In order to meet increasing indium demands, (bio)hydrometallurgical winning of low-grade sources will likely be required. The goal of this work in the scope of the Biohydrometallurgical Centre Freiberg, was to use geochemical modelling to improve indium leaching and extraction efficiency. Indium stability constants and chemical conditions of process relevant solutions were required. Electrochemical methods were used to determine the stability constants of indium complexes with nitrate, chloride, sulfate, and hydroxide ions, as well as with electrowinning additives. High pressure liquid chromatography techniques were adapted to quantify polysulfides (Sx2–) and metal ions in leaching and extraction solutions. This cumulative information was used in geochemical modelling. Predominance, Pourbaix, and speciation diagrams were produced to describe and explain the behaviour of multiple components in various process relevant solutions. / Um den steigenden Bedarf an Indium zu decken, ist eine (bio-)hydrometallurgische Gewinnung von ‚low-grade sources‘ erforderlich. Ziel dieser Arbeit im Rahmen des Biohydrometallurgischen Zentrums Freiberg war es, durch geochemische Modellierung die Indium-Laugungs- und Extraktionseffizienz zu verbessern. Dazu wurden Indium-Stabilitätskonstanten und chemische Bedingungen prozessrelevanter Lösungen benötigt. Mit elektrochemischen Methoden wurden die Stabilitätskonstanten von Indiumkomplexen mit Nitrat-, Chlorid-, Sulfat- und Hydroxidionen sowie mit Elektrogewinnungsadditiven bestimmt. Hochdruck-Flüssigkeitschromatographieverfahren wurden zur Quantifizierung von Polysulfiden (Sx2–) und Metallionen in Laugungs- und Extraktionslösungen angepasst. Alle experimentell bestimmten Parameter wurden in der geochemischen Modellierung verwendet. Prädominanz-, Pourbaix- und Speziationsdiagramme wurden erstellt, um das Verhalten mehrerer Komponenten in verschiedenen prozessrelevanten Lösungen zu beschreiben und zu erklären.

Indium gilt als eines der strategischen Metalle für die Technologiebranche. Durch das schnelle Wachstum bei Flachbildschirmen aller Art besteht seit Jahren eine stark wachsende Nachfrage nach Indium. Es wurde ein neuartiger Ansatz der Biolaugung gewählt und innerhalb des BHMZ getestet, Die aus der Biolaugung resultierende Lösung enthielt vereinfacht 1 mg·L-1 Indium sowie jeweils 1 g·L-1 Zink und Eisen. Durch systematische Untersuchung von zahlreichen hydrometallurgischen Methoden zur Metallabtrennung wurde eine auf Flüssig-Flüssig-Extraktion basierte Methode entworfen und erprobt. Der Prozess ermöglicht eine Indiumanreicherung bis zum Indiumhydroxid in einer Reinheit von 99,99 %. Die Chemikalienkosten für diesen Prozess belaufen sich gegenwärtig, bezogen auf den Labormaßstab, auf 189,40 €·kg-1 Indium. Diese liegen unter dem aktuellen Marktpreis von Indium. Die bisherigen Ergebnisse belegen, dass in der Realisierung dieses Verfahrens im technischen Maßstab erhebliches wirtschaftliches Potential steckt.

These are the abstracts of the oral presentations of the 6th PhD conference held on 10. June 2022 in Freiberg.

