The method of extracting gold from oxidized gold ore

Extracting gold from oxidized gold ore involves several steps and processes. Here is a general outline of the method:

1. Ore Preparation: The oxidized gold ore is first crushed into smaller pieces to facilitate further processing. The crushing can be done using jaw crushers, cone crushers, or even grinding mills, depending on the size and hardness of the ore.

2. Grinding and Classification: The crushed ore is further ground into fine particles through grinding mills. This step helps to liberate the gold particles from the surrounding rock or minerals. After grinding, the ore slurry is classified using screens or hydrocyclones to separate the desired particle sizes.

3. Gravity Separation: Gravity separation techniques, such as jigging, shaking tables, or centrifugal concentrators, are commonly used in the extraction of gold from oxidized ores. These methods rely on the difference in density between gold and the gangue minerals. The heavy gold particles settle to the bottom while the lighter gangue materials are removed, resulting in a gold concentrate.

4. Cyanidation: Cyanidation is the most widely used method for extracting gold from oxidized ores. In this process, the gold concentrate is mixed with a dilute solution of sodium cyanide and water. The cyanide forms a complex with gold, dissolving it from the concentrate. The gold-cyanide solution is then separated from the remaining solid materials.

5. Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) or Carbon-in-Leach (CIL): To recover the dissolved gold from the cyanide solution, the solution is passed through activated carbon. The gold particles adhere to the carbon surface, forming a gold-loaded carbon. The carbon is then separated from the solution, and the gold is stripped from the carbon using a desorption process, resulting in a concentrated gold solution.

6. Gold Recovery: The concentrated gold solution obtained from the carbon-in-pulp or carbon-in-leach process is further processed to recover the gold. This can be done through various methods, such as electrowinning, precipitation, or smelting, depending on the desired final product.

7. Refining and Purification: The final step in extracting gold from oxidized ores involves refining and purification to obtain pure gold. This can be done through processes such as electrolysis, chemical precipitation, or fire assay, depending on the level of purity required.

It's important to note that the specific extraction method for oxidized gold ore can vary depending on the ore characteristics, including the gold grade, mineralogy, and presence of other impurities. It is recommended to conduct thorough testing and analysis to determine the most suitable extraction process for a particular gold ore deposit.