Oxidation and Supergen Enrichmen

H2O + CO 2  H2CO3

4 FeS2 +15 O2+ 14 H2O  4Fe(OH)3+8 H2SO4

4 CuFeS2 + 17 O2 +10 H2O  4 Fe (OH)3 + 4 H2so4 + 4 CuSO4

2CuSO4(aq) +2Na2CO(aq)->Cu2(CO3)(CO)2+2Na2SO4(aq)+CO2

2Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2+ H2O ->3Cu2(CO3)(OH)2+ CO2

5FeS2+14CuSO4+12H2O 7Cu2S+5FeSO4+ 12 H2SO4

CuFeS2 + CuSO42 CuS + FeSO4

PbS + CuSO4 -> CuS + PbSO4

Supergene sulfide enrichment

Supergene sulfide enrichment, also called Secondary

Enrichment, in geology, natural upgrading of buried
sulfide deposits by the secondary or subsequent
deposition of metals that are dissolved as sulfates in
waters percolating through the oxidized mineral zone
near the surface.
Supergene sulfide enrichment (lanjutan)

The ore thus enriched forms the secondary, or

supergene sulfide, zone and overlies the primary, or
hypogene, zone.

The phenomenon is most common in arid or semi-arid

regions. As erosion extends the oxidized, or weathered,
zone deeper, the primary (unaltered) zone is enriched
by the metal from the oxidized supergene sulfides;
Supergene sulfide enrichment (lanjutan)

in this way the primary ore may be enriched as much

as tenfold: rich ores are made even richer, lean ores are
made more valuable, and some ores too lean to be
economic are upgraded enough to be workable.
In order for supergene enrichment to occur, oxidation
of the surface minerals must occur. Additionally, the
ore deposit must contain iron sulfides and metals such
as copper and silver that can undergo enrichment.
The deposit must be permeable to permit percolation
of the mineral solutions.
FEEDBAC
 The oxidized zone cannot contain
carbonate rocks and other precipitants
that hinder the formation of soluble
sulfates.

And last, the deposits can form only

where oxygen is excluded, as below
the water table, and where there are
underlying ore minerals to be
displaced.
Supergene enrichment is volume for volume, not
molecule for molecule; thus, more molecules of a
denser mineral will occupy the space of a less dense
one. Secondary enrichment depends on the relative
solubilities of the various sulfides.
Mercury, silver, copper, bismuth, lead, zinc, nickel,
cobalt, iron, and manganese are deposited in that
order.

For example, if a copper sulfate solution encounters a

sulfide of any metal following copper in the list (e.g.,
pyrite, or iron sulfide), copper sulfide (either as
covellite or chalcocite) will be deposited at the
expense of the other, which will be dissolved as a
sulfate.