A potential method for modifying saponite (intercalation) ensuring its high sorption capacity for gold was theoretically and experimentally substantiated. Saponite isolated from recycled water of processing plant tailings dam is modified by mixing a suspension of the mineral and acetone with the surfactant hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) followed by four washings with ethanol and distilled water, and drying. The intercalation mechanism of saponite-containing product involves the introduction of positively charged cations of organic compounds into the interlayer space through cation exchange or adsorption, which leads to expansion of mineral layers and an abrupt shift in zeta potential toward the positive side. The appearance of bands in the IR spectral ranges of 1460-1490 and 2850-2920 cm^–1 related to the deformation and stretching vibrations of the CH₂ group, respectively, confirms the successful incorporation of CTAB molecules into the mineral structure. Studies of the maximum sorption capacity of modified saponite revealed that at initial gold concentration 22.6 mg/l, complete extraction is achieved after 7.5 min. The maximum static exchange capacity of modified saponite was achieved after contact with the third portion of fresh gold-bearing solution and amounted to 100.5 mg/g. Gold sorption isotherms correspond to the Langmuir model which presumes that a monomolecular sorption layer forms on the surface of the modified saponite, and all active sites have equal energy and enthalpy of sorption. The kinetic dependences of sorption are best described by a pseudo-second order model, which presumes that the chemical exchange reaction limits the sorption process. It was found that saponite intercalation with hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide ensures a more efficient sorption of negatively charged gold complex ions ([AuCl₄]^–). The calculated equilibrium static exchange capacity of modified saponite was 92-119 mg/g, while the experimentally determined value was 102 mg/g.