Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Editors
Dirk J.A. van Zyl
Welsh Engineering Inc.
Denver, Colorado
Ian P.G.Hutchison
Steffen Robertson and Kirsten (Colorado)Inc .
Denver, Colorado
Jean E. Kiel
J .E. Kiel & Associates
Denver, Colorado
5.1 INTRODUCTION
I n 1905, T.C. S c r u t t o n d e v e l o p e d a u n i q u e t e c h n i q u e f o r o b t a i n i n g r a p i d
v a t l e a c h i n g o f a c l a y e y o r e i n w h i c h t h e g o l d was f i n e l y d i s s e m i n a t e d ( D o r r
and Bosqui, 1950). S c r u t t o n ' s t e c h n i q u e c o n s i s t e d o f r o l l i n g t h e o r e down a
c h u t e i n c l i n e d a t 60 d e g r e e s t o f o r m a g g l o m e r a t e s o r b a l l s r e a d i l y permeable
t o t h e cyanide s o l u t i o n . However, t h e s e a g g l o m e r a t e s l a c k e d r i g i d i t y and, t o
e n s u r e good p e r c o l a t i o n l e a c h i n g and washing, t h e y c o u l d n o t be bedded i n
l a y e r s more than t h r e e f t deep. I f t h i s d e p t h was exceeded, d i f f i c u l t i e s would
be e x p e r i e n c e d i n o b t a i n i n g u n i f o r m l e a c h i n g and washing, r e s u l t i n g i n r e d u c e d
g o l d r e c o v e r y . Shepard and S k i n n e r ( 1 9 3 7 ) , s t u d i e d t h e a d d i t i o n o f l i m e and
carbon d i o x i d e o r c a l c i u m c a r b o n a t e t o gold-bearing t a i l i n g s t o form
a g g l o m e r a t e s s u i t a b 1 e f o r v a t 1 e a c h i ng. S a t i s f a c t o r y p e r c o l a t i o n fl ow r a t e s
were a c h i e v e d i n 90-gram s c a l e e x p e r i m e n t s , b u t t h e r e a g e n t r e q u i r e m e n t s were
prohibitive.
A somewhat s i m i l a r a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e general p r i n c i p l e o f a g g l o m e r a t i o n
i s i n t h e proven procedure o f s o i l s t a b i l i z a t i o n f o r r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n [i.e.,
t h e m i x i n g o f road pavement m a t e r i a l s w i t h s t a b i l i z i n g agents t o improve t h e i r
s t r e n g t h and c o n s t r u c t i o n b e h a v i o r ) . Cement, l i m e , f l y - a s h , a s p h a l t , and o t h e r
chemicals (e.g., c a l c i u m s i l i c a t e ) have been used f o r s t a b i l i z a t i o n . Amounts
used i n r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n u s u a l l y range from 5 t o 10 p e r c e n t b y weight. I t i s
c l e a r t h a t such h i g h percentages o f a d d i t i v e s a r e n o t economical f o r heap
l e a c h purposes. O p t i m i z a t i o n i s t h e r e f o r e i m p o r t a n t .
W i t h r e g a r d t o o r e agglomeration, s i m i l a r m a t e r i a l s t o t h o s e used i n
road c o n s t r u c t i o n work (i.e., cement and f l y - a s h ) have been used w i t h some
success. A l l o f t h e s e b i n d e r s have i n common two i m p o r t a n t p h y s i c a l / c h e m i c a l
e f f e c t s which account i n l a r g e p a r t f o r t h e success w i t h which t h e y have been
used :
When f i n e m a t e r i a l such as t a i l i n g s w i t h no o r l i t t l e c l a y i s
agglomerated, t h e f i n e s a r e bound t o g e t h e r w i t h a b i n d e r such as p o r t l a n d
cement. Clayey o r e i s p a r t i c u l a r l y d i f f i c u l t t o l e a c h e f f e c t i v e l y because o f
t h e l o w p e r m e a b i l i t y o f c l a y . B e n t o n i t i c c l a y s (sodium m o n t m o r i l l o n i t e ) a r e
e s p e c i a l l y a problem. I n t h e general C i v i l E n g i n e e r i n g i n d u s t r y , s u c h c l a y s
have been " s t a b i l i z e d " ( i e., w o r k a b i l it y and permeabi 1 it y have been
i n c r e a s e d ) , successful 1 y u s i n g 1 ime. C a t i o n exchange t a k e s p l a c e and t h e
sodium r i c h c l a y changes t o a c a l c i u m r i c h c l a y . I t i s , t h e r e f o r e , suggested
t h a t c l a y e y ores can be agglomerated b y u s i n g l i m e and p o r t l a n d cement as
b i n d e r s . 'The l i m e w i l l " s t a b i l i z e " t h e c l a y m i n e r a l s , w h i l e t h e p o r t l a n d
cement w i l l form a s t r o n g b i n d e r . I n order t o the clay
e f f e c t i v e l y , t h e l i m e must come i n c l o s e c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c l a y m i n e r a l s .
