Is Gold Heap Leaching Suitable for All Types of Ores?

Heap leaching is a method of extracting gold from ore by using a cyanide leaching solution. However, this technique is not suitable for all types of gold ores, primarily because:

• The ore particles used in heap leaching are relatively coarse.
• The cyanide solution is relatively weak, leading to a low leaching rate.

As a result, heap leaching is best suited for low-grade gold ores, especially oxidized ores found near the surface.

Types of Ores Suitable for Heap Leaching

Industrial practices have shown that more than ten types of oxidized ores can be effectively heap leached. These include:

• Gold-bearing quartz veins
• Gold-bearing breccias
• Structurally altered rocks
• Andesite
• Sandstone
• Porphyry
• Hydrothermal metamorphic rocks
• Silicified mylonite
• Secondary gold-bearing gossans

Types of Gold Suitable for Heap Leaching

Heap leaching works best with gold that has the following characteristics:

• Highly oxidized
• Dispersed in gangue or stored in mineral fissures
• Fine particle size, offering a large surface area

Main Gold Ore Types Suitable for Heap Leaching

The three main types of gold ores that respond well to heap leaching are:

1. Disseminated oxidized ores
2. Sulfide ores where gold is not closely associated with sulfide minerals
3. Vein or placer gold deposits with small or flat gold particles, which increase surface exposure

Requirements for Heap Leaching

To be suitable for heap leaching, the ore should meet the following conditions:

1. Low gold grade, typically between 1.0 – 3.0 g/t; only a few deposits exceed 3.0 g/t.
2. Fine or flat gold particles that are more accessible to cyanide leaching.
3. Porous and permeable ore structure, usually due to oxidation or weathering.
4. Ability to expose gold in less porous ores through crushing.
5. Low content of acidic substances or elements that react with cyanide.
6. Minimal presence of substances that absorb or precipitate dissolved gold.

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