This work is devoted to the investigation of the possibilities of processing oxidized copper ore and sulfide copper concentrate of the Aktogay deposit by pyrometallurgical methods at the operating metallurgical units of the largest copper producer in Kazakhstan, Kazakhmys Smelting Ltd. The chemical, phase compositions and thermal properties of the samples of the Aktogay ore and concentrate were investigated. To test the possibility of using oxidized copper ore of the Aktogay deposit as quartz flux for autogenous smelting in Vanyukov furnaces (VF) with copper sulphide concentrates laboratory experiments were carried out. They made it possible to establish that the replacement of quartz flux on the oxidized ore of the Aktogay deposit is entirely permissible in consideration of the satisfactory composition of slags and mattes obtained in the smelting, even when the content of silica in the ore is 64.56 %. With a higher content of silica in the ore, its use as a flux will be even more effective. The available capacities of the two Vanyukov furnaces are not sufficient for processing all available high-sulfur raw materials, including the Aktogay sulphide copper concentrate, using autogenous melting. Therefore, in the laboratory and in an industrial scale, a preliminary test was carried out on the possibility of processing a part of the copper poor and high-sulfur Aktogay concentrates on the electric furnaces of the Zhezkazgan Copper Smelting Plant (ZCS). The results of laboratory studies and preliminary industrial tests have shown the possibility of such processing with the production of mattes containing no less than 47 % of copper and suitable for converting on existing equipment of ZCS.

When obtaining sulfuric acid from pyrite concentrates, a significant amount of waste is generated in the form of pyrite cinders that require disposal. The methods used in processing this raw material are, as a rule, the pyrometallurgical processes of chlorination and chloride sublimation, the disadvantages of which include increased energy consumption and a lack of complexity in the extraction of valuable components. Hydrometallurgical processes are in less demand due to their multi-stage nature and complexity of execution. The method of chemical activation developed at the JSC “Institute of Metallurgy and Ore Beneficiation” makes it possible to isolate iron and non-ferrous metals into separate, middling products and to concentrate noble metals in the cake at the first stage. Physical and chemical studies of the cake found that its basis comprises iron compounds. The silver in the cake is associated with pyrite, while the gold is associated with hematite; it is also possible to find gold in the form of AuCl3. The content of gold in the cake is 1.5 g/t, and the silver content is 17.7 g/t. Based on physical and chemical studies and data from the literature, various versions of the hydrochlorination method are proposed to open the cake.

With the huge explored reserves of potash salts in Kazakhstan, there is still no production of potash fertilizers, the demand for which is constantly growing. In this regard, research of processing of the largest Chelkar deposit ore into potash fertilizers and salts is an urgent problem. The article presents the research results of washed potash ore decomposition with nitric acid and nitric acid suspension filtration. The filtering properties and granulometric composition of the insoluble residue were studied, on what basis the decomposition mode with precipitate double washing was determined. To ensure good suspension filterability, washed, uncalcined ore should be used. Tests of a by-product, gypsum, as a gypsum binder were carried out, which confirmed its compliance with the normally hardening gypsum binder of the G-2 B grade. Advantage of the obtained gypsum is its environmental friendliness. Salts, which are chlorine-free water-soluble potassium-magnesium fertilizers have been obtained by crystallization from nitric acid solution. On the basis of results of experimental-and-laboratory tests, a basic flow scheme has been developed for obtaining potash and complex potassium-nitrogen-magnesium fertilizers from the Chelkar deposit ore.

When apatites and phosphorites are processed, up to 30% of rare earth metals are converted into wet-process phosphoric acid. Wet-process phosphoric acid from the phosphorite treatment process differs from apatite one by impurity composition, i.e. the iron content is by 3.5 times, and calcium is by 5.0 times more. The complex composition of the wet-process phosphoric acid from the phosphorite treatment process requires additional researches to select optimal ion exchangers and technological parameters of sorption. Various aspects of sorption have been studied to select the optimal ion exchangers and technological parameters, and technological modes for desorption of rare earth metals from a cation exchanger to obtain a concentrate of rare earth metals have been completed. The method enables to extract rare earth metals without changing the composition of commercial wet-process phosphoric acid directly in the production process of the enterprises engaged in the phosphorite treatment process.

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