Assessment of the optimal gold recovery rate through heap leach extraction process from hydrothermal alteration zone ore

Solihin; Ildrem  Syafri; Mega Fatimah  Rosana; R. Febri  Hirnawan; Dono  Guntoro; Andrieanto  Nurrochman; Agus  Purwanto

doi:10.6180/jase.202502_28(2).0010

Assessment of the optimal gold recovery rate through heap leach extraction process from hydrothermal alteration zone ore

Chemical Engineering Environmental Engineering

$NaCN consumption with leaching time from gold ore samples MSO, MSA, SCO and SCA fractions 200, 150 and 100 mesh at NaCN 500 ppm$

Solihin^1,2This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Ildrem Syafri², Mega Fatimah Rosana², R. Febri Hirnawan², Dono Guntoro¹, Andrieanto Nurrochman¹, and Agus Purwanto³

¹Department of Mining Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Bandung Islamic University,Jl. Tamansari, No. 1, Bandung, Indonesia

²Faculty of Geological Engineering, Padjadjaran University, Jl. Raya Bandung Sumedang, KM 21, Jatinangor, Sumedang, Indonesia

³PT Bumi Suksesindo, Dusun Pancer, Desa Sumberagung, Pesanggaran, Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia

Received: October 25, 2023
Accepted: January 28, 2024
Publication Date: April 14, 2024

Copyright The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are cited.

Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.6180/jase.202502_28(2).0010

The characteristic of altered epithermal gold ore is largely determined by the associated minerals and accompanying primary and secondary minerals. Given the different characteristics of the altered epithermal gold ore, this study aimed to determine the optimal recovery value, including the consumption of NaCN and Portland cement. This research uses gold ore samples with a content of 0.94-0.24 ppm Au originating from hydrothermal deposits between intermediate high sulfidation and high sulfidation epithermal located in the argillic and advanced argillic alteration zones. Metallurgical testing was carried out using a pulverized bottle roll test (PBRT) with variations in the grain size fraction of the ore, NaCN concentration, and leaching time. PBRT showed that the gold ore samples originating from the advanced argillic alteration zone gave the optimum cumulative recovery values of Au for 79.11 - 91, 70% (at a cyanide concentration of 500 ppm and P80 (100 mesh). Meanwhile, the hydrothermally altered argillic zone sample gave the optimum recovery value of Au for 71.30-80.00% (at a cyanide concentration of 500 ppm and P80 (100 mesh). The gold ore sample in the moderate hydrothermal alteration zone has provided optimum recovery of Au for 72.14 - 79.79% (at a cyanide concentration of 500 ppm and P80 (100 mesh). From this research, mineral character and Cu > 600 ppm influence the leaching rate and Au recovery. This is because, in the primary gold ore deposition (genesis) system, Cu is usually associated with sulfur to form sulfide ore, which in cyanidation leaching extraction is a pregrobber.

