Transcript No Slide Title

How metals are recovered
from rock
Image: G. Plumlee, USGS
Metals-3-1
Mining removes metal-bearing
rock from the Earth’s crust.
Image: ASARCO, Inc.
Metals-3-2
Crushed metal-bearing rock is ready
to be processed to remove the
contained metals.
Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co.
Metals-3-3
Facilities called mills grind crushed
metal-bearing rock to small particles
composed of individual mineral grains.
Image: ASARCO, Inc.
Metals-3-4
After grinding, metal-bearing minerals are
separated from other mineral particles by
attaching them to soapy bubbles that float to
the surface of agitated vats.
Images: ASARCO, Inc.
Metals-3-5
In some rocks, metals can be separated by
percolating solutions through them that
dissolve the contained metals (leaching).
Gold is commonly recovered this way.
Metals-3-6
Facilities called smelters melt metalbearing minerals in ways that
separate the metals from impurities.
Image: Martin Miller
Metals-3-7
The molten metal recovered at smelters is
poured into molds and allowed to solidify.
This metal is then ready for refining and
fabrication into things we need.
Image: Martin Miller
Metals-3-8