The Reko Diq Copper and Gold Project:
The Reko Diq project is a large Copper-Gold porphyry resource
on theTethan belt, located in dry desert of Chagai District,Balochistan in
southwest Pakistan.The deposits are estimated to contain 12.3 million tons of
Copper and 20.9 million ounces of Gold.
In brief the following value added steps are involved in
Copper Production:
1)
MINING OF ORE
2)
CONCENTRATION OF ORE
Most sulfide ores contain below 0.6% Cu. The Copper ore is crushed and ground to a size and is subjected to Froth flotation process to physically separate ore from unwanted rock or gangue materials. The ore is then wet , suspended in slurry , and mixed with xanthate reagents .
Most sulfide ores contain below 0.6% Cu. The Copper ore is crushed and ground to a size and is subjected to Froth flotation process to physically separate ore from unwanted rock or gangue materials. The ore is then wet , suspended in slurry , and mixed with xanthate reagents .
3)
ROASTING
In the roaster, the copper concentrate is partially oxidized to produce Calcine and sulfur dioxide gas. After 2005 Roasting is no longer common in Copper concentrate treatment. Direct flash smelting Furnace are now used. r
In the roaster, the copper concentrate is partially oxidized to produce Calcine and sulfur dioxide gas. After 2005 Roasting is no longer common in Copper concentrate treatment. Direct flash smelting Furnace are now used. r
4)
SMELTING
The calcine is then mixed with Silica and Coke and smelted at 1200 deg centigrade in the smelting furnace to form a liquid called Copper matte, contains around 70% copper primarily as Copper Sulfide as well as iron sulfide. In Copper Recycling, this is the step where scrap copper is introduced.
The calcine is then mixed with Silica and Coke and smelted at 1200 deg centigrade in the smelting furnace to form a liquid called Copper matte, contains around 70% copper primarily as Copper Sulfide as well as iron sulfide. In Copper Recycling, this is the step where scrap copper is introduced.
5)
CONVERSION TO BLISTER
The sulfur is removed at high temperature as sulfur dioxide by blowing air through molten matte in Converter. The end product is (about) 98% pure copper known as Blister.
The sulfur is removed at high temperature as sulfur dioxide by blowing air through molten matte in Converter. The end product is (about) 98% pure copper known as Blister.
6) REDUCTION
Reduction furnace uses the blister copper as anode to get rid of most of the remaining oxygen. This creates copper at about 99% pure.The anodes produced from this are fed to the electro-refinery.
Reduction furnace uses the blister copper as anode to get rid of most of the remaining oxygen. This creates copper at about 99% pure.The anodes produced from this are fed to the electro-refinery.
7)
ELECTRO REFINING
The copper anodes are refined to highly pure copper cathodes by Electrolysis. A-grade copper cathode is of 99.999% copper in sheets that are 1 cm thick, and approximately 1 meter square weighing approximately 200 pounds.(Specification ASTM B 115-00)
This is a true product, deliverable to and trade-able upon the metal exchanges in New York (COMEX), London (London Metal Exchange) and Shanghai (Shanghai Futures Exchange).
The copper anodes are refined to highly pure copper cathodes by Electrolysis. A-grade copper cathode is of 99.999% copper in sheets that are 1 cm thick, and approximately 1 meter square weighing approximately 200 pounds.(Specification ASTM B 115-00)
This is a true product, deliverable to and trade-able upon the metal exchanges in New York (COMEX), London (London Metal Exchange) and Shanghai (Shanghai Futures Exchange).
Before discussing the economical and commercial aspects of copper
processing, we should have a clear concept of the copper mining and processing
steps and copper downstream industries.
Video -I
Comprising of Mining, Grinding and Flotation process to produce Copper concentrate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjaUX4kDUSw
Video-II
Comprising of Smelting, Converting, Anode refining and LME A-grade copper Cathode production.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZumvsqV1w
Video-III
Comprising of few examples of Downstream industries in India,Pakistan and worldwide.
Comprising of Mining, Grinding and Flotation process to produce Copper concentrate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjaUX4kDUSw
Video-II
Comprising of Smelting, Converting, Anode refining and LME A-grade copper Cathode production.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wZumvsqV1w
Video-III
Comprising of few examples of Downstream industries in India,Pakistan and worldwide.
