Copper leaching from chalcopyrite concentrates

Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) is one of the most abundant copper-bearing minerals, which accounts for approximately 70 percent of the world's known copper reserves. For more than 30 years, a significant number of processes have been developed to leach copper from chalcopyrite concentrates. These processes recover copper via hydrometallurgical leaching of the copper component of chalcopyrite concentrates, followed by solvent extraction and electro-winning. A number of demonstration plant operations have been conducted, but as of this writing none of the processes have become completely commercially operational.