Total copper
Starting point for contained metal, but insufficient to predict recovery or processing route.
Copper ore processing
Mixed copper
ore requires
more than a
total copper assay.
We treat copper mineralogy as the starting point for process design. Oxide, secondary sulfide and primary sulfide copper can behave very differently, so we look beyond total Cu grade to understand where the copper actually sits and how it can be recovered.
Review logic
Total Cu is only the starting point.
We use total Cu as a starting point, not an answer. The same Cu grade can respond very differently depending on mineralogy, oxidation, liberation and gangue.
Sequential copper
Acid-soluble Cu and other analytical fractions help estimate distribution among oxide, secondary and primary populations.
Mineralogy
Chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covellite, malachite, chrysocolla, cuprite and gangue shape response.
Impurities
As, Sb, Bi, Hg, Pb, Zn, F, Cl, MgO, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂ can affect processing or marketability.
Route selection
Compare routes before fixing the flowsheet.
We compare routes against the dominant mineral population and the final product specification before fixing the flowsheet.
| Ore condition | Likely route | Key test | Commercial concern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary sulfide | Grinding + rougher/cleaner flotation | Flotation, kinetics, regrind and locked-cycle | Cu grade, recovery, As/Sb/Bi/Hg |
| Secondary sulfide | Flotation with reagent optimization | Collector, frother, pH and time | Mass pull and grade stability |
| Mixed oxide/sulfide | Selective mining, blending and sulfidization testing | Sequential Cu and NaHS/Na₂S testing where appropriate | Reagent cost, oxide recovery, quality |
| High oxide | Leach, toll treatment or blending/rejection | Acid consumption and leach response | CAPEX/OPEX and product route |
| Impurity-rich concentrate | Blending, selectivity or buyer-specific route | Full multi-element assay | Penalties, limits and buyer universe |
Technical QA/QC
Data that should reconcile.
We want every bench result to connect back to a representative sample and a metallurgical balance. Without that link, the number is much less useful.
- Sample identity and mass versus the lot or domain represented.
- Grinding P80 and liberation of Cu minerals.
- Feed, concentrate and tailings grades with mass and Cu balance.
- Mass pull, recovery and concentrate grade.
- Multi-element product assay and expected variability.