CA2553548A1 - A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates - Google Patents
A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates Download PDFInfo
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- CA2553548A1 CA2553548A1 CA002553548A CA2553548A CA2553548A1 CA 2553548 A1 CA2553548 A1 CA 2553548A1 CA 002553548 A CA002553548 A CA 002553548A CA 2553548 A CA2553548 A CA 2553548A CA 2553548 A1 CA2553548 A1 CA 2553548A1
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
- C22B1/11—Removing sulfur, phosphorus or arsenic other than by roasting
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B1/00—Preliminary treatment of ores or scrap
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B11/00—Obtaining noble metals
- C22B11/04—Obtaining noble metals by wet processes
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B11/00—Obtaining noble metals
- C22B11/08—Obtaining noble metals by cyaniding
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22B—PRODUCTION AND REFINING OF METALS; PRETREATMENT OF RAW MATERIALS
- C22B3/00—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes
- C22B3/04—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes by leaching
- C22B3/12—Extraction of metal compounds from ores or concentrates by wet processes by leaching in inorganic alkaline solutions
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
- Y02P10/00—Technologies related to metal processing
- Y02P10/20—Recycling
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- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Abstract
This invention relates to a method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates. The method includes the steps of comminuting a refractory sulphide ore or concentrate, treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution, and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
Description
A METHOD OF RECOVERING METAL VALUES FROM REFRACTORY
SULPHIDE ORES AND CONCENTRATES
THIS INVENTION relates to gold recovery: More particularly, it relates to a method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates.
According to the invention, there is provided a method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates, which method includes the steps of comminuting a refractory sulphide ore or concentrate;
treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution with a pH of at least 1 1; and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
The alkaline solution may have a pH of at least 11.
Preferably, the alkaline solution has a pH of about 1 1.5.
Typically the metal value to be recovered will be gold, the metal values then being recovered from the treated ore or concentrate by conventional gold extraction methods.
CONFIRMATION COPY
SULPHIDE ORES AND CONCENTRATES
THIS INVENTION relates to gold recovery: More particularly, it relates to a method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates.
According to the invention, there is provided a method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates, which method includes the steps of comminuting a refractory sulphide ore or concentrate;
treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution with a pH of at least 1 1; and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
The alkaline solution may have a pH of at least 11.
Preferably, the alkaline solution has a pH of about 1 1.5.
Typically the metal value to be recovered will be gold, the metal values then being recovered from the treated ore or concentrate by conventional gold extraction methods.
CONFIRMATION COPY
By "sulphide ore or concentrate" is to be understood to include ores or concentrates including at least one mineral selected from the group consisting of pyrite, marcasite, pyrrhotite, realgar, orpiment, stibnite, and arsenopyrite.
Comminuting the refractory sulphide ore or concentrate typically includes finely grinding the refractory ore or concentrate. More particularly, the refractory ore or concentrate may be ground into a particulate material such that about 80 % by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than about 20 micrometres, preferably such that about 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than about 1 1 micrometres, more preferably such that about 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than about 8 micrometres.
Comminution of the ore or concentrate may be by way of a wet grinding method. Comminution of the ore or concentrate may occur by use of a tumbling mill, a vibratory mill, a tower mill, an ultra fine grinding mill, such as that available from Metprotech, Inc., or an IsaMill.
Treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution may include forming a fluid mixture/pulp of the ground ore or concentrate with an alkaline solution having a pH of at least 1 1. More particularly, treating the ground ore or concentrate may include forming a~ mixture of the ground ore or concentrate with water and adding a pH modifier to the water to yield an alkaline solution of pH at least 11. The ore or concentrate may be treated in alkaline solution for between about 2 hours and about 24 hours. It is to be noted that the alkaline treatment does not necessarily, and typically does not in fact, lead to the complete destruction of the sulphide mineral. In other words, the ore or concentrate is typically treated in the alkaline solution partially to dissolve the sulphide minerals in the alkaline solution.
The pH modifier may comprise at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxide in combination with any of the aforementioned alkalis. Preferably the pH
modifier comprises sodium hydroxide.
Treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution may further include agitating the fluid mixture/pulp. It is to be appreciated that agitation serves to inhibit settling of and maintain in suspension the solid particulate material.
