Heap Leach Performance
Better Leach Performance Starts with Better Contact
Biosurfactant reagents designed to improve solution contact and recovery in heap systems
The LOCUS ADVANTAGE
Improved solution interaction with ore surfaces
Reduces channeling and improves leach kinetics
Evaluation alongside existing leach chemistry programs
Heap leach performance depends on consistent solution contact across ore surfaces. Locus Mining’s biosurfactant reagents improve wetting, spreading, and distribution, helping leach solutions reach more material and deliver more consistent heap leach performance and recovery under real operating conditions.
The Challenge
Why heap leach recovery is inconsistent
Heap leach systems are highly variable, with uneven solution distribution, channeling, and limited contact across ore surfaces. These challenges reduce recovery efficiency and make results difficult to predict across different ore types, mineralogy (e.g., copper or gold associations), lift heights, and operating conditions.
How biosurfactants improve heap leach performance
Locus Mining is evaluating glycolipid-based biosurfactants for heap leach applications. This evaluation-driven work focuses on circuits needing more consistent solution contact, operations seeking leach efficiency gains without equipment changes, and programs that prioritize measured trial outcomes over broad claims. Results remain dependent on ore characteristics, heap design, and operating conditions.
Improved Wetting
Chemistry designed to enhance solution contact with ore
Solution Distribution & Surface Interaction
Process compatibility
Evaluation alongside existing leach chemistry programs and solution management systems
Driving better ore contact and recovery
- Improved solution interaction with ore surfaces
- Potential improvements in leach efficiency depending on ore and operating conditions
- Disciplined trial framework with defined success metrics
- All outcomes remain site- and ore-dependent and require validation through testing.
Blogs & Press
Related Articles
See the chemistry in action, start an evaluation
Explore how Locus Mining’s biosurfactants can improve solution contact and leach efficiency at your site. Work with our team to design controlled trials and evaluate performance within your heap leach operations.