John,
copper ore is (generally today, as it is mined as very low grade ore--0.25%
to 2%--first concentrated, to a 25-30% copper concentrate, which is then put
into a furnace. Inside the furnace, when the process takes hold, molten
metal forms, beneath the slag, i.e. the slag forms on top. The liquid
(molten) copper is impure; it is called regulus. I guess cake is what
results when you then open the bottom of the furnace and let the liquid mass
run out and solidify. In iron making, this crude metal is called pig-iron
as in the olden days they got the liquid iron to run into sand where the
iron took the form of pig carcasses).
Can't help you with rosette copper, it must be a refined type. Blister
copper used to be called black copper, it is impure and needs refining, i.e.
it is only an intermediate material before reaching metallic copper. In
the Middle Ages they schlepped black copper from Transylvania--today
Romania--and elsewhere to Thuringia where it was refined in Saiger refinery,
by adding lead etc., to extract the silver and other impurities..
I also suggest you consult a professional guidebook, on metallurgy, to get
the details of these terms. Helmut Waszkis
----- Original Message -----
From: "John C Symons" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, August 14, 2000 2:39 PM
Subject: Copper Terms
> Help, please.
>
> I am looking for a reference that will give definitions of the terms
> used for the various stages that copper ore goes through in smelting.
> Examples include: regulus, copper cake, rosette copper, and blister
> copper.
>
> All help will be appreciated.
>
> Thanks.
>
> John Symons
>
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