Copper concentrate

Copper concentrate is a product that is obtained during the process of purifying copper ore, and its manufacturing companies use this product to produce copper.. Copper concentrate is a product that is obtained during the process of purifying copper ore, and its manufacturing companies use this product to produce copper. One of the products that Iran exports to different countries is copper concentrate. In the following, we describe the types of copper concentrate and its production methods.

Types of copper ore

Copper ore has the following two types

  • Sulphide ore

  • Oxide ore

Copper ore exists in the earth’s crust as sulphide minerals such as chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4) and chalcocite (Cu2S) with a grade of 0.5% in open-pit mines and 1-2% in underground mines. Copper ore exists in the form of oxide minerals (carbonates, oxides, silicates and sulfates) with a lower grade percentage. Oxide ore is more abundant than sulphide ore, but its copper percentage is lower.

What is copper concentrate

Copper concentrate is produced on mineral copper ore during a process and is used as a raw material in the copper processing process. In general, concentrate refers to pure and dense materials that are concentrated due to processes. Copper concentrate is a product that cannot be said to be raw. Because they have done processing on it. Copper concentrates usually contain 30% copper and 70% iron and sulfur.

Types of copper concentrate

Copper concentrate is produced in the following types

 

  • Copper sulfide concentrate: Copper sulfide concentrate is produced from sulfide ore.
  • Copper oxide concentrate: Oxide copper concentrate was produced from oxide ore.

 

The difference between sulfide and oxide copper concentrates

As mentioned, copper oxide concentrate was more abundant than copper sulfide concentrate; However, the amount of copper in copper sulfide concentrate is more than copper oxide. The different chemical properties of these two groups have caused them to be processed and extracted differently. Hydrometallurgical method is used for copper oxide concentrate and pyrometallurgical method is used for copper sulfide concentrate.

Production methods of copper concentrate

Production of copper sulfide concentrate by pyrometallurgical method


In this method, sulfide ore is used:

  • ore mining
  • Primary ore mill
  • Secondary grinding of ore up to dimensions of about 12 mm
  • Mixing ground copper ore with chemicals (grain size reaches 74 microns)
  • Enrichment and concentration of the produced pulp (flotation)
  • Production of copper and molybdenum concentrate

CATHODE COPPER

Copper cathode is known as one of the important materials in the copper industry. Copper cathode refers to flat and thin sheets of pure copper, which are used as a main source in the production of copper wire, copper wire and other copper products. Copper cathode is one of the states of copper metal that is used as a cathode in electrolytic cells; The copper cathode in electrolytic cells removes the electric current from it. This metal is considered to be copper with the highest percentage of purity (about 99%). Copper is a conductive metal and due to its good electrical and thermal properties, it is very suitable for use in electrolytic cells. Copper cathode is also known as electrolytic copper. Copper cathodes are used as primary raw materials for the production of high purity copper products and its alloys.

Uses of copper cathode compared to other metals

Copper metal itself is the third most widely used industrial metal after iron and aluminum. Its cathode is also considered a part of the subsets of copper sheet and its alloys, and part of its use is due to the characteristics of copper metal, which include: 

  • Copper has high electrical and thermal conductivity
  • It is resistant to corrosion
  • It is stainless
  • It is completely soft and flexible

Among pure metals, only silver is more electrically conductive than copper. Due to the higher conductivity of copper than aluminum, the use of copper instead of aluminum is increasing in the production of ICs. Another interesting feature of copper is its color, which is the only metal after gold that is not gray in color.