Intensification of heap leaching of gold from finely dispersed ore using nanotechnologies

Authors: Vorob'ev A. E., Chekushina T. V., Kaki Christophe, Tcharo Honore, Vorob'ev K. A.

Currently gold mining practitioners pay increasing much attention to heap leaching technologies as they enable metal extraction from rather low-grade ore: gold at the content of 0.5–2 g/t; copper at 0.15–0.5%, uranium at 0.02–0.07% U9O8 etc. However, an essential drawback of this technology is loss of process (leaching) solutions and agents in evaporation from the surface and slopes of heap leaching piles, or, vice versa, their dilution with atmospheric fallout. Another serous fault of the technologies is loss of finely dispersed gold in the form of floating ‘islands’. One of the preferable solutions to these technical and geoecological problems is application of different coatings in order to reduce evaporation of process solution to atmosphere in dry-weather periods and to control water flows in rainy seasons (to prevent penetration of process solution in natural surface and ground water). Furthermore, the purpose-oriented control of these aspects can ensure the required quality of process solutions: optimal values of pH, Eh and surface tension, which greatly govern origination and life span of the floating nanogold islands.

Keywords: Nanotechnology, nanogold, floating islands, flakes, evaporation, dilution, process solution, shielding, outward coating, silicone nanofilm, heap leaching, beneficiation.
For citation:

Vorob'ev A. E., Chekushina T. V., Kaki Christophe, Tcharo Honore, Vorob'ev K. A. Intensification of heap leaching of gold from finely dispersed ore using nanotechnologies. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2020;(1):160-174. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-1-0-160-174.

 

Acknowledgements:
Issue number: 1
Year: 2020
Page number: 160-174
ISBN: 0236-1493
UDK: 622.775
DOI: 10.25018/0236-1493-2020-1-0-160-174
Article receipt date: 20.09.2019
Date of review receipt: 10.11.2019
Date of the editorial board′s decision on the article′s publishing: 20.12.2019
About authors:

A.E. Vorob'ev, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, Vice-rector for research and innovation,
Atyrau University of Oil and Gas, Atyrau, Kazakhstan;
Chief Researcher, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia, 117198, Moscow, Russia,
T.V. Chekushina1, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Assistant Professor;
Leading Researcher, Institute of Problems of Comprehensive Exploitation
of Mineral Resources of Russian Academy of Sciences, 111020, Moscow, Russia,
Kaki Christophe, Dr. Sci. (Geol. Mineral.), Professor, Sedimentologist Geologist,
Research Professor, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin,
Tcharo Honore1, Graduate Student, Assistant, e-mail: honoretcharo@yahoo.com,
K.A. Vorob'ev1, Bachelor,
1 Engineering Academy, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia,
117198, Moscow, Russia.

For contacts:

Tcharo Honore, e-mail: honoretcharo@yahoo.com

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