Mining Mirror September 2018 | Page 44

Mining in focus that it is possible to make a profit from mining copper oxides, even though they require additional ore extraction and processing. The hydrometallurgy method of processing copper oxide relies on using water-based solutions to extract and purify copper oxides at ordinary temperatures. Three steps are involved in this process: heap leaching, solvent extraction, and electrowinning. On the other hand, copper sulphide ores are less abundant; however, they contain higher amounts of copper. The disadvantage that comes with mining sulphide ores is that the processing costs are very high. Sulphide ores are worth mining in the end because more copper can be extracted from the ores. For sulphide ores, pyrometallurgy processing is used where the metals are extracted and purified using heat applications. Physical steps and high temperatures are required to purify the copper from sulphide ores. This process requires four steps, namely Copper processing at Zambia’s Kansanshi copper mine. froth flotation, thickening, smelting, and electrolysis. Another unconventional method of processing copper is recycling. The World Copper Factbook 2017 mentions that copper is one of the few materials that do not degrade or lose their physical properties during the recycling process. In 2015, the ICSG estimated that up to 29% of used copper came through recycled copper. New and old copper scrap or copper alloys can be melted, re-purified, and recycled into new components. The United States Geological Survey estimates that there are about 720 million tonnes of identified and unidentified copper resources. This can only mean more innovation in copper mining, and processing can be expected in going forward in the copper mining industry. b N O R V A D ONE OF THE BIGGEST SUPPLIERS OF FIRE PUMPS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT WITHIN SOUTHERN AFRICA Davron Equipment, 128 & 130 Loper Street, Aeroport, Gauteng [42] Tel: +27 11 974 3770 • Fax: +27 11 974 6110 MINING MIRROR SEPTEMBER 2018 Email: [email protected] • Website: www.davron.co.za