The method may include introducing oxygen into the pulp during agitation thereof. Oxygen may be introduced into the pulp as oxygen gas or air injected into the pulp, by the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the pulp or by the diffusion of atmospheric oxygen into the pulp at a surface of the pulp exposed to atmosphere.
Treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution may take place at atmospheric pressure. Treating the ore or concentrate may occur at a temperature between the boiling point and the freezing point of the alkaline solution.
Recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate may include leaching the treated ground ore or concentrate.
Leaching the ore or concentrate may, for example, occur by cyanidation.
Instead, leaching the ore or concentrate may be by the addition of any other leaching agent to the treated ground ore or concentrate.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Examples:
Example 1 Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of an IsaMill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 13.7 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for four hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 72.22%.
Example 2:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of an IsaMill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 13.7 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for eight hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 72.91 %.
Example 3:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of an IsaMill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate 5 material had a particle size of 13.7 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for twelve hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to -be around 77.00%.
Example 4:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a tower mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle. size of 10.9 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for four hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 81.88%.
Example 5:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a tower mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 10.9 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for eight hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 86.08%.
Comminuting the refractory sulphide ore or concentrate typically includes finely grinding the refractory ore or concentrate. More particularly, the refractory ore or concentrate may be ground into a particulate material such that about 80 % by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than about 20 micrometres, preferably such that about 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than about 1 1 micrometres, more preferably such that about 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than about 8 micrometres.
Comminution of the ore or concentrate may be by way of a wet grinding method. Comminution of the ore or concentrate may occur by use of a tumbling mill, a vibratory mill, a tower mill, an ultra fine grinding mill, such as that available from Metprotech, Inc., or an IsaMill.
Treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution may include forming a fluid mixture/pulp of the ground ore or concentrate with an alkaline solution having a pH of at least 1 1. More particularly, treating the ground ore or concentrate may include forming a~ mixture of the ground ore or concentrate with water and adding a pH modifier to the water to yield an alkaline solution of pH at least 11. The ore or concentrate may be treated in alkaline solution for between about 2 hours and about 24 hours. It is to be noted that the alkaline treatment does not necessarily, and typically does not in fact, lead to the complete destruction of the sulphide mineral. In other words, the ore or concentrate is typically treated in the alkaline solution partially to dissolve the sulphide minerals in the alkaline solution.
The pH modifier may comprise at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxide in combination with any of the aforementioned alkalis. Preferably the pH
modifier comprises sodium hydroxide.
Treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution may further include agitating the fluid mixture/pulp. It is to be appreciated that agitation serves to inhibit settling of and maintain in suspension the solid particulate material.
The method may include introducing oxygen into the pulp during agitation thereof. Oxygen may be introduced into the pulp as oxygen gas or air injected into the pulp, by the addition of hydrogen peroxide to the pulp or by the diffusion of atmospheric oxygen into the pulp at a surface of the pulp exposed to atmosphere.
Treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution may take place at atmospheric pressure. Treating the ore or concentrate may occur at a temperature between the boiling point and the freezing point of the alkaline solution.
Recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate may include leaching the treated ground ore or concentrate.
Leaching the ore or concentrate may, for example, occur by cyanidation.
Instead, leaching the ore or concentrate may be by the addition of any other leaching agent to the treated ground ore or concentrate.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying Examples:
Example 1 Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of an IsaMill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 13.7 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for four hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 72.22%.
Example 2:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of an IsaMill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 13.7 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for eight hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 72.91 %.
Example 3:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of an IsaMill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate 5 material had a particle size of 13.7 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for twelve hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to -be around 77.00%.
Example 4:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a tower mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle. size of 10.9 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for four hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 81.88%.
Example 5:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a tower mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 10.9 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for eight hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 86.08%.
Example 6:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a tower mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 10.9 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for twelve hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 93.53%.
Example 7:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a vibratory mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 7.6 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for four hours.
Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 88.67 %.
Example 8:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a vibratory mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 7.6 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for eight hours.
Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 92.70%.
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a tower mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 10.9 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for twelve hours. Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 93.53%.
Example 7:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a vibratory mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 7.6 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for four hours.
Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 88.67 %.
Example 8:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a vibratory mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 7.6 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for eight hours.
Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 92.70%.
Example 9:
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a vibratory mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 7.6 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for twelve hours.
Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 95.89%.
Discussion The above results indicate that a combination of fine grinding and alkaline treatment prior to leaching enhance gold recovery compared with typical sulphide ore whole-of-ore recoveries of about 45%.
