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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
The Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Concentrates
David Dreisinger
University of British ColumbiaVancouver, Canada
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Copper Ore/Concentrate Treatment
Focus on Sulfate Processes
Variety of Process Options Available
Key Factors Copper Leach Extraction
Iron Precipitation
Precious Metal Recovery Sulfur Deportment
Cost!
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Process Options
Copper Leaching Issues;
Copper leaching controlled by copper
mineral leach kinetics Chalcopyrite passivates under mild
conditions
Liquid sulfur wets unreacted minerals andstops leaching
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Chalcopyrite Passivation
Eh pH Diagram Shows Many Phases
between CuFeS2 (solid) and
CuSO4(aqueous)Chalcopyrite Passivates by an Iron-
Deficient Copper Sulfide (CuSn) in
Sulfate Based Leaching Processes
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Cu-Fe-S-H2O Diagram
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Strategies for Avoiding Passivation
Leach at potential/pH that avoids passivation.
Add silver to avoid copper polysulfide (tooexpensive)
Fine grind to P80 of less than 10 m (mineralleaches before passivation)
Use high temperature (+200 C) or aggressiveconditions (transpassive)
Add nitrogen species to catalyze oxidationand overcome passivation
Use chloride instead of sulfate
Use bacteria (thermophiles) that avoid
passivation
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
PROCESS TEMP PRESSURE P80 Special S Yield
(C) (ATM) (m) (%)
ACTIVOX 110 12 7 70
ALBION 85 1 7 50
ANGLO-UBC 150 12 7 SURFACTANTS 70BIOLEACH 45 1 7 MESOPHILES 0
BIOCOP 85 1 37 THERMOPHILES 0
CESL 150 12 37 12 g/L Cl 90
DYNATEC 150 12 37 COAL + RECYCLE 60
GALVANOX 85 1 37 VARIOUS 95
MT GORDON 90 8 100 CHALCOCITE
PLATSOL 225 30 15 10 g/L NaCl 0
SEPON-ATM 85 1 100 CHALCOCITE
SEPON-AC 225 30 100 PYRITE 0TOTAL POX 225 30 40 0
SULFATE PROCESS OPTIONS FOR CHALCOPYRITE LEACHING
WITH TYPICAL PARAMETERS
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Chloride Based Processes
Chloride Leaching Under Atmospheric T and PConditionsAvoid Passivation
INTEC Copper Process Chloride Leach for Copper, Purification, Direct Electrowinning of
Copper as Dendrites
Hydrocopper Process (Outokumpu) Chloride Leach for Copper, Purification, Precipitation of Copper
(I) Hydroxide, Reduction of Hydroxide to Metal
Sumitomo Copper Chloride Process Chloride Leach of Cu/Fe, Cu SX with TBP, EW from Chloride,
Purification and EW of Fe
Nitrogen Species Catalyzed Processes
Nitrogen species (nitrate/nitrite) are catalysts for
oxidation of sulfur/sulfides and can be used to overcomepassivation.
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Chalcopyrite Oxidation and Sulfur
Elemental Sulfur Reaction Product
4CuFeS2 + 5O2(g) + 10H2SO4 =
4CuSO4 + 2Fe2(SO4)3 + 10H2O + 20S
(0.63 t O2/t Cu leached)
Sulfate Sulfur Reaction Product4CuFeS2 + 15O2(g) + 2H2O =
4CuSO4 + 2Fe2(SO4)3 + 2H2SO4
(1.89 t O2/t Cu leached)
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Sulfur Chemistry
Sulfur is formed from sulfide minerals
during leaching
Three temperature regimes
Low T: < 119.3 C SOLID (S8)
Medium T: 119.3 C to 159 C LIQUID
(S8)
High T: +159 C LIQUID/POLYMER (Sn)
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
LOW T Leaching
Elemental sulfur forms porous product
layer
Kinetics can be slow due to diffusionthrough sulfur product layer
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Medium Temperature Leaching
Molten sulfur is dispersed by addition of
a sulfur dispersant/surface active agent
Lignin sulfonate and Quebracho are twocommon agents.
