The present invention is directed to a system for recovering metal values from
metal-bearing materials. During a reactive process, a seeding agent is introduced
to provide a nucleation site for the crystallization and/or growth of solid species
which otherwise tend to passivate the reactive process or otherwise encapsulate
the metal value, thereby reducing the amount of desired metal values partially
or completely encapsulated by such material. The seeding agent may be generated
in a number of ways, including the recycling of residue or the introduction of
foreign substances. Systems embodying aspects of the present invention may be beneficial
for recovering a variety of metals such as copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt,
molybdenum, zinc, rhenium, uranium, rare earth metals, and platinum group metals
from any metal-bearing material, such as ores and concentrates.
