The Role of Reactive Gangue Minerals in Sustainable Chalcopyrite Leaching: Impacts on Copper Recovery and Porosity Evolution in Low-Grade Ores

This thesis studies how non-copper parts of rocks, called gangue minerals, affect how copper is extracted from a common copper mineral using acid. As rich copper deposits run out, mining lower-quality rocks becomes more important, but their gangue minerals can interfere with copper recovery. The research found that certain gangue minerals, especially those rich in iron and clay, react with acid to form leftovers and gels that prevent the acid from reaching the copper. These reactions also change how pores and cracks develop in the rock. Understanding these effects can help make copper extraction more efficient and sustainable.