Econ. Environ. Geol. 2013; 46(6): 477-484
Published online December 31, 2013
© THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY
The Possibility of Gold Recovery from the Iron-Hydroxide in the Acid Mine Drainage by Lead-Fire Assay
Correspondence to : cybpark@chosun.ac.kr
Abstract
In order to recover gold from iron-hydroxide in acid mine drainage, a lead-fire assay has been used. Acid mine drainage is generated from mining waste rocks, and iron-hydroxide precipitates from acid mine drainage, which severely contaminates the area surrounding the mine. Iron-hydroxide samples contain on average 520.29 mg/kg of Fe, 4,414.62 mg/kg sulfur, and 16.19 mg/kg Au. In an XRD analysis, quartz and goethite were observed along with the iron-hydroxide. Using a lead-fire assay, the recovery of pure gold was on average 0.174 g/ton from the ironhydroxide, whereas the gold not recovered in the process was on average 1.37 mg/kg. This unrecovered gold was lost to the glass slag due to the galena and lead formation. The galena and lead in the glass slag was identified through XRD.
Keywords mining waste rocks, acid mine drainage, iron-hydroxide, lead-fire assay, gold recovery
PDF
Standard view
Export citation
Share Article
Econ. Environ. Geol. 2013; 46(6): 477-484
Published online December 31, 2013
Copyright © THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL GEOLOGY.
The Possibility of Gold Recovery from the Iron-Hydroxide in the Acid Mine Drainage by Lead-Fire Assay
Kang-Hee Cho1, Bong-Ju Kim1, Jin-Hyung Kim2, Nag-Choul Choi3 and Cheon-Young Park1*
Correspondence to:cybpark@chosun.ac.kr
Abstract
In order to recover gold from iron-hydroxide in acid mine drainage, a lead-fire assay has been used. Acid mine drainage is generated from mining waste rocks, and iron-hydroxide precipitates from acid mine drainage, which severely contaminates the area surrounding the mine. Iron-hydroxide samples contain on average 520.29 mg/kg of Fe, 4,414.62 mg/kg sulfur, and 16.19 mg/kg Au. In an XRD analysis, quartz and goethite were observed along with the iron-hydroxide. Using a lead-fire assay, the recovery of pure gold was on average 0.174 g/ton from the ironhydroxide, whereas the gold not recovered in the process was on average 1.37 mg/kg. This unrecovered gold was lost to the glass slag due to the galena and lead formation. The galena and lead in the glass slag was identified through XRD.
Keywords mining waste rocks, acid mine drainage, iron-hydroxide, lead-fire assay, gold recovery
Article Tools
Stats or Metrics
Share this article on
Related articles in KSEEG
-
Changes of Mineralogical Characteristics of Precipitates in Acid Mine Drainage of the Dalsung Mine and Related Changes of Trace Elements
Young Jin Yoon, Yeongkyoo Kim, Seong-joo Lee
Econ. Environ. Geol. 2022; 55(5): 531-540 -
Mineralogical and Geochemical Characteristics of the Precipitates in Acid Mine Drainage of the Heungjin-Taemaek Coal Mine
Ji-Hwan Shin, Ji-Yeon Park, Yeongkyoo Kim
Econ. Environ. Geol. 2021; 54(2): 299-308 -
Distribution of Metallic Elements Contamination in River Deposits and Farmland in the Vicinity of an Abandoned Korean Mine
Hwan Lee and Yoonjin Lee
Econ. Environ. Geol. 2020; 53(2): 133-145
