Researchers at the Transbaikal State University (ZabGU) have developed an innovative technology for extracting gold from pebble-silt tailings, which is of critical importance for Russia.
New Gold Extraction Technology
Pebble-silt tailings are formed during gold mining using industrial appliances and dredges, and they contain potential reserves of precious metal. Modern and economically sound technologies are necessary for their effective extraction.
The developed method allows extracting up to 0.35 grams of gold from one cubic meter of waste. The use of leaching solutions with a low concentration of chemical reagents significantly reduces the negative impact on the environment.
Principles of Technology Operation
Lidia Shumilova, Professor of the Department of Environmental Engineering at ZabGU, explains that the basis of the new approach is a binary oxidizing system. The use of sluices makes it possible to concentrate mineral grains with ultra-dispersed inclusions of gold, which significantly reduces the processing volume. Gold from small classes is extracted quickly using sorption leaching, while a longer process is required for large classes.
“We have applied an environmentally safe gravitational enrichment method that uses only water as a medium for separating minerals. Photoelectrochemical effects are also used in the process, which significantly reduces the consumption of sodium cyanide,” Shumilova added.
Efficiency and Prospects
The new technology has passed laboratory tests on small and enlarged samples, confirming its effectiveness. The research results are published in the journal “Transbaikal State University Journal”.
Industrial partners are needed to create a pilot industrial plant. According to scientists, the construction of such a plant may cost several hundred million rubles.
The environmentally friendly technology of deep processing of technogenic waste for gold extraction promises to be an important step in the field of precious metal mining without harming the environment. The Transbaikal region has a long history of gold mining, and this new technology could help to further develop the industry while minimizing environmental impact.