Copper Extraction from Oxide Ore of Alma

In this investigation, a laboratory-scale study to extract copper (Cu) from its oxide ore (0.425–11.2 mm particle size) was conducted using varied sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) concentrations (0.05–0.5 M) as a lixiviant. The objective was to evaluate the extraction efficiency of copper in relation to particle size and acid concentration. A physicochemical and mineralogical analysis of real field ore samples from the Almalyk mine heap in Uzbekistan was performed, utilizing methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray diffraction. The results demonstrated that the extraction rate of copper was significantly influenced by both the particle size and the concentration of sulfuric acid used in the leaching process. It was observed that finer particle sizes yielded higher extraction rates, while increased acid concentrations maximized the efficiency of the copper leaching process. The mineral composition of the ore, including malachite, quartz, and iron-rich chlorite, was characterized, and the presence of specific minerals correlated with the extraction efficiency was discussed. This study provides insights into optimizing the copper extraction process from oxide ores through heap leaching techniques.