t ran sactio ns

r/
T RAN
SACTIO
NS
INSTITUTION
MINING AND METALLURGY.
'
.
IIrTY-SECOND SESSION- r942-r94.
Vor,.
LII.
?lrBllrf,Fnp
.-
AT TIIE OFFICE OF TEE INSTITUTION.
EALISTURY EOUSE, LONDON, E.C. 2.
1943_
i
-Tt?i--
)
THD INSTITUTION OI'
Reaeipts ann heenatuarlor-th'
S2
D;.
ImoFaE,
10!tr.
c .- d.
lf 2
129 19.
Ralle.i^...
7,112
B6nt,
I
19
183
4,,
0,,
T6Lpho@...
Ardib F@...
4,,
?@tage
11
LighiinS' Cto@'
10
250
,l"l
l0 0
3,085 l0 4
251 06
200 l9 7
8.lEri6 ed R€tiring Allowmcd
sd Bslipt AtsD!6 '
Submi zA
0
B.iiish [email protected] In.iiiution
TrcPi@r
I.
6t l0
2500
??
10
IDtroduction
B.
Chomicsl
(sr Orh6r
t4 r0
t6 l3
l.t I I
P0go
36
96
esp€cts ...
...
88
r,000
0
orod dnd rnsr€riais
Opbrsrionol $p€cts
...
0
51
...
5l
66
o! CoppER lRox rHE Lrauons osrarNDD
lRou HD^" LlaclriNa
60
5I
?nEcrprrrrroN
...
60
60
(6) TypeB of iron used
...
0
50
(1) Composiiiol] ot th6 h€ep liquors
60
(2) ReduotioD or the ferlio iroD by sulphur dioxido 60
(S) Precipit&tion of tho copper by iron ...
... 82
t4) Cotrrrol of the coppor preripiuiion ...
... 65
(5) fton consunption
6'.1
E!c@ of RseiPt€ ovd Exl'on'
t10,r0? 16
96
(1) Ieyout ol l€aohing erounds, sndorc mov€meri
(2) Liquor Aow in 86u€rei ...
A. Hisrorical ...
B. Modor$ prrctic€
6
8033
3
0
, Norp,nber lgrt, l9{2.
A.
0
Il.
5
d.irn"s"^ic'
LEAoETNa aND oRE-HANDLrNo
0
120
t11,066
fut
(1) Cl€an 016leechiDs und6r nornsl coDditionJ...
(1r CloaD ore lesrbing uoder spdcisl cotrditionr ...
4?2
160 f
l35 12 9,,
ditN
II.
CONTENTS
666 4 l0
.
sbs Iscilui€ of
Eysio@ ...
36930
{c1.
Tho Loaohing of Cuploous pyrites a.rd tho prooipitation
of Copper a,t Rio Tinto, Spai!.
By J, E. T^yr,oR, t6socta,e, and ?, F. WEEr,rN, ls6oc?ats.
2
16 0
2011 d
0
14
tr1.
PAPER,S AND DISCUSSIONS-
c.
96
v.^f
?3
Lib!d!' st MiU Clo€e :
Aa,ldie, Tare, Rtt$' 6tc.
I
I
SECTION
630
1.1
162 12
62
I{sii!&
2s. od )
it8, oto ..
1
73 10
3,0f3
r8t3t
11 r0
rntusnce lincludirxwe.Ddtgo
r@u6D; 123
0
246 la
I-uche@
96 18
46
r,300
?lqting dd St tione.Y ..
E pon6 ol Meting6 drd Jubil€6
66 l0
2,926
Sociion ot rhe
L't\
..d
I
cdt or Printna ?$Uc.tios:
!tuNoanm, Bdkti^ sd!@6
ooDi6 ot P.PoB' Fport€ ol
or
DMu.ioB Md comPleiDnihd
Vol$o 60, ,.s doiPta fc
adv..t@ont
\1u1 V).
Ill.
CrassrlroArrox or rHE PRDorlrr.{rD Er WasHrNo
69
...
69
l
36
J. E. T.aYr-oR AND P.
].
!.
wrrEl,Alr
i iliAorul{o
a1{D
p&EcIptTATtON OF OOp?84lT
A lrnorucuor
IN th€ msssivo pyritos from th€ Rio liDto Min$, copper ocouft
p:lli1iin:r'irlllerhd
os sulphidos.
hrsb ru€l ruquiroi.lave
of orc' wers
lulnps
largs
vith
lor
doating
unBuitebility
m6nts, end
.oseoL ressoos tor seeliDs rn all€rDative mel'bod espocisl]y oDe
oDo
suil,sble for rrostins io lurge qusotirv Pyrircs coDrridng onlJ
or tro Dot cont of copper.
oo""luit "atcin"uon, tottowed bv lesrbing ol Ib€ culcirree' coov;rh \'srious
mencea on s laree scalo sbout, 18?6 aDd
,rom
'onriDued
:le.,owst
"y
A ,poot s&sh vss Fivon to rhe l;ar s"r
.
atout two-mon(hty inr€rvats.
the surlsco boing band_pi;&€d
afier oach appticaiion ur liquor.
p"I"p" f"ur yoars or rhis rrearmonr, rho p€rc"ntss€
.I,:h-::""1-"t
jrfr€rsod io abour 50 p6r
cenr, aod r.be ooppor
il-Tll.j,"..lio
J)od ralsn to 0.5 por conr, oonorponJing,
conlonr
b,rurrer, to
oDout u.7 por @nt jo tho la.8e-sized tumps snd
0.8 por.ont in tho
ths €srly voe$ ol ih€ pres€nt c€ntDrv e nsw
ioto view-rlai or exrrscr'in8 ths "oppor without
""."
,1" pJrit€s bJ cslcinsl'ion Tho dis(incrrve roalure of
ir
;;t;;"
l"ii'*ir*
r""Jii' i.""l"ii'l,a pvriies since re00 is the alturo&rion oI penods
a"J?U;"b ,1" *" i,' "uow€d to oridue $irh perio'ls ol lixnibni'
rarnuB
copp€r
roolic"arron;o wbich tbo coppff is €xtrscl€d in solul'ion as
subsronr'iBllv pvnles conr'sioins
"
",lit",u.
50 per ooDt of sulpbur.
n€arlv
-- r*i
*u au'O.o^eDt end presenc posnion
ol lbis oxidationis rhe primsrv pupose ol tbis psplr'
in motric unll's aod scwen aDslls€3
gi"*
proc€ss
oxtlociioq
--W"igUt"
i."
ar6 Tytsr Btandsd.
'"itoimlv
B
CtrnMIcaL A8PEcrB
n$
1. Cladn Ot Leuhing under Nornol Cmni^ms
-Ihe
msiedtrls
olher
'a*' or;' io distinguish it lrom
-""'lri. ". ,AmssBivo
pvrits with the Iollowins alproximste
i""*"a,';
comPosition :
norcentsso
E"';- ' zn
' pb f'
etc
,4. B, s.or.
s
600
|+it ;i" ii. 42'L r7l9o 05do o0o5% wii'h
*
i'"'**i*i r". loachi.ng, rho ore n usuallv run of-mine'
c€ot
25
aboui'
f-in
passbg
a
lur
r'.p'
*
srizzlv
rJ
r00 megh'
dn"s
*i]' "r"o*'i"'
i in., ana + per "ont' miDus consisr'sd
brotrdlv ot 0pplrcsrioos
ti nl" t *. rsls rlu prectrc€
opurar€d as tollows :
rli"
uv'tu'
r"u"tug
ol
*"r il'"i noorl "v.ruIu
il. ;';;"";"'" Iormod bv ripping rorward trom e ronvenieot
r"'"i *r, iu" sdvanoiag slopo hsd a vorticsl beisht up to 10
, rbruush,
rrur by rsl,nts ,v€r tl,u suLmorgod
l$aps.,crnrnmi',g iruo an,l orbur iutpt,ares. u,.l sujpLuric
rcid,
{s wu
.as.opper sltpbdre, wru usuJ agEir ro "
oxlonr Dy grs rl,y .asrrding. FrnsllJ, thu ti,luors wers
"o*ia*"Ut"
coltecrod
rc
pornt nf.the va
for rocovery ot r,bu coppor by
*"an"*;"*, tiil the sna of tho 06nturv This procosB deslt
msiolv with tbo lump oto.
- wi,i ll"i'ola *p"'""ion ol l,h€ domuDd lor pvotes ror sulphuric
r;due.
37
.u"
activirt. sllall (sprlc'rv
unni"e nn" y
SpADr.
$trs ev, n,uo y rrurp ur tu"s Bvon. Erghr"or
uo rirr,,J rt d,y ri,,,b. rr,,. ri,ru,{.
p,.r,,f,
111_,Il.T::
,on. trourr l,:iro,
r th, bu. Lonra ,livunuJ ro n lbw s,r. tvhur
rh. wLoj.
besp^bod
curr!,t. rb€ squ0res \vers p,cked
:..-t:l:
ll" on.t aiter snb,.un
uver Dy it
DBnd.
intervat, Lquor wds ro-*ppljed. Erorh
sar6r was cl,o o grxat tixjvisnt. buI ehu efluent soturioDs
Before the mines cltne undor the presont ownenhip in 18?0'
Drinitivo t0el,hods oI slroltiDs in dDsll l€trrtbs oFuPolsb 8PP'!r
ocid manuieoture
ThITO,
Inorr$. nrd ronroined L.Lre€n 6u,000 rn,l 150,00{ tons.
fiidoar
i'f oru ul,,'ur 40 .,u. hr4lr wur. ntr,n,.J trrrl,,t
,,, , i;;.
"i,,**
Dn tbo h.llp-surtdco, &Dd lixiviunt ves ruu il.
Ar frrsr,;8;;;;
LDACHING AND ONE-EANDLING
U"en r,t" ma;
slo
i.
T
f'
*in.
portion.
To sopaiste rho mious I in._rhtrr js, tbe sizes suitabt€
tor
rdorranrc&t roastrng turn8cos_- h6tr d -scr€ening at
tbe losdim
ploco€,.trcmmols. &nd toLer & .€rLrsl *.*"rng p1"",
;_"
.{ll ih6 orc plus I in. wss rerurned snd wonr 6 form new ","J."
hoapi
csiled '.eturllod ovenizo hoape'. As rhe ovorsizo had
rbour
0-7 p6r..ent.opper. lb€se h€aps wer6 \,ssh6d jusl
|s Dew ones.
l'oro tim€,a funb6r.srre plG g io. minus ll in. wos scr€6r,ed
our,
rru8hed botwebu rolts ord mixod with rho
6nos tor exporr, rhie
iize beins.wuatjy. roasordbly tow in copper, tuo tow io juar,ify
return lor lurth€r wesl,ing.
'l,3Br@dly
sperking. rho orc undorwunr rhis proces t,,r
sbour
liv€ y€ars aDd tio ffnat produci,, caltod . wssh;d ors,. conrained
04 p€r coDt to 0.3 per ceDi copper. Abou, hulr-o_rnillion tone
$ore pmcessed annuslly. Tho toss of oro iD iresrnenr,
ilu6 ro
,ot,per oytru.tion, pynr6s oxidatiun, or.., averag€d 20
per.€nt.
Accuatry, ure frmo ruqujred io rpducs [b€ coppu.
conroot Lo
4
c€nc vsriud vory srodrty rro!tr hbap to hdr!.
or6s
Toulo
ler
ur a graourff narur€. .onraitring nor6 than s rormrt pmpo*ioo
,f lunps.vhich r&l1 to tho borion of thd ripping rac€, l€ached
t8rr,iculally wdt. OFq wirh r} tErgu proportlun ur v€ry noo
,rai,orlai, on l,ho olber hand. wur, ,liDirutr to tosch. tn
somo
38
J.
t.
p&EorprrATroN oF ooppsB AT Dro
$YLo& aND P F wETLAx : LrAoElNo alID
"*li"e
ffi;;;;-;*b,p"
iac-a"'i"e rhe restios
sp4M!
gg
l0 motros b€sd oI liquor. Tbs oarly rypes w6re ot low
dbpersion bur titrully rhole was srutv€d dx exrrooretJ si,opto sud
robuBt typo, which threw &boui 240 cu.n. p6r,doy inro a woft€.I
lield Bbout m€trcs wide by 10 m€rres long. Tho liquid fells ia
lsrge drops, es shown in lies. 3 (?l&ie I) snd 4 (pr&ro II), oDd loss
bI evsporation and wind-ceuyiDgjs sn≪ vo.y ile sliming over
of the hoap-sufsco €Dsues, so thsr ev6D afror 100 spplioerions
thore h no soious intorloronco with ih6 sir-ourrent. The oxtonc of
inte ererco sufrerod in voniilstion oan bo so6n by srudying ih6
streoms of hoi oir whioh issue tuom tho supsrffciol oponings of
the h6ap'su.Ia,ce and sro very visiblo wheD tho armosphero is cool
about
& roason:bl€
onlv tho rcpoosl' lov€' gsve up lho copper in
rc-$asbed'
be
to
hsd
rle
remaindor
t"l"ai'g tu",
;;';i;;.
Lonporsin
incr"ose
prosressve
s
*ti;r'ctorilv
cases,
;" l""o
rrlrro,
I
porjod
roEctioN l{er€ so'ng
i**"* **t*, indio&tios that exoth€rnic lailed
io h6ot up or
*i".*" *'""*'t'taolorv hoap either
t
"",
roaulred
e loos Period to do 3o'
'"i''-"ir';"?'.*ma"
bs
since 1925, Lhe objec''ive aimed ar'
dumps so Provrdrlg
r'mn tho oroau;on or an eir-curlenl l'brough l'bo
surphides Lo.th6
copper
th;
cbansins
ffi ";;;-6;J-i".
to th€ -isbolo
l'o
eppliod
musr'
air
To do tbis
"li,*"""'r'u1,.
l"up, tlu surrace must oot bo srmod ovor
l"-i
"iii"tu r""u-'eot
". "r 'lu and e tomporature difrorcft€ mu3t €xtut
toi
"tine,
th6 drsugbi
io
* msml,aitr
"u,,ria,
snd hunid in ths eorly nornins. tieuro 6 iptaie II) shows this
' breething' in s heep which hes b6€r washed by lprays for two
y€3r8.
bsviDs proved uosar'islsctorv'
o''-"ut'"
"p""ios
m&t s33 tnoq
tsls€ boLtom, koo{o Io(sUJ aB
^ni".ombleto
duDp or lnt€D'
sdveDritrs
r"io, oi"lua rrolD the lace or tbe
were lorm€d iDro pn'auel Li!6
Eigh spr€adiry-powoi in e spl&y hes anothor vslue; to oovsr
s giv€n ereo, f6wor movements 8!€ roqdr€d ot, eliornorively, tor
tho srne number of moves on tho Bs,no oloe o biggd ovorlsp, oDd
therslore suror coverago, is eohi€v€d. Tho loyout oD the h€sps
conprhos l€ed pip€s of 3-in. end 2-in. dianors! ieppod to ieee
on 12-in. liquor-distribuiion pipelinos ruDning alongsido ilo durDps
with, fineIy, ltr-in. rubber hos€ to ih€ spreJ$. Fo! sorvioo by
dsl, waB ususllv buill' iD l'wo tiors for solorJ
'L
to &llow for sotr'lemonr'
i""."it""* lIreaa oI lbs bssp'slop€l'skoD
l'bst l'be lumps of
*i"" *""lito starred Grest car€ was
each sprsyaD &166 of 42
il*"
a
'
i.".,'ll'l',i""-lir'". "r*wher6
bddslls
ri-Des wilb flst-pi€c6!.oo rop
;;il;il"l";til";th€
a
coDlnuousrv
qss
fo'w8rd
curi€d
r.h6 S-; csD: tho sl,lucturs
or
to
too or rh6 h6sp rh6 r'*r
;; ;;-il"J;i;;
proJ€cleo
3od '"etres
were sound strd
unlikolr to di!int€8r3{'o'
"#L" "J""!al"i;*r""lotr
oag bP€n tipped on suoh e veotirar'ing
fii""" i6zt-
base
vootls'
;**;;;;i;;;;"]i "i""'li" succosaiur in providins[hocorrecL
m3t-open[g€'
ol
vies
close-up
is
a
';""ed
l)
iion- ficurs r lPlsi,o
.'i'r*."z t!r'* if sho$s tbo v€olrLhng bese ol a boap wirh 3
rotaining rho omueDL solul'ioD'
suDk6n-dsm
"-ri"
thst ot k€oping the srlac€ of 1b6 beap
"""*A
"."U"i''
[xivisot spplicarioD proved comlderablv.moro
doetr in sDito ;I
'Ourirc ils aclive lil€ tr €€crion of lho surieco mu' rn
aincult
wssh bv liquor oD porbeps r00 occastoas'
i-"a"*
"
bJ ths
L**"r" l"t*"en lr r'bs wssh is or rair vuLumtber'we€tr
i"i l* "'*i1""1*"i'"
opPungs
soall€r
or
lbs
oosr'
iii,i oi r*'iu uppri"u';on
stime' urd' llilin-s to
il" ""Ua pr"""" l"'"" become choked up with
e Dumb€r or
benstrate tbeso, tbo lixiv;ant runs to soIo€ perl' wher8
oocu to8€tb6r end cba'rers r'hrousb 3t
il;i";;;;""'
to
unirorn vsnrirotioo ss soll
iffi "lJ li"'- tl" viowpoi-Jtr'tuoria"ut
is to spplv tbe liquor in
pui"orntii"
rauDdors {oro
""?Iili"',1..^
?€rroratsd
rsrso dtops
;;;;;;;;'-'
und€r
"""n
"'"
worki!8
or
Bptsvs
ro"our
iiii i;"a i"l*". a""araealu
x9 !o6i.€s is chos6n if 7-dey
ayoto opersiion
is coni€mpl&ied, &nd of 42x18 metrss for 14-dsy cycl€ worLing
(Fig. 6; Iht€ II) ; o1l hssp-sulfecos ero m&rksd out bv tan6d lireB
irro sucb &roas. WLon r[e rectangutar terntory csMot bo rigidly
delineaied pert of iho hoep-fece is inctuded to oomp€nseto tor anJ
d6[cii. A
:
i.
rt
i
i
50,000-ton durnp
will lave six sprays, each workjng
siDilady in itB own dofinod torritory. Tho surf&oo worted by rhs
sprsy iB a stlip mo&suring 10x2 m€tros pgl&Iot co th6 shofter
dinorrsion of tho ar6&. By noving ih€ sprsy sr€adily aloDg &n
iniermsdiste line o. linss, the whol€ surfoco cen b6 €ftcionily
covered. tr'or jnstsnc€, lor s ?-ddy oyclo thsl€ is s contrel tiDe ooDsjliing of i&I dois specsd 1 meir6 Bport; et 4"hourly iDi€Nals the
sprsy is noved oD6 scsp foNard till ii roach€B iho €nd of ths arso,
when it bogins ot tbs oihor €xtremo agoin. Thero is rhus !o tong
leriod whon no lixivisnt is oppli€d to the hssp a,s o whot€, suoh as
obbin€d with ' pool ' washing.
By tbb sysierlr tho iDi€rval boiwe€n weiiings of qny poftiolo oI
oro is 7 deys {n€sleocill8 th€ a-hou$ of vash), end rhis podod is
aolsd ihe ' oycl6'. It haB beon found thsi, for ev6reg6 cloan oi6
bid on mat, th€ cyole should bo betw66n 7 elrd 14 days. Vari&nrs
riihin thb reDgs will be rolerred io s6 mrmsl m€thods, &nd aI
oth6H as sppcial m€ibods. Imssinins s verlio&l column of olo
40
ol1
J. a.
flla,oB
aND P. r'.
rflxrrrax : LrAoEr!{G a}ID
pBDqIpTTAaION Of
th€orericEuv unsfiucl'ed
coluEn, sinco the liquid
bv l'h€ longrh of
thg
is picturod as porsiug unifolDrlv &nd
ore. 'Ib€ h€ights oI bP8ps vurv
su.corsiv€U tbrough escb layor ol
rrnm 4 to 10 mst eg, ma, in considering hquor qusni'ilios ii i3
found thot tho most D€€ful unit is tbe auount of solution rppli€d
io uDit a,roq whott it i! w0,Bhed, i.o , oncs p€r cvcl€ l]hi$ iistus ol
cubio metr€s por squor€ motro of wsBbod su sco is c6llbd tho
ovcls quaotrtv. U tbo masniLuds ot rbia cyclo qusnriuJ ls Je'ided'
elortoniog oithe cy"te o'oans that m"re llquor is us€d lrr $Esbins.
lb's-raDgo uf noinut I,
on
wjl11.".".'l{il:1 dnd
:-1*",*"
murhods. wh"re hoaps a,nounr,iEg
wi
t.r_aoi
LxJ,0,c., hrs bbo;
,,ow bo rovioqod. Aftorwsrds, ,bs
b,.LwodD $n,
oursir€ rbis ranse, trod or sp€ci,,t rnurl,uds in
1h! !'r[udl in,poqFibitiiJ ,,t rut,roJu.ixS
o,, tr shull scblb rh6
c.W'rors 6xrbrmg. in a 50.0u0 or lr0.0o0-ror,
hosp bss s"vd€t
xmtreo I[€ us" or ]otorarorJ ir,vesrigarion
in rbe probt€nN uDde;
l*ii". uo of l,he mass ot 016 occuls. A secoxdtr'J edecl' ol
'lidviont-sp;[cotio!. Lhereroro. h ro conrrol tho l'dm]erlture'
fo u**iei" tlu i€nporatu.€ of tho b€ap, ihe usual prsctice i3
to p]&oo load piper of 2-in. diemotor snd vBrvine lrom ll i'o 4
notior rong i" tire contrc of esch sprsv-oros, snd inBert deilv &
rnaxirnun thernornoter fot 3 minutes in eech lipe ltecording
z
moon t€Bporaturos so obt8ined
cou$o only roughly propoftionBl to tho true over8go
tsmp€mturos, but ihe dsts are comporablo lroln dev to drv lor
*ny hsrp and, sinco i,he couses ol ormr sro Bimilar, to * somo1vhat
I€ss 6ri€nt from hea.P to hs8p.
Tho application oI €ufrcietrt lixiviaot to bdng the orc down io
air temporotuo, or near it, i6 the nle. Tho fotlowiDg gBph'
Iig. ?, shows tho rise in iempors,turo &ftor rhc wesh hss been
ore:
epplied
'it v ltobetho
noticod lbao tbe riss io tompursturo sll'€r tbe sorentb
dsv is slos.'as hest losses sre bv Lbsl, stsg€ l&vge Tbe luu'hing
ot a hosp on a 7'day cycle D€ccssitsles' orb€r rbjngs l'cirrg ' qutrl
n€arly twice the totol lixivi&nt r€quired 1vere e 14'd&v cvcle
enployed. But whoro&B viih a l4-dsv cycl6 s r!'nge of Ircm
90tto ?0'C., with en uvsmge ot 60', obtains, the ssm€ h€&p on a
7.d&s cacle viu show linits ol20'rod 50". wirb a m€so of 36"C'
Ile procire rmoul ot lixivisDt roquirsd lo cuol l'bo oro doso to
&ir-tenp€r&turo vsriss slighl.ly in accordanco qitb tb€ L) pe ul oto
Md th; aso ot tbe hoap \4ir,h sverego cles or€ le'd oD a mat
wb6ther
l,bo q'rsntiry n€€d€d is sbour 2 cu.m. por sq m. or surlsce,
a\€r&gg
lhs
b€trp8
Since
or
l4
days.
rb€ rost-poriod hss beon 7
is
&bout
3'
pvrites
grsvitv
ol
bulk
specilic
und
thc
? IneireB in heisht,
ar€
r.bin{
:l_,:]"i, ceo moro
goD€ru!
oositv b€ unddrstood
loluiion though hotrp is to
The primary pu.poss
-u"*of putting
"
lUu sotrs cbsl havo sccurrrular'd duriug
rliccolv€ and L."
o. oxi,l.';oo pcrrod Durina th' r"sl'ing
rh€ pr€coding
'e"ar,ing
poriod, howover, as a result ol tho oxoth€rDia resciioDs going oD,
us€. the
SPAIN. 4l
n.rr rr.,r,rny_wr.h,"r *rrr, . z to
1:"i:,:T,.,:1"-"r r"n,!,.rdturr
:{i.1]1.,'*is"
th€ hsap ond vico veEa.
iD€trumoDi€ ere slso in
TTNTO,
scb wasb r€pr€s6nts onp.oxir atelv 0.10 .,
r.u"g ta"
i,,"ii;;;;:';; ;., ;;:;"i l;J,,1i,1"Ti.":fi:1
"".","r
psr lon ot dc
liuclssud is rjrur"ruru ebuui l0 cu.rr. rf s 7-dsy .yct6
rsurloprcd,axJ 5.J.rn. itq ta_Juy cyftbid.l,u.uu.
so. mel,r€ cross-ssction, r[ is au ouco evidenl thsl' tho conditions
ol [r;[06or. sr€
copplR 4T liIO
ol
6
Fro.
OAV5 AFTER WAS H
?.-Ris in rohle.aruro rit€r W.sh hos b€on epptiod to ,t6
Otu,
durdrur.orrrin portirlonr res.tiuns, sucb
1*l:: ll::t *Lluk1
or.pJntes. tre oquiribflu,o borw€un rotruus
1"" "I':"1'.'
and
:'r€rno
surptrar€si &ud Bo on, are ot lir e helD.
hsd to bo Jirurrod rn rb€ b6;pd lb€r,sotvos.
Apart
l
I
$
I
*
,.lnv€sriastion
trom lh6 ob!rous drdicutties
ol,ogelh6r
mst€.ial-units of 50,000
io$,
of
e\perin,enting $ith
rhis ,n€ant rhsr conploio iesis lasr€d
Th€ sJstdmstiriDg or spray n,ov€rDents snd tho
rucorJn,! .,r
t€mper&rures rofl€cl tb€ €tTori ro goL sn
"f.lli !11.:,j
As sui,nbre h€aps
::T1"^,-:l-L:lij.l
l,s,,"re
i""igbt
irt" [t;
;;;;,;
*," ;"d; i;;;;;";""
wofu mmsured by woirs or otbor
rnosos,
sor€ 33s8yod ar porlods equal tu a .ycl€ or n m4tritt€
of'.ycl*F, rn
42
J. E. TAYT,oB AND P.
!.
wg&LAN
pB{orprrarroN of ooppER
AT &Io rrNTot
: LBrorrrNe.aND
ordor to oonoBpond in €acb osse \\ith ths wsshiDg ol tL€ ssno or€'
Sincs 1998. h addition to msny loss conplote inv€stigaiions' some
S0 oleeD or€ he*ps hBvo boou closely studied ihroughout thoir
€xeminatron shows r.ho copp$ sulphid6s
oxisiitrg as
prsi$ in rhe pyriro, and iodiu[6o cbalcopy:riio
pnmarr fopper mrnerar, oud cove iro
(cusl snd
nd8rJ oDrichmotr! or reptacemenr, torna.
little fiom h€op to hesp
a,nd nonih to month thst it is sufici€Dt lor pr$€nt pu+os€6 l'o
s€t down tho following epprcximsto composiiion-i! granB Det
The chelsctsl of tho lixivia,nt vari€s so
or,. charcopyriio pr€dominsrss,
csDnor be mado in rbe abeence of s
r.rusrworiby .hemicat mer,bod for disdDsuishiDg
reachod
,":-,"^,i.l::.-1.1c,*l
"."d
oul a qu8urrtqhve slaremonr
it"""-lnl".j
spocleslnarDsssrwors.
