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Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)

Effect of Size Reduction in Complex Gold Ore Cyanidation Recovery


Aghil Ojaghi, Ahmad Amini and M. Fattahi
M.Sc. in Mineral Processing, managing director of Zarkavan Alborz Co. B.Sc in geology, managing director of Zamin Rod Sepahan Co. M.Sc. in Mineral Processing, Geological Survey of Iran

ABSTRACT: Generally gold recovery increases from size reduction although for polymetalic and complex ore, it seems not. Therefore polymetalic ore that contained 5.5% Pb, 0.3% Cu, 9% Fe, 1.4% Zn and 22 ppm Au were investigated. Tests with several size fractions have done. Results showed that recovery increase up to a point after that recovery goes down. It seems that in complex and polymetalic ores size reduction causes useless elements will be free therefore, cyanide consumption increase and gold recovery decrease.

1. INTRODUCTION Cyanidation is one of the popular and common methods for gold processing. Several parameters are effective in cyanidation although size reduction and cyanide consumption importance of them. Regards to ore dressing experts the more size reduction the more increase recovery. But for pollymetalic ores it seems different. Therefore in this paper we concerned about this and effects of size reduction in gold recovery were investigated. Sample were taken from the Gandi gold deposit is located 125 km SW of the Damghan city, NE of Iran. 2. MICROSCOPIC MINERALOGY Mineralization occurs as hydrothermal veinlets containing gold, copper, lead and zinc minerals. The upper ca. 25-35 m of the deposit has been oxidized. The ore contained Au (22 ppm), Ag (16.6 ppm), As (72 ppm), Pb (5.5%), Zn (1.4% ) and Cu (0.3%). Ore samples were studied by XRD, XRF and wet chemical analysis. Microscopic studies showed that the ore is composed of mineral assemblages goethite, galena, anglesite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, cerussite, tetraedrite, covellite and native gold (Up to 100 125 micron). The image analyzer was investigated and processing with QemScan software revealed that the gold was associated with anglesite (PbSO4). Results of microscopic study was shown in Figure 2-6.

Galena

Fig. 2

Pyrite

Fig. 3

Au

Fig. 4

Galena

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Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007)

Au

100

90

80

70

gold distribution (%)

60

50

40

30 15.82 20 12.04 3.44 12.13 12.87

20.53

17.29

Fig. 5

5.88

10

0 20 20 45 75 150 250 500 1000 size fraction (micron)

Figure 7: Gold distribution in head sample

1 pixel = 2m

For cyanidation tests, head sample was ground by ball mill (Denver 30 mm) in different times. In each case 1 kg with 1 liter water was ground. Curves of grain size-grinding time were draw and showed in each time how much is less than 200 and 325 meshes (Table 2 and Figure 8).
Table 2: grinding time and grain size
Grinding time (minute) 10 14 20 30 40 50
100

Fig. 6: Gold-bearing particles (red pixels)

3. MATERIAL AND METHODS For investigation 500 Kg of the ore was taken and crushed with jaw, cone crusher and roller crusher less than 2 mm. The sample after homogenate was separated to 1 kg head samples for tests. 3 kg of the sample was sieved by A.S.T.M. screens (size details were shown in table 1 and Figure 7) that determined gold distribution in size fractions of main sample.
Table 1: Gold distribution in size fraction
Size (micron) +1000 +500 +250 +150 +75 +45 +20 -20 Total Weight (gr) 654.9 742.9 436 427.9 383 33.7 96 176 2950.4 Gold grade (ppm) 15.53 16.26 17.36 16.67 18.5 60 96.94 19.65 19.94 Gold distribution (%) 17.29 20.23 12.87 12.13 12.04 3.44 15.82 5.88 100
90

Grain size less than 200 mesh (%) 66 -----80.84 90.6 94.25 97

Grain size less than 325 mesh (%) ----63.5 71 80 ----91

94.25 90.6

97 91

80

80.84

80

70 66

71 63.5

60 Grain size (%)

50

-200 mesh

40

-325 mesh

30

20

10

0 0 10 20 30 Grinding Time (min) 40 50 60

Fig. 8: curves of grain size and grinding time ratio

Effect of Size Reduction in Complex Gold Ore Cyanidation Recovery

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5.65

Cyanide consumption (Kg/t)