This study focuses on the environmental impact assessment of trace elements concentrations in spent shale, which is the main residual besides gas and steam from the utilization of oil shale. The study area El-Lajjun covers 28 km2, located in the centre of Jordan approximately 110 km south of Amman. It belongs mainly to the Wadi Mujib catchment and is considered to be one of the most important catchments in Jordan. The Wadi El-Lajjun catchment area (370 km2) consists of two main aquifer systems: The intermediate aquifer (Amman Wadi As Sir Aquifer or B2/A7) and the deep sandstone aquifer (Kurnub/Ram Group Aquifer). The B2/A7 aquifer (Upper Cretaceous) is considered as the main source of fresh water in Jordan. El-Lajjun oil shale was deposited in a sedimentary basin and comprises massive beds of brown-black, kerogen-rich, bituminous chalky marl. The oil shale was deposited in shallow marine environment. It is by definition a sedimentary rock containing organic material in the rock matrix. The shale oil extraction is an industrial process to decompose oil shale and to convert the kerogen into shale oil by hydrogenation, pyrolysis or by a thermal dissolution. Several classifications of extraction technologies are known; the classification with respect to the location where the extraction takes place distinguishes between off-site, on-site, and in situ. The oil shale utilization may have serious repercussions on the surrounding environment if these issues are not investigated and evaluated carefully. Ten representative oil shale rock samples with a total weight about 20 kg were collected from different localities of oil shale exposures in the study area. A standardized laboratory Fischer Assay test was performed with the samples to determine oil shale characteristics and to obtain spent shale, which was used in this study for further investigations. Sequential extraction was used to evaluate the changes in the mobility and distribution of the trace elements: Ti, V Cr, Co, Zn, As Zr, Cd, Pb and U. Column leaching experiments were performed to simulate the leaching behavior of the above elements from oil shale and spent shale to evaluate the possible influence on the groundwater in the study area. The concentrations in the leachate were below the maximum contaminant levels of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drinking water and the Jordanian standards for drinking water. An immobilization method by using Kaolin was applied to reduce the mobilization and bioavailability of the trace elements fraction that are contained in the spent shale. Immobilization was evaluated as a function of liquid-solid ratio (solid-liquid partitioning) and as a function of pH. A comparison between the results obtained from column leaching experiments and the results that were obtained from immobilization for the oil shale and spent shale samples indicated that the immobilization reduced the mobility of the trace element except for Ti, V, and Cr. However, even the concentrations of these elements were lower than the maximum acceptable limits of the Jordanian Standard Specifications for waste water. The catchment of the study area (Wadi El-Lajjun catchment) is ungauged. Therefore, the soil conservation service (SCS) runoff curve number method was used for predicting direct runoff from rainfall. The results obtained showed that the infiltration of water is very small (approximately 0.6 cm/year) and rarely can´t reach the groundwater through the oil shale beds. Thus, a contamination of groundwater is unlikely under normal conditions. DRASTIC was used to assess groundwater vulnerability for the B2/A7 aquifer with respect to pollution by oil shale utilization. The aquifer vulnerability map shows that the area is divided into three zones: low (risk index 10-100; intermediate (risk index 101–140) and high groundwater vulnerability (risk index 141-200). The high risk areas are small and mainly located in the northeastern corner of the El-Lajjun graben, where the hydraulic conductivity is relatively high and rocks are highly fractured and faulted. The water table of the deep sandstone aquifer (Kurnub/Ram group) in the El-Lajjun area is relatively deep. At least two geological formations above the Kurnub aquifer are aquitards and protect the deep aquifer. However, the area is highly fractured and thus there is a certain possibility for contact with surface pollutants. Finally, further research with respect to trace elements including REE elements and isotopes in the intermediate and deep sandstone aquifers are highly recommended. Isotopic signatures will be very helpful to investigate to which extend hydraulic connections between the aquifers exist. Further and in particular mineralogical studies on the spent shale and the possibilities for industrial utilization are recommended because huge quantities of spent shale are expected. Because most oil shale extraction technologies especially the power generation require considerable amounts of water detailed studies on water supply for the oil shale treatment have to be performed.

