The usual practice of smelting copper is to smelt for matte first. [...] Cutting down the copper content of slag by a few one-hundredths percent does not seem important at first glance. Since an enormous amount of slags is produced, its economic significance, however, can not be too over-estimated. It is the aim of the present investigation to throw some light on slag losses of copper. In view of the complexity of the problem, attempts are made to eliminate variables as much as possible. In ferrocalcic-silicate slags produced from matte-slag smelting, answers are sought for (1) whether oxidized copper could be distinguished from sulfide copper, (2) is sulfide copper dissolved or included, (3) what are effects of slag composition on copper content and viscosity, and (4) whether the slag could be cleaned by introducing some special agent or agents without recourse to re-melting.

MacEwan, J. (Supervisor)