Mineralogical Examination Of The Bacterial Leaching Progress On Base-Metal Sulphide

The paper presents results of the mineralogical examination on samples from a bacterial leaching test which simulated in situ leaching for 482 days. Rock fragments (15 to 20 cm) were obtained from the top, the middle and the bottom of a bioleach column. Examination of the samples was carried by electron microscopy and image analysis. The surfaces of the rock fragments were studied to characterize the precipitation products, and cross-section cuts were studied to assess the advance of the bacteria leaching front and the dissolution of the different sulphide minerals.