In-Situ Leaching

During in-situ leaching, rather than removing soil and rock to reach copper deposits, acids are injected into ore bodies via wells. The PLS is captured in production wells and pumped to a leach plant where the copper is later recovered.

Dump Leaching

Dump leaching refers to leaching that takes place on an unlined surface. The leach solution flows by gravity through the dump pile to a collection point, usually a pond, constructed at the bottom of the dump.

Heap Leaching

In contrast to dump leaching, heap leaching refers to the application of chemicals to low-grade ore that has been crushed and deposited on a specially designed pad lined with synthetic or natural materials such as polyethylene or compacted clay. Copper heap leach operations are much smaller than copper dump leaches. On the average, heaps contain between 100,000 and 500,000 metric tons of ore.