Joint Enterprise of Scientific and Production Association “RIVS”, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

I. V. Ukraintsev, Director of Hydrometallurgy Department
B. S. Ivanov, Production Engineer of Hydrometallurgy Department, e-mail: b_ivanov@rivs.ru

Saint Petersburg Mining University, Saint Petersburg, Russia:

G. V. Petrov, Professor of a Chair of Metallurgy
A. Ya. Boduen, Assistant Professor of a Chair of Metallurgy

The article is dedicated to the current problem of increasing the quality of substandard copper concentrates, obtained through enrichment of copper-zinc pyrite ores and known for thin mutual germination of minerals and the incapability of obtaining high-grade concentrates by applying acceptable technological parameters du ring the enrichment stage. The employment of combined enrichment technologies: hydrometallurgy enables an increased quality of commodity concentrates and reduces the losses of valuable components. The object of research was a low-grade copper concentrate, obtained in Novo-Shemurskoe deposit, whose exploitation is a priority in development of Northern Ural industry. A chemical-mineralogical analysis of the researched concentrate, which is low-grade based on the level of zinc as well as copper, was carried out. Experiments on chemical conditioning of the concentrate were performed. Data on influence of basic technological parameters — temperatures and oxygen pressure — on the level of leaching of zinc and copper from the presented concentrate are given. A mineral composition of solid product of leaching was researched, which gave data on the level of decomposition of sulphide minerals in the concentrate. A factor, which has a defining influence on extraction of copper and zinc into sulphide solutions, was thus revealed. The process of intensive substitution of chalcopyrite with secondary copper sulphides is demonstrated. The substitution is mostly performed with covellite in oxidized conditions, which leads to low extraction of copper into solution. The experimental data enabled to choose the optimal parameters of autoclave leaching, which ensures selective and practically full removal of zinc into sulphide solutions, and insignificant extraction of copper into the liquid phase.

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