Influence of Forced Aeration on Copper Extraction in Sulphide Mineral

Heaps
Luis Miguel Panduro Robles
Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde S.A.A.
Senior Metallurgist
lpanduro@phelpsd.com.pe

ABSTRACT
The purpose of using forced aeration in leaching operations is to increase the extraction kinetics of copper
contained in the ore, and this is achieved when oxygen from the air oxidizes the ferrous ions present in the
leach solutions forming ferric ions. The ferric ion formed oxidizes the copper (from chalcocite and
covellite) or sulphur (from primary or residual covellite), and it is reduced to ferrous ion. Under conditions
of suitable acid-supply, the ferrous ion is oxidized with oxygen again and the cycle continues until
sulphide leaching ceases due to copper metal precipitates formation or copper metal exhaustion.
This paper describes the work performed at the Cerro Verde copper mine in Peru with regards to
optimization of forced aeration.

INTRODUCTION
Column tests with injection of forced air to accelerate the extraction kinetics of the leach process have
been investigated at Cerro Verde during several years On the basis of these data and the experience of
other mining operations, tests were carried out at larger scales. Tests were carried out at industrial level at
the Cerro Verde Pad 4. The results confirmed previous observations at smaller scale and established forced
aeration as an industrial operative practice.

TEST DEVELOPMENT
This paper describes the evaluation of forced aeration at the industrial level in Cerro Verde by considering
factors such as:

Oxygen requirement.
Determination of the optimal hole diameter in aeration pipes.
Evolution of the aeration ratio and oxygen content.
Pregnant solution behaviour in terms of pH, mV, Fe 3+ , etc.
Selection of the most appropriate type of aeration pipe.

Air-Oxygen Requirement in an Industrial Heap

The oxygen requirement was estimated upon the stoiquiometric calculation of the mineralogical species
contained in the ore. The overall air requirement is based on the following reactions:

Chalcocite Oxidation:

Covellite Oxidation:

Chalcopyrite Oxidation:

Ferric Ion Regeneration:

The following assumptions were made:

Pyrite does not react, because historical data do not show a decrease in the iron content.
Copper in the test heaps comes mainly from chalcocite and covellite, and to a lesser extent from
chalcopyrite and enargite as determined by quantitative optical microscopy.
Reactions go through 100% completion.

The test cell used (Cell 801) contained 504.566 metric ton of sulphide ore, with a total copper grade of
0.653% giving a fine copper content of 3.297 metric ton. Table 1 shows the copper distribution observed
among the different sulphide species.

TABLE 1 : CELL 801 MINERALOGICAL DATA

SPECIES

WT%*

TONNAGE (mt)

COPPER CONTAINED (mt)

CHALCOSITE

0.529% Cc

2666.63

2129.35 Cu in Cc

COVELLITE

0.252% Cv

1273.02

846.06 Cu in Cv

CHALCOPYRITE

0.15% Cp

756.85

262.56 Cu in Cp

ENARGITE

0.024% En

121.10

58.62 Cu in En

* Grade with respect to the whole ore mass

According to the data of Table 1 and the stoichiometry of the previous chemical reactions the oxygen
requirement is calculated as shown in Table 2.
By using the general gas equation at the Cerro Verde conditions (atmospheric pressure 0.724 atm,
temperature of 20 oC) and the gas constant R as 82000 lt. atm / (Mol-mt * K), the volume of oxygen
required is 2.945.485 m3, and the equivalent volume of air required is 14.160.984 m3.

TABLE 2: Oxygen Requirements per Mineralogical Species

SPECIES

OXYGEN (mt)

CHALCOSITE

1340

COVELLITE

852

CHALCOPYRITE

562

ENARGITE

86

TOTAL

2840

Metric Ton

89

Metric Ton - Mol

In addition, by considering the copper content and the mass of ore in the test cell, and by assuming that
the average copper extraction in the first 30 days of continuous rinsing is 30%, the following theoretical
ratios of air requirement are obtained:
Ratio volume of air/ton ore per day:
0.28 m3air/ton.day
3
Ratio volume of air/kg of copper: 4.30 m air/kg of total copper

Determination of Optimum Aeration Pipe Hole Diameters

The aeration system used is shown schematically in Graph 1. The main components are the following:
1. Blower, capacity 6000 cfm, motor rating of 30 HP.
2. Vent sleeves, diameter 18-24 in., sleeve material Polyurethane.
3. Aeration pipes, diameter 2 in., pipe material corrugated HDPE with internal flat wall; spacing between
pipes 5m.
4. Holes 1.59 or 2.00 mm diameter.

