The Gold Mining Company (Russia):

Vashchenko G. A., Chief Dresser

Irgiredmet, OJSC (Russia):

Gudkov S. S., Head of Laboratory;

Yemelyanov Yu. Ye., Ph. D. in Engineering Sciences, Leading Researcher

Irkutsk State Technical University (Russia):

Yelshin V. V., Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Dean, Professor
Bogorodskiy A. V., Ph. D. in Engineering Sciences, Senior Researcher, bav@irgiredmet.ru

A flow sheet that includes grinding and classification, flotation beneficiation, flotation concentrate pressure oxidation with subsequent cyanidation of oxidation solid products and base metals (copper) extraction from liquid phase is recommended for the Bereznyakovskoye deposit primary sulfide gold ore processing. It is shown, that in flotation beneficiation, from 85 to 90 % of gold is recovered into sulfide concentrate. Content of gold in concentrate is 25–30 g/t, that of copper — 3.5–4.0 %, sulfur — 30–35 %, bismuth — 30 g/t, antimony — 0.7 % and arsenic — 1.4 %, gold content in flotation tailings — 0.7 g/t. Degree of oxidation in pressure oxidation is 97–99 %, and gold recovery from oxidation products through cyanidation — 95 %. On the basis of the results of the research works, performed at the OAO «Irgiredmet», a process operating procedure for design has been developed, the Project Design has been implemented, Phase One of the gold recovery plant with annual capacity of 300 thousand tons of ore has been constructed and commissioned. Design gold recovery is 50 %, that of copper — 10 %, cyanide consumption — 2–3 kg/t. Commissioning of Phase Two will provide for the plant capacity increase to 400 thousand tons of ore annually and will bring into operation a flotation concentrate pressure oxidation section, resulting in end-to-end gold recovery increase to 80 %, that of copper — to 90 %, also permitting to decrease cyanide consumption to 1.5 kg/t.

The work was performed with the financial aid for the project No. 02.G25.31.0075 in the framework of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation, No. 218, dated 09.04.2010.

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