Prevention of copper dissolution during cyanidation of gold ores

摘要

A process for treating copper containing precious metal ores prior to cyanidation and recovery of the precious metal eg gold. The process involves addition to the ore before or after milling of a water soluble or water dispersible surface active agent in the form of a fatty alkyl amine preferably an ethoxylated fatty alkyl amine. The agent reduces the high cyanide consumption, which is caused by copper dissolution, by passivating the mineral surface.