TheCopper slag copperMicrowave concentrationThermal shock in copper slagCopper slag surpassesGrinding 1%, a gradual cooling process is employed to enhance the crystallization of and growth of copper-bearing phases, facilitating the efficient recovery of copper. Nonetheless, slow-cooled copper slagCopper slag exhibits significant hardness and inadequate grindability, whereas conventional crushing and grindingGrinding methods need substantial electrical energy. The study of raw materials indicates that the primary phases of slow-cooled copper slagCopper slag were fayalite, magnetite, and pyroxene. This work utilized the varying heating rates of fayalite, magnetite, and pyroxene in a microwaveMicrowave field to cause a temperatureTemperature gradient within copper slagCopper slag, thereby generating thermal stress and promoting mineral fracturing. In comparison to the pre-treatment, the Bond work index for grindingGrinding copper slagCopper slag was reduced by 0.11 kW h/t after conventional heating, 2.47 kW h/t after continuous microwaveMicrowave treatment, and 3.08 kW h/t after pulsed microwaveMicrowave treatment. The microwaveMicrowave thermal shockThermal shock pre-treatment of slow-cooled copper slagCopper slag can significantly decrease the grindingGrinding energy requirements.