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ABSTRACT FOR IMPC 2016 ELECTROMETALLURGY SESSION Title: High Current Density Operation at Los Bronces Electrowinning Plant Authors: Gabriel Zarate, Anglo American Chile, Santiago, Chile Contact: [email protected] Los Bronces has two ROM dump leach operations designated Leach I and Leach II. Leach I was commissioned in 1998 and stopped in 2014 due to the mine requirements. Leach II plant, commissioned in early 2002, was built to treat around 700 million tons of marginal ROM ore averaging 0.45 % total copper. The mineralogy of this material is estimated to be 70% chalcopyrite, 20% chalcocite/covellite and the balance oxides. The original electrowinning plant design capacity for copper production was nominal 19,500 tonnes per year at a current density of 276 A/m2 and a current efficiency of 92%. Presently, Los Bronces typically operates at current densities between 390 and 440 A/m2, much higher than the average in the industry, with current efficiencies around 93% and a maximum copper cathodes production of 37,200 tonnes per year. In order to get these achievements, a number of modifications in the process conditions, in the cell hardware and in the operational procedures have been implemented. In the first case, the specific flowrate, copper concentration and temperature of the electrolyte were modified. In the cell hardware, six cells were added, equipotential inner cell busbars were installed and the cross section of the cathode bars was increased. Operational procedures like short circuit detection and cathode weight control were improved. The modifications implemented and the results obtained are discussed in this paper.