Copper Mining and Refining

How to turn 1% copper ore into 99.99% pure copper

This video clip shows how 1% copper ore is melted and sulfur and other impurities are removed. The copper is cast into anodes of 90% purity then placed in an electrolytic reduction cell with cathodes.

When an electric current is passed through the anode and the electrolyte to the cathode, copper from the anode deposits on the cathode while, remaining impurities drop to the bottom of the cell. The copper deposited on the cathode is 99.99% pure copper.