Method of extracting metals from polymetallic sulphide ores or concentrates

A method of extracting metals from minerals or polymetallic concentrates, comprising Cu sulphides in the form of chalcopyrite, and Zn, Pb and Ag sulphides, comprising the steps of:

• (a) a first leaching step at atmospheric pressure in sulphate medium of the initial starting material:
• ores comprising Cu sulphides in the form of chalcopyrite, and Zn, Pb and Ag sulphides or polymetallic concentrates comprising Cu sulphides in the form of chalcopyrite, and Zn, Pb and Ag sulphides, in the presence of oxygen and ferric sulphate, adding sulphuric acid and a silver catalyst to obtain a solution rich in Cu and Zn and a leached solid containing Pb and Ag as sulphates;
• (b) separating the solution rich in Cu and Zn and the leached solid containing Pb and Ag from step (a) above, in the form of the leached residue of Ag and Pb sulphate precipitates;
• (c) extracting Cu by adding a copper-specific organic extractant to the solution rich in Cu and Zn, to obtain a purified and charged Cu solution and a spent refined product containing Zn;
• (d) obtaining Cu by electrodeposition from the purified and charged Cu solution obtained in step (c);
• (e) removing Fe present in the spent refined product from step (c) above by precipitation through oxidation of Fe(II) to Fe(III) and adjustment of pH between 3 and 4, resulting in a Zn-charged and iron-free solution and an iron precipitate;
• part of the iron precipitate being recycled to step (a) to provide and maintain a Fe(III) concentration;
• (f) purification and concentration of the iron-free Zn-charged solution of step (e) by adding a zinc-specific organic extractant to the Zn-charged solution to obtain a purified Zn-charged solution and a refined product containing residual zinc being recycled to step (a) above;
• (g) obtaining Zn by electrodeposition from the purified and charged Zn solution;
• (h) a second step of atmospheric leaching of the leached waste comprising Pb and Ag from step (b) in a solution of a chlorine salt in saturated water at a temperature of 60° C. to 100° C., resulting in a solution charged with Ag and Pb;
• (j) recovering Ag from the Ag and Pb charged solution by reducing the Ag and Pb charged solution with lead metal, being recycled from step (k) below, to form an Ag cement and a Pb-enriched solution;
• part of the silver cement produced being recycled as a catalyst to step (a);
• and
• (k) recovering Pb from the Pb-enriched solution by chemical reduction adding metallic aluminium to form a lead cement and a spent solution being recycled to step (h) of this method;
• part of the lead produced being recycled to step (j) to cement the silver.