Sulfide mineral becomes sulfophobic
and hydrophilic
Sulfur liquid droplets are dispersed
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Apparatus for interfacial measurement
Lightsource
Lens Sapphirewindow
Adjustableholder
Opticalglass cell
Glass tip
Thermowell
Screw-drivesyringe
Plunger
Stainless steel bomb
Gas inlet
Pressure gauge
Outlet for gas bleeding
Sapphirewindow
Lens LensDigitalcamera
Adjustable holder
Mineralsample
Opticalglass cell
Glass tip
Liquor
sulfur
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Surfactant-free
0.05 g/L lignin sulfonate 0.1 g/L lignin sulfonate
0.05 g/L Quebracho
0.5 g/L lignin sulfonate
0.1 g/L Quebracho 0.5 g/L Quebracho
Sulfur Droplets in Acid Solution (150 C)
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Concentration / g L-1 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Lignin sulfonate / mN m-1 55 43 35 31 29 29 29
Quebracho / mN m-1 55 45 38 37 37 37 37
Calculated Sulfur/Aqueous
Interfacial Tensions (SA)
C t D l t i th H d t ll i l
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
0.05 g/L lignin sulofnate 0.1 g/L lignin sulofnate 0.5 g/L lignin sulofnate
0.05 g/L Quebracho 0.1 g/L Quebracho 0.5 g/L Quebracho
Surfactant-free
Sulfur Droplets in Acid Solution on
Chalcopyrite Mineral Surface (150 C)
C t D l t i th H d t ll i l
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Concentration / g L-1
0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Lignin sulfonate / 76 142 152 155 156 157 158
Quebracho / 76 155 157 158 159 160 161
Contact Angles ()
Wa = SA(1+cos())
Concentration / g L -1 0 0.05 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5
Lignin sulfonate / mJm-2
68.3 9.1 4.1 2.9 2.5 2.3 1.9
Quebracho / mJ m-2
68.3 4.3 3.0 2.7 2.4 2.2 2.0
Work of Adhesion (Wa)
C t D l t i th H d t ll i l
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Iron Precipitation
Dissolved iron will be oxidized andprecipitated as ferric hydroxide (undesirable),
jarosite, goethite or hematite
Goethite forms at less than 140 C withhematite forming above 140 C
Jarosite can form over wide temperaturerange
Basic ferric sulfate processes (Sepon)precipitate iron at high free acid and high T(220 C). Iron forms basic ferric sulfateswhich then re-dissolve at atmospheric T+P.
C t D l t i th H d t ll i l
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Precious Metal Recovery
Au may be recovered by cyanidation of copper leachresidues.
However if S present then form SCN and increase
the cost of Au recovery.Ag often forms Ag-jarosite under copper leaching
conditions. May have to use lime boil to decomposeAg-jarosite prior to cyanidation.
Alternative strategy to use other reagents (eg. S2O3
2-
,SCN- or Cl-/Br-)
PGM Recoveries difficult from residues but possibledirectly (PLATSOL)
C t D l t i th H d t ll i l
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
S Deportment and Impurities
S oxidation forms sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid may be a by-product as a weak
sulfuric acid solution (economic credit)Sulfuric acid neutralization consumes
limestone or lime (expense).
Impurities are generally removed by
oxidation/pH adjustment as part of the leach
or iron residue.
C rrent De elopments in the H drometall rgical
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Process Examples
GALVANOX
Anglo American Corporation/University
of British Columbia Process
PLATSOL
SEPON Copper Process
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
GALVANOX
Process developed by David Dixon and
Alain Tshilombo of University of British
ColumbiaAtmospheric leaching of chalcopyrite
concentrates under mild, galvanic
conditions to avoid passivationFollowing slides from David Dixon
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Atmospheric Leach (~80 C)
No microbes
Pure sulphate medium (no chloride)
No fine grinding
Generates elemental sulfur (> 95%), low oxygen demand
No surfactants
Selective for chalcopyrite over pyrite (can cost-effectively treat low
grade concentrates down to 9% copper or less) Complete copper recovery, typically in less than 12 hours, and
sometimes in as little as 4 hours
Fully compatible with conventional SX-EW
Conventional materials of construction
GALVANOX FEATURES
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
GALVANOX takes advantage of the galvanic effect between
chalcopyrite and pyrite.
Chalcopyrite is a semiconductor, and therefore corrodes
electrochemically in oxidizing solutions.
