Distribution of main elements and phase characteristics of copper converter slag

The distribution rule of main elements and phase characteristics of copper converter slag were studied by using methods of X-ray diffraction analysis, chemical phase analysis, chemical multielement analysis, combined with microscopic observation. The results show that copper converter slag from the Chambishi Copper Smelter has high mass fractions of iron, copper and cobalt, which are 47.84%, 3.60% and 2.52%, respectively. There exists 80.94% of Cu in the slag in the form of metallic state, and 12.71% in the form of Vulcanized state. Co and Fe mainly exist in the form of oxidation state, and the mass fractions of Co in magnetite and fayalite are 40.71% and 49.35%, respectively, while that of Fe are 56.34% and 41.94%, respectively. The main phases of the slag are fayalite and magnetite, with their mass fractions being 47.50% and 38.91%, respectively. The main copper-bearing phases are metallic copper and chalcocite, the mass fractions of which are 2.64% and 1.17%, respectively. Additionally, 9.78% of glass phase also exists in the slag. Fayalite is mixed with the magnetite and forms the basement phase. The metallic copper, chalcocite and glass phase are mingled inside the grains of fayalite and magnetite, or coated by them. The surface distribution of cobalt is basically the same with that of iron. The surface distribution of iron is basically the same with that of oxygen and silicon, and so is the surface distribution of copper with that of sulfur.