Effect of contaminant carbonaceous matter on the sorption of gold by pyrite

The effect of carbon or graphite coating on the adsorption of gold cyanide on pyrite was investigated with pure pyrite and a pyrite concentrate. In the carbon or graphite contaminated pyrite systems carbon and graphite not only acted as gold sorbents, but also enhanced gold adsorption on pyrite. The carbon coating enhanced gold adsorption on pyrite to a larger extent, in comparison with the graphite coating. The carbon or graphite coating on pyrite reduced the negativity of the pyrite surfaces, and hence improved the physical adsorption of gold cyanide on pyrite. In addition, the highly conductive coating of carbon or graphite on pyrite could enhance electron transfer in the electrochemical reactions occurring in the chemical adsorption of gold and gold reduction on pyrite. The preg-robbing by pyrite or the graphite-coated pyrite was reduced and further eliminated at higher cyanide concentrations. However, gold adsorption on the carbon-coated pyrite could not be prevented even at higher cyanide concentrations due to gold adsorption on the carbon coating. In comparison with pure pyrite, the pyrite concentrate had a higher capacity adsorbing gold, due to the presence of carbonaceous matter in the pyrite concentrate. Fine grinding intensified the smearing of carbon or graphite on the mineral particles, resulting in a larger extent of enhancement in the preg-robbing of the concentrate by the carbon or graphite coating.A diagnostic elution of the preg-robbing pyrite samples indicated that the reduction of gold at the pyrite surfaces was the dominant mechanism for gold adsorption on pyrite, followed by physical and chemical adsorption. Surface topological studies by SEM/EDX showed that gold adsorbed at defect sites on pyrite surfaces. For the pyrite with a 5% carbon coating, gold was observed to adsorb not only at the defect sites, but also at the smooth surfaces with carbon present. For the pyrite with a 5% graphite coating, carbon was also found at the pyrite surfaces, but gold was only detected at the defect sites. XPS studies revealed that part of the gold physically and chemically adsorbed on pyrite or pyrite coated with carbon or graphite. Some gold cyanide was reduced at the pyrite surfaces, with the sulphide ions of pyrite being oxidised to elemental sulphur.     

An electrochemical study of pyrite oxidation in the presence of carbon coatings in cyanide medium

The anodic and cathodic behaviour of pyrite with clay and different carbon coatings of activated carbon, graphite and carbonaceous matter in cyanide medium was investigated using the potentiodynamic method. The presence of clay coating did not change the polarisation curve appearance for either the anodic oxidation of pyrite or the cathodic reduction of oxygen or the potential of the current plateau, but only decreased the plateau current especially at a higher coating thickness. The presence of the carbon coatings marginally shifted the rest potential for pyrite to a more anodic position and slightly changed the polarisation curve appearance for pyrite oxidation. The current density for pyrite oxidation largely increased in the presence of the carbon coatings, the potential at the plateau shifted to more cathodic positions, and the plateau width became smaller. These effects became more noticeable at a higher coating thickness. The activated carbon, graphite and carbonaceous matter coatings performed similarly in affecting pyrite oxidation at a similar thickness. The carbon coatings significantly increased the limiting current densities for oxygen reduction on pyrite, and the limiting current plateau became steeper at a higher coating thickness. The carbon coatings increased the limiting current density for oxygen reduction to a similar extent at a low coating thickness, but increased to varied extents at a higher coating thickness. The carbon coatings also greatly increased the cathodic current density for gold reduction on pyrite. The enhancement of pyrite oxidation and oxygen or gold reduction on pyrite by the carbon coatings was likely attributed to the electrochemical interaction between pyrite and the carbon materials with electron-rich surfaces and high conductivity. The presence of the carbon coatings significantly increased the oxidation of pyrite in aerated cyanide solutions and the preg-robbing of pyrite especially at a higher coating thickness.     

