Lixiviation in Shakers & Columns

Lixiviation in Shakers
These laboratory tests were oriented to evaluate, in very controlled conditions, the response of this mineral to the process of cyanidation and to precise the separated effect of some variables. The general conditions in this level were: 30 gr. of grinned mineral at a net – 100, 20% of solids and constant agitation.

We can see the influence of the time of lixiviation in the extraction of gold, observing the highest dissolution which the gold exhibits when compared with the silver; in the same manner, we can notice that the extraction of gold reaches levels of around 80%, in only two hours.

We also know that the extractions of gold and silver in function of the concentration of the cyanide, where they reach a maximum value in concentration of 0.1% NaCN. These tests resulted in a consumption of cyanide of 0.7 Kg/T and of 8.3 Kg/T of lime.

Lixiviation in Columns
The main objective to be taken into use in these tests of percolation was to evaluate the lixiviability of the mineral in more real conditions and study the physical characteristics of this as its permeability basically; for this the optimal parameters found in the  in the tests of the Shaker and a composite sample of the oxidated mineral were used. In the same manner, columns of 30 cm. in diameter and 2 m. of height were installed, where the mineral of a size of -1 inch was loaded with a flux of lixiviant sollution of 10 l/h/m2 to pH 10.

We can see that the behavior of this lixiviation in columns where we can notice a high velocity of dissolution of gold, due to the fact that in six days one can perform an extraction of 82%. In the same manner, the mineral shows good characteristics of permeability, such is the case that reaching until a specific flux of 30 l/h/m2 would give no problems of percolation in the columns.