Copper Ore Key Terms

Get acquainted with terminology in the copper ore industry

By Howard Robertson

As the name indicates, copper ore is a type of metal ore that contains copper minerals and some other impurities. Generally, copper ores contain copper oxide and copper sulphide compounds. Copper mining companies extract and refine these compounds to obtain pure copper as per the customers’ requirements.

If you are searching for information on copper ores, you will come across various key terms related to different copper minerals and copper ore processing methods. This guide intends to explain some of the technical terms from the copper ore industry.

Chalcocite

Copper mining companies refer to copper sulphide as chalcocite. Chalcocite has very high copper content and it is one of the most profitable copper ores.
Try: Redstone Resources, a mineral exploration company, provides a glossary of geological terms, including chalcocite.

Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite (or copper pyrite) is a sulphide of copper and iron. Though copper yield for this ore is very low, large quantities and widespread distribution of chalcopyrite make it the leading source of copper.
Try: You can read through the glossary of geological terms at Eastmain Resources, a gold and base metal mining company.

Copper porphyries

Copper porphyries are copper minerals that may carry minor recoverable amounts of molybdenum, gold and silver in addition to copper compounds.
Try: Ivanhoe Mines, an international mining company, offers a glossary of mining terms, including copper porphyries.

Supergene

Supergene compounds are copper oxide compounds that are generally found at the top of the copper porphyries deposits. Supergene compounds have high concentration of copper as compared to copper sulphide compounds.
Try: Santa Fe Metals, a reputable company engaged in mining of precious and base metals, offers a glossary of mining terms. You can also browse through the mining key terms at Imperial Metals Corporation, a mine development and operation company.

Azurite

Azurite is the copper ore that contains copper carbonate compounds. Azurite is also an ingredient of pigments and dyes.
Try: You can read through the mining terms glossary at Monterrico Metals, a reputable mining company.

Leaching

Leaching is a mining process by which a soluble metallic compound is extracted from ore by dissolving the metals in a solvent.
Try: Mining Journal, an informative website for the global mining industry, offers a glossary for mining terms, including leaching and cyanidation. To learn more about the leaching process, you can browse through InsideMetals, an informative website for mining professionals.

Concentration

Concentration is the ore recovery process that increases the dissolved solids per unit volume of solution. Mining companies generally use crushing, grinding or evaporating techniques for the concentration process.
Try: Metex Resources, a copper processing and exploration company, offers information about the concentration process. In addition, Greatmining.com, a website for mining industry professionals, also provides a glossary of mining terms, including concentration.