Gold ore types and beneficiation methods

There are different types of gold ore and its classification method is different. According to the degree of ore oxidation, it can be divided into primary (sulfide ore) ore, partially oxidized (mixed) ore and oxidized ore. Oxidized ores are characterized by the presence of iron oxides and other metallic oxide minerals in the ore as well as argillaceous (drilling earth) components. According to the actual situation in my country and combined with the requirements of the beneficiation process, it can be divided as follows.

(1) Lean sulfide gold ore

This kind of ore is mostly quartz vein type, but also has complex quartz vein type and thin vein dissemination type, etc., with low sulfide content, mostly pyrite, and in some cases steel, lead, zinc, molybdenum and other minerals are associated. The particle size of natural gold in this type of ores is relatively large, and gold is the only object to be recovered. Other elements or minerals have no industrial value or can only be recovered as by-products. Simple processes such as single flotation or full mud nitriding can be used to obtain Higher selection index.

(2) Polysulfide gold ore

This type of ore contains a lot of pyrite or arsenopyrite, and they are also recycled like gold. The grade of gold is low, with little change, and the natural gold particle size is relatively small. It is mostly wrapped in pyrite. It is generally easier to separate gold and sulfide by flotation, but a complex process of beneficiation and smelting is required to separate gold-sulfide, otherwise the recovery index of gold will not be too high.

(3) Gold-bearing polymetallic ore

In addition to gold, this type of ore also contains several metal minerals such as copper, steel lead, lead, zinc, silver, tungsten and antimony, and they all have the value of individual mining. Its characteristics are: a. High sulfide content (10%~20%); b. In addition to closely symbiotic with pyrite, natural gold also closely symbiotic with copper, lead and other minerals; c. Natural gold is mostly uneven in thickness Inlaid cloth, the particle size change interval is long; d. There are many kinds for comprehensive recovery. Based on the above characteristics, a more complex beneficiation process is generally required.

(4, arsenic-bearing gold ore

Gold is still mostly in the state of natural gold, but a considerable part of gold is stored in antimony compounds of gold. These ores are mostly low-temperature hydrothermal deposits in origin, and the gangue is quartz, chalcedony quartz and carbonate minerals.

(5) Gold-bearing copper ore

The difference between this type of ore and the third type of ore is that the grade of gold is low, but it can be used as one of the main comprehensively utilized elements. Natural gold has a medium particle size. However, the symbiotic relationship with other minerals is complicated. Gold is mostly concentrated in steel concentrates in beneficiation, and gold is recovered during steel smelting.