BACTERIAL LEACHING OF COPPER FROM LOW GRADE CHALCOPYRITE ORES

Abstract

A brief account is given of the observations on the occurrence of the species of Thiofiacillus in the shaft water near the mines at Ingaldhal (Karnataka Suite), its isolation, cultivation and utilization, on a laboratory scale, in leaching out copper from low grade chalcopyrite ore. In the experiment conducted, from 40 lbs of the ore containing O' 6 per cent copper, 18 granis of copper (Cu) was obtained. These and other observations indicate the possible utilization of this' find similiar organisms in the commercial production of copper from low grade chalcopyrite ores occurring in  large quantities in Karnataka State and· elsewhere.