Abstract:the leaching of manganese nodules together with chalcopyrite was done in dilute HCl solution.The factors which affect the leaching process include the ratio of amounts between chalcopyrite and manganese nodule (R), the initial HCl concentration, the temperature and time for leaching. It was found that the extraction of the metal values Mn, Co, Cu and Fe increased with the temperature, the time and the inital HCl concentroation for leaching. More than 93% of Mn, Ni, Co could be easily leached in dilute HCI solution at 90 ^oC for 90min as long as acid was sufficient and the chalcopyrite was charged equally with nodule,and the extraction of Cu was also up to 80%.more than 90% of suffur contained in the chalcopyrite in the residue in the elemental form.

Key words: manganese nodule; chalcopyrite; leaching;