Use both the website and your textbook to answer these questions. http://www2.oakwood.k12.oh.us/~rainsberger_tony/chemistry/coppermining/
Define the following terms:
1. Leaching
2. Raffinate
3. Run of Mine Ore
4. Pregnant Leach Solution
5. Hydrological Sink
Answer the following questions:
The process of copper mining starts after Geology has made block models identifying the location of ore deposits in different areas of the mine through core sampling. Drilling and blasting begins to expose the oxide and sulfide material for loading and haulage.
Once the area has been blasted, shovels are moved into place and the loading of haul trucks begins for the haulage of ore to the leach stockpiles or the crusher.
1. Once the ore has been hauled to the stockpiles, the leaching begins. What chemical is fed through the driplines to begin the leaching? What is the concentration of this chemical?
2. There are two different kinds of leach fields. One leach field uses haul trucks to bring in the ore. The other uses a conveyor belt. What is the main different between these two leach fields.

Student Handout
Leaching Copper
3. Provide the name and formula for malachite, chrysocolla, azurite, and chalcopyrite. Identify each as an oxide or sulfide ore.
4. Approximately how many lifts are added each year?
5. How long does it take for a drop of acid to run through the leach field and be collected?
6. How is the solution collected once it runs through the leach fields?
7. Could leaching be done on copper ore if there was not a hydrologic sink? Explain.
8. What is the Cu 2+ concentration as it comes off the leach fields?
9. Is the PLS a solution that only contains Cu 2+ ? Explain.