Abstract
Biological processing of sulfidic ores and concentrates is a chemical system catalyzed by microorganisms. The technology is commercially applied in run-of-mine stockpiles, crushed ore heap leaching plants, and continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). Ores and concentrates with gold embedded in sulfide matrices are biologically pretreated in coarse ore heaps and CSTRs, respectively, to expose the gold for subsequent cyanide leaching, significantly enhancing gold recovery. Biological processing has undergone major transformations in the last 20 years with the engineering of processes to exploit the unique capabilities of newly discovered, naturally occurring microorganisms and to improve the design of engineered systems. Declining ore grades, depletion of easy-to-process ores, increasing energy costs, and deeper mines are contributing factors to use biological processing. In situ bioleaching is a likely future processing route as mineral deposits are located at depth and increasing global populations encroach on mine sites necessitating a reduced surface footprint.
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