Presentado en el V Seminario Peruano de Geoingeniería.

Por: Gino Calderón Vizcarra, Vale S.A. y Roberto Garro Rosas, Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería.

Abstract

Copper recovery through heap leaching is a common process used in many mines throughout the world. There are two main issues during heap operation: the first is copper production and the second is heap slope stability, which is a mandatory condition for safe operation. 

While it is quite evident to think that the percentage of copper recovery is directly proportional to the irrigation rate applied to the pad, high irrigation rates can cause solution accumulation in the heap, pore pressure increases and consequently, reduction of the shear strength of the leach tail, which is potentially dangerous combined with the presence of fine textured material. 

In this paper we present some characteristics of the solution flow, which was obtained through different experiences in heap leach operations in Peru, in addition to other investigations.