Why not use chalcopyrite to make iron?

Copper content is high, sulfur content is high, and the ironmaking process does not match.

1, high copper content: the copper content of chalcopyrite is high, ranging from 20% to 40%. This makes copper a difficult impurity to deal with in ironmaking. In the traditional blast furnace ironmaking process, copper will alloy with iron, which will lead to the decline of iron quality. Copper will also reduce the melting point of iron and increase the energy consumption in ironmaking.

2. High sulfur content: chalcopyrite usually has high sulfur content. Sulfur is a harmful impurity, which will form sulfides, such as FeS (iron sulfide) and Cu2S (copper sulfide), which will adversely affect the ironmaking process and the quality of final products. Sulfide will increase the brittleness of iron and produce harmful smoke and waste gas during ironmaking.

3. Ironmaking process mismatch: The chemical composition and physical properties of chalcopyrite ore do not match the traditional ironmaking process. Ironmaking usually uses equipment such as blast furnace or direct reduction furnace, and the design and operating conditions of these equipment are suitable for the characteristics of iron ore. The ironmaking process of red copper mine needs special equipment and technology to deal with ores with high copper content and high sulfur content, which will increase the production cost and technical difficulty.