This study focuses on the environmental impact assessment of trace elements concentrations in spent shale, which is the main residual besides gas and steam from the utilization of oil shale. The study area El-Lajjun covers 28 km2, located in the centre of Jordan approximately 110 km south of Amman. It belongs mainly to the Wadi Mujib catchment and is considered to be one of the most important catchments in Jordan. The Wadi El-Lajjun catchment area (370 km2) consists of two main aquifer systems: The intermediate aquifer (Amman Wadi As Sir Aquifer or B2/A7) and the deep sandstone aquifer (Kurnub/Ram Group Aquifer). The B2/A7 aquifer (Upper Cretaceous) is considered as the main source of fresh water in Jordan. El-Lajjun oil shale was deposited in a sedimentary basin and comprises massive beds of brown-black, kerogen-rich, bituminous chalky marl. The oil shale was deposited in shallow marine environment. It is by definition a sedimentary rock containing organic material in the rock matrix. The shale oil extraction is an industrial process to decompose oil shale and to convert the kerogen into shale oil by hydrogenation, pyrolysis or by a thermal dissolution. Several classifications of extraction technologies are known; the classification with respect to the location where the extraction takes place distinguishes between off-site, on-site, and in situ. The oil shale utilization may have serious repercussions on the surrounding environment if these issues are not investigated and evaluated carefully. Ten representative oil shale rock samples with a total weight about 20 kg were collected from different localities of oil shale exposures in the study area. A standardized laboratory Fischer Assay test was performed with the samples to determine oil shale characteristics and to obtain spent shale, which was used in this study for further investigations. Sequential extraction was used to evaluate the changes in the mobility and distribution of the trace elements: Ti, V Cr, Co, Zn, As Zr, Cd, Pb and U. Column leaching experiments were performed to simulate the leaching behavior of the above elements from oil shale and spent shale to evaluate the possible influence on the groundwater in the study area. The concentrations in the leachate were below the maximum contaminant levels of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drinking water and the Jordanian standards for drinking water. An immobilization method by using Kaolin was applied to reduce the mobilization and bioavailability of the trace elements fraction that are contained in the spent shale. Immobilization was evaluated as a function of liquid-solid ratio (solid-liquid partitioning) and as a function of pH. A comparison between the results obtained from column leaching experiments and the results that were obtained from immobilization for the oil shale and spent shale samples indicated that the immobilization reduced the mobility of the trace element except for Ti, V, and Cr. However, even the concentrations of these elements were lower than the maximum acceptable limits of the Jordanian Standard Specifications for waste water. The catchment of the study area (Wadi El-Lajjun catchment) is ungauged. Therefore, the soil conservation service (SCS) runoff curve number method was used for predicting direct runoff from rainfall. The results obtained showed that the infiltration of water is very small (approximately 0.6 cm/year) and rarely can´t reach the groundwater through the oil shale beds. Thus, a contamination of groundwater is unlikely under normal conditions. DRASTIC was used to assess groundwater vulnerability for the B2/A7 aquifer with respect to pollution by oil shale utilization. The aquifer vulnerability map shows that the area is divided into three zones: low (risk index 10-100; intermediate (risk index 101–140) and high groundwater vulnerability (risk index 141-200). The high risk areas are small and mainly located in the northeastern corner of the El-Lajjun graben, where the hydraulic conductivity is relatively high and rocks are highly fractured and faulted. The water table of the deep sandstone aquifer (Kurnub/Ram group) in the El-Lajjun area is relatively deep. At least two geological formations above the Kurnub aquifer are aquitards and protect the deep aquifer. However, the area is highly fractured and thus there is a certain possibility for contact with surface pollutants. Finally, further research with respect to trace elements including REE elements and isotopes in the intermediate and deep sandstone aquifers are highly recommended. Isotopic signatures will be very helpful to investigate to which extend hydraulic connections between the aquifers exist. Further and in particular mineralogical studies on the spent shale and the possibilities for industrial utilization are recommended because huge quantities of spent shale are expected. Because most oil shale extraction technologies especially the power generation require considerable amounts of water detailed studies on water supply for the oil shale treatment have to be performed.

