Processing of Complex Materials in the C

With the gradual decrease in the grade of copper ores being processed, copper concentrates have become more complex with higher impurity and gangue content. This trend has had a detrimental effect on smelters as they have to increase throughput to maintain copper metal production, while increasing operating costs due to processing the increased amounts of secondary products and stabilizing waste streams. This paper discusses the impacts from the increased complexity of resources from mine to smelters, highlighting the need for an integrated processing approach to achieve sustainable and competitive multi-metal recovery. It also addresses how miners have adopted various processing options at the mine site to reduce the concentration of elements that would decrease the value of their product, and how smelters have modified their operations to enhance the removal of deleterious elements. The role of copper as a cornerstone element for supporting a sustainable society is emphasized, particularly in light of global economic disruptions, like the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on copper demand and prices.