methods of extracting metals

• the earths resources of metal ores are limited

  ways to extract from copper ores:

  • phytomining
  • bioleaching
  • processing metal compounds
• copper ores are becoming scarce because they contain enough metal to make it economical to extract the metal and there is a great demand for copper
• as copper ores are becoming scarce, we have to extract from low grade ores which contain a very small amount of copper

  not so economical
• phytomining uses plants to absorb metal compounds

  the plants are harvested and then burned to produce ash that contains metal compounds
• bioleaching uses bacteria to produce leachate solutions that contain metal compounds
• after phytomining and bioleaching, the metal compound has been extracted from the low grade ore

  this means that we now need to extract the metal from the compound
• how to extract copper from copper compounds:

  • displace the copper using iron, as it is more reactive, and scraps of it are cheap
  • or electrolysis
• phytomining and bleaching:

  • allow us to economically extract metals from low grade ores which is important as the earths resource of metal ores are limited
  • they do not involve digging, moving or disposing of large amounts of rock unlike traditional mining