Conventional chalcopyrite processing begins with comminution using crushing and grinding. 100 to 500 tons of ore are crushed andground at an energy cost of 10 to 20 kWhr per ton for every ton of copper produced. Thus, energy consumption for comminution can range from 1,000 to 10,000 kWhr per ton of copper. After crus-hing and grinding, the resulting fine particles of chalcopyrite areseparated from gangue minerals by flotation. Flotation results in a concentrate of chalcopyrite containing nearly 30% copper thatis smelted and converted into blister copper, which is further processed into copper anodes that are around 99.5% copper. The anodes are electrorefined to produce 99.99% copper cathodes.