The adsorption of gold(I) hydrosulphide complexes by iron sulphide surfaces

The adsorption of gold by pyrite, pyrrhotite, and mackinawite from solutions containing up to 40 mg/kg (8 μm) gold as hydrosulphidogold(I) complexes has been measured over the pH range from 2 to 10 at 25°C and at 0.10 m ionic strength (NaCl, NaClO₄). The pH of point of zero charge, pH_pzc, has been determined potentiometrically for all three iron sulphides and shown to be 2.4, 2.7, and 2.9 for pyrite, pyrrhotite, and mackinawite, respectively. In solutions containing hydrogen sulphide, the pH_pzc is reduced to values below 2. The surface charge for each sulphide is therefore negative over the pH range studied in the adsorption experiments. Adsorption was from 100% in acid solutions having pH < 5.5 (pyrite) and pH < 4 (mackinawite and pyrrhotite). At alkaline pH’s (e.g., pH = 9), the pyrite surface adsorbed 30% of the gold from solution, whereas the pyrrhotite and mackinawite surfaces did not adsorb.The main gold complex adsorbed is AuHS°, as may be deduced from the gold speciation in solution in combination with the surface charge. The adsorption of the negatively charged Au(HS)₂⁻ onto the negatively charged sulphide surfaces is not favoured. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic data revealed different surface reactions for pyrite and mackinawite surfaces. While no change in redox state of adsorbent and adsorbate was observed on pyrite, a chemisorption reaction has been determined on mackinawite leading to the reduction of the gold(I) solution complex to gold(0) and to the formation of surface polysulphides. The data indicate that the adsorption of gold complexes onto iron sulphide surfaces such as that of pyrite is an important process in the “deposition” of gold from aqueous solutions over a wide range of temperatures and pressures.     

吸附金的重结晶实验

黄铁矿表面和方铅矿表面对金的硫氢络合方法的吸附特点不同，前者更易于将表面络合态金Ａｕ（Ｉ）还原成单质金Ａｕ（０），且吸附能力一些，经重结重晶实验以后，天然黄铁矿和合成黄铁有面的吸附金均发生了明显的迁移，归并作用，但二者归并的程度不同，方铅矿表面的吸附金则扫并效果不明显，结合矿物表面特征，利用矿物表面缺陷模型和表面扩散模型对上述结果进行了解释，并与矿石金的赋存状态进行了对比。     

Adsorption of xanthate and starch on synthetic graphite

In the processing of sulphide ores containing graphite, starch is occasionally employed for depressing graphite while xanthate is used as a sulphide collector. In such a system the adsorption of starch by graphite is also influenced by xanthate. In the present investigation the adsorption of xanthate and starch at various values of pH and adsorbate concentrations have been carried out. The results show that xanthate is hardly adsorbed in the xanthate-N₂ system, but in the presence of oxygen it is catalytically oxidised to dixanthogen which adsorbs on graphite. Xanthate and starch are partly adsorbed at the same or adjoining sites of graphite with starch being adsorbed faster than xanthate. The ability of starch to depress graphite is reduced in the xanthate-starch system.     

Geological controls on refractory ore in an orogenic gold deposit, Macraes mine, New Zealand

The Macraes mine is hosted in an orogenic (mesothermal) gold deposit in metasedimentary rocks of the Otago Schist belt. Much gold occurs within altered schist with minimal silica-addition, and this study focuses on altered schist ore types. The unmineralized host schists are chemically and mineralogically uniform in composition, but include two end-member rock types: feldspathic schist and micaceous schist. Both rock types have undergone hydrothermal alteration along a shallow-dipping foliation-parallel shear zone, but their different rheological properties have affected the style of mineralisation. Micaceous schist has been extensively recrystallized and hydrothermally altered during ductile deformation, to form ores characterized by abundant, disseminated millimetre-scale pyrite cubes (typically 1–2 wt% S) and minor silicification. The earliest pyrite contained Ni and/or As in solid solution and no gold was imaged in these pyrites or later arsenopyrite grains. The ore type is refractory and gold recovery by cyanide leaching is less than 50%, with lowest recovery in rocks that have been less affected by later brittle deformation. In contrast, hydrothermally altered feldspathic schist is characterized by mineralised black microshears and veinlets formed during shear-zone related brittle deformation. Microsheared ore has relatively low sulphur content (<0.7 wt%) and muscovite has been illitised during hydrothermal alteration. Pyrite and arsenopyrite in microshears are fractured and deformed, and contain 1–10 m blebs of gold. Later pyrite veinlets also contain micron- to submicron-scale inclusions of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and gold (10 microns). Gold in microsheared ore is more readily recoverable than in the refractory ore, although encapsulation of the fine gold grains inhibits cyanidation. Both microsheared ore and disseminated pyritic ore pass laterally into mineralised black shears, which contain hydrothermal graphite and late-stage cataclastic sulphides. This black, sheared ore releases gold readily, but the gold is then adsorbed on to gangue minerals (preg-robbed) and net cyanidation recovery can be less than 50%. Hence, low gold recovery during cyanidation results from (1) poor liberation of gold encapsulated in microcrystalline quartz and unfractured sulphide grains, and (2) preg-robbing of liberated gold during cyanidation. Introduction of pressure-oxidation of ore prior to cynidation has mitigated these issues.     