Fe"'
Za
Cr
fe
1o'ooo
loo
1
In sll cesoB th€ moiols ars pressnt in th€ solutions as Bulphetsg'
'Acid' meem frss sulphurio aoid; tr'e"' ru€&ns foEic iron' and
Fs totel iron.
From th€ liquor qusniities sDd asssys tho vi€lds ol coppor, zino'
otc.. fron th;heap ero catculeted: This, tor ih€ whol6 life of 3
cl6sD ors heep, mBy work out som€vhst sB follows iD 814!os fron
osch ton ol
oiginal oft
au
4g
. Iic:oscoei.
I;l:J:s."f.'li
,,"*:
li:i::1
ectiv€ lif€.
l,ooo l,ooo l,ooo 8,ooo
sparN.
-
:
Za
,'c
dc'Or
10,ooo 16,000 8o,ooo 90,000
B'
l0
At
1'ooo
For svongo normsl loaching cotrditiong, wo csn sot dowtr th6
lollowing summary:
OtuC.ZnPbFIAtBn&''
Td....,. tOO
xlioimr.il: Tod.., 20
Pd @nt €IimiEi€d ,O
Wah€doF: ToN 80
.' '. r00 b6 of F8hed
;; ";-;,;; ...-...Tiple{t r
126 20 l6 420 4?8 06
I,O r,6 .0.3 8 0 9.O 0,1
sO ?6 20 l9 l0
'0
026 06 l2 340 388 04
sio!
006 6q
.00r
20
oo4 60
o3l oo t5 42s 485 06 006 6l
*
r t"
The eolo*ivity of thelxt'"*""?.u"
"',T"a "
$ti!b
thsl, th6 ooDoer and zioc so iol,o solui,ioa quicllv compurod
process,
hore€vor,
ths orher elonoits. The meio loss ol ors in tbo
is cloarlv dus to pqrilee decomposition and i'be iron sDd sulpbur
ot ib;-6nsl 016 difrer lil,tlo trom rh€ orisiDsl'
-pe.centice.
In choosiog tresl,m€nr .ondiL;oos tbe aim is to oblsitr:
(1) Quick €xtrection of ihe copper;
(2) Low sbrmksge or loss ot PYritos ;
""*
(3) Liquon suit0,ble fo! lurther treetm€nt'
I'ron ihs viewPoint of lurth€r troetmont, tho d€8idol8ta 3r€
low contents of leirio on, sullhuric aoid, srsonio end biBnuth itr
tho liquor, but it happols thsr wheo stopB s'€ takor l€od;og to a
c-rai:r oiiaese elomsnts, tho i'rostoent may havo
efreci ol iacreosing the propoltior ol tbe others
docr"age in
l'be
2
i
I
I
:
16
2'
MONTHS TEACHEO
Fro. s,-Avo.aAo [email protected] ctoan OE H@ps:
Monrhv yi6tda.
of copp€r diffom drsrin.rly rrom thsr ot slJ
rh6
,TI€,d,Tdrriotr
olDe. Dodr6s. exc€ptiDg p€rhps zinc. l,bo raprJitJ
ot extrsccioD
is. in prolorrion ro rhe smounc p.ur",,t, uoa
iL i; *rJ *gri;;
foirs ofr rapidry unrir. ar,", ;,"
lo:1",,r-,:.1",.r:
;;;;;;
"r.*,.i"nd
DxaJ b€ orjlJ on6-t€nrh
of wbsr it wm in lho b€aiooirs r]:is. ar.
'r
li \yasnatural ro oriampr to.on€laL€ rh€ dimrDishiDe;ield;t;
tho fallihg copp€r-mo(enr of rbo oro, EDd a valuBblo
rosuli
ot
lAler, a srm!ro urpo!6rrjat retaLionsbip is louod ro
€xist. Wlsrhor
44
J. II. T.aYLoR AxD P. F.
wllllalr:
p&ltclltT.aTlotr
LE-{cErNo -dND
cop?llu alr Rro arIIO,
SPAM.
45
Onco th! o\t roociou curvo las defin€d itsetf *nd rhe rsre
is known,
i6 tu.pc8ible io calculeto wi{,h conrido.Abto socruocy iho coppsr
Jiold lrod ony li6ap dc o tururc itsie.
devisiiotr tuom iL6 srrsighi tino visibl€ in tho
e&rly Inolths
. Th€so)ue
cusb. o.bvi,,rlly Juo to !16 prdsoncd or.,pp*
o"
toefundamcntelc&use,ot 6risos through sco lbinoiion of
33ylacl,ots chesctoristic of Rio Tinio oro! onlv, it is inrlossiblo i'o
losadthme
the
With on €xpononii&l relstionship, the plot ol
o{ ths yields should bs 0, sir&ight line as showr in lig 9:
this
of
iB due
li,
lx.
r..!ipr,. thts coppor sulphare cou€s u, in thd iirsr
sup€impoeJ on rhu copp"r yiet.ldd LJ rtrd l€oohilg
lroce$ propbr _tl]ai due io oxrdsrioD of rho sulpbider ro sulphari
.Dd-oxir&ciion of the tsttsr. Ic does roc sll co;e o,i in i 6,s;
vesh be0au€s,somo^Dechsnicat s€trUng ot [b6 duup is required
to
cxpo8o rL tuuy. tsy iarerpoter,iotr ura armpl. catculalion
n
is
possibt€. to dererr no rho emouni of the c;pp6i
i! eaoh dum;
ru the or! on
Ir*
o
I
"urpr,*Lu
DoDLDs,
shich has trppeerod as.sulpbsto. ODty nseUgibto qusotiries
oppoor rrom dump8 formsd ot run_otmine ore end r,be oxlBrtablo
copp€r tuoD ih€ls ihorefor€ comos out ftom th€ steft si
rh€ r0
to 1, p€r c6Dr po. lnonih reio. Bui dunps fornod of Dliuor&l
cr,:*1 L. urn":3 in. bbow sbour 0.s per cenl cu jo thi! rorm,
aod,l,!is meam.tba, to gel thb cuslolqarJ 95 por coor, recovery
oi
dt tb€ erlr8ctabt€.opper (usually sbout r per cerr, on orel noede
2U mootbB
oro is trearsd, strd 25 moorbs if rho uro
't.ruo-otmine
I{ONTH5
oi logsitlDs of vi6ltb'
fro. S
-?lot
The DoiDts do aduqlly tsu on s straigbl' linc wilb l'Le 'xceptioD
ol tbe 6nt low months wh€n tbs Ji6l'l is srearer l'hon would bs
lbs diryran'
€xD€cted, as ildicuiod bv lbe docred line on
lnnut oros rrneo from 2 p€r coDL ro I per cont copper_coDteDt'
rl" ior.er wiU rLta m,ch moro coppor in six mouths. as a g€D€ral
rnl6. l,hsn rbu Istter' But lbis is nol a luDctron of tho w$bing
ar, oquul grsdes rho vields src similer'
"noiitiooe,iL"'" toe-pto," oI the crlpor vielde hom numerous lreaps
Wluo
mo oDt
sro exemin€d, ibe fact er"orges t'tret, noglecting for the
linbs
ald th€
st'raighr
aro
0ll
th€v
monlbs.
l6w
*
Lle irr.sul'. E
Pxl'raction
raL€s
to
corresPoxding
idunlicsl.
fllooos s-ro Dracticauv
llven
28
d0vs
i"i**' ro'0". ""'i"'a 12 !€r cent p"r mooth of
r"."" ** *1"* lixi!iml, ol four tiuos lb€ usual conc€nlration
*er
enoloved, eo
1I
i
l,lri:ry'"
I
por coDb rat'e resnlied'
ir"t *-* "ut st this 'rusdv reto w€ mdv call lor
ir'"
"'""i*
lm oxpotreni,i0l copper" Assuming trn u{trsrtioD
*r*;"i*
rets of 10 psr cont, the following isble applid :
Pmca^r^G! oF ' EFoENTE CoPls'LMCE O@
2i1
Aft6r 3Eonihs "
-6 ,; .......... ..... ..... .... - 4G9
0
12
16
ra
2L
,4
27
,,
,,
,
,,
,,
,..... ...,......-..., -.... 6L
7
... .... ..... ... - " .. 71
75.4
,,,.,..,,,.....,......,,.............., 35 0 '
1t9 r
.... -..., ....-... . .
,,..... ... ...... ..,,.. - ., 920
,,,.....,,,....................,,,.. . t4 3
r.wo y€ars ot tea.bing, rbd muntNy copper
yi6ld is sboui
_^AIrd
100 grm.. per ron of origintrt or€, and jl, is ,,uuaify
i"lftog. ft it
o,
ro
12 p6. c6nr pdr mon,b;o,e, io
lrop il,0-10
lnhorl€ ums ]hoorelraltJ 800 g. more coppd wout,.l..Le €xtn;kd
pd too or ong'nat oro. On sddy, bosover. th€ miD€ral is lound
*::"'" cotrrartr abour 0.85 p€r reni cu. rbis r€prcsonts
T":l
z,UrU I. ol coppdr per l,on oi origjnal or€, as w€ must
componssb
fur rbu.uurl 20 ps .l.Dr loss or weigbt. Car"utsrions Uased
on rh€
ongusi rod nn r oro sssdys aiv/, in aI cosor, s srrutu rssulr_
sbour 0.20 pFr ,!nt Cu in rbe urigjoal 016 js copper imrtrune
ro obe
ordinary terching process.
as a
"onvorient rerm. rory b, caUed ,insolubto coplpr.j
.b!tThis,
Imumabty s€ro rbo tescbrng conrinu"d iu,to6oiroty, ana
aI r,he pyrirus oxidi,ed swsJ, slt rh€ copp$ pr€seDt woutd b€
*:"y*":l sorurioo. .Acrualty. in a fev rrdts Lo oxnauerion,
s [r,tt€oDg'"ot tbe ]o8.yiojd
ourves towllds rho end bas indicareJ
oro slrioksse, ss siu spposr sbonrr. is onry
ili:,^:I:j.1.
or rDe orour or t.Bl!
per.c€nt I€r monrb in prusenr pracric",
uod is
lhus.3m3ll coDp red with ,hu ooppor exrrscrioo r €. l,or
pr8clrcar purposFs, ru td.r. e.uDorni.6x0rrrrion 6Disbd
q'iihin ih€ raDge wh€ro ihe oxponenrjal lew is prQatominant. weil
ID srnnr&ty, srte. two yesB of teeching, ovor-ett rocovelios
in
,ri
E
ii
4
Iu
!
*
ffi
46
J. E. TAa'r,oB -AnD
P r' wrrELAN: LraoErNq
!&Eor?rTartot{ ou oo?pER A'! BrO TrNm,
aND
These s,ro only int€grotod
cent ol the motsl in tho ote
Iiquois now r&n8o frolo 75 to 85 per
n1iDorels
Th" ligher ngures sro recorded lor ths fch€r
tr'"'i"a.
thm
thos€
in
:
no
., ii" i"*r"lr""' oppp1" "ppuu"" to bs sre&ter 0 30 end 0 40
b€r'qoeD
in" n'"t -" ssovs
t ,h" ,;;;;;;*"
is
*pp"i Loacung bevond l'bisr Point
or
th€
htt
"*^t
vieldod
""t
ii"
ovrr* 'xidized excoedg end thocoprer
""ru""-,t"
'i[" "1'1i"
loss ol weisht
bodics
t'ho
oihor
*'ii"ti"" "t
t"Nidered stosdv sooorh curveq hke uboso
"r
.l
il#rn"*
"'" "*
"r
cobD€r vield &ro no longer
h€ops, end
fouDd Aradrcalcbtrngornrred'ubuu
producb. 3
wir.bin ih€ 7 to 14'dav cvcro mns€
;;ii;J;;;"
kopt aB
condiiion'
r',rso onoct; and aven under
;;;;;;;;gt
tbe
io
ts Isss reeorarirv
J"-ir' "" p",'''ir"
.{1"-:.1:"j
in & difr€renc6 itr tb€ m6'b8nl3m or €xrracrrou'
for
ie
toouea
-sv
smau
i]" 'u" 'oppor must bo protu€d thus a: apors
or
"t
ol
end
ioterior
rhe
et
lies
ulphido
rhis por€ ir' normullv f'lled wiuh e
'n"'pvril€
or sarta, witb a prorrr:dins bui ron o' tidss
rbe
Lbe sppricorioa or a rixirrqDr' Arrrons
bo
mrv
i"nu";;o the r&to or copper vierd
ri'oi.
;*"
tij *'^"" "f
;;;t"fi";t*
ir".#"
"r'"'ii'
il"it-"ii."L*"t.*'#
..
;fi;ilJ;"'
;;;";i;;;;t
Mocbsnrsm eod sp€ed ot transport
tl)
the soltrttoD
ol
oxYgen inwords
thlough
tho
(D fr'";"p;.;-;p""d ot coppe" io"r out'wards tbrough
goluuoD
:
:
or ndge'
*""r"*""**u"ti"" effecrs iu sshs Bt l'b€ nodul€
on th€so
work
*J -i*""ii.- a"t' I've r€sulr'6d rrom laborarorJ
but io
concenirsi'iotrq:
;"*,;";;";;r""i;"" and iorornri sartphvsical
or
oT uo"leage or ths
fi;;;#i;i;,;
'h€misir) 'on'
useluipurposo wourd be servod bv srins
ffi[;-;"i;;;,;
,",
moro il€eplv ioto this ospoci h6ro'
intimai e inr.rdependen"e betwe€D
lor rn'''nce'
1;"-;;;:.;i"
pvrit€s
exotbormir
ihe
srronslv
and
herp
*.'i]'^a,ir r'i'la" '
ouiput
L;s
iiltn;-*,'"*r"" cso quir's roo'eivsblJ cnuse
; ro ow emutl chenges io treatmPnL 'onditiurrs'
;;;'t"*
'-ii]i"
rhp
...l"trn.l.or"" r,o give a summsrizod viow orsDd
'rtremo
tr r4-d'v
LomperaLuro'
;;"j;-Jn.y,*"b *itl a"so'c orobeins uod'rsrood rhel
inl'or'
o oo:C. tompersturs-ir
.i"r" *iLl
"*.aii.*
respucti\o
rh€
rosulr's
givl inrorood;ato
"i"ll"
;;il;"' ;; whore iire wil bo or th€ rolrowiog orJur-in gr&ms
i*- "u"t to' ol orisioel oto :
Bi
Aaid
Ie
60' EosD6 ...,-
;
;;;;" .. ..
Cx
|O,OOO
to
Zn It"
ti.uOO O
lO0
ooo ro,ooo 6 ooo
0o
O00 110'U00
ooo
?0
'4a
500
1
15
0o0 s00
6
Spall{.
47
picrures. During minbg, transir ro
tho fornrition oI iho dunp, rhs oro is oxidizirS,
r$ulting in &n airDonlul produciion of oll bodies iD ths 6rsc mooth
o! l,wo. If pe otlii this otroci lron conBiders,rion.
up rh6 outpur chJrtrct€ndrirs 0" tollows: boo, srsenic, sod
bismuih yi€lds f&ll ofr very slowly: ettor iwo yesrs ih€y ars
about 80 per coDt of iho oorly l€vot. Sulphuric scid yioid togins
sliitlelow€r sxd oDdg BoDovlut, hShor iho! rh6iroD, th6 &gg.€t.i€
boing of droh tho Bame order of lragniiude. Ierric iron produotioD is dotormin€d €ntiloly by rh6 oondiriors of t.€er,m6ni. Ths
oDly body with o ropidly loiling oxireciion chsrecr€dsric simito!
co tho oopp€r, ihoush Doc &n€nabl€ to such 6xsoc cslculorioD!,
is th6 zinc. Th6 ouNo roploduced h Fig. 8 shows yi€kts for a,
hyloihetiool ov€rage he&p.
Ud€I Domsl conditions iho pydios deconposition is elmost
su&ightfoNerd to lorrous sulphoro snd sutphuric eoids:
216S, + 2H,O + lO! : t!.€SO. + 2H,SO......,.....,,,,,_,,,(t)
At o low tsmldoiure & small proportion ot rho iron sppeors es
loFic sulpheio :
4FoSOr + zHlso. + O! : 21.6r (SOr), + 21IrO...,,,, ,,.......,,(2)
Ths acid !h..b actually sppears is usueltJ sbou[ B0 por c6nt,
loss than is indi.dl€d Ly theso r€tetions. Whar, precisety iappons
io th€ €xco6s sulphur is uncertain; sono is elininatea as eulptur
dioxid€ €v6n in cool $,orking, snd sorlo olenontsl sulph;r iB
fornsd. Tle priEcipol exllonotion of iho discrop"ncy, L;wev€r,
is scid al.teck on iho various basic or acid-coosumrng mar€riols
in ths 016 or tbe glourd on which ihe h6&p is forned. Tho
docomposirion of an iron silirst€, tor €rsmpto. incressos the ror6t
;roo eppeuing in liquors and lowors rbo acid sr the same time I
Fos'O, I HrSu. =fesOr F lfro I SiO,..,,,,,.....,,,,,. ..,...,,t3)
ft may appsar siretrge to considor suoh otr attack occurring
viih tho I p6. ceui acid soluiions conmon in 16sching. Bur rh;
lolg timc'footo. &nd l,omperstuie musi
s..p! (Iiq
_10,
Plote
III)
b6 rotrrorrbor€d. Tho phoroshows o porrion ot s lump of porphyry
ehioh hed b6or lwo ymrs
in e heop.
Tho whire
sur.;";d;;
onvslops ffisoy8 60 por c€nt silics end is prectiosny froe frorn irou.
ghich np.$oni3 10 per cent of the inr€rDel uniouched poriion.
Th€ highor th6 &cid-cotrteDi oI tho lixiviari, th€ grear6r, es
rould bo €xpoctod, is the divergonco bei$,e€D rho lold of this
body &Dd ihet €xp€cied if only oquations (1) &nd (2) ere tsk€n
irto seoouni. In
somo special t6sts wh6rs oirouleiior
of
rho
48
J. E. T.IYTDB aND P'
r' wEorral{:
r?ElorrrNo Ar{D
PAEOIPITATION OF OOPPTN, AT RIO TINTO,
g to 5 tioes uh€ norm&l disor tbe.6D&r ore
rosurted
co^t
.Assav
onlv r p"r cuur" wbi' b is oormnl lor 'Dv
iii u*'""'tl,J'i""a
cl€sn oro
wsshod
-til""iJi*u",,t
*'6
of the iion vi€ld.comins hom r€scrio's
in culculsling oro loss
ts, inlroduceg 'oms ambieuitv
"ir.iil,""
rhe sxs t srste oI 'oDbintrtio' oI ihs ooppor'
;ffi;;;-i;.
*o is eved l€ss csrr'ain: l'uo as rb' soounis
"
i"i""i *""";" * '1"
epproximatian of 150 p&rtg
;* ;"Iil;
foesible to 'nalo 6r
solutioD rakhs
lli i"-.1"grr't'.t prrts ol roerals{egoios.i.ro
rollowi'g €larroD
th€
obtsin
**'ii"* * pvrrr'ss,
lii#i-'
"i 0!6 sblrDkage :
Ior caloulstins
Woietil@= Fe x 216+l6(Cu-zn
*r'*",1"""1"J*L
;i;;;;.;.-;t;
L:.,:""1:il-d;;"fv
loadod
q,"Lina
rAB)'
relor m exrracr'ion in grsros ptr too
ssres ro
"v.bols
c*rcutated bv rbrs simnre rormura
and
tipped
tonnrgee
*irn nt"
""*'r
'"il:T:#:ff;";;iJ'e
'itii *i.wet
tr"
po*ir'ru
e**os
ross
orsurphur'
h t'ho 6rat rew rnonrbB bu0 srtere'a'ds
t-"1""i.1*'
d€rieed rrom rhe simnrer rolsrioo'
oeglociing
wt ^r"uer the basrs &dopted lor ut€rpr€turtthe locts'
oI
ore rdus
ross
rho csrcur;ted rsr€ or
*"'r'" nao aqss. For hol' normullJ-wssb€d hoaps
per
p.r Loitb rnd lor oooL herps pur csnt
ii"titt""t''"""; tt"'"
il'ff;;;i-"d;"d.
i;*.1.-'".-'"
r""Ji'i,,,' i
i
J".
*;''i";' "' :b- : T.il?'- ii'r.'i J:H'.1
lil,io"''" i!"" "".i
"cotror rn occor&nco wirh
."'na.tiv.lv. Cheoqes in trestm€ni
r"*
ll"'.'J'iJJ'i",""J";' l'",'"' - r€sulhngor€
hisher or lower temperrruo
lh€
'-,rr.iJr'"to,
l&sl
lr€sdv loss of oro coopsled with rhe
or
"t.o"'
.;r;lv doiormrnes tbe eono'ric cur-otr'point'
r"riJi iippq vala'
in spite
p*"i"" in i'ho d'rerrion or 'orler workins lixi\ianl
ii
larser
"."ili ***sed lorric iron productioDptr hmp'p3$ase
iiiT"*.t'*i
in
ii"-."."'i""t "r low€r €orichm€nt
'opper
imtr and will allow tbo
hric
r€duce
nor
a"
to"C
[]"** r"*,"".
a
000
s per cu xr' oI hrric
*"r"inios r'000 b
l'"""ii]" "i I'ii'i",i
""6;;;;;a'r'
so'c
resurrs in s vi€rd
or
-ea"
"
oI ore process€d'
ton
por
iron
ro*ic
;"' '"oo',b orrhe ioput liquor cont'aroios
ffid;;"nJi;.,
1'600 s
lr
i''^-.i-i, * i"r'. "i"'r"r'
percum'
2 000 thenwbuns2500s
L' J'..-. -uJ
l'i
nTi';"ilil
fii"il;;
li'l.*-.
"tthcon"enrrarion bPcom$ 3000 s per cu m'
""t* it,-;6nal
n"".- cr"*
,"i.1"# *ii"t""r"
ore lPechioe undor cool oormsl conditions
amounl or rerric irou
n'oduoo a defroite
from 0 3 por ooni to 0.4 per cont coppo! end 48 16! ooni sutphu.
occeBionelly hosps linish l€acbilg ai a $eate. r&io than export
d€m8Dds.
thoss css€s ih€ mineral is put into ootd Btotsg; b,
tippins s ]"noir6 Isy€r of lino woshed orc (ninus i[.)
ail
ftoo lacss ol ih€ dump &nd burying ih€ oponings oi th€ .msf
ir Bimilar n&teti6l. A' pool ' w&sh on rh6se ffnes s6sls sll operiDgs
aDd vertila,tion oe6sos, tho tenp€miuro of tbe h€ep st ono6 Islting
to sbouf 25'C. In this siato th6 ore osn be loft indefnitelv l',ithour
h
I
I
i
l
I
snd ari'l
t.hi6r6ricsl sulohur oqu'vslsn[s olt tbe melals
49
On th6 othor hand, a cool vorking c&us€s rnucL loss oontemina"
tion ol ths solutions by ocid, ars€nic ond bismurh, sB wsll as oeusing
I$s lo8s of weislrt.
h modo.n prsctico th6 iotll iiDo und€r l€eoh for ct€slr ores
is two year8 0,nd ih6 loss ol or€ in rhe procoBs is ebout 20 per ceur
;
60 p6r c6ni ol tho residu&l oro iB plus I in., bui tho ooppor-coni€nt
oI ihis portion is only obout 0 6 p6r cenr. Tho linEl om sss&y!
aoludon se\e soid cosceorrsi'ioos
ilHff;;;L;tter
SPAI}I.
;
furl.h6r lt Eshilrg.
Pyrit$ is s poor coDducior of horr and oc &ny momont rh6ro
lnsy b€, in an ociive h€rp, wedg€s or oro vtrrying in tenporsrure
in sieps tuom 20"C. ]I,her6 a spray iB worling, ro 50"-?0"C. io th6
B€otion next
in
order
lor tresims
r. It
woshiDg w6ro siopped
ond Btsps werc not iak€n to pr€v€ni oidsrion, in tesg tbgD ion
daF the hotter sections would h'v6 rooched igniiioD poiDt snd
cul.rnsrion would begio. spr€&JiDg ropidty Ihrough r.ho ure.
Sulpbu dioxido would como ofr in targo votume, mix6d nitb Lri
oxido &Dd frso sulphur, end rh€ l&ft€r, on occssion, vould disr,il
jnto the cool€r rootions ol th6 dulllp whor€ it, njghr'iBuso
greot
trouble dus to spoDisneous ignition du.ing lo6diDg :
4I'€q + Ir02 : 2ForO! +85Os,.,,.....,,,,......,,,.......,,,....{4)
2Fe3,:2F66 + A,
,-.......,,.....16)
Wbsn liquor is opplied co or€ in incitienr o! sciivo celcination,
iho h6ap sinls owing to a brook-up ol rhs lninorel. Tho 6mu€nt
contains lsrgo qu;rntiiies of fr€e &cid, ond rhe €xrroction of arsonic
Ioay oxceed €ven th&t of copper. OwiDg to tho presoDce of €o
nuch sulphur dioxido, no louic iron is producod and rhs omuenr
liquor is absoluiely fr0o lrom tbis body, that in the inpur sotuiion
also being roduced:
Fo,{SO.),
+ So! +
2HsO
=
2r..osor
+ grrrso................
.(6)
Old recor& of th6 p€riod whoD opon-oi. coldn$iion was stsn.lord
practic€ show linal efiluoni soluiioDs of ihe rype ihor rvoutd bs
expeFl,ed from wh'r{ bar jusl, bden said. provrded the pJrires
has na vslue, and contarninrtion oi iho copper by arsoDio is nor
oI account, ihis type ol lssching c€riainly giles rhe coppor v€ry
50
J. E.
T-AT'[,OB AND
T. T. VIII&LAN
:
r&Dor?TIATION OF Coppli& aT RIo arNTO,
LEAOIIINO A}ID
oui{klv snd al, th€ ssmo rime olitniDdtes whtrl' has clwavs been
tho f€rric iron'
ii..
