alternative methods of metal extraction

when is the extraction of metal ores economically viable?

when there are high enough proportions of the useful metal - like iron ores

so what is an ore?

when there is enough metal in the rock to be economical

what is the effect of the supply of copper diminishing?

we will need to extract copper from ores that are more low grade.

what is a low-grade copper ore?

they contain a small amount of copper, so extraction becomes less economical

what is phytomining?

plants are planted on land where the metal compound is located

they absorb the metal compound, and this concentrates in the plant tissue. the plants are then harvested and burned

the ash will have a relatively high amount of the needed metal compound

what is bioleaching?

bacteria are mixed with the low-grade ore

the bacteria cause a chemical reaction, creating a leachate

the leachate contains the desired metal compound

what is done to the metal compounds after bioleaching and phytomining?

the metal is extracted from the compound by using iron to displace copper

usually scrap iron is used which is cheap

what are the benefits of phytomining and bioleaching?

allows us to extract metals from low grade ores economically

methods don’t involve digging, transporting and disposing of large amounts of rock, so the environmental damage is much less in comparison to traditional mining