5.3 AGGLOMERATORS
b ) F I N E M A T E R I A L . e.g. T A l L l N Q 8 b) A Q Q L O M E R A T E S A R E F O R M E D B Y
WITH N O OR L I T T L E C L A Y B l N D l N Q F I N E S TOQETHER W l T H
BINDER B U C H AS P O R T L A N D CEMENT.
FIGURE 5.1
AGGLOMERATION EFFECTS
ORE PREPARATION: CRUSHING AND AGGLOMERATION 73
T h i s t y p e o f a g g l o m e r a t o r i s s u i t a b l e where t h e o r e c o n t a i n s v e r y 1 i t t l e
f i n e m a t e r i a l and a c o a r s e c r u s h y i e l d s good p r e c i o u s metal e x t r a c t i o n .
5.3.2 Drum A g g l o m e r a t o r s
BELT WIDTH-IN.
FIGURE 5.2
BELT AGGLOMERATOR SIZING
( from Mllllgan, 1983 1
ORE PREPARATION: CRUSHING AND AGGLOMERATION
BELT W IDTH-IN.
FIGURE 5.3
BELT AQGLOMERATOR COST
( from MHIIgan, 1983 )
PRECIOUS METAL HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS
DRUM DIAMETER-FT.
FIGURE 5.4
DRUM AGGLOMERATOR SIZING
( from Mllllgan, 1 9 8 3 )
ORE PREPARATION: CRUSHING AND AGGLOMERATION 77
C = Constant;
,,Em
where C i s Y c a p a c i t y and D i s d i a m e t e r o f a s h a l l o w d i s k o r pan.
Another t e c h n i q u e f o r e s t i m a t i n g t h e proper m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t i s t o
o b t a i n t h e w a t e r c o n t e n t vs. d r y d e n s i t y r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r t h e s o i l by u s i n g a
Standard P r o c t o r Compaction t e s t . The optimum m o i s t u r e content i s a good
estimate f o r t h e proper agglomeration moisture content.
PRECIOUS METAL HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS
04 1 I I 1
4 6 8 10 12
DRUM DIAMETER-FT.
FIGURE 5.5
DRUM AGGLOMERATOR COST
( from M l l l l ~ a n ,1983 )
ORE PREPARATION: CRUSHING AND AGGLOMERATION
400 -
300 -
200 -
100-
0 I I I 1
5 10 16 20 25
DIAMETER-FT.
FIGURE 5.6
PAN AGGLOMERATOR COST
( from Mllllgan, 1883 )
PRECIOUS METAL HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS
0 5 10 15 20 25
P A N DIAMETER-FT.
FIGURE 5.7
PAN AGGLOMERATOR SIZING
( from Mllllgan, 1 9 8 3 )
ORE PREPARATION: CRUSHING AND AGGLOMERATlON
TABLE 5.1
AGGLOMERATOR SUPPLIERS
Acme I n t e r n a t i o n a l L t d . G l a t t A i r Technique
A t t n . Richard Stollman A t t n . Steve Abbely
100 T.S. West Ave. 20-T Spear R d t .
J e n k i n t o w n , PA Ramsey, NJ
215-885-7750 201-825-8700
A l l i s - C h a l m e r s M i n i n g Systems D i v . Legend M e t a l 1 u r g i c a l L a b o r a t o r y
A t t n . George S k o r o n s k i Attn. Larry
Box 512 125-T Manuel S t .
Milwaukee, W I 53201 Reno, NV 89502
414-475-2437 702-786- 3003
D u s t Suppression System I n c .
A t t n . J a y Reading
2459-A C h a r l o t t e
Kansas City, MO
816-421-4739
Feeco I n t e r n a t i o n a l I n c .
Attn. Larry C l i v e r
3913 Algoma Rd. D e p t . A
Green Bay, W I 54301
414-468- 1000
Ferro-Tec h
Attn. Carl H o l l y
Eureka and 5 Ave.
(467 Eureka Rd.)
