Process for treating sulfide-bearing ores

A process for removing sulfur from an ore from the group consisting of chalcopyrite and producing bornite comprising the steps of:

• mixing lime with chalcopyrite;
• adding water to said mixture;
• heating the mixture such that water vapor reacts with the chalcopyrite to form hydrogen sulfide gas, thereby substantially removing the sulfur from the chalcopyrite;
• and
• reacting the hydrogen sulfide gas with the lime to form calcium sulfide and water vapor so that substantially all of the sulfur is removed from a gaseous form, said water vapor being capable of reacting with the chalcopyrite and separating the ore from the calcium sulfide.

A process for removing sulfur from an ore comprising molybdenum sulfide comprising the steps of:

• mixing lime with molybdenum sulfide;
• adding water to said mixture;
• heating the mixture such that water vapor reacts with the molybdenum sulfide to form molybdenum oxide and hydrogen sulfide;
• and
• reacting the hydrogen sulfide with the lime to form calcium sulfide and water so that substantially all of the sulfur is removed from a gaseous form, said water being capable of reacting with the molybdenum sulfide and separating the ore from the calcium sulfide.