Investigation on the Matte/Slag/Spinel/Gas Equilibria in the Cu-Fe-O-S-SiO2-(CaO, Al2O3) system at 1250 °C and pSO2 of 0.25 atm

Abstract

The equilibrium-phase relations between copper mattes and spinel-saturated iron silicate slags were investigated at 1250°C and pSO2 of 0.25 atm. The experiments were conducted in synthesized spinel crucibles (Fe3O4) in controlled CO-CO2-SO2-Ar gas mixtures using a high-temperature isothermal equilibration/quenching technique. The equilibrium-phase compositions were characterized using an electron probe X-ray microanalyzer. The compositions of matte and slag were displayed as a function of matte grade or oxygen partial pressure. The present results obtained at spinel saturation in the matte-slag equilibrium system were compared with observations in the literature. This study improves the experimental thermodynamic data on the matte-slag-spinel-gas equilibria systems.