Method for obtaining copper and precious metals from copper-iron sulphide ores or ore concentrates

Abstract

Process for extracting copper and precious metals from copper and iron bearing ores, ore concentrates or minerals, comprising the following steps: converting the copper and iron bearing ores, ore concentrates or minerals to copper-containing sulfides and iron sulfides by reaction with sulfur at 300 to 600° C. for at least 5 min; grinding the reaction product; physically separating the copper-containing sulfides at least partially from iron sulfides; treating the separated copper-containing sulfides by pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes to obtain copper.

1 . A process for extracting copper from copper and iron bearing ores, ore concentrates or minerals, comprising the following steps:
 converting the copper bearing ores, ore concentrates or minerals to copper-containing sulfides and iron sulfides by reaction with sulfur at 300 to 600° C. for at least 5 min;   grinding the reaction product;   physically separating the copper-containing sulfides at least partially from iron sulfides; and   treating the separated copper-containing sulfides by pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes to obtain copper.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion is performed in an inert atmosphere. 
   
   
       3 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the conversion is performed in a continuous process. 
   
   
       4 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is at 400° C. to 450° C. 
   
   
       5 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the conversion is performed in a rotary kiln or fluidized bed reactor. 
   
   
       6 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the grinding process is effected at least partially in a rotary kiln or fluidized bed reactor in situ by adding grinding balls. 
   
   
       7 . The process  claim 1 , wherein an enrichment of the precious metals in the copper-sulfidic phase takes place during the conversion. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion is performed during a period of from 5 min to 24 h. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the time is from 5 min to 90 min. 
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur is added in stoichiometric, half-stoichiometric or catalytic amount. 
   
   
       11 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the iron sulfides are transferred to a processing step. 
   
   
       12 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the separation of the copper-containing sulfides and the iron sulfides is effected by electrostatic processes, gravimetric processes, magnetic processes, air classification, grain size selection, hydrocyclone methods, flotation processes or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       13 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the copper-bearing ores, ore concentrates or minerals are selected from the group consisting of chalcopyrite (CuFeS 2 ), bornite (Cu 5 FeS 4 ), cubanite (CuFeS 4 ), chalcosine (Cu 2 S), digenite (Cu 9 S 5 ) and covelline (CuS). 
   
   
       14 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the copper-containing sulfides are selected from the group consisting of covelline, chalcosine, digenite, and bornite. 
   
   
       15 . The process  claim 1 , wherein the iron sulfides are pyrite or pyrrhotite. 
   
   
       16 . The process  claim 7 , wherein the precious metals contained are recovered from the copper sulfide. 
   
   
       17 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the conversion is performed in a three-chamber system. 
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the conversion is performed during a period of from 5 minutes to 12 hours.