Extraction of Copper
The method used to extract copper depends on the nature of the copper ore. In this section, we will discuss the extraction of copper from its most common ore, chalcopyrite. Chalcopyrite contains a mixture of copper sulfide and iron sulfide. It is often lean, containing a low percentage of copper (less than 1%). Hence, the ore is first concentrated by froth flotation. Then, copper is extracted and refined for use