Gold Cementation in Percolation Mode Using Dendritic Zinc Powders

Abstract

Present article is devoted to study of electrolytic zinc powders usage features in gold mining industry. Electrolytic zinc powders characterized by dendritic shape and a high specific surface area. These features of electrolytic zinc powders provide a number of advantages for gold cementation from alkaline cyanide solutions. Dendritic form of electrolytic zinc powder makes it possible to reduce zinc layer hydraulic resistance on filtering surface, which is important when using cementation technologies based on filtration of gold-bearing solution through zinc powder layer. High specific surface area of electrolytic zinc powders favourably affects the rates of gold recovery from cyanide solutions, which is shown in cementation experiments from model and real (industrial) solutions. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.