Gold Occurrence and Ore Genesis,Yata Micro—Disseminated Gold Deposit,Guizhou,Southwest China

The mode of occurrence of gold in the Yata micro-disseminated gold deposit is ap-proached through chemical phase studies coupled with ore-dressing monitoring and micro-beam analysis.The results showed that gold occurred for the most part as ultra-microscopic particles adsorbed on the surfaces or fracture planes of pyrite and other sulphides.The proportions of gold of different occurrences were estimated solutions containing nanometer-sized gold particles were prepared following the hydrolysis-reduction procedure and the adsorption of nanometer-sized gold on ordinary sulphides and rocks was experimentally determined.It is evident that sulphides are good adsorbents of gold and this is consistent with geological observations.     

An XPS and SEM study of gold deposition at low temperatures on sulphide mineral surfaces: Concentration of gold by adsorption/reduction

Using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS or ESCA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we have examined the mechanism of adsorption and reduction of gold solutions on sulphides. KAu^IIICl₄ solutions are quickly adsorbed on the sulphide surfaces, and the Au(III) is quickly reduced to Au(0). Monolayer Au coverage is attained within one minute. The reduction is auto-catalyzed and Au metal grows on the surface. SEM photographs clearly show agglomerates of gold unevenly distributed on the surface. Specific sites of abnormally high Au concentration are found. We propose possible mechanisms for the adsorption and reduction. Our results suggest that adsorption of Au(III) and Au(I) by sulphide minerals, followed by reduction, could play an important role in the deposition of gold in natural systems especially at low temperature and low gold solution concentrations.     

不同类型黄铁矿对金的吸附实验

在稀溶液状态下的Ａｕ的吸附实验，较好地体现了地质热液过程中吸附作用在金矿成矿方面的重要性。黄铁矿与金的硫氢配合物的作用结果截然不同于黄铁矿与金的氯配合物的作用结果。黄铁矿对金的硫氢配合物的吸附是通过表面络合和静电吸附完成的，且不同类型黄铁矿有明显的吸附差异。矿物表面特性及非均匀催化可能在吸附过程中起了重要作用。金矿中常见的Ａｕ、Ａｓ和ｐ型黄铁矿三位一体的现象可能与Ａｓ对吸附作用的影响有较大关系。而     

Soft X-ray spectroscopic studies of the reaction of fractured pyrite surfaces with Cr(VI)-containing aqueous solutions

We have used synchrotron-based soft X-ray core-level photoemission and adsorption spectroscopies to study the reaction of aqueous sodium chromate solutions with freshly fractured pyrite surfaces. Pyrite surfaces were reacted with 50 μM sodium chromate solution at pH 7 for reaction times between 1 min and 37 hr. Additional experiments were performed at pH 2 and pH 4 with 50 μM sodium chromate solutions and at pH 7 with 5 mM solutions. At chromate concentrations of 50 μM, all chromium present on the pyrite surface was in the form of Cr(III), while at 5 mM, both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) were present at the pyrite surface. Minor quantities of oxidized sulfur species (sulfate, sulfite, and zero-valent sulfur) were identified as reaction products on the pyrite surface. The amount of oxidized sulfur species observed on the surface was greater when pyrite was reacted with 5 mM Cr(VI) solutions because the rate of chromium deposition exceeded the rate of dissolution of pyrite oxidation products, effectively trapping Cr(VI) and oxidized sulfur species in an overlayer of iron(III)-containing Cr(III)-hydroxide. This work shows that pyrite, an extremely cheap and readily available waste material, may be suitable for the removal of hexavalent chromium from acidic to circumneutral waste streams. The reduced chromium ultimately forms a coating on the pyrite surface, which passivates the pyrite surface towards further oxidation.     

