James A Brierley

US Patent:

6383458, May 7, 2002

Filed:

Jun 2, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/459537

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Sandy UT
David L. Hill - Elko NV

Assignee:

Newmont Mining Corporation - Denver CO

International Classification:

C22B 1100

US Classification:

423 23, 423DIG 17, 423 27, 423 29, 423 99, 423 89, 423 87, 423 53, 423 22, 423138, 423 3

Abstract:

A process for the recovery of one or more metal values from a metal ore material comprising those of one or more values and a matrix material having a sulfur content wherein the sulfur is present in an oxidation-reduction state of zero or less comprising a. forming particulates from particles of said ore and an inoculate comprising bacteria capable of at least partially oxidizing the sulfur content; b. forming a heap of said particulates; c. biooxidizing the sulfur content and d. recovering those one or more metal values.

US Patent:

6696283, Feb 24, 2004

Filed:

Nov 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/991484

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Sandy UT
David L. Hill - Elko NV

Assignee:

Newmont USA Limited - Denver CO

International Classification:

C12N 100

US Classification:

435262, 423DIG 17, 4352521

Abstract:

Disclosed is a particulate of an ore material having a metal value metal value and a matrix material having a sulfur content wherein the sulfur is present in an oxidation-reduction state of zero or less, the particulate comprising (a) a core particle of the ore material, with the core particle having a size of less than about two inches; and (b) a layer of particles of the ore material and an inoculate of sulfur biooxidizing bacteria in admixture with the particles; wherein the particulate has sufficient strength to retain at least about 95% of a void volume for a column height of about 6 feet for at least 200 days when continuously bathed in a solution comprised of the inoculate or a nutrient therefor. Also disclosed is a heap comprising a plurality of the particulate.

US Patent:

7514050, Apr 7, 2009

Filed:

Jun 6, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/146250

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Highlands Ranch CO, US
Fritz-Peter Sawyer - Spring Creek NV, US

Assignee:

Newmont USA Limited - Denver CO

International Classification:

C22B 3/00

US Classification:

423 27, 423109, 4231501, 423DIG 17

Abstract:

In one aspect the present invention provides a method of recovering gold from each of at least two different refractory gold-bearing sulfidic mineral materials. A first mineral material is subjected to biooxidation pretreatment to release gold locked within sulfide minerals. The biooxidation produces an acidic biooxidation liquor effluent that contains significant dissolved iron in the ferric form. All or a portion of the biooxidation liquor effluent is used as an acidic treatment liquid to treat the second mineral material, which contains acid-consuming minerals. During the treatment, acid-consuming minerals react with the acidic solution, raising solution pH and resulting in reduced solubility and precipitation of dissolved iron and other metals. Also during the treating, sulfides in the second mineral material or oxidized, thereby releasing gold for subsequent recovery.

US Patent:

47297883, Mar 8, 1988

Filed:

Jan 23, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/006487

Inventors:

Stephen R. Hutchins - Golden CO
Michael S. Davidson - Golden CO
James A. Brierley - Wheat Ridge CO
Corale L. Brierley - Wheat Ridge CO

Assignee:

Advanced Mineral Technologies, Inc. - Golden CO

International Classification:

C22B 1104

US Classification:

75118R

Abstract:

A method is provided for the recovery of precious metals, such as gold and silver, from refractory sulfidic material and refractory carbonaceous sulfidic material. The sulfidic material is pulped and bioleached using either facultative or obligate thermophiles at temperatures in excess of about 45. degree. C. and ranging up to about 90. degree. C. The residue remaining from the bioleach is neutralized and washed and the precious metals therein recovered by dissolution.

US Patent:

52464865, Sep 21, 1993

Filed:

Oct 18, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/778521

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Sandy UT
David L. Hill - Elko NV

Assignee:

Newmont Gold Co. - Denver CO
Newmont Mining Corporation - Denver CO

International Classification:

C22B 1100

US Classification:

75743

Abstract:

A process for biooxidation of sulfides in a heap of mineral ores by freeing precious metals dispersed or occluded within said ores as pyritic or arsenopyritic sulfides and the like; the process comprises forming particulates from ore particles with an inoculate comprising bacteria capable of attacking, by biooxidation, sulfides and/or elemental sulfur in said ore particles; from these particulates a heap is constructed; and the biooxidation takes place in such heap by adding to or dispersing within the heap a leaching solution, circulating the leaching solution within the heap and recovering the precious metal values from the heap; recovery may be accomplished with a cyanide, thiourea, or a thiosulfate lixiviant.

US Patent:

46908943, Sep 1, 1987

Filed:

Sep 20, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/777061

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Socorro NM
Corale L. Brierley - Socorro NM
Raymond F. Decker - Houghton MI
George M. Goyak - Harmony PA

Assignee:

Advanced Mineral Technologies, Inc. - Golden CO

International Classification:

C12N 138
C12N 114
C12N 106
C02F 300

US Classification:

435244

Abstract:

A relatively solid, stable biomass reaction product is provided produced from microorganisms having metal uptake properties when contacted by an aqueous solution containing metal cations. The biomass reaction product is produced by treating cells thereof with a caustic solution, whereby the biomass reaction product after drying is characterized in the particulate state of having substantially enhanced uptake of metal cations from aqueous solutions as compared to the metal uptake property of the microorganism before treatment.

US Patent:

52444937, Sep 14, 1993

Filed:

Jul 2, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/907700

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Sandy UT
Charles F. Kulpa - Niles MI

Assignee:

Newmont Gold Co. - Denver CO
Newmont Mining Corporation - Denver CO

International Classification:

C22B 1100

US Classification:

75743

Abstract:

A method is provided for the recovery of precious metal values, such as gold and silver, from refractory carbonaceous, or carbonaceous-sulfidic ore material. The ore material is inoculated using a specific microbial consortium and then incubated to deactivate the carbonaceous component of the material to prevent binding of the precious metal values to the carbonaceous component. The precious metal is then recovered.

US Patent:

58342940, Nov 10, 1998

Filed:

Jan 11, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/587831

Inventors:

James A. Brierley - Sandy UT
David L. Hill - Elko NV

Assignee:

Newmont Gold Co. - Denver CO
Newmont Mining Corporation - Denver CO

International Classification:

C12N 120
C10B 2100

US Classification:

435243

Abstract:

A hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of one or more metal values from a metal ore material in the presence of clays and/or fines material said ore material being comprised of one or more metal values and a matrix material having a sulfur content wherein the sulfur is present in an oxidation-reduction state of zero or less. The process comprises forming particulates from particles of said ore material, particles comprising said clays and/or fines material, an acid-resistant polymeric agglomeration aid and an inoculate comprising bacteria capable of at least partially oxidizing the sulfur content; forming a heap of said particulates; biooxidizing the sulfur content and recovering those one or more metal values.