Technology of Metallurgic Treatment

For the execution of the project of lixiviation in heap leaching a program of investigation was left at an unfinished state, the same which considered a complete evaluation of this prime matter until its respective scaling at a level of heap leaching. We will superficially indicate the principal aspects studied for the implementation and putting into movement of the pilot plant.

Prime Matter
Primarily, it was necessary to characterize the types of minerals of the bed having made some tests with each type in a separate form; in general the following determinations were performed:

• Mineralogic study to define the mineralogic species present and the form in which the gold is associated with the minerals.
• Repetitive qualitative and cuantitative reviews.
• Determination of the appropriate crushing (extraction versus time of lixiviation versus costs).
• Index of abration.
• Reviews of allumina, silica and iron (indicators of the abration).
• Size of distribution and reviews according to sizes of fraction. Calculus of analysis of head at a starting point ofthe analysis of the net.
• Content of humidity.
• Specific gravity.

Lab Experimental Tests
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the process of lixiviation in heap leaching for the recuperation of gold. The results of the tests of laboratories were useful for designing a pilot plant which would be used to evaluate, in a much more trustworthy form, the effects of the important variables of the process and to precise the distribution of the gold, through metallurgical balances both in the solids as in the solutions. In the same manner, the piloting will allow us to perform a profile of economical feasibility of the process.