This invention patent application addresses a system for the detection and quantification of mineralogical species via x-ray diffraction (XRD) of the concentrate of dry copper before it is injected into a converter or melting furnace. Specifically, it addresses a device that performs a mineralogical analysis, in line and in real time, of the concentrate of copper in the bath smelting furnace via x-ray diffraction (XRD), which allows for control over the ideal mixture for the optimal process for copper sulfide (Cu2S)-white metal, iron sulfide (FeS)-Slag and pyritic sulfur (S2)-temperature.

A process for a producing crude solder product and a copper product includes the steps of providing a black copper comprising >=50% wt of copper together with >=1.0% wt of tin and/or >=1.0% wt of lead, and refining a first portion of the black copper to obtain a refined copper product together with at least one copper refining slag. The process further includes the steps of recovering a first crude solder product from the copper refining slag, thereby forming a solder refining slag in equilibrium with the first crude solder product, and contacting a different portion of the black copper with the solder refining slag thereby forming a spent slag and a lead-tin based metal, followed by separating the spent slag from the lead-tin based metal.

A process for a producing crude solder product and a copper product includes the steps of providing a black copper comprising >=50% wt of copper together with >=1.0% wt of tin and/or >=1.0% wt of lead, and refining a first portion of the black copper to obtain a refined copper product together with at least one copper refining slag. The process further includes the steps of recovering a first crude solder product from the copper refining slag, thereby forming a solder refining slag in equilibrium with the first crude solder product, and contacting a different portion of the black copper with the solder refining slag thereby forming a spent slag and a lead-tin based metal, followed by separating the spent slag from the lead-tin based metal.

A method for the pyrometallurgical processing of a sulphide material containing copper, the sulphide containing relatively high quantities of silica and relatively low quantities of iron, wherein the process comprises feeding the sulphide material to a TSL furnace operated under oxidising conditions such that the sulphide material forms blister copper containing between 1.2 and 1.5 wt % sulphur and a slag containing between 7 and 13 wt % copper.

A method for the pyrometallurgical processing of a sulphide material containing copper, the sulphide containing relatively high quantities of silica and relatively low quantities of iron, wherein the process comprises feeding the sulphide material to a TSL furnace operated under oxidising conditions such that the sulphide material forms blister copper containing between 1.2 and 1.5 wt % sulphur and a slag containing between 7 and 13 wt % copper.

A method for recovering metals, such as noble metals or copper, from secondary materials and other materials having organic constituents, wherein the organic components are extracted from the secondary materials and other material by thermal treatment in a process chamber and the secondary materials and other materials having organic constituents are prepared for the recovery process.

A geothermally powered copper production system includes a geothermal system with a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. A hopper receives a copper oxide ore that is crushed and provided to a leach heap to produce a copper-rich pregnant leach solution. The pregnant leach solution is provided to a settler that is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the settler is used to prepare a copper product. A hopper receives a copper sulfide ore that is crushed and provided to a flotation tank. The flotation tank is heated by a heat transfer fluid heated by the geothermal system, and a product of the flotation tank is used to prepare a copper product.

According to the present invention there is provided a method for treating a zinc leach residue comprising the steps of: adding the zinc leach residue and a sulfide material comprising copper and flux to a furnace having a molten bath therein; operating the furnace to produce a matte comprising copper and a slag comprising zinc; separating the matte from the slag; and recovering zinc from the slag. The method preferably comprises the additional step of recovering the copper and/or other precious metals such as silver and gold, from the matte.

This invention patent application addresses a system for the detection and quantification of mineralogical species via x-ray diffraction (XRD) of the concentrate of dry copper before it is injected into a converter or melting furnace. Specifically, it addresses a device that performs a mineralogical analysis, in line and in real time, of the concentrate of copper in the bath smelting furnace via x-ray diffraction (XRD), which allows for control over the ideal mixture for the optimal process for copper sulfide (Cu2S)-white metal, iron sulfide (FeS)-Slag and pyritic sulfur (S2)-temperature.