Method for obtaining copper from cupriferous arsenosulphide and/or antimony sulphide ores or ore concentrates

Abstract

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

1 . A process for extracting copper from copper-bearing arsenic sulfide and/or antimony sulfide ores, ore concentrates or minerals, comprising the following steps:
 converting the ores, ore concentrates or minerals by reaction with sulfur at 300 to 600° C. for at least 5 min;   grinding the reaction product;   physically separating the arsenic and/or antimony sulfides obtained at least partially from copper-containing 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 of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature is at 450° C. to 500° C. 
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion is performed in a rotary kiln or fluidized bed reactor. 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the conversion is performed during a period of from 5 min to 12 h. 
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the time is from 5 min to 90 min. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein an enrichment of the precious metals in the copper-sulfidic phase takes place during the conversion. 
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the sulfur is added in stoichiometric, half-stoichiometric or catalytic amount. 
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the antimony and/or arsenic sulfides are transferred to a processing step. 
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the separation of the antimony and/or arsenic sulfides is effected by electrostatic processes, gravimetric processes, magnetic processes, air classification, grain size selection, hydrocyclone methods, flotation processes or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the copper-bearing arsenic sulfide and/or antimony sulfide ores, ore concentrates or minerals are selected from the group consisting of enargite (Cu3AsS4), tennantite (Cu12As4S13), tetrahedrite (Cu12Sb4S13), and combinations thereof, optionally accompanied by chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4), cubanite (CuFeS4), chalcosine (Cu2S), digenite (Cu9S5) and/or covelline (CuS). 
   
   
       13 . The process of  claim 3 , wherein the conversion is performed in a three-chamber system. 
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the conversion is performed during a period of from 5 min to 12 h.