Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine

Wang, Zhentang; Yang, Baojun; Wang, Jun; Guo, Keqi; Zhang, Xin; Liao, Rui; Qiu, Guanzhou

doi:10.3390/min15090985

Open AccessArticle

Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine

by

Zhentang Wang

^1,2,3,

Baojun Yang

^1,2,

Jun Wang

^1,2,

Keqi Guo

^1,2,

Xin Zhang

^1,2,

Rui Liao

^1,2,* and

Guanzhou Qiu

^1,2

¹

School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

²

Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China

³

Wanbao Mining Limited, Beijing 100053, China

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Minerals 2025, 15(9), 985; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090985

Submission received: 13 July 2025 / Revised: 19 August 2025 / Accepted: 9 September 2025 / Published: 16 September 2025

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Theory and Technology of Biohydrometallurgy)

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Abstract

This paper presents a case study on heap bioleaching at the Monywa copper mine in Myanmar. Through mineralogical characterization and leaching tests, specific heap bioleaching technologies were developed and implemented at the mine. These technologies include acidification and start-up of heap bioleaching without external acid addition, ore classification with process optimization, and selective inhibition of pyrite oxidation for acid/iron balance during heap bioleaching. The optimized heap bioleaching technologies implemented at the Monywa copper mine have reduced both capital and operating costs. These advantages are specifically reflected in the use of multi-lift pads for both heap bioleaching and final residue storage, optimized processing based on ore characteristics, and the implementation of a solution closed cycle process without the need for additional acid or neutralization. These findings demonstrate a cost-effective approach to heap bioleaching and provide practical insights for operational optimization in similar copper mines.

Keywords: heap bioleaching; Monywa copper mine; acid and iron balance; pyrite

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MDPI and ACS Style

Wang, Z.; Yang, B.; Wang, J.; Guo, K.; Zhang, X.; Liao, R.; Qiu, G. Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine. Minerals 2025, 15, 985. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090985

AMA Style

Wang Z, Yang B, Wang J, Guo K, Zhang X, Liao R, Qiu G. Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine. Minerals. 2025; 15(9):985. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090985

Chicago/Turabian Style

Wang, Zhentang, Baojun Yang, Jun Wang, Keqi Guo, Xin Zhang, Rui Liao, and Guanzhou Qiu. 2025. "Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine" Minerals 15, no. 9: 985. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090985

APA Style

Wang, Z., Yang, B., Wang, J., Guo, K., Zhang, X., Liao, R., & Qiu, G. (2025). Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine. Minerals, 15(9), 985. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15090985

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Technology Development and Industrial Practice of Distinct Low-Cost Heap Bioleaching at Monywa Copper Mine

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