194 Figure 6 – IPR simulation results showing copper recovery at different feed Fe3+ concentration (CFe3+) with: (a) irrigation rate=4 L/m2/h; (b) with irrigation rate=8 L/m2/h; (c) with irrigation rate=16 L/m2/h; and (d) time for each case to reach 50% copper recovery. 4. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK In this work, we present a multiphysics modelling approach for In-Place Recovery (IPR) of copper from low-grade and hard-rock deposits by coupling the simulations of unsaturated fluid flow, lixiviant transport, and minerals dissolution. The model’s capability in simulating the IPR leaching operation is demonstrated by a case study with model inputs, such as mineral type, grade, and kinetic parameters, obtained from lab tests of ore samples collected from the Prominent Hill Mine, Australia. The model provides a physics-based assessment of IPR performance at the stope scale, and the resulting recovery curves can be directly incorporated into process-level production models for operational planning and scheduling. Although the modelling approach is initially developed for IPR, it can also be applied to other percolation leaching, such as heap leaching and dump leaching, when property heterogeneity is strong and ore fragments have a wide size range. Future work will focus on updating key model parameters, particularly permeability, as new results from the large‑scale column tests become available, and the model will ultimately be validated against small‑scale field trials using water and tracer tests. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The authors would like to acknowledge the support from the Australian Government through a Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grant. We also thank the BHP Think and Act Differently (TAD) Team for their ongoing support.
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