Studies on Hydrometallurgical Treatment of Oxydized Gold-Bearing Copper Ore

Abstract

Inherent problems of oxidized gold-bearing copper ores processing and a comparison of hydrometallurgical methods, applied for such materials, are discussed in this article. Studies on sulfuric acid and cyanide leaching have been carried out, using the following sample of oxidized ore from one of the copper deposits (Kyrgyzstan), %: 15 Mg O, 45.6 SiO2, 0.1 S, 20 Ca O, 12.1 Fe2O3, 0.86 Cu, 1.78 Au, 9.61 Ag. Studies have been carried out. Agitation sulfuric acid leaching able to extract up to 29.9% of copper. At the same time, column sulfuric acid leaching able to extract up to 78.5% of total copper and 85.23% of copper presented by acid-soluble compounds. In case of precious metals, the agitation cyanide leaching is able to extract up to 97.6% of gold in 24 h. Increasing the grinding fineness up to 90% - 74 μm reduces cyanidation duration down to 12 h. The consumption of sodium cyanide is 4.8 kg/t of ore. At the same time, column cyanide allows to extract 73.5% Au and 81.9% Ag during 111 days, whereas 52.4% of gold is recovered in the first 10 days. Consumption of sodium cyanide is 5.45 kg/t. The most efficient ways for processing of such materials are proposed.