Abstract Chalcopyrite heap leaching is not yet a commercial reality, not just because of its lower recovery or slower kinetics, but rather, because of the economic impacts lower recovery and slower kinetics impose to the operating cost of the process. Considering the importance of the financial analysis on the economics of the operation, in this research, the economics of hydrometallurgical treatment of low-grade chalcopyrite deposit at Sarcheshmeh mine as a function of ore grade and extraction recovery were investigated. First, a brief history and theory of chalcopyrite ore leaching has been reviewed, showing that bio heap leaching at a possibly higher temperature with forced aeration is the only viable technique in treatment of low-grade chalcopyrite ores. In the economic feasibility study section, an operating cost estimate, capital cost estimate and economic analysis for a plant with 7000 tons per year copper cathode production capacity as a function of ore grades, acid consumption and heap leaching recoveries were investigated. Preliminary capital cost and operating cost estimates were made within two scenarios for a plant utilizing bio heap leaching, solvent extraction and electrowinning of low-grade chalcopyrite ore. The operating cost, for instance, was shown to be between US$5.99/kg to US$4.29/kg of copper cathode for extraction recoveries of 30% to 50% in a scenario where the construction of new SX and EW plants are required (Scenario 1). The operating cost was shown to reduce to US$5.36/kg to US$3.66/kg, for a similar recovery range, if the current SX and EW facility can absorb the bio heap leaching solution (Scenario 2). Using the operating cost data and the current copper selling price, the ore cut-off grade as a function of copper extraction efficiency was identified. The economic analysis showed that for an ore containing 0.28% copper, 7000 tons per year of copper cathode production requires a total investment of 38 million US dollar. The internal rate of return for such a plant was shown to vary between −2% to 27% for copper extraction efficiencies between 30% to 50% (Scenario 1). The sensitivity analysis of the similar plant showed that a copper selling price of US$5/kg, for instance, can even make the 50% copper extraction efficiency economically unacceptable for scenario 1.

中文翻译：

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Sarcheshmeh 铜矿低品位黄铜矿湿法冶金处理可行性前期研究

摘要 黄铜矿堆浸还不是商业现实，不仅因为其较低的回收率或较慢的动力学，而且因为较低的回收率和较慢的动力学对工艺的操作成本施加了经济影响。考虑到财务分析对运营经济性的重要性，在本研究中，研究了湿法冶金处理 Sarcheshmeh 矿低品位黄铜矿矿床作为矿石品位和提取回收率的函数的经济性。首先，回顾了黄铜矿浸出的简要历史和理论，表明在可能更高的温度下强制曝气的生物堆浸是处理低品位黄铜矿的唯一可行技术。在经济可行性研究部分，运营成本估算，作为矿石品位、酸消耗量和堆浸回收率的函数，对一家拥有 7000 吨/年阴极铜生产能力的工厂进行了资本成本估算和经济分析。对利用生物堆浸、溶剂萃取和电解提取低品位黄铜矿的工厂在两种情况下进行了初步资本成本和运营成本估算。例如，在需要建造新的 SX 和 EW 工厂的情况下，运营成本显示为 5.99 美元/公斤至 4.29 美元/公斤阴极铜，以实现 30% 至 50% 的提取回收率（情景 1 ）。如果当前的 SX 和 EW 设施能够吸收生物堆浸溶液（场景 2），运营成本显示为降低至 5.36 美元/公斤至 3.66 美元/公斤，回收范围相似。使用运营成本数据和当前的铜销售价格，确定了作为铜提取效率函数的矿石边界品位。经济分析表明，一个含铜0.28%的矿石，每年生产7000吨阴极铜需要总投资3800万美元。对于铜提取效率在 30% 到 50% 之间的这种工厂，其内部回报率在 -2% 到 27% 之间变化（场景 1）。类似工厂的敏感性分析表明，例如，5 美元/公斤的铜销售价格甚至可以使情景 1 的 50% 的铜提取效率在经济上无法接受。年产7000吨阴极铜需要总投资3800万美元。对于铜提取效率在 30% 到 50% 之间的这种工厂，其内部回报率在 -2% 到 27% 之间变化（场景 1）。类似工厂的敏感性分析表明，例如，5 美元/公斤的铜销售价格甚至可以使情景 1 的 50% 的铜提取效率在经济上无法接受。年产7000吨阴极铜需要总投资3800万美元。对于铜提取效率在 30% 到 50% 之间的这种工厂，其内部回报率在 -2% 到 27% 之间变化（场景 1）。类似工厂的敏感性分析表明，例如，5 美元/公斤的铜销售价格甚至可以使情景 1 的 50% 的铜提取效率在经济上无法接受。