Saint-Petersburg Mining University of Empress Catherine II, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
M. V. Zalesov, Post-Graduate Student
G. V. Petrov, Professor, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, Petrov_GV@pers.spmi.ru

Copper-bearing gold ores and concentrates are rebellious materials, and the most common problem in processing such feedstock is the high consumption of cyanide. Alongside with ecological and economic difficulties associated with cyanide consumption, subject to conditions of cyanidation and composition of feedstock, the complexity is added with the phenomenon of gold preg-robbing by copper, formation of films on the surface of gold and copper minerals, and adsorption of copper cyanides at activated coal. This article examines the influence of NaCN co ncentration on the useful component recovery from copper-bearing gold ore; estimates the adverse effect of accumulated copper impurities on cyanidation performance, discusses the ways of reducing copper accumulation in cyanidation solution. The test object is oxidized copper-bearing gold ore with the contents of Au 5.89 g/t and Cu 1.06 %. The reduction range of the feedstock was 90 % of the size of –71+0 μm. The review of research projects and production experience in the field of processing of copper-bearing gold ores and concentrates allows drawing conclusions that the optimal process flow charts for such feedstock can vary greatly depending on the chemical, phase and mineral composition of the materials. Despite the difficulties involved in processing of copper-bearing copper materials, there are many types of ore containing copper and gold in sufficient concentrations to make production of one of the components or both justified.
The authors highly appreciate participation of A. Ya. Boduen, Director of the Hydrometallurgical Department, RIVS Group, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, in this study.

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