Hydrometallurgy
Hydrometallurgy adds a wet copper extraction process to Forge, in which copper is leached from ore and then recovered from solution.
What it does
The mod models the old wet copper method, where copper sulfate solution is treated with iron so that copper precipitates out, a displacement reaction of CuSO4 with Fe. The process covers leaching copper ore or concentrate with a leaching agent, solvent extraction, replacement precipitation and electrolytic deposition to obtain metallic copper from a purified leachate. Its description cites records of the method used in China during the Northern Song Dynasty, under Wang Anshi.
The mod is offered as a non-smelting route to copper, in place of pyrometallurgical smelting that burns large amounts of coal. Because it runs on client and server, both the server and every player need it installed. Files are published for Forge only, for game version 1.20.1, and the license is Creative Commons Attribution 4.0, so the mod is not open source.
Key features
Wet copper extraction
Copper is leached from ore or concentrate with a leaching agent and then recovered from the resulting solution.
Displacement reaction
Copper sulfate is reacted with iron so that copper is replaced and precipitates, following the displacement reaction in the mod.
Solvent and electrolytic steps
Solvent extraction and electrolytic deposition are included as stages for obtaining metallic copper from purified leachate.
Alternative to smelting
The wet process is an option that avoids pyrometallurgical smelting, which the author describes as consuming a lot of coal.
Gallery
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.
Use cases
Copper production without furnaces
Players who want copper through a chemical process rather than furnace smelting can use the wet route in place of standard smelting.
Magic and technology modpacks
Since the mod is listed under Technology and Magic, it suits packs that mix both categories and want a chemistry-based metal process.
Who it’s for: Players who enjoy process-based technology on Forge 1.20.1 and server owners who want a chemistry-based copper route in their packs. Both the server and all players need the mod installed.
Questions
Does Hydrometallurgy need to be installed on the server?
Which loader and game version does Hydrometallurgy support?
Can Hydrometallurgy be used in a modpack?
In the catalog
Hydrometallurgy is one of 8,499 Technology mods on ModsFinder, and one of 4,122 Technology mods for Forge. 34,764 mods support Minecraft 1.20.1.
More from VersaLife Corp.
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What the author says
Hyclrometallurgy,the process of leaching copper from copper ore or copper concentrate with a leaching agent, and then using chemical extraction or electrolytic extraction to obtain metallic copper from the purified leachate. Its contents involve copper ore leaching, copper solvent extraction, copper replacement…
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/hydrometallurgy
- Owner
- VersaLife Corp.
- Published
- 2025-06-22
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2025-06-22
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15