In ferric sulphate media, the overall leaching reaction is as follows:
CuFeS2 + 2 Fe2(SO4)3 CuSO4 + 5 FeSO4 + 2 S0
This reaction may be represented as a combination of anodic and
cathodic half-cell reactions:
Anodic: CuFeS2 Cu2+ + Fe2+ + 2 S0 + 4 e
Cathodic: 4 Fe3+ + 4 e 4 Fe2+
GALVANOX CHEMISTRY
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
UNASSISTED CHALCOPYRITE LEACHING
Cu2+
Fe2+
4 Fe3+
4 Fe2+
So
4 e-
CuFeS2
Anodic Site Cathodic Site
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
UNASSISTED CHALCOPYRITE LEACHING
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Typically, chalcopyrite surfaces are passivated (i.e., they
become resistant to electrochemical breakdown) in ferric sulfate
solutions at even modest solution potential levels.
It is widely held that this results from the formation of some sortof passivating film on the mineral surface that most likely
consists of an altered, partially Fe-depleted sulfide layer.
Because of this, most investigators have assumed that it is the
anodic half-cell reaction that limits the overall rate of leaching.
However, we discovered that it is primarily the cathodic half-cell
reaction (i.e., ferric reduction) that is slow on the chalcopyrite
surface.
GALVANOX CHEMISTRY
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
The presence of pyrite facilitates chalcopyrite leaching by
providing an alternative catalytic surface for ferric reduction in
electrical contact with the chalcopyrite
This essentially eliminates cathodic passivation of chalcopyrite inferric sulfate solutions.
Also, by ensuring that chalcopyrite oxidation is rapid relative to
ferrous oxidation, the solution potential is maintained at a level
low enough to prevent anodic passivation of the chalcopyrite
This also prevents anodic breakdown of the pyrite, which
remains more or less completely inert.
GALVANOX CHEMISTRY
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
GALVANICALLY-ASSISTED
CHALCOPYRITE LEACHING
Cu2+
Fe2+
So
Py
Py
Cp
4 e-4 e-
4 Fe3+
4 Fe2+
Anodic SiteCathodic Site
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
GALVANICALLY-ASSISTED
CHALCOPYRITE LEACHING
Partially leached particle Completely leached particles
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
The ferric required for GALVANOX leaching is regenerated in situ with
oxygen gas
Ferric leaching of chalcopyrite:
CuFeS2 + 2 Fe2(SO4)3 CuSO4 + 5 FeSO4 + 2 S0
Oxidation of ferrous with dissolved oxygen gas:
4 FeSO4 + O2 + 2 H2SO4 2 Fe2(SO4)3 + 2 H2O
Overall leaching reaction:
CuFeS2 + O2 + 2 H2SO4 CuSO4 + FeSO4 + 2 S0 + 2 H2O
GALVANOX CHEMISTRY
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
CHALCOPYRITE CONCENTRATE 35% Cu
Effect of pyrite addition (50 g con, 65 g acid, 470 mV, 80 C)
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time (h)
CuRecovery
Py = 150 g (K5)
Py = 100 g (K9)
Py = 50 g (K6)
Py = 25 g (K10)
Py = 0 g (K1)
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0 4 8 12 16 20 24
Time (h)
CuRecovery
Galvanox Leaching
No Pyrite
CHALCOPYRITE CONC 2 23.6% Cu
Effect of pyrite addition (30 g con, 120 g Py, 30 g acid, 480 mV, 80 C)
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
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Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Stage Operating
Hours
Minimum Cu
Recovery (%)
Maximum Cu
recovery (%)
Average Cu
Recovery (%)
Plant Setup 0 -125 56.8 93.4 82.1
100% Recycle40 hrs
residence time
125-325 92.7 97.1 95.3
100% Recycle
20 hrs
residence time
325-405 88.4 95.4 91.6
200% Recycle20 hrs
residence time
405-464 96.6 97.9 97.3
Entire run
excluding plant
setup
125-464 88.4 97.9 94.6
CONTINUOUS PILOT PLANT RESULTS
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p y g
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Anglo American Corporation/University of
British Columbia Process
Chalcopyrite concentrates are finely
ground (
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p y g
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Copper Extraction as a Function of Initial Particle Size
150 C Leaching of Chalcopyrite Concentrate with Surfactant Addition
50.00
55.00
60.00
65.00
70.00
75.00
80.00
85.00
90.00
95.00
100.00
0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4
Time (hr)
CopperExtraction(%
)
5.28 um
10.01 um
13.04 um
17.93 umFiner Size
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p y g
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Freeport-McMoRan Developments in
Copper Concentrate Leaching
John O. Marsden and John C. Wilmot
Freeport-McMoRan Mining Co.
