Noranda Mines Limited

Nickolas John Themelis

George C McKerrow

An apparatus for the continuous smelting and converting of copper containing concentrates to copper or matte involves charging concentrates into a reactor which is maintained at a temperature at which a molten bath of slag, matte and metallic copper is formed. An oxidizing gas is injected into the molten bath and the charge of the concentrates is controlled in balanced relationship to an injection control rate of the gas such that the gas is sufficient to oxidize substantially all significant iron and sulphur in the concentrate so that smelting and converting is effected in the same zone of the reactor. The injection of the gas is such as to maintain a turbulent state of the molten bath and produce metallic copper. Slag and metallic copper are withdrawn from the reactor. The apparatus used for carrying out the process embodies a charging port, injection means, a copper settling area and a sump in the base thereof. Control means are provided for the oxidizing gas and means are also provided to control the introduction of concentrates through the charging port. Interlocking control means are adapted to control the introduction of oxidizing gas and the introduction of concentrates in a desired balanced relationship. The exhaust means for removing the off-gases from the reactor is provided substantially outside of the single smelting and converting zone.

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Beaconsfield, Canada

Nickolas John Themelis