Abstract: A relatively simple and rapid process for the production of high-grade copper from an inexpensive starting material such as blister copper or copper scraps is described. The starting material is conventionally smelted and oxidized, after which the charge is subjected to a slagging operation to obtain a pre-refined copper bath. After the slagging step, an artificial slag cover is formed on the pre-refined copper bath using a mixture of (1) an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of silicon, phosphorous and boron, and (2) an oxide of at least one element selected from the group consisting of titanium, aluminum, calcium, strontium, barium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and lithium. At least two of such elements are then fed to the bath through the slag cover as alloying components. After such resulting bath is mixed for at least 30 seconds and is left standing for an additional 15 minutes, the slag cover is removed.