Characterization of refractory behaviour of complex gold ore by diagnostic leaching
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Date
2019-07
Authors
Amirul Aiman Bin Ab Rasid
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Abstract
In this study, the gold ore samples was obtained from Selinsing Gold Mine Manager Sdn
Bhd. The mineralogical information obtained were used for the diagnostic leaching experiment
to determine the refractory behaviour of the gold ore samples. The mineralogical studies
include physical observation of the gold ores samples to find the most suitable diagnostic
leaching method in the assessment of gold. The purpose of gold assaying method and
metallurgical testing were carried out to determine the average gold content (head grade) by
fire assay method and the amount of free liberated gold was determine using the cyanide bottle
rolled test and aqua regia. Mineral characterization study are optical microscopy study and
phase analysis using XRD, XRF and FESEM-EDX analysis. From the mineralogical studies
conducted, the minerals associated with the gold ore are quartz, stibnite, iron oxide,
aluminosilicate/feldspar and arsenopyrite mineral. From fire assay, the head grade obtained for
the gold ore sample is 1.318 g/t. The diagnostic leaching experiment was designed based on
the mineralogical studies, which aimed to identify the stages to recover all the gold interlocked
with the gangue minerals. The diagnostic leaching experiment conducted shows that some of
the gold still interlocked with the sulphide mineral in stibnite. From the research work, the
refractoriness of the gold ore samples is highly refractory due to its low percentage recovery.
The gold interlocked with gangue mineral also identified as submicron size. From the
experimental findings in this research work, the gold ore sample under study need to undergo
further treatment to liberate the gold from antimony sulphide in order to recover the remaining
gold.