Different aspects of interaction of metals other than iron with metallophore mixtures were elucidated. Metal chelation besides iron and greater than with pure desferrioxamine B is documented by enhanced performance of soil mineral dissolution following application of diverse metallophore mixtures. New insights from genome to product of metallophores from Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 under different cultivation conditions and under metal stress, particularly induced by rare earth elements are given. This evaluation led to increase by a factor of 13. Structure analyses showed that the strain produces citrate and different desferrioxamines. A robust RP-HPLC-based method quantified metal complexation. Further metal immobilization methods for metallophores for metal extraction from solutions with low concentrations were established. Moreover, catechol and hydroxamate metallophores from Arthrobacter oxydans ATW2 and Kocuria rosea ATW4 demonstrate the enhancement of Ge and rare earth element bioavailability, plant growth promotion and phytoextraction potential.:CONTENTS Abstract ..........................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction ......................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2 Mobilization of trace elements in soil extracts by bacterial siderophores in dependence of the pH-value..................................31 CHAPTER 3 Cultivation dependent formation of siderophores by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2........................................................................41 CHAPTER 4 Data on metal-chelating, -immobilization and biosorption properties by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 in dependency on rare earth adaptation.......................................................................................67 CHAPTER 5 Analysis of desferrioxamine-like siderophores and their capability to selectively bind metals and metalloids: development of a robust analytical RP-HPLC method. ..........................................................97 CHAPTER 6 Secondary metabolites released by the rhizosphere bacteria Arthrobacter oxydans and Kocuria rosea enhance plant availability and soil–plant transfer of germanium (Ge) and rare earth elements (REEs) .........................................................................................120 CHAPTER 7 Conclusion remarks and further perspectives ...............................154 References .......................................................................................................162 Acknowledgement .........................................................................................185 Curriculum Vitae ..........................................................................................187 List of publications ..........................................................................................189 List of oral and poster presentations ..........................................................190 List of proceedings ..........................................................................................191 / En este trabajo se han dilucidado diferentes aspectos de la interacción de los metales con las mezclas de metalóforos desde distintos ángulos. La quelación de metales por debajo del hierro se pone de manifiesto en la mejora del rendimiento de la disolución de los minerales del suelo debido a la aplicación de diversas mezclas de metanóforos en comparación con la deferoxamina B pura. Se ofrecen nuevos conocimientos desde el genoma hasta el producto de los metanóforos de Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 en diferentes condiciones de cultivo y bajo estrés por metales, especialmente inducido por elementos de tierras raras. Esta evaluación condujo a una sobreproducción de un factor de 13. El análisis estructural muestra que la cepa produce citrato y diferentes desferrioxaminas. Un método robusto basado en RP-HPLC cuantificó la complejación de metales. Se establecieron otros métodos de inmovilización de metales para la extracción de metales a partir de soluciones poco concentradas. Además, los metalóforos de catecol e hidroxamato de Arthrobacter oxydans ATW2 y Kocuria rosea ATW4 demuestran la mejora de la biodisponibilidad de GE y REE, la promoción del crecimiento vegetal y el potencial de fitoextracción.:CONTENTS Abstract ..........................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction ......................