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How metals are recovered from rock

How metals are recovered from rock. Image: G. Plumlee, USGS. Metals-3-1. Mining removes metal-bearing rock from the Earth’s crust. Image: ASARCO, Inc. Metals-3-2. Crushed metal-bearing rock is ready to be processed to remove the contained metals. Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co. Metals-3-3.

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How metals are recovered from rock

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  1. How metals are recovered from rock Image: G. Plumlee, USGS Metals-3-1

  2. Mining removes metal-bearing rock from the Earth’s crust. Image: ASARCO, Inc. Metals-3-2

  3. Crushed metal-bearing rock is ready to be processed to remove the contained metals. Image: Kennecott Utah Copper Co. Metals-3-3

  4. Facilities called mills grind crushed metal-bearing rock to small particles composed of individual mineral grains. Image: ASARCO, Inc. Metals-3-4

  5. After grinding, metal-bearing minerals are separated from other mineral particles by attaching them to soapy bubbles that float to the surface of agitated vats. Images: ASARCO, Inc. Metals-3-5

  6. In some rocks, metals can be separated by percolating solutions through them that dissolve the contained metals (leaching). Gold is commonly recovered this way. Metals-3-6

  7. Facilities called smelters melt metal-bearing minerals in ways that separate the metals from impurities. Image: Martin Miller Metals-3-7

  8. The molten metal recovered at smelters is poured into molds and allowed to solidify. This metal is then ready for refining and fabrication into things we need. Image: Martin Miller Metals-3-8

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