For gold ore with a high content and a relatively large amount of free gold particles...

For gold ore with a high content and a relatively large amount of free gold particles, is it possible to directly cyanide leach without prior gravity separation?

No, it is not possible. Large gold particles cannot be dissolved by the reagents. It is necessary to first use gravity separation to recover the free gold particles before cyanidation.

Direct Cyanidation for High-Grade Ore with Free Gold

Yes, for gold ore with a high content and a relatively large amount of free gold particles, it is generally feasible to directly cyanide leach without prior gravity separation.

This approach is particularly suitable when:

Gold liberation is high: The gold particles are easily accessible to the cyanide solution.

Gold particle size is relatively coarse: Larger gold particles can be more efficiently recovered through cyanidation.

Ore throughput is relatively low: Smaller-scale operations may find direct cyanidation more economical.

Potential Advantages of Direct Cyanidation:

Simplified process: Eliminates the need for additional equipment and steps.

Reduced capital and operating costs: Lower investment and operational expenses.

Higher gold recovery: In some cases, direct cyanidation can achieve comparable or even higher gold recovery than a combination of gravity separation and cyanidation.

Considerations and Potential Challenges:

Gold loss in tailings: If a significant amount of coarse gold is present, some gold might be lost in the tailings.

Ore grindability: The ore's grindability will influence the efficiency of gold liberation and cyanidation.

Cyanide consumption: High-grade ores may require higher cyanide concentrations, increasing costs and environmental concerns.

Metallurgical testing: It's crucial to conduct comprehensive metallurgical tests to determine the optimal process parameters and to assess the potential for gold loss.

Ultimately, the decision to use direct cyanidation or a combination of gravity separation and cyanidation depends on a detailed evaluation of the ore characteristics, desired recovery targets, and economic factors.