Further testing showed that best recovery with no alkaline pre-treatment of the sulphide ore was obtained for the finest grind size of 7.6 micrometres, with recovery of 78.85% (whole-of-ore).
The Applicant believes that the method of the invention, provides an effective method for the recovery of gold with improved gold recovery from refractory sulphide ores over prior art methods. It is believed that the alkaline pre-treatment attacks and dissolves sulphide minerals in the ore at surfaces under which gold values are located and where there are distortions in the crystal lattice. These effects are greatest for fine particle sizes. It is believed that the method, performed as it is at atmospheric pressure and temperature, will not require specialised equipment nor material for construction of such equipment nor will it require the use of chemicals not ordinarily available on a gold leaching plant. Further, as no sulphuric acid or sulphur dioxide is generated during the method of the invention, as is the case with pressure autoclaving, bacterial oxidation, roasting and other prior art methods, it is believed that no washing or neutralisation of the treated gold ore and concentrate will be required before leaching. The Applicant believes that the method of the invention provides a simple methodology for gold recovery, not requiring skilled labour for operation or supervision.
Refractory sulphide ore encapsulating gold was finely ground by use of a vibratory mill such that about 80% of the ground ore particulate material had a particle size of 7.6 micrometres. The finely ground ore was treated in a sodium hydroxide solution for twelve hours.
Thereafter the treated ore was cyanide leached. Test results showed gold recovery to be around 95.89%.
Discussion The above results indicate that a combination of fine grinding and alkaline treatment prior to leaching enhance gold recovery compared with typical sulphide ore whole-of-ore recoveries of about 45%.
Further testing showed that best recovery with no alkaline pre-treatment of the sulphide ore was obtained for the finest grind size of 7.6 micrometres, with recovery of 78.85% (whole-of-ore).
The Applicant believes that the method of the invention, provides an effective method for the recovery of gold with improved gold recovery from refractory sulphide ores over prior art methods. It is believed that the alkaline pre-treatment attacks and dissolves sulphide minerals in the ore at surfaces under which gold values are located and where there are distortions in the crystal lattice. These effects are greatest for fine particle sizes. It is believed that the method, performed as it is at atmospheric pressure and temperature, will not require specialised equipment nor material for construction of such equipment nor will it require the use of chemicals not ordinarily available on a gold leaching plant. Further, as no sulphuric acid or sulphur dioxide is generated during the method of the invention, as is the case with pressure autoclaving, bacterial oxidation, roasting and other prior art methods, it is believed that no washing or neutralisation of the treated gold ore and concentrate will be required before leaching. The Applicant believes that the method of the invention provides a simple methodology for gold recovery, not requiring skilled labour for operation or supervision.
Claims (22)
1. A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates, which method includes the steps of comminuting a refractory sulphide ore or concentrate;
treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution; and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution; and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the alkaline solution has a pH of at least 11.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 2, in which the alkaline solution has a pH of 11.5.
4. A method as claimed in anyone of Claims 1 to 3, inclusive, in which comminuting the refractory sulphide ore or concentrate includes finely grinding the refractory ore or concentrate.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, in which the refractory ore or concentrate is ground into a particulate material such that at least 80 % by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 20 micrometres.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, in which at least 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 11 micrometres.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, in which at least 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 8 micrometres.
8. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ore or concentrate is comminuted by way of a wet grinding method.
9. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 8, inclusive, in which the ore or concentrate is comminuted by use of mill selected from the group consisting of a tumbling mill, a vibratory mill, a tower mill, and an ultra fine grinding mill.
10. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 9, inclusive, in which treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution includes forming a fluid mixture/pulp of the ground ore or concentrate with an alkaline solution having a pH of at least 11.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which treating the ground ore or concentrate includes forming a mixture of the ground ore or concentrate with water and adding a pH modifier to the water to yield an alkaline solution of pH at least 11.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, in which the pH modifier comprises at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxide in combination with any of the aforementioned alkalis.
13. A method as claimed in Claim 12, in which the pH modifier comprises sodium hydroxide.
14. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ore or concentrate is treated in alkaline solution for between 2 hours and 24 hours.
15. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 10 to 14, inclusive, in which treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution further includes agitating the fluid mixture/pulp.
16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, which includes introducing oxygen into the pulp during agitation thereof.
