 planchéite

Calcite
cobaltifère sur dioptase

sphérocobaltite
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The colbalt
Congo is since close to 40 years
most important producer of cobalt of the world.
The Gecomin produced 10.549 metric tons of it in
1968, what represents about 62% of the world
production.
The cobalt presents itself partner intimately to
the copper in many layers, as oxidized compounds
or sulphurized. The species oxidized the most
current of the hétérogénite (hydroxides of
copper and cobalt partners) of black color; the
sulphurized shapes are the carrollite and the
linnéite, of steel grey color. The cobalt
recovers itself like by-product of the treatment
of the copper and is extracted by lixiviation,
purification and electrolysis that give a very
pure metal.
Several
completely unknown minerals before their
identification in the Katanga have been
found in the concessions of the Gecomin;
they constitute the main appeal of the
museum geological Sengier-Cousin, created
in Likasi, where one can, otherwise, to
see a very complete collection of
magnificent specimens coming from the
different layers of the society. |
Zinc
In the layer filonien of Kipushi
that differentiates itself of all others by
his/her/its nature, we told it, the copper is
accompanied by zinc. Ore sulphurized of zinc is
mainly the blende. The sulphides of copper and
zinc separated by differential concentration. A
part of the sulphides of zinc extracts will be
grilled in order to extract the sulfurous gas and
to use this one to the manufacture of sulphuric
acid necessary to the lixiviation. The extracts
of zinc grilled are treated by electrolysis in
the very Katanga to withdraw some from zinc
metal.
The cadmium
Satellite of zinc, the cadmium
passes during the operations of concentration in
the extracts of copper and zinc. One will recover
it in the dusts filtered of the gases of the
ovens of wire fencing of the extracts of zinc and
the ovens of fusion of the copper extracts.
Cadmium metal is gotten by electrolytic treatment
of these dusts and céments cadmifères.
Germanium
Germanium is present to very weak
contents in some ores sulphurized cupro-zicifères
of Kipushi. He/it presents himself/itself of it
as reniérite (sulphide of copper, iron,
germanium and arsenic). A part of germanium can
meet in extracts enriched in reniérite, the
other in the dusts cadmifères in the gases of
the foundry of Lubumbashi.
These dusts must be concentrated strongly before
being delivered to highly specialized foreign
factories for the extraction and the reffinage of
germanium. This one will be pushed until one
degree of extraordinary purity, tolerance for the
impurities being the order of the billionth.
The precious metals
The precious metals, money, however,
possibly turntable and palladium, contained in
some ores of copper of Kipushi, finally meet in
the vestigial muds of the electrolytic
refinement.
The precious metals must be recovered in
suitable, abroad factories, the quantities
produced to the Katanga being too weak.
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