极性矿物对纳米金的吸附实验

纳米金通常带有负电荷,遇带正电荷的矿物,它将被吸附而沉淀。黄铁矿、黄铜矿、闪锌矿和α－石英是金矿中常见矿物,是载金矿物,也是极性矿物（半导体矿物,热电矿物）。实验结果表明,在动态温度条件下矿物表面有正负电荷,因此同种矿物能够相互吸附,纳米金被带正电荷的矿物吸附。     

青海某金矿石可选性试验研究

针对青海省某金矿采用常规的氰化浸出效果不佳（金浸出率仅为8.19%）和含较高的砷、硫的情况和特点,进行了可选性试验研究。摇床重选虽然可获得品位较高的金精矿,但其回收率太低。浮选试验表明,采用一粗三精三扫的浮选闭路流程,可获得品位为72.72g/t,回收率为88.74%的浮选金精矿,选别指标较为理想。确定的最佳操作条件为...     

陕西省潼关县碾头岔含金石墨矿工艺矿物学研究

工艺矿物学系统研究表明：碾头岔含金石墨矿床的矿石中除石墨外,可综合利用的有用元素还有金、铜等。金矿物颗粒较细,主要以独立矿物形式赋存于载体矿物黄铜矿、黄铁矿及石墨中。黄铜矿是主要的铜矿物,其次有蓝辉铜矿。石墨呈独立矿物存在,片大且较平直,属于大鳞片石墨,矿石中总碳仅有６５％左右以石墨碳形态存在。上述３种有用元素均可通过合理磨矿,选择适宜的选矿条件得到金精矿、铜精矿和石墨精矿。然而由于石墨精矿中杂质较多且颗粒细小,主要为极细的片状硅酸盐,要得到高品级石墨,用机械选矿办法是无能为力的,需要对精矿进一步加工处理方可奏效。     

纳米金的迁移富集与黄铁矿富金关系

黄铁矿是金矿床中常见的矿物,也是重要的载金矿物之一,有的黄铁矿富金,有的黄铁矿不含金或含微量金。为什么黄铁矿对纳米金的吸附作用强？讨论了纳米微粒金与黄铁矿的关系后指出,半导体型黄铁矿有Ｎ型和Ｐ型两种。前者具负热电动势、带负电;后者具正电位带正电荷。当其与ＳｉＯ２水溶液迁移时,若与带正电荷的Ｐ型黄铁矿相遇,即被Ｐ型黄铁矿吸附沉淀成矿。带负电荷的黄铁矿不能吸附带负电荷的纳米金,因而不能成矿。     

Typomorphism of pyrite of the Sukhoi Log deposit (East Siberia)

The typomorphic features of pyrite of the Sukhoi Log deposit were studied by a set of volumetric and surface methods: electron probe microanalysis, scanning electron and probe microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron and Auger electron spectroscopy, atomic-absorption spectrometry in the SSADSC (method of statistical sample of analytical data for single crystals) version, and atomic-emission spectrometry. Pyrite from the Sukhoi Log deposit has the following distinctive features: permanent presence of sulfite ion, which often dominates over other surface sulfur anions; weakly determined size dependence of the content of uniformly distributed Au owing to the presence of an internal concentrator of gold—dispersed carbonaceous material—in pyrite from ore zones; cell sculptures of the crystal faces, which appeared owing to the nanofragmentation of the growth surface; micro- and nanoinclusions of carbonaceous phases within crystals, associated with defects in their structure; and thin films enriched in O and C on the surface of and within the crystals. It has been shown that gold-sulfide mineralization at the Sukhoi Log deposit formed in a single ore-generating hydrothermal system, in which gold, sulfur, and carbon belonged to a microparagenesis. Some features (composition of surface, characteristics of submicroscopic structure, and elemental composition) evidence that the conditions of crystallization of pyrite in inter-ore space were different from the conditions of its genesis in the ore zones, which suggests the presence of at least two genetic types of pyrite. Carbonaceous micro- and nanoparticles and O- and C-containing films can favor an increase in the adsorption of gold from cyanide solutions on pyrite. To reduce this effect during gold recovery, a technique for surface modification should be elaborated. The ways for solving the most complicated problems dealt with the source of noble metals (NM) and the ore specialization of the deposit have been outlined. For this purpose, a detailed analysis of the main ore minerals for trace-element speciation is required. In the case of the magmatic source of NM, correlation between the contents of Au and PGE structural forms should exist. On the other hand, there is no correlation between the structural forms of Au or Pt and elements whose contents in fluid are determined by the host rock rather than the magmatic source.     

