SALTLAKE CITY COPPER MINE COPPER THE STORY BY
SALTLAKE CITY COPPER MINE COPPER, THE STORY BY KATY NUNN & CHRIS NEWBOLD
OPEN PIT THE FLOW CHART SHOWS A SIMPLIFIED PIT CRUSHER MODEL OF COPPER PRODUCTION CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
OPEN PIT CRUSHER CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
BINGHAM COPPER MINE 4 Km
OPEN PIT CRUSHER CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
THE PIT CRUSHER FROM AN OPEN PIT AROUND 4 km DIAMETER AND 1. 2 km 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.
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 8 KM CONVEYOR BELT TO THE NEXT STAGE IN THE PROCESS OF COPPER PRODUCTION.
OPEN PIT CRUSHER CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
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.
Froth flotation in industry THE MINERALS ARE NOW 30% COPPER. THIS IS AN INCREASE OF AROUND 50 TIMES COMPARED TO THE PIT CRUSHER
OPEN PIT CRUSHER CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
Smelting Chalcopyrite concentrate and silica Oxygen - enriched air Dust and hot gases for heating Heated reaction shaft Slag (iron oxides and sulphides are converted by silica) Copper matte (Cu 2 S) Blown with air Blister copper, 99% pure Cu 2 S(l) + O 2(g) 2 Cu(l) + SO 2(g) Sulphur dioxide converted to sulphuric acid
OPEN PIT CRUSHER CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
Electrolytic Refining Positive, • Made of impure copper ( 99. 4%) • Cu Cu 2+ + 2 e- (oxidation) • Copper dissolves from here _ + _ + Negative, • Made of pure copper or stainless steel • Cu 2+ + 2 e. Cu (reduction) • Copper deposits here ( 99. 98% pure) It takes about two weeks for about 120 kg 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
OPEN PIT CRUSHER CONCENTRATOR SMELTER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM
WE NOW HAVE COPPER AT A PURITY OF 99. 9%
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