Wyandotte, M I 48192
313-282-7300
82 PRECIOUS METAL HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS
Crushed o r e s can, i n g e n e r a l , be a g g l o m e r a t e d b y m i x i n g 5 t o 10 I b s o f
p o r t l a n d cement p e r t o n (2.5 t o 5 k g / p e r t o n ) o f d r y feed, w e t t i n g w i t h 8 t o
1 6 p e r c e n t m o i s t u r e as e i t h e r w a t e r o r s t r o n g c y a n i d e s o l u t i o n , m e c h a n i c a l l y
t u m b l i n g t h e w e t t e d m i x t u r e , and c u r i n g t h e a g g l o m e r a t e d feed d u r i n g heap
b u i l d i n g p r o c e d u r e s . The q u a n t i t y o f cement added d u r i n g a g g l o m e r a t i o n usual 1 y
p r o v i d e s t h e p r o t e c t i v e a1 k a l i n i t y r e q u i r e d f o r c y a n i d e l e a c h i n g . A f t e r
a g g l o m e r a t i o n and heap b u i l d i n g , l e a c h i n g i s c o n d u c t e d w i t h c o n v e n t i o n a l heap
1e a c h i u g t e c h n i q u e s .
D u r i n g a g g l o m e r a t i o n , t h e c l a y and f i n e p a r t i c l e s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e o r e
a d h e r e t o t h e c o a r s e r p a r t i c l e s and c r e a t e a c o a t i n g o f f i n e s around t h e
.
c o a r s e p a r t i c l e s The a g g l o m e r a t e s produced a r e o f s u f f i c i e n t green s t r e n g t h
a f t e r c u r i n g t o w i t h s t a n d h a n d l i n g and w e t t i n g w i t h m i n i m a l d e g r a d a t i o n .
Agglomeration overcomes the major problems associated with particle
s e g r e g a t i o n d u r i n g heap b u i l d i n g , f i n e s m i g r a t i o n , and s o l u t i o n c h a n n e l i n g
d u r i n g l e a c h i n g b y p r o d u c i n g a p o r o u s , permeable f e e d .
A p e r m e a b l e f e e d m a t e r i a l s t a c k e d i n a heap p e r m i t s t h e u n i f o r m f l o w o f
1 e a c h i n g s o l u t i o n and c o n t a c t o f t h e c y a n i d e 1 e a c h i n g s o l u t i o n w i t h t h e
exposed p r e c i o u s m e t a l p a r t i c l e s , and d e c r e a s e s t h e l e a c h i n g t i m e r e q u i r e d t o
o b t a i n t a r g e t e d precious metal recovery.
'The f o l l o w i n g i s a b r i e f d e s c r i p t i o n o f o n e c o n v e n t i o n a l heap l e a c h
o p e r a t i o n ( n o a g g l o m e r a t i o n ) and t h r e e commercial o p e r a t i o n s where c r u s h i n g
and a g g l o m e r a t i o n p r e t r e a t m e n t was n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e s u c c e s s f u l heap l e a c h i n g
t r e a t m e n t o f t h e o r e . The t h r e e were s e l e c t e d f o r d i s c u s s i o n because o f t h e
d i v e r s i t y o f t h e a g g l o m e r a t i n g equipment used f o r p r e t r e a t i n g t h e o r e . Two o f
t h e o p e r a t i o n s have been p r o d u c i n g b u l l i o n s i n c e t h e e a r l y 1 9 8 0 ' s and t h e
i n f o r m a t i o n g i v e n h e r e i n d e s c r i b e s t h e i r o p e r a t i o n s h o r t l y a f t e r s t a r t - u p . The,
t h i r d o p e r a t i o n began p r o d u c t i o n i n e a r l y 1985. A l l t h r e e a r e c o n s i d e r e d
m o d e r a t e s i z e d heap 1 e a c h i n g o p e r a t i o n s and t h e i r p r o d u c t i o n r a t e s range f r o m
2,000 t o 3,500 t o n s o f o r e p e r day.
A c o n v e n t i o n a l g o l d heap l e a c h i n g o p e r a t i o n i s l o c a t e d near t h e
g e o g r a p h i c a l c e n t e r o f t h e s t a t e o f Nevada. The s i l i c e o u s o r e i s mined a t a
r a t e o f a b o u t 20,000 t o n s p e r d a y (TPD) u s i n g o p e n - p i t m i n i n g methods. M i n e d
o r e i s t r u c k e d t o an i n - p i t u n d e r g r o u n d p r i m a r y s t a n d a r d cone c r u s h e r .
