Hi Tinhat, my understanding is, assuming it is an oxide ore...

Hi Tinhat, my understanding is, assuming it is an oxide ore body, most of Cu + Zn and some of the Ni + Co (depending on mineral type and oxidation state) will leach into the PLS. Au/Ag stay behind and assume no value for heap leach approach unless they plan on cyanide or glycine leaching the exhausted heap down the road.

The Cu gets taken out of PLS with SX very easily, leaving behind Zn/Ni/Co. You can then recover Ni and Co with a second SX step, strip the Ni+Co and simply precipitate to Ni+Co mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) which is getting 80-85% payables on Ni/Co LME in the current market environment. Probably worth taking the Ni/Co as the capex and complexity is not that significant. Could also use ion exchange if the Ni/Co concentration is low in the PLS so there are options.

Zn probably not worth chasing and will just get dumped out with the other leached gangue in the bleed treatment step.

Definitely a nice little polymetallic ore body for heap leaching.