Gold Extraction (overview - Research)
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Gold extraction (Overview - Research)
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Home > Mining & Minerals > Minerals Processing & Metal Production > Precious Metals
Overview - Research FAST FACTS
Gold extraction Gold-bearing ore is crushed to approximately 100 microns
CSIRO is working to increase gold recovery, reduce reagent consumption and develop non-cyanide processing for gold operations in Australia and throughout the world.
Lime, cyanide and oxygen are added to the finely crushed ore
Extracting gold from ores Challenges for the gold industry Research areas
Activated carbon pellets are added to adsorb the gold Loaded carbon pellets are screened then sent through an elution circuit where a hot, caustic, cyanide solution is added to wash the gold from the carbon
In terms of size, Australia’s gold industry is the second largest in the world behind South Africa. The industry is Australia’s fourth largest export earner, worth between A$5 billion and A$6 billion annually. EXTRACTING GOLD FROM ORES Gold is commonly extracted from ore using the carbon in pulp (CIP) process. The gold-bearing ore is crushed and ground to approximately 100 microns. Lime, cyanide and oxygen are then added to the ground and slurried ore.
Gold leaching and electrochemical experiments using a rotating electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. Photo by Mr James Rogers.
The lime raises the pH, while the oxygen and cyanide oxidise and complex the gold. To recover the dissolved gold, pellets of activated carbon are added. The gold adsorbs to the carbon and the carbon is moved up the leach circuit achieving gold loadings of approximately 2 500 grams per tonne. The loaded carbon is removed from the front of the adsorption circuit by screening the coarse carbon pellets. These carbon pellets are transferred to an elution circuit where the gold is washed from the carbon using a hot caustic cyanide solution. Gold is electrowon from the concentrated gold solution onto steel wool with the steel wool being dissolved away by hydrochloric acid, leaving a gold doré which is smelted into bars for shipment to the mint. CHALLENGES FOR THE GOLD INDUSTRY To remain profitable, the gold industry needs to improve processes and develop new ways of processing lower-quality ores and tailings. Environmental issues are a concern, particularly in light of the high levels of cyanide used in the extraction process. Non-cyanide alternatives need to be found to minimise environmental and safety impacts in appropriate situations.
The gold industry is Australia's fourth largest export earner, returning between A$5 billion and A$6 billion annually.
RESEARCH AREAS CSIRO is currently conducting research in the following areas, in collaboration with the Parker Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions: carbon management flowsheeting and process modelling characterising and preparing ores for leaching processing complex ores non-cyanide leaching and recovery of gold.
Electrowinning is used to concentrate the gold onto steel wool, which is later dissolved using hydrochloric acid The gold forms a doré which is then smelted to form bars for shipment
PRIMARY CONTACT Dr Matthew Jeffrey (BSc (Hons) PhD) Research Program Leader - Hydrometallurgy Gold CSIRO Minerals Phone: 61 8 9334 8081 Fax: 61 8 9334 8001 Email: [email protected] RELATED AREAS Minerals Processing & Metal Production CSIRO Minerals Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions [external link] RELATED TOPICS Carbon management in gold production Flowsheeting and process modelling for gold processors CONTACT Mrs Marina Johnson (BA DipEd DipMgmt) Communications Manager CSIRO Minerals Phone: 61 3 9545 8746 Alt Phone: 0422 393 486 Fax: 61 3 9562 8919 Email: [email protected]
Read more about research in the following areas: Carbon management in gold production
Research focused on carbon management and the impact of impurities on adsorption circuits can potentially help the gold industry improve efficiency and reduce gold solution losses.
http://www.csiro.au/science/Gold.html
Page 1 of 2
Gold extraction (Overview - Research)
5/14/09 12:42 AM
Flowsheeting and process modelling for gold processors
Process models enable the hydrometallurgical industry to capture the existing knowledge base, identify areas where knowledge is lacking and understand the impact of circuit changes. Meeting of models helps reduce toxic waste
An unfortunate twist of chemistry means that one of the earth’s most beautiful metals requires one of the planet’s most deadly compounds to extract it from an ore body - gold mining relies on the use of cyanide to dissolve gold into solution so it can be recaptured as pure metal. Find out more about the work of CSIRO Minerals.