Selected Slides from Copper 2007 Short Course,
Toronto, August 2007
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p y g
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Morenci MT-DEW-SX Flowsheet
PLV Conditions:
~160 C
200 psi O2 overpressure
LE Added to PLV
Slurry
Formation
Concentrate
1,000 mtpd
PressureLeaching
Flash
Let Down
Solid/Liquid
Separation
Neutralization
Tailings
Disposal
Gold/Silver
Bullion
Water
(optional)
Super Fine
Grinding
*Tank includes vat or agitated
or stirred leaching vessel
Lime
Cathode
Copper
Heap/Stockpile/Tank*
Leaching
Solution
Extraction
ElectrowinningSPLS
Lean
Bleed
Coolant
Streams
WPLS
Precious Metals
Leaching/Recovery
Lean
to PLV
Flow (m3/hr)
Cu (g/L)
H2SO4 (g/L)
Fe (gpl)
24
33
1901.8
113
110
22
1.9
153
4.7
1.5
1.1
Feed
Solids
Solid/LiquidSeparation/Wash
Solids
Water
LEGEND:
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p y g
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Morenci Concentrate Leach Plant
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p y g
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
PLATSOL
PLATSOL Process Simple process for one-step dissolution of base
and precious metals
Add 5-10 g/L Chloride to AC solution
Invented at Lakefield Research for BulkConcentrate Treatment
Tested via Batch and Continuous Autoclave
Programs at Lakefield High levels of base (+95-99%) and precious
metals (90-95%) recovery
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Pressu re Oxidat ion : Convent ional and
PLATSOL Metal Extractions (220 C)
Element Conventional PLATSOL**
Cu 99.3 99.6
Ni 95.9 98.9
Co >92 96
Fe 11.5 11.5
S 91.5 91.5
Pt ~0 96Pd 61.1 94.6
Au ~0 89.4
** ACTUAL PILOT PLANT RESULTS FROM SGS LAKEFIELD
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Autoclave Leaching Base Metals
ChlorideAssisted Total Pressure OxidationChalcopyrite Oxidation/Iron Hydrolysis:
CuFeS2 + 4.25O2 + H2O = CuSO4 + 0.5Fe2O3 +H2SO4
Pyrite Oxidation:
FeS2 + 3.75O2 + 2H2O = 0.5Fe2O3 + 2H2SO4Pyrrhotite Oxidation
Fe7S8 + 16.25O2 + 8H2O = 3.5Fe2O3 + 8H2SO4Nickel Sulfide Oxidation:
NiS + 2O2 = NiSO4Basic Ferric Sulfate Formation:
Fe O + 2H SO = 2Fe OH SO + H O
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Autoclave Leaching Precious Metals
Gold Oxidation/Chlorocomplex Formation:Au + 0.75O2 + 4HCl = HAuCl4 + 1.5H2O
Platinum Oxidation/Chlorocomplex
Formation:
Pt + O2 + 6HCl = H2PtCl6 + 2H2O
Palladium Oxidation/Chlorocomplex
Formation:
Pd + 0.5O2 + 4HCl = H2PdCl4 + H2O
Temperature of 220 to 230 C.
