Sampling The Shaft Of The Olympic Dam Copper Flash Furnace

A sampling program was conducted in which both spoon and isokinetic sampling techniques were used to collect samples from the reaction shaft. The samples were then characterised by chemical, XRD and mineralogical analysis. Further information was acquired by measuring the oxygen potential and temperature at the bottom of the shaft using disposable probes. Comparison of the results of the two sampling methods showed that the spoon samples were devoid of material less than 25 m. Sulfur analyses on the samples provided information on the extent of reaction, plume shape and recirculation patterns. Disposable probe measurements showed the measurable particle temperatures ranged from 1150 to 1700 °C and that the material falling into the bath had a normalised oxygen potential similar to the slag. These latter measurements combined with the sulphur elimination and mineralogical analyses provided further information on the extent of reaction and enabled the reaction sequence to be ascertained.