BEHAVIOUR OF SULFUR, ARSENIC AND ORGANIC CARBON IN A GRAVITY CONCENTRATION OF GOLD FROM REFRACTORY ORE

Abstract

The results of assay-gravimetric, chemical, mineralogical analyzes of gold ore are presented. According to the content of sulfide sulfur and the degree of oxidation of sulfur gold-bearing ore is assigned to the poor sulfide type of ore in the primary zone. Gold ore refers to refractory carbonaceous arsenic-containing sulfide ores. The gravity concentration of ore was assessed using a laboratory 3-inch Knelson KC-MD3 centrifugal concentrator. According to the results of the GRG test, the total gold extraction was 39.58% with the total concentrate yield of 3.96%. The extraction of gold in the first stage is lower than in the subsequent stages. This indicates the absence of large gold in the ore. The behavior of sulfur and arsenic during gravity concentration is similar to the behavior of gold. These data confirm that the main amount of gold is associated with arsenopyrite (arsenic pyrite) and pyrite. The behavior of organic carbon during gravity is significantly different. Only 3.39% of organic carbon passes into the gravity concentrate from ore, which reduces the persistence of the concentrate. Most of the organic carbon (96.61%) remains in the tails of gravity. The content of components in the total gravity concentrate was: Au 21.63 g/t, S 6.40%, As 0.82%, C(organic) 0.58%. The extraction of the components in the total concentrate is as follows, %: Au 39.58; S 34.52; As 27.27; C(organic) 3.39.