides a consistent initial sample basis for comparative analysis of ore leaching behavior throughout the subsequent heap leaching process.

[0037] S2. During the pile-building process, column immersion devices 2 are set up in different areas within the pile.

[0038] In this step, the column leaching device 2 is distributed within the ore area corresponding to the composite sample in the column during the heap construction process, and the column leaching device 2 is kept evenly distributed in space. Since the column leaching device 2 is installed inside the heap for semi-industrial / industrial testing or actual production, the column leaching device 2 undergoes the heap leaching process together with the heap body 1, thereby making the external environment of the column leaching test unit basically consistent with the internal environment of the heap leaching heap body 1, creating conditions for subsequent synchronous and on-site column leaching tests and heap leaching operations.

[0039] S3. The ore composite sample is divided into multiple column leaching devices 2 to obtain multiple column leaching test units.

[0040] In this step, by distributing the same composite ore sample into multiple column leaching units 2, the initial properties of the ore samples in each column leaching test unit are kept consistent, although their location within the pile and the leaching stages they undergo differ. This setup eliminates interference from initial ore differences and facilitates comparative analysis of the ore leaching behavior at different subsequent leaching stages.

[0041] S4. Spray the pile containing multiple column immersion test units according to the preset process parameters so that column immersion tests can be carried out simultaneously during the pile immersion process.

[0042] In this step, since the column leaching test unit is located inside the heap 1, its gravitational field, seepage field, and ambient temperature field during the leaching process are consistent with those of the ore inside the heap. This allows the leaching behavior of the ore sample within the column leaching test unit to accurately reflect the actual reaction state and leaching process of the ore within the heap. Then, the same spraying method and preset process parameters are used to simultaneously spray both the column leaching test unit and the heap leaching unit, thereby achieving synchronous and simultaneous execution of the column leaching test and heap leaching operations in terms of time scale and operating conditions. This avoids the inconsistencies in conditions caused by the traditional step-by-step and phased execution of column leaching tests and heap leaching operations.

[0043] The preset process parameters may include the type of leaching agent, the concentration of leaching agent, the spraying method, the spraying flow rate, and the spraying cycle.

[0044] S5. At different stages of the heap leaching process, each column leaching test unit at different leaching stages is taken out one by one.

[0045] In this step, different column leaching test units are taken out at different time points during the heap leaching process, so that each column leaching test unit corresponds to a different leaching stage in the heap leaching process, thereby achieving a phased investigation of the entire heap leaching process. Since the object taken out is the column leaching test unit itself, rather than directly sampling the heap body 1, the ore composite sample inside the column leaching test unit will not be contaminated by external factors throughout the leaching process. Therefore, after taking out the column leaching test unit, ore leaching residue at different leaching stages can be obtained without interfering with the heap leaching operation, thus solving the problem of difficulty in in-situ sampling of leaching residue during or after heap leaching.

[0046] S6. Analyze the ore leaching residue in each column leaching test unit that has completed different stages of leaching reaction to obtain the technical indicators of ore samples from different areas in each column leaching test unit.

[0047] In this step, the leaching residues of ore undergoing leaching reactions at corresponding leaching stages within different column leaching test units are analyzed to obtain technical indicators reflecting the degree of leaching, reaction characteristics, and changes in physicochemical properties of the ore. Since the extraction time for each column leaching test unit is different, one column leaching test unit corresponds to one leaching stage. The technical indicators obtained from all column leaching test units can accurately reflect the reaction state of the ore at different stages during heap leaching. Furthermore, since a comprehensive ore sample is taken before heap leaching as the ore sample within column leaching device 2, the leaching behavior of the ore within that column can represent the overall leaching behavior of the heap ore.

[0048] S7. Based on technical indicators, determine the leaching behavior of the ore fed into the heap during the entire heap leaching process.

[0049] In this step, by comprehensively analyzing the technical indicators obtained by each column leaching test unit at different leaching stages, we can establish the complete evolution process of leaching behavior of the ore from before the start of heap leaching to after the end of heap leaching, thereby achieving a systematic understanding of the entire heap leaching process.

