Hydrometallurgy: Leaching in Heap, Vat, CIL, CIP, Merrill–Crowe, SX Solvent Extraction

Hydrometallurgy: Leaching in Heap, Vat, CIL, CIP, Merrill–Crowe, SX Solvent Extraction

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Carbonaceous material in heap leach (3 replies)

J
oro
6 years ago
oro 6 years ago

In a heap leach application of milled tailings collected from various small mining sites there is always a certain amount of debris (plant material, wood and leaves and plastic, sometimes a bit of grease / oil).  I understand the carbonaceous material (plant material or dead animal) will adversely affect lixiviation (all types) as well as precipitation of values from solution. Are there practical alternatives to deal with this other than washing  / screening prior to heaping?

Also, I understand the Au will go in and out of solution and / or cement out to any carbonaceous material present.   

David
6 years ago
David 6 years ago
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Hi Oro,

Would organic material, such as wood or timber, preg rob if it came in contact with a gold solution? I'm sceptical of old mine timber preg robbing a solution in a mill circuit.

Natural organic carbons, charcoal or charred material what I think of as "activated carbon".

Remember cyanide leach plants from 100 years ago were all built from wood and wooden tanks... all tanks did not sock gold.

A
Tony AMI
6 years ago
Tony AMI 6 years ago
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Hi David,

I am Anthony from Indonesia, we have hundred thousand cubic meter of tailing ex cyanide tanks which is produced by local small miners. We are looking for a partner who can refining this tailing again and can get a mutual benefits for both parties.

Believe the local government will full support our cooperation.

J
oro
6 years ago
oro 6 years ago
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Thank you Dave, the tailings are produced by small scale artisanal miners using rustic stone mills who discharge daily into pits.  Over a period of months the wind and rain cause debris to collect in the pits (leaves, sticks and other trash).   The tailings pits are clean out with an excavator or backhoe once or twice a year, allowed to drain and then loaded and hauled off to the buyer's location in dump trucks, usually sold to the local cyanide processing plant.  We propose to heap or pit leach with no pretreatment but anticipate possible issues with preg robbing.      


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