Mineralogical characteristics and treatment of refractory gold ores

• Published in: Minerals engineering Vol. 2; no. 4; pp. 449 - 457
• Main Authors: Komnitsas, C., Pooley, F.D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1989; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: aqueous pressure oxidation; bacterial leaching; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; environmental considerations; Exact sciences and technology; gold economics; Metal geology; Metallic and non-metallic deposits; oxidation roasting; Refractory gold ores; Refractory gold ores; environmental considerations; gold economics; oxidation roasting; aqueous pressure oxidation; bacterial leaching; Productivity; Refractory materials; Sulfides; Gold ores; Oxidation; Concentration; Leaching
• ISSN: 0892-6875; 1872-9444
• DOI: 10.1016/0892-6875(89)90080-0

Refractory gold ores and concentrates are characterised by low gold recoveries and high cyanide consumptions when subjected to direct cyanide leaching. Therefore an oxidation pretreatment step is required before cyanidation that will break up the sulphide lattice and render gold particles accessible to cyanide ions. The main three options for the treatment of refractory ores and concentrates include the traditional oxidation roasting, the modern pressure oxidation and the bacterial oxidation which is still at an advanced experimental stage. The present work focuses on the mineralogical factors influencing the refractoriness of gold, the main characteristics and developments of each process and provides economic comparative data from various operations worldwide. Environmental considerations are also briefly discussed.