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This article presented the behavior of ores containing black copper under acid leaching. The solution potential was modified by adding agents, and five leaching conditions were evaluated, one as a control based on sulfuric acid leaching (conventional), and the others by changing the solution potential with: ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), white metal (Cu2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone (O3). Leaching behavior was evaluated with laboratory bottle (ISO-pH) and column leaching tests. Two ores samples from the Lomas Bayas mine were used. The samples, identified as low (LG) and high grade (HG), were characterized as 0.13–0.25% Cu and 0.15–0.38% Mn, respectively. The mineralogical analysis indicated that black copper represented around 20% of total Cu (0.05% Cu). The results of the bottle tests indicated that the solution potential decreased with the addition of reducing agents, while the copper extraction rate with the HG sample increased to 83.7%, which exceeded the extraction rate obtained by conventional acid leaching by 25%. Ozone did not favor the extraction of Mn and Cu extraction when the solution potential increased. Cu and Mn extraction were directly related. The results of the column leaching tests showed that it was possible to maintain the solution potential at values below 600 mV (SHE) with the addition of white metal and sulfur dioxide while obtaining the highest copper extraction rate of approximately 60%, which was 18% higher than the rate obtained with conventional leaching. Sulfuric acid consumption was 11 kg/t over 45 days of leaching.

An option to improve the leaching efficiency of chalcopyrite is pretreatment prior to leaching. Pretreatment variables, such as the curing time and the addition of chloride, can increase the kinetics of copper extraction, particularly for sulphide ores. However, there has been little research on the topic. The reactions that govern this phenomenon have not been clearly identified. In this study, the effects of sulphuric acid and sodium chloride agglomeration and curing on chalcopyrite leaching were evaluated at various temperatures: 25, 50, 70, and 90 °C. The pretreated ore and leach residues were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and reflected light microscopy. Under the conditions of 15 kg/t of H2SO4, 25 kg/t of NaCl, and 15 days of curing time (as pretreatment), the following products were identified: CuSO4, NaFe3(SO4)2(OH)6, Cu2Cl(OH), and S0. Increasing the curing time and leaching temperature increased copper leaching. The copper extraction was 94% when leaching at 90 °C after pretreatment with 50 g/L of Cl- and 0.2 M of H2SO4. Elemental sulphur, jarosite, and copper polysulphide (CuS2) were detected in the leaching residues.

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