D i s c h a r g e f r o m t h e p r i m a r y c r u s h e r ( a p p r o x i m a t e l y f o u r i n c h e s , 100 mrn) i s
conveyed t o a s e c o n d a r y s h o r t head cone c r u s h e r where i t i s reduced i n s i z e t o
n o m i n a l m i n u s o n e i n c h . The s e c o n d a r y c r u s h e d f e e d i s conveyed a s h o r t
ORE PREPARATION: CRUSHING AND AGGLOMERATION 89
The o r e f r o m t h e u n d e r g r o u n d s t o c k p i l e i s agglomerated on a r e v e r s e b e l t
c o n v e y o r d e s i g n e d b y t h e o p e r a t o r s . The 4 f t (1.2 m) x 25 ft (7.6 m) b e l t
a g g l o m e r a t e s o r e a t a r a t e o f 20% t o n s p g r hour. The a g g l o m e r a t i n g conveyor
c a n be s e t a t an a n g l e between 35 and 45 , and t h e b e l t t r a v e l s upward w h i l e
t h e o r e lnoves down t h e be1 t. The a n g l e and speed o f t h e be1 t can be v a r i e d t o
p r o v i d e t h e d e s i r e d r e t e n t i o n t i m e o f o r e on t h e b e l t . Water i s sprayed a t
s e v e r a l l o c a t i o n s a l o n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e b e l t and g i v e s t h e agglomerated feed
a m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t o f between 10 and 12 p e r c e n t . A s m a l l amount o f moistened
f i n e s a d h e r e s t o t h e b e l t and r i d e s u p t h e conveyor. A s c r a p e r a t t h e bottom
s i d e o f t h e d r i v e r o l l e r e l i m i n a t e s e x c e s s i v e f i n e s b u i l d-up.
The a g g l o m e r a t e d o r e i s t r a n s p o r t e d t o a s t o c k p i l e b y a r a d i a l arm
s t a c k e r . The m a t e r i a l f r o m t h e s t o c k p i l e i s t r u c k e d 500 f t (150 m) t o a 3/4
a c r e (4,000 m2) l e a c h i n g pad and i s a1 lowed t o c u r e d u r i n g heap b u i l d i n g . F i v e
heaps, each c o n t a i n i n g 6,000 t o n s o f agglomerated o r e s t a c k e d 10 t o 11 f t ( 3
t o 3.4 m) h i g h , a r e l e a c h e d o n t h e pad. Three heaps a r e a t d i f f e r e n t stages o f
l e a c h i n g , w h i l e t h e o t h e r two a r e e i t h e r b e i n g p r e p a r e d f o r l e a c h i n g o r b e i n g
removed f r o m t h e pad.
An o p e r a t i o n i n n o r t h e r n Nevada, w h i c h has p r o d u c e d g o l d b y a g i t a t i o n
c y a n i d a t i o n and c o u n t e r c u r r e n t d e c a n t a t i o n f o r s e v e r a l y e a r s , d i s c o v e r e d a new
o r e d e p o s i t s e v e r a l m i l e s from t h e w o r k i n g mine. H i g h e r g r a d e o r e f r o m t h e new
d e p o s i t i s t r a n s p o r t e d t o t h e o r i g i n a l m i l l f o r g o l d r e c o v e r y . Ore c o n t a i n i n g
l e s s t h a n 0.07 t r o y ounce g o l d p e r t o n (2.4 g / m t ) i s heap l e a c h e d a t t h e new
s i t e . Average o r e g r a d e f o r t h e heap m a t e r i a l i s 0.034 t r o y o u n c e g o l d p e r t o n
(1.2 g / m t ) . The o r e i s mined by o p e n - p i t methods and i s t r u c k e d t o t h e heap
l e a c h i n g s i t e a p p r o x i m a t e l y o n e - h a l f m i l e ( 0 . 8 k m ) f r o m t h e new p i t . A b o u t
2,500 t o n s p e r day o f o r e a r e mined and heap l e a c h e d .
