Alexander Mining plc-First 'HyperLeach(R)' Patent Granted in Australia for a Method of Oxidative Leaching of Sulfide Ores and...

Alexander Mining plc (TSX VENTURE:AXD)(AIM:AXM) ('Alexander' or the 'Company') -  

Alexander is pleased to report that it has received notification that its
MetaLeach Limited ("MetaLeach") subsidiary has been granted a patent for a
Method of Oxidative Leaching of Sulfide Ores and/or Concentrates in Australia,
patent number 2010251875. This is the core patent for MetaLeach's HyperLeach(R)
technology and has a standard term of twenty years from the effective date of 26
May 2010 (being the date of original filing). 


The patent describes a method for leaching one or more target metals from a
sulphide ore and/or concentrate containing such, the method comprising the steps
of: 




a.  Exposing the ore and/or concentrate to an aqueous solution of chlorine-
    based oxidising species in which the hypochlorous acid comprises at
    least 10 mol% of the chlorine-based oxidising species; 
    
b.  Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the target metals by the
    hypochlorous acid, thereby decreasing the pH such that the predominant
    chlorine-based oxidising species becomes chlorine; 
    
c.  Allowing and/or facilitating the oxidation of the target metals by the
    chlorine; 
    
d.  Allowing and/or facilitating the dissolution of the target metals by the
    solution species formed during the oxidation by hypochlorous acid and/or
    chlorine; and 
    
e.  Passing the pregnant solution produced thereby to a means for metal
    recovery. 



Martin Rosser, Chief Executive Officer, said: "The granting of our first
HyperLeach(R) patent is a notable achievement. The technology described in the
patent has the potential application for converting sulphide concentrates, the
source of the majority of the world's base metals production and resources,
through to metal at the mine site. This would eliminate associated expensive
concentrate transport costs and replace smelting and roasting, which would in
turn remove the associated environmental problems. It also opens up the
possibility of heap leaching some sulphide ores, notably chalcopyrite, the main
copper ore." 


HyperLeach(R) process 

MetaLeach's HyperLeach(R) process, although less advanced in its
commercialisation than AmmLeach(R), has very significant potential for
application. HyperLeach(R) is a hydrometallurgical process which has been
developed by MetaLeach for the extraction of metals, especially copper, zinc,
nickel, cobalt, molybdenum and rhenium from sulphide ore deposits and
concentrates. The process utilises chlorine based chemistry to solubilise metals
from ores under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The HyperLeach(R)
process can be operated as either heap leach or tank leach. 


Currently nearly all base metal sulphide ores are processed and concentrated
on-site using froth flotation before being shipped off site to a smelter and
refinery for further processing. The costs involved in selling an ore
concentrate include road transport, shipping, smelter and refinery charges and
can include penalty costs imposed by the smelter, which are deducted from the
payable metal in the concentrate supplied. In addition, in many situations mine
owners may not be paid for valuable metal by-products contained in the
concentrate. Taken altogether, these charges and costs can amount to up to 40%
of value of the metal produced from a mine. 


There is considerable scope to do more on-site processing to value add using
hydrometallurgy to generate higher returns for mine owners and to make
uneconomic ore bodies economic. Although the HyperLeach(R) process was initially
developed to treat directly low grade ores to produce high value metal products
on-site at competitive operating costs and relatively low capital costs, the
process could also be successfully applied to a wide range of concentrates and
mattes. 


One of the key benefits of the HyperLeach(R) process is that, unlike some new
technologies, it requires no special purpose built equipment, only the addition
of an appropriate leaching circuit or leach pads and collection ponds. Unlike
previous chlorine based processes, HyperLeach(R) does not require chlorine gas
to operate, the oxidant can be generated on-site via industry standard
chlor-alkali technology. If a low-cost source of chlorine gas is available, then
the oxidant can be generated from this. A key feature of the HyperLeach(R)
process is that it operates at ambient temperatures and pressure and is
eminently suitable for heap leaching.  


The HyperLeach(R) process is extremely rapid, with flotation concentrates being
leached within minutes. The resultant solution is readily processed using
conventional solution techniques, including solvent extraction. The rapidity of
reaction and selectivity for sulphides makes HyperLeach(R) an excellent
technology for heap leaching of base metal sulphide ores which are too low grade
to treat using the conventional grind, float and smelt processes.  


The current copper commodity market is primarily supplied by treating
chalcopyrite ores typically grading greater than 0.8% copper by the conventional
process. There are few unexploited world class ore bodies with greater than 0.8%
copper head grades and the next generation of mines will be closer to 0.6%. This
head grade is likely to be uneconomic using the conventional process due to
increasing power costs, unless the price of copper increases significantly. Over
the past twenty years all major companies have tried to develop low cost
hydrometallurgical processes for such chalcopyrite ores, notably for heap
leaching. Thus far, none seem to have been put into production. HyperLeach(R)
has excellent prospects for being a breakthrough technology in chalcopyrite heap
leaching.  


In addition to chalcopyrite, HyperLeach(R) has been shown to be effective for
treating nickel ores, concentrate and mattes; treating molybdenite ores,
concentrates and flotation tailings; removing zinc from lead concentrates;
reducing arsenic in copper flotation concentrates and removing impurities from
copper concentrates. 


HyperLeach(R) can also be used as a pre-treatment for MetaLeach's AmmLeach(R)
technology to provide synergism between the processes. HyperLeach(R) solubilises
and mobilises target metals from sulphides with AmmLeach(R) leaching the target
metals selectively. This combination allows processing of a whole ore body from
the oxide cap through the transition zone to the sulphide basement using the
same plant by moving from AmmLeach(R) to HyperLeach(R) as the ore body is mined.


Forward Looking Statements 

This news release may contain forward looking statements, being statements which
are not historical facts, including, without limitation, statements regarding
potential mineralization, exploration results, resource or reserve estimates,
anticipated production or results, sales, revenues, costs, "best-efforts"
financings or discussions of future plans and objectives. There can be no
assurance that such statements will prove accurate. Such statements are
necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that are subject to
numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and future
events to differ materially from those anticipated or projected. Important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's
expectations are in Company documents filed from time to time with the TSX
Venture Exchange and provincial securities regulators, most of which are
available at www.sedar.com. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to
revise or update such statements unless required by law. 


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: 
Alexander Mining plc
Martin Rosser
Chief Executive Officer
Mobile: + 44 (0) 7770 865 341


Alexander Mining plc
Matt Sutcliffe
Executive Chairman
Mobile: [phone]


Alexander Mining plc
1st Floor, 35 Piccadilly
London, W1J 0DW
[phone]
[phone] (FAX)
[e-mail]
www.alexandermining.com


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