Basic principles of high-speed activated heap gold leaching

Heap gold leaching in Russia is implemented by the classical technology including milling, nodulizing, preparation of cyanide solution, sprinkling, sorption–desorption, electrolysis and melting into bars. The classical heap gold leaching scenario is suitable for processing of low-grade oxidized gold-bearing raw material with free gold content up to 50 % and more. Currently percentage of low-grade gold deposits is small. Northern ore minerals occur at a depth more than 50 m below surface and are rebellious as a rule, due to slight oxidation of sulfide minerals and owing to fine gold impregnated in bed rocks. The cost of rebellious gold recovery has increased while its extractability has dropped. Nonetheless, heap gold leaching yet remains the prime method to process low-grade goldbearing quartz ore. This is contributed to by the jump of gold prices. Aimed to enhance processing efficiency of rebellious low-grade gold-bearing quartz ore, the high-speed activated heap gold leaching mode is developed. This article offers a brief description of the basic principles of high-speed activated heap leaching of gold from rebellious minerals. The proposed heap gold leaching method can compete with the methods of autoclave and bacterial leaching, and with the method including super fine milling. Feasibility of effective gold recovery is proved in terms of high-speed activated heap leaching of gold from baked tailings of lead flotation.

Rubtsov Yu. I., Avdeev P. A., Cherkasov V. G., Lavrov A. Yu. basic principles of high-speed activated heap gold leaching. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(3-1):88—98. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_1493_2021_31_0_88.

Rubtsov Yu.I.^1,2, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor of the Department of water management, environmental and industrial safety, jri.rubtsow@yandex.ru;
Avdeev P. A.², Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, chita-arb@yandex.ru;
Cherkasov V. G., Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Professor, cherkasov1948@yandex.ru;
Lavrov A. Yu.², Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Professor.
¹ Chita branch of the IGD SB RAS, Chita, Russia;
² Zabaikalsky state University, Chita, Russia.

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