Process for the leaching of gold and silver with cyanidic leaching solution and controlled addition of hydrogen peroxide

摘要

A process is described for leaching gold and/or silver from ores or ore concentrates using an aqueous alkaline cyanide solution with addition of hydrogen peroxide. The addition of the aqueous H.sub.2 O.sub. 2 solution is regulated and controlled through the concentration of the oxygen dissolved in the leaching solution, the leaching solution containing from 2 to 20 mg O.sub.2 and preferably from 7 to 13 mg O.sub.2 per liter. 0.5 to 5% by weight H.sub.2 O.sub.2 solutions are preferably added. The process is applicable both to leaching by agitation and to heap leaching, the addition of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 being regulated and controlled through measurement of the O.sub.2 concentration in the leaching solution and can also involve measurement in a measuring stream. Despite low consumptions of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and NaCN, the gold yield is even increased in some cases and the leaching time shortened.