Can I smelt my own copper? Help!

[Phlosphr]

When I lived in Arizona I did an excessive amount of rock hounding. I actually have quite an extensive rock and mineral collection in my home. I have around 50 pounds of stone with copper in it. It looks really cool in the rough. I recently decided that I’d love to smelt some of it, to extract the copper with in.

How do I do this?

I have a blow torch, but I do not think this is the best method of extraction. Additionally, what type of receptical should I use to catch all the copper coming out…granted, I’m picturing it flowing out of the stone…I’m probably wrong. So what do I need?

[Mangetout]

I believe that the traditional method of smelting copper involves heating the ore to a high temperature in a charcoal furnace; it is possible that undesirable elements such as arsenic may be present in the ore and that you could inadvertently expose yourself to poisoning.

[Phlosphr]

Oh I see. Hmm.

Is arsenic commonly found in copper ore? You are refering to the fumes correct?

Anyway to avoid this? possibly doing it outside? Or is the whole idea simply a bad one?

[Yossarian]

Any “chalcophile” elements (including As, Pb, Cd, Hg, etc.) can be present in at least trace amounts.

What kind of Cu ore is it? Mostly crysocolla, malachite, azurite, cuprite, turquoise, or ???.

[Yossarian]

And here’s an appropriate link describing the process:

http://www.psigate.ac.uk/newsite/reference/plambeck/chem2/p02262.htm

(Other possible Cu ores–I forgot the sulfides(!): chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, covellite. These sulfides require more energy to smelt (i.e., break the Cu-S bonds) than do the oxides, carbonates, and phosphates I listed previously.)

[astro]

*Originally posted by Phlosphr *
**When I lived in Arizona I did an excessive amount of rock hounding. I actually have quite an extensive rock and mineral collection in my home. I have around 50 pounds of stone with copper in it. It looks really cool in the rough. I recently decided that I’d love to smelt some of it, to extract the copper with in.

How do I do this?

I have a blow torch, but I do not think this is the best method of extraction. Additionally, what type of receptical should I use to catch all the copper coming out…granted, I’m picturing it flowing out of the stone…I’m probably wrong. So what do I need? **

Smelting the copper out with a blowtorch would yield a low grade ore and expose you more breathable nasties than you could possibly imagine.

Other sources of arsenic in the workplace environment?

One of the largest, most toxic sources of workplace and community arsenic exposures were emissions from copper smelters, especially in the Rocky Mountain states and those of the Pacific Northwest. (Copper ore often naturally contains arsenic compounds, so when the copper ore is smelted, arsenic is released as well.) However, all U.S. copper smelting plants are now closed, and the workers in Chile and other countries must deal with the harmful effects of these toxic compounds. But because arsenic is a metal-like element, it does not disappear in the environment, and so ground and runoff water in many parts of the U.S. is still heavily contained with arsenic from mills and plants closed many years ago, and from recent and past agricultural uses of arsenic.

[Phlosphr]

The copper is in various rocks, but most look like this . I have one large specimen that weighs probably 5 pounds and is mostly copper. They all came from the Globe area of Arizona, roughly 30 miles east of Phoenix. Right in the middle of copper and turquoise mine country.

[Phlosphr]

Thanks Astro…I guess midnight blow torch sessions in the barn with a hunk of copper in the rough is out of the question.

[_xiao_wenti]

I would suggest that you google some of the archeo metallurgy sites. There are some strong groups in europe. I have seen it done. Generally, you would need some type of furnace (clay). The furnace is loaded with alternating charcoal and cupric ores layers. The fire is started from below and air is fed through tuyeres below (historically, these are tubes that stick into the bottom of the furnace and air is supplied by inflating and compressing skins). A lot of work for the little bit of copper. You could also use some type of propane and a blower system. charcoal is better fuel source.

[lieu]

Can I smelt my own copper?
Is this a euphemism?

[Ike_Witt]

*Originally posted by xiao_wenti *
**I would suggest that you google some of the archeo metallurgy sites. There are some strong groups in europe. I have seen it done. Generally, you would need some type of furnace (clay). The furnace is loaded with alternating charcoal and cupric ores layers. The fire is started from below and air is fed through tuyeres below (historically, these are tubes that stick into the bottom of the furnace and air is supplied by inflating and compressing skins). A lot of work for the little bit of copper. You could also use some type of propane and a blower system. charcoal is better fuel source. **

It sounds like you are describing the smelting of iron and not copper. Copper is much easier to deal with as it has a lower (500[sup]o[/sup] lower) boiling point. The question for Phlosphr what do you want make with the copper (ingots or just lumps) and how pure do you want it to be?

[bughunter]

For lieu:

I smelt your copper and whew, does he need a bath!

[Eonwe]

If you do manage to smelt it, you really should distribute it amongst your SDMB followers, maintaining the integrity of the old saying:

Whoever smelt it, dealt it!

[cdhostage]

I smelt thee out, thou brazen wrench!

[lee]

i saw someone on TV, on an archeoology program get copper by putting malachite in a regular wood fire outside. They were demonstrating some of the earliest techniques for getting metal from ore.

[Shalmanese]

Apparently, some people have found out how to smelt common metals in a microwave. I’m not sure if it was hot enough for copper, I think pig iron was okay.

[Bewildebeest]

*Originally posted by Shalmanese *
**Apparently, some people have found out how to smelt common metals in a microwave. I’m not sure if it was hot enough for copper, I think pig iron was okay. **

Oooooh! Look-it all the priddy sparks!

[Shalmanese]

*Originally posted by Bewildebeest *
**Oooooh! Look-it all the priddy sparks! **

Actually, not really. The entire thing consists of some kind of ceramic outer layer filled with little pebbles of something or other that were REALLY good at absorbing microwave energy. Pack in some metal shaving and the entire thing gets very hot without damaging the microwave. The metal never gets directly heated, it just comes in contact with the pebble things.