Simultaneous autogenous milling and ferric chloride leaching of chalcopyrite

Abstract Mechanical activation by autogenous milling has previously been shown to improve leaching kinetics. In this study autogenous milling was conducted simultaneously with ferric chloride leaching. A sequence of products was observed, with chalcopyrite being replaced by synthetic nantokite (CuCl) and the nantokite being more gradually replaced by synthetic eriochalcite (CuCl2·2H2O).