Kosaka Smelting and Refining

History

The history of the DOWA Group began with the Kosaka Mine in the northeastern part of Akita Prefecture.

The ore (black ore*) mined in this region is called “department store metal,” and while it includes an abundance of precious metals, its drawback is that it has many impurities and is difficult to process.

*Black ore: Ore derived from seafloor hydrothermal deposits with a complex intermingling of sphalerite (ZnS), galena (PbS), chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), barite (BaSO4) and other elements.

DOWA has boldly attempted to smelt this “black ore,” and as a result of technological improvements over many years, it has accumulated the technology to separate and refine the various metals that are complexly intermingled.

DOWA has boldly attempted to smelt this “black ore,” and as a result of technological improvements over many years, it has accumulated the technology to separate and refine the various metals that are complexly intermingled.

Facilities

In 2007, we started up a new smelting furnace called a TSL furnace that dramatically improved our ability to handle recycled materials, and we were able to collect many kinds of valuable metals from a variety of recycled materials.

Based on “black ore” refining technology, the Kosaka Mine continues to evolve as a distinctive smelter that features precious metal recovery and recycling.

Outline

• Kosaka Smelting and Refining Co., Ltd.
  60-1, Otarube, Kosakakouzan, Kosaka-machi, Kazuno, Akita
  40.332747,140.746723,8
  /content/images/corp/gmap/red.png