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| Using this Site | Legal Notice and Disclaimer | Privacy | Copyright | Last updated: 10 January 2007
http://www.csiro.au/science/Gold.html
Page 2 of 2
Explore CSIRO
5/14/09 12:42 AM
Partner
Media
Events
Education
Publications
Careers
Contact
Search
Home > Mining & Minerals > Minerals Processing & Metal Production > Precious Metals
Overview - Research FAST FACTS
Gold extraction Gold-bearing ore is crushed to approximately 100 microns
CSIRO is working to increase gold recovery, reduce reagent consumption and develop non-cyanide processing for gold operations in Australia and throughout the world.
Lime, cyanide and oxygen are added to the finely crushed ore
Extracting gold from ores Challenges for the gold industry Research areas
Activated carbon pellets are added to adsorb the gold Loaded carbon pellets are screened then sent through an elution circuit where a hot, caustic, cyanide solution is added to wash the gold from the carbon
In terms of size, Australia’s gold industry is the second largest in the world behind South Africa. The industry is Australia’s fourth largest export earner, worth between A$5 billion and A$6 billion annually. EXTRACTING GOLD FROM ORES Gold is commonly extracted from ore using the carbon in pulp (CIP) process. The gold-bearing ore is crushed and ground to approximately 100 microns. Lime, cyanide and oxygen are then added to the ground and slurried ore.
Gold leaching and electrochemical experiments using a rotating electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance. Photo by Mr James Rogers.
The lime raises the pH, while the oxygen and cyanide oxidise and complex the gold. To recover the dissolved gold, pellets of activated carbon are added. The gold adsorbs to the carbon and the carbon is moved up the leach circuit achieving gold loadings of approximately 2 500 grams per tonne. The loaded carbon is removed from the front of the adsorption circuit by screening the coarse carbon pellets. These carbon pellets are transferred to an elution circuit where the gold is washed from the carbon using a hot caustic cyanide solution. Gold is electrowon from the concentrated gold solution onto steel wool with the steel wool being dissolved away by hydrochloric acid, leaving a gold doré which is smelted into bars for shipment to the mint. CHALLENGES FOR THE GOLD INDUSTRY To remain profitable, the gold industry needs to improve processes and develop new ways of processing lower-quality ores and tailings. Environmental issues are a concern, particularly in light of the high levels of cyanide used in the extraction process. Non-cyanide alternatives need to be found to minimise environmental and safety impacts in appropriate situations.
The gold industry is Australia's fourth largest export earner, returning between A$5 billion and A$6 billion annually.
RESEARCH AREAS CSIRO is currently conducting research in the following areas, in collaboration with the Parker Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions: carbon management flowsheeting and process modelling characterising and preparing ores for leaching processing complex ores non-cyanide leaching and recovery of gold.
Electrowinning is used to concentrate the gold onto steel wool, which is later dissolved using hydrochloric acid The gold forms a doré which is then smelted to form bars for shipment
PRIMARY CONTACT Dr Matthew Jeffrey (BSc (Hons) PhD) Research Program Leader - Hydrometallurgy Gold CSIRO Minerals Phone: 61 8 9334 8081 Fax: 61 8 9334 8001 Email: [email protected] RELATED AREAS Minerals Processing & Metal Production CSIRO Minerals Parker Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Hydrometallurgy Solutions [external link] RELATED TOPICS Carbon management in gold production Flowsheeting and process modelling for gold processors CONTACT Mrs Marina Johnson (BA DipEd DipMgmt) Communications Manager CSIRO Minerals Phone: 61 3 9545 8746 Alt Phone: 0422 393 486 Fax: 61 3 9562 8919 Email: [email protected]
Read more about research in the following areas: Carbon management in gold production
Research focused on carbon management and the impact of impurities on adsorption circuits can potentially help the gold industry improve efficiency and reduce gold solution losses.
http://www.csiro.au/science/Gold.html
Page 1 of 2
Gold extraction (Overview - Research)
5/14/09 12:42 AM
Flowsheeting and process modelling for gold processors
Process models enable the hydrometallurgical industry to capture the existing knowledge base, identify areas where knowledge is lacking and understand the impact of circuit changes. Meeting of models helps reduce toxic waste
An unfortunate twist of chemistry means that one of the earth’s most beautiful metals requires one of the planet’s most deadly compounds to extract it from an ore body - gold mining relies on the use of cyanide to dissolve gold into solution so it can be recaptured as pure metal. Find out more about the work of CSIRO Minerals.
Share this CSIRO content using: Digg Reddit
Delicious Propeller
Site Map
StumbleUpon Newsvine
What are these?
| Using this Site | Legal Notice and Disclaimer | Privacy | Copyright | Last updated: 10 January 2007
http://www.csiro.au/science/Gold.html
Page 2 of 2
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