DOI: 10.18503/1995-2732-2025-23-2-78-87
Abstract
Problem Statement (Relevance). The Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter is a major producer of black copper, sulfuric acid and superphosphate fertilizers. Over almost 100 years of operation, the plant has accumulated a huge amount of slag, including copper smelting production. At the moment, the plant is actively processing rock-like (cast) slags, extracting sulfide concentrate with precious metals from them. As a result of crushing, new waste masses are formed at the plant in the form of dusty black slag. Further utilization of these masses requires a detailed understanding of the mineral composition of the slags. Unfortunately, the material composition of the SUCS slags obtained by previous researchers looks quite contradictory and requires revision. Objectives. Study of the material (mineral) composition of slags from the Sredneuralsk copper smelter obtained during the smelting of copper-sulphide ores. Methods Applied. The chemical composition of the slag was determined using an XRF 1800 X-ray fluorescence wave spectrometer from Shimadzu, and the composition of the minerals was determined using a TESCAN MIRA LMS, S6123 scanning electron microscope with an INCA Energy 450 X-Max 80 energy dispersive device from Oxford Instruments (IGG UBr RAS). The latter device was also used to take photographs of the minerals. Originality. The examination of the material composition of slags was carried out using the modern nomenclature of the Commission on New Minerals of the International Mineralogical Association and using the methods of classical mineralogy. Results. We have examined and supplemented the mineralogy of cast slags of the Sredneuralsk copper smelter. It has been established that they are composed of fayalite and ferrous augite with the presence of magnetite, glass and chrome spinelide (chromite and magnesiochromite). The sulfide component is mainly represented by cubanite and bornite, less often by idaite, sphalerite, galena and Zn-analogue of cubanite. In addition, arsenide-stibnide mineralization is noted, composed of breithauptite, westerveldite, cuprostibite and allargentum. Metals and intermetallides are respectively represented by copper and auricupride. Practical Relevance. The studied copper slags are sent for additional processing, since they contain a large amount of copper and zinc sulfides, as well as an admixture of gold and silver. At the same time, magnetite concentrate can be extracted from these slags, which will reduce the volume of waste dumps by 20%. In general, dusty slags can be considered as man-made iron ore. Unfortunately, the technologies for extracting iron from silicates are still too expensive, but if to take into account the zinc, copper and other elements that are extracted along the way, then perhaps it will become profitable.
Keywords
fayalite, augite, magnetite, sulfides, mineralogy, slags, Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter
For citation
Erokhin Yu.V., Kozlov P.S., Zakharov A.V., Shiryaev P.B., Leonova L.V. Material Composition of Slag from the Sredneuralsk Copper Smelter. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2025, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 78-87. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2025-23-2-78-87
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