The preg-robbing of gold and silver by clays during cyanidation under agitation and heap leaching conditions

Laboratory scale leaching tests were carried out in different experimental conditions, with monitoring of gold and silver recovery, the concentration of cyanide used in leaching, solution pH, and precious metal adsorption onto clay. Evidence for the adsorption or re-precipitation of gold from cyanide solutions onto clay minerals is conclusive and indicates that adsorption contributes to the total gold loss from conventional cyanidation. The loss is related to the type of clay, and appears to be affected by the extent of time cyanidation. It was observed that silver adsorption capacity was above 80% and that the degree of adsorption for gold oscillated between 1.68% and 7.49%, depending on the type and characteristics of the evaluated clay.     

卡林型金矿石中金的赋存状态分析新方法

卡林型金矿富含有机质,金主要呈显微一超显微分散状态存在,利用工艺矿物学参数自动检测分析仪(MLA)及传统化学方法只能大致判断矿石中金的赋存趋势,无法对其赋存状态准确定量.本文利用MLA仪器系统分析贵州回龙卡林型金矿,测得矿石中金主要以显微-超显微状态包裹于黄铁矿和毒砂中,少量被脉石等其他矿石包裹;黄铁矿约66％完全解离,而毒砂仅30％完全解离,载金矿物与其他矿物连生或者被包裹,将不利于硫化物包裹金的浸出.结合回龙金矿石中金的赋存特征和富含有机质的特点,对传统的物相分析流程进行改进,调整了硫化物包裹金和碳酸盐包裹金的浸出顺序,提出裸露金-碳酸盐包裹金-硫化物包裹金-硅酸盐包裹金的浸出流程,在裸露金及碳酸盐包裹金浸出时加入活性炭,利用竞争吸附抑制矿石中有机炭对金的吸附,降低有机炭对分相的影响.对比试验结果表明,采用改进的方法,有机炭含量在1％左右的金矿石分相时加入活性炭对各相测定值的影响不大;先浸出碳酸盐包裹金,再测定硫化物包裹金,各相的测定数据更加准确.改进的方法(加活性炭)用于测定回龙金矿中裸露金和碳酸盐、硫化物、硅酸盐包裹金,含量分别为1.25％、84.17％、11.46％和3.13％,与选矿试验结果相一致,表明该法适合应用于卡林型金矿中金的赋存状态分析.     

Effect of hematite on thiosulphate leaching of gold

Hematite, as a typical iron oxide slime in sulphide ore slurries, was artificially added into the leaching systems of pure gold and a sulphide ore respectively, in an attempt to investigate the effect of iron oxide slimes on the ammoniacal thiosulphate leaching of gold. The presence of hematite significantly reduced the dissolution of gold and this detrimental effect became more pronounced with increasing hematite concentration. Hematite formed coatings on gold surfaces, which could prevent leach solution from diffusing to the gold surfaces and hence, inhibit gold dissolution. Hematite catalysed the oxidative decomposition of thiosulphate to polythionates with oxygen present. XPS studies indicated a thin layer of iron oxide coating as well as the deposition of some copper and sulphur species on gold surfaces. SEM images revealed a lesser extent of corrosion for gold after leaching in the presence of hematite. The gold extraction from the sulphide ore was reduced with the addition of hematite and this effect became more noticeable with an addition of hematite at a higher concentration. A natural guar type surfactant (Gempolym M47) reduced the detrimental effect of hematite on gold extraction likely due to the prevention of hematite coating on gold and mineral particles and the dispersion of the mineral slurry. Gempolym M47 stabilised thiosulphate by weakening the interaction between cupric ions and thiosulphate and by minimising the catalytic effect of hematite on thiosulphate decomposition.     

