Abstract
Saudi Arabia has known deposits of 23.2 million tons of copper that are spread over a number of locations. The most widely used pyrometallurgical copper extraction processes are reviewed, including batch and continuous methods, in an attempt to discover their advantages and disadvantages. An attempt is made to select the most appropriate technique for copper extraction from Saudi ores. A preliminary economic assessment is made for a complete copper extraction project in one of the most promising locations, Jabal Sayid, with known reserves of some 7 million to 10 million tons and relatively high copper content. Pyro rather than hydrometallurgical processing is then recommended. On a preliminary basis, the economic evaluation shows the complex would require a total capital investment of about $632 million. These findings show that copper extraction in this area is a promising economic venture.