Extractive Metallurgy and National Policy

Fathi Habashi

Department of Mining, Metallurgical, and Materials Engineering, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada.

DOI: 10.4236/ijnm.2013.22004                

Abstract

Hydrometallurgical technology offers a unique possibility for developing countries to exploit their mineral resources locally instead of shipping them as concentrates. Production plants may start on a small scale with small capital investment then increase productivity later when the economy permits without financial penalty. This is in contract to smelting operations which necessitates large scale production from the start with high capital investment that may not be available locally.

Keywords

Autoclaves; Flash Tanks; Piston Pumps; Smelting; Sulfuric Acid Production; Environmental Problems

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	F. Habashi, “Metals from Ores. An Introduction to Ex tractive Metallurgy,” Métallurgie Extractive Québec, Québec City, 2003. www.zone.ul.ca
[2]	F. Habashi, “A Textbook of Hydrometallurgy,” 2nd Edition, Métallurgie Extractive Québec, Québec City, 1993, 1999. www.zone.ul.ca
[3]	F. Habashi, “Handbook of Extractive Metallurgy,” WILEY-VCH, Weinheim, 1997.
[4]	F. Habashi, “Abandoned but Not Forgotten. The Recent History of Copper Hydrometallurgy,” In: P. A. Riveras, et al., Eds., The John E. Dutrizac Symposium on Copper Hydrometallurgy, CIM, Montreal, 2007, pp. 3-19.