A Mineralogical overview of the behavior of nickel during copper electrorefining

Abstract

Nickel-bearing copper anodes and anode slimes were studied using a variety of mineralogical and chemical techniques. In anodes containing 0.3 pct Ni, NiO crystals also form. The presence of the Cu-Ni-Sb oxide, kupferglimmer, in the anode depends on its antimony content. Kupferglimmer is prevalent in nickel-rich anodes with high Sb contents (>200 ppm) but is not found in similar anodes with Sb contents <200 ppm. Various Cu-Ni and Ca-Cu-Ni silicate inclusions are present. Depending on the iron content of the anode, Fe-bearing NiO, NiFe2O4, and other Ni-bearing iron oxide phases also may be present. All of the oxidate nickel phases remain largely undissolved during electrorefining and concentrate in the anode slimes.