BLOWER

1
18" VENT SLEEVE

24" VENT SLEEVE

2
3

AERATION PIPES
HOLE DIAMETERS: 1.59 mm and 2.0 mm

GRAPH 1: Forced air system

Test Description
The test cell was divided into 10 sectors, 5 of them with 1.59-mm hole diameter pipe and the rest with 2.00
mm hole diameter pipe.
One PLS sampler and six gaseous oxygen monitors were installed in each of the ten sectors. Air pressure
was monitored at the beginning and at the end of the two-inch aeration pipes and along the vent sleeve.

Test Results
As the leach time progressed a drop in air pressure and flow was noticeable. The following figures show
the behaviour of air with time for the 2.0 mm and 1.59 mm hole perforated pipes. Later, it was found that
plugging by Cu-Fe salt precipitation caused the pressure loss of the pipe orifices. Graph 2 shows the
evolution of flow for the 2 mm holes, and Graph 3 the flow observed for 1.59 mm holes. As it is observed,
the flow decrease with time is more significant when the hole diameter in the aeration pipe is smaller,
probably due to a more severe plugging effect is such case.

INCOMING AIR - 2.00 mm. HOLE SIZE

140
0 DAYS
33 DAYS

FLOW (cfms )

120

61 DAYS

100

107 DAYS
183 DAYS
261 DAYS

80
60
40
20
0
0

200

400

Nro LINEA
800 AIREACION1000

600

1200

1400

TIME

Ev. 1

Ev. 5

Ev. 9

Ev. 13

Ev. 17

GRAPH 2: Evolution of airflow by plugging in 2 mm hole diameter pipe

Ev. 21

1600

INCOMING AIR - 1.59 mm. HOLE SIZE

140

FLOW (cfms )

120

0 DIAS

33 DIAS

100

61 DIAS
107 DIAS

80

183 DIAS

261 DIAS

60
40
20
0
0

200

400

Nro LINEA AIREACION

800
1000
TIME

600

Ev. 5

Ev. 1

Ev. 9

1200

1400

Ev. 17

Ev. 13

1600

1800

Ev. 21

GRAPH 3: Evolution of airflow by plugging in 1.59 mm hole diameter pipe

Graph 4 shows that the 2.0 mm hole diameter pipes keep the air rate above the requirement (0.28
m3/ton.day) up to 120 days (50 % of the leach cycle duration), whereas the 1.59 mm lines can provide such
air rate only up to 45 days of leaching.
AIREATION RATIO - TEST CELL

RATIO (m3/mT -day)

0.80
0.70
0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00

30

60

90

120

150

180

210

240

Leach Days
2.0 mm. Orifices

1.59 mm.Orifices

OPTIMAL RATIO: 0.3

GRAPH 4: Evolution of Air Ratio

Table 3 shows the copper extraction results obtained from the test cell. The best recoveries were attained
on sectors fitted with 2.0 mm hole diameter aeration pipe. The copper extraction results shown
correspond to an average from 6 sampling points in each sector (30 points for both the 1.59 mm sectors
and for 2.0 mm aeration pipe sectors).

TABLE 3: Copper Extraction in Test Cell

DAYS

GGN

AVERAGE RECOVERY

AVERAGE RECOVERY

MODEL

2.0 mm Hole Size

1.59 mm Hole Size

0.0

0.0

0.0

30

40.0

30.0

40.2

60

56.6

50.6

54.2

90

64.2

57.8

60.5

120

69.6

64.2

64.3

150

72.7

66.4

67.1

180

75.0

70.3

69.2

260

77.2

73.5

73.2

Effect of Aeration on Pregnant Solution Behaviour

Table 4 shows the metallurgical parameters that were controlled during the leach cycle. Larger ferric ion
production and Fe+3/FeT ratio are observed in sectors using 2.0 mm hole diameter pipes.
TABLE 4: Solution Sampling Results
Sampler

Evaluation

Oper.(Days)

Fe3+/FeT

In-Out Balance

Production

Ratio

Acid (g/l) Fe+3 (g/l) FeT (g/l)

Fe+3 (kg/t)

P-801-1

Blanco

253

0.62

-2.00

0.32

0.26

-3.36

P-801-2

Orif. 1.59 mm.

