THE COPPERBELT UNIVERSITY
SCHOOL OF MINES AND MINERAL SCIENCES
METALLURGY DEPARTMENT – SOLWEZI CAMPUS
DMT 361 – Pyrometallugy 2
Assignment Two
Due Date: 3rd June, 2022 at 20:00 hours
Question One
A. You have been supplied with 400 tons of copper sulphide
concentrates. Discuss the necessary steps that needs to be take in
order to smelt and produce matte grade of 68% copper and with
minimal loss of copper to slag while maintaining good separation
between copper matte and
[20 marks]
A. Why are bornite and chalcocite rich concentrates preferred to
chalcopyrite rich concentrates in direct to blister copper smelting?
[5 marks]
Question Two
A. Describe the operation of a Mitsubishi smelting furnace. What unique
advantage does the Mitsubishi technology have over the other matte
smelting technologies
[5, 2 marks]
B. The following concentrates are being flash smelted
Conc. 1
Conc.2
%Cu %Fe
25
27
36
24
%S %SiO2 %Al2O3 %CaO
26
10
4
5
22
8
3
5
%K2O
3
2
Weight ratio
1
4
The air for smelting is enriched to 45%. Given that 2,800 tonnes is
being smelted, and assuming that 24% each of Fe and S report
to matte, calculate:
(i)
The matte weight and matte grade
[2 marks]
(iii)
The enriched air required for smelting
[5 marks]
(iv)
The slag weight and analysis
[5 marks]
(v)
Plot the slag on the provided ternary and estimate its melting
point
(vi)
Comment on the fluxing of such a slag
[3+1 marks]
[2 marks]