[0050] The technical indicators include a combination of one or more physicochemical parameters such as leaching residue hardness, elemental content, phase composition, mineral composition, particle size distribution, microbial distribution, permeability coefficient, angle of repose, bulk density, true density, and compressive strength. By combining the analysis of leaching residue hardness, elemental content, phase composition, mineral composition, particle size distribution, and microbial distribution with multidimensional physicochemical parameters such as permeability coefficient, angle of repose, bulk density, true density, and compressive strength, the leaching reaction state and evolution of the ore in the heap leaching process can be characterized from multiple levels, including structure, composition, and reaction mechanism, thus accurately determining the leaching behavior of the ore.

[0051] In summary, this method integrates and synchronously conducts column leaching tests and heap leaching operations within heap body 1. This ensures that the column leaching test units maintain consistency with the actual heap leaching heap body 1 in terms of ambient temperature, seepage pattern, gravity conditions, and external climate conditions. This allows for in-situ observation of ore behavior throughout the entire heap leaching process, effectively avoiding the problem of column leaching tests failing to accurately reflect the true reaction environment and leaching behavior within the ore heap during heap leaching operations due to differences in the reaction vessel and its surrounding environment. It also effectively compensates for the technical deficiency of difficulty in in-situ observation of ore properties during actual heap leaching operations. Furthermore, by preparing a comprehensive ore sample during the heap construction stage and using this comprehensive ore sample as a unified initial sample for the column leaching test, effective characterization of the overall properties of the ore fed into the heap is achieved. Additionally, by deploying column leaching test units within heap body 1 and removing them in stages during the heap leaching process, in-situ, staged observation of ore reaction behavior during heap leaching is achieved. By removing the column leaching test units instead of directly sampling heap body 1, problems of ore mixing and sampling disturbance within the heap are avoided, improving the reliability of sample analysis results.

[0052] As a further explanation of this embodiment, in step S1, ore samples from different regions are thoroughly mixed and homogenized, maintaining the same particle size distribution as the ore fed into the heap, to obtain a composite ore sample. By thoroughly mixing ore samples from different regions, the composite ore sample can reflect the average properties of the ore fed into the heap as a whole, accurately grasping the properties of the ore in the overall leaching heap and different parts within the heap before leaching begins. Among these, particle size distribution is an important factor affecting the heap leaching reaction rate, mass transfer efficiency, and seepage behavior. By maintaining the same particle size distribution between the composite ore sample and the ore fed into the heap during the mixing process, it can be ensured that the geometric structure of the ore samples in subsequent column leaching tests is highly consistent with the heap leaching operation conditions. The resulting composite ore sample can truly reflect the overall initial characteristics of the ore fed into the heap, avoiding interference from regional and particle size differences in leaching behavior analysis, improving sample representativeness and the comparability of test results, and enabling subsequent column leaching test results to more realistically reflect the leaching behavior in actual heap leaching operations.

[0053] As a further explanation of this embodiment, step S2 includes: S21. According to the preset shape of the pile to be stacked, a column immersion device 2 is set in the central area of ​​the preset pile shape, and at least two column immersion devices 2 are set at equal intervals along the circumference in the surrounding area of ​​the preset pile shape. S22. During the stacking process, the height of the column immersion device 2 is set according to the preset height of the stack to be stacked, so that when the column immersion device 2 is buried in the stack 1, the height of the column immersion device 2 is level with the height of the stack 1.

[0054] In this embodiment, due to differences in seepage paths, the leaching behavior at different spatial locations within the heap 1 may vary during heap leaching. Therefore, multiple column leaching devices 2 are arranged in the central and circumferential edge regions of the pre-designed heap shape, ensuring that multiple column leaching test units uniformly cover typical areas of the heap 1 in spatial location, enabling in-situ quantitative investigation. Simultaneously, the height of the heap 1 is made flush with the height of the column leaching devices 2, and after heap construction, all column leaching devices 2 are precisely embedded within the heap 1. The process parameters in the areas where all column leaching test units are located are controlled to be consistent, ensuring that the column leaching test units and the ore in the heap are in the same gravity field, seepage field, and ambient temperature field during heap leaching. This allows the column leaching test and heap leaching operation to be carried out synchronously and integratedly, improving the accuracy of the column leaching test results in reflecting the actual leaching behavior of the heap leaching operation.

