ANALYSIS OF DIAGNOSTIC LEACHING PROCEDURES FOR COPPER BEARING ORES AND TAILINGS

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the

DEPARTMENT OF MINING AND GEOLOGICAL

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ution. Investigation have also been conducted related to the solubility of copper oxides and sulfides in cyanide-based solutions. Early studies indicated that the majority of copper oxide minerals were easily dissolved in sodium cyanide as well as some of the more important secondary copper sulfidesùspecifically chalcocite and covellite. The primary copper sulfideùchalcopyriteùhowever, is not easily dissolved in either sodium cyanide-based solutions or within sulfuric acid. Furthermore, the secondary copper sulfides are generally unaffected by sulfuric acid (Parkinson and Bhappu, 1995). Consequently, with the selective presentation of varying concentrations of sulfuric acid and sodium cyanide to copper bearing material, one can group the presence of these minerals in a sample on the basis of their dissolution potential. Use of ammonia-based leaching solutions for copper sulfides has also been practiced on a commercial basis (Reilly and Scott, 1976). The best known approach is that developed by the Sheritt-Gordon Company and is utilized for treating nickel sulfides as well as copper sulfides. In the case of copper sulfides, this method has been particularly useful in treating chalcopyrite concentrates which are particularly
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Some common words found in the essay are:
According Wadsworth, Operational Considerations, Ores Solvent, Tinto Spain, Parkinson Bhappu, SiO2nH20 Cuprite, Butte Montana, Ocean Hunt, Leaching Solution, South Wales, heap leaching, sulfuric acid, porphyry copper, copper deposits, solvent extraction, hiskey 1996, copper bearing, dump leaching, wadsworth 1981, native copper, porphyry copper deposits, parkinson bhappu 1995, copper bearing ores, dump heap leaching, leaching copper bearing,
Approximate Word count = 6194
Approximate Pages = 25 (250 words per page)