Extractive Metallurgy of Copper ScienceDirect
Copper is most commonly present in the earth s crust as coppereironesulfide and copper sulfide minerals such as chalcopyrite CuFeS 2 and chalcocite Cu 2 S The concentration of these minerals in an ore body is low Typical copper ores contain from % Cu to 1 or 2% Cu Pure copper metal is mostly produced from these ores by concentration smelting and refining About 80% of the world s