Differences of cyanide leaching between calcine and dust from refractory gold concentrates

Abstract

Abstract Differences of cyanide leaching between the calcine and the dust from a refractory gold concentrate were investigated by comparative method. Results showed that gold leaching efficiencies of the calcine and the dust were 85.31% and 54.30%, respectively, with direct cyanidation. Contents and existing forms of arsenic and carbon were the main reasons for those differences. The maximum gold leaching efficiencies of the calcine and the dust were 87.70% and 58.60%, respectively, with cyanidation after NaOH pre-leaching. Harmful elements removal, gold loss in NaOH pre-leaching and iron oxides hindrance codetermined gold leaching efficiencies of the calcine and the dust. After H2SO4 pre-leaching, the maximum gold leaching efficiencies of the calcine and the dust achieved 94.96% and 80.40%, respectively. The effect of carbonaceous matter was the main reason for differences for leaching efficiencies of the calcine and the dust. Based on those differences, two proper gold extraction processes were put forward, and gold leaching efficiencies for the calcine and the dust achieved 94.91% and 91.90%, respectively.