253

0.91

-3.00

1.63

0.12

0.61

P-801-3

Orif. 2.00 mm.

253

0.69

-3.40

1.11

0.89

2.76

P-801-4

Orif. 1.59 mm.

253

0.53

-0.20

-0.17

0.16

-0.12

P-801-5

Orif. 2.00 mm.

253

0.72

-3.20

0.86

0.29

1.95

P-801-6

Orif. 1.59 mm.

263

0.66

-2.20

0.47

0.18

0.70

P-801-7

Orif. 2.00 mm.

199

0.94

-2.60

1.53

0.24

1.38

P-801-8

Orif. 1.59 mm.

263

0.68

-2.00

0.62

0.26

-0.72

P-801-9

Orif. 2.00 mm.

263

0.76

-2.20

1.06

0.34

2.18

P-801-10

Orif. 1.59 mm.

(3 c/50 cm.)

259

0.77

-1.80

0.84

-0.01

0.13

Graph 5 shows the total iron balance. It is observed that after about 50 days of leaching an equilibrium
value is reached, where the mass of iron irrigated equals the effluent iron in the pregnant solution. Also, as

it is shown in Graph 6, the effluent solution pH tends to decrease continuously as the leach proceeds,
reaching about pH 1.8 after 200 days.

Hole Diameter Evaluation in Aeration Pipes

Total Fe (Out-In)

FeT (Out-In)

5.0
4.0

Blank

3.0

Orif. 1.59 mm

2.0

Orif. 2.00 mm.

1.0
0.0
-1.0
-2.0
-3.0
0

50

100

150
Leach Days

200

250

300

GRAPH 5: Total Iron In-Out Balance

Hole Diameter Evaluation in Aeration Pipes

pH
3.0
2.8

Blank

2.6

Orif. 1.59 mm

2.4

Orif. 2.00 mm

pH

2.2
2.0
1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.0
0

50

100

150
Leach Days

200

250

300

GRAPH 6: Efluent solution pH

Graphs 7 and 8 show improved bacterial activity with the 2.0 mm hole aeration pipe sectors, as indicated
by the ratio of Fe+3/FeT. For these 2 mm holes, the Fe+3/FeT ratio reaches a maximum (about 0.95) after 40

days. The first 30 days chemical leaching takes place, and then biochemical leach begins. Full bacterial
oxidation is seen much later with 1.59 mm holes, not earlier than 130 days of leaching.
Hole Diameter Evaluation in Aeration Pipes
Oxidation-Reduction Potential (mV)

Hole Diameter Evaluation in Aeration Pipes

Fe+3/FeT Ratio

600

1.0
0.9

550

0.8
ORP (mV)

Fe+3/FeT

0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3

300

0.0
50

100

150

200

250

Orif. 1.59 mm

Orif. 2.00 mm

Orif. 2.00 mm

400
350

Orif. 1.59 mm

0.1

450

Blank

Blank

0.2

500

300

50

100

Leach Days

GRAPH 7: Fe+3/FeT Ratio

150
Leach Days

200

250

300

GRAPH 8: Potencial Eh

Selection of type of aeration pipe

Five types of aeration pipes were tested for 220 days leaching. Table 5 lists the features of these pipes:

TABLE 5: Type of Aeration Pipes Evaluated

Pipe
Denomination

Hole Size
(mm.)

Distance between
holes (cm.)

N
NCA
DSA
CICA
CISA

2
2
Variable (*)
2
2

50
50
150
50
50

Inner

Protecting

Corrugation
No
No
No
Yes
Yes

Ring
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No

(*) From 1.59 mm. to 2.4 mm.

A Protecting Ring shown in Picture 1 is used to prevent plugging in aeration pipe holes. The ring has 8
orifices designed to distribute the air around the pipe, and therefore the chances of plugging decrease by
a factor of 8.
PICTURE 1: PROTECTING RING

The Graph 9 shows the test sectors in the test cell. Test pipes were distributed in 10 sectors, five of them
with 5 lines of each type of pipe and the other five with 4 different types of pipe. Each sectors had all 5 or 4
pipe types, with the purpose that the operating conditions (height, ore size, etc) are the same for all pipes.

75 m.
75 m.
75 m.

A: 5 sectors,
5 lInes of each type

125 m.