Keywords: gold ore, alteration, hydrothermal, heap leach

[1] S. Yilmaz, A. A. Sirkeci, M. Bilen, and S. Kizgut, (2020) “Increasing the heap leach efficiency of U¸sak Kı¸slada˘g gold ore using nut shell as permeability aid" Hydrometallurgy 198: 105520. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2020.105520.
[2] F. R. Costa, G. P. Nery, C. d. C. Carneiro, H. Kahn, and C. Ulsen, (2022) “Mineral characterization of low-grade gold ore to support geometallurgy" Journal of Materials Research and Technology 21: 2841–2852. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2022.10.085.
[3] K. Barani, Y. Kogani, and F. Nazarian, (2022) “Leaching of complex gold ore using a cyanide-glycine solution" Minerals Engineering 180: 107475. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107475.
[4] J. Zhou. “Proccess mineralogy and application in mineralogy proccessing and extractive metallurgy”. In: First International Metallurgical Meeting. International Metallurgical Consultants SAC.
[5] M. Aylmore and A. Jaffer. “Evaluating Process Options For Treating Some Refractory Ores”. In: ALTA 2012 International Gold Conference: Annual gathering of the global Gold Ore Processing Industry. ALTA Metallurgical Services, 1–39.
[6] E. A. Oraby, J. J. Eksteen, A. Karrech, and M. Attar, (2019) “Gold extraction from paleochannel ores using an aerated alkaline glycine lixiviant for consideration in heap and in-situ leaching applications" Minerals Engineering 138: 112–118. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2019.04.023.
[7] R. C. C. Santiago and A. C. Q. Ladeira, (2019) “Reduction of preg-robbing activity of carbonaceous gold ores with the utilization of surface blinding additives" Minerals Engineering 131: 313–320. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.11.029.
[8] J. Zhou and Y. Gu. “Chapter 6 - Geometallurgical Characterization and Automated Mineralogy of Gold Ores”. In: Gold Ore Processing (Second Edition). Ed. by M. D. Adams. Elsevier, 2016, 95–111. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-63658-4.00006-2.
[9] M. Z. Mubarok, R. Winarko, S. K. Chaerun, I. N. Rizki, and Z. T. Ichlas, (2017) “Improving gold recovery from refractory gold ores through biooxidation using ironsulfur-oxidizing/sulfur-oxidizing mixotrophic bacteria" Hydrometallurgy 168: 69–75. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2016.10.018.
[10] K. Barani, M. Dehghani, M. R. Azadi, and A. Karrech, (2021) “Leaching of a polymetal gold ore and reducing cyanide consumption using cyanide-glycine solutions" Minerals Engineering 163: 106802. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.106802.
[11] J. Wu, J. Ahn, and J. Lee, (2021) “Gold deportment and leaching study from a pressure oxidation residue of chalcopyrite concentrate" Hydrometallurgy 201: 105583. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2021.105583.
[12] G. Larrabure and J. C. F. Rodríguez-Reyes, (2021) “A review on the negative impact of different elements during cyanidation of gold and silver from refractory ores and strategies to optimize the leaching process" Minerals Engineering 173: 107194. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107194.
[13] R. Ahtiainen, J. Liipo, and M. Lundström, (2021) “Simultaneous sulfide oxidation and gold dissolution by cyanide-free leaching from refractory and double refractory gold concentrates" Minerals Engineering 170: 107042. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107042.
[14] J. Jin, Y. Han, H. Li, Y. Huai, Y. Peng, X. Gu, and W. Yang, (2019) “Mineral phase and structure changes during roasting of fine-grained carbonaceous gold ores and their effects on gold leaching efficiency" Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering 27(5): 1184–1190. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.cjche.2018.08.006.
[15] X. Zhang, Y. Song, L. Wu, P. Dong, M. Zhou, and G. Liu, (2022) “Improvement of the leach efficiency of carbonaceous gold concentrates using reduction roasting pretreatment technology" Advanced Powder Technology 33(2): 103387. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2021.12.006.
[16] E. Baawuah, C. Kelsey, J. Addai-Mensah, and W. Skinner, (2020) “Comparison of the performance of different comminution technologies in terms of energy efficiency and mineral liberation" Minerals Engineering 156: 106454. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106454.
[17] P. Semsari Parapari, M. Parian, and J. Rosenkranz, (2022) “Quantitative analysis of ore texture breakage characteristics affected by loading mechanism: Fragmentation and mineral liberation" Minerals Engineering 182: 107561. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107561.