-"- -i* .1"i"* buqb€ar in wel motbodsforogoins
condi'ions
speeial
u" t"*ta,g und
6'.' cli
-rho
speciol
vhen
rrngo;
loachiug
Dor;dl
tho
*""J-1"' a*rt wiih
enorge'
lectB
int€rcsiiDg
manv
s,r€ deslt with,
m€thods
*
on a sho* cvcto (bolow 7-dsv' sbs iri"d
i"*"
"*Ui*
tr,i throush sir-curreor' Iail€d' no sppr€cnblo
*" I ,""1,
'
'irn"
sn.l l'ho ourpuL of coppor aDd ziDc 'ell [o
a"*r"o"a,
l*i "*
bismutb
ii."t.*-rli'l "i ttl, *rnal ors losg and ursenicporJnd
or i'ho
c€oL
to
?5
up
r"U ;' ev€o sroarer degr€o
coDditionc
"'.i*i;".
normrl
When
was rn Lhl lem;c siate
i".ir*"a to, s low months pass€d bofor€ i'ho violds egoin
;;;";"ft"d
to notmrl
incrcos€d
"'i"i-il--"*i""
r"*lins hes olso bsen iried rhs ors is tipp€d
Beoouso
ittt" t a"- *a solution passod through continuouslv
oI
ooppor
rsio
t"'"rg" i; bs itostod' snd ihe slow
tl"
rn
tho
m.rhod
".*.*. r*"
"i
r*.*u s standard
;;;;;,-til
r'bo
$irh
'iw*
w€ro
oporar€d
***t subm"rsed dumps
sevo*r
"'.i.1-1""i"""
sorution€
tb.
rro'
terr;c iron
;;;;;";;i;;s
r.."n*
€qusiions hsve booD Proposod
Cu,S +
'
6Fo,iSO.)r
:
T 4IrrO-2CUSO. T ru|oso. +
4H?sr"
T 4a:do'
c,is i o-e"iso.r" _ arqo cNo. aFoso.
8Etso'
l?Fesu'l
r
cuso'
l
Euto
cur€s"+ 8fe.(so.)'
't
8H'so'
lanto-l5rsso{
lF;so.;.
s"E,
(7)
(3)
(0)
(10)
oro w-ar
A car€ful irvestieeiion on a 50,000-ton dump of rizod
leid
so thet liquor contiDuellv
v'6
help
Ths
*"*iir-".a"itt""".
{€rr;o
r.o mr,hin one merre or rb€ surffe Tbe
gromg
""-""Jilr"*l
iii'-*a*1i""" oapscitJ I'os louDd ro iall lrom 100 to 50
r'ho
hesp
vees
;;;il;;". -i;" i". oi ore per dav ovor r'ber'2lour
$as
sriu
por
c€ot'
onginauv
;;;;.
"on'"'',
loachiDs
"oppu.
dubmorg€d
olrdctor'
i:r
* tn"'"i'a as o copper jron solutioo is slow llo'0u3e
"er "*t*"fI, p"' '
or ierri'
*i,f-e.ooO
"' pur' rbrougb' essav diff€ren'cs jor rho
*t"rnes
in"'i*"]r'.'J
"i U.al"
to provjdo dsra ror rnv uoe'ul Joducr iors'
"'i'
"'"tl
"'i,Do
"i1""
rhe pres'ooo ol pvri(eF bss e de'id€d
l'bor
-"t '," *ia hero etrect
on i'he lelctioD 16r' Liquo^ Irom
;;";i."
- ctrtalvdc
conLaiorng coosiderabro rerric iron wilr show
;;';iri;;"',
lli^-i^'iJld.r*"i"" iu-a pvnreg lilrer' and r'hes€ condir'ioDg
*" .l subm"rgo'l dumps in 6Ir' '1ul ctrbcs
T"ii
-i'.ili.r;
'"rru"i1" rjch ir rerric rron (moro tboo 5000 srdns per
"""
b€r€ r Pessed tboush .ub"":;.;;;;"";'.,
roduction vsruos or perh'ps
show
such riquorB
l;;;Jd-";i""'
'i""ii",11, ioo'".." p"' dav pe' roo oI oru previousrv r€corded
Sf.AlN. 6l
Such solutioDs los€ souo fsrrio non €v€n if pr,sB€d ihougL N
l€ul,ilat€d pyritos heari. Iu f&ci; lrlary yoars a8o sftempi, ;€16
mrde io produco concolltr&ied forric iron solurions in qutrnrity
Ior ie!(LiDs pJritu, -ui!g rtu iruo bah rs sn oxygdrFrlrrisr.
The pmcsss fdiled becousg it wos diGrulr io roiso rhe ferric iron
coltoDt io r high levol cheut ly, vhile ownB co rho slownoss of
the roectioll€ copper oxirecrion wds slow aDd rhe sfl1uor6 liquo!
lrom the proco8s wos bsdty (onisrninofcd.
S. Otl&r Ores a d Makfiuls.-].n eddiiior ro puro pyrires, i.o.
pyiies rviih s sulphur coDt€nr ol 4? ro bl p€I cont, tho minoB
produce tv" orhd rypb ut.re r.r tonrLug : siliceous orer, urying
aboui .:5 nd curr bult,Lur, i,, wt,irb d,u pyrirus aDd orhur d{lpbide;
.are rarAelJ rngroru, J iL q'rJrLz, auJ. dirrJ
i.6. pyrilds uoo\oid"re,
ablJ ,!nrDroiudted bJ burr"n maruirl ,lurirg
mrniog, aod rhorefore
ooDirining oDIy al,out 40 per csnt sulphur. Borh ih€lo r,ypes Dl&y
.contain up-to.g+ per ceDi copper. thoso oros 6r€
tipped in sopu*o
hesps, eDd, if Bufficiont lumpy norolial is pr6senr, er€ l€ached
.oxeily as tkon or{,s, by spray-Dar morhods. Bur ft usuoly
hspperu that th6 lumps ol thos€ typos ot ors ro roquirod lor
sDpll,iog. lesv'ns only lbd rinos lur te0cbing, un,l when 6oes ooly
arc leo.h"d. rhu L^isll. ut rhe.tuml,r rurrre,t is nor !ll,wod;
.€xeo€d 3 motr€s. By periodicrlty d.&g8i'rg & rstc,outfii
ov(JI cho
surface ny trsoror (I'ig. rl, Irlsie ItI) ii is usuolly possible ro uso
lpmys for &bout ono yorr; Irltor*{rds, ,pools' hava io b0 us€d.
About
fiv€-yea
are roquired ro iuko the coppor-contoni down to
botw66n 0.3 dDd 0 4 por cont.
Th€
cines ftqm rhs SO, ioduci;on plant (doscdbod l0,rer) and
e_ Bulphurio ocid works aro 'pool' woshed in E€parar€ dunps.
c
these Dsy contsh ut to 5 per ccnt sutphur, sod when losch;d
cold giv€ lorgo nmoun{,s of terrir iron.
'lhu qudr,(itius ut rl!onus un€ rpcuiruJ to! rresr,nutrr vsrv
corrridprably: l,L,J have repre{eutdd abour orre-qurrrer oI rhe
total tonnoAo ledched since
r. Ld!tut
C.
oJ
1900.
OPDRATIONAI, ASPECTS
ond, ore Mo\enent._'rhe ongjnal
Leacw OtMds
lescbine sroDnd,
the
Corda vollcy, and
I
neigbbouring
Le,
Tejonora, v€re \'.oll plncod to r€c6iv€ ore from rtre hiAhor sections
of tho niDe. fhey $aduolly fitled, however, and sinulrsDeousty
miDing w6ni deopor. To Dvoid hoisriDs, o new ruDnei, rh6 t6ri
Floor tunnel, 1ym drivon, iopping & tower lev€l and smerging er
o point b6low, a.Ild disient from, these odginat leoching sir€s.
Work 1lrB theroforo grodu&lly transfoued to r new districr,
oroo witl bo describod here.2Irs
Noye. Only l,ho loyout ot this
it
62
t. g. TAY' oB AND P a' wErLAl{ :
pBEoerTATro!{
ltrraoEr}ro Ar{D
mino f€o6ureB
rslation to tho older Ieacbing grounds snd oth€r
ii- .howa in Fic. 12.
au r€rdiDs to ooo rcrativorv
e s*i€' or
i;
"€h''rp
"'novg'
spur6 ro hold. .flusnt
-#t;;;
bv two
n"tJ
"*"#"ffiiimmodiatolv insido rhis our'rot'
;;"'-;a;"*" are locared prano
ffi"ora
*il;;"';;;;*"
ws€ constructod rhrE
* iD'rhed
cao
;;b';;"po or s5', a;d hoist 200 r'ons pororho"t
t" ;;;;s,
;;;;; ;fi. rn a mareharliog rrrd sr lhe torminol r'ho
i".,.i-i:"".ii"""r ,u" "* aeerin"i ror rea"hing isrsirw&v
-und
'ss€mbled.
or srt'
a doublorine
;il;';; ;ill,* ro.o,oo'iuu oo
hnsth ro r'Lo bottom ol r'ho pleDo'
iii]*"'i" ""i lu"" n om inbios
fiv€ iD nuobor' shich iogetb€r
qhero"it is tipped io receivilg
sro ro som€ oxtont
;";";i;01;,, surses or iopur' tononse
eiuarrv+pacod int'onds
:;::Jff ii".'iT to'ri-soo+oo
"pp'*i'"av
inro-3ov ooe or
poclors'
ors
i,ll" ;""r.""
"s
thoso pockois
lrom
drasn
".1"
iit"ii,l" "1,"" *';" 'ischmged 016on loos subsrattisuv
rovsr
,ll'*""""*i. t' stosm loco;o'ivo'
il'ffift:;;: tt il"i*ti"r *i **ain" t€sching srouod
;il;#;;;;;;t?;i"ltv
""'"i"
ees rze' rsz
*t
sto motr$ sbov6
th€rofore' iB verv liko thsl of.sn opeffmt'
remaD
;o utoog those ixod lovsl trackB 8nd tbev
o"t*
""*.r
r"*l'Jit
"o.i"e
*-lii-"*,ir,l"'"."*a,
LH;;;;-t";
**--"a
strictrv to rbe originrr
bo distjncl'lv iortuous'
sould
dourso
'hoir
hosover' und sharp
ae*v'
c't
bosn
so t'bst son'le curvo€ sro ob*rned
iru n*ua juuut t'Ia'Ls are o'pror€d
rrpeg
rr' wir bo s€pn thsr' rour drfforeni
"".l*
!lliil'-"": il*il"" il'e
ili.l*'-"" au"J i!.
"&:H""'i';ftil;;;'
b";;;;;'dJ;;p" simultsmouslJ Also' when s lerss iDput
li'* *"t" hrndlod
with' Lvo or moro tippils trscls mar
lii," "i*, r""1";" a"di Isvols'
used oq ono ot ihe
be
-'or'."ioi.-tU"a
fou
tho
1trev round tho l€aabins ground on
**ing inr'roduces a doublo cracL rron highor
ol th€
*i"J. il"il'Teon
trom r'he older'vslers'
lii.'ii"ii '"a aho briiga r'ho liquot
ssrl')' raurng Br b
bact
then
and
tr.i" -"i" ri"" loops forw*d
.;";;.'cut'trns ond
il:"ffi
"onomiineo"iil,:i: il:';ff;
i'""t" one br ooo, and 30 Jormrns
the bor rom
'
o'iroc paseos crose ro
ff :;#;ir",b";;;' ho Novaolongeide
th€ itrcolDins ore lmckB
ani procoeds
nl"" li tt"
r€rerrou 0u'
aLr"adJ
"L*'
terninsl marshtrUing Jtrrd
i^ .1" t*our
""di" iiJi"""r
tbus also gerve ror ouiput ore trtrnsport'
""*ssupplv rh€ cronos which are employed to
no"-1"* 1."* lbelo
is compr€t'ed'
ffiH;l#;";;if"
b"saps
etter loschiog
or ooppra at Bro trNTo,
sparN.
68
Unlik€ silicoow s,nd dirty or€s, vhich r€nain iDdofin sty d?, s];,r,
cl6&n Inindel, afcor laachiDg, i,r losded for export and new lo*pr
oro coniinuolly lormod oD tho sii€s of old. Ii is obvious, ih6rofo;e,
ihei, ir this ooso, sleed in washing oui rhs oopp€r is atr oxtrcmoly
)
64
J. E. TAa-l,oB anD P. r'. wEdLAN
: LrlcErNo
PB,}|OIPITATION Or, OOI:PTR "AT RIO TINT'OJ SPAIN'
aND
66
iiod
ot ore be;og
imoorraor tecror, loedrng Io a rcduc€d qusnliry
a
aa"v in financiol rdoum sDd erctrtor concoD'i"'J "'**.. r"* iil","ord urb rhtrt rau bt ruu€d rcund in rrre
rhe
io" r"""' *cei!ins bins oI rho ioclin€' rhe $esror
lii""
i'""i;l'iiiJ,ii*
"i"* '"
ibs ireatmenb'
or€tall
"'iT" economy of
rur clern ores hrs beoD brousbr' down
'"'""r--1,"""".tr.6
l"xp msv lalu jLree montbs
..;;;;;;;'il;;it0uoo'too rhrco
loonrLs rc losJ up
s;.n*,h. "'sb rnd
,.
'";"#ri.;;;;;
reachiDs
rrou.
'"
ot
extract;on
;t" """eromriun
"rs
hsnd
on"
tho
tho inclinu on
t"il"'""""# i.-"' "*" r'**"*
rhe
in
lsi
€xit trs.I on th€ othor rFis
;'J;"'ffi";";;;;
iDLur'
rotors
oI
a
ili."t"i'l n"'" ir" rstour incrudesr'o the'sriss
incrinod
hiDs or
cor'respondirg
;:il,ffi;;;i;";;
'he
motres v€rricdrrv
,rl*"a sbour ?
ffi:;;;";-;""*
"t
2e2'm levol rboso
"""a
ore being.the
t"i
iil'ir.i-""
have bs€n
or
projoct;ons
"oan
i-*""i -" "rr d't : iDLerfurins varrovs frlre<rbillsidos
ir' rlo 59 009sloerr
r**'"niog
l,"iil"'"
Lomporerriv puL rn
i* a"'i*"a'in"
*" formed lrom tipprng trackssbout
acr$ somo
r,l"li"*'r loeels, aad in ihi€ ar€r ors z1'roar60tum'round
"^
i""" "* r" n'""ess6d sonusuv on
i*iioo
-'ii"*,n"
bJ el€cr'ric
i"'"" 'i" tullv leached, ore is Losd€d
oa a
rruckB
;orc
cu
rl
vd
* "r"r.'"t"'J'' t*i'g capac;l'ies oI'bo 6\sd
rt
rin€
re!€r
bottom
the
iu,o;;;;-;uai"s t.# rr-orn
isreduced
i"
plant (Fig ls) $here ic
*a
L"'"
""*""i'* t tn"rushiDg
in stock piles ror ihipro€or'
i. ".i," """-'';:,"
-anJsrorod
"lrr* :l'.i"a
l."-ll;'li"
ori' made dsirv s ssnpl. is burDsd iD rusi
-**""'
l'bo burrins
to
lo tuur'
li".-ni"""""1"r
"t'uck 3 :
"o'u'
"
""ia
follo'
whioh
qJitv J tu" p-4"*, tvpicol sndvBes of
'
" o*,^,n*n*
n
g
H
fii
fi
...,,,.....
.. +s':oo
'iii
,,,,',,,,'''.',
..1............ o ol
:.............. r'?q
::.::::::.:::::
Mtr ....... .... 9 994
cao
M*o ,...... .. 9lY
Fi
;3r"
Aj.o"
N.,1,i"
L
:.::::..:::.::. To.0o'
i"
.Iio" .,.,.....,,,... 0 '*u
0t4
Brsb. ..... ... . 0 63
8io.
r'91
W6_t3r, orysen' 6k
^'lf
Y^
+N
,?
ilp ii
60 I.1ro
I+roo
r;33
3
:l
;l
;EI
r3l
."t"1
B
2
* ", Et fl
i \lel Eltr ;tl
'.
;
'l
-
:l 3l'l
€
st tt
6
.!
.!
N-
?;
.9
FF
e
2
I
s
j
6
'5
I
I
3
,9
t
I
p
!
\
l
5{i
J. E.
t
rl,oB aND P.
l.
wrrEr/AL
:
LEAorrrNo
^r{D
pl6ro' or
ths
bix'r
of
toproost
Diftv snd silic€ous oros llom ihe
lovols
hishcr
the
sloDs
run
out
oro
r*, ti" li"l* miDo outlol,B,
(iudorg
uu'l
trlu-dult
rips
.uirul,lu
to
ul
Ndvs
i"i*. zggl.
'
in lhe oldsr Iescling grounds,o'conueoionu
i'"'"ff"
"hes
m"""1'""" ""pp".***"t ol lhsso nstorr'ls brrs boun r€ducod
to b€low 0 S lor cenl, th€y so lott i4 srlu'
on droso ocoosionc ;lox lho nino outlui oxcoeds €xport
Lo r'ho botrpb i &ud 'unvursolt
'";;i'"."",".
*Lien the exoorl, *reaIo is lsrqo l,he dsilv tonDags coming
to lhe
loachirs
ero'unde is olten rerv sEsll. Tb€ rnovilabl€ 'oro[arJ
-shock-sbsorbsr
l€schilg s€crion i3 €xbr€6o
iD operstions' Tbe receiprs ol oro v l
tunction oI
of this
ubu
iev.to-dav c*iarion
s;raee aiout 9,000 tons p€r ds) over [he J€Br, tbe dailv tonnages
to 4.0b0. ihe losdiDs ol wushed ors varies
"'-ii. r"o- zero
linirs and sboul, 1,000 toc per dtrJ of ' mixod
'itiin"sir[iler
min6rsl' d€rivod hon old ore BtookB i€ loaded lor trestmsnt in
s conc€ntmior. Tho total tomege lo*ded workB out Ei rbout
iD l€ogi'b
+.OOO ioo. p* a'v ouut rho voor. Sculs everago r'9lm
groutrdE'
i'ho
letrching
in
of
trdcl
a0
Lm.
*utu iru utr,og*ttu.
"oa
or€'moveltroDt
ths
DoD
ior
300
is
obout
requirod
Tho labour lorce
snd rolat€d seNioss, &nd 100 mon or€ €ngagcd in liquo! control
snd washils iho dunps.
A briel rs"lerence ehould b€ meds to agglomolstion ol {ssh€d
016. If, during loacbing, th6 humidirv hsid€ a clean ore ho*p
uro" ilo o ticil humidiiios oi tho soli€ involvod'
"*;"
'l*"
"oi
the ihc ot€ 'oa,kes' snd exco'rsivs quaDtiii€s of explosiv6s ars
required durbg loadiDg. wirh modorn a"tive herps pruriied
*"'"uine i" oniilo*up'J, no serious agglomerarion trrises I and
tbig ap"pliea also if ttre ore iB finallv trnd quicklv put into ' cold
* nu*.itua e&rLier' Bur' ir lho rouriou is disl'urbud
"L*nu1
and ihe oro overheatg, occssionallv (akiig eosues A pbotoerapb (Fig.
1a',
Plale
]ln
shows Lho FS€ot
clcorlv
This trouble i3
i*i "i.i.* ir
wbioh hove practically io bd ro'Ioinod'
). LiM Floa inCanetal -Becouss ot th€ir 'orrosive
.
r.bo old mited ein€ral sto'Ls, som€ Portions of
'btrroct€r'
l,h" lioJo$ usod tor leochios are lor tho rlosr prrt torriud ir
.""4.'. tounders..of which oboul, 10 kiloDr€l'ros, trrosLlv ol l8'itr
hv r6.in. s60tion, hsve ro bo meiDl,omed Tbuso are hold togeiher
b"v *oodso pees,aad *.oftrUv cauu€d strd pircb'd rDsido'
"p".pu
oI rho ceDrrilussl tvps wirb bJrd-l€ad bodios
"iu"uit
Ths
and BtrinleBB steel inpenors (18 per coni Cr' 8 p€r coni Nt
3n
io
is
diIgct-coupled
stardgld typo haB slr f-iD. dischrrge, end
d€tivor
m'
Ih$6
r'p
1,500
86-h.p. 8,00-0-volt motor ruming et
IBICTIIIATION O!.COP?E& AT &IO ,rrNTo,
sl,lrN,
67
.5,000 cu nr. p{r doy 1750 gats. psr ,,rirulu, r,, huuds ot trorn
l20It.
rrrr,ruiurr r.u ,rari
1,,,,,,p" ,li',r,. rI,., FUv,{!ru.l!.
::-l:l].1:,
crn
rrugor8 trrd rn uso tor sxru ,tr i,,t!
li
,1 ,":,'"
,rr.ru,rur fur t[o bigsor in.
.,"i,l:,ff 1,,,;,;ii,l.:T1
or c&st iro,, or
rrr.,i
-;;1 ;:i,:'illj* "
"r+r,
'ira
{[email protected] rtr, rd. rr r,,",
';;.;;jr;
r,.,i,,.,ry i,,,*ir"u'; ili,l'lii, Jl i"l"ll,
nto ot 2r, yulrd, irr slirb oI rd €xirHrnah
",t;il;
-:-s^:"J:.liT: **:,t,r ,n r,nins and ,"r1"u"iii:"-" *'' '"^'
rresn worer rs used lur washiDs che
otd d
dibtricr,. Iho resuking r,r,";,;;,i;;,;;:;Y'* r' tbo rejonera
to ttrb, cerda a""p,, ir,i.
Hi"l#j'l;lifJf
tio.dtr heaps, rle edoont, ogain
""",r",l,,e":i1,
with oddri,i
com$ bv a lorg
'lounder ro rhu NuJu
lii
.,u".
w!i.r/ ,h€s" (dd!
riquors eDrd rhe Nsro basin
,rs ]Lb:l:lj.l,*
ro€ !nn.'pat dr8lriburins lovet ror
ldsching Lo-doy. ,F.ron rbo
r,rdu drtch rurDillg rouod rhu besin. two
puuprDg siorioDs litc
so/urrons tbr loa.hjoe rhe }ighor tov€k.
An IS_rn. pipetire from
s c-pump sratiu! siruatud nue. rh€ roor
*" ;r,"riiJ alr"U".g",
Dto tbrs DAin diicb es ii enreft th6 valEr
"r
rr,.u* rr,e
recovorbd '"ine.Liquor
from [h6 gravilJ cor,c;n[r,rur.fir,u
pora, *a u"u
drs,re.r aoouri o[ rho nnal]reaps untuenr _.
;:jJ",".
l,b.ougb Cho heap3.
"t ",;i;;
.^91:*,::":::l* ronac6. pir,€riuus or r2.u. dismorbl coongcr
iro^,;;;;"ffi;;"'j;r,ifl j*"j"jl".jj
rhot parr of rhu bssin uspd ro;
*" r"*u"i.
r_pi"i""
,i
"j.""po;ots rrom wrrich.eoruron
provido
ralpine
:""::1.:j.?"ll:: on rb6rho
helps. u,r;de rbo acri"" ;;; 6;.
:_ dr!.
lT'.::.:p.,y.
prpelni.s are pur ir whun required
or
o"lTi
roor or encl
,f" fluw, ond rerb,ni srouxd .arcb rhe sotu,ion{,
"
custrron
cbe hquor
l,JL€ car€ ut, i
ouy b, cors;do*r,r".
g,g cn.nr.. ard ,\arD r00",000 .u.D., rhe br"as
l-,-lj:.i1,_1.
1l dr.,ins
rDlrdo tbo sturm
baiog 400. 200, aDd 400 a"*" ."r0"",;""f".
une or or, rJru on rtru hucl/irs grourJs equrrs
rOO,uirO cu.ni.,
rDd thoust r,bo miltiotrs oi,one u, ors,o
u*roo,
u.
lorrry long rrj,J spetjs rho ro.ords
"o.o
"", u
,""","r;";
i"r;";. ;";;H;;"""",:,lllr":l'dllillj
ro ?0 por .eor or the
3'1"T.9,,i',9
Iisinfo
th€ mino!
.at
"b"*carcbmonr..
rheorer.icar
varies troln t5 iD. _to 45 in. wi;;;;;;
c€rda aoy rxivianr
,.I1,:1'-l1l:11""t"rn sn,r
rhe tuat A"*,,
ourDp8 uppeer! onry
appued ro rhe
Ly" U*t, l*
"
uu"i""
l
)
58
J. E. q,l}'LoB AND
P x" wllaLAnl i
pRnotl'l,fa'llo}I Or CotpEli
AT &IO TtNlfO, SpAIN.
69
L&AoErNo -AlrD
ao'oss the gulli€s which hold tho:
tu""r* i',to'.ua;t" r'urwu't' rho terrtrc"s soru-
of t€n Bnell rsunk€n dams'
l*
;;;;;;;
a1'purrs
iii" "'ii"a ro hetrpb,rr rh' drot tunrcu' Ior uir'*trtr'" ov'r
rrF
;-';;i;;;i ;" ;;;',. Bv po'sine ir thruugb vipuriib
lower'
siill
oro
sprav heaps on the
'soito
""";
"".ii"'*"".
',
ttre rotivo cie' 'or€ reacrring
through
il;. ffi;;,ttt"'i*ction
"duion ro tlu
in *rntur
in su'n''r : bur' b"rrins
iocidPn.c ot rerDlrll liquu! qutrnriri'b
.'"-il'?"*",i "1"* a-r'i" r,hose
t*". ""' do$n iom6 'ista on brotrd
;;-;ff;.;",";;;;;'i"n'
lines to cive a Dor€ concr€ie picture
"-ir"t""
cu m pPr dsv
li'""* *i". ,' at vorious poiors rro 8 t.t00
6od small s'roaros
*il"'i.i* ",r,". ***s such ss rrcsb water
'l'ho
€vonruel omuet'l
.-a""i-a";r" &n trddrl,iooal 4,u00 cul]l
nr"
;;;;,;,;;;""." r**' .av measure I5 000 'u r.be ditruro.ce
b6ins
du6 to rainf&ll
""bT'i.i"
rtuo! tron arod to sres un'r hedn m be&p
"'"""ai"-
br pumpiog th€ lirjviaD'
"j;#;;;:"h-ton
iri"i-i' "*"u" * *ler
;dffi;;:';;; i.v.
two
h€&o-D3,3srco3
""i1"'ii'itri"'iln
.r *s
."-;; ;;;;;;;.c"i"s
il" iin"'"^, o,e-r.vpei
actu&llr
m,LioJe oo to boaps surrsc"s is about
usase thus roosus $ound
rn"
'**g"
solur'ion dopends obviuuslr
riquors, ter th€ rersi'ive proporr'iuns or
6DaL effiubnr'
wa-"noa, ana (sr r'h€ Row-sh€er' anJ
sJbt€6
of wosbiDg edoPted
IB^cE lireuoN
Co$antmdd in rams Pq ctbic tu|re
..... ...
!_.pp-...........
,1"": .:. I ... . . ...
iiiii,'"il ."iJ'
B,Muth
... ...
--..,, ...
ltdt
nn
E
...
EJJt@nr
2
rd
o
r
......., ..
!'edia i!on.......... ,....., Total l$n.... .... .....
sulphuic 6cid--- .... , ...
