cyanidation
Chemical ore processing
Cyanidation is a process for extracting gold and silver from ore by treating it with a dilute cyanide solution.
The precious metals dissolve into the solution and can then be recovered through various methods.
This technique, developed in the late 1800s, remains the dominant method for gold extraction worldwide despite environmental concerns about cyanide contamination.
The mining company uses cyanidation to process low-grade ore that would otherwise be uneconomical.
Metal-bearing rock
- tailingsPost-extraction mineral waste
- millGrain-crushing facility
- crushCompress with force
- grindCrush into particles
concentrate · slurry · gold mine · open pit · underground · stockpile · flotation · thickener
Element seventy-nine
- silverLustrous white precious metal
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- aqueous solutionWater-based dissolved mixture
- anionsNegatively charged atoms
reagents · oxidation · alkaline · pH · electrochemistry · speciation
Dissolving out by liquid
- adsorptionAccumulation on a surface
- strippingRemoving outer layers
- gradeClassification by rank
- yieldProduce or relinquish
Capacity to cause harm
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- detoxificationRemoving harmful substances internally
- spillAccidental liquid release
groundwater · wildlife · fish kill · birds · regulations · monitoring · remediation · treatment
ore
Metal-bearing rock
grind · concentrate · slurry · gold mine · open pit · underground · stockpile · flotation · thickener · clarifier
gold
Element seventy-nine
- silverLustrous white precious metal
- dissolutionBreaking up completely
- aqueous solutionWater-based dissolved mixture
anions · reagents · oxidation · alkaline · pH · electrochemistry · speciation
leaching
Dissolving out by liquid
- adsorptionAccumulation on a surface
- strippingRemoving outer layers
- gradeClassification by rank
toxicity
Capacity to cause harm
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
- effluentDischarged liquid waste
- detoxificationRemoving harmful substances internally
spill · groundwater · wildlife · fish kill · birds · regulations · monitoring · remediation · treatment · neutralization