[18] B. Demeusy, D. Madanski, H. Bouzahzah, and S. Gaydardzhiev, (2023) “Mineralogical study of electrum grain size, shape and mineral chemistry in process streams from the Krumovgrad mine, Bulgaria" Minerals Engineering 198: 108080. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108080.
[19] O. Altun and D. Altun, (2021) “Estimation of mineral liberation distribution functions to be used in modelling of impact and attrition milling" Minerals Engineering 173: 107236. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107236.
[20] E. M. Pérez-García, J. Bouchard, and É. Poulin, (2020) “A mineral liberation distribution estimator for monitoring and process control applications" Powder Technology 367: 527–538. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2020.04.002.
[21] O. Celep, E. Y. Yazici, P. Altinkaya, and H. Deveci, (2019) “Characterization of a refractory arsenical silver ore by mineral liberation analysis (MLA) and diagnostic leaching" Hydrometallurgy 189: 105106. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.hydromet.2019.105106.
[22] B. G. Yildirim. “Development of a correlation between mineralogy, rock strength measures, and breakage of Copper Porphyries". (Thesis). 2016. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.14264/uql.2017.34.
[23] P. Semsari Parapari, M. Parian, and J. Rosenkranz, (2020) “Breakage process of mineral processing comminution machines – An approach to liberation" Advanced Powder Technology 31(9): 3669–3685. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.apt.2020.08.005.
[24] E. Díaz, G. Pamparana, L. Voisin, W. Kracht, and P. Martínez, (2019) “Exploring the effect of the geological texture at meso and micro scale on grinding performance" Minerals Engineering 144: 106032. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2019.106032.
[25] M. K. Tøgersen, R. A. Kleiv, S. Ellefmo, and K. Aasly, (2018) “Mineralogy and texture of the Storforshei iron formation, and their effect on grindability" Minerals Engineering 125: 176–189. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2018.06.009.
[26] S. L. Chryssoulis and J. McMullen. “Mineralogical investigation of gold ores”. In: Developments in Mineral Processing. Ed. by M. D. Adams and B. A. Wills. 15. Elsevier, 2005, 21–71. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/S0167-4528(05)15002-9.
[27] H. Wang, P. A. Dowd, and C. Xu, (2021) “Modelling pyrite oxidation in a refractory gold ore stockpile to estimate the gold recovery via direct cyanide leaching – A case study" Minerals Engineering 173: 107177. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2021.107177.
[28] K. Li, Y. Zhang, Q. Li, X. Liu, Y. Yang, and T. Jiang, (2023) “Role of foreign ions in the thiourea leaching of gold" Minerals Engineering 202: 108265. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2023.108265.
[29] H. Nourmohamadi and B. Rezai, (2022) “Comparative study of oxidants in gold cyanidation: A molecular picture" Minerals Engineering 189: 107870. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107870.
[30] L. L. Coetzee, S. J. Theron, G. J. Martin, J.-D. v. d. Merwe, and T. A. Stanek, (2011) “Modern gold deportments and its application to industry" Minerals Engineering 24(6): 565–575. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2010.09.001.
[31] R. Harrison. “The Tumpangpitu porphyry gold-coppermodlybdenum and high-sulfidation epithermal gold-silver deposit, Tujuh Bukit, Southeast Java, Indonesia". (Thesis). 2017. DOI: 10.25959/23237870.v1.
[32] E. H. Macdonald. “2 - Geology of gold ore deposits”. In: Handbook of Gold Exploration and Evaluation. Ed. by E. H. Macdonald. Woodhead Publishing, 2007, 62– 133. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1533/9781845692544.62.
[33] C. Larasati, Sutarto, A. Harjanto, and A. Purwanto, (2023) “Paragenetic sequence of minerals in the supergeneoxidation zone of the Tumpang Pitu high-sulfidation epithermal gold deposit, Jawa Timur, Indonesia" AIP Conference Proceedings 2598(1): DOI: 10.1063/5.0133969.
[34] Y. Tang, W. Yin, S. Huang, J. Xue, and W. Zuo, (2020) “Enhancement of gold agitation leaching by HPGR comminution via microstructural modification of gold ore particles" Minerals Engineering 159: 106639. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2020.106639.
[35] G. Deschênes, C. Xia, M. Fulton, L. J. Cabri, and J. Price, (2009) “Evaluation of leaching parameters for a refractory gold ore containing aurostibite and antimony minerals: Part I – Central zone" Minerals Engineering 22(9): 799–808. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/j.mineng.2009.02.003.
[36] K. L. Rees and J. S. J. van Deventer, (2000) “Pregrobbing phenomena in the cyanidation of sulphide gold ores" Hydrometallurgy 58(1): 61–80. DOI: https: //doi.org/10.1016/S0304-386X(00)00131-6.