Mineral Extraction from old Waste Dumps

Projektbeschreibung (englisch)

The technological advance in ore processing allows for more efficient mineral extraction than in the past. This indicates, that old processing dumps still hold a significant amount of ore, which is of special validity in polymetallic ore dumps, where minerals can be found, that where of lesser economic value in the past than today (Molybdenum, Tungsten, REE, in Copper Porphyries). TUBAF is conducting research in cooperation with Chile to improve the technological possibilities for an environmental friendly way of leaching these minerals out of old dumps, e.g. by purification of rainwater, that is flowing through these dumps naturally.