B: 5 sectors,
4 lines of each type

125 m.

GRAPH 9: Distribution of Lines in Test Cell

In Graph 10 and Table 6 it is seen that pipes having the protecting rings (types NCA and DSA) had the best
flow performance, giving the highest Air Rate values.

AIR RATIO vs. TYPE OF PIPE

0.55
0.50

Air Blowing Off

Air Blowing Off

0.45(m3/day.mT)
Air Ratio
0.40
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
0.10
0.05
0.00
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

220

DAYS

NCA

DSA

CICA

CISA

TABLE 6: Air Rate evolution with leach time

PIPE
TYPE
N
NCA
DSA
CICA
CISA

AIR RATE WITH TIME (m3/mT-day)

6
0.36
0.35
0.30
0.21
0.16

19
0.31
0.48
0.43
0.23
0.10

42
0.16
0.39
0.29
0.10
0.06

65
0.13
0.36
0.21

83
0.09
0.33
0.22
0.14
0.05

110
0.07
0.27
0.18
0.07
0.03

154
0.06
0.26
0.20
0.08
0.02

175
0.05
0.21
0.15
0.08
0.03

221
0.11
0.40
0.29
0.10
0.06

Table 7: Copper Extraction by Type of Pipe, grouped for Solubility Ratio

SECTOR / TYPE

SOLUBILITY RATIO

% RECOVERY

AIR RATE (m3/mT-day)

8 DSA

0.87

75.8

0.19

1N

0.87

71.4

0.15

7 NCA

0.87

75.5

0.25

2 NCA

0.90

78.2

0.35

3 DSA

0.91

80.7

0.25

9 CICA

0.92

76.6

0.16

4 CICA

0.92

73.5

0.13

6N

0.93

83.3

0.19

5 CISA

0.93

80.6

0.06

10 CISA

0.95

78.6

0.12

*SOLUBILITY RATIO: (% ASCu + %CnSCu) / %CuT

The copper extraction shown in Table 7 for each sector corresponds to the average of 12 sampling points
per sector. It is observed that the extraction is higher in sectors having more air injected (sectors aerated
with DSA and CISA pipes). According to these results, the difference in copper recovery between well and
poorly aerated sectors is about 3 to 4 percent extraction.

Evaluation of Homogeneity of Air Distribution

Tests were carried out to determine which of the pipes evaluated in the test cell was able to inject the
airflow along the 100 m long pipes more uniformly. Each pipe of the 5 types evaluated were installed
under the heap and connected to the vent line. Pressure and flow measurements were carried out
according to the diagram shown in Graph 11.
PRESSURE CHECK POINTS
AIR PIPES .
BLOWER
87 m.
63 m.

86 m.
39 m.
1 m.

24" VENT SLEEVE

GRAPH 11: Pipes connected to the vent sleeve over the heap surface

The following graphs 12 and 13 show the results of the tests. The pipe designated as DSA (pipe with
variable hole diameters) resulted in smaller pressure drop and consequently supported a higher airflow
along the length of the pipe. The variable hole diameters helped to achieve a more uniform distribution.

40

PRESSURE (cm H2O)

GRAPH 12:
Pressure along 2 pipes

35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

1 m.

39 m.

63 m.

87 m.

DISTANCE m.

NCA

DSA

CICA

CISA

PRESSURE THROUGH2 " HOSES (m.)

TYPE

1 m.

39 m.

63 m.

87 m.

35.0

16.0

11.0

9.0

NCA

34.8

13.0

9.0

7.5

DSA

36.8

22.0

16.0

14.0

CICA

38.0

15.0

11.0

9.0

CISA

37.0

12.0

7.0

6.0

CAUDAL ENTREGADO POR TRAMOS

40

CAUDAL (cfm)

GRAPH 13:
Airflow along the 2 pipes

30
20
10
0
15-39 m.

39-63 m.

NCA

63-87 m.

DISTANCIA m.
DSA
CICA

87-111 m.

CISA

CAUDAL PER DISTANCE INETRVAL

TYPE
15-39 m.

39-63 m.

63-87 m.

87-111 m.

