HYDROMETALLURGICAL TREATMENT OF COPPER-BEARING HEMATITE RESIDUE

摘要

HYDROMETALLURGICAL TREATMENT OF COPPER-BEARING HEMATITE RESIDUE A method is provided for recovering copper values from a copper-bearing hematite residue in a single stage. It comprises leaching the residue in an aqueous sulphuric acid solution in the presence of ammonium, sodium or potassium ions, at a temperature between about 80.degree.C and the boiling point of the solution so that copper values are dissolved while iron is precipitated as jarosite. The method is particularly suitable for the treatment of residues resulting from an oxidizing pressure leach of copper concentrates.