In situ leaching of explosively fractured ore bodies

Patent · Tue Dec 28 04:00:00 EST 1976

OSTI ID:7116248

Coursen, D L

A method for producing a fracture network in deep rock, e.g., in an ore body, by detonating explosive charges sequentially in separate cavities therein, the detonations producing a cluster of overlapping fracture zones and each detonation occurring after liquid has entered the fracture zones produced by previous adjacent detonations is claimed. High permeability is maintained in an explosively fractured segment of rock by flushing the fractured rock with liquid, i.e., by sweeping liquid through the fracture zones with high-pressure gas, between sequential detonations so as to entrain and remove fines. Ore bodies prepared by the blast/flush process with the blasting carried out in substantially vertical, optionally chambered, drilled shot holes can be leached in situ via a number of holes previously used as injection holes in the flushing procedure and a number of holes which are preserved upper portions of the shot holes used in the detonation process. In the leaching of ore, fines are removed from fractures by intermittent or continuous flushing of the ore with lixiviant and high-pressure gas, e.g., air, using, in the case of the in situ leaching of an explosively fractured ore body, a lateral and upward flow of lixiviant from zones that have been less severely, to others that have been most severely, worked by multiple detonations in the ore body. 8 claims, 4 drawing figures.

• Assignee: TIC; ERA-02-033062; EDB-77-083245
• Patent Number(s): US 3999803
• OSTI ID: 7116248
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
422000* -- Engineering-- Mining & Underground Engineering-- (1980-)
CHEMICAL EXPLOSIVES
COMMINUTION
DISSOLUTION
EXPLOSIVE FRACTURING
EXPLOSIVES
FRACTURING
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
LEACHING
ORES
PROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES