Chapter 6 - Applied mineralogy related to gold

Abstract

This chapter discusses the mineralogy of gold, textures of gold in gold ores, the main characteristics of some ore types, methods of characterizing gold ores with respect to processing, methods of processing gold ores, and examples of characterizing tailings from gold operations. Applied mineralogy related to gold involves determining mineral characteristics that have a bearing on exploration, mineral processing, and hydrometallurgy. Applied mineralogy with respect to exploration involves using ore textures and specific minerals as tracers to gold deposits, and using specific assemblages of silicate and/or ore minerals as indicators of favorable environments for deposition of gold. Applied mineralogy in connection with mineral processing and hydrometallurgy plays a major role when gold is recovered by leaching techniques and flotation. Knowledge of ore characteristics that affect gold recoveries can help in designing or redesigning a flow-sheet, and can indicate whether maximum recoveries have been obtained. The mineralogical characteristics that affect gold recoveries are: identities of gold-bearing minerals, identities of associated metallic and non-metallic minerals, and the proportion of gold occurring in minerals that are soluble in alkaline cyanide solutions.