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2 Mobilization of trace elements in soil extracts by bacterial siderophores in dependence of the pH-value..................................31 CHAPTER 3 Cultivation dependent formation of siderophores by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2........................................................................41 CHAPTER 4 Data on metal-chelating, -immobilization and biosorption properties by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 in dependency on rare earth adaptation.......................................................................................67 CHAPTER 5 Analysis of desferrioxamine-like siderophores and their capability to selectively bind metals and metalloids: development of a robust analytical RP-HPLC method. ..........................................................97 CHAPTER 6 Secondary metabolites released by the rhizosphere bacteria Arthrobacter oxydans and Kocuria rosea enhance plant availability and soil–plant transfer of germanium (Ge) and rare earth elements (REEs) .........................................................................................120 CHAPTER 7 Conclusion remarks and further perspectives ...............................154 References .......................................................................................................162 Acknowledgement .........................................................................................185 Curriculum Vitae ..........................................................................................187 List of publications ..........................................................................................189 List of oral and poster presentations ..........................................................190 List of proceedings ..........................................................................................191 / Es wurden verschiedene Aspekte der Wechselwirkung von anderen Metallen als Eisen mit Metallophormischungen untersucht. Die Chelatbildung mit anderen Metallen als Eisen, die größer ist als bei reinem Desferrioxamin B, wird durch eine verbesserte Leistung bei der Auflösung von Bodenmineralien nach Anwendung verschiedener Metallophormischungen dokumentiert. Es werden neue Erkenntnisse vom Genom bis zum Produkt von Metallophoren aus Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 unter verschiedenen Anbaubedingungen und unter Metallstress, insbesondere induziert durch Seltene Erden, gegeben. Diese Auswertung führte zu einer Steigerung um den Faktor 13. Strukturanalysen zeigten, dass der Stamm Citrat und verschiedene Desferrioxamine produziert. Eine robuste RP-HPLC-basierte Methode quantifizierte die Metallkomplexierung. Weitere Methoden zur Metallimmobilisierung von Metallophoren für die Metallextraktion aus Lösungen mit niedrigen Konzentrationen wurden etabliert. Darüber hinaus zeigen Catechol- und Hydroxamat-Metallophore aus Arthrobacter oxydans ATW2 und Kocuria rosea ATW4 die Verbesserung der Bioverfügbarkeit von Ge und Seltenen Erden, die Förderung des Pflanzenwachstums und das Phytoextraktionspotenzial.:CONTENTS Abstract ..........................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 1 Introduction ......................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2 Mobilization of trace elements in soil extracts by bacterial siderophores in dependence of the pH-value..................................31 CHAPTER 3 Cultivation dependent formation of siderophores by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2........................................................................41 CHAPTER 4 Data on metal-chelating, -immobilization and biosorption properties by Gordonia rubripertincta CWB2 in dependency on rare earth adaptation.......................................................................................67 CHAPTER 5 Analysis of desferrioxamine-like siderophores and their capability to selectively bind metals and metalloids: development of a robust analytical RP-HPLC method. ..........................................................97 CHAPTER 6 Secondary metabolites released by the rhizosphere bacteria Arthrobacter oxydans and Kocuria rosea enhance plant availability and soil–plant transfer of germanium (Ge) and rare earth elements (REEs) .........................................................................................120 CHAPTER 7 Conclusion remarks and further perspectives ...............................154 References .......................................................................................................162 Acknowledgement .........................................................................................185 Curriculum Vitae ..........................................................................................187 List of publications ..........................................................................................189 List of oral and poster presentations ..........................................................190 List of proceedings ..........................................................................................191