The p r e g n a n t s o l u t i o n d r a i n i n g f r o m t h e l e a c h i n g pad f l o w s b y g r a v i t y t o
a r e s e r v o i r and i s pumped t h r o u g h a s e r i e s o f f i v e c a r b o n a d s o r p t i o n t a n k s f o r
r e c o v e r y o f d i s s o l v e d g o l d v a l u e s . The g o l d - l o a d e d , 12 x 3 0 mesh, c o c o n u t
s h e l l a c t i v a t e d c a r b o n i s t r a n s p o r t e d t o t h e o r i g i n a l m i l 1s i t e f o r d e s o r p t i o n
b y an a l k a l i n e a l c o h o l s o l u t i o n . The v a l u e s d e s o r b e d f r o m t h e c a r b o n a r e
e l e c t r o w o n on s t e e l wool c a t h o d e s , w h i c h a r e r e f i n e d o n s i t e t o p r o d u c e d o r e
bullion.
T h i s o p e r a t i o n i n i t i a l l y t r i e d c o n v e n t i o n a l heap 1 e a c h i n g t o p r o c e s s t h e
l o w - g r a d e o r e . C o n v e n t i o n a l heap l e a c h i n g was u n s u c c e s s f u l because o f t h e h i g h
c l a y c o n t e n t o f t h e o r e , p a r t i c l e s e g r e g a t i o n , and f i n e s m i g r a t i o n , w h i c h
r e s u l t e d i n l e a c h s o l u t i o n channel i n g . A g g l o m e r a t i o n p r e t r e a t m e n t i n c r e a s e d
86 PRECIOUS METAL HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS
g o l d r e c o v e r y by 60 p e r c e n t , w h i l e d e c r e a s i n g t h e l e a c h i n g c y c l e ft-om 50 days
t o 20 days. Even w i t h agglomeration, some o r e r e t a i n s a p p r o x i m a t e l y 30 Percent
m o i s t u r e . and l o n g washing p e r i o d s a r e r e q u i r e d t o r e c o v e r t h e dissolved
v a l u e s f r o m t h e agglomerates. The l o n g e r washing c y c l e extends the t o t a l
1 caching c y c l e t o 30 days f o r some heaps.
5.6.4 West C e n t r a l Nevada Gold Heap Leach: 3,500 Tons Per Day
An o p e r a t i o n i n west c e n t r a l Nevada processes 3,500 TPD o f crushed and
agglomerated g o l d o r e . Ore i s mined u s i n g o p e n - p i t methods. D r i l l e d and
b l a s t e d o r e i s loaded by a f r o n t - e n d l o a d e r o n t o t r u c k s and i s hauled about
0.5 m i l e s (0.8 km) t o t h e c r u s h i n g c i r c u i t . A p r i m a r y jaw crusher produces a
minus s i x i n c h (150 mm) feed. The p r i m a r y c r u s h e r d i s c h a r g e i s conveyed a
s h o r t d i s t a n c e t o a secondary s h o r t head cone c r u s h e r where i t i s reduced i n
s i z e t o a n o m i n a l minus one i n c h .
A g g l o m e r a t i n g parameters w h i c h a r e i m p o r t a n t f o r s u c c e s s f ~ ~t lr e a t m e n t o f
crushed o r e s a r e e q u a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r t a i l i n g s a g g l o m e r a t i o n w i t h some
m o d i f i c a t i o n . The b i n d e r normal l y r e q u i r e d f o r t a i 1 i n g s a g g l o m e r a t i o n i s a
c o m b i n a t i o n o f l i m e and cement, u s u a l l y 10 - 15 I b s o f each p e r t o n o f d r y
feed. M o i s t u r e a d d i t i o n s a r e u s u a l l y h i g h e r , a t from 16 t o 22 w e i g h t p e r c e n t
f i n a l m o i s t u r e . C u r i n g t i m e s i n t h e range o f 72 hours o r l o n g e r a r e r e q u i r e d .
Two m e c h a n i c a l p a r a m e t e r s a r e a1 so i m p o r t a n t f o r agglomeratirlg t a i l i n g s :
M o i s t u r e s h o u l d be added as a n o n - a t o m i z i n g s p r a y o r as d r o p l e t s ;
and
A r o l l i n g , r a t h e r t h a n a bouncing o r t u m b l i n g , a c t i o n s h o u l d be
'imparted t o t h e t a i l i n g s by t h e a g g l o m e r a t o r .
S o l u t i o n s h o u l d be added as d r o p l e t s o r c o a r s e s p r a y because t h e w a t e r
d r o p i m p a c t i n g t h e d r y f e e d i m m e d i a t e l y forms a s m a l l b a l l which a c t s as t h e
n u c l e u s f o r a g g l o m e r a t e g r o w t h . I f f i n e s p r a y s a r e used, no nucleus i s formed.
