The economic production of pure copper metal, suitable for fabrication and use, from copper ores containing as little as 0.5% Cu. Over 90% of the consumption of primary copper in the Western world is produced from ores containing sulfide minerals (chalcopyrite, CuFeS₂; chalcocite, Cu₂S; and bornite, Cu₅FeS₄) that can be economically treated only by pyrometallurgical processes.