a method for recovering base metal values from oxide ore is provided , where the ore includes a first group metal selected from iron , magnesium and aluminum and a second group metal selected from nickel , cobalt and copper . the method includes reducing ore particle size to suit the latter unit operations , favoring contact of the metal elements , contacting the ore with ferric or ferrous chloride , hydrated or anhydrous , to produce a mix of ore and iron chloride , subjecting the mixture of the ore and ferric or ferrous chloride to enough energy to decompose the chlorides into hydrochloric acid and a iron oxide , contacting the readily - formed hydrochloric acid with the base metal oxides from the second group , forming their respective chlorides , selectively dissolve the produced base metal chlorides , leaving the metals as oxides and in the solid state , and recovering the dissolved base metal values from aqueous solution .