Four samples with 72, 80, 90 and 97 percent less than 200 mesh (75 m) size were prepared for agitation cyanidation tests. The tests were performed in CN 0.05%, pH 9.5 and 33% pulp density during 24 hours. 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Results of gold distribution showed that approximately gold distribute in every parts. There for it seems need crushing more in order to the gold grains released. Because of this, maybe it had been made some problems in leaching recovery. Results of leaching tests confirmed our idea about this. Results of cyanidation tests showed in table 3 and Figure 9-10. Because of the results we understood gold recovery increase up to d80 = 75 m and after that it is decrease. It seems that instead reduce grinding time and decreasing grain size useless material such as copper, iron, lead, zinc and etc release. Therefore it makes some problems for gold solving, namely cyanide consumption enhances and some elements make a complex with cyanide and so on. For example PbSO4 make sediment with Cyanide and cover gold grains in spite of solving.
Table 3: result of cyanidation tests
Grain Cyanide CN Size consumption (-200 (Kg/t) mesh) 72 4.48 0.073 80 90 97 5.06 5.32 5.62 0.042 0.030 0.018 NaOH (Kg/t) pH Gold Cu Recovery Recovery (%) (%) 62.71 86.94 84.02 79.6 27.18 28.1 34.8 36.44

5.5

5.32 5.06

4.48 4.5

3.5

3 0 10 20 30 Grinding time(min) 40 50 60

Fig. 10: Curve that showed cyanide consumption in different grain sizes

5. CONCLUSION Results of chemical analyzes showed that the ore contain 5.5% Pb, 0.3% Cu, 9% Fe, 1.4% Zn and 22 ppm Au. Microscopic research (image analyzer and polish section), XRD and XRF showed that the ore is pollymetalic and in addition to gold contain anglesite, galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite and goethite. Particle size and chemical analyzes showed that gold grains distribute in all size fractions. Results of cyanidation tests showed that gold recovery increased up to d80 = 200 mesh and whatsoever feed particle size decreased the gold recovery out of expect fall down. As respects cyanide consumption growth therefore, it seems that it caused by released useless material and likewise increase cyanide consumption, gold recovery reduce also. REFERENCES

4.5 4.5 4.5 4.5

9-10 9-10 9-10 9-10

100 86.94

90

84.02 79.66

80

70 62.71 60 Recovery (%) Au Cu 36.44

50

40 27.18 28.1

34.8

30

20

10

0 70 75 80 85 Grain size less than 200 mesh (%) 90 95 100

Fig. 9: Curves of gold and cupper recovery

[1] Yannopoulos, J.C., 1990, The Extraction Metallurgy of Gold, Van No strand Reinhold, New York, p 281. [2] Clare, B.W., Kepert, D.L., Thurgate, S.M., A theoretical study of the carbon in pulp process for gold recovery, Journal of molecular structure, Vol. 540, pp. 23-27, 2001. [3] Hanaker, R.Q., Forrest, W.R., Advance in Gravity Concentration, 2003, S.M.E, p. 190. [4] Vallance J., Boiron M.C., 2004, The granite hosted gold deposit of MoulinCheni: petrographic, structural, fluid inclusion and

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oxygen isotope constraints, Mineralium Deposita, 2004, No. 39, pp. 265-281. [5] T.A. Helms & Dr. A.R. Butcher, Analysis of Gandi Au ore deposit by QEMSCAN, 2004. [6] Ubaldini, S., Veglio, F., Toro, L., Abbruzzese, C., Effect of lead nitrate on cyanidation of gold ores: progress on the study of the mechanisms, Mineral engineering, 2000, Vol. 13, No. 14-15, pp. 1641-1646.

Mineral Processing Technology (MPT 2007) [7] Curreli, L., Loi, J., Peretti, I., Rossi, G., Trois, P., Zucca, A.,Gold recovery enhancement from complex sulphide ores through combined bioleaching and cyanidation, Mineral Engineering, 1997, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 567-576. [8] Perry, R., Browner, R.E., Dunne, R., Stoitis, N., Low pH cyanidation of gold, 1999, Mineral engineering, Vol. 12, pp. 1431-1440.

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