ABonic .... ... . ..., -Itisnutn ... ........ ..... "
'
'
'
'
'
'
5r0
to
50
lo
o.l
o
ruurld
app""rios rD- r.b; ;,T,,::"
Il;n€-weiors jn rhe strjct se,rso
arnounu
200
2'000
100
j
lio
,o
200
ll0
t6
002
s riL'
rjl hv.,
:,'":,T,J;,,,rTil:.11]
::..::._::"0.,,n,r,",
""",,n,,,yr,,^"ii.li"'
purlroiu
rn{lr \rri.r,l,rr
. L ti, ir,,t sIxDlv
i:
trnaDr requfuo,nuurs. dnd rhp denciurn"rt
b",r", Ly
r$o uxpodreDts_(tr l,shnB n/ rerloin
"";;ir,"
n.nr.,,,,nu,"ire'c sdtrs. !nJ (2,,.irujs,,ng,,,,",;,t
",ppt;u,
r,;;,;;;,;.-il
esmplo ot rtru_souF,,q grouped undur (rr
may be uruDdioqed rhu
rb," srream in rainy p".ioa, r*
:^"1::,":,.:.
, sum,ner
vojumo.
Dur rr
" .",.jd""";;
drios up almosr comoleLetv
o_;". ,j
Drnrog acr,vl,es hishor up, snd to so0paa6
rro,o ,i.""-ri",i r_
rbU iimo i, spproJ.hos rbo roach,ns
sl";"a.li"
trn,r ab"ut i.do0 graos or to,ai
iroD pdr
::J,:
T,,r_"",
ruor( lIerr6, ur whrrh 50 per c€nr is in rho
fonic.!"r", rh";J;.
pos'rron varJirg lil, o ov€r rho v€ar
_":lT i:,_^,"::"" od"a*,". ;rue snd moru i,,rernsr pu,npiDs
.or
;i
il;;Ji;#i
,j:,fl*::i
rho pric6
or mppel and or scrap.ilon,
l,:1'^.:,'":.::1""?,:,ls
L,!rDnr, appli€d ro heap.surracee rer in cosu
recenr
:, ry","-'-,-"1:. ,
esloroer sources jDr,roduc"d. rh6
din";;;;
{:T:::'- T,i': rbo
*
oquar amuunls Ly
sraviry ri4cad;;
fl,1"s"::::u::"i l* "bour
r h6Bp ru busp, aod Uy ;rr*"ir
ox,omar
E$i'hn'nt
mult
b6
qll.
supprr.'h"
ecc€pted. SiUdous
";*;;";"""k,;;';i:,#
ores rows;s fh"
ul*^
€spccisry
p,rlpi"gl
J":rH'ifl"ill{
hjsh,",".r",,"" X'.X;t"::",;1"#;i:
lr:
grvff gr68to. ai,t€nt ion whon ih€ amounr
mreroro
or thls nopurity
exi€n,at rour.es rs low, i.e. rn summ€r,
as lbo
torric imn caD rbon be }cpi withjn rbe capscitv
ot ihu SO, *a*ui*
phnt G€e p. 61).
ffnel fecto! govorning tho consriiurion of tho
€v€ntusl
Estnnt EJJI&st Yiztlt
Zinc -..,.,.
Fo ic,iron, js rh6 onty impuriry inirodu.ed
in r€tarivotJ large
dmuunt by rtre inpur lrqoors, on.t
;n tt.,prccds N uldtrr'€J 4L
Hio linlo €scb , i'* ,",, ,r'rr,i" ,"",,.'"rntru'rucur
wtul€ one can chooso botwe€o iskino i,
;;
z.ouo r,ooo
r noo 2.OOo r,ouu
eoo r'uoo r0'00o
'
.
15
I0
150
100
!5
00t
-Ihe rhe.sJstum of llashilg adopl,ed un
efruenr,is
lho irdividuel hesDs
lc oas Deeo 8Dovtr that vsriar,io! ol rh6 coDdir.ions
ot rrscrmeot
cbsrllcl,o. or the resulrurr
|lquor. uthff coosrderarior,s como iD b6r€ whicb ox€rriso
s pre.
ponderatiDg i!flu€nco. In pBcric€, fto& ihe
mon€nt toechjrs
b'€iru on a clean or€ dump.o routiDo is esrsUlished qhich
conf;ou;
ufl wosn'ne€ods. utrty on oxrrem€ly rare occasions, wben
suddsn
!e&vy rornrau mrkes possibto acrudl Ioss of copper rbrough
of
cl€sn
ires cso $oar ty affert th€
t
60
J. E, Taalo&,$rD P. F. wrrEiatl
: r]EAor
inBudiciont pr€oipiirtion capacity, is weshing iriorupted, end
the for a fsw dsyB st mo8t.
Desid€nl& h ffnal efluoDt liquor sre rectors t&kon into eooount
wh€n docidjna the Lrostmsor coDdil,ions Io bo sdoplod lor cl€en
orss, bui noiayio'doy or monih lo-mooth conttol o{ amusnr
quelity is att€mpted though tbem
?RECIPITATION OF COPPDR FROM TIID I'IQUONS
OBTAINED FROM IIEAP IIEACIIING
A Hreronrcar
as ssrlv as l6?0, e cooc€ssioo is recordod as haviDg been
{Isted ldr ibe rocovery oI l.ho coppsr fJom l.h€ oine wtrl'ors sL
iio Tinuo, prsgumaltr by pr€.ipil,aton with ;roD ln 1752 also
th€ loethod is mcorded as being in u6o, this tiae to precipitaie
tho coppet lron] tbo liquors obioinsd lrom tho leeching of the
teaner oie! artsr nsturai c€m€otatioD, and this is plecticsllv the
mothod ir u8o to-&y.
At th&t iilo€ iis us; wes opposed or th€ $ounds thst tho prboi'
bitst€ obtai!€d eas In€rolv iroD.osl6d wilb a frlm of roppor'
'lor,
copper wtrs 6nallv
valu" oI tho
r,ne true nature
'soroDt
'oa
d€nonst$tod bY SPArish chsmish.
Apart from tridg nade in 1882 snd agsin in 1922 to precipiteie
the coppor hom the liquors by msens of sulphu6ttod hvdrogen'
both of-ldhioh triels l'ore of roletivoly short duiution, the us€ of
iro! ss tho pleoipitsnt of th€ ooppet has boen continuod
II.
.
B.
UoDERN PRAorrcE
t. Como$tim of ttu
sverage 6opp€r
Hedp lr@rrs
-Th€
ot rh€ h€dp8
t'om
the
le&ching
received
se
liquor
oont"ol Jt the
por
cu n" tio
gmm!
9,100
r0
last
the
ov€r
hoB be€n,
veara,
lo$'est yearly sv€rago duing thiB p€riod beine 1,740, snd tho
hiohsst s.O5il sram€ of copper por cu.m. The volume ol Iiquor
h;.
fro;3 m I milhon cubio m6!ros, wilb an blorsse of
"*isd
6 5 million cubic mohos
Tho average anolvBis of th6 nsin
oonsiitu€nts presont itr tho liquor ss reo€ived fron tho heops hs8
been civen on Des€ 42
rh€ rurric
trm btt Sutphur Dimdz
2. hp,h.tim'of1hs
y€arly.
Fer
iron Dr€soDr, *'*In* it*
laEoIpIIAtrIoIf oF oopplB 4T &IO
TIltTo, gp,AtN.
lICt ar{D
-As
rn tho precipil'ali'rg canols uxbouu
n'""iiiLniina coDD€r, l.ho fsrrlc iron durinH reneot vearg has
i*"''"a*,,i '" iu'.o," i'o' tv ."un, or sulPhur dioxrd€ producud
tuom tho buroiag oI lump PJril,os
lhs lonio iron roduotion plsDt et Rio Tinto con€isiB of 40 Iunp
bumors in two sots of 20 €sch, e ma,ximum chstgo oI 19 iods of
6l
pJritirs.por dtry boing
turne,l. Tho burD ers conn€crcd
to oD
2r ft. high and ; ti:;;€ru
structod or shou,"",
;r, ;
wirD ajar end ocid-rusisting psckina ;;t":xH:i" JHi ;ill;
tho liquor is
ruo. ureucbllR 6h,ni"-,r
. j, do,:lf8nwhi'h
.-... - a.. d^ lLruroad
on rho to\yer oxir.
"r r" iA-,
olo$mg ibrougl o tosd cbiDD6v
bbso.pcioD lowor
;;;;.il
;r, *;l
:.":"i:.1*
"""a,",
"a
;:,,,,Ti;,
#::":'
cuDtrinjos
l;,";,,"1u
xquor
i. ill i,.ii- -,uu
8o! iD "li""Jl"fj
sot,rrion is
.r"m bevinS a oapacir,
of
aod is iDkoducod
tiu *"r*u io avoid ross
l:t*, "*por.r,u-r.
rD6 leactioo is stow, roquirins
"oau"
l0 d;;r-l;;-";;
,r.l, imporrsur rhar *o"t oithu
"b""r
so,
11"'i"1,.
up oetoro rhe Uquor roscbes [ho con.a
"r""ra-r" ,"la
:y::r,:, * ""r,",",i,et;,. ;#ffi"i:Tiifi:",x ;1,.";
ll;i":,f";ui:l,i:",,:,",,;;.,
JiT:ifiii+Ti,:.$;:,ffi
Is37 aro
;L:::"nTff:J*"-beI
" r"rr"",' ;,;;;;fii
: fi91i"";t.
irn;"#":H:lt:$f,r,ttfi::::
py.it" u*"r,
""
... 370,8oo
.... ...._l
SuJphb.on@nr of
:
,,
667
ovri;
sutptru conrant or ii"a"surphu d,ox'do b!€n n ;
";;:
..
I
i;;;;;';;;;
::lililj;n::;;:il,aj,i'Y,,;i
::lililff::::HlH:""";';
47
1
h.s
60/6
8 0oo
nu"::';#;
..'.,,1;:'
r"*i" i-,,*r,_a - r*." ,.,,'.....,,.,,,...,..,,.....,,, 36t,907 k8,
im':,1iff
','",1*;:i.-..,,......,......,, j jf,i ji ji;
""-.::1",ff
8iilil ix'l;l:tt"1".",1
""
..
"
.
0".'*
j_efria
iflfi:'{:i,'"':.-"i:'t:11"
.
, Arrer roducuor. t@tme,,t
"*'-".,.
..,
*l iLqi*rl
[
lrai
"il;:'J,
iii
t,e. Acid
"
fi#^
ii#, i:'""rJF:=6U1r*
L;;;;;^";;:
fu#,ll,l;; ilj"jX"l
i,,ru
6sure or sb0g por cu
or m€ tower tetuperarure of ,be
liduol
,,Ji:f :i:";:i, ;i,.T,ifili
;litH,fi:ffi i"xi :1r;ft Ll;
62
J, E, TAYLoB, aND
P
n.
wI{rLAlt:
ta$or plent This rew ploni wilt consist
thei cind€$
.i' J"ti r"**" t*"i"g pvrite" iine" lii is €xp€cted
I
ront uBitrg
rrstrinir
I'Ur
p.r
c"rir,
r
. r
-A
"r "utphur "" sl'su'vLiou ruwor LII3D
""ry
"""*i"
hrsd
proprrtionaturv
lu.o bnrn*"
use'wiit te uuitr go as ro rcduc" thdsulphur loss
r-h"fir
"**", Tbo ov€r-rll e&icie)rcJ or rbe prrcucs will rbus be
;;;fi',""J
for tho oonstruotion of
0,
imoru!od
-
resear'b vork to rind E tn"aud ur hastoDiog
or *aoctlo" of tho lsrrio itoD in ihe liquor bv SO' has
tnu
""iu
ch6 dcal €6cien0v ol ih€ procosB'
rosultoil
'r'"."i". in on improvemeat ol thsSOz
rhrough s cnlurnn ot pvritos
,i" rr",i", conrrioing
When rho liqu'r withour
EwLt
degr,d
tbe
*""-.iJ r" dve
ol rh€ 3u'no
SO" r.sat."ni** psss€d rhrougb e sirnildr colu'nn
oLr*iood'
ovr'ir,e., fitr,re reduction or tb6 lerric iron wag
";"';;;;;";^""
or r,his $ork th€ rrquor conrainiDg so! in
**"a,o poss tbroueh a submorged btnk or l-in'
*i"ii* i"
["""'i r"U-'i*v
""i
""1"i"""1"J
i;-;;;;t"'il" "*it*
r'*
frnes Th€
€frocr' or this has b€€D 8r€3rlJ
"I
ol r'be rerric iron br so! tbus
oi.e,rurtiotr
'"'.
and $'ird' aDd tho chemicol
bv
sun
loss of SO,
"L"-r"a""ir*
70 per cunr l'o 86 per cent
&bout
trom
UuJu"o io-"us;d
--i.-'tjiiaiat;^
"C"4"""
t'* aopper bv ltor" Alior r'hb n ducr;un or rhe
"t
ferric iron, tho liquor is reedv lor tho lr€opirut'ion ul rlc loppur'
i'on' both 3crap
tll" ; *i.i"a oot i" long ca"etr bv D1o&ns of used
in septrrdto
being
sDd Diq iron beins usod. t'b€ l'so classog
ilrrn 3"
red'r'ion
the
SO,
b6low
tU" cnnojs ore eiru'r"d
rcrcrion
"'*1."
ii"lir'o' *" Uo r"a r,v erlrvirJ, tbe flow or liquor lrurn Lo are
built'
a
ten
bv
ru€o'gured
'ILev
snd
i". U;"r" ""a* -"*"r
or
ur"isr
ir'
do$n
rnd
rlons
zrs-zssgins
*"ir" 'r*",
"rrJPs"l *r'ul
""1
t v o ss
*ia"
I
.
a"uii"'"i*.i,'
ir *'i*
'l"cp
I
ti"i
'
long, the totsl length therolore boirg 2'616 nch$
U"* q' *""-"ge t"ll ol 0 ?5 por cent, distribuied m folloss :
" '- " 0 337" lau
28% ol rengih.-..
"i
being 1,393
IiEt
n
Noxi jgu/o
,,
,.2so/r-
.. "
,
,,
,, 49.,. -
006% "
1113 "_
_-"
g'u
'g.1s
any
At iho €nd or€ tvo B€ttt€rs ?0 by 10 bv li m desp io catoh
l'be
wide
bet$e€n
2
m
wdll
tu" susponded coppor. Tbsr€ is a
i6
c8ntrl
Ea'h
working
to
lscilirsto
oi uu"l
.f"ofi*i'"
"eri6s
"a*r"
di"'r.Ied into leoetbs of 50 to ?0
"""""*"a
i"ret;
"".
m
th€ duplicsrs caDdls beiDg cross-
tli
"t cle'nins or r€prir' The clnnls ero built
""a" 1."
1,"
"'t ""t
*t
IRIOIPIT,1TIoN OF OOppIA 4T
RIO TINTO,
LEAcrrrNG aND
theso subdivisioD! so that seotions of this
Sp1UN.
6g
ol huJ porpbydtio stotr€ rind oro ti!6d wi
o
ft" **i""
-"!es or coocr€r6.
'
"i,u"
""*."t";;il;"#TJi
d!J i,rorocrud r,r , J,i,," ,,."d i,9yol,lo conr,.ot 6.rbarr,
lu!
rrvrr, Loor,rs,, ii. *,a. r,v,z l,i.'ii,i"r j;,ii,,ii"i'1;,j$"l*
on nur,
Brdu
boorft h€td by wood€n
Deas
tixed
ld
'o,t.s-in phnk laid
',li
aroDs
rho de"
iI" i"x"illll
',o
"r
&iL ru,si.u,i,ur,,i,
r,,',."*
iii,l,," ;:.Xl"iT:,11J:l,,ll,1li
2 r!. it'uk drc p€gg€d on. .thB svsien
ra,
sDd rixed
4a,age is dorr6 to-rbe oar"
toard rB ea
tJ Ii\ud.
iq"iih.ij,'q
;;;#;;;;JT;r",1;:,iXll,T;,
CaDals
of
;h
iho
lli#
m*ru;-ll:i# **_. r;iti
i,l:-joinr,ed, rr" tsid undor
o-m. orametor,,33pba
the courre.w,u oi
, 'rbese drajmso pipes
66cb
conDe.r inro ,t" 1",,
Lsen$.
i*i ii
* p*"pi,*" r" "i.rij
il?L_1l,Ji""jjl"::":""9", t" ltn*r
rDPIr rF ni srep or sil er rho
onds
or.wberd on€ sdi6 juins $ith uDorher,
*A
,t"
lq*"
th*
Ar""
noly
. rre€
rjghr
tbroDsb rbe svstem
Stoxkirg grounds ror iron, served bs
rairw
u.goo
.r
j
."i,il111,ji1"-i;l"l_llr,""l
";,";;'ffi
rho
isrser |ordor
:pl.:.p.'j':
"l*
|l sdrv€d by two €loctric ffanos vjth masr
"i ,1" ,,""u.g.f.","ai
fur taDdling th€
-"-so6t3
uoo Tblo cranos, *lr"t
49 pe! c6oi or
'launupp€r
tbp rortrt l€osrb
ir" *"^r,,"r,""""".,
rporL
:1
-h:,djll
in.rubs lho pro"",*,iru ths
produitd"lfrux, theiu.u,,ald
!r.u "bus€ iho snr6 wi ,,,.,,:;;;il;''i;ffiXr",l;,"jT:l:ff:
rDg ianl8. a rnonorril pt.rcert L**.",i_"r"
crprmr,o
T":l:fft ;ii ?# ;Tf"L"J
"";"';;,il';"",1
pr'nr. rbp ranars.
,,r ,i *""*"""Jijl
Bcrup uon, lhiul' rang-s lrorn pjeccs"l*
toi.
ITo:,,t
w$b,ns
ro rb€.
!f sir
ltutu.
*orsrrog souur s00 kg. dostr ,o .,oo,
;"d"t". "nd "tjo
aLout 21g., hold abour,2,tr0 r,ons. '--- 5"rural scrap weigbing
The meximx votuDe of liquor
vhjch ,
coDv€Diurrrv b6
faoard i. dil,;
ras.r tlrous!
',he pruri,,i
';'i,ii:,.,1';",'l;{
'10di"","""
llsk Iretupororuro
'xsrmuu js abooturins ";,:;;;
nquor
rO'C., ot +s
ior*
ropp.r,";;;;;; ,:"j or 'opper
,dmpera,ure is sr,ou
snd or aluu, 60 roDs
por dav,
ru;c. i r€ ;;;"1; ;;-,f""'Jr";":i""ioi;J
3Jstem are,.lFuned. aL Z dsy iurelvdis,
and rboso st Lho 6vt exd
lr€ cleanod at rz-doy jDcorvals.
A pl&n and a cross s€ciion of ihe
tavonr nr u plaDr aro givotr
iD
ns!. r5 {Plat€ M asd ri in. ii""'"'"" " 'h"
TIe ope.atjoD of prpcitirarins rhe coptjr
r
;
couuauous srd iroh
)
04
J. E. TA1'I,oR AND P.I..
W!E',{N: IJIOIIINO
AND
FBEOI?IT{TIOi{'OF OOpp&B 4T
!.ro TINTO,
is added pedodically to ke€p th€ consls fuI. Cl63ning out tha
copper precipitato is done as roSuhrly as poBsible. WhoD otry
soction iB duo to b€ oleenod, ths liquor flow is cut ofr by uons of
eoodeD doors md l,bs liquor draiDed ofr.
th6 olooring by eltornot€ly movine the iroD into tho working
Bpsc€ end clesniDg out th€ precilitate es it is uncovored, finollv
rctuming all th€ imn into the section, whioh is thon filled up wiih
iron lrom ih€ Btock pilo snd again put iDio sorvioe. Tho procipitats, \vhon producod on sdap iron, oasily falls ofi to th6 bottom
ol the ceuel whon the iroD is novod, but when pmcipiiet€d oD
pig iron, it &dheres to tho iron as ls&l pr€cipit&te snd h8s to be
sorep€d ofr. Any censls usirg pig iron muBt iherelore be hsndolooned. Any s€ction &ft€r cl€snjlg ia r€iumed to sorvice sB Boon
os possiblo b6ca,us6 foi y rapid oddstion of tho lire procipiteto
tek66 plac€ vhsn it is oxpossd to 6ir, gom€ coppe! oxid€ is thuB
formsd on any ptecipits,to still adhoring to th€ ilon, and th€ oxido
is sttacksd snd dissolv€d by tho ecid oD putting the closnod 36ctiotr
iuto Bervico. Th€ copp€r ihus dissolv€d has eg&in to bo procipi
tst6d, tbo n6t rosult b€ing an iDcroesed Lon comumpcion aDd
bishor ecid neutrelization.
B€forc SO! ws€ used for rsductioD of 16 ic iron, iho sv€tego
strrlysis of the liquors ente ry and teaving tbe procipiteiion
csnolg was ae followg :
r,;;;;;;-;,"::1,,1:
hes
rvoffi;"';;;#il$ltl,":
,!b,rrt6 or pr€qpjtdrion af rbo coDDor,
ars€Dic ard
bismutb,
,o! or ,b€ bc!t. .,nd ,erucrio; or
th€ f",,.i" i,"" j;;;;;
prrsogF ur rh€ riquors through
rho cdars.
ll,l":il.i,,T"e.lh:
, !o Sropn Frg. t7 is
u rypical oxurnple. tr*irr U"-r"""
rrrx,i"
::u:
jr-*r,zal
copp.r rs prc.itir,at0,l n,irty r.eutarty
io propordo, r," ,h".;;;"i;;
ol rho ..onors.rrot ened, bur r b;r rh6;.
,s ; slowinrq ,t""^
or
prr'[i]Jriun ut
rh0
.nJ
...
.
2,I00
s8
16,470
1,430
1d,900
l9,t?5
t0,?40
9,040
117
a?
100
t0,875
l,e0
029
1,070
t,970
1.t
5l
With the introduction and improvemsnt in Ecsnt vea$ of th6
r€duotion of the l6rri0 iron by SOi in the heop liquo$ b€fore thoy'
*ri
a
rron rs x€Brly
redDc6d b€foro tbe liouora
ceDi
rbu caudrs.,b,r;
;;; ;;;" ;;i,i"*:;"ii*'",:il,1#
.or
.
iT;
oBenlc rnd bhm,,rl
in ihac mor.is neurrstized,o**au,li
tiao et th€ Leginniug in Droourrion r.^ r6n
"na*
capaciiy of rh€ caDals
cravorsoJ_
*":::" of i[€ incroare
of rho reio of prooipitsrioD of tho
^_-1r-l:
orsenrc ind b6ruuth, on,l rh!
inurelse
sc,d, us, rrd riquors,*,,",,,*.,i._"
grviD a ereepor hll a0 rh"
uf.
"inl"l'j::il,lff
H?
"ll
"n,1, sin,.u uxn€rionco fue stown rhaL ii
advrsabjo I.o r€duco rh" time
of rorr,a,.t l,er*een liquor and iron
'B
ro
t,b€ larFr slagN of
tr".ipirr,ion. An exampto ie giv.n bolow
snowrrlg hu$ tl,u rtutrnrirJ of
trrbunic
:fij,."T
*.
s"a Ui,lll,iU
p*"ip;r"*a-,"i
uburrurzed inrrFcs€ rrom rb€ bead
io ibo ioil or rh€
P.,
100
173
IoEos Iron ...,,..:.. ... .....
Idric ,, ,,,... -.-. ... ...
Tot6l
!'@ Sulphuic Acid,,,,.... ...
Asenic,,......,,..,,,...,.,,.., ..
BEmutb .....,,,,...., -...., .,.
zinc,,,........,,,....,,....,,,,.... .
,1,"
"r
riq"oo t"",,ou *""t.
rj,,
the otb€r }xnd I l,u rar€ ut
!re.i!rrdrion oI;o[h ars.,i".ra U*ln",.t
rncreores as rl€ l,quors pa:s
r,inbe!,lown rhs co"'l,. Tl,o ;;;;
wburo r,r,u
I6.ro
Coppo.,,,,,......,...,,,...
B5
€nro' ib6.aD&h rh6 t€rric ilon coul,€nr
ol th€ rsducod liquor is
Dor! co.sisr€,,'ry mufb rower rhLn
r."
Bho'rn in i.hu ,lorase figurEs
aivun, ord t.
monih. ending
eprir. re,t.
ft
th€ sociion is to be closDsd by mag[et oraDe, tho orens takog
oui th€ ion aDd ploces it on on€ ol the dividing walk, men shovel
out th6 preoipitaio into wooden tubs, the cr&ne ropleces the iron,
ffIs up wiih ion frorh ths stock pilo, &nd th€ Beoiion is imrneditrtoly
roturnod to eorvico. Il hsnd-cloaDing is carriod on, }n€n oleor
out s slnell workine spaco, putiiDg this iron on the dividins w&ll
Thoy thon shovet out th€ procipiteto from ihis specs and continuo
Sp4M,
4.-Cabol d
the Coltper
prta
Cu
ptaipitat d
0.036
0.21o
26.4
precil,;r,l*._ftu
or fi" n*.;;
"*-t.or
""pp"i'*r,;*'.",.r".,'";;;;ill,o:fi,ilT
:"lf:.,ir,:b",
i;
nrsrafarn th€ btrlatrco belweon ,oo greal
a toe, ot copper in r,le
** "nd 'oxcossivu coos'mpr.ioo n"" b; "lt
::H'i.li:lilff
r.*," or rhe eyll liquor
.^
1llq"'
racr,ors,
sucb aB a chrogo rn rho
jo-".
";;
can bo afecred Ly marv
comDosition of fto
r.ompersruo, rumbor or csnsrs
"ru*rl1riq"?
croa,€d,
clms and
LT,i:9""
or totr "l
ohorged,
srzo
",
€ic.
6tt
J. II. TrlY[OR AND P.
-
t, \'IIELI\]I
:
P&EOEIAATION OF OOpp&B AT IiIO
IINAO, spAM.
67
Samptes of iho oyir tiquor or€
dra\,r rwic6 dtrily snd sssuyod for
xrur,hod, usins dodi;,. iliott,yidrthio_.
crrbtrtntrb. rh6 aNuy tukins retr rurnutus tu .drry
out. A cuDsroot
Hlnl4gr€
.opp.r bJ s colorirnornc
guido,.rough bur quiio ofr€oriv€ s,nd
su6ci6nr
judso by, is obtoirod irolx dro cotour
ot rh
f;r th"
""rkrn;;;
,;";;;;;,;1" fiffi: fl':lliilTiJ:
a pi"co ;r pis iron pr.,.od i"
ut tluw ut tiq,,rr, tL.. fin,,ur rurruirr trtrol
rL ttru _"A
coppor iu rLo exir id roo tow and, coDvdrsoty.
ir rbo "r,,ir,_.
o":" t,. is. roo hisb. rr, is ;ishr sh"".
:l .r::
or
two i,-r--lt
boum, .e,"
tb€..olour is bogiDnrng to rurn pink.
",
Any vo arron in rhu copp,,r grldo ot rho
oxrr tiquur
;
ir,,
c.tow-;;;l
?
;;;;;
s<
eg
fi..:1""T:,""",f,,
" ",
"ourm
tlu emoun L or bq uor
€n toring
:io
rruro rho
corrocte,r by
I ho pr6cipi toiing sysre
m er ibo hoaj.
moro,t,;;;;;;;;;;
A.onsr.anr. drip sample or bor.h rh;
€Db;in;
ov€r rio 24.bours is drawn ond assayod
dsiry.
co:su.4ption. _Tbe mosi oxpensive
_a *riliq"""
iretu in rb€ oosr
^"5:.r:,ot
or.Ils,precrprtatren
of rbe copper js iror. Duri,{ tm r"* ,""
yoars th6 B!€rago iron consumDtion fioo
i"0,"""
,on8
-66
9 E.E
;.9'
EA
a
I
.""*rri"
orrorn,hrrol
"
ii#;:,l
iilT :'"ilJil:il,,:il,::l
iT;
i,f trLout 00 Jlor canr rrotr ic irux cotrront.
'ro
rorHiiruull,s
ol rh! tiquors whjch
i;;
are ih€- for;ic iron o"a ""rr",r"
,n" ,"[n"j"
:"1:t,ir"1'l:lilig l.pp€r
a rorrt or s8.2 p6r c€qi or iho l,oto-t iron
-":: -J"T".unsumed
Bccounl,iDg lor 22.2 per coDt of ths
to[sl and
u,t*
rlu
,r*.ur,ir;uy
.r .i,;,"i"s
,u"-i.;":::"::'u,':by tb$d "unr.
(onsuo€d
l,lto.oDsritueql,s vi ibus .t6arly bo
iealized.
rbs roduciion ot tle furric iron cooteoi
or tho tiquor hss
,^,aow_ b€€n€uccu$fu
raLrorry
y sccomptishod htrs et eady U*" a,jr*iU"a.
L_No
successtul D€lhod ot appreciably
roducing
Ms
lh"
;-" *",".J
lound. {'orolul urt€nriuo to dotdjl jD the
cootrol
.
^uJ ",q
u,
,!e eoppdr precrprrBrroD
f.om thu tid,,or, and elt subs6qu6nt
opornriotr€ silt, bowever. ke6p it dovn
to a m,njmum.
oe€n
ManJ drflsroDcas oI opinioo oxisc o, ro
the bosL rDeans of
tb€ acid stlacl on Lhe irou. Uucb ***"1
Ituirins
U r,*" a*"l, ii
prupedure ib r.har of al$sys keep;ng
rho iroa rros
urddol g
1"* pr€cipirarion
.:l1r-1'-!!:
rrom
copper durllg
os assiusr t'be
auowing it tu bocoo€ well uovored ;irh .6
*,.d
"!d:
"il.:'ff
:,,:il:
r;""i"" p^*;""
j"IJ"
iqlti::",h"
agDn8r
oao or rb6 o[b€r merhod bss boen
obreinod.
E\p€ri€nc6
ar Rio Tinco
:'"',
has shovu rhar, orhor
€qual. ,ho amouDr or B.ia neurrarzsa incromos
f,,',"1:"j,:l
lhind bei""
Ji;fi;;#;:
oI [h6 soid pr€soot, thouSh oor aL ib€
Iig. 18 itlusrrar,es the above sierement.
cho strength
Tbe groph
"i
"i
ssm6 mto.
|:2
!"
68
it. g. I.|YIFB AllD P.
t. lxslr',All
)
i
)
pRDorprrarroN oF oopfeE, ar &ro qNTo,
: I,BT€IEII(G Al.D
sp!.rN,
g9
lvhile tho vslue or th€ iron consumod by aoid is quiro an
ot,nrorieLl6 ilnm ol rho proress cosr, onty s rslativoi smolt
p-r.etrl,uAe of tho rotal ao;a pr"r"ur in tl" Iiquo". is noutrslirsd ia
tho caDb, snd for this roeso! removol of mosr ot th6 aoid bv
provious n€utralizaiion before precipiteiion ot the oopper wiii
ev0n the choopest rodgont sveihble in iho disirict, lnogtone, is
urrsconomio &t the nling p.icos of iron &Dd lin€s0ons. Almost
coDrplel,e neutrolizdtion ot the ecid prosoni is Dovsr d€sireble,
e!
ihe 6pper precirJitation prooeeds b€tier in slighily acid sotutiols,
?
l'risls of
org&nic intrib ors on a ,nen ;oe[ did not
sivo
"r..',raSioA r, sdl{,.
alv!.6 d Irun UJdd.-Iron or oll rypes is uded, difreront ryp€s
.6..
giving dilToront qusliiies of procipitsro, as shown by the following
(5i
=€
l'tuiPitat at P,oducad lv\@hedl
o€
42
8?
^E
r6
Y€
,9
.6
T
'o:zrriurnrH rl c u:alos
z
I l0 so1lll
41
24
8il-t3
:
o-3
!,J
I
I
0.32
0,6?
2,13
Dudry ihe tolu from which ihe abov€ d&to w6r€ obtain€d, tho
sdDe volums rnd cl&ss of liquor oDterod rhro6 parBll€l cs[els of
orF seri.". lbo cut.otT poiDt ot the pr€cil,irsto producod wss rtso
sD.h lh8r in osch .Jde rh€ sdme amouDr oI copper qss prss6ni.
Pie iron is.a siowor prscip ent than reils snd tyres or heovy
rc.dp, which in turn is s stow€r procipitonr than tin-plate. The
slowesi precipitsnt, pig iron, gives [h6 besr ond tho mosu grenular
product. Tlie precipiioto produced tuo)n rin-plaio ie eo nne th*r
canDot l,o sepor.i.iud iuro clessos by ony ordimry waBbing
ii
III.
THl] PNECIPITATE BY
wAsstNc
'Ihe sasbirg pistrr for tho $sviiy chssi6corioD of tbe procipirste
coDsisi8 of s shoting soroon of }-in. )nesh on io which pl&y jers
of wst€r. The p.eoipitsi€ is iippod dir€of trom nonomil iubB into
CLASSIFICATION OF
s smsll hoppor and thenco is lok€d on to rho scr€€D. Any l€at
precipitate loreor ihen l-in. sizo, rogother with smott pieoos of
iron, b cerried ov6r th€ €nd oi the goreetr and t&lls o! to s belr
conveyor fitred Firh o msgr€ric pulloy. This reooves rho Lotr,
whioh is roturnod io process, aDd ihs cl€aE leef proeipitats is
couocted. Th€ minus }-in. pre0ipitei€ fron rhe shskin; so!€oD
J. E. TI}''.O& AND ?. T. 'WIIILAN
?o
:
LT-{OIIING 'IND
lals into e Dorr olsssiffor, where ii is further wsshed snd clessilied
into & cosrs€r hi+-Ftde and e ffner low'grodo prcoipitote lho
hioh-orede orscipitar,s falls inlo o dng el€vul'or' sDJ is pass€d ov€r
.ie""l,i" pulloy lor r.Dovsl or sDv iron betu" buins
"r-'"rn'".
to tho stock-pile Atllreeipi'
Juti'*ea i"io tot to'
'
"onvoyenc€
ie t'hus rnochenicelly hsrdled
plant
trte whioh goos to tho washing
tubs tiom tho canels uniil
into
i'hs
is
shovellod
lrom ths ti"me it
tho low-grsde
siock-pile
th€
qusliiy
roaoho€
tho hish-$edo
precipiLti'tro- tie lo". clessifier ovorflow ns inio 1otrs selilors'
ind ji elovslled o"t ,rna convsy€d bv e motrorail to s drving shed
fo! briquotting in th€ wintor, or stEight io o biqusiting g'ound
;n the g"-uor, whsn th€ briquott€s con bo sun-drisd Ail ths
procipitato doos trot go to the waBhiDg plsnt, that lroduoed from
il'u ro*e" *riu" of conola being so inpure and so liDo thai' its
sopar&tion bJ gravilJ wasbing ioro high
t. g;'"di*"'in,o
"i.ru.or oiocess is
nlenl,
r,bo
low-gro'1"
ud
l.r'. i. l.o'r"trrio. .l .,,!!.],!tor
low grsdo is Dot worlb
cl'se NrFperitrlL quottiDs
uged. lhe pr€cipiL&t! srill cuntutr'ins 'otuu iroo
sulohates $bjcb oct as a brnd€r' ii situplv tillod into sligbrlv 'oni' ol
iron mourds, press€d dowo by tr sb"vel. sn'l t!€ moulds iolerred'
'When slowly dri6d, perticuh;ly h th€ sun' tho briquettes sei had'
D&ch briquetto v,eightB sbout 6 kilogrnns
of Ptcci;tdk obtatud.-Ptiot to l'be veu! 193? rbo
bismuth co;[en[ sm tb" kev to Lhe ctdisi6cstron "l precrpital'o
ClAses
ol rb€ rotal [n€ copptr producod ro
l'o
-* .o.ou".u1 1n lsqroriol ss{Lvirrs s0per
s0
ru
0
02
";;"i
0
OtB
b5 D;r cont co;Der, u 35 ro 0 s5 pur c-nL As snd
ot r"pplr obout s0 por
s;. ot in" .om;"i',e ?0 l,cr
n**lry,p*king
o."a"""a
'nreoioir,ete
""oi
omt wes rscovorcd
'onL'
in e precipitsto running 84 to 86 per cent ooppor'
t.6 [o r'8 pur cent As,;Dd 0 u5 l"r cent Bi rhe bJlaD'e or 'olpor
p-a'cea iei"g"paio rb€ tortn of s low-sro'le pr€ciprrsro conl'aiDing
cont copper ond 5 io ? per cont As Tho figureB
ione 60 to 65
for bismuth i; tho last'nsrned inBranco wdo n€ver recorded' but
th€ contoDt was probobly sbout 0110 por ceni During recent
{ean tho coDDor produced from Fe"ipiraro has L'Pn dtiposed or
Br conrbnr is now rru lons"r B rnarror ol
i" r an"-ri."'1"r,,
""d
innorLrnce. C.nsuquenrlv preslnl"dsJ pra'1icP ii lo mdko twu
g.ade. onty, a l,v-gr*do precipil,aro conl'sixinF abnur 62 per c€nl
;""""'.;d h;eh"r e.ad" oI 75 ro 80 pPr ' or' copper' the pro'
"
riLal frno coppor beins approimtrr"lJ 60 per
p.'.i,on";" r,ernJor
40 per cont of low'grude'
oont
--rl"of high-gade procipitat€ andono
general antl e lew specinl
*il t. *,tu
to ih€ Dir€ctols ot iho
publisb th€ informstion
to
pornission
fo;
Irtd.,
fioto-Co.,
","t1"-*
Thsy erc indobted
s,oknolrledgsmonts.
Ai.
1.r,. :1. ,,\n,r 'r'rts r,kr, !li,ri
trot,.
Pt,
lt
;.t,
I l'
. tt
l\\"i'
r/
\\"':"
rl l
ttt t
tr'ta
lrL, i
S',
L
_
'
'
,
'
Lr n
tL
I tr
'
'
n
'
'
r
' '
'
l.
c. ll. IrrrL!r
t,r,, rrrt,
arD
trrpavci
SCALE OF
f
EET
5tocl
fo
s.lu.r 12
l!o. 16.-Pbr
ot Pr..ipit
tilg C.a&.
il
i)
r!.!artr'\l\dv.'q!|lf!.rn\I'.!n\\
:;1 L,rt.l
I qa^ r,!r"l
.rl
.1"
PRnctrrlxrroN ol. ct)t,r,) r a1
rl,ro
rlN,ro,
s;tN-Dtsc.
7r
cdrl,,'irNl ir, rLp r,.rprr: Lr;\tr. t,. WJuror urlly tur dustdined
JDd,{na,!rdj{ ,,,1,r : t,, iur. C. t. HiU, wl,o wus for F,,mo
'ntur,rL
yosru
iI vory cloBo trssooiDtiox w h l,lo wort cov.rod Ly thi! p4por,
unn wtDsu dugsoiri,',j trnd truh burb in regsr,t tu Lhe work ,td;tf;nd
tho. prusenra r,ion ul rb" ptrp,.r luvts b&n uf lhb g.uatl$r vrltr.;
l,o Dr.8. L L"vJ, l,r l,"lp irr rrruy lormr; trud to ltr. ti.
U.
L!wford n,r vi'r.,{, r1,,, pr.{,nr. riuI at rtr.
t{tr{.
DISCI]SSION.
The PresidgDt {;\lr. .1. ALL|:N Howj,) w,,lcurkd m€rnb:rs to
tho limr rrr-rir'g uI rh" Sussnr,. Owinc iu
;t r,a
""naiti,n"
D€on ruund o€ce$r.y ro atrang" t,{ Ccnprllt"n.
ltr"r,ngd
[o bp h6td
overy ofher monl,h.
. There 1v6r0 two pstets ror,trd(usbiur, sxd rhoy wuro fodunrto
rD be!D8 onu ur iho &utboB, Nr. Uhelln, r,r iotroducu rbo lirst.
Mr. P. F. Whela,n, io iorroduciDg rh6 pspor. said tbat i[ d€innuvstjon. Loachine or cupreous pyrites sud
lho prgripimrion of .opper trorl thu tiquuru l,,gan oi iuu r;orc
mony docades ago. As nining sctrvitica rhoru wbr. betiev€d to
origioal,o in rb€ thrrt€6ntb .eorurJ. ir was diftirutt ro givd an sxsot
d6ro. lL wos c€rraji rhar t"rcbing fur coppcr ossurned large
proporl,ions soon atie tbe properry *as
abour r8?0, bj,
"cquirea,
BritbL inlordk \irh che couraee and foediel,r
n@drd ro dsveto;
rbo loitre onil snciitury scriviries on a gculu whicb,
ro_a"j,
sould b€ ronsidered laree. As s coosequ€nco, Spnin ",aook socond
e]acu aponq ilc wortd s copp6r producors ror J."u u-uau,, *
rotro\ins psr.imsied y"arly dv"nLse our,puts (io
sonbod no.rocooL
1Yl .l{ ""
'
W@kt
l8?l-r380,,.__....,.._..... t4o,filo
l5
r88l-r890,,...,...,,,...... 25o,OO0
22
r80r-1000.......,,,......,, 4ro,ooo
t6
(r0J5......,.,..__....,,,.... 1,,160,000
!)
Tnrolgh civil wsrB ond world wen, iorifr dificutties,
Sonersl
rBd€ d€prusio)ts. ar,d tbe succu"sive uxpsxsion, in ourpur io th€
8l&1,$, Chile, snd Rhodosis, copp€r produciion ty hacting
"on_
tiDu€d. Th€ flotaiion of sulphido and conplox gios and g-enoral
lmelting practico sieedity illlproved, so ther the;s qrerhod-e wore
in duo coune appliod to ce$ain or€s sr njo Tirto, but Dovo!thele$ ooppor- production by tho wet m€thod hd obslinstoty
p€nisted ond held its ow
liqijd'l
1o
d.l'l
dlolt
Th6 reason was, of course, rhat, onty by this Dmthod could th6
?2
J. g. TAYLOB AI{D P.
r
1I. WEEIJA]{: I'EAOIIINO AIIIJ
1
ooppor be oxtraoied end at ih€ sam€ iime tr velusbls by-produot,
pyritss irl nassivo forn, be obtaiiod. Aetuolly, in certdin norkot
conditionB it vus mo!€ logicimoto to considor ih€ colpor goinod os
e by-product. As nickel in tho ceses of Ini€rnotionol Niokel snd
Falconbddgo, gold in th€ oeBos oI Norend& nnd Bolidor, and silver
in Corlo de Pssco ores, rondered th€s€ produo€$ to 8ortro €xtonb
insensitivs io tho abrupt price v&ri&tion, which coppor bdd €xperieDc6d, so an oxpondinS msrkei lor pyiioB for sulphuric ocid
manulacture hsd be€n in lorge psri rssponsiblo lol ihe p€Btutonco
snd oven tenor of leeching at Rio Tinto. Locol conditions hod
also h€lp€d, oBpgcislly ground constituted of h&rd ilnp€Ivious Bleto
with r suiisblo si ko which mad€ se&ling by dams inox?oDsive
(incidentally, thiB festurc vas a drewbrck for slime'pond comtruc'
tion) ; also fu€l waB oxpensive in the south of SpoiD.
Th6 leaching process, of cotrrso, hod noc stood 6iil. Many
€Eeinogls now to be found in Moxico, Austrelie, nhodesio, Amorica
&nd elsowhsro, spont arduous Donths and y€ars in ottompt8 to
inpmv€ snd €inptily it, and oiheft in dii€cting pciivities clo8oly
corn€ct€d with it. In tho essurrnco that s datailod aoooult of
present practico 'lr/ould b€ weloome to thoso, aDd in tho hops that
it niSht b6 of sonl6 een€rsl int€r6st, thiB paper h&d boon wdtt€n.
Mr. E. G. Lawford said thot one of ihe points of outsisEdirg
intorest in ths psper ]traE tho ro8oerch aspoct, vhoD it wa€ re'
monborod thst this ieseerch was done in weight units of meny
thousands of tons, rnd i,i e units of years. A ihousr,nd ages iD
th6 sight of s eoologisi wcrc indood buc os y€Bi€rday, but ihr€6
yeets to & metollurgist wes s p.otiy long time Bocauso of tho
slo, reaciioDs, th€ hoaploeching process hed lor him sonething
of a g€ologicel sFpoct, and this ws8 onphrsized by tho oxient io
which nsburot w€atboring sgeDoios ontored irl,o
.It
it.
was slqar,s irror€slirs, wLon .onsid.ring uxJ u,,d Proceso,
to elance ai oib"rs wbicl, rlbi"ted ihe sarue ond Mr. Wbelarr
in bis inhoduotioD hed briefly iouched upon ono sltfftrotivo for
ths eytreotioD ol copp€r lron pydtos-nsmely, floiotion. Pyritss
veried tbroughout the wo.ld, bui to oxireci iho copper ofreciivoly
from the Rio Tinto pyrites h€ was feirly eortoir that 3t l€est
86 per cent Dinus-326 nosh SrindiDg would b€ roquirod th'crg
w€re very fow plaDt! ir the scid indus[ry to-dsy sot up for hondliDg
whot vould,be the tailings hom thut proc€ss, noD-cuprif€rous
pydtes of 85 per cont minus-325 mesh. Th€rs v€re wolks in
Anerios which wer€. burning very 6!0 conoeDtr0,to! gucooBsfutly,
but th€ generol msrlet lor m&tori&l ol ihis Dature $'as still extromely nerrov, end €von €upposing th&t it waB gonerally scc€pt-
ta
)
PREOIpITATION OF OOFPER aT s,Io
TItyIo, sp tti_DISO. ?3
Bbh, tu rh" si,t ruhor, rb" harrrJtirrg of rt j
troduci would m€lo
ntirriror,
^x tr vory lur8e b.^te. Jrd ir \"utd invojvo oirbor drvin!
$uur,r-r," u, urr,,1,,,,,,,,r_*i,,,.
p"y,i.^i
ij :ul,:,.
", iu.voul;
ol
rruighr ',,,"1,
,{r l,L. \,.r fih. r crk,.. t h€rotor6, rlororion
be a
very 6xp€nsiv0 ond clu,)sy Drorhod of obioinilrg rn"
a*r
p""a""i
copl,"r.nnd xur.nrtr"oui t)riLej, as cur par6d wirb tho
iomhing
wnxt lhr,tr'rl.ht{{ l tl d!s{ll, rt
L ltrrt r0 lurd oI
t,yrrtos wure lost rn rho bxtrtrcr,iun ot
,'lb!_lL,
aDdr
ro',,or co![4 migl,t. ar lirsl. sigbr, oppear Es o gr€al
dis.r ot tbe
advanl,age
h6dts proc6sq, buL IJrit€s at lbe rnioo mour,b
wae
com,nodiil and. ir, rerms oi.os! por roD of
::l
"Tr
:-r":,'"
"
coppd. ru toss ot pJriiej did nor loor! v€ry targo.
copter coutd 116 takon out ot pyrires or ur,bcr stages
. tbe
stobo
cours" trcm ih€ ruile i,brougl rhe acid vorls
r.
rb€;on
ble;
'r.s
-l,ll jr uventue y reu0led. rn rho faso of ,oeDy
Iy::l""i
Dundr. s or tboLBsnds nf (ons rho oro was tirgr
burnr,
{orL8..ltFr sbi.h rt,e.oppur was orlracted irom rhe ar, acii
burnt l)16
bJ rbu l,oogrnflid.Hpr,ddcor process, whrch
consisred oI sirrns l,he
crno,r!.' rotrlL wrth sslr so rtor rhe copp,r $ds
leqi,hins.rh_ .ird6rB iq runrs, anrl
"onu*rud'i",o
precipitaring
:::"]:
:.1"1."
luo ,nptier
rtur!
ljquorc
on
rcrbp
iron. l.trat proce"s vas
_rb6
om.rmt: tr" cindurs arrpr reecbing cuntained
:i:lll"i"'*liy
mloor.lrss tban 0.1 p"; qsrl Cu .Id usus coppe-r
r€rov€rios
J
o:,.:""r. iu I rrar. judsed puroiy on a n,er"rrr,.gicai
I":]i.l:1"1
o3$s. uF I dgrmr4-fl.r.loreon
'o
l,rucosi showe,t u gr"uer rt.,r"iicul
emo^ni v rhrr rIp l, rrILr,q ut rt," rrw.uttr,.uu{
Ho$ev€r,
rt.l,rd iu h.un,t,bsjiz..d rh6r. \vh.rhrr th. orF !yrir,*.
we, lesched sr [1lo
nin€, or.whciLor it w0Jrr io tho dcid works snd rhence
to ,ho
L..,._,,,i:.1 H..nil. r.1,,, I,r,rF.r. dr
r4!t,.J ur, iI |!nrn"nse ]rurnbrr
or p'ri1r,r, I0rrrl.,',,t l,{+T"t,tri,tt Lrcrur: inr,,
\trictr il rvuutJ
D. 'turt i"rtndi 'rr. rrutn. .t rIr. discusriorr lv ,.nler.
tr, urhe!
prun_.u" hurr (r,ni. r,!rt in ur,,In,i"u"lei,"i
],:lll"
drJl,.,i.!r,u' pJn(c, rnJ ju ,!,,.nrF rtern ,,rr r basis
ot'iur"ly
r'(r.,,r'.'l Frli.rrxry would t,. trrdd.mi,. ,r,,t
,.. prn"Li"a"l
].1,ft:"
"t
*: - inr-r,..rrns rdtiwal huud. Lurw.er, rb.l,orsn,bid,,1n;.1
}lblnr, r.n trccFs .,rd rto l,,s.hnq ol cuprpous pJrito".
w}l€o
!nn,l. d .indFr ut sbou[ 0.6 Ilrr c"nr Cu wes
obtsined,.erd irr gor[e ooid rvorks rhis burxr or€ weB l€ached
ir
sir;ati,.r iD rr,F.r,",
no.o*r;
:Jl';,1:,'!:
l:"d?,.*,"
"i. "nb
Llrp tr.,
vals buing serv"d Ly b
.rsn€.
The 6frect of
^or Dcril makrng so. ro r,.ndur ta.d
DDrrung ror
lrotwe,,n b0 snd 60 por cetrt
of the coppor soluble in diluro ocid, ond by le.rchilg i"
thiJwoy;;
j
?4
J. E.',r,rl'r,oR, allD P.
r'.;IIELAlr :
)
PLEOT.PIA,A.TION Orr
rND
'.EAorIlNo
&ddition 4 or 5 lb. oI coppor per l,on of oro vas rccovdad Lhe
rolr oro lesching conibinod wirh snnple sulphsto leaching coD'
d,roted ol, tho rcid ivorkB gIfo, ihereforo, oD overtrll recoverv Dot
srestty inferior to thet obrained by the l,onsnaid-Henderson
too
%
90
/.
oorp$R AT liro
trlltlo, sfarN_Dtso.
process.
'
Turning to ube s€ctior, oI the ptrper d€slinA wil'b precrprl0Lion,
ih€ vsyln which ihe various substoDc€s were precipittrced or
notri,rslizod nes showD in l,he diesram, l'i8 19.
t,]...
Ihis diqran was compiled from lhe &uthor'6 curves, tr'ig l7'
bui sbowed porhaps rrttrer lnore vividlv and strikinglv i}l8n iho8o
curves tho vay i; which the vs.ious substrnoos bohevo on their
psBssgo thtough th€ csnols The colunD relsting to scid did not
i" tho oxit liquors and showod perc€Dtoses, noc oI
"uiJ
"uo*ir'u
toisl acid eni€ring ths prooer6, but of seid aoiuslly reduc€d'
Ih$o *€to sltornativo methods ol precipiteting copper lrom
highlv
Bolul,ions wi[h vhch memb$s \iould be ismiliar, bui it wss
.i
inproboble th&t &ny othor m€thod waB applic6ble to tho €xl'renloly
dil;to liquols $'ith wbich th€ pspet w&s oonoorn€d For eleotlolvsis the coDDor cootsut nl the liquor vss usus J 30 0O0 lo 40 00O
s""." p-'""1,i" D€l!o, insread of l,Le l400 ro 2000 srsms ler
A
wero dcsling lrecipit8tior
ol H:$ or l'v rL€
inrroducriun
dir€ot
bv tLS brouqhl, ebout bJ tbo
r€rrous
g
sulphido
calcium
(e
o'u oir,Uu nuiio* r"'e*is
'ulpbid€)
;-bic Detro with *hioh iho euiho.s
whicL ev€ntuslty proa"cea H,S in tho liquor would' wiih the
6
volume of liquoi ;ith whioh tho luihorB lver6 doslins' irvolvo
r"lp'
r
bullbide
b'se urav oi raoh. l.hickoners, nllers. ul-c. the
priipirall setttea very slowly strd wds e\rromelv troublesome to
ianaie. Ite trcat'n-i tor ths tecoverv of coppor as et&l would
precipirorion bv iron th'ru rcr r
in which ih€ tiquor Na's brought
wov
nunb€r ol"varistions in tho
With
ihe mors conconirstcd liquon
ilon.
inio coniaci wii,h the
(9,000 to 1r,000 gru'rs ler
process
of ths Longmoid-H€ndeEon
lhe
liqu"n and rh' 'crJp iron
bdtwe€n
rh€
cuniecr
crbic netrei.
pro.ipil,snt wss olt'1r se'urtd by uroebauicnl m"ani lh;- r"n_
list"d or a ro".l1]l"s cyti'dricol vossel verv Druch liko a tube nriU'
lo
Lho a€Dbral tuuthoil
Finsll!. he would Ike to consr&LulaLe lhe suthoE on l'he;r
in
U" litrlJ,ru n"a bad psrsonsl conract' qirh l'bs work d"sctibFd
so
in
conpiling
involv€d
the
lubour
he re&lized
p"p*
""a
t.i
j
ol
ile r;o"o. rro*",r tiir"'eh rho bsr'el shich $rs kPpr 'btrrsed $ith
tbe phutogmph
ri'l' i"*". n*" lbu lors" bsrul shown in (dbic
nrrr'rus ar
9r,
dbuul'
,i1.. go. ir'[U v) wuold onlv hdndlu
Bssontrdl
$as
ljquor
i,"'r, * tlu'. rui"ti"uty cunc€Dtr&reil
palPr'
.ilu
/
ll ,/ xl
'/
to'/.
0
Cu
Bi
!\o, Ig,-Coppor, bimurh
I
Acid
and 6enr peipibr€d:
roF,c rtun 6mov6d.
75
l
P.
r'' wrrErraN: LEAor[nrG AiID
.omDl6t€ e doffripl,jotr ol l,ho
op€rotions He $os sure rhst
?B
J. E. fal'r,oR,
ixD
PBECIPITATIOI{ OF COPPTTi AT BIO TINTO,
SPAIN-DISO. ?7
oubors
took phco in ih€ iirEt six ]llonths, Th€ first portion oI th€ coppsr
nut*ithstuldins r'bo tscL thor'
;"ffi;;; ,'; Jop* or i.r.er€*
l*i-r"""n"e *i' la.',t€dlv ol limiced opplicotior trs colop&rsd
took only ono port of fonic 3trlphoto whilo lho socorrd l,ool four
peris, o. if ihs extrdction vas pdrtly dono by oxygeD, ono port
with
' othor netallurgicel
il".
*lU"-
t"ill* '1"i".*t
of oxygen to four parts.
Ths writ$s of ihe paper rtiributod rspid oxtruol,ion to oopper
sulphrte, but hs rvould hovo thoughi thot coppor sulphrto would
hovo Loor corvoriut ii,i,,, dutt,L f t'y 1l,o fxr.r ol tyriio n,
procoeaea'
n"""uli
soid ho believod this vus iho first authod-
on ih€ tr€''tlnonb ol Bio Tinto or€s bv
Ittoss
'-'"#;;d";""' s Dumber or pepers o! tho subj'at l'v p€oplo
was
rhe nlsot aod obtained informrl'jon 'lhore
*r'. i"i
trDd'
br
Jooos
"rtU
E
le04'
lM
il" r'"*1",;,* or tbe A
3ur
" ** u ,n*
pap€r wil'h Ibu prsonr' it was ioiorosi'ins to
r'ho Imt 85
in
ph(e
tslu
""ll-i^g
had
Lhst
ii. i""-"""a*" i"i"r"o.ont
r*' pur und€r sci€nr'itio rechtricar
,r
;:;"il";;"
""*
pui dotn so as ro ersure perr"cL
crret.ilv
**
i""i'.r,- ii"i**
p;;;". rne"trenicai equipme* bsd b€on introduced'
;";;;;
at deriinirerur"vers s'd in dot'ir€
;il;;;;*;;;J;*.; "ppried
lh€ co$o't In'g&L'on'
nuuntiries so es l,o Arvo
l"a i'"."ssed io eEoi€ocv io suab atr oxt€nr' tbac
".""*"
r""i,""a""il
t""rs. tho exr'rscri;o wes now accoropliehed
-d;;ilJ
"r""u'*
crodir to arr sho had b6oD sssocietod
i;;;
procoss'
th€
tho dovoiopnont of"6at
with
"Lt-*.i*
he
1,i""" o"por;irb rhe plesoDt' rh6re was s point
"
sr'ateoont^wlb
*Ja ill" ti l*" "r'iiJoted tn tbo 1904 pspor a
culs
'ti.
i
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
i
i
I
i
th* ;; copper exisued maiolr ss tbo rso sulphid€snin€r&r
';;;;
ffiA;:" ; ,*';.""""t psp€r th€ p'edominent oopps
w&B
stet€d to be chslcolvriiii {CuFeSJ'
";;;";;
exp"rimenrs should trot be alrosorhor overlook€d'
U s BuJoN
s,-" iri"i"Jti'*'"*l lad bsetr cstriod out bJ r'bo
A I M E'
the
io
bv
sulliv"n
poper
in
a
Ii-vl"'""'i
-6;ri;'.
somo int€F
"'t-u,"d
obtain€d
sDd
;in;'ab
puro
t.ok
;; ifi.
oghr hoLp Io e\plsiD
.l'ilirr"'ur"'i- o". ,reating them, wbichbosps
ol Rro rinto lt
i"-"""i.i" .*"tl*" r.aLing piano io r'he
hod ao
!
be obramod !h€r€ tLur wduld h€lp oosine€rg
I
"*'*"*"r*a
i-""ri""i"n*',
bv all exp' roenloru thsl mass aclion
--'a tui" ooulJ ror' be duplicated in rbs lsborarorJ'
i',i;"i".*"ir"' .r*n
i"
understaod
""fj""ri-*
*,1
better wbat wos happoniog iD the hoops'
I
I
I
i
I
t
place
C'"S. S"rIvan rhoughr thst lho rosction too]
was ooovsrted into
t";;;1".^; Fii*. ono morecuro or copp€rsecondrv'
oD further
cus
ioio
molerulo
;,'il- ;;? ; secoDd
r'o cuso{'
oxidi"od
was
cus
r,his
sulphato
ierric
*il
"*ii'i""i
If thiB
eoid,"i"rii-""t" il" '"-ding sulphur to €ulph;lio
rspidlv
fairlJ
."aotio. took'plam, har of !h€ ooppor w&B oxrract€d
ror tbe rapid oxtracrion st Rio rinto whioh
;;;;;;;*;
l
LabolstorX expsrinonts had deternrined th&t chslcopyrito we!
very diEcult to split up, end whon grourd to 350 m€sh erd tresied
for two ruonih8 with oxcess of forric sulphote, only q por cert
cxireotion w!€ obcoined.
ExperimoDts h8d d€tormin€d ihtrt oxtroctiotr f.on chslcopyrito
by csrelul regulacion of the hest as v€ll as the
proper addition oI ferrio sulphato soluiioD. Evory auihoriiy had
siet€d thsi ch&loopyrit€ could Doi bo i.€stod €cononicsly in snyihinglikoredsonoblo tim6 sithout c&relul sti€nl,ioD to this troatnont.
Th8 sfrnil,y ol sulphur for coppor vas {eI known, &nd edvdntseo
rvas only obttrinod
\r&s takon of this in $molting copper ores. Tho iron could b0
elininal,ed by oxirloiion, whilo tho coppor ftInanr€rl o! e motts of
copp€! Bulphjd".
In hesp-le0,ching oxnctly ths opposito tooL
pleoe. 94 psr coni
ol th6 copper wds di$olvod fron ih€ sulphido in two yoars, snd
oDly 18 per cont ol ihe iron fron iror pyrit€. It $,as difrculr' to
nndorutaDd this, unless it was thqi iLo pyriie was p t&t€d by
&r imporvio,rs lilm ei, an es,rly siag€ ol tho process which prevenied
To show ths connoxion of on€ irduslry with anbibor, h0 *ould
ooko a oor:rporiron of ono poini in th6 treatnent of gold or€s.
'lhero hed be€n two papers recenily prosenied io ths Inltiiution on
1,h6 extraciion of gold by cyaDid€, st [he St. John del Roy nino snd
iho Globs &nd Phoenix nine r€spcctively. In boih oe8ss, in otdor
io rend€r th€ sulphids ol iron illmune tho oro was giv€n agitation
i$etm6nt \rith air Dlono before lhe iniroduction ol oy&nido. This
ueetmeDt eppar€Dily co&t€d the sulphides aDd pr6v€nted tho
oyeDide fm'l eotbg otr then, and ii mighi bo thst the irotr riDersls
in the nio {into ores weio coeied in this w&y whilo tho copper
ine$ls rvors not so smonablo to it.
l,ssily, thors was Do rientioD msds in th€ peper of v/hai
haDDetred l,o th€ small qusDl,iry ol silver in tbe oro. Som€ Inhos
; iie .ournern UDited Sl,ares, wbrl6 using isnk loscbiDg. extrscl,od
e littlo silver. Wos silver isk€n out of the Rio Tinto oro, 8nd if
** it t"***a on the copper precipiisto ?
"",
'l
78
J,
t,
TAYLoB aND P.
Mr. J. E. Ferrlloll
Bdid
11.
it v$s ebout
15 y€ors sinco ho wss on
w6! in Spsin, was the result of th€ corobinstion of e uniqu€ o.o ond
ih6 clim&t€. The ore ir$ssiv€ pytit€s) wes unique in thot ii
csnie.l no saDsue or west€ wiih it-it wss fot prsctiosl purpo66s
e homogen€ous ninor6l-end without the dry Sp&nish clinete it
would be slmost inpossible io osny on the procssB. As a leaehing
proc€ss th$o oporotions in the south ol Spein wore un€xsmpl€d
anywhoro else; no scid oi other l€ocbing sg€Dt vss us€d, fr$h
wator only wos supplied to the hstrps, ond ths nsssive plait€s did
With regord to tho fornerion of the heapa, the depths which
the suihors had given were sbout the dopibs whioh h€ rsmemb€rod;
the le&st depih at which ths process hod been found to commonce
was 3.5 metros and hesps hed boen l,ried up to S0 motres Wiih
the latter dopth, how€ver, crushing of the minorul duo to its weight
hsd been s€rious, snd 20 Detrer, evon wiih s hard rosiscsnt pvritos,
dod es the naximum &llowablg depth. On€
srgulllent ageinst a deep h6op, of course, was ' chaDnelling ' of the
wash waier, but in his own oxperi€nc€ ihere had never b€en anv
teg
sorious difrculiy f.on thh couso.
Ih€re wos d big difrorenc€ betw€€n pyriies tuoln difleroni nines
tr€ reeerds thet l€&cting cspscity, end lrcn e visit undorglound
at th6 verious min€s it wos evsn possiblo to tell which niDeral
would wssh
dpidly snd which would be refractory, trom ih€
ilo workirg
-oppoarenos oI tho minersl itsolf end the strfe rYidth of
piacos. Thus, at Rio Tinto, wh€E thoro was s high solphur snd
'iow gilioa ninoral and ihe pyrits wss under st.ain, the workingptacos were'quite nanow, being only sbout 2 netres wids; but
at the mino atiih which he wes connectsd fo. flnv vesE, t'hs
pvriie hsd r low sulphur (4a+ per coDi) and & hieh silios conteni
(sl io 5 por cent), &nd the stopes rvere carrisd lrom w&11 to wrll
with widths up to 20 meires {ide. This Concepoi6n minerst wos
v€ry relractory, and dl kinds of diffioulti06 had besn eniicipatod
in rabing ihe tonp€.tture in iho lirst heop to tho point ai which
rBsction becan6 gsteblished throuehout tho heap. Iires vero
€ven lightod in the v€ntil6ting chimneys, but th€ final solutioD
wss very simple. Luckily, thor€ wore ferrio liquors ovsilsblo,
sDd these w6r€ brought on to ths hoap, which soon stortod.to hoot
up.
pri[clfl,larroN olr corpuL
wrraLAN: LEAortlNo ArrD
tho Spenish pydtes bolt snd ho felt h€ wss boing rethor bold in
melioS sny comtn€nl.q al, 4ll on s pspur $hich wtrs risht ul l,o d8l,o'
Hic r€mark. tborefore, would bo aeneral io characl,€r'
This procoss, which they us6d io oell 'c6mentetioD' whon ho
was ususlly
)
The ossontial lesiwo of tho Conoopci6n h€ops was th€ orushing
AT
rito TrNao, !PAIN_-DrSC. ?g
t,h€ ninfrrl lo o littlp ovcr 'lurDacc sizo, (ro poss 2l,ir. ring),
though iho tiDes Nero oll nrixcd nr wjrh rhe tu,np ninerol.
The luDt,(ndun, rl, rvlich s h.ot wrs kotr dct0ndoit oo rtro
plriicular lyrito, $hoiher rArdity oxntizoLt€ or nor. At his own
nire they riinod al ko,pi'U rLc tcmpersrure of ih€ herps b€twoon
10"C. tnd 80'0. ; if rllorv.d tu rise ro 90.C. wis s;riing no&.
ol
e
t-ll
dslger poir)i dt slloDitrDoous coD,LustjoD, trnd it
ro 4u1'. w,h),r,c 1F..,r,,. \,.ry irr,r-rlpcr. tr
il[
tonrD€rorrto
Hiu
",,urr.rr.,r,
TiDto r,rnd"r lhpir'r,,ulur \urti,,a syJ,1n, thFy
w"rc now
msirlHinirg Ib"ir hrrps rr as t"rv o nrern rernperature rs r0.(.
(or 86'l'.-a Ii v dry roxritersrue in ihe souih ot Spoin for iho
lrrly tru[urnn rroutha).
ln r'pec' ui rh,. rL',trt wsbl,ing or tbe hprps. h" sN D,,i re
thdl lhao ws any vqj Arp&t rdv0xr.,g€ iI the pprayirg o\er rho
old irngatrorl ,',erhoJ oll 0rt ct{ssps oI r,tr;res. Ho hflJ found rhoi
spruJrng l!'d
Lu€l lori."rl,ty
efibrriv6 ol, I ouco!.i6n;
"^(rh"F. d.rJd, wh-I lrore,J. pusiblJ ir'
pipurc was aim"ulr Lo obrain,
worhins in ilm ordinary wdy by irjgeiion in rectarigulor beds
€uromer flx,l
tuight srill be.un,iddred'strrisro.r.{J,;Frbnd. fiu got r,b6 iDrpro$
sron lrom r,r,d I'nt,^r. huwptur. thJr ar nio Tinru rhey Jscribod the
r€,,,arl,rbly luv ri,nu r,, $In,b rl,F \d.Lrrg ot ,h" b;sls bad bs,D
rdured {r\o J, trF, ru s srur, r\t, nr rn th; ntrJying sJstpnr.
liio
aptarcntly d€peDd€d otrnost
o" ttu SO.
_Tinto
method for the rodtciion
-ti*iy
of terric ro teHous iron in the heap
liquoE. 'l'h€ r.otLad us-d rI r,,any utbei mines $a.F s .titr,6r,
of cledn pyriro o\or slrh ihe trquors romirg our of rhe b€sts
were passed and 6n0rgod reducod ro rhe forous sttrre. B€st
;r
sll was a "ubmprsed tiho. of .rr€fu J siz€d pyrite bsving s
d€plh of obuut 4 n,crrcs. He r,olico.l, h"so,ry. raL sr Hio
'iinlo rhpy slrll us€d d filror toJ to sorne Ftrghl. LXreDL, bd.euso lho
8ulloru m.llion-J rh rheJ pssqpd thc SU, irnp.€gnsl.od liquorN
lasr of 6ll through $bar ivJs practj.J y o submb.g"Jnf,"..
Tu rbo prp.rpirario! sJsrer,r rr ess nor atsotuiety nerpssarJ
tu
use tho very wide channets rnoDiioned in dro p.por; ,i oil"r
nrnres in ih€ Prcvince, ctnun€ts tuoln 0.gS ro 0.50 motle wido hed
been Inrgely us6d. H0 thoughi rhoc tb; groer advenrego wiih.
Da(ow c.hsnnels wss thotthetiquorc were ceused ro rippl€ agsinst rho'
iro , and thi! combating of th6 iron producod s betio precipitarion.
'l'ho role of the Irco sulphudcacid ir rh6chonnels suu-"a to be ftut
ol a csialytic &gent, soncwlnrt according io the following equstions:
' Io - Hr\O. FbSO. T 2a
I.'.! (so.h + 2H _ 2tbao. + rtrso.
'
(Nscotrr H).
80
J. B, T YLoB aND P.
l.
wrrDLAN
:
PF,NCIPITATION Of COPPEIi AT IiIO TII.ilO,
r,DaoHrtro rtlrD
There wss not, &s ftrr es ho tomemb€rod, a 1'orv lsrgo coD€umption
of acid; ths,t was,sqlphuric eoid noulrslized bv thssolution ol non'
\{ithout gorne scid iD tho liquorg ihero would bo no &lpreoi&blo
ol coppor.
'procipitation
The biggest itonof oxponso in tho whol€ pmcess of h€op-{oshiDg
end precipitstion of th€ liquors wss the consumption ol iron'
Thooretioal anounts of pure itun roquirod lor iho reection! tsking
plscs
p.ocipitstion ohannels w€ro os follows :
- in thepr€cipiGte
the copper: 0 89 kilo of iron per }ilo of
(1) To
oopp€r.
(2) To roduoo lenic to lelrous iron
:
0 50 kilo ol iron
Iornc iron reducod.
(9) To n€utrs,lizs acid: 058 kilo or
ler kilo of
iron per kilo of
HgSOI
neutralized.
On sn a,vers,go good liquor this gsvs e liitl€ over 1 tilo of iroD
theoreticolly conrumod por kilo of coppor, eDd the eversSo nio
Tinto rsButl oI 1 66 kilos of cotnmorcis,l iroD (90 pd cont l'€) pe'
kilo tuo coppor weB slightly better then what' he used to do wit'b
liduors udel l,he besl, oondirioDs.
'Control
of the pro"ees *ss ojTecled' as l'be aulhors hsd poiDred
oul,. bv m€usulinc rho volume ot tbe I'quors lsssirrg rhrougb lhe
channeb aod tebne gsmples of tbeln at legulsr rt'rqvule ll'u
method iD uso et his orvn min€ fot measur4 voluD€ wa8 to p$e
th6 liquolB over s woir'gauge nsdo of harde$d load, using o righteDclo;olch for smsl q;antiri6s, atrd r rerl'angulsr gaug€ Lor ]atser
Froro l,he approprirto hble ooo coul'l ger rho volumb
cuintities.
irsmediatelr. Tbe drip-s,,'iple menriouod in tbo papcr wur' ho
i"r"" ir the uzua,i wv bv nreons of a +'in l€ad iube
".w*"a,
quort botils, ih€ semplo beiDg a 24-hour-one'
Winchesier
and' o
job trnd lho
Th6 r€qulstion ot rhe wsrer wss oI course & 24-hou
roru
sarlpler
rbo
-An in-.huse ol tbe caDols bsd to Be€ i'bsrmeLe
or
tpsl's
smoll
strd v€rd &lso requied to
driooi.np oriierlv,
" This
irscl'ured
a
rresblJ
plugins
vas dolp bv
,nJi,*ii iiq"'"*
oiece of ilon inlo th€ liquor. snv coppor pr€sent sholving uP at
lnce. and rendenog it poasible to male a rough ostim'l'ion ot [,be
smout D€ndins r€o€ipt dI lbe asseJs'
l**"'"r *ip* c;uld be divided inr'o:-{d) rbos€ iuoidenral
$ashod ore' dnd
r,o tU" pto** i'trl lbe coppor lockod up in i'h6
ie) ,h"i**. thlr;"n s*;t in tb€ sxil' liquon lron rho pr€cipi'
(br l.bo so-asllod avoidoble losses bur shich
iult;o"
""ur";
"
nanolv, soepss€ of ooppor liqlots
*eiu
"'oidobts,
"rtoeuil""
"ot
ioio tlu g.oo"oa unds! tho h€apr, and loaLs and oYorflows lloID
lh€ pr€cipitstion csorls.
SPAIT{.DI6O. 8I
h€rould here tiked ro hove h&d aciuol ligures Io. coscs,
.I'inaily,
vhich woulJ bsvu put rb! tinul €mbatlisbirrg rouch
on rho maaorve
ormy..ul .hur nru,o"ru,l l,y rhu rurLoB irr rhib vdJ
vElusbt€
contribucioD io ih€ ?
'anrdciiors.
rhrr. trrr. Fonno h0d mod€suy ro,rsinsd
.rrom
!. reicrnng
1:W S^,ft
""lJ
rJ ,6 v{lusLtu
arliclos on rbis procesg rFhich
b6 had
Mtsin!.Maqd@ some ydsrs aso.r rre (cbs
1p.",'*:il.*ojoga,dj,,g resdrdbd rhose afliclbs n" u ,""ay *o""" or
::l:lib_l':d,,i,'b"
or\lys
ro'onn,trron
thib u,nque op€rerion in rbe sourh of Spain.
'rn€ v0ruo ot lh6 pnper xbi.! rh6
sulbors had oo* pru,"nt"a, l"
thorght, i{as noi onty lls s careful r€cord of rh€ sp""fu"
pr""J*"
which hed b@D dololop(l trr ltio Tn,fo, L,ur slso b€L*"
iiai"a""ua
many of tho turld{iDientsl dilticulrios whicl had to
bo t&c"J;;;
oveno',ro in rny prucess by rvtrrch hschrDg up€rElioDs
$rro con_
ducred ror tho rucovery of.€tativoly smrlt porc€nrsg6s
of muraurc
cort€nt8. tt woutd bu res,l wiih inr€resC by thoso rvt"
w[D sucD prubtoDs.
"-, A".fi"g
His own inrd€si the peper concred chiofly in
rhe ch€mioel
aspecfs of tbe ireairneni which rvere desnibedin
S""ti";;
(pp.
S&-51j, rb€ gt€arer pan or sbicb retar€d [o .ctea"
O," L6,c]i;;;
condirions.. Ai,6r roviesrns rhe proreaure prioi
]n':l:r._\ulmst
to 1925. tho rboru had given o vory.loor uDslJsig ot
cbe raitors
vnr.n o{d t}Fotr B(udioJ Ly s.icorilird y arrang€d obs€rvarioDs
on
rn6 Deaps th€mselres, or€r long periods ol fim€.
Tho oursr,andino
jd&rurce ol,rlb.,rudilrtrrions
iu prs.rir€ wbrnj bad been adopred'
as rDa r€su or tL'd wnrk wb.o: rtr Crntrojtcd
vsnr;talion oirto
ldps oy,rno prorEron oI .omltelo tsh€ borroms or,msis,;
(z) pi€voorron of rb6 furmalion ot slmes
oD r, surrac"a by a
suirBblo J'stnLurron ot rhc wsr"r by sp€ciJt sprsli"g
o*ungur,Jnts
Svtng 3 nrgL bpru'rdrng posur : rgr coslrct ot ldr p*o_* io .,oia
rD6 €ver-prsFnr dnng"r of rbe ruafrjuns lecon,iog
r,oo r0prd snd
proceeding to npid ond unconrroleble conb*ti"..
rU"."".tioi
s hrq srdeu. ro s,ore U," r"^"h,d pr;;;;;
"::rl":
Y,
1' r.qu,rpl
,ll''."".? lh.,l,
.. ,r.".q
ro n,e€c Lb€ dorranrls
or iro6r..
'.,.... As fuflhbr
aolo marker.rDg.
evrdpnc€ ot lhe csr6 wirb $bi,:h tbe
alrthors h&d msde usefut d€ducrions froln ihoir targe,s"sle
ols"r;;
.
bdd.L@n. inrrodu..d. rbar
*p*""t;,r
;r
illlj:-l. l1l
,,erD
wbr.h
tbuy bad epplied ro tb&r porion ot
.opp€r
tl" nopp"i
conr€ur xbrc! mn be.st€crrwly and economrcaly
1"."1,"d
j.volro a diminishing yiold ";;;;
conororon3 wbrcb
wirh th6
'n.vudbit
lopse ol
tin6.
,";"";T:rL"":,",T,";l*.,)ii"f;:;;.Jr"r]:iiff
;: j,1:
M, M.rEr.M.M..
l
)
82
J, II. fAYLoB aND P. F. wlrEr'AN: Lf,ao rNg AND
nNs€I's
Mt. R. Murray-Ilughos thought th€ snswor to }tr'
tlifferilg el€'lri'al loteniitrls ol tbeso
o"*i"" ip Zz, wue in rl,e
;i.*"b. ;ot lbat lhgre $us s cuoring on rbu lvri(es
Dr. David Willia,es asked il there wore sDy lttclual ovidonoo
t" i"ai""t" 1l* th€ roeciioD rneDiioned iD equetion (5) actuelv
anv JefrDire reasoo
i"J"i** ;. ,n" l*o'. "DJ whorhPr rhero was
troilrte' was
sulpbrde
lonouo
i"-*ip"" tn"' t,bo apparont'Jv rar6
pJrrl€
ol
hAin' iorded bv ibo disinl€crelion
-i;;;;i;"' isr r.l"
bsd iDi'!oduc€d a hvporbeticdl iroo
Ehicb "utlo., did Dot €tiEt is tho oro or in rbo
'er(sjolv
"tr*r"l i"SiO..
,1" leaps vere foud Thorb wN Llrlo.doltbr'
-""^i ""1' Jl;"n
boo
i.*"""..i1"1 tl" *ia Llquirs wero le"ching noo md slLa[og
dump3
tbo
boncsrh
il" '"'"1*" blocks End slso rrom rhe sl&tes
lrom
iiil ri"i"'r-1i." a ccrrtrin smouDt or the ocid rsr'cle
s'
cblorri'o
miDerals
sucL
;;;.h,t;;" l""rvi"" "r *""'p*""
;ho [quors- wbioh r'bdol'J but ou eor;chsd
**"-"l
""l"a
t
rolper rn rbe boaps
*li;"
-'*1""r"i*Ur"
but in pro\rous
'0"
**
-"i""*,ri,' contain€d in chalcopvril'd
of se'oDdsrv
zonu
oI oro roioed {rom tbo
so.Ihsr. tb6
"*"-rii"
roct'nrlv
il;;;r';"
sresior thao it hsd be6n
had been
hoap'g
iLe
pleced
ob
ri"rT-J "1"r""'"r," in th€ ore
giv€
could
auLhors
the
wboth€r
to
ask
a*UtJ*. U" would liks
from
w&s
leecbod
vhich
copp€r
s'irh
ia"i ,1" *r",i'" "!eed
'""
"r chslcopvrite sDd cbalcociie
r,hi nirerulg
"trou
*p.i" surphid€, covorit€' cus' rotnins
tm
rbP rehtiv€ly
." tl" a"^* *a *-a"reJ wbel'h€r it reBuh'ed lrom m
vhuthor it
.'.ia--ii*i Jr""t sulphsio od cbalcocir'o culs
lt
chalcopvrite
oD
.i"-a* ," ,1" aotion ot coppe' sulphats
roacl'iotr
bv
doposit€d
wes
t'be covellirs
-ttr""*alhstcoppor
"l"ti"i
""*"a'""11"f"
sulplsr€, €sp€cisllJ ir Bulpbunc scid
p&st
r$o
dbcad€s noBt or th€
;il;;;;
'i'*i".r-""* indicsted th&r' crusbcd shale;tumersed iD werL
*p"ble of robbins tho solurion or all irs "opp€r
-.'*r:"**i"iv
-*ii
"*
""r"u".
shorr' periud He inquired i'bd€Ior€'
.,ir,i"
bud evor bboD
-i.",n". Ln" Ji'" soors beoearh ihe toachios heaps
lost thoro
weB
beins
a**-'* "h€thei rouch ooppsr
commoolv
{€r€
""-'-J"al"
rho
slareb
i"-Is**,,"n. Alongqide the orebodies
con*a i-urenB;Lv ksolitriz€d bv desc€ndins solulioos
"ir'"."i
sulpbrdes'
tbs
or
oxidetion
durmg
rormed
."iJr" ,"r"lU" scid
wherb'r rbrs rvpe oI elroretion hsd l'een noted
;fi:;;;d*";
in the slste doo$ undorlving ihe-ho&p8'
PnuoltlTlrrtoN oti oofl,DJr lT &ro TlN'Io, sl,alN_&oM. g3
OONTRItsUII'trD IiEIf ARKS
Tho outhors sre ro b6 con$&iuloted on ih€
Dr. S. I. Lel'Jr:
ma8tsdy presonlEent of iL6 iruly enormous msss ot dora oollscrod
over l,en Jeors. dnd on tbe ios,gbr snd trbility wirb which tho dsis
b8v€ Lben useJ Lu sr v6 si.tuar and simple.orctusions ss to rb6
ooun€ ol th€ loecbing snd p.scipir&iion.
I
peid many visits to Rio Tinro ovor tho y€ars during {hioh
the oarli€r
poriol rhe \rork wasceni€d our, and was muohinpressed
by th€ ingenuity snploy€d in collecthg dsrs ond uiilizing
rsBuli8. Tho diflioultiss ot dorormining woiehrs, volunos, temp€rtiures snd compositions of tiquor! ond oles in whai s.e iu
.iveri and 'nounl,ains of mor€rials. alwsys rn flow snd olways
varJ'Dg. w6ru lsr€d and solv€d wirb r€mrrkabl€ pari€nco and skil.
6fr001,
No hsr pali€n.e &nd ingenuiw w€ro r€quired to rabulsto sod
corrolul,e rho dJl6 obrainud, snd ro urrivo ar tbo elug&nr. d6ductiotri
which have been drown troD thom.
Iho lact that n1osi oI tho copp€r csn be rcmov€d by washjng
wiihout tho loss of mole thoa & traorioD ot rho or€ is in itsst
roE8rkabl€. It is also signiffcant thot ihore is e morc or 16Bs
ooDsiant $siduol proportion, sbout 0.8 to 0.4 p€! o6ni oopp6r,
which c&n only be obtoined by complete desiruciion oI ths pyriros.
Tho uniformity of ih€ messivo Rio Tinio or€, and this corstancy
ol tho rosidu{il copper, sugS€si strongty that tho solubto ond
in8oluble coppo. oro v€ry cle&rly difrorontiated in ih€ o!€. Mors
light misht be rhown on thi; iDier€siing quosriln by lesulm
miGoscopicsl examiDaiion of tb6 or€ before and duing th€
Ioacbing proc$s.
The esbsblhhment ol tho ru16 ihs,f tho mt€ ot extracrior of rh6
soluble copper, under tLe sam6 conditions of lssohine, is proportionBl to cho p€rcont&go of coppor pros€li at any time, is a vdu&blo
echievepent, lui ii is not €asy to so6 shst light it tbrows oD iho
Ilschonisl! of th€ extreotion. Whilst, ss ths Auihors point oui
on ptrg6 46, the rst€ ai which the copp€r is €xtmoied as sulphots
Inu8i be iDdu6Dced by pbysicsl fsciorc, periicularly by th€ rates
of di{usion, ihe exponerl,iol cours€ is consisteDt wiih abeDioel
conversion by f€rdc salts of copper sulpbide peliicles, unifonnly
distributod in & poro]rs me38. That this.t€actioa does tsk€ ptsco
is indicat€d by th6 obs€rvaiion ihri ft€6 sulphur is pr€soDt in th6
ors efter loaching. 1t is prcbobls th6t this ft€o sulphur ii formed
gFe"+
CuS - 2to,,+ Cu,,+ S,
rsihgt than by diroct ati&ok by th6 oxygen of th€
eir. Ii
is not
i2
84
J. II. TAYLoR AND P.
1I.
wlotr,aN: r,lAclrNo
AND
PRAOIPITA1ITON OF OOPPfui AT RIO TtnI,.r,O,
impossible thst fro€ Bulphur night bo lolmed bv oxidation in th€
prbseoce ol lluo acid. ac'co.ding to the equnl,ioo
,Cua
i
O!
+
2HrSO.
-
lcuso{ +
'll,o
+
is locurod v b sucL
8rerr, qurndries
:|":lii!,:l]! phrsicura.on',ror
srrilin8 e\a,upro ur h€x,i;!r unsinodrins
::,,ill::::li ""_."
Sr'
Mr.. A.
but ono would oxpect dirsct ondstion to proc€€d by nor€ sddi-it:.n
J. Caddick : I €xrond io Mr. TsJlor snd Mr. Wh6l&n
rb6 ox(olhnr paper describing
::-T::::'r.b*.pyr,l:s,n9 rho pr6,.ipir ion
ol oxyg€n to tho;lphide, rsthor th&D bv soparstiotr ol tho sulphido
strlnhu itr tLo lreo 3bt€.
Wh'Le'er rt" mocbabisn mrJ be, howeror, rbe estrblLhrn'Dt
of th€ expotrentisl !ul6 iB of greot volu€, since tlo iiDo roqui'ed
fo! ocoDonio extreciion ol tho copp€r, with IniniDuln lo8s of
fl€ighi of tho ore, csn be dei€rmiDod sfter & fe}" monih8 of
veluable rosull, of the work is lh€ rul' i'hat temperaooiiro od withh & coupsraiivolv nerrow r&ngs to
nust
b€
turos
svoitl unn€ooBssry loBs ol oro. It hsd b€er €sisblishod bv lone
L€
oxpsrioBc€ pr;or io rhe presetrt ineoBligerioD thsl hesps musl
rang€could
l'omporsturo
but Do d€frDite
Itor'ot,oo
"otd,
".i,hur,oo
h6 lsid do$D. sDd it was Dot LDosn hos l'smp€rstureB and ra(e8
nr arrrsction could b€ conuroued. Th€ authors beve Dow pruvsd
Lhrt fteo accBss oI oxlaoll with close con[rol oI temlersluro is
r€quir€d. TbeJ h""" *rso etovir l'"w 'e"lilal'ion cen bo &chjovod
bv the morhons ol furmins l,ho heaps, ond ho$ tornpbr4tud c3"
rrequeoev aod
b"s lopt w;tbin eoy dearreJ range bJ e4jusrins Ih€
irt€nsiiY of ibo sprsy w8sbiug.
rm enecu ol io.poroLurs coorrol are sbown to bo of Sreati3
ooononic importonce. Sinco ths rste of ooppsr extrooiiotr
of
relotiv€ly [t;b &foci€d bv toDrpersture, ohereas the ral'o
ss
tsDperoturo
rspidly
verv
pyrites
risos
desiruotion of ths
bv prev€I ing
increases, the bost yiolds oI'q'eshed ors aro obtaired
omueol'
il" ,"^r*t"* fioo risiog r,oo hBb AnslJses or th€toru1'errbv
low
liouon slov, hovevor, rhtrl, fonic iroD is rsvourod
tuies. ll, is neoessary, rhoreto;o. Lo balsn'o rbe vsluu or rlg
i.".""*a yi"la ot *arnea o"e kom low r€mperaruro exl'roclion
LIJ oosL ol reduc'os tb€ incr€ased qumtilies of lenia iron
""einet
in' rhs liouor obtain€d. with ioprov€d reductioD ol l€trio iroD'
ir t'*.-'"" oogsitfo to incroaso tho vi6ld ol vasbed or€ Tbo
ol Ln,; wo,u now gohg on lo imp'ov€ Lbu redurlioE should
SPATI{-EEiI. 86
rh6 los.bins
rinto.
or p.arlic. is in tbppiDs wirh rb6 pr€ciso
or copler &r Rio
:].l,ryeo,s
lj:.,_:1""1 l*-*,,9
ln rFgard to rt" ri.try ot Uru prr.rj,,e o; R;u
Tintu, cb€ tunds,lenrar.b&nge r-n b"op form",ion Look plJ.o in
r9r9 vhon Mr.
u3bor!..chd .Man'ger uf .\ayo Dopsrrmcur,
conmoDced
H€ap
1l
oLjec'ive was,o sur * 1,, i,_ap nnd consoquerit
Y,,-u:- T*
e tuithor
sccororsLod rueotrox_
or.h€r berp, Hmp.No. a0 vrrh a d6pcb
:, "* rhe
^,Yll!-r\-11::o'* doublo
heisbr
or pri"ea;ng le"pr. ile
Tlll',-.",
by rhe rormatiuo or this
:1"1":-""-€mbod,ed
hieh h6sp rs iodrc6r6d
m roterrotr to sn experimootsl b6ap wjih s
dsprb
ot u ze m€lro iorDod a lew y6ars esrler tban
Hosp No. 40.
Fteap No. 40 was a botd sr€p fo!\ard.
soms rwo.rhrrds ot o
lirrlls:
\rron ron$dored
m rroD.roDs oi plrirm beitrg pur ioro rhe hoap. Thu ehnoge
vss
h". ddiriunsr d6prh Lra,,onsrrsrins ropi,rir; &,,ir
i-,."l.illllr:.
emrrJ ur ,lb@r gMerd[ion
'
and rb" prarr.icubrtrry rr quicLor
"oppor
,oxtracrrou. tbe n€od ror ber,rpr corrrol and t.,cliog ."ihoa
and I rhirk ir, was on Heap No. 40 r b"a! sprars
::::111j":::ll
wero nr8t $ed I'r ltrrg€_scJlu opdro oDs.
fbllins oI the lumpy mroerrl ro ihe Lo ol)r.or tbo
, Tbrough th€ *",.r'",1"tl
sys,em vss obrainod, rbo rumps beins
::,"1-.^,"::,gf
urnzeo Lo rorm arr duci8 into ibe boriom o, tUe leap.
f
,Inets 'trow boing torned
wfth s€leci€d Dinorsl shoDtd und;biodry
prov€ moro ofrciont.
rho^seraso iron consumpriou du ns th6 pasr
of .ommorcial iron per iotr oI coppor
Lhu aremsu copper conrent or thu liquoi ae
".t ,rhr
y€als has
ru"li-'"-.!,"J
b€eD J.56 toDs
,
ll""*T,:dool*.1
the toscbrtre or tho hoaps hm Leen 2.100'graos
i€ldl:d
A su,nmsry by lbe wrirer ot rbe r"sulrs over s period or 2l
reduoiion
ye&rs sr th6 Cord& ond Nsya tanks showed the
foilo;ins ror&tioD
between copp€r coni€nr of th6 tiquors €nrering t'ho
iank; ond tb6
prg rron coDBumptior.
Ina*ive ;osolubls miDaal would
"
'1"r,
in oqu€ous solution'
rorciions
have innuenced the courss of
Th6 coffumption oI 1.56 tons of iror fo! s liquor oL,100 g.sms
copper por cub;c mecre spposrs o! tb€ bigh sid:. espr,.tjy
U or oo*ia*utts valu6. The obssn&tion ihrt
by Bulphur djoxido is groatlv hssien€d bv the p!$eDco
liquor
of th€
; most irr,eresriog snd uDoxpecr€d: ir could herdlv
.i
"esur's
iluiuro*
"*ir,i' r"*""*
l"#1"""
dense'
The ecoouDt oI tho oporstionsl m€thods bv vhich ihe treco8s8lv
b;vi;
r€g3rd to l.hr stopq rikpn ru ru,lu.6 rhe omounr oI rorric
rron
€ntoriDg iho tenls. No doubi ihoro is &n oxplansrion
snd
!
J. II. TAYLon ANI) P.
86
I
f, wgnLAN:
vould be vety intorested to
C6rdd -..,,,...,.....
1
..... ,.-
hem
Mr. Taylor's snd Mr'
3,206
l,!8
t,111
t4?
t,141
1,4a1
l odl
1722
in quslirv
Tho oarl,iculo$ qi\en iD the pep€r lor rbe didure ce
uv
contrm
nr
ir"o
pro;ucod rrom dlfrerent kiude
owr obsorvotions, viz. :t{irb
-l. Pis iroD gi\os s pr€ciprlsra ilightlv lower in ' opfbr' bul
"r;;;iG*
;;"" ;;"
;;i;
tbm steei rails or r,nDed cuLtmss 'rb" DEouDt
;pp* is srea'ter ihon when usine r&ils or tinned
cuti,i!83.
2.
-
St€61
l'.i"'
but e
rsils siv€ tho highost ooppet cont€ot lr€cipitsto
usil e p;s iron TL€
produc€d bJ sto€t rarls is s[out ooo
produced ;b€D using pis ilon'
**.t"ionto"r, ila' vle'
f""I coppor
fro"tt'"r*1""
"r
toir to t*o+u'a"-inot
in iho prcoilitoto
3. With iinD€d cui,tingB tho arnount of arB€nic
-'
J"*i-*l ugl"i thon wh€n usins st66l rsils or pis iron'
lect th&t
Mr. C. T. IIiII: Mr. l'ennoll co r)D€nts on i'ho
the
os
ni" iirrc *ri"" "l-*t "Diir€lv upon sulPhu dioxid€bnersod moon3
lilte$
to tho uso oI s
1""r" irol. He
i"
"Jr""
thst this neihod i! hishlv
r,""*n 'iers
rogordod ei
Lb't
'"ilil".
"r """*",
;;;;;"-;,"*1"
in tbo Pruvincu or Huolv' rrv ovu \ibw h
{rderr-her'r
rhe
or
in
bliro
iron
terri'
;;;i;i;;",
"", '.."duc€
rhe fscrs seerrr ro be rhai t'r rit" pro\ idP'3
iiiJ""l" tu."**'v
**i* *l''n"t sulpbur dioxrde roe'rs al irB qurlsror to
^"r".tr.r
solution'
reducB
'-li ferrio iroD hthst
s,t trll iho nin€s where subnersed pviies
hisher
""t'""rUr"
ffli-a" s"e u""d ihe hoap i'empsrei'uros aro considerablv
in orl
thot
to
sav
nio rl"to. Ii i" "r'o quite sar'r
;;;;;;;;
0't
such
high
workiDs
trr€
ii *"* """*, "";" * "thor or tho Loops
sulplur
prcduciog
rruellJ
rhum
so
Dels ol
'"-."',t"t*',ut
*", o""" r" o" nro in nra'' s In t'bes€ rondirroD.
;l;iil;
dio{ido in
iilJi""" tl"i 'i*" "r ,ho liquors oro c&rrvins Eulphui
thrcush 3
is
sent
or
liquors
*bolo-mixturc
rt'"
*l*
""r"ri"r "rJ
ll. I^yr,'1ts rNr, l', l. lVIrr,aN: 'l'h Lr lrir|.,1(trr,?n^
I'laL
I't,it(, r ,1th P,(il)ih h rft\,t,l"t tt kb'I'kt.,N)]uir.
f /,
J, ll. l,\rr!,k rN', t,. t,.. \\,r L,,\N ,nr IittLni4 4
t nltrt ls I ttih,,tt th( 1 111iljtrlnh rl t\,rll, tt \tn,,li,r,,;ri
P&DCIf|r.ll lox 0r. co}pnR.1T fi,ro TrNl,o, SIAIN-REM, 87
subnc.g{d pyrite$ litl,rr tho str\nrLrr dioxidc is rno{le t,o r0uce with
tlo ry?r.g0 oontdrt oI tor.ic sult,l,dio trnd ih€ rodnction is nccomplishrtrl l,J llitrt rr,rns, tlF tyrjtog hovil8 l;ftkj or no oltucr n) iisolf.
I boliove ihis is born€ out by tbs irct th&t th€r€ is pmctic&tly
no losB of pyriles frorn ouy of those submergod lilters snd it is hsrd
to beliove, ihor(fore, ihirt ih{r pyrito! hlrll oDt€red inio dny r€scrioD.
OD fi,, oihsr hrnrt d sub,uorsod lilior of vo.y lDrgo dirroDsioDs wds
triod out et Rio TiDl,o wilh poor reuulis. Th€ relisou Io! rhis 1rss,
I belioye, th&t ltio'I'nrio ho&ps sre vorkod ei very mucL lowor
te'npomtures aDd ihilr, in r€ceni years, thor€ has bceo vory liiils
ai e poirt trppro{ching igniiion, rnuch loss oll tire. Hence
urore wAs no sttrccioblo sulphdr dioxido conrsnr i uny oI iho
Rio Tinio liquors rDd.l do not hosiiots to soy ihsi rhe l.iio Tinro
subnorged tilto. failed si[itly on that eccouDi. This is born€ our
by ihe faci ihet exoellont roduction w&s obtain€d whon liquor
containirg rdded sulph\r dioxido woB €ont througb tho lilior. ID
l&ct, advdntrso wss trken of this point lotor wh6n ihe llo,rsheor
wl8 iuch ihat prociically rll of tho heaps liquor vos son hroush
tho SO! ploni and theDce tbroush b&nks of subDerged pyriros.
Thoro was a remarktrble accBlerdtion ot rodrciioD by goiDe rhar
ryny eB cohlarod wiih tho oldrr nothod oI {llownra tbe rcacrion
to proc.ld in tbo iiquor in,t of contlic(, wjih pyriies ot orbor Bolids,
&Dd tho indioation is, es I llav€ soid, that sulphtu dnrxide ond
oro
I
f€rric Bullhaie ratrct rrpidly on tlio surloco of pyires.
Mr. FeDnell r,nrr to rl,ts wid.r pre.i!,r0tiu', .hbrndlr ar R'o
snd I do not thiDk ihai the.o iB lDy trttemrri io mtrk€ our a
case lor iheso, excepiing thrt tbey are obviourly berior ndopt€d
lor vorking ihan ihe nnrrower rhlrnnols, p ticutaity wh6r€ orano
lilrio
Dr- \Yillifins ssl6 for fMltral evidonce ihai IeS is turxrod in
ihe heaps. lIiB €vidence iB Doi €,rsy to odduce, bui ir is s litile
diilicuh to se€ why Dr. Wjlli.iDrs should bo looking for iriolii€. I
ilin[ he would lgr€o uroi tJrrlotito ;s connlorly found viih
pyrito and thc lro down 01 }yrite io tc.rotrs sublrido is a
si,rplo-oDough reoci,ioD i! lvlioh l]to l,yrito sivoB up oDs rron ot
sulphur. tJrito is easily d€romposod iD this vay, upon heecing
iD iho 0,bsence 01 air, rDd thi, is ploinly ihe roocrion which
Mr. lvhalln listralizor ni his equorion (5).
Rosording iho poiot ih,t orushed sh. o wili iako.rho copper our
of s solu[ion of coppd sulphato, it {ould soeii ihor suchocrioD nay
w6ll be duo lo iho prosence of carbonaie or othor olksline couponenr
ol iho shale. Ihs lio TiDto liqtroB, witl their high ecid conreni,
nould b€ unlikoly to bo robLod ol copper i rhiB woy and it would
)
88
J. E. TAYr'oB -aiD
P a: wsar ^n : ri^oErNo
P&Dcrfrtallox oi- cop.Pl'n 4T
AND
qudDritios
thst Mr' WheloD found appreci&blo
b€ surprising l'o heur
of coppor bolow tho tu8ls
....^.h-.dutuburiDtl,6oru
rt'
Dr. Levv areo rerers ro r'bo
::i:"i"'"1
pl"'"|'"'''
i'",*.
tx lr:*:;$: lH:;4 [r:i"":l,'".,uir:*i1lil
;*
:,ILlr j{t'mx;ii'i*:"*'*
l"\Y'';
'"j#$}ffi*'"#H[tr$dffi
-'Jl
;;
;XT:i"i:i'.:T".t
r'"Y'
:'l:"
jltl l::,:::::lt'+;::"
1: i'J
l::il
[xTl'-Ill;"*"J"1'JlTll';Jii:il.-li.n;;m11r"fi ;
w**t***n$fi[$ffi
Hix;tllff nTi;i1i",114':$,';*r+n*+,"','"'*
:::n'Tll"illl;rxx""::,i:d jiidii'llii:l;i:;r;lllr"
i$"i:{t' *rn";iri*'""*l'.;.tiY;:r*
in
liIilii?'Ti ''t""ut'"'"
"ovored
did coPpor'
os n'rcb scid as rheY
rirues
the papor contaioea Iive
*t"o" TO DrscussroN
*q,"':
*lffiuG"'c*t"*-",:'
,n".
"f::"llll lll"l,ll';l*:l;1il:
". disuinquished
bY erl Lhe
l,ll ii'*""* *-,oi
ou'so*s'
.'T,:."i;
"ii"'
l;J"".';ill,:"Tii'Tl.'tii'ff '1"'T iil'iii'i''i"'""''"
:ft
t,lh','s,"i:fl;t;mn:::".'"tlljli:'tm:':;m:
:'i::ll'#;i;;ff ;;;i
nio rio'lo o'es i*roquestion"d'
RrO TINTO,
SpAtN_rl1pl,y, gg
h ihis Joply w6 will firsrly isko up sol)l€ isoloiod poiDrs roised
I'y in(lividuel €ont'ritutors, .lDd rhsn go on to tro&r, o tift.l€ morc
Iully, tho subjolts of sxrrocrion uiochoxisrD ond tiquor oh&root€ristic8, which lrou6€d nosi, guoral irrerosr, boing r;foHed io iu
oDs folm or enourer by lnosc spcrheft.
Wnlian RD$ell asks whrr luppens to rLo stn0.ll qu&Dtity
_l1r.
of silvor in thc ore. The washod ore obrained is higher in ritver
ihan th€ origiral uovssh€d ora Only rrsces of sitvor tu,v6 beon
iound in ih6 liquors betonr precipiirrion oI the coppor end in tho
copper precipitat€ obtoined. Vory lit e silv€I is ib€r6for6
gxiractod frcm ih€ ore.
Ifr. J. H. !'onnell's difiiculty jn visuolizing whsr itr tho
peper, for brovity, is t€rm€d ,cool workine', in e disirict wher6
Ebedo loop-raturus in rhe nin€rtes fl,) ond uver *ru comrnon, ir
{sry undoNraDdsble. In rhis coDnoction i, is nocessaly to
rem.rDb€r Lbe tury srtr lt L€di ftrn,lJrtivit,J ul l,rokoo r,;siv6
pynle i thd3urfa.ooto durot wilt Ld r.u LuL ro tuuch on r suurmer
sftonoon, but only 12 ir. beneaih compusiivoly cool ors wi
Nr. A. J. Csddr, k r,hixLq rh prusenr-day jron consurnltion is
high Io! s liqud ot 2,100 g-',' p..
hdving russrd to
sle!3 r,al6x ro decr€dd€ rhu rurric rruD"ul,i",n"1.",
contenr. rVe rbjnk rhr,. on
re06.riuD. ho will agrue rhJi rth copp€r srsdo of lbs tiquor is Dol,
l,bc ooly mdrerial tdror rrrd rhrr verirtioo tn ecrap.irou usuge is
govenod rnostly by tho quaniitio! ot sc snd ronic irox
l.;onr.
ln rhN runD"(run. wirl pn.J,,urintrnrJJ pyriric rntbor 0htrn
"iticeous
irea o,Ir, th" trrid (onr"nr ut liquu6 is v.ry
u,ucb
higher thon in the liquo^ to vhich Mr. Caddick,s 6gure, r6for.
Th6 ecid cortont hls iD tdcb iDcre$od coDsid€rably b;yond rhot
sccountable for by ,ho niiroduofior of tho prrctioo oi roduoing
lorlic sulphate with SO), dnd rho epp'l€nl,ly higher irou coni
suinption js lnaidy duo [o noutrDlizorion of somo of ihis oxrro
acid. In I[r. C. T. Hill's conrribuiion rhis poinr is ve rak6n..
Dr. David lvillirms calls us to sccounr for posrularing o very
hyloihoticBl iron Bilicdi€ io expldir ihe
t,, t""o[
"."-uqoiu,t""*,
liquoE, of iroD and acid yiold fron pyire.
Ou. preseniorion
(Equetion 5) rvos porhsps en over*inpliiicstion urd our assunp_
tioD, unjustiflobls. However, iron is presenr, often ovor 6 por
conq in iho porphyri€s, chloriios, ond sldi€ norn& y borlmd by
le"ch liquoB, snd wlii{,liDg eDd L,olinizacion ot ih€ steie floor
ores under
of ihe valleys, to o depth trsuolly beiwo€n 4 in. and S in., is wid6sproad. Sovout studies lai16d to liud any signifroani ci€{p of
copper in the decomposed laycre.
90 J. Il.
T-aYLoB,
al{D P. i. lvrrELAN: LEAolrlNG
,A.lrD
Wo ooms now to consid€r ths ch€micel proooBses coDcorned io
le&ohin8, round whioh, in tho msin, ths discussion centrcd'
Sp6ak€;s doBired lurther informstion, tor ih6 most part, on ilro
following mattoru :
(a)
The thernal deconposition of pyrit€ to loavs o mst€ri8l of
low6r sulphur coDtent j
(b) Oidation oi nrsrivo pyriie to iron
sulphsts, accompanied
by seleciiv€ or ptof€r6Diial extraction ol coppor; and
(c) I;duciion
Il
pyril,es.
of lsrrio iron iD Iiquors by Bulphur dioaid€ and/or
lixiviation of s mod€rn sctivo pvrii€ dump is €toppod' temp€r&tures ris€ r*pidly; in 16Bs thsn 14 dovs th€ rormetio! of
;bn6ntrl sulphur besins tu some portion aud, il proventiv€ noesY€s
'ero
not immodiately talon, an almost unconholabl€ r€0'otion
sDr€sds tbouah th; h6&p. Ths ve roosidor' in agreomonu nitb
lrir. C. T. Ri ll, io be a Lhermsl d€.onlosition o I pJrir € in l'o olemont8l
sulphur s,nd tho inpurs lellous sulphido ususllv oelled ' pvrhotiie '
when ideniified in oreg end slss€. Tho Isttico cofttentB of
pyEhotits, ond ot troilite, tho sulphide roforred to by Dr' D&vid
id€ntical Ttoilit6 occu$, chetact€risticsly, jn
Wittlutnu,
"""
m€csodieB, s'h€ro oxaess of iron and other ooDditions makoB
possibl€ th€ lormstion of rcely puro forrous sutphid€ (FoS)'
bhirviDsky(r) (192?)* propo!€d ths r€s,ctions set down below, for
t.oilite formrtion itr moteoritos :
(llr
OFo T 90 r s - OFo + SO' + O : 2Fo T SFoO r FoS
'the comoosil,ioo of PvnhoLil,€s' produc€d ro svsr€ms qhero
rondirioos
oxce€s ol suiphur ral,her thsn ol iroD obraim' and where
ih€
subjecf
being
are less extrene, hag beon giv6n muoh atteniion,
of th€
Much
psst
100
veors
of morc theD 150 pepors in tho
d€ffnite
&ssign
e
rc€d
ih€
sssunod
Jo
eerlier work was roMod by
chollioel iolmula-I'€3so, Fo.S,' IeuSo, I€6S?, F6?Ss, Fesso'
Fe,S-, I'e.S., !'6trSl!, I'oPS$ aad I'eS havo all et ono timo or
u'"L'i"p"'t",i'r". ii,ti '"t*,t aDd &rtilicial pvnhotite€'
solids of.vdrieblo composiiion woro gen€r&Ily
homogeneout
When
i"a cslled isomorphous mixruros or sohd solurioos'
'"*.J"a.
conesp';oo ot iDpure pJrrhor;{os as solid solutiom ol
a
'niional
ferroug gulpbide ond gulphur bocslns possiblo Otr this eiow, now
goneraUy occopl,e,l, pyrrhol,il.e or rr"rLil,o aro synooJmou8 t€rDg
for th€ end-membor oI s .or;€s of soliJ soluliotrs
E. T. AlloD and his co'workors(r) (1s12-191?) prspsr€d vorious
py[hotites by iho thermsl deoomposition ol pvrito and showed
psbnih€sid rcfs. to lhe @locbd rr6€nces 8rv€n 6t rh€ end
'F'cue
ol tbB roply'. to lho di&@ion.
