Science and Technology Centre “Gidrometallurgiya” Ltd

A. Yu. Lapin, Technical Director
G. A. Bitkov, Researcher,
Ya. M. Shneerson, General Director, e-mail: ims@gidrometall.ru

The results of technological and kinetic studies on lowtemperature pressure oxidation of pyrite gold concentrate are presented. The possibility of almost complete decomposition of refractory sulfide minerals, primarily pyrite, during leaching at temperature range 110–150 °C under oxygen pressure of not more than 1.0 MPa is shown. An obligatory conditions for the process are fine grinding of the concentrate to at least 80% minus 10–15 microns, and a preliminary removal of the carbonate component. The reaction that limits the rate of oxidation of the main mineral — pyrite, is the stage of its chemical interaction with the oxidant. Elemental sulfur, which is one of the oxidation products, does not form conglomerates with pyrite particles due to the dispersive component of the oxide concentrate. The parameters of the process that allows — while treating of autoclaved cake with alkaline reagent and its subsequent sorption cyanidation — to achieve gold recovery in the commercial product to 97–98% with low consumption of cyanide, which corresponds to the same value in the processing of the same materials with conventional high-temperature autoclave technology. The method can successfully compete with high-temperature process, because of its implementation requires less complicated and much less expensive main and auxiliary autoclave equipment.

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