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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ
A
Anode
In electrorefining, a slab-like piece of copper weighing about 750 pounds that was produced at a smelter by casting molten copper into a mold. The specific shape of the mold is designed so that it will fit into electrolytic cells at a refinery.
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C
Cathode
In the EW or refining process, the electrical pole to which copper ions plate or attach. Cathodes may be made of stainless steel blanks or copper starter sheets. In the SX/EW process, the electrical pole to which copper ions plate or adhere; also the copper slab thereby produced.
Concentrate
A product that results from copper-bearing rocks being crushed, ground into a slurry, and processed by froth flotation so that copper-rich mineral particles are separated from “gangue” or waste particles. The process is designed to selectively upgrade copper sulfide minerals into a concentrated form that is suitable as a smelter or other process feed.
Copper ores
Naturally occurring rocks that contain copper minerals.
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L
Leaching
The treatment of ores, concentrates and other metal-bearing materials by an acidic wet process that dissolves soluble minerals and recovers them into a pregnant leach solution.
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O
Oxides
Copper ores that are generally amenable to leaching and contain such copper-bearing minerals as chrysocolla, malachite, azurite, and others. These oxidized ores frequently occur above primary, secondary, and mixed sulfide zones.
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P
PLS
Pregnant Leach Solution. Acidic copper-laden water generated from stockpile and heap leaching. PLS is used in the SX/EW process.Primary sulfides (chalcopyrite)
Sulfide dominated ores such as chalcopyrite and bornite that are typically located beneath secondary sulfide ores.
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Q
Quest For Zero
Company wide initiative to improve operations to the point where there are zero accidents, zero production variances and zero environmental mishaps.
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R
Refining
The process of removing minor impurities from metals, such as copper anodes, through an electrolytic purification process.
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S
Secondary sulfides
A zone of enriched copper mineralization located beneath oxide and above primary sulfide zones. Mineralization is typically characterized by chalcocite and covellite.
Smelting
A process of heating and melting ores and concentrates and then separating the desirable molten metals such as copper from other elements. After smelting, the metallic copper is poured into a specific shape called an “anode”. Anodes must go through one more purifying or refining process before they are ready for the market place. This is accomplished by sending the anodes to a refinery where they are electrolytically refined into essentially pure copper.
Solution extraction/electrowinning (SX/EW)
A two-stage process that first extracts and upgrades copper ions from low-grade leach solutions into a concentrated electrolyte, and then deposits pure copper metal on cathodes using an electrolytic procedure.
Sulfuric acid
A dense, colorless liquid chemical used extensively to leach stockpiles of copper ore. Sulfuric acid is primarily produced as a by-product of smelting, but it may also be generated by other means. Sulfuric acid is contained in “raffinate”, which is the bleed stream from the solution extraction process, diluted to create a slightly acidic water called raffinate. The water percolates through the stockpile, dissolving copper minerals contained in the rock. This copper laden water called PLS (pregnant leach solution) exits from the bottom of the stockpile and flows to a collection pond.
SX/EW
See solution extraction/electrowinning
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