Process mineralogy of Manto Verde Chile

The Manto Verde copper mine, located in the Atacama Region of Chile, is characterized by fault breccia-hosted specularite and copper mineralization, with gold occurrences. The objective of this study was to conduct mineralogical investigations during the exploration and feasibility phases to understand the response of ore minerals to an acid leach process. Methodologically, the study involved a characterization of the mineralogy of leachable copper, specifically identifying dominant oxide minerals such as brochantite and malachite, alongside gangue minerals including orthoclase, specularite, quartz, and chlorite. The results revealed that the mineralogical makeup plays a critical role in the copper extraction process via heap leaching and solvent extraction (SX-EW), essential for the plant's operational success. Importantly, the findings underline the need for thorough mineralogical assessments in ore evaluation and metallurgical testing to optimize the performance during industrial treatments. This comprehensive review emphasizes the integral connection between mineral characteristics and leaching technologies, as highlighted by the case of Manto Verde.