In situ leach

In-situ leaching (ISL), also called in-situ recovery (ISR) or solution mining, is a <a href="/facts/Mining/g6uDIFab">mining</a> process used to recover minerals such as <a href="/facts/Copper/I8PEE8oX">copper</a> and <a href="/facts/Uranium/n2sGWBzU">uranium</a> through boreholes drilled into a deposit, <a href="/facts/In_situ/YolKlaCC">in situ</a>. In-situ leach works by artificially <a href="/facts/Solvation/JVM6j8R1">dissolving</a> minerals occurring naturally in the <a href="/facts/Solid/hj5UsXno">solid</a> state.
The process initially involves the drilling of <a href="/facts/Borehole/3d6xu8E5">boreholes</a> into the <a href="/facts/Ore_deposit/kgc9DssX">ore deposit</a>. Explosive or <a href="/facts/Hydraulic_fracturing/cCTzfwkg">hydraulic fracturing</a> can be used to create open pathways in the deposit for the solution to penetrate. Leaching solution is pumped into the deposit where it comes in contact with the ore. The solution bearing the dissolved ore content is then pumped to the surface and processed. This process allows the extraction of metals and salts from an <a href="/facts/Ore/kgc9DssX">ore</a> body without the need for conventional mining involving <a href="/facts/Drilling_and_blasting/lh38AsAB">drill-and-blast</a>, <a href="/facts/Cut_(earthworks)/TVrtluPN">open-cut</a> or <a href="/facts/Sub-surface_mining/g6uDIFab">underground mining</a>.

In situ leach open-in-new

In situ leach