[0055] In some embodiments, the column immersion apparatus 2 may be randomly distributed. In some embodiments, to examine a certain process parameter in a certain area of ​​the immersion heap, the column immersion apparatus 2 may be set up separately in a specific area.

[0056] In heap leaching projects, the pre-determined heap shape is typically determined based on site conditions, heap construction method, and spray system type. This may include, but is not limited to, approximately strip-shaped, approximately rectangular, approximately frustum-shaped, approximately pyramidal, or other heap shapes. The number and position of the column leaching devices 2 can be adjusted according to the shape of the heap 1. For example, if the pre-determined shape is an approximately strip-shaped or approximately rectangular heap, at least one column leaching device 2 can be placed in the geometric center of the heap 1, and then multiple column leaching devices 2 can be placed along the periphery of the heap 1 (the four corners or the middle of the four sides), with the same spacing between them and the boundary of the heap 1. If the pre-determined shape is an approximately frustum-shaped heap, one column leaching device 2 can be placed at the center of the heap 1, and then multiple column leaching devices 2 can be placed at equal angular intervals along the circumference of the heap 1, with each column leaching device 2 located at the same radius. If the preset shape is an approximately frustum-shaped pile, a column immersion device 2 can be set in the geometric center area of ​​the pile 1, and then multiple column immersion devices 2 can be set in the areas of the pile 1 near the edges of multiple prisms, with multiple column immersion devices 2 simultaneously located in the top surface area of ​​the prisms.

[0057] As a further explanation of this embodiment, in step S3, according to the number of column leaching devices 2 and the content of the ore composite sample, the ore composite sample is divided into multiple column leaching devices 2 in equal amounts, and monitoring probes are set at different positions in each column leaching device 2. The monitoring probes include at least one of temperature probe, dissolved oxygen probe, pH probe, and ORP probe. In step S4, when the column leaching test is carried out, at least one of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and ORP is collected through the corresponding monitoring probes during the column leaching test of the column leaching test unit.

[0058] In this embodiment, the ore sample is divided into equal portions according to the number of column leaching units 2, ensuring consistency in ore content, particle size distribution, and initial mineral characteristics across all column leaching test units. By deploying probes at different heights or positions inside the column 21 for temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and ORP, technical parameters such as temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and ORP are simultaneously collected during the column leaching test, enabling in-situ, continuous monitoring of the reaction environment within each column leaching test unit.

[0059] Of course, depending on the requirements of the column immersion test, it is also possible to choose not to install a monitoring probe.

[0060] As a further explanation of this embodiment, in step S5, based on the entire spraying cycle, the spraying cycle is divided into multiple periods according to the number of column immersion devices 2, and at the end of each period, a column immersion test unit is taken out, so that each column immersion test unit corresponds to the leaching stage of different periods in the spraying cycle.

[0061] In this embodiment, by dividing the time period into equal parts and taking out the column leaching test unit one by one, a phased in-situ observation of the leaching behavior of the entire heap leaching process is achieved. Without interfering with the heap leaching operation, continuous and comparable technical indicators of the leached ore can be obtained. By dividing the spraying cycle into equal parts and taking out a corresponding column leaching test unit at different time points, the comparability between different leaching stages can be improved.

[0062] For example, taking the entire spraying cycle T as a reference, the number of column immersion devices 2 is n. The spraying cycle T is divided into n time periods, and a column immersion test unit is taken out one by one when the spraying cycle reaches 1T / n, 2T / n, 3T / n, etc., until the time node T is reached, and the last column immersion test unit is taken out.

[0063] In some embodiments, the removal time of the column immersion test unit can be adjusted according to the leaching reaction characteristics, changes in process parameters, or feedback information from the monitoring probe, and the time intervals between removal periods do not need to be exactly equal.