Go1 d A g g l o m e r a t i o n - H e a p L e a c h i n g i n S o u t h - C e n t r a l Nevada
5.8.2 S i l v e r Agglomeration-Heap L e a c h i n g i n S o u t h e a s t e r n C a l i f o r n i a
A s m a l l t a i l i n g s p i l e i s b e i n g processed b y a g g l o m e r a t i o n - h e a p l e a c h i n g
methods f o r r e c o v e r y o f g o l d and s i l v e r v a l u e s . The o p e r a t i o n i s l o c a t e d i n
90 PRECIOUS METAL HEAP LEACHING PROJECTS
e a s t c e n t r a l C a l i f o r n i a n e a r t h e h i s t o r i c M o t h e r Lode D i s t r i c t . A p p r o x i m a t e l y
130,000 t o n s o f o l d m i l l e d t a i l i n g s c o n t a i n i n g 0.070 o u n c e s o f g o l d (2.4 g / m t )
and 0.75 o u n c e s o f s i l v e r (25.7 g / m t ) p e r t o n was a v a i l a b l e f o r p r o c e s s i n g .
The t a i l i n g s a r e 90 p e r c e n t m i n u s 200 mesh and c o n t a i n e x c e s s i v e q u a n t i t i e s o f
c l a y e y m i n e r a l s . The t a i l i n g s a r e mined b y f r o n t - e n d l o a d e r s and a r e
t r a n s p o r t e d b y t h e l o a d e r a v e r y s h o r t d i s t a n c e t o a s t o c k p i l e . T a i l i n g s from
t h e s t o c k p i l e a r e pushed by a t r a c k e d d o z e r i n t o a hopper. The f e e d i s
conveyed from t h e h o p p e r t o a s i n g l e one i n c h s c r e e n deck. The p l u s one i n c h
( 2 5 mm) c l u m p s o f c l a y a r e pushed t o t h e s i d e and a r e a l l o w e d t o a i r d r y f o r
s e v e r a l d a y s . The a i r d r i e d c l u m p s a r e b r o k e n u p b y d r i v i n g o v e r them w i t h t h e
t r a c k e d d o z e r , and a r e t h e n p l a c e d back i n t o t h e h o p p e r .
L e a c h i n g was c o n d u c t e d b y a p p l y i n g c y a n i d e s o l u t i o n c o n t a i n i n g 2.0 I b s
NaCN e r t o n ( 1 k g / m t ) o f s o l u t i o n a t a r a t e o f 0.003 gpm p e r s q f t (0.002
P
l / s / m ) o f heap s u r f a c e a r e a . A l e a c h c y c l e o f a b o u t t h r e e months was r e q u i r e d
t o o b t a i n t a r g e t e d precious metal recovery. Pregnant s o l u t i o n s drained by
g r a v i t y f r o m t h e heap t o a p r e g n a n t s o l u t i o n pond. P r e g n a n t s o l u t i o n was
pumped f r o m t h e pond t o a s u r g e t a n k o u t s i d e t h e z i n c p r e c i p i t a t i o n c i r c u i t
building.
S o l u t i o n s w e r e c l a r i f i e d and d e a r e a t e d b e f o r e a d d i n g z i n c d u s t . The z i n c
c i r c u i t p r o c e s s e d 1 6 0 gpm ( 1 0 l / s ) o f p r e g n a n t s o l u t i o n . P r e c i p i t a t e s were
r e c o v e r e d i n f i l t e r p r e s s e s and w e r e p r o c e s s e d o n s i t e t o p r o d u c e d o r e b u l l i o n .
The d o r e b u l l i o n p r o d u c e d c o n s t i t u t e d a b o u t 65 p e r c e n t g o l d and 30 p e r c e n t
silver.
The o p e r a t i o n i s c u r r e n t l y b u i l d i n g a n o t h e r pad t o p r o c e s s t h e r e m a i n i n g
t a i l i n g s . F u t u r e p l a n s a r e t o process waste m a t e r i a l from t h e o l d m i n i n g
o p e r a t i o n b y a g g l o m e r a t i o n heap l e a c h i n g u s i n g t h e p r e s e n t f a c i l i t y .
5.9 CONCLUSION
5.10 REFERENCES
McClelland, G,E,, D.L. Pool, A.W. Hunt, and J.A. Eisele, (1985).
" A g g l o m e r a t i o n and heap l e a c h i n g o f f i n e l y ground p r e c i o u s - m e t a l - b e a r 1 n g
t a i l i n g s t ' , U,S, Bureau o f Mines I C 9034, 1985,