Ionometallurgy is a new trend to utilise ionic liquids as alternative green solvents for oxidic and sulfidic copper minerals. It has broad potential for traditional pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Ionometallurgy utilises ionic liquids (ILs), highly potent complexing ligands (chloride), to process oxide and copper sulfide minerals. This work focused on using the deep eutectic solvents (DES) of ionic liquids, which and provide alternative options for processing various metals, alloys, and concentrates. For this job, various analytical methods were used to determine the copper concentrate and its residue after leaching (MLA-SEM and XRPD), quantify the elements in the solution (IC and ICP-OES/MS) and explain the oxidation behaviour (CV and UV-Vis spectroscopy). Combining the analytical and electrochemical methods to the leaching experiment provided the control to improve the results and understand its oxidation behaviour. Chosen DES, Oxaline (ChCl + oxalic acid, 1:1), and Ethaline (ChCl + ethylene glycol, 1:2) were tested and enhanced on the actual copper concentrates with and without oxidative additives (FeCl3 and I2). Those oxidative additives are selected for leaching experiments by their redox potential in Ethaline. However, there are many acceptable values; the most exciting result related to Ethaline plus iodine was the potential leaching system for chalcopyrite and copper-gold concentrates leaching. Because ion chromatography (IC) and UV-Vis’s analysis confirm iodine oxidizes the Cu+ species quickly in Ethaline. Whilst identical results and oxidation behaviour appeared in chalcocite (Cu2S), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and copper-gold concentrates leaching. During the iodine reduction to iodide in the system, IC proved that chalcopyrite releases the Fe3+, oxidizing the chalcopyrite particles. Also, iodine oxidized the natural gold in copper-gold concentrate successfully, and gold concentration quantified ICP-MS and MLA-SEM proved there is no visible gold in the leaching residue. Based on the optimal Ethaline + I2 leaching condition, the copper concentrate was carried out with the bottle roller leaching to represent the tank leaching. Thus, DES shows that it has a high potential to be continued to scale up the experiment. Also, water was given to the Ethaline leaching system, and water had a good influence on the leaching due to reducing the viscosity and saving the Ethaline amount. Hence Ethaline plus water is used for the copper ore leaching in the column, and it can be seen that Ethaline + I2 with water (up to 20%) has a high potential to process the low-grade copper sulfide ores.:Acknowledgements Abstract Abbreviations TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION OF COPPER PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES 1.1. Overview 1.2. Copper 1.3. Gold 1.4. Hydrometallurgy and pyrometallurgy of copper and gold 1.5. Current copper and gold concentrate processing methods 1.6. An alternative copper concentrate processing method Summary of chapter 1 CHAPTER TWO – FUNDAMENTALS FOR PROCESS DEVELOPING 2.1. Introduction 2.2. Effect of temperature and stirring in leaching 2.3. Analytical methods and experimental 2.4. Experimental for leaching 2.5. Discussion of experimental errors CHAPTER THREE: ANALYTICAL EXPERIMENTS FOR LEACHING 3.1. Introduction 3.2. Analysis of copper concentrate 3.3. Cyclic voltammetry 3.4. UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis of target metals 3.5. Metals solubility in DES 3.6. Summary and conclusions CHAPTER FOUR: FUNDAMENTAL LEACHING EXPERIMENT AND INITIAL INVESTIGATION 4.1. Introduction 4.2. Initial study and fundamental leaching experiments 4.3. Study of mineral oxidation 4.4. Deep eutectic solvents leaching 4.5. Chapter summary and conclusion CHAPTER FIVE: LEACHING OF MODEL SYSTEMS IN ETHALINE WITH OXIDATIVE ADDITIVES 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Iodine effect on Cu2S and CuS leaching in Ethaline 5.3. Ferric chloride effect on CuS and Cu2S leaching 5.4. Leaching of natural gold in Ethaline with the presence of iodine 5.5. Cyclic voltammetry investigation of Cu+/2+ sulfides in DES 5.6. Chapter summary and conclusion CHAPTER SIX: LEACHING OF COPPER-GOLD CONCENTRATES IN DES AND WITH OXIDATIVE ADDITIVES 6.1. Introduction 6.2. Effect of ferric chloride (FeCl3) 6.3. Effect of iodine (I2) 6.4. Electrochemical and spectroscopic analysis of copper-gold concentrate leachates 6.6. Chapter summary and conclusion CHAPTER SEVEN: OVERALL CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK 7.1. Overall conclusions 7.2. Recommendations for future research CHAPTER EIGHT: APPENDIX 8.1. Chemicals and materials 8.2. Appendix References

These are the abstracts of the presentations of the 7th PhD conference held on 9 June 2023 in Freiberg.

These are the abstracts of the oral presentations of the 8th PhD conference held on 7 June 2024 in Freiberg.

