Investigation of the process of interaction of pyrrhotite with alkaline cyanide solutions
Abstract
In a significant part of gold-bearing deposits of the Soviet Union the main ore minerals are iron sulfides - pyrrhotite and pyrite. Therefore, it is of undoubted interest to study the behavior of these minerals in alkaline cyanide solutions used to extract gold from ore. There is a widespread opinion among gold industry workers that the main reason for high potassium cyanide consumption in the treatment of some ores or extreme duration of this treatment is the presence of pyrrhotite. However, there are no detailed studies on the behavior of pyrrhotite during cyanidation. The present work presents the results of studying the kinetics of interaction of pyrrhotite of one of gold-bearing deposits with potassium cyanide solution, the composition of which is close to those usually used in industry. The work done allowed us to suggest the mechanism of interaction of pyrrhotite with potassium cyanide solution under different conditions, and on this basis to propose ways to reduce the consumption of cyanide.
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