EFFECTIVE EXTRACTION OF GOLD AND SILVER FROM SULPHIDIC ORE BY CYANIDE-THIOSULFATE SOLUTIONS

11th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM2011, www.sgem.org, SGEM2011 Conference Proceedings/ ISSN 1314-2704, June 20-25, 2011, Vol. 1, 775-780 pp

ABSTRACT

We present the results of precious metals leaching from stubborn sulphidic silver-andgold-containing ore of Kazakhstani deposit Kunisty by complex cyanide−thiosulphate
solutions in comparison with separate cyanide and thiosulphate solutions in the model and experimental conditions. It is established, that in a range of investigated concentrations 0,03 - 0,1 M, application of complex cyanide−thiosulphate solutions
leads to change of oxidation-reduction potential of the solutions by 50÷200 mV. The degree of leaching of precious metals increases on average by 10 %, when complex cyanide−thiosulphate solutions are used in comparison with the separate ones.

Keywords: gold, silver, cyanide, thiosulphate, oxidation-reduction potential