27.2

24.8

21.8

20.0

NCA

24.5

27.0

21.6

20.0

DSA

6.3

11.1

21.9

22.7

CICA

18.4

8.7

17.1

12.4

CISA

21.6

14.2

15.4

15.6

Evolution of Aeration Rate and Oxygen Content in an Industrial Cell

Gaseous oxygen monitors were installed at a depth of 3 meters at three locations equally spaced along
the cells length and width. Table 8 shows the behaviour of air rate and oxygen content with time in 5
different cells. The effect of plugging is clearly seen. Air rate and gaseous oxygen decrease with time, and
after 120 days these parameters reach low values.

Table 8: Air rate and oxygen content in industrial cells

0.3

OPTIMUM AERATION RATE

CELL

TONNAGE

OPERATING
DAYS

AERATION
RATE
m3/(day-mt)

m3/(day-mt)
% GASEOUS
OXYGEN
INSIDE PILE

802

810503

28
84
93
162
208

0.40
0.25
0.23
0.21
END OF AERATION

18.0
12.9
9.1
6.4

803

804535

25
69
86
106
142
167

0.34
0.18
0.16
0.15
0.13
END OF AERATION

19.1
17.7
13.8
12.7
10.9

804

870495

25
84
117
155
170

0.35
0.15
0.10
0.10
END OF AERATION

14.3
6.5
8.5
8.0

805

750917

11
65
107
178
195

0.40
0.22
0.16
0.13
END OF AERATION

17.3
13.5
10.0
8.4

806

682629

1
20
76
142
180
210

0.35
0.44
0.25
0.15
0.15
END OF AERATION

18.7
15.8
9.5
8.4

Alternatives to Minimize Plugging

Two alternatives to minimize or to avoid plugging of the pipe aeration holes were investigated. These
were a) intermittent air blowing, and b) use of humidified air. The results obtained are reported below.

Intermittent Air Flow

To minimize plugging and consequently to extend the life cycle of the aeration pipes, intermittent air
blowing (on/off) was tested. It is expected that the percolating leach solution will wash out the
precipitates in the absence of air. The testing consisted in interruption of the flow of air for up to 16 hours
per week, in order to minimize the drying effect of air.
The results obtained are shown in Graph 14, which compares the total airflow observed in cells 811 and
817 (cells with similar tonnage and number of pipes). A rather small difference in the air rate can be
appreciated between both cells up to about100 days of operation.
COMPARISON: CONTINUOS vs. INTERMITTENT AIR BLOWING

AIR RATE (m3/mT-day)

0.60
0.50
0.40
0.30
0.20
0.10
0.00
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Days
INTERMITTENT

CONTINUOS

GRAPH 14: Air rate evolution for continuous and intermittent air blowing

Use of Humidified Air

The second alternative evaluated to diminish the plugging was to inject humidified air in parallel with the
injection of water to the vent sleeve that feeds air to the cells. The objective was to avoid the formation of
sulphate crystals around the holes that impede the entrance of air to the heap. The testing was performed
in test cell 816 under conditions of 130 ml/min of water flow and addition of 2 m3/day of water, to achieve
target air moisture of 20-30% (relative moisture).
A comparison of the incoming total flow in cell 816 with a similar cell that operated under normal
conditions (dry air) is shown in Graph 15. It is seen that the use of humidified air minimizes the drying
effect of air passing through an orifice.

CELL 816 - TOTAL FLOW EVOLUTION

9000
8000

FLOW (cfm)

7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

DAYS

INJECTING WATER

WITHOUT WATER INJECTION - CELL 805

GRAPH 15. Effect of air moisture on evolution of airflow

Statistical Validation of the Effect of Forced Aeration on Copper Recovery
A statistical analysis was performed to determine the contribution of air on copper recovery. Nine
variables were considered.The following table shows descriptive statistics for these variables:

TABLE 9: Descriptive Statistics of Factors Influencing Copper Extraction

VARIABLE

MEAN

MEDIAN

StDev

MINIMUM

MAXIMUM

NORMALITY

SOLUBILITY RATIO (AcSCu+CnSCu)/CuT

0,82

0,83

0,06

0,69

0,91

0,25

PILE HEIGHT (m.)

