Likely scenarios in the microbial leaching of gold from refractory and non-refractory ores

Abstract

This paper examines the critical research works that have been conducted on laboratory or pilot scales to extract gold from ores using the lixiviants that are produced by microorganisms. Different flowcharts are included to clearly show the central points of the selected published works and the key results to those in the mining and metallurgy industries who are pursuing new alternatives to cyanide in the gold leaching process. Finally, based on the lessons learned, five different flowcharts are developed to identify possible direct gold dissolution scenarios from refractory and non-refractory ores using iodide oxidizing, cyanogenic, and amino acid-excreting bacteria.