Parameters influencing the efficiency of copper extraction.

The study is based on data from more than 300 mines that produced almost 95% of world Cu output in 1998. World production in 1998 was 12 100 000 t Cu and total losses during mining and mineral processing were calculated as 4 200 000 t. About 27% of the loss can be attributed to mining and 73% to processing.The amount of unextracted copper is controlled by properties of different deposit types such as orebody depth and shape and ore mineralogy. Porphyry deposits show high beneficiation-related loss whereas a high proportion of losses from stratiform sediment-hosted and VMS deposits are related to underground mining methods. Analysis of relative statistical entropy combined with calculated copper losses proved useful for evaluating geological properties before a background of sustainable development.
The study is based on data from more than 300 mines that produced almost 95% of world Cu output in 1998. World production in 1998 was 12 100 000 t Cu and total losses during mining and mineral processing were calculated as 4 200 000 t. About 27% of the loss can be attributed to mining and 73% to processing.The amount of unextracted copper is controlled by properties of different deposit types such as orebody depth and shape and ore mineralogy. Porphyry deposits show high beneficiation-related loss whereas a high proportion of losses from stratiform sediment-hosted and VMS deposits are related to underground mining methods. Analysis of relative statistical entropy combined with calculated copper losses proved useful for evaluating geological properties before a background of sustainable development.