Comparative Study of MnO2 Dissolution from Black Copper Minerals and Manganese Nodules in an Acid Medium

The low grade of copper deposits and the use froth flotation process have caused excessive tailing production. In recent years, experts looked for new alternative methods to improve this situation. Black minerals are abundant resources not exploited by large-scale mining possess high Mn concentrations. On other hand, manganese nodules submarine show concentrations Cu, Ni, Fe, and, mainly, Mn. However, both mineral refractory conventional leaching processes, so a reducing agent is necessary their treatment. We studied tailings obtained from foundry slags with content Fe3O4 as agents at different MnO2/tailings ratios H2SO4 dissolution was compared in marine nodule black samples. It found that higher dissolutions nodules, likely due acid consumption created Cu minerals. remnant elements were leached under an oxidant condition.