The aim of the EU BIOMOre Project is to investigate the potential to extract copper from Sandstone formations in the North-Sudetic Trough which lies along the border between Poland and Germany. A new mining concept called bioleaching shall be applied in thin and very low permeable copper mineralization zones (order of 0.2 mD). Briefly, bioleaching process is the injection of a lixiviant (sulphur acid containing ferric iron) and then extraction of a pregnant leach solution through boreholes at the ground surface. This concept requires another special technique which is called hydraulic stimulation. Cracks along a wellbore are generated by pumping large quantity of fluid under high pressure into a cased section of rock during a hydraulic stimulation. This work at hand focuses on the geotechnical methods and scientific-engineering approaches used for extracting copper from very thin mineralization zones. The geological setting with faults and in situ stress state of the exploration zone is generated using measurements, visualised by 3D CAD model (RHINO), and computed via the Discrete Element code 3DEC. The preliminary drilling (stacked dual lateral wellbore) and stimulation design (plug-and-perf completion) are selected based on comprehensive literature survey and industry-based consultancy. In order to calibrate the calculated stress state in 3D, candidate sites for the hypothetical drilling-stimulation are detected using 2D GIS map (QGIS) at CAD model (RHINO). Trend of calculated stresses is in good agreement with the measured ones (σH > σv > σh). The final decision of selecting a drilling-stimulation site is made by using both GIS map and 3D CAD model. A hypothetical drilling-stimulation can be performed up to the depth of 1564 m in the Rotliegend & Grauliegend Sandstone with shale, which is overlain by (Zechstein) Limestone. During a possible stimulation, limestone’s integrity as a caprock and as a stress barrier is of great importance in addition to connect two lateral wellbores for facilitating flow of lixiviant. The preliminary geometrical design of stimulation is set with the cluster spacing (distance between fractures) of 20 m. Subsequent to final cost estimation of selected preliminary drilling-stimulation design, it is decided to use pinpoint (1,200,000 Euro) instead of plug-and-perf completion (2,345,300 Euro) since it is more economical. A possible drilling operation is anticipated to cost approximately 9,000,000 Euro. The 3D in situ stress model is calibrated before transferring of stress state into the sub-model which is used to optimise the selected stimulation design. The results of the last (DEM) sub-model are employed to reduce costs, to enhance the connection between branches of wellbores for bioleaching and to hinder possible penetration of fractures into the caprock. The preliminary geometrical design of stimulation is then modified based on these calculation results while increasing the cluster spacing from 20 m to 40 m. This is performed due to high stress-shadows (alteration of the stresses between fractures in a stimulation) encountered at the preliminary calculations. Results showed that, after the 80 seconds injection duration of water with 0.16 m3/sec into the sandstone, two wellbore laterals are expected to be connected by three generated cracks. They exhibit average aperture and transmissivity of 4.1 mm and 5.8 . 10-8 m2/sec, respectively. Furthermore, fracture initiation pressure ranges between 30 – 35 MPa at the drilling depth. The conclusions can be drawn that through the assessment of 3D CAD, GIS, and numerical DEM modelling methods, approximately 49% of cost reduction can be achieved by employing pinpoint instead of plug-and-perf completion. That is an important proof of the systematically approach for a stimulation planning wherein all necessary phases such as in situ stress estimation, modelling and cost assessment should have been considered. This work can be considered as a milestone for studies of stimulation designs which has been newly initiated in the EU-Region as a promising method for efficiency considering unconventional ore extraction. Moreover, this dissertation revealed again the emerging importance of integrated geotechnical information systems analogous to BIM (Building Information Systems).:LIST OF FIGURES LIST OF TABLES NOMENCLATURE ABSTRACT ZUSAMMENFASSUNG ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1. OUTLINE AND OBJECTIVE OF THE DISSERTATION 2. STATE OF THE ART 2.1. INTRODUCTION TO STIMULATION TECHNOLOGIES, EQUIPMENT AND DESIGNS 2.1.1. Technical instruments and frac-materials 2.1.2. Wellbore completion designs 2.1.3. Location and orientation of a wellbore 2.1.4. Fracture placement designs 2.1.5. Summary and conclusions 2.2. MEASUREMENT AND MODELLING OF UNDERGROUND STRESS FIELD 3. DETERMINATION AND MODELLING OF IN SITU STRESS FIELD IN THE NORTH SUDETIC TROUGH 3.1. GEOLOGICAL SETTING OF THE MODELLED REGION 3.2. SIMULATION OF THE IN SITU STRESS FIELD 3.2.1. Determination of the stress regime by measurements 3.2.2. Stepwise procedure of the stress field modelling 3D CAD assisted structural model of geological setting 3D DEM model for stress field simulations 2D GIS maps used for detection of drilling-stimulation sites 4. DRILLING AND WELLBORE DESIGN CALCULATIONS WITH COST ESTIMATION 4.1. DESIGN CALCULATIONS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS OF DRILLING AND WELLBORE 4.2. ECONOMICAL EVALUATION OF THE SELECTED DRILLING AND WELLBORE DESIGN 5. MODELLING OF THE HYDRAULIC STIMULATION AT THE SELECTED DRILLING SITE IN SANDSTONE 5.1. FINAL CALIBRATION OF THE 3D STRESS FIELD MODELS 5.2. DISCRETE ELEMENT MODELLING OF THE STIMULATION DESIGN AT THE SELECTED DRILLING SITE 5.3. DESIGN OPTIMIZATION STUDY OF THE STIMULATION MODEL AND FINAL COST ESTIMATION 6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS REFERENCES APPENDIX-A APPENDIX-B APPENDIX-C