C10__Resources

Phytomining

  1. Plants are grown in land containing the metal compound we want.
  2. They absorb the metal compound and concentrate it in tissue.
  3. They plants are harvested and burned. The ash contains high concentration of the metal compound.
  4. The copper can be displaced from the metal compound with iron.

Bioleaching

  1. Bacteria are mixed with a low grade ore.
  2. They carry out chemical reactions producing a solution called a leachate
  3. The leachate contains the metal compound we want.
  4. The copper can be displaced from the metal compound with iron.