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Considering environmental costs of copper production in cut-off grades optimization

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Abstract

The average grades of copper mines are dropped by extracting high-grade copper ores. This matter has drawn considerations to processing methods which not only extracts low-grade copper ores but also decreases adverse environmental impacts. Hydrometallurgical methods are the most applicable ones which affect the optimum policy of cut-off grades determination. In this research, an optimum cut-off grades modeling is developed with the objective function of net present value (NPV) maximization. The costs of processing methods and associated environmental costs are also involved in the model. Next, limiting and balancing cut-off grades of processing methods are calculated through Lagrange multiplier optimization method. Finally, an iteration algorithm is exercised to compute the maximum amount of NPV as well as concentration and leaching optimum cut-off grades. The results show that the concentration and leaching optimum cut-off grades policy makes an improvement on overall NPV by 35 % in comparison with the traditional approaches of cut-off grades determination. The adverse environmental impacts of low-grade ores dumping are also reduced by using hydrometallurgical methods.

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Notes

  1. Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and bornite (Cu5FeS4) are recognized as the primary sulfide minerals which can be generally processed by pyrometallurgical methods. Chalcocite (Cu2S) and covellite (CuS) are considered secondary sulfide minerals, which are easily leached with sulfuric acid if an oxidant is present. Secondary copper sulfide minerals can also be processed by pyrometallurgical methods (Davenport et al. 2002; Dreisinger 2006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, 1514643711, Iran

    Esmaeil Rahimi

  2. Stirling University, Stirling, Scotland, UK

    Kazem Oraee

  3. Mining Engineering Department, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    Zia Aldin Shafahi Tonkaboni

  4. K.N. Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

    Hasan Ghasemzadeh

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  1. Esmaeil Rahimi
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Correspondence to Esmaeil Rahimi.

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Rahimi, E., Oraee, K., Aldin Shafahi Tonkaboni, Z. et al. Considering environmental costs of copper production in cut-off grades optimization. Arab J Geosci 8, 7109–7123 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-014-1646-x

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