The recovery of gold from refractory ores and concentrates of such ores by cyanide leaching

摘要

The invention relates to a method of increasing the leaching yield of gold in the cyanide treatment of refractory ores or concentrates of such ores, while delivering air in an alkaline environment at atmospheric pressure, wherein gold present in said ores or concentrates is bound as tellurides. The method is characterised by carrying out the cyanide treatment at a temperature above room temperature, up to a temperature immediately beneath the boiling point of the leaching liquid. The treatment is suitably carried out at a temperature of 60-80 DEG C, and at a pH between 10 and 12.