An innovative technology for extracting gold from complex ores has been developed in Kazakhstan

Kazakh scientists have proposed a new technology capable of increasing the efficiency of gold extraction from refractory ores while simultaneously reducing processing costs, Kazinform reports, citing the Ministry of Industry and Construction.

The technology has already successfully passed laboratory testing and is being considered a promising solution for further industrial implementation.

This development is a response to one of the key challenges facing modern gold mining: the depletion of high-grade deposits and the increasing share of low-grade, complex ores. Traditional processing methods do not always ensure high metal recovery and often require expensive reagents and strict adherence to process conditions. Kazakh researchers have proposed two innovative technological approaches - one for oxidized and one for sulfide gold-bearing ores.

For oxidized ores, a technology has been developed for pre-treatment with hydrogen peroxide and/or the addition of sodium acetate prior to heap leaching. This has increased gold recovery to 7%, and with the combined use of reagents, to 10-14%. For sulfide ores, scientists have implemented an approach that produces a high-grade gravity concentrate and then processes it using intensive cyanidation. The use of sodium acetate has further increased gold recovery to 4% and reduced the precious metal content in processing tailings. Furthermore, sodium acetate is considered a promising partial alternative to expensive reagents, making the technology more cost-effective.

According to the developers, the integrated approach is particularly valuable, allowing for the adaptation of process solutions to various types of mineral raw materials and increasing the processing depth of domestic resources. The project's high scientific level has been confirmed by international recognition.

In the future, the developers plan to move to the industrial testing stage of the technology and continue searching for new reagent solutions to improve the processing efficiency of various types of gold ore raw materials. The development by Kazakh scientists opens up new opportunities for deeper and more cost-effective processing of mineral resources, increasing the recovery of precious metals, and advancing domestic mining and metallurgical science, the ministry noted.

The project was implemented by specialists from the branch of the National Center on Complex Processing of Mineral Raw Materials of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a branch of the Kazmekhanobr State Scientific and Production Association of Industrial Ecology, under the leadership of Bauyrzhan Surimbayev, Deputy Director for Research.

It was previously reported that the commercialization of scientific developments is being strengthened in Kazakhstan.

Source: inform.kz