17. A method as claimed in Claim 16, in which oxygen is introduced into the pulp by a method selected from the group consisting of injecting oxygen gas or air into the pulp, adding hydrogen peroxide to the pulp, and diffusing of atmospheric oxygen into the pulp at a surface of the pulp exposed to atmosphere.
18. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution takes place at atmospheric pressure.
19. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which treating the ore or concentrate occurs at a temperature between the boiling point and the freezing point of the alkaline solution.
20. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the metal value to be recovered is gold, the metal values being recovered from the treated ore or concentrate by conventional gold extraction methods.
21. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate includes leaching the treated ground ore or concentrate.
22. A method as claimed in Claim 21, in which leaching the ore or concentrate occurs by cyanidation.
1. A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates, which method includes the steps of comminuting a refractory sulphide ore or concentrate;
treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution having at pH
of at least 11; and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the alkaline solution has a pH of 11.5.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which comminuting the refractory sulphide ore or concentrate includes finely grinding the refractory ore or concentrate.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which the refractory ore or concentrate is ground into a particulate material such that at least 80 % by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 20 micrometres.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, in which at least 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 11 micrometres.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, in which at least 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 8 micrometres.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ore or concentrate is comminuted by way of a wet grinding method.
8. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, inclusive, in which the ore or concentrate is comminuted by use of mill selected from the group consisting of a tumbling mill, a vibratory mill, a tower mill, and an ultra fine grinding mill.
9. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, inclusive, in which treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution includes forming a fluid mixture/pulp of the ground ore or concentrate with an alkaline solution having a pH of at least 11.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, in which treating the ground ore or concentrate includes forming a mixture of the ground ore or concentrate with water and adding a pH modifier to the water to yield an alkaline solution of pH at least 11.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the pH modifier comprises at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxide in combination with any of the aforementioned alkalis.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, in which the pH modifier comprises sodium hydroxide.
13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ore or concentrate is treated in alkaline solution for between 2 hours and 24 hours.
14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, inclusive, in which treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution further includes agitating the fluid mixture/pulp.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 14, which includes introducing oxygen into the pulp during agitation thereof.
16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, in which oxygen is introduced into the pulp by a method selected from the group consisting of injecting oxygen gas or air into the pulp, adding hydrogen peroxide to the pulp, and diffusing of atmospheric oxygen into the pulp at a surface of the pulp exposed to atmosphere.
17. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution takes place at atmospheric pressure.
18. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which treating the ore or concentrate occurs at a temperature between the boiling point and the freezing point of the alkaline solution.
19. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the metal value to be recovered is gold, the metal values being recovered from the treated ore or concentrate by conventional gold extraction methods.
20. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate includes leaching the treated ground ore or concentrate.
21. A method as claimed in Claim 20, in which leaching the ore or concentrate occurs by cyanidation.
1. A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates, which method includes the steps of comminuting a refractory sulphide ore or concentrate;
treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution having at pH
of at least 11; and recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, in which the alkaline solution has a pH of 11.5.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which comminuting the refractory sulphide ore or concentrate includes finely grinding the refractory ore or concentrate.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 3, in which the refractory ore or concentrate is ground into a particulate material such that at least 80 % by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 20 micrometres.
5. A method as claimed in Claim 4, in which at least 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 11 micrometres.
6. A method as claimed in Claim 5, in which at least 80% by weight of the particulate material has a particle size of less than 8 micrometres.
7. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ore or concentrate is comminuted by way of a wet grinding method.
8. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, inclusive, in which the ore or concentrate is comminuted by use of mill selected from the group consisting of a tumbling mill, a vibratory mill, a tower mill, and an ultra fine grinding mill.
9. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 8, inclusive, in which treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution includes forming a fluid mixture/pulp of the ground ore or concentrate with an alkaline solution having a pH of at least 11.
10. A method as claimed in Claim 9, in which treating the ground ore or concentrate includes forming a mixture of the ground ore or concentrate with water and adding a pH modifier to the water to yield an alkaline solution of pH at least 11.
11. A method as claimed in Claim 10, in which the pH modifier comprises at least one alkali selected from the group consisting of sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium hypochlorite, and calcium hydroxide in combination with any of the aforementioned alkalis.
12. A method as claimed in Claim 11, in which the pH modifier comprises sodium hydroxide.
13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the ore or concentrate is treated in alkaline solution for between 2 hours and 24 hours.
