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Heap Leach

Heap leach is a hydrometallurgical extraction technology used primarily in mining to recover metals such as copper, gold, uranium and nickel from low-grade ores. The process involves stacking crushed ore on an impermeable pad, then irrigating the heap with a chemical solution—typically dilute sulphuric acid for copper or cyanide solution for gold—that percolates through the ore and dissolves the target metal. The pregnant leach solution is collected at the base of the heap and pumped to a processing plant where the metal is recovered, often through solvent extraction and electrowinning for copper or carbon adsorption for gold. Heap leaching is favoured for its lower capital and operating costs compared with conventional milling and flotation, making it economically viable for ores that would otherwise be uneconomic to process. The technology is widely deployed in arid and semi-arid regions where water management and evaporation can be controlled, and it is particularly suited to oxide and transitional ores that respond well to leaching. Heap leach operations can range from small-scale projects to large industrial facilities processing millions of tonnes of ore annually. Environmental management is critical, with modern operations employing lined pads, solution recycling and closure planning to mitigate risks of groundwater contamination. The technology has been in commercial use since the 1960s and continues to evolve with advances in ore preparation, solution chemistry and pad engineering.

Heap Leach News


Eagle gold mine
Boroo plans extensive rehabilitation before restarting newly acquired Eagle mine in Yukon
23rd October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Singapore-based mining and investment company Boroo has announced it will invest more than $1.5-billion in the Yukon-based Eagle gold mine, which it is acquiring through the takeover of Canadian... 


Existing brownfield infrastructure at the Andacollo Project, Coquimbo Region, Chile
Andacollo gold mine, also referred to as the Andacollo Oro gold project, Chile
23rd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

A gold mine in Coquimbo Region, north-central Chile. 


Atomic Eagle CEO Phil Hoskins
Atomic Eagle reports strong uranium recoveries from Muntanga East
6th October 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

ASX-listed uranium exploration and development company Atomic Eagle has achieved uranium recoveries of between 81% and 86% from metallurgical testwork on diamond drill core from its newly... 


Haib project malachite
Haib copper project, Namibia – update
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The infill and expansion drilling programme has been completed. 


Broken Hill Gold doré bar
Australia's Broken Hill pours third doré bar ahead of White Dam restart
1st October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Broken Hill Gold has successfully achieved a third gold pour at the White Dam copper/gold project, in South Australia, with 5.43 kg, or 174 oz, of doré having been shipped for assay and... 


Image of Diabillos project
Diablillos silver/gold project, Argentina
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Gold and silver exploration company AbraSilver Resource Corp has positioned the project as a long-life, high-margin silver/gold development.  


Hamak raises funds for Ghana gold project PEA
Hamak raises funds for Ghana gold project PEA
21st September 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

London-listed Hamak Strategy – a company pursuing a dual strategy of gold exploration in West Africa and disciplined Bitcoin treasury management – has announced that, following the recent price... 


Black pine project area
Liberty Gold confirms Idaho-based Black Pine gold project as technically straightforward with high return potential
9th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Liberty Gold finds in a feasibility study published on the Black Pine oxide gold project, in Idaho, the viability for a large-scale, 16-year oxide gold development based on an open-pit,... 


Gediktepe mine
ACG buys nearby gold prospect to feed Gediktepe plant in Türkiye
7th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

London-listed ACG Metals has entered into a binding agreement with Turkish nickel/cobalt processor Meta Nikel Kobalt Madencilik Sanayi ve Ticaret to acquire 100% ownership of mining licence 60926,... 


An image of the Blanket gold mine
Caledonia announces MRE for Motapa, increases Blanket’s estimates
28th August 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Gold miner Caledonia Mining has announced a maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) for its 100%-owned Motapa property, in Zimbabwe. This shows a maiden measured and indicated MRE of 7.8-million... 


Hamak CEO and executive director Karl Smithson
Hamak selects consultants for Akoko PEA
13th August 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Hamak Strategy has selected Snowden Optiro as independent consultant to undertake the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for the Akoko oxide gold project, in southwest Ghana. In a... 


Galantas Andacollo site concept
Galantas commissions M3 to update PEA on Andacollo as restart works progress
12th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V and Aim-listed Galantas Gold Corporation has selected M3 Engineering & Technology corporation to lead an updated preliminary economic assessment on the past-producing Andacollo gold project,... 


McEwen's Black Fox mine, in Ontario
McEwen increases full-year output guidance for Canadian gold complex
7th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Toronto-headquartered McEwen has increased its expected production out of the Fox Complex, in Timmins, Ontario, to between 20 000 and 23 000 gold-equivalent ounces (GEOs) for the full year. The... 


Hualilan project site
Hualilan gold project, Argentina
24th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

A prefeasibility study has determined that Hualilan can be developed as a conventional truck-and-shovel openpit mine with on-site processing. 


Image of gold ore
Round Mountain mine, US
17th July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

A gold mine in the Big Smoky Valley, in Nye County, central Nevada, US.  


Image of yellowcake
Muntanga uranium project, Zambia – update
3rd July 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The Zambia Environmental Management Agency approved the project’s environmental- and social-impact assessment in June 2026. 


Los Filos mine
Equinox agrees land access with communities around Los Filos mine in Mexico
26th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX- and NYSE-listed Equinox Gold Corporation has signed 20-year land access agreements with three communities that host the company's Los Filos gold and silver mine, in Mexico. With these... 


Rare earths
Australian Rare Earths releases compelling PFS, maiden ore reserve on Koppamurra project
25th June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Australian Rare Earths has validated its Koppamurra rare earths project as among Australia's most advanced ionic clay projects, confirming strong returns, low capital requirements and a... 


Xarxar project area in Azerbaijan
Anglo Asian contracts Worley Europe for two copper feasibility studies in Azerbaijan
22nd June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Aim-listed gold, copper and silver producer Anglo Asian Mining has appointed Worley Europe as its contractor to complete the Xarxar and Garadag feasibility studies, in Azerbaijan. The feasibility... 


GNM completes maiden MRE for Nevada gold/silver project
GNM completes maiden MRE for Nevada gold/silver project
12th June 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX-listed Great Northern Minerals (GNM) has completed an inferred gold and silver mineral resource estimate (MRE) at its Iron Butte gold/silver project, in Nevada, in the US. The company says the... 


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