Abstract:　Agglomeration　of　fine　particles　to　produce　agglomerates　with　desired　properties　(e.g.,　size　distribution,　internal　pores,　and　stability)　is　a　critically　important　precursor　to　heap　leaching.　In　this　work,　the　effect　of　the　properties　of　agglomerates　prepared　by　geopolymerization　on　column　bioleaching　was　investigated.　The　agglomerates　were　prepared　with　different　metakaolin　addition　and　alkali　activator　composition.　Reducing　the　metakaolin　addition　and　increasing　the　sodium　silicate　content　in　the　alkali　activator　was　beneficial　to　increasing　agglomerate　size.　With　the　increase　of　agglomerate　size,　size　distribution　uniformity　also　improved.　NMR　analysis　showed　that　agglomerates　prepared　with　minor　metakaolin　addition　and　alkali　activator　composed　of　fewer　Na2SiO3　had　more　and　larger　pores.　Column　bioleaching　experiments　showed　that　the　agglomerates　with　more　and　larger　pores　had　lower　permeability　and　higher　copper　extraction.　For　more　efficient　leaching,　the　added　alkali　activator　did　not　need　to　contain　NaOH.　This　study’s　results　can　guide　the　agglomeration　operation　based　on　geopolymerization　to　prepare　agglomerates　that　better　meet　the　requirements　of　heap　leaching.　©　2022,　Allerton　Press,　Inc.