2. COPPER, THE STORY BY KATY NUNN & CHRIS NEWBOLD SALTLAKE CITY COPPER MINE

3. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM THE FLOW CHART SHOWS A SIMPLIFIED MODEL OF COPPER PRODUCTION

4. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM

5. BINGHAM COPPER MINE 4Km

6. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM

7. THE PIT CRUSHER FROM AN OPEN PIT AROUND 4km DIAMETER AND 1.2km DEEP COPPER ORE IS EXTRACTED USING THE METHOD OF EITHER DRILLING OR USING EXPLOSIVES IN THE ROCK WALL. EACH BATCH OF COPPER ORE THAT IS EXTRACTED IS ANALYSED TO FIND WHETHER THE ORE IS WORTH PROCCESING. 150 000 TONNES THEN AROUND 150 000 TONNES OF COPPER A DAY IS THEN FED INTO THE PIT CRUSHER. IN CONTRAST 260 000 TONNES 260 000 TONNES OF ROCK ARE WASTED EACH DAY.

8. THE PIT CRUSHER THE COPPER IN THE CRUSHER IS ONLY AROUND 0.6% COPPER. THIS IS VERY POOR COMPARED TO LATER IN THE PRODUCTION. WHEN THE COPPER HAS BEEN CRUSHED IN THE PIT CRUSHER IT IS CARRIED ALONG A 8KM CONVEYOR BELT TO THE NEXT STAGE IN THE PROCESS OF COPPER PRODUCTION.

9. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM

10. THE CONCENTRATOR FROTH FLOTATION. A COLLECTOR CHALCOPYRITE. THIS IS A CHEMICAL WHICH REPELS WATER. WHEN THE CONTENTS OF THE CRUSHER IS PUT INTO THE CONCENTRATOR, THE WATER REPELLING MINERALS. THIUS MEANS THAT THE COPPER CAN EASILY BE EXTRACTED FROM THE CONCENTRATOR. THIS PROCESS IS DONE BY USING A METHOD CALLED FROTH FLOTATION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN A CHEMICAL CALLED A COLLECTOR IS ADDED. THIS BINDS TO THE TYPE OF MINERALS CALLED CHALCOPYRITE. THIS IS A CHEMICAL WHICH REPELS WATER. WHEN THE CONTENTS OF THE CRUSHER IS PUT INTO THE CONCENTRATOR, THE WATER REPELLING MINERALS. THIUS MEANS THAT THE COPPER CAN EASILY BE EXTRACTED FROM THE CONCENTRATOR.

11. THE MINERALS ARE NOW 30% COPPER. THIS IS AN INCREASE INCREASE OF OF AROUND 50 TIMES COMPARED TO THE PIT CRUSHER Froth flotation in industry

12. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM

13. Smelting Dust and hot gases for heating Oxygen - enriched air Copper matte (Cu 2 S) Slag (iron oxides and sulphides are converted by silica) Chalcopyrite concentrate and silica Cu 2 S(l) + O 2 (g) 2Cu(l) + SO 2 (g) Heated reaction shaft Blown with air Sulphur dioxide converted to sulphuric acid Blister copper, 99% pure

14. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM

15. Electrolytic Refining Positive, Made of impure copper ( 99.4%) Cu Cu 2+ + 2e - (oxidation) Copper dissolves from here +++ ___ Electrolyte: warm solution of copper(11)sulphate and sulphuric acid Negative, Made of pure copper or stainless steel Cu 2+ + 2e - Cu (reduction) Copper deposits here ( 99.98% pure) It takes about two weeks for about 120kg of copper to be deposited. Negative electrodes are washed. Valuable impurities such as silver and gold are collected from the sludge.

16. SMELTER CONCENTRATOR PIT CRUSHER ELECROLYTIC REFINING COPPER OPEN PIT WASTE CARRIED VIA PIPELINE IRON RICH SLAG & H 2 SO 4 GOLD, SILVER AND PLATINUM

17. WE NOW HAVE COPPER AT A PURITY OF 99.9%