Short Course

A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

July 2018

ALTA Metallurgical Services, Melbourne, Australia www.altamet.com.au

ALTA Short Course

A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

July 2018

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SHORT COURSES Course Outlines

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A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

Part A: Leachability of minerals, review of commercial processes, developments and trends: • Leachability of copper minerals and importance of gangue minerals • Chemistry of oxide and sulphide copper minerals • Commercially applied leaching processes • Process outline, history and status • Developments and trends

Part B: Leaching of copper sulphide concentrates: • Background • Processes applied commercially • Processes operated at demonstration plant scale • Processes operated at pilot plant scale • Other process developments • Trends

Part C: Agitated leaching of oxide ores: • Background • Typical Commercial Operations • Typical Flowsheets • Testwork, Scale-up and Equipment Sizing • Design Criteria • Layout • Industry Trends

Part D: Heap Leaching: • Background • Typical Commercial Operations • Typical Flowsheets • Testwork, Scale-up and Equipment Sizing • Design Criteria • Layout • Industry Trends

SHORT COURSE

A-Z OF COPPER ORE LEACHING

Presented by

Alan Taylor

ALTA Metallurgical Services

July 2018

1A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

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Table 1 Leachability of Copper Minerals in Sulphuric Acid Solutions

AZURITE MALACHITE TENORITE CHYRSOCOLLA DIOPTASE ANTLERITE BROCHANTITE CHALCANTHITE ATACAMITE PSEUDOMALACHITECOPPER PITCH

LEACHABLE AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WITH DILUTE SULPHURIC ACID.

KINETICS VARY BUT ARE GENERALLY SUITABLE FOR DUMP, HEAP, VAT AND AGITATED LEACHING.

SOME MAY NEED HEATING TO OBTAIN KINETICS FAST ENOUGH FOR AGITATED LEACHING.

.

COPPER WAD 10-80% LEACHABLE AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WITH DILUTE SULPHURIC ACID.

CUPRITE 50% LEACHABLE AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE WITH DILUTE SULPHURIC ACID.

CHALCOCITE PARTIALLY LEACHABLE IN SULPHURIC ACID. LEACHABILITY INCREASES WITH TEMPERATURE AND WITH ACID STENGTH (EG. ACID CURE).

NATIVE COPPER SLOW LEACHING IN SULPHURIC ACID AT ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE. KINETICS IMPROVE WHEN AGITATED WITH AERATED HOT STRONG ACID.

CHALCOCITE COVELLITE BORNITE

LEACHABLE WITH SULPHURIC ACID/FERRIC SULPHATE SOLUTIONS. KINETICS SUITABLE FOR DUMP OR HEAP LEACHING. KINETICS IMPROVE WITH INCREASED TEMPERATURE

CUPRITE NATIVE COPPER

LEACHABLE WITH SULPHURIC ACID/FERRIC SULPHATE SOLUTIONS

CHALCOPYRITE VERY SLOW LEACHING

5A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

LEACHABILITY OF COPPER MINERALS

• Leachability in sulphuric acid solutions varies enormously (see Table 1). Orebodies frequently contain a mix of minerals, commonly varying with depth.

• Oxide minerals also are amenable to ammonia/ammonium carbonate leaching – reduction roast needed for silicates.

• Secondary sulphides are leachable in ferric sulphate/sulphuric acid solutions.

• Primary sulphides can be rendered leachable in sulphuric acid by roasting, pressure-oxidation, bio-oxidation, hot aeration with ferric sulphate, and galvanic action with pyrite.

• Secondary and primary sulphides are leachable in chloride solutions, and ammonia/ammonium sulphate solutions under pressure.

• A wide range of oxides and sulphides are leachable in glycine (an amino acid) solutions in alkaline conditions with an oxidant (air/O2, peroxide).

• A working knowledge of the properties of the various minerals is a valuable aid to exploration.

A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching 5

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SEPON DETAILED FLOWSHEET (Ref: S. Keokhounsy, T. Moore and M. Liu, ALTA Copper 2006)

38A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

FIG. 8 SEPON FLOWSHEET, LAOS

A-Z of Copper Ore Leaching

(Ref: UBC Presentation, ALTA 2012)

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