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Identification of 9 types of gold ore for Process selection and Cost comparison

9 kind of gold ore

Identification of 9 types of gold ore for Process selection and Cost comparison

9 types of gold ore mineral processing

Gold mines come in many types, including placer gold mines, quartz vein gold mines, gold sulfide mines, gold oxide mines, and high-arsenic, high-sulfur gold mines. Different types of gold mines vary significantly in their beneficiation processes and production costs.

I. Quick Reference Table for 9 Types of Gold Ore Beneficiation Processes

  1. Placer Gold Deposits

Characteristics: Gold is liberated, density is much higher than gangue, ore is loose, containing a large amount of gravel.

Process: Screening → Desliming → Jigging/Spiral Conveyor → Shaking Table → Heavy Placer Gold

Cost: Extremely low cost (<10 RMB/ton), recovery rate 85%-95%, investment 5-10 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Quartz Vein Type Gold Deposits

Characteristics: Gold is found in quartz veins, often associated with pyrite, gold grain size varies greatly (coarse visible gold to fine grains).

Process: For coarse visible gold (>70μm): gravity separation + flotation; for fine gold: pure flotation

Cost: Medium cost (80-120 RMB/ton), recovery rate 85%-95%, investment 30-50 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Oxide Gold Deposits

Characteristics: Primary gold ore is weathered and oxidized, with a loose structure and gold exposed on the mineral surface.

Process: Grade <1g/t: heap leaching; Grade >3g/t: whole-sludge cyanidation

Cost: Low/medium cost (30-120 RMB/ton), recovery rate 60%-95%, investment 10-50 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Sulfide gold ore

Characteristics: Gold is encased in pyrite/arsene, direct cyanidation leaching rate <30%

Process: Flotation → gold concentrate → pretreatment (roasting/pressurization/bacterial oxidation) → cyanidation

Cost: High cost (150-500 RMB/ton), recovery rate 77%-95%, investment 50-250 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Arsenic-bearing gold ore

Characteristics: Gold and arsene coexist, high arsenic content (>0.5%)

Process: Flotation → high-arsenic gold concentrate → arsenic removal pretreatment → cyanidation

Cost: High cost (200-400 RMB/ton), recovery rate 77%-84%, investment 60-100 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Carbon-bearing gold ore

Characteristics: Contains organic carbon/graphite, which “robs” gold (absorbs dissolved gold).

Process: Flotation → gold concentrate → roasting (500-700℃) → cyanidation, or preferential carbon flotation → gold flotation

Cost: High cost (200-400 RMB/ton), recovery rate 77%-84%, investment 60-100 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Polymetallic associated gold ore

Characteristics: Gold is associated with copper, lead, and zinc.

Process: Preferential flotation (copper → lead → zinc), gold is enriched in copper and lead concentrates.

Cost: High cost (150-300 RMB/ton), recovery rate 88%-95%, investment 60-100 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Fine-grained disseminated gold ore (Carlin type)

Characteristics: Gold exists as submicroscopic gold (<0.1μm), gold particles are not visible to the naked eye or microscope.

Process: Chemical oxidation (roasting/hot pressing/bacterial) → cyanidation

Cost: Extremely high cost (300-500 RMB/ton), recovery rate 90%-98%, investment 100-250 million RMB/10,000 tons

  1. Tellurium-bearing gold ore

Characteristics: Gold and tellurium form tellurium gold ore (AuTe₂), conventional cyanidation is difficult.

Process: Flotation → tellurium gold concentrate → pretreatment (alkali leaching/roasting) → cyanidation

Cost: High cost (200-400 RMB/ton), recovery rate 77%-84%, investment 60-100 million RMB/10,000 tons

II. Common Mistakes and Avoidances

❌ 1. Cyanidation of all gold ore

Cyanidation of placer gold mines wastes costs, resulting in the loss of coarse gold particles through grinding and a surge in the cost of associated copper ore.

Correct: First determine the ore type, then use the corresponding process.

❌ 2. Heap leaching without granulation

With a mud content >20%, granulation is not performed, leading to ore pile compaction, leaching rate <30%, and wasted investment.

Correct: Granulation is mandatory, or whole-mud cyanidation should be used instead.

❌ 3. Direct cyanidation of gold encapsulated in ore

Gold is encapsulated, preventing cyanide contact, resulting in a leaching rate <50% and significant reagent waste.

Correct: Pretreatment (roasting/pressurization/bacterial oxidation) is mandatory. ❌ 4. Neglecting Associated Metals

Copper consumes large amounts of cyanide, drastically increasing costs and wasting copper resources.

Correct: First, recover copper and gold through flotation; this yields the highest overall recovery efficiency.

❌ 5. Neglecting Gold-Stealing Treatment in Carbonaceous Ores

Carbonaceous materials steal gold, resulting in a leaching rate of <30%, rendering the investment worthless.

Correct: Roasting or priority carbon flotation is necessary to eliminate gold stealing.

❌ 6. Neglecting Arsenic Removal in Arsenic-Containing Ores

Arsenic consumes large amounts of cyanide; roasting releases arsenic, polluting the environment.

Correct: Arsenic removal is essential; a reliable arsenic fixation solution is required.

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