The Sherritt-Cominco Copper Process PART III: Commercial Implications

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 71, No. 790, 1978

D. E. G. Maschmeyer, Project Manager, Metal and Chemical Division, Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, E. F. G. Milner. Senior Research Metallurgist, Technical Research Centre, Cominco Ltd., Trail, B.C., B. M. Parekh, Senior Process Engineer, Metal and Chemical Division, Sherritt Gordon Mines Limited, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta

The operation of the pilot plant for the S-C Copper Process during 1976 has provided the basic data for the design of a commercial-scale plant. This paper introduces the commercial aspects of the S-C Copper Process through the presentation of a process flow diagram, a schematic flow diagram and basic design parameters for 75,000 tonnes per year (tpy) copper rod production from chalcopyrite concentrate. Basic operating requirements are outlined and a preliminary estimate of operating and capital costs for a Western Canadian location are summarized. The results have been compared with a modern smelter/electrorefinery to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of these two alternatives and to show why the new S-C Copper Process technology should be of interest to the copper industry.

Keywords: S-C Process, Copper recovery, Energy requirements, Metallurgical costs, Hydrometallurgy.