APPLICATION OF THE HEAP BIOOXIDATION TECHNOLOGY FOR REFRACTORY GOLD CONCENTRATES

Year 2009, Issue: 019, 71 - 82, 15.08.2009

Haluk Çelik

Abstract

Rapid depletion of free-milling and oxide gold ores worldwide has forced
the mining industry to turn to refractory gold deposits. Hence, research
companies have examined novel methods for gold recovery, and advances have been
made toward the extraction of gold from many different types of refractory
ores. GEOCOAT® technology (heap
biooxidation), a proprietary process developed by GeoBiotics, Inc.,
incorporates elements of two successful and commercially proven processes: heap
leaching and biooxidation. The process involves coating of ground gold bearing
sulfide minerals concentrate onto relatively coarse inert rock and then
bio-heap oxidation of this coated material. In this study, initially the use of
biotechnologies in the mining industry was introduced. Detailed information
about heap biooxidation process was presented; experiments carried out at
laboratory scale and at pilot plant scale by using this technology were
summarized; and then commercial plant for heap biooxidation of refractory gold
bearing pyrite concentrate was introduced.

Keywords

Heap Biooxidation, biomining processes, biohydrometallurgy

YIĞIN BİYOOKSİDASYON TEKNOLOJİSİNİN REFRAKTER ALTIN KONSANTRELERİNE UYGULANMASI

Abstract

Dünya
çapında öğütmeyle serbestleşebilen ve oksitli altın cevherlerinin hızla
tükenmesi, madencilik endüstrisini refrakter altın yataklarına yöneltmiştir.
Bunun sonucu olarak araştırma şirketleri altın üretimi için yeni yöntemleri incelemeye
başlamışlar ve altının refrakter cevherlerin çok farklı türlerinden kazanımı
yönünde atılımlar yapmışlardır. GeoBiotics Şirketince geliştirilen tescilli bir
proses olan GEOCOAT® teknolojisi (yığın biyooksidasyonu); işletme ölçekte
kendini kanıtlamış ve başarılı iki proses olan yığın liçi ve biyooksidasyon
yöntemlerini birleştirmektedir. Yöntem; altın içeren öğütülmüş sülfürlü mineral
konsantrelerinin göreceli olarak daha iri inert cevher tanelerinin üzerine
kaplanmasını ve daha sonra bu kaplanmış malzemenin biyo-yığın oksidasyonunu
içermektedir. Bu çalışmada ilk olarak madencilik endüstrisinde biyoteknolojinin
kullanımı tanıtılmıştır. Yığın biyooksidasyonu prosesi hakkında detaylı
bilgiler verilmiş, bu teknolojinin kullanımıyla laboratuar ve pilot tesis çapta
yürütülen deneyler özetlenmiş ve daha sonra refrakter altın içeren pirit
konsantresinin yığın biyooksidasyonunun gerçekleştirildiği ticari tesis
tanıtılmıştır.

 

Keywords

Yığın biyooksidasyonu, biyomadencilik prosesleri, biyohidrometallurji

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