14. A method as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 13, inclusive, in which treating the ore or concentrate in alkaline solution further includes agitating the fluid mixture/pulp.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 14, which includes introducing oxygen into the pulp during agitation thereof.
16. A method as claimed in Claim 15, in which oxygen is introduced into the pulp by a method selected from the group consisting of injecting oxygen gas or air into the pulp, adding hydrogen peroxide to the pulp, and diffusing of atmospheric oxygen into the pulp at a surface of the pulp exposed to atmosphere.
17. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which treating the ore or concentrate in an alkaline solution takes place at atmospheric pressure.
18. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which treating the ore or concentrate occurs at a temperature between the boiling point and the freezing point of the alkaline solution.
19. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the metal value to be recovered is gold, the metal values being recovered from the treated ore or concentrate by conventional gold extraction methods.
20. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which recovering the metal values from the treated ore or concentrate includes leaching the treated ground ore or concentrate.
21. A method as claimed in Claim 20, in which leaching the ore or concentrate occurs by cyanidation.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA200309970 | 2003-12-23 | ||
| ZA2003/9970 | 2003-12-23 | ||
| PCT/IB2004/003972 WO2005064023A1 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2004-12-03 | A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2553548A1 true CA2553548A1 (en) | 2005-07-14 |
Family
ID=34740243
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002553548A Abandoned CA2553548A1 (en) | 2003-12-23 | 2004-12-03 | A method of recovering metal values from refractory sulphide ores and concentrates |
Country Status (6)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AP (1) | AP2106A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2004309162B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2553548A1 (en) |
| EA (1) | EA011927B1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2005064023A1 (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA200501060B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104593583A (en) * | 2014-12-24 | 2015-05-06 | 中国科学院地球化学研究所 | Wet-process preprocessing method of carlin type refractory leaching gold ore |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP5554285B2 (en) * | 2011-03-30 | 2014-07-23 | Ｊｘ日鉱日石金属株式会社 | Gold leaching method |
| CN104694764B (en) * | 2015-03-09 | 2016-08-24 | 中南大学 | A kind of Strengthen education method of fine fraction trapping gold |
| CN104894371A (en) * | 2015-06-12 | 2015-09-09 | 鞍钢集团矿业公司 | Method for recleaning of vanadium-titanium magnetite concentrate through oxidation alkaline leaching, acid pickling and reselection |
| JP6953258B2 (en) * | 2017-09-26 | 2021-10-27 | Ｊｘ金属株式会社 | Gold leaching method and gold recovery method |
Family Cites Families (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES8506355A1 (en) * | 1984-03-13 | 1985-07-16 | Nunez Alvarez Carlos | Process for improving the extraction yield of silver and gold in refractory ores |
| CA1229487A (en) * | 1984-09-27 | 1987-11-24 | Roman M. Genik-Sas-Berezowsky | Process for the recovery of silver from a residue essentially free of elemental sulphur |
| GB8726158D0 (en) * | 1987-11-07 | 1987-12-09 | British Petroleum Co Plc | Separation process |
| NZ511616A (en) * | 1998-09-21 | 2002-10-25 | M | Selection of particle size in the leaching of refractory sulphide and/or carbonaceous materials under alkaline conditions |
-
2004
- 2004-12-03 CA CA002553548A patent/CA2553548A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-12-03 EA EA200601081A patent/EA011927B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2004-12-03 AP AP2006003649A patent/AP2106A/en active
- 2004-12-03 WO PCT/IB2004/003972 patent/WO2005064023A1/en active Application Filing
- 2004-12-03 AU AU2004309162A patent/AU2004309162B2/en not_active Ceased
-
2005
- 2005-02-04 ZA ZA200501060A patent/ZA200501060B/en unknown
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN104593583A (en) * | 2014-12-24 | 2015-05-06 | 中国科学院地球化学研究所 | Wet-process preprocessing method of carlin type refractory leaching gold ore |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EA011927B1 (en) | 2009-06-30 |
| EA200601081A1 (en) | 2007-02-27 |
| AP2106A (en) | 2010-02-10 |
| AU2004309162B2 (en) | 2009-04-09 |
| AP2006003649A0 (en) | 2006-06-30 |
| WO2005064023A1 (en) | 2005-07-14 |
| ZA200501060B (en) | 2006-05-31 |
| AU2004309162A1 (en) | 2005-07-14 |
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| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |