Iranian Journal of Materials Science and Engineering

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Gold deposits are varied regarding their geological and geochemical settings. Hence,their processing methods must be best organized for achieving the desired recovery of preciousmetals. In this research, two types of hard-rock gold ores, each with specific characteristics fromKouh-zar region (south of Damghan city) were subjected to mineral processing tests at thelaboratory scale. The reference (head) samples of both veins contained on average 3.5-4.5 ppmgold. According to mineralogical investigations no observable gold particles reported even inSEM analyses except for rare over-micrometer gold particles locked in the silica matrix.Therefore, the major (invisible) gold supposed to exist in sulfides" crystal structure. Flotationapplied to recover the gold interlocked within sulfides. The highest grades achieved were 49.2ppm @ R=77.61% for Baghu samples and 57.0 ppm @ R=61.00% for Darestan samples gold inthe sulfide concentrates. In the cyanidation diagnostic tests the optimum conditions of pH,particle size, cyanide concentration and leaching time were determined for both ores. High goldrecoveries (> 95%) were achievable for Baghu samples for the pH conditions between 10.5 and11, and cyanide and hydrated lime consumptions of 0.6 and 2.5 grams per kilogram of orerespectively. As it had been expected, direct cyanidation of Darestan samples (containing up to1.5% copper), couldn"t be established as an efficient procedure (due to cyanide consumption ofabout 20 times higher than for Baghu tests to achieve similar recoveries) and the preliminarycopper removal phase was determined as a necessity for better recovery of gold.

Keywords: Gold ore, Flotation, Cyanidation.

     

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