6,23

6,13

0,38

5,61

6,91

0,03

p-Value

4,26

4,23

0,35

3,16

5,09

0,07

MOISTURE CONDUCTIVITY (mA)

144,11

144,34

8,55

121,63

159,51

0,90

ORE SIZE: +3/8 (%)

19,55

19,43

1,01

17,34

21,71

0,72

ORE SIZE: -100 Mesh (%)

ACID IN AGGLOMERATION (kg/mT)

11,26

11,10

0,78

9,60

12,75

0,48

LEACH RATE (m3/mT)

2,66

2,64

0,27

2,11

3,22

0,66

Lixiviant Fe+3 (g/l)

2,84

2,85

0,08

2,67

2,93

0,01

AIR RATE (m3/mT-day)

0,22

0,24

0,10

0,00

0,40

0,28

From the evaluation of the weight and significance of the variables described above on copper extraction,
the following equation was obtained with the aid of linear multiple regression:
FINAL Cu RECOVERY (%) = 22,4 + 127 SOLUBILITY RATIO - 18,6 Fe+3 (g/l) + 26,5 AIR RATE
(m3/mT-day) - 4,93 LEACH RATE (m3/mT)

Detailed results of the statistical analysis are presented below. As shown, the p-value for the variables air
rate and copper solubility are less than 0.05, indicating that both variables are significant on copper
extraction. The air ratio coefficient is also positive (+26.5) in the recovery equation.

Predictor
P

Coef

StDev

Constant
22,43
28,34
Solubility Ratio
126,79
11,68
Fe+3 (g/L)
-18,592
9,593
AIR RATE
26,492
7,487
Leach Ratio
-4,927
2,619
S = 3,569
R-Sq = 84,8% R-Sq(adj) = 82,1%

0,79
10,86
-1,94
3,54
-1,88

0,437
0,000
0,065
0,002
0,073

Analysis of Variance
Source
DF
Regression
4
Residual Error 23
Total
27

SS
1629,66
293,01
1922,67

MS
407,41
12,74

Source

DF

Seq SS

Solubility Ratio
Fe+3 (g/
AIR RATE
Leach Ratio

1
1
1
1

1440,30
9,46
134,82
45,08

F
31,98

P
0,000

Economic Analysis of Forced Aeration

An economic evaluation was performed to determine the impact of forced aeration on the economics of
leaching. Cell 801 is taken as example. Table 10 shows the capital and operating costs, and the benefit
expected from the heap aeration practice.
TABLE 10: Economic Analysis
CAPEX

COST ($)

ORE TONNAGE

BLOWER COST

2300

ORE GRADE:

VENT SLEEVE COST

6246

RECOVERY WITHOUT AERATION

24 ", 20.82 DOLARS/m.

VENT SLEEVE COST

RECOVERY WITH AERATION

17672

18 ", 22.09 DOLARS/m.

SUBTOTAL

26218

OPEX
2" AERATION PIPES COST

5760

2 ", 60 DOLARS/PIPE
BLOWING COST
INSTALLATION COST

285

0.653 %CuT
71 %
73 %

COPPER RECOVERED WITHOUT AERATION

2323 mt Cu

COPPER RECOVERED WITH AERATION

2388 mt Cu

PLUS IN COPPER

65 mt Cu

COPPER PRICE

0.74 $/p. Cu

OPEX UNTIL CATHODE

0.19 $/p. Cu

REDUCTION IN ACID CONSUMPTION

4774

501000 mt.

ACID

PRICE

1.0 kg/mt
38 $/mt

SAVING IN ACID

19038 US$

SUBTOTAL

10819

TOTAL GROSS BENEFIT

98375 US$

TOTAL

37037

TOTAL NET BENEFIT PER CELL

61337 US$

CONCLUSIONS
The main conclusions of this work are as follows:

Under de conditions tested, the increase in copper recovery obtained with the use of forced
aeration was 2 points of percent.

Hole diameters of 2 mm in the pipes result in better air injection than that observed with smaller
holes (1.59 mm).

The most appropriate type of aeration pipe tested was type NCA, having 2 mm hole diameter,
protecting ring, and flat internal wall.

Applying intermittent blowing or injecting humidified air can reduce plugging in aeration pipes.

For the 501.000 ton test cell used and under the conditions tested, there is an economic
advantage in using forced aeration

REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Robert W. Bartlett, "Solution Mining, Leaching and Flows Recovery Material", Second Edition, 1998.
Severe Palacios C., "Leach Engineering".
Eduardo Patio - Geoffrey Hansford, "Biolixiviacin, Modelamiento de Biopilas de Lixiviacin".
Metallurgy Area Sociedad Minera Cerro verde S.A.A., "Report of Metallurgical Evaluations.
MINITAB Release 13.