Abstract
Chemical mining of primary copper ores, with nuclear explosives to break the ore and in-situ hydrostatic pressure to accelerate dissolution of primary ore minerals, may be feasible. A contained nuclear explosion well below the water table would be used to provide a mass of broken ore in a flooded 'chimney'. The hydrostatic pressure in the chimney should increase the solubility of oxygen in a water-sulfuric acid system enough to allow primary copper minerals such as chalcopyrite and bornite to be dissolved in an acceptably short time. Circulation and collection would be accomplished through drill holes. This method should be especially applicable to the deep portions of porphyry copper deposits that are not economical to mine by present techniques. (author)
Lewis, A E
[1]
- Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, CA (United States)
Citation Formats
Lewis, A E.
Chemical mining of primary copper ores by use of nuclear technology.
IAEA: N. p.,
1970.
Web.
Lewis, A E.
Chemical mining of primary copper ores by use of nuclear technology.
IAEA.
Lewis, A E.
1970.
"Chemical mining of primary copper ores by use of nuclear technology."
IAEA.
@misc{etde_20768808,
title = {Chemical mining of primary copper ores by use of nuclear technology}
author = {Lewis, A E}
abstractNote = {Chemical mining of primary copper ores, with nuclear explosives to break the ore and in-situ hydrostatic pressure to accelerate dissolution of primary ore minerals, may be feasible. A contained nuclear explosion well below the water table would be used to provide a mass of broken ore in a flooded 'chimney'. The hydrostatic pressure in the chimney should increase the solubility of oxygen in a water-sulfuric acid system enough to allow primary copper minerals such as chalcopyrite and bornite to be dissolved in an acceptably short time. Circulation and collection would be accomplished through drill holes. This method should be especially applicable to the deep portions of porphyry copper deposits that are not economical to mine by present techniques. (author)}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1970}
month = {May}
}
title = {Chemical mining of primary copper ores by use of nuclear technology}
author = {Lewis, A E}
abstractNote = {Chemical mining of primary copper ores, with nuclear explosives to break the ore and in-situ hydrostatic pressure to accelerate dissolution of primary ore minerals, may be feasible. A contained nuclear explosion well below the water table would be used to provide a mass of broken ore in a flooded 'chimney'. The hydrostatic pressure in the chimney should increase the solubility of oxygen in a water-sulfuric acid system enough to allow primary copper minerals such as chalcopyrite and bornite to be dissolved in an acceptably short time. Circulation and collection would be accomplished through drill holes. This method should be especially applicable to the deep portions of porphyry copper deposits that are not economical to mine by present techniques. (author)}
place = {IAEA}
year = {1970}
month = {May}
}