Бидний тухай
Багш ажилтан
Atmospheric oxidation of copper concentrates during storage and transport leads to mass gain and copper grade depletion, presenting significant operational and economic challenges for the mining industry. Using two sun-exposed samples, this study investigated the oxidation behavior of copper concentrates under typical Mongolian summer conditions over four months (May 14-September 18). The oxidation process was divided into three sequential stages based on pH variation and mineralogical phase transformations: (I) initial mild acidification, (II) intensified bio-oxidation facilitated by Fe(III) generation, and (III) final stabilization associated with advanced sulfide oxidation. Key analytical techniques included pH monitoring, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), X-ray diffraction (XRD), reflected-light microscopy and SEM-EDS. The XRD results revealed the progressive degradation of chalcopyrite and the emergence of oxidized copper phases, confirming mineralogical conversion under ambient oxidation. Additionally, an exponential-type predictive model was developed to estimate copper content decreasing as a function of temperature and humidity. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding oxidation-induced degradation during storage and support proactive strategies for effectively handling, preserving, and transporting copper concentrates under real-world conditions
