Method of continuous processing of sulfide ores

Claim 1

The method according to claim 1 wherein said slag produced in said oxidizing unit is introduced into said smelting unit.

Claim 2

A method for continuous extraction and production of an uncompletely refined metal from sulfide ores in a smelting unit and and oxidizing unit each controllable in operation independently of the other unit as to compositions of melts therein, temperatures, levels of free surfaces of corresponding slags, and the thickness of the layers of the individual melts therein including the corresponding slag therein, and wherein the rates of production of slag and partly refined metal and the rates of transfer of partly refined metal from the smelting unit to the oxidizing unit and the rate of transfer of further refined metal out of the oxidizing unit is maintained in constant equilibrium with the rate of feeding inputs into the smelting unit; the method comprising the steps of: a. continuOusly smelting in a smelting unit inputs of sulfide ores, flux and oxygen-containing gas to yield a slag and a partly refined metal; b. simultaneously, while smelting said inputs, continuously transferring partly refined metal from said smelting unit to an oxidizing unit at a rate of transfer balancing the rate of production of partly refined metal and continuously transferring slag out of said smelting unit at a rate balancing the rate of production of slag, and both rates of transferring partly refined metal and slag being equilibriated to the rate of feeding said inputs to said smelting unit by retaining in said smelting unit a fixed amount of slag and a fixed amount of partly refined metal, whereby a measured amount of partly refined metal is continuously transferred to said oxidizing unit; c. introducing into said oxidizing unit flux and oxygen-containing gas to oxidize said partly refined metal and slag while continuously transferring partly refined metal into said oxidizing unit; and d. simultaneously, while oxidizing said partly refined metal in said oxidizing unit, continuously transferring further refined metal out of said oxidizing unit at a rate of transfer balancing the rate of production of further refined metal and simultaneously transferring slag out from said oxidizing unit, both rates of transferring further refined metal and slag produced in said oxidizing unit being equilibriated to the rate of feeding partly refined metal, flux and oxygen-containing gas to said oxidizing unit, by retaining a fixed amount of slag and a fixed amount of further refined metal and the rates of transferring said further refined metal and said slag out of said oxidizing unit thereby being equilibriated to the rate of feeding said inputs to said smelting unit.