(Chapter 4) Geometallurgical development in the gold processing: Kinross Maricunga Mining company

摘要

Kinross Maricunga porphyry gold deposit is located on the Maricunga belt, and includes the Verde, Pancho and Guanaco Projects. Ore extracted from open pits is processed through static heap leaching using cyanide solution. The main consumables are sodium cyanide and burnt lime. In order to determine the relationship between the geological and mineral metallurgical variables in Pancho Deposit, the drill holes that are included in the extraction design for 2014 were sampled. The composite samples by benches of 10 m were geologically logged and analyzed for their mineralogical characterization by X-ray Diffraction and metallurgical bottle roll and column tests. The results obtained in this study did not verify the relationship of the Redox units (oxide, mixed and sulfide), which historically had been considered as the control variables in the metallurgical process (recovery, lime consumption, consumption sodium cyanide). However, the results could demonstrate a closer relationship between the alteration units and lime consumption since some mineralogical species, which are part of the alteration units, control the ore pH (the lime addition maintains an optimal pH of 11 for an efficient Heap leaching).