,'ii#
pltEcrprT,lTroN
o]
coppjtR At riro TrNTo, sparN_riEpl,y.
gl
ih&i the reoction.wos rcv€rBiblo. Th6y rolrosgDi€d thoir r€sults .
by thr! iuil,trvirs oquriion, which w h ortvanieso rnighr roploco
Dqu&ti0D 5 in the psper
_-: !'.S.
:
+ (l.n) S ...,,,........,.......,...,,,,..._.......,...,.,(12)
Jons and lvillorlls(3) (192?) r€achod simile. conclusions, whioh
wero fu.th6r conlilm€d by & tairly lecent siudy of pyrhotits
fo.m&tion rnodo by Hiiitig snd lrilrm!n({) (1986).
The qu€stion ihorolore atpsds io bo, not wh€rher pyit€ decon
pos€s in liniiod air supply, but rethor si what tompemrure elimiDFoS!
nS
of
eiion
iho ffIst stom bseins; Korhney(') (19i1) sevo 200"C.
$Dd vorious other locer iDvostissrors vsluoe borwo€; S00. sld
500'C. UDder conditions simuloting ihoso insids a h€ap of pyriros
our work indicsiod thai somo Rio Tinto pyritos oxo"rs an appreciable
digsociation pressuro et slightly bolow soO'C.
M-r- J. E.Tonnolt, iD Btrossins ths vsriBrion in boheviou during
loaching .nd jvoethodng of difiorent ssmplos of pyriros, &nd rh;
Ioot that o troinod ey€ cdn oltoD dorecr rh6c€ difr€roDc€s boforehoEd
whoro ch€mical anslyses lsils to do so, mad6 o vorJ worrhi,hilo
to rh€ discussion. tn slito of numerous iov€sti_
gstion8 siored el, rrsckiDg doi,n rb€ impudtr, or srrucrurel chcrsc_
aotrtriburion
t€ristic,
which
pyrire ro disiDresreto snd to folm
sulphstos rapidty, and oiL€r ,ypos nor€ slowly, nb olesr answer
can yet bo given.
tr'or 6ach pert of copp& io th€ ore thero is 60 pefts, appmxi-
netely, of pyrite, y6t Phon.8o per c€nt of iho former h; beon
€xtraciod only 20 per c€trt of rhs pyrito has gono into solurion.
Th€ roason or r€asons for this pr€ferential oxid*tion aro di{ffcult
to fon)u10,t6. ilr. R. Mudry-Hughes suggssrs ihat ditroronr
€l€ctricol potontirls nay bo respomible. Infornaiion now evsitebls (comporo Gotisohalk atrd Buckler(6)) indic'tos tft € difror€nco
i! the E.M.F. developed iD cortain medi^ by ohalcopyrire end
pyrii€, but iurihor investigetion nisbi brins to lighr a
86D;Izerion
oonn€ciiDs elociiclrl potenriel with rho raas or ;ulph;rizoriotr.
Sovoral cupric lelric lulphides h've beotr r€poruod, bui in mony
o&sos their exi'ruonc€ is Doi well ost&blished. Cholocits (Cu!Si,
cov€Iiie (CuS), 8nd chatcopyrito (CuIeSr, cornmond s6n;rsl
Bc06ptence, both as ]ninerats &nd as chernic&l individuots. UnJor_
tunaioly, itr iho prcsencs of pyrito theso sr6 convorriblo oro inro
iho otber, in circumstmc€s noi ac p.osoni procisoly detined. Zeir
snd hi6 co'worksnf) (1906), lor jnstsnco, found rh&i ohalcopy. e,
whon h€ated with a solutior of cuprio sulphate in a6&6d tub€s,
in composition ro chalcocito ond
g8v6 products corresponding
covdllite. Itr snsi1er to tho querigs ot Ur. Willieln nussol
and
)
92 J. lJ.
TAYLo& -rND
P Ir wuELArt I LltacAlrto
Dr. Williams on reletivo oxidizabiliti€B of t'ho sulphides in Iijo
oory ,bi,e thst wo hsvo fou d Do breek in the
iioto o.u", *u
"p"
lt** "t *pper yield ploitod bv us to indicdio a suddeD
"r-**"
cha,nss in tbo nntoriat leing oxidiz€d }]iihor tho oxidotion
or
retos of tho difrerent oopper sulphides ars ol tho srlne order'
tr
to
exe'cis€
enough
is
stow
step
t"rneition
one oxidrtion or
nradomindbin! inBudnce
is
Tho blue citioc on plrire rol€rred io bv Dr' Darid \\illirms
occurrenoo
its
foutrd occrsionslly h€r€ ond ihoro in t leeoh€d dump ;
'
inv'riablv iudicsios a hiqher.orp€r conleo! lban tbsl' Josir€d;o
washed ire and i,bu co;dirion probablv re8ecrr locol liri!istrL
sl,srvetion. In tho sbs€nco ol an X-rav siDdy, or oiher r€al
ie
l"***, v,o h€sitate to oocelt the th€orv l'het this
verv
""ia*"",
aial
colour
tudes
Th€
covellito.
artifrcraliv-oroduced
.apidly ii m,iet sir rod lhiB msJ bs D€roly sn oxsmplo ol rho
pecuu"," colou" ofroote producsd bv thin filn ol md'nJ divene saltg
ed ssdiment&tion Produoig.
r' Williarn Ruseou
On the whole, w; think the suggertion
provo
to be ihe ms'in
wiu
hordlv
thst a fflm prot;cts tho pyritos
in
heAp-lo6'hing'
b€ctrube
causins oxidation;selectivitv.
oI cundistriburiol
siroll"
witb
no
fecud
$d
ure
unliks floLarro-n,
con
whicb
of
cours€
phoses,
the
betw€en
psrticles
ors
ditioned
often be exploined nore or less satisl&ctodlv bv hvpothsses involvi.s euoerffcial coetings shoee urisrFnc€ 'an rroqDeDLlv be provsd'
oveo sornetiu,es bb isoltrtod. HPsp-losching
reeotions go much deepor tbsn s unimolecular sudsco lavor' occur
e coriplex msdiun, and in corditions of h€dt-iDsulation'
hurnidjr,v. oressue, snd so on rhich aro dimculr [o ruproduco on
on lha possible innuPDce ol whi'h rherotore'
a labomtorl ecale.
or
to"t-
,,fr .n"t
"-
"nd
little iDlormotion h available. In anv oveni
if
a
liln is pres€Dt'
muEt trlmost certainly b€ gesoous : othor tvpes are verv unlikoly
in acid silutiong.
TLat coppot sulphides are attacked bv f€rdc sulphat€ solutions'
evon in theiold, on the lines of Dqustion€ 7;8' and e in tho poper'
hrs bsen shown by nsny worke*-€.s, Whiibv(3), 1929 Dvon if
it
it
w€ro provsd, howsver, tbat forric sulphoto solulion attackg
thaD pvrite, an assunpiion ihat tho
coppe" suiplidos more
""pidly is thus quite loid lar€ vould bo f&r
soloctivo loaching mechenisn
lrom iugtirioi-ihe oxisronce of ferri' sullhare ai rbu sesl' ot
'
I'RI)OIPUIr\TrON
Al{D
roocti;n would remsin to bs provod All our srnell-s'ele work st
Rio Tinto on protNding soit idgeE' 0,nd solt-sheets in cloavage
olcnes ol the oliJizios pvrii,e. has indi'0td lhot slrhough Jollow
iorr;c sulpbaLe enneabydrsr" rs conipr'uous in t}e orrtnr portrons ol
Ot Copl'jri 1T r,ro tINTo, spArN_RlrFLy. 93
€xiNding enousfaiions, tho pftpond€rs,rco of trivet€nc irou fells
ofr imnodiotoly on ontering fhs pyriro, end only f6.!ous iroD exisrs
de6p within iho DAcrivo ore, whore copper sutthiile docompos ion
nu8i I'o occompiisho(l. ti iB Irdssiblo ihdr ferdo sulptrsre fornoiion,
won jf ic ig thr usuai Iini recognizebto r€sulr ot py"it"
"uutl*ing,
1fl,t6 srogo iD tho chong€s which occur,
end that
this body,.for from lillnrg rho rnojor rolo os a coppor oxrracror with
shrch ir E .iedir€J b-y so'trb wr erF. ptay. no
pr*
";gn;ncnnr
wh&ievFr. Again, sltbough her€ anstrricst dimcuttios
m&ko
doGoite stJteu,€nrs impossjbto, rbero is a higb probabitiLy rhei
where copper is b€iDg brought into soluiion in acidio condiciona
d6op witbi! tbo luo,py pyrite tbo prepond€rst;ng aoion is nor
constirutes only o
sulphut.. Ltt b:sulphito or son,e sriI more thionar'ed iun.
tho &Dolyres ol or6s end liquoE givon in ih6 pspor it vil
-bo_nrom
roaliz€d thei itr the sphere of reaction rnany colnpoona" .o*
oxirt, any ono of which, ovon if prss€nt in emalt concenrration,
noy profoundly str€ct tho incidence ond relotive rateB ot oxidation
snd €xtraction. Ii is worrh roD€mboling thet s&lrs of ersonio in
ss woal as 0.005 pff conr soturiuD ha\u pro\6d €xrrsordinsritJ
od6ctjv.. tor
JUrrs, in onsuring proferenrial &U0ok oq iro;
oxid$ rqrl,er 'trrny
rhan rlru rnerol jn inLtLrstriDl }i.klins lroctic6.
lesohirs r€sctions tako l l&oo in & viscous rnediu;, a j€ny of
concentratod inorg&nic sali6, conrain€d in rhin slirs or copins;i€s.
A.r€scl,ioD ,oediurn ol high vic.osity mry iD'orfo.o wir; pFito
oxrd8troo 1l) tr groul.ur degrd rbsn jt does .opper sutphido decoD_
position. A ropid chein rescrion insy bo nainiy inBrtum€Dtsl in
coppd sulphid€ oxidoiion, a stow hoioroeen€ous oDe in priro
Co$idoraiions such as the forsgoiDg indicato ihot cauiion is
neoded to avoid rcscling promoture and etroneous conctusions on
ihe
oause
or
causes
of oxiderior solociivity iD
ho*pl€sching.
Hoppily, 9n th6 proctical scal€, only v€ry f6w facton_such a;,
tho dogre€ of ventilation ellowed, peiodioiry of lixivianc appti_
cation, aDd so on-csn bo vai6d at roasoDAbl€ cosr. Neverthel€ss,
oomplgt€ DnderBtanding oI ths mochenism involvod in ihe
r6acl,ioos qbich brinq enpper. zinc, arsuoic, iron, €tc., rnto solurioD
would be a heip in arranging opiiDrum oonditions foi loaching
s
difforsni iyp€s of cuprilorous pyrit6s.
I'inaUy, it romoins to anplifv sliahily tho bri6f roferenc6s iD
tho p&po! to feric iron reduction by SO! &nd/o! pyrirss, &E rhis
ho! b€on iho subject of sone controversy. Two aspects bsve ro
bo distinsuished-(ir) reduction, and (b) pr€vention of ro-oxidsrion;
tho Becond w$ noi, p€rhaps, sufrcionily Birossod in the p&por.
l
l
J. II. T YLoR AND P. I'. wrrDLAN: l,EAcrIrNG aND
PlirlcrtlT,rnoN o!. cor'ptr& aT nlo Trnto, SI'AIN_Ri)I'LY. 95
On manv occssioDs & liquor wirh onlJ l'rocos oI f€rric sulllol'e'
cooinc l"rom sorne deep bed of submerged plrires ho' buon louDd
r" eoonulste D conconirsiion of soverd hundrod gl&ns por cu'
pror,ocnvd r.riun. [videx o i{ a.cu,nuioring thsr m0try re0crioDs
rn sulul,ro'r procuu,l LJ & ,l,siu rn€chunistu. A lno(hanism or rhiR
typo, whoro (xN ]n,k ir d l,trrF.toir of touotrs sulptrotu rnoluculeB
94
rroiro of triveloni iron on norolv irLsflring 60 vd! of opeD
iourders, or s,rfre"ing sola€ slight coscadins in contrct with dirE. P"Eoiakl!l sbowod thut cupnc eulphate rnarkudly arnulentces
lhe oxi;tioo ol aq. ienous sulphrl'o enJ suss€stod rhat ' 'rpruug
ir'a
eulohcro acr,e aa u c&tior bv slturDdri!ulJ oxidizrrg auLl n urr
r-u
r-Fer
or
Fe'
cu'sor
I
lso,rr ,
2i'oso. + 2cuAo{
:
I,6";+Cb'.,,.....,.....,.....,,......."'......."'......,"'.....,,,,.._..."(13)
It is con€rsllv &sreed l,bst a l€rcb liquor cool'aining no lorric
*rpl*J" r o*1a;i vory Blowlv. if &L all sheD slored in s dotr
oI
i'"t *"t.U.* pvrites so long ae no ext€nsive freo surfoc€
rilterod'
so
"i
t'ber
liquor
iae*'
dne* n
r'.',""1.
""-*a.
6mpl'v taok' wirhour elc€ssivo rir
.-"a into &n "rsof
ir'""."i"ri"'
prep{ed tor
thoo s siroiltrr solul'ion
scrsp-iroo aod roplacomeL( ol the
reducr,ion
Tbo explaoatioo
simullaoeomlv lhrowo
probablv hes in Ric6s disco!erJ{10/ (1926)
a
co;Dl€to removel ut dusr lroin squ€ous solul'ioDs ctru36s
rhsre;o
o'curins
of oxidarion r"dcrions
ly cupric ions, tho cop!€r boing ontv &ctive'
.ro
oontact. oxidize
more,losll
i""rr*". l"
*i**"1"
""""* **"'"**
"i'ir',,
thst
.*".1'tL *a.a"ti-
viLi
oul
*hicl
"ototy""a
el tho surla"ee of the dust lerlirloB Thar '\eD
ooosrcnllv.
cstr brios Ebout s nor6$orrbJ iDbibitioD
a,i',
"liii"i
"L;-i*';""
Lv BaileJ('l {1995) where liquor8
u"u'
It."ian,l"' I'n"
"tosn
sDd
i."" lee' oaes"a tb.o"sb pvriies frllera ond larer IeruIorsrilJ
oLt0ined
qualirv
orflu€nt
."i*r'..rlt r" a"'*, ;.iit ror the good
as
il""ii U" *'* ro the dusr.'r€movios luucrion or lDl'beoth'plrrres
{ords'
r
it
exercisee
*aucing actioo
"Ji"'
'"nf,"l.
"i," '*"in"
borb rodurog fqrio jroo 0,nd srabiliz.q lurrous roo.
.""ir"
-" 'i.-"ff
***'*"i"" "t SO' is also sn elbci"n" sroi'iliz€r'lt'Iloro
is 3
prqbabiliry
accelsral.ed dusl' eliEinariuo is soall
tbe
"i.olchomi'al
Iiootics however' l'har l'qo o\iJr?aLlo
""^i""1"r"""
io rhe same solui,ion, bove B n,rrLual pru[,cri\s
i"ai"". ii
".r"rr,
mor€ slowlv rhar il ir' wore lres€nr rlone'
"-ai"i"e
"i*i.'*"l
iir" *"" "*"ilro 6 6od exampleg wbirh ha\o s b€drjns on 'L€
ruks ro
;;;i"", r"; under ooosidorstion' Gusiscol is add€d ro
is
druxide
(!/
Sulph'rr
sairs
.1" oxidstion of Iorous
"'.i.",
in
Danv
absotpuon
oxvsdn
bv
ieed Lo provent discolorotioD.
p*p"*,;ons.(rsr The &oti-oxvgen
ot
-guriscol
wljub
"1"i.*"""'i""r
JJ"l* ai"*;a"i. in" ""ses oited-is i!varisblJ a subdao'o
comso smtrll
ig ii"et s"scept;ne m oxidstion; frequsnrlv onlJ
mutual
iietion or it is neoaed, howover, to brins aboDt & mo'rkod
isrr,,nol,ilirs,l,orrur trru,ti,,,rr. Lyrumutorn,ut tuoboromhinr(ioD
$irb a Drolu.ulu ot bulth,r. dio\iJe, woutd ejlptain rho t&rge of6ci
ol a sm',ll 0Dounr ot t1,,, .n,,tio\ygoD . tf \ro tu bor usFumo
ihar SOr nulon,l,s Jr,, q rrr{r" ,-cr,ivu, b.,i,,s,st,u.id y clusoty
!rkud trr rhb rhir li.t,ri,l-6,.,- ,jrrurtd{u. wl,ux rr*,(r;o.pt.r;
oxygen tuusi Lo aLsorLad. !nd rte tufluus sutpbsto
pr;Lsbly
"b,ins
stare, rl be.omFs stiJl omier tu und€mland the por,ency
of retarivsly
snDll coDconiraiions of the sss. Orhor fiuol*, oi
Luu""
beon advanc€d io oxpltrin redcrion r€raldsrion phonom€Da.(r.)
"o**,
Mr. C. T. ltill!6msrks rhar in roosi bJd.omotdlurgical work! iD
.
th€ pynte boh ol Spein aoJ I'urrugst loech tiquors rrom hor b€aps,
callyrne considera,ble sulphur dioxids in soluiion, are pasaoi
through pyrir6s filtsrs. Wbero rhis is doro, il is obviousty imp;ssihte
to disenrsogle rho effocL of rhe pFir6 from rhai oI tbe drsFotved
gas, rn !6ducilg f€Iric sutphsr€.
At Rio Titrio v6 hav6 rried rbo compotiDg mocbods ot r6du,,riou
s6poral,€ly, aDd frratty in corobinction, on s scsl6 ldg€ enough, wo.
think, io svetr ouc scci.lonrel vorisiions. A b0,000_b; pyrii;6ti6r
vss lound.to roduco feftic iron, bui ryhor€os in rbo lirst vear ir
redmed 100 grdms pbr roo of 016 por day, ofter lour
JdB i{,s
capacity Isd f0ller bJ i0 per .€trt. Nor ouly did ir, prov" I stov
Delhod, bur rho sD iD8errbte ono, ae increeeod tiquor rhroughpur
ceN6d uo vorihwhil€ ris€ in tho ionneso of hivolontlr;" etimin',t"a.
Strright SOs roduotion is nors Sexibt€, bo0aus6 tho saruration csn
b€ sdjusr€d. fron ilay r,o daJ, ro the duiy r€quir6d. Alr.hough tho
0t6mlc8l emciency of rbo p.ocess cs L€ msde rcasonebJy respect
obl6, the reoction i! slow, loquiing &bour 10 days for conplorion..
The coDtrolliDg tsctor booones thorofore ih6 sioreg€
u"uituUtu,
W€ uBed 0. dan of 100,000 cu. merros cepaciiy \vhile "p,"u
mducing obout
20 ions pe. doy of fonic iroD.
When & beDk of sized pyrite, jn all sbout 9,000 ions, was rippedt
ihis don io lo.m a porous berrior rhmugh which tho 3br_
to pass, ih6 cepeciry ol tho ptent es a vhoi;,
in spit€ of the slight docrease theroby csused in storego capacify
end oonsequonuy in reeofion time, uDexpectodly ross s"bsian'tiolly. Possible explanaiions of this sre sei down in whs,t folows:
(1) Th6 borrie! 6v€nod oui tL6 cross-socriollel fow of liquoi.
Before iis introduction psrr may hov6 rokon e very dirocr.
psth betw€oa inl6i &Dd outler Btuio€s, so that donl c&pacity
w&3 not b6ing fully us€d. l:iquor sempiing st voious.
aoross
chorSsd liquor hsd
.l
)
J. 1I, TAYLOR AND P' F'
96
WXET/AN'
th€ PlsciDg of t'bu
.l6bths and locutions' boloru snd eltsr
in Lbis respect' but Dot
&kmiUed Jor tlisLll,ssiok, -\oEmbu t\)Ilt, ttJ4!.
il".#. "r,"""i-""# t.provom€nrreBulls'
onouch to sccouDt tor ih! buti€!
rtrpidlr wrrh lelri' suLphote orr
,, ii?i"r"i"" a-;..ia" reucrs
rhis view is exnresred b) Nr' c.r'
'-' i* "*i1"" "i*.'"s
bv rar'orsi'orr wor! wbicb
iiir]i"li-,,li*,, supporr€d
li^'1,-,i- .*r,. tn'1," o"etlr more ofieclrvo rhaD iDerr'
r€'
;rss -iD rccurorar'ing r'ho oi
ll#*'J"""t
-t*'-*, * brokon oijecLion
is
rloorv
rh€
to
seriour
I'lllltb€ incoming hquor'
ll*11.
,t'i
NotoB oD the^Na,Ddo Gold Mi!6, Utbswoswo,
Sourher! Rhodeoia.
lly Sl^Nr,xy J. N,\rrftN, M.]J.E., .l$ocidt€.
orutieriD
pvrit6
'*noDded
ue oxpocted to slimo ov€' the
ll-'"i "i# "r'i "'a'""d
crtarvst
t'be
"""r" in sorution ro inrap""iLore
;ffi"";;;-;
rim€ lrr
sci'Lve c€orros ru * 'ory short
h. .laRtrovinc
'i Lh€tsllins
occur'
ofi iD esci€ocv did Dot
.1"J" *:t'ta
dusr cauied br tssch riquo$ is
tie
...
t"' !^::';;,ir,;'1"", or in promo!;og
th€ r€ectioD b€rr'€6D
THE tollowix,i
iir1t"""'t*t"'
*a *rolu dioxido This bodvioiss r'eppod.
iJ-i" ',u"i"""u*tt;e
l':'i"':::::.
fu conceorruted tbsr€ia rorm oI
,r
"
uoduBrely
bigh-gr8du qudrLz rhroudb nns ur rbe
otb"r variairons
or rhe grevrtJ
crusbinF ro Jbour s0 rD.sh in conjuncrion l{lrh
'nilt.phto
an sroelgamario!
JDd/ur bhtrkvt jtrskes. Ar rh€ Nando
nrtne a m,Dpdtrti!ety big| rorrragu ,,1 !ury
luw-gnrde lodc ,nstler
B
( - l-in. ,n6r,, rLruugl, rn ,upact Lreaker,
erd
i:1:sd;c?ciB'r
cJ&m{l€d ,lir€.r. 'lbeso rn es }trvc drty b€En record€d
becsudo
rDd usu8t descnplonr uf
,huse wl$ elaLuraie
plants
snd o v,ry LiR cJt,itrl -r rb,ir didposJt,
rbern
ro
inshl
"nsbtilg
,u.::ri':
dnir. ,,,r .rnpruy, numro. or..tigury poiJ
1l:.lT* \u ctJim wLdrquer, r ir msdu
crallsmo!.
as ro sny urigin;tiry i,
tho methods onployd or ruy,rpccinl technicel skilit"ir"g
*q"i"J
as
";";.
ion sbich arrows it ." Iuo'tion
;fi"fJ,i;;;/;;;t'"ser
somo
carrving
banier'
Lhe
il;"o"r reavirg
:::;;il";;r';
lroe rrom suspeodod
:i:ff;';ff"';;J deirg 'ereii""tv
sgsiost' ooosoqu€nt oedauioa'
to"
Iiii-],J""r,r"'"u,rors;tod
-r"ii'i"i'Lii* J"nt";rion is !6rbaps. tho mosi stt*cr'vo
:
work cl€erlr r€mails i'o bo done berore
out pdPdr bv €nrpbaBizing tbe
"."','i""r'i*tu;
",iTAnalirv
iB reoch€d Wo b€gaD
anv
rtr'irq m ond
leschiog a'' Rio rmro lL is
i,3'
ii"#'t'"]'n"
ii
how.oucb srir"i"tiiT"':"fl,::,i;
bvdrolnersuu-"Jl,iyJ;;"
botore rbis siogle oxsEpls oI
ffiili*;;'"
&nd rrs
solvod'
nJsteri$
il's
{orked oul,,
lil"".r1"*J".
stressing
rr!folded.
lll E:'ry]TX*
'
RltBENcr6
f#.Y-:i111': l..,'1"1" irer2r: oid r' 4r'
"i',f
ii i+.,**ffi ry:##dmi',tli;'jj'rs;;; ?' 16 I0I'r
j'.e*'i',f;f a x r'"tot' rb'd
l,
ii }"i'S*l il+#l
pmpb.,6,6 (!e26)
(
j:i
l,:;"*t;*rf
ff{J.iLi'l.'i'". o*.
*ir{rtf,#iti#i:.li::r;'{:,'i';13:li"'$'u,'*''
i;a e'v c49r,,1s;.3i,1.it03xr
llil
**
!."afiii..l
u,,r-, d..s.ru,. rh" r,ir,ing er,d ,,,iltitrg opordrions
oI
or rbo jn',1),.r guto ,r,,,cs rn Suurhbrn lthodcsid. I,hesB
operrtiolu.r& Bolrowhoi dil]crdri fron chose ot the rnsjoricy
of
rni^ms ij, hrb rlJ$. ,u rhJr. qdlurtrlty. I lby pul,
sr,ru roooago or
on€
;
n*''- " u'a*'
lli i:H"d,f*.ffi;lr*#;.ii;'dii#;.'
,,i ,b. rd,. ou ,hd ),ie,,ru .vin€,
,,:::.,"^t!-'lr
:'.ll:',.:
um8s$qe.
rh prolDl,lJ
r}rl, oi d s x,i-uu,ne pit.hing w€{r,, wirh
sr &vn&ge dip ot 52". I'he toorwaU oonsisrs of a *ghty rnota_
morplosed corslomoBie, vhioh is ovortaid by a
senor oi altered
lnd.dirtxrL€d tuiI., .rn,l.sir,r rnd turpbyries $irh rll.D bands
ol
chert.. Ih,d€ iur,r rbo ,,,uir g,,td_Ledring IuJo (b€e cruss_section
iIu opbncut. Iis. 29).
A nu&b6r ot orhel'ocks such as chlorire.sohist, dolodto
&Dd
o,. r, bur uke rhe.ursromurate do nor. appo&.
i,bodgh
1"::'l:1**l*r
lo De or ony rmmbdrat€ scoxomic vslub.
{.c'"rn1*"1
loerure ur rh€ lode is
BourD, vonou8tJ .teLurmjnod as errber
I
* dy[J
striki]rs norib ond
very wesrhor€d glsnilo or
pory[yry (eno'rn ox lbe properry m qraDir") enrloding s
distinotiv€
(r€eD mrce.oous Dneral.