Copper Concentrate

“Copper concentrate” is the name given to the raw material used to make high-purity copper. It is a material that is almost black in color, produced by grinding up and treating the ore dug out of mines. Copper is generally found in very low percentages in nature, but ore can be ground up and concentrated to around 25 to 30% by froth flotation. Grinding and froth flotation are done right at the mine, and it is the resulting concentrated ore that is sent to the smelting works; hence, the name “copper concentrate”. The main components of copper concentrate, apart from copper, are iron and sulfur. The whole process described below is aimed at separating the copper from the other components, which are treated in different plants at the metallurgical complex until they are ready for marketing and use.