EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY OF GOLD

1. Historical Introduction
Fathi Habashi
Laval University, Quebec City, Canada

Gold has a special place among metals

It
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is the oldest metal exploited by man

plays an important role in world economics
caused wars and unprecedented mass migrations
was responsible for creating many large cities
is highly prized
has been the inspiration of numerous myths
was the ultimate goal of alchemists
is stored in the vaults of banks
is widely on display in oriental bazaars
is generously used in decorating religious buildings.

That is why prospectors and adventurers r

GOLD

First exploited by the ancient Egyptians

The basis of currency
Mass migrations to USA, Canada, Australia, etc.
San Francisco, Johannesburg, Sydney, Denver, etc.
An ounce costs $ 1800

The Golden Fleece

The alchemists transmutation of metals

In Banks

Oriental bazaar

Gold in ancient world

Melting of gold

Beating of gold

Gold foil

Gold and the alchemists

Gold occurred in nature in the native state and simple panning was enough to collect the glittering pa
However, since this required great patience and hard work, the alchemists thought of a faster way: tra
When an alchemist dipped a piece of iron into a solution of copper vitriol, i.e., copper sulfate, the iron
This apparent transmutation of iron into copper is represented in modern terms by the equation:
Cu2+ + Fe Cu + Fe2+

How can the transmutation of iron or copper int

Gold, the most noble of all metals, was insoluble in all acids

Aqua Regia

It was the Arab alchemist Jabir Ibn Hayyan (720-813 AD) who discovered that a mixture of hydrochlor
In modern terms the action of the mixture is due to chlorine and nitrosyl chloride:
3HCl + HNO3 Cl2
+ NOCl + 2H2O

Amalgamation process
Ore
Water
Grinding in Arrastres

NaCl + CuSO4

Mixing in Patio
Mercury
Amalgamation in Patio

Water
Washing in Lavaderos

Gangue slurry

Mercury + Amalgam
Squeezing through canvas

Amalgam
Storage

Mercury
Distillation

Melting & Casting

Ingots

Mercury had the importance of petroleum today because of its use to extrac
Gold and silver were used for jewllery but also for minting coins needed by th

The arrastra

Mixing in patio

Retorting

Stamp mill

Amalgamation table

Plattner process

Chlorine water or bleaching powder acidified with dilute sulfuric acid were used as e
In this process, a solution of AuCl3 was obtained, from which gold was precipitated b

Patera process

The Patera Process, was also used at about the same time especially for silver ores.
The ore was roasted with sodium chloride to convert silver to silver chloride, and was then leached with wat
Sodium thiosulfate solution, Na2S2O3, was then applied to dissolve silver chloride in a way similar to its use i