Oxidation of chalcopyrite by extended milling

Chalcopyrite has been milled for up to 50 h in oxygen, air and argon atmospheres using a laboratory ball mill. No phase changes were evident in argon but the XRD peaks were weaker and broader indicating crystalline refinement. In oxygen, even after 1 h milling peaks for CuSO4·5H2O were present and these became predominant after 20 h milling where the chalcopyrite peaks were absent. In air, partial oxidation to CuSO4·5H2O was evident after 50 h. Leaching of the resultant powders with water showed 80% dissolution after 50 h milling in oxygen, significantly greater than the 20% and 6% dissolution after milling for 50 h in air and argon respectively. Solution analyses showed the Cu/Fe ratio increased with milling time in oxygen suggesting selectivity may be possible. The insoluble residue was found to consist of haematite, elemental sulphur and unreacted chalcopyrite.