Synmetamorphic carbon mobility and graphite enrichment in metaturbidites as a precursor to orogenic gold mineralisation, Otago Schist, New Zealand

The Macraes orogenic gold deposit is hosted by a graphitic micaceous schist containing auriferous porphyroblastic sulphides. The host rock resembles zones of unmineralised micaceous graphitic pyritic schists, derived from argillaceous protoliths, that occur locally in background pelitic Otago Schist metasediments. This study was aimed at determining the relationship between these similar rock types, and whether the relationship had implications for ore formation. Argillites in the protolith turbidites of the Otago Schist metamorphic belt contain minor amounts of detrital organic matter (<0.1 wt.%) and diagenetic pyrite (<0.3 wt.% S). The detrital organic carbon was mobilised by metamorphic–hydrothermal fluids and redeposited as graphite in low-grade metaturbidites (pumpellyite–actinolite and greenschist facies). This carbon mobility occurred through >50 million years of evolution of the metamorphic belt, from development of sheared argillite in the Jurassic, to postmetamorphic ductile extension in the Cretaceous. Introduced graphite is structurally controlled and occurs with metamorphic muscovite and chlorite as veins and slicken-sided shears, with some veins having >50% noncarbonate carbon. Graphitic foliation seams in low-grade micaceous schist and metamorphic quartz veins contain equant graphite porphyroblasts up to 2 mm across that are composed of crystallographically homogeneous graphite crystals. Graphite reflectance is anisotropic and ranges from ~1% to ~8% (green light). Texturally similar porphyroblastic pyrite has grown in micaceous schist (up to 10 wt.% S), metamorphic quartz veins and associated muscovite-rich shears. These pyritic schists are weakly enriched in arsenic (up to 60 ppm). The low-grade metamorphic mobility and concentration of graphite in micaceous schists is interpreted to be a precursor process that structurally and geochemically prepared parts of the Otago Schist belt for later (more restricted) gold mineralisation. Economic amounts of gold, and associated arsenic, were subsequently introduced to carbonaceous sulphidic schists in the Macraes gold deposit by a separate metamorphic fluid derived from high-grade metaturbidites. Fluid flow at all stages in these processes occurred at metamorphic rates (mm/year), and fluids were broadly in equilibrium with the rocks through which they were passing.     

Removal of cyanide from aqueous solutions by plain and metal-impregnated granular activated carbons

In this study, the removal of free cyanide from aqueous solutions by activated carbon was investigated. Effects of metal impregnation (Cu and Ag), aeration, and concentrations of adsorbent and cyanide on the rate and extent of the removal of cyanide were studied. The results have shown that the capacity of activated carbon for the removal of cyanide can be significantly improved (up to 6.3-fold) via impregnation of activated carbon with metals such as copper and silver. Silver-impregnated activated carbon was found to be the most effective at the reduction of cyanide level in solution. This appeared to be coupled with its comparatively high metal content after impregnation process where silver (5.07%) could be more readily loaded on activated carbon than copper (0.43%). Kinetics and equilibrium data for cyanide removal by plain and metal-impregnated activated carbons were determined to be consistent with the pseudo second-order kinetics and the Langmuir adsorption isotherms, respectively. Aeration (0.27 l/min) was found to exert a profound effect on the process leading to a 5.5–49.1% enhancement in the performances of plain and metal-impregnated activated carbons. This enhancement could be attributed to the increase in the availability of active sites on activated carbon for adsorption and the catalytic oxidising activity of activated carbon in the presence of oxygen. Practical limiting capacity of plain, copper- and silver-impregnated activated carbons for the removal of cyanide were experimentally determined to be 19.7, 22.4 and 29.6 mg/g, respectively.