[0064] As a further explanation of this embodiment, the multiple column leaching devices 2 have the same shape and size. In this embodiment, each column leaching device 2 is consistent in height, inner diameter, volume, and shape, so that each column leaching test unit has consistency in geometric boundary conditions, seepage path, and reaction space scale. This realizes the synchronous and field test mode among the column leaching test units, controls the differentiated sampling of each column leaching test unit in the leaching stage, improves the accuracy and reliability of comparative analysis of ore sample leaching behavior at different leaching stages, and is conducive to establishing the law of evolution of leaching behavior of pile 1 over time.

[0065] In some embodiments, when the column immersion apparatus 2 has the same shape and size, it is preferable that the monitoring probes can be arranged at the same height or the same position on each column 21.

[0066] For example, the column immersion device 2 includes cylindrical, prismatic (square, rectangular or polygonal), frustum or other structures.

[0067] In optional embodiments, multiple column leaching devices 2 may have different shapes or sizes, but the same sampling time point. This can be used to compare the differences in leaching behavior of ore under different boundary conditions at the same leaching stage. Thus, the heap leaching operation conditions under different heap height areas and different seepage path lengths can be simulated in the same heap 1, thereby truly reflecting the real reaction environment and leaching behavior inside heaps of different shapes and sizes during the heap leaching operation.

[0068] In optional embodiments, the multiple column leaching devices 2 have different shapes or sizes and different sampling time points, which can be used to examine the temporal evolution of ore leaching behavior under different boundary conditions.

[0069] Therefore, the shapes and / or sizes of the multiple column leaching devices 2 can be different, and they can be removed at the same or different time points to simulate the leaching behavior of ore under different boundary conditions and at different times, thereby achieving a comprehensive analysis of the spatial differences and temporal evolution of the heap leaching process.

[0070] As a further explanation of this embodiment, the column leaching device 2 includes a column 21 inserted into the pile body 1. The column 21 is made of a corrosion-resistant material. The column 21 includes a column wall surrounding a column cavity, into which a packaged ore sample is loaded. The column wall has multiple leaching holes 22, which allow the leaching liquid to flow between the ore sample and the pile body 1.

[0071] In traditional column leaching tests, the column 21 is completely enclosed, with only a leaching solution outlet at one end and a leaching solution inlet at the other. The liquid can only flow axially from top to bottom, and the test ore sample is restricted by the container boundary, completely isolating the ore inside the column from the ore outside. In this embodiment, the column leaching device 2 is integrated with the stockpile 1, and multiple leaching holes 22 are opened on the column wall. These holes 22 spatially connect the internal ore sample with the external stockpile ore, thus avoiding the unrealistic boundary conditions caused by the enclosed column 21 in traditional column leaching tests.

[0072] Specifically, the sprayed liquid naturally seeps into the pile 1 containing the column leaching test unit under the action of gravity. At the same time, it enters the column cavity from the pile 1 through the leaching hole 22 or enters the pile 1 from the column cavity and continues to seep. The ore sample in the column cavity is under the same seepage driving conditions as the ore in the pile. This makes the liquid seepage and solid-liquid mass transfer conditions inside the column leaching test unit closer to the internal environment of the ore pile in the actual heap leaching operation. This solves the problem that the seepage field and mass transfer conditions are inconsistent with the actual heap leaching process due to the geometric boundary closure in the traditional column leaching test.

[0073] Preferably, the column 21 is a hollow cylindrical or hollow square column with openings at both the top and bottom. A grid 24 is detachably installed at the lower opening, and a lug 23 for extracting the column leaching device 2 is provided at the upper area. In this embodiment, the hollow column 21, which runs vertically through the column, allows the sprayed liquid to continuously seep from top to bottom. Simultaneously, the sprayed liquid seeps from all sides through the leaching holes 22 on the column wall, forming a flow path consistent with the omnidirectional continuous drainage in actual heap leaching. Both ends are open, with the bottom opening using a detachable grid. The bottom side of the column leaching device 2 is connected to the grid 24, which forms a supporting structure at the lower end to prevent the ore sample from sinking or being lost during seepage. Because the grid 24 is detachable, it, combined with the upper opening, facilitates the loading of the ore sample and allows for its removal as a whole or sampling from either end after the test, improving the convenience of the test.