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Base and Precious Metal Recovery
Copper Copper Solvent Extraction and Electrowinning to
Produce LME Grade Copper Metal Cathode
Nickel/Cobalt Variety of Processes Possible
Mixed Hydroxide Precipitation of Nickel and Cobalt
Nickel and Cobalt Hydroxide Refined Off Site
SX-EW or SX-Hydrogen Reduction to Metal
Au-PGM Precipitate under reducing conditions to make high
value precipitate for refining
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Bulk Concentrate
Regrinding
PLATSOL
PGMs NaSH Precip
Cu SX/EW
Bleed
(Ni-Co recovery)
Leach Residue
NaCl
PGM Conc
SL
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Applications to Other
Cu/Ni/PGM ConcentratesConcentrate Types
ElementsD F G H I J K L M
Cu % 5.8 12.0 4.2 2.4 5.5 3.9 0.9 0.2 0.7
Ni% 4.1 3.01 7.7 0.9 10.3 14.9 0.1 0.1 0.3
Fe% 17.1 33.9 35.9 19.2 - 27.9 32.7 16.6 28.7
S% 16.3 24.5 34.1 - 25.3 28.8 0.8 0.5
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Applications to Other
Cu/Ni/PGM Concentrates
% Recovery
Concentrate TypeElements
D F G H I J K L MCu 99.9 99.3 99.0 99.3 99.7 99.6 99.3 85.0 99.2
Ni 99 93.8 99.6 98.7 98.9 98.7 96.7 - 95.5
Au 99 97.1 84.3 96.0 97.9 82.9 91.5 96.4 53.6
Pt 95 97.4 98.2 99.0 97.9 93.9 93.9 99.1 95.3Pd 94 98.1 93.9 98.4 96.2 95.6 94.9 96.3 96.3
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Applications to Other Feeds
Cu/Au concentrates
Refractory Au ConcentratesCu/Ni/PGE mattes
Pt Laterites
Automobile catalysts
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
T f C O d C
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Other Applications
Cu - Au concentrate
(28.9% Cu,5.8 g/t Au) PLATSOLTM recovery
99.7% Cu
95.9% Au
No cyanide!
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
T t t f C O d C t t
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Other Applications
Refractory Au ores-concentrates(non-preg
robbers)
FeS2 - FeAsS conc
19.9 Au, 19.4 g/t Ag
PLATSOLTM recovery
Au 96%, Ag 99.5%
No cyanide!
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
T t t f C O d C t t
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
SEPON Copper Process
Atmospheric leaching process for whole oreto leach copper oxides/carbonates/secondary sulfides
After CCD wash, pyrite and sulfur are floatedas a concentrate and sent to a hightemperature autoclave for oxidation.
Autoclave is the chemical engine for theSepon plant producing acid, ferric sulfate andheat to sustain the atmospheric leachprocess.
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
T t t f C O d C t t
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Autoclave and Post-Autoclave Chemistry
Autoclave formation of basic ferric sulfate (22O C)
2FeS2(s) + 7.5O2 + H2O = Fe2(SO4)3 + H2SO4
S + 1.5O2 + H2O = H2SO4
Fe2(SO4)3 + 2H2O = 2Fe(OH)SO4(s) + H2SO4
Post Autoclave Re-Leach of Basic Ferric Sulfate
(100 C)
2Fe(OH)SO4(s) + H2SO4 = Fe2(SO4)3 + 2H2O
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
T t t f C O d C t t
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
SEPONLOCALITY
MAP
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
T t t f C O d C t t
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
SEPON
PROCESS BLOCK
FLOWSHEET
CRUSHING
MILLING
SURGE
NEUTRALISATIONWASH CCD
WASH CCDWASH
WATER
TAILINGSFe Acid
Cu LOSS
CLARIFICATION
SURGE
ATM LEACH
HEX
DIRECT HEX
SX EW
COOLING TWR
RAF CCD
CATHODE
FLOTATION
SURGE
AUTOCLAVE
FILTER
EXCESS
PYRITE
POX LEACH
STEAM
Fe Acid
ADDN
WASH
WATER
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Next Step Construct ion
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Treatment of Copper Ores and ConcentratesNext Step Construct ion
Example: Sepon Copper and Gold Operation
Gold Operat ion
Copper Operat ion
Padan Camp
Khanong Copper Orebody
Current Developments in the Hydrometallurgical
Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Sepon Copper Ramp Up
Plant designed for 60 ktpa Cu productionCommissioning commenced Oct 2004
Ore commissioning Feb 2005
First cathode harvested March 2005
2005 Production: 644kt milled, 30.5kt stripped
2006 Production: 1,231kt milled, 60.8kt stripped 2007 Production: 60-63kt
Q1 2009 Second POX circuit on line
Current Developments in the HydrometallurgicalTreatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Conclusions
Hydrometallurgical Treatment of Copper Ores
and Concentrates is Continuing to Develop
New Chemistries and Process OptionsEmerging
Central use of SX-EW for Copper Recovery
Theory and Practice are Working together
Hand-in-Hand
Current Developments in the HydrometallurgicalTreatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
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Treatment of Copper Ores and Concentrates
Thank You!
Questions?