COPPER, THE STORY

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COPPER, THE STORY
SALTLAKE CITY COPPER MINE

• BY KATY NUNN
• CHRIS NEWBOLD

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THE FLOW CHART SHOWS A SIMPLIFIED MODEL OF
COPPER PRODUCTION
OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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BINGHAM COPPER MINE
4Km
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OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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THE PIT CRUSHER
FROM AN OPEN PIT AROUND 4km DIAMETER AND 1.2km
DEEP COPPER ORE IS EXTRACTED USING THE METHOD
OF EITHER DRILLING OR USING EXPLOSIVES IN THE
ROCK WALL. EACH BATCH OF COPPER ORE THAT IS
EXTRACTED IS ANALYSED TO FIND WHETHER THE ORE IS
WORTH PROCCESING. THEN AROUND 150 000 TONNES OF
COPPER A DAY IS THEN FED INTO THE PIT CRUSHER.
IN CONTRAST 260 000 TONNES OF ROCK ARE WASTED
EACH DAY.
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THE PIT CRUSHER
THE COPPER IN THE CRUSHER IS ONLY AROUND 0.6
COPPER. THIS IS VERY POOR COMPARED TO LATER IN
THE PRODUCTION. WHEN THE COPPER HAS BEEN CRUSHED
IN THE PIT CRUSHER IT IS CARRIED ALONG A 8KM
CONVEYOR BELT TO THE NEXT STAGE IN THE PROCESS
OF COPPER PRODUCTION.
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OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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THE CONCENTRATOR
THIS PROCESS IS DONE BY USING A METHOD CALLED
FROTH FLOTATION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN A CHEMICAL
CALLED A COLLECTOR IS ADDED. THIS BINDS TO THE
TYPE OF MINERALS CALLED CHALCOPYRITE. THIS IS A
CHEMICAL WHICH REPELS WATER. WHEN THE CONTENTS OF
THE CRUSHER IS PUT INTO THE CONCENTRATOR, THE
WATER REPELLING MINERALS. THIUS MEANS THAT THE
COPPER CAN EASILY BE EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONCENTRATOR.
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Froth flotation in industry
THE MINERALS ARE NOW 30 COPPER. THIS IS AN
INCREASE OF AROUND 50 TIMES COMPARED TO THE PIT
CRUSHER
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OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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Smelting
Oxygen - enriched air
Chalcopyrite concentrate and silica
Dust and hot gases for heating
Heated reaction shaft
Slag (iron oxides and sulphides are converted by
silica)
Copper matte (Cu2S)
Blown with air
Cu2S(l) O2(g) 2Cu(l) SO2(g)
Sulphur dioxide converted to sulphuric acid
Blister copper, 99 pure
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OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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Electrolytic Refining

• Positive,
• Made of impure copper ( 99.4)
• Cu Cu 2 2e- (oxidation)
• Copper dissolves from here

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_
_

• Negative,
• Made of pure copper or stainless steel
• Cu 2 2e- Cu (reduction)
• Copper deposits here ( 99.98 pure)

It takes about two weeks for about 120kg of
copper to be deposited. Negative electrodes are
washed. Valuable impurities such as silver and
gold are collected from the sludge.
Electrolyte warm solution of copper(11)sulphate
and sulphuric acid
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OPEN PIT
PIT CRUSHER
CONCENTRATOR
WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE
SMELTER
IRON RICH SLAG H2SO4
ELECROLYTIC REFINING
GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
COPPER
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WE NOW HAVE COPPER ATA PURITY OF 99.9