[0074] Hanging lugs 23 are installed on the outer side of the column wall at the upper opening position. They can be quickly and accurately installed or removed by lifting tools or by manual operation by test personnel, avoiding disturbance to the heap leaching process caused by manual excavation of the heap body 1.

[0075] Preferably, the column leaching device 2 should be made of corrosion-resistant materials such as HDPE or 316L stainless steel. The size of the grid 24 at the bottom surface of the column leaching device 2 and the size of the leaching holes 22 on the side column wall should be smaller than the maximum particle size of the ore being piled up.

[0076] It should be noted that, for the method embodiments, the embodiments of this application are not limited to the described order of actions, because according to the embodiments of this application, some steps may be performed in other orders or simultaneously.

[0077] Correspondingly, regarding the second aspect, please refer to Figure 4 As shown, Figure 4 This is a diagram showing the composition of the column leaching apparatus 2. The present invention also provides an apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process, used to implement the method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process provided in the first aspect of the present invention. The apparatus includes: An apparatus for realizing the method of in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process as described above, comprising a column leaching device 2, a monitoring probe, and an analysis device; The column leaching device 2 includes: a column 21 made of corrosion-resistant material, used to be filled into the pile body 1 in the pile building process of the heap leaching process; the column 21 includes a column wall surrounding the column cavity, the column cavity is used to load the ore composite sample, and the column wall is provided with a plurality of leaching holes 22, which allow the leaching liquid to flow between the ore composite sample and the pile body 1; The monitoring probes include at least one of temperature probe, dissolved oxygen probe, pH probe, and ORP probe; the monitoring probes are installed at different locations within the column immersion apparatus 2; The analytical device is used to analyze the technical indicators of the ore leaching residue formed from the ore composite sample after leaching in column leaching unit 2.

[0078] The analytical apparatus comprises several analytical units, each configured according to the technical specifications to be analyzed, for the physicochemical property analysis of ore leaching residue. These specifications include residue hardness, elemental content, phase composition, mineral composition, particle size distribution, and microbial distribution. The analytical units may include a hardness tester, atomic absorption spectrometer, mass spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope, particle size analyzer, fluorescence microscope, and microbial culture and counting device, among others. The appropriate analytical units can be configured based on the required technical specifications.

[0079] The above-described apparatus embodiments are basically similar to the method embodiments, so the description is relatively simple. For relevant details, please refer to the description of the method embodiments.

[0080] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention, the following embodiments will be used to provide a detailed description of the method and apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process.

[0081] A method and apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process, comprising: like Figure 2 and Figure 3 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The diagrams show three-dimensional and top views of the column immersion apparatus 2 installed within the pile, in conjunction with reference. Figure 4 , Figure 4 The left side of the image shows a top view of the grid, and the right side shows a front view of the column 21. A truncated square leaching heap with a base side length of 160m, a height of 4m, and a side angle of 38° is constructed. Five column leaching devices 2, each 0.8m in diameter and 4m high, can be evenly arranged on the top surface of the heap, each containing a composite sample of the ore pile to form five column leaching test units. A sturdy lug 23 is provided at the top of the column leaching device 2 for completely extracting the column leaching test unit from the heap, ensuring that the composite sample inside the unit can be completely removed with the device, and preventing the sidewalls of the column 21 from affecting the liquid seepage structure within the heap. A grid 24 connected to the column 21 is installed at the bottom of the column leaching device 2. When the ore particle size is 80mm, circular pores with a diameter of 50mm can be selected and evenly distributed. Simultaneously, circular pores with a diameter of 50mm are drilled on the sidewalls of the column 21 as leaching holes 22. Integrated column leaching and heap leaching operations were carried out simultaneously. Taking T as the entire spraying cycle, column leaching test units were extracted according to the time nodes of 1T / 5, 2T / 5, 3T / 5, 4T / 5, and 5T / 5. The physicochemical properties of the ore leaching residue in different areas of the column leaching test unit, such as hardness, element content, phase composition, mineral composition, particle size distribution, and microbial distribution, were analyzed to characterize the leaching behavior of the entire leaching heap ore.

