Recovering copper from concentrates with insoluble sulfate forming leach

Abstract

This invention provides a novel and an improved hydrometallurgical method for recovering copper values from copper concentrates. The method essentially comprises the following steps: A. forming an aqueous leach solution containing chloride or bromide ions in a predetermined concentration; B. dispersing copper concentrates in such leach solution to form a slurry; C. carrying out the leaching operation of the slurry at an elevated temperature and under an overpressure of oxygen so as to transform a major proportion of the copper values present in the concentrates into a solid basic copper sulphate; D. separating the resulting leach residue containing the basic copper sulphate from the leach solution; and E. recovering the copper values from the obtained leach residue. The process is simple and efficient and can be carried out either batchwise or continuously.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.