Copper market’s biggest whale fuels speculation of a major shift
The world’s single biggest buyer of copper, State Grid Corp. of China, has slowed its purchases of copper wire this year.
Alexander Mining has received notification from the Commissioner of Patents in Australia that its MetaLeach subsidiary has been granted a Standard Patent for a Method for Leaching of a Copper-containing Ore, patent number 2011200703 (this is derived from the Australian national phase entry from the corresponding PCT/AU2008/001027 application). The patent has a standard term of 20 years from the effective date of 11 July 2008 (being date of filing). The patent covers the leaching of copper from a copper-containing ore using the method steps of curing the ore using a curing agent to produce a cured ore which is leached at atmospheric pressure through the application of an ammonium carbonate solution containing free ammonia. The pregnant leach solution thus produced is passed onto a means for metals recovery.
Martin Rosser, Chief Executive Officer, said: “The grant of a patent in Australia for a Method for Leaching of a Copper-containing Ore is a significant milestone in the protection of the company’s AmmLeach® intellectual property. It is particularly noteworthy given Australia’s robust patenting regime and status as having one of the world’s biggest mining industries, and with significant potential for our AmmLeach technology. The new patent is core to our portfolio of patents and patent applications designed to protect the company’s development of unique intellectual property and inventions.”
