Abstract
Pressure oxidation is a hydrometallurgical oxidative pretreatment for refractory ores, such as sulfide ores. Here, simultaneous alkaline pressure oxidation and sodium cyanide leaching treatments were carried out on a pyritic ore from the Mulatos Mine located in Sahuaripa, Sonora, Mexico. Mineral characterization, agitation leaching, hot cyanidation under atmospheric pressure conditions, simultaneous moderated pressure oxidation and leaching, and kinetic testing results are shown. The modified variables were temperature, pressure, and cyanide concentration. Characterization indicated that pyrite was the main mineral. Simultaneous pressure oxidation and leaching experiments were conducted at a temperature range of 40–80 °C, oxygen pressure of 87.5–200 psi, and cyanide concentration of 0.8–1.2 wt% in a 2-L Parr pressure reactor. A dissolution rate of 81–86% was achieved under the following conditions: 87.5 psi, 80 °C, 0.8 wt% NaCN, for 1 h.
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Acknowledgements
Acknowledgement and appreciation is extended to the Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy Department at the University of Sonora and Minas de Oro Nacional in Mulatos Mine for its assistance with sample supply and metallurgical assays.
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Salazar-Campoy, M.M., Valenzuela-García, J.L., Quiróz-Castillo, L.S. et al. Comparative Study of Gold Extraction from Refractory Pyritic Ores through Conventional Leaching and Simultaneous Pressure Leaching/Oxidation. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 37, 1279–1284 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00217-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42461-020-00217-6