David C Baughman

US Patent:

6451088, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912967

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
David R. Baughman - Golden CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Roland Schmidt - Golden CO

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 306

US Classification:

75739, 75740, 75743, 75744, 423122, 4236583

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a process for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Processes embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.

US Patent:

6451089, Sep 17, 2002

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912921

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
David R. Baughman - Golden CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Christel M. A. Bemelmans - Indian Hills CO

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 306

US Classification:

75744, 205367, 423 34

Abstract:

A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing communicated copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditional steps, and electowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction.

US Patent:

6497745, Dec 24, 2002

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912945

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
David R. Baughman - Golden CO

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 308

US Classification:

75743, 75744, 423 27, 4236585

Abstract:

The present invention relates generally to a process for the production of sulfuric acid and liberation of precious metal values from materials containing sulfur through pressure leaching operations. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the sulfur-bearing materials may comprise residues from pressure leaching operations, such as those carried out at medium temperatures. The process of the present invention can be advantageously used to convert such sulfur-bearing materials to sulfuric acid by means of pressure leaching. The sulfuric acid so produced can be used beneficially in other mineral processing operations, for example those at the site where it is produced. Metals, such as precious metals, that are contained within the sulfur-bearing materials advantageously may be recovered from processing products by established precious metals recovery technology.

US Patent:

6626979, Sep 30, 2003

Filed:

Sep 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/238088

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
David R. Baughman - Golden CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Roland Schmidt - Golden CO

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 306

US Classification:

75739, 75740, 75743, 75744, 205560, 423122, 4236583

Abstract:

The present invention is directed to a process for recovering metal values from metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of foreign substances. Processes embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.

US Patent:

6663689, Dec 16, 2003

Filed:

Sep 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/238399

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
David R. Baughman - Golden CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Christel M. A. Bemelmans - Indian Hills CO

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 306

US Classification:

75744, 205367, 423 34

Abstract:

A system and process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material to produce high quality cathode copper from a leach solution without the use of copper solvent extraction techniques or apparatus. A process for recovering copper from a copper-containing ore generally includes the steps of providing a feed stream containing comminuted copper-containing ore, concentrate, or other copper-bearing material, leaching the feed stream to yield a copper-containing solution, conditioning the copper-containing solution through one or more physical or chemical conditioning steps, and electrowinning copper directly from the copper-containing solution, without subjecting the copper-containing solution to solvent extraction.

US Patent:

6676909, Jan 13, 2004

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/915105

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
David R. Baughman - Golden CO
Roland Schmidt - Golden CO

Assignee:

Phelphs Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 1500

US Classification:

423 28

Abstract:

The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper and other metal values from metal-containing materials using controlled, super-fine grinding and medium temperature pressure leaching. Processes embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, rhenium, zinc, uranium, and platinum group metals, from metal-bearing materials, and find particular utility in connection with the extraction of copper from copper sulfide ores and concentrates.

US Patent:

6680034, Jan 20, 2004

Filed:

Jul 25, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/912922

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT
David R. Baughman - Golden CO

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C22B 1500

US Classification:

423 24, 423 26, 205580, 205581

Abstract:

The present invention relates generally to a process for recovering copper and other metal values from metal-containing materials through pressure leaching operations. In accordance with the various aspects of the present invention, metal-containing pregnant leach solutions from pressure leaching operations need not be significantly diluted to facilitate effective metal recovery using solvent extraction and electrowinning.

US Patent:

6890371, May 10, 2005

Filed:

Dec 23, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/328633

Inventors:

John O. Marsden - Phoenix AZ, US
Robert E. Brewer - Safford AZ, US
Joanna M. Robertson - Thatcher AZ, US
Wayne W. Hazen - Lakewood CO, US
Philip Thompson - West Valley City UT, US
David R. Baughman - Golden CO, US

Assignee:

Phelps Dodge Corporation - Phoenix AZ

International Classification:

C01B017/69
C22B003/06

US Classification:

75743, 75743, 423522

Abstract:

The present invention relates generally to a process for the production of sulfuric acid and liberation of precious metal values from materials containing sulfur through pressure leaching operations. In accordance with various aspects of the present invention, the sulfur-bearing materials may comprise residues from pressure leaching operations, such as those carried out at medium temperatures. The process of the present invention can be advantageously used to convert such sulfur-bearing materials to sulfuric acid by means of pressure leaching. The sulfuric acid so produced can be used beneficially in other mineral processing operations, for example those at the site where it is produced. Metals, such as precious metals, that are contained within the sulfur-bearing materials advantageously may be recovered from processing products by established precious metals recovery technology.