Copper is one of the earliest found metals in human beings` history, its color is amaranth, relative density is 8.89, and melting point is 1083°C. After iron and aluminum, copper is the third most-prominent commercial metal. So the copper mining is very import for us.
Types of Copper ore:
Copper ores can be classified into two main groups: copper
sulphide and copper oxide. Copper sulpide ores include chalcopyrite, chalcocite, and bornite. Copper
oxide ores contain cuprite, azurite, malachite, chrysocolla, and tenorite,. Here are characteristics of
each kind of copper ore.
| Name | Chemical Formula | Density (g/cm3) |
Colour | Theoretical Cu grade | Cut-off Cu grade | Product grade | Hardness M |
| Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 | 4.1~4.3 | Yellow | 34.5 | ¡Ý0.2-0.3 | ¡Ý0.4-0.5 | 3.5~4..0 |
| Chalcocite | ?Cu2S | 5.5~5.8 | Leaden or black | 79.8 | ¡Ý0.2-0.3 | ¡Ý0.4-0.5 | 2.5~3.0 |
| Bornite | ?Cu5FeS4 | 4.9~5.0 | Copper red or tarnish | 63.3 | ¡Ý0.2-0.3 | ¡Ý0.4-0.5 | 3 |
| Cuprite | Cu2 O | 5.8~6.2 | Dark Red | 88.8 | ¡Ý 0.5 | ¡Ý 0.7 | 3.5~4.0 |
| Malachite | CuCO3¡¤Cu(OH)2 | 3.7~4.1 | Green | 57.5 | ¡Ý 0.5 | ¡Ý 0.7 | 3.5~4.0 |
| Chrysocolla | CuSiO3¡¤2H2O | 2~2.2 | Green | 36.2 | ¡Ý 0.5 | ¡Ý 0.7 | 2~4.0 |
| Tenorite | CuO | 5.82~6.25 | Steel grey/ Iron Black | 79.85 | ¡Ý 0.5 | ¡Ý 0.7 | 3.0~4.0 |
The Solution for processing copper ore
Technically speaking, flotation is the most frequently adopted technology to process copper ore. Flotation method includes preferential flotation, mixed flotation, and sulphide flotation. According to different ores and copper beneficiation feasibility testing results, there are several solutions for processing copper ore. For copper sulphide ore, flotation is the main method. For copper oxide ore, flotation technology, dump/heap leaching technology or combined processing technology shall be adopted based on copper ore beneficiation feasibility testing results from mineral institutes or labs. Followed are lists of solutions for processing copper ore.
Copper Sulphide Ore:
Flotation Technology (Preferential flotation or mixed flotation)
Copper
Oxide Ore:
a. Flotation Technology (Sulphide Flotation Technology, Fatty Acid Flotation Technology
or Amine Flotation Technology)
b. Dump/Heap Leaching Techology: (Acid leaching method or Ammonia
leaching method)
c. Combined Processing Technology: ( Dump/Heap Leaching+Flotation Processing)
Common equipment
PEW Jaw Crusher, HP Cone Crusher, HST Cone Crusher, S series cone crusher, vibrating screen
Ball
mill
Hydro cyclone, spiral classifier
SF Series Flotation Cells
BF Series Flotation
Cells
XCF-KYF Series Flotation Cells