[0082] It is evident that by installing a column leaching device 2 within the heap for semi-industrial / industrial heap leaching trials or production heap leaching, column leaching tests and heap leaching operations can be carried out simultaneously. This allows for the concurrent examination of process parameters, operating methods, operating environment, and process indicators, enabling in-situ investigation of the various physicochemical properties of the ore material before and after heap leaching. By precisely analyzing the impact of heap leaching operation parameters on the ore material, the shortcomings of traditional column leaching test results and heap leaching operations can be overcome.

[0083] It should be noted that the various embodiments in this specification are described in a progressive manner, with each embodiment focusing on the differences from other embodiments. The same or similar parts between the various embodiments can be referred to each other.

[0084] It should also be noted that, in this document, the terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "inner," and "outer," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are only used to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations, nor should they be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Moreover, the term "comprising" or any other variation thereof is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or terminal device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or terminal device.

[0085] The above provides a detailed description of the method and apparatus for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process, as provided in this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are merely for the purpose of aiding understanding this application, and the content of this specification should not be construed as limiting this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications and variations in the specific implementation methods and application scope may occur based on this application. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaustively list all implementation methods here, but obvious variations or modifications derived therefrom are still within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process, characterized in that, The method includes the following steps: S1. In the heap building process of the heap leaching process, before the ore is piled up, an ore sample is selected from the ore to be piled up, and the selected ore sample is thoroughly mixed evenly and kept to have the same particle size distribution as the ore to be piled up, so as to obtain a comprehensive ore sample. S2. According to the preset shape of the pile to be stacked, a column immersion device is set in the central area of ​​the preset pile shape, and at least two column immersion devices are set at equal intervals along the circumference of the surrounding area of ​​the preset pile shape; during the stacking process, the height of the column immersion device is set according to the preset height of the pile to be stacked, so that when the column immersion device is buried in the pile, the height of the column immersion device is level with the height of the pile. S3. The ore composite sample is divided into multiple column leaching devices to obtain multiple column leaching test units; S4. Spray the pile containing multiple column immersion test units according to the preset process parameters so as to carry out column immersion tests simultaneously during the pile immersion process. S5. Based on the entire spraying cycle, the spraying cycle is divided into multiple periods according to the number of column immersion devices. At the end of each period, one column immersion test unit is taken out, so that each column immersion test unit corresponds to the leaching stage of different periods in the spraying cycle. S6. Analyze the ore leaching residue in each column leaching test unit that has completed different stages of leaching reaction to obtain the technical indicators of the ore samples in different regions of each column leaching test unit. S7. Based on the aforementioned technical indicators, determine the leaching behavior of the feed ore throughout the entire heap leaching process; The column leaching device includes a column inserted into the pile body, the column being made of a corrosion-resistant material; wherein, the column includes a column wall surrounding a column cavity forming a column cavity, the column cavity containing the packaged ore composite sample, the column wall having multiple leaching holes that allow the leaching liquid to flow between the ore composite sample and the pile body; the column is a hollow cylindrical or hollow square column with openings at both ends, a detachable grid is provided at the lower opening, and a lug for extracting the column leaching device is provided at the upper region.

2. The method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process according to claim 1, characterized in that, In step S3, according to the number of column leaching devices and the content of the ore composite sample, the ore composite sample is divided into multiple column leaching devices in equal quantities, and a monitoring probe is set at a different position in each column leaching device. The monitoring probe includes at least one of temperature probe, dissolved oxygen probe, pH probe, and ORP probe. In step S4, during the column immersion test, at least one of temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and ORP is collected by the corresponding monitoring probe during the column immersion test of the column immersion test unit.

3. The method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the heap leaching process according to claim 1, characterized in that, The technical indicators include a combination of one or more physicochemical parameters among leaching residue hardness, elemental content, phase composition, mineral composition, particle size distribution, microbial distribution, permeability coefficient, angle of repose, bulk density, true density, and compressive strength.

4. A method for in-situ investigation of ore behavior and indicators throughout the entire heap leaching process according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The multiple column immersion devices are identical in shape and size.

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