USE OF COAL-OIL AGGLOMERATES FOR PARTICULATE GOLD RECOVERY

Fundamental studies were undertaken to evaluate the underlying princip les by which gold is recovered by coal-oil agglomerates. The effects o f various parameters such as oil:coal ratios, agglomerate:ore ratios, pH and coal particle size on gold recovery were evaluated using synthe tic gold bearing samples; bituminous coal; and diesel oil and kerosene . The effects of sulfides on gold recovery and the depth of gold parti cle penetration within the agglomerates were also investigated. Result s showed that gold recovery was increased by increasing agglomerate:or e ratio, decreasing oil:coal ratio and decreasing coal particle size. There was no significant difference in gold recoveries at pH range of 4-12 and at up to 5% sulfides in the feed. Microscopic studies indicat ed that at prolonged mixing time, some gold particles were observed to have penetrated the agglomerates some 60 mu m from the surface. (C) 1 998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.