Implementation of a New Leaching Approach for the Treatment
of KCGM Gold Flotation Concentrate†
G Deschênes1, S Ellis2, J McMullen3 and M Habner4
ABSTRACT
A new leaching regime was implemented at Kalgoorlie Consolidated
Gold Mines’ (KCGM) Gidji plant on a cyanide leach of ultra-fine ground
sulfide concentrate. High lime concentration and lead nitrate were used to
overcome the refractoriness of the fine sulfides (high reactivity of fine
sulfides with the presence of gold tellurides). The leach pretreatment
stage was shown to be detrimental and was shut down. Lime titration was
introduced as part of the process control. It was shown that the leach
could be performed at low dissolved oxygen, (ie 3 - 5 ppm) to avoid
sulfide oxidation and the associated high cyanide and lime consumption.
Plant results showed reduced cyanide consumption (40 per cent) and an
accelerated leaching rate, whereby most of the gold was dissolved in 24
hours compared to 72 hours used previously.
Similar work was performed at KCGM’s Fimiston plant, which
leached a combined ultra-fine ground sulfide concentrate along with the
slimes fraction from hydrocycloning the bulk flotation concentrate.
The use of lead nitrate, high lime and carbon-in-leach generated a faster
leaching rate and minimised adsorption of gold on fine pyrite particles.
The grind, previously controlled with a P80, was replaced by a P98 to give
a better operational indication of top size hydrocyclone performance.
Before the implementation of the changes, average leach residues for
slimes and UFG were respectively 4.0 g/t and 5.5 g/t. With the
modifications to the leaching regime, average leach residues were lower
by 1.5 - 2.0 g/t.
Whilst significant improvements have been demonstrated, further work
is progressing at KCGM to further reduce ultra-fine concentrate leach tail
grades, and also to improve the understanding of concentrate
refractoriness and the factors responsible for differences between
laboratory and plant leach results. Estimated profits since the
implementation of the new approach are in the range of $A3.5 million per
year.
INTRODUCTION
The increasing sulfide content of the ore in the Superpit resulted
in more gold pyrite concentrate being produced than the capacity
of the roasters. This forced Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines
(KCGM), the largest gold producer in Australia, to develop a
parallel processing alternative to roasting for the treatment of the
refractory gold concentrate. Ultra-fine grinding (UFG) was the
technology selected to process part of the increased concentrate
tonnage (Ellis and Gao, 2002).
The leaching of the UFG (P80 of 12 µm), required long
retention time (72 hours), produced high-grade leach residues
with a high reagent consumption rate. The average gold content
of the UFG leach residue was in the range of 5.5 - 6.0 g/t with
12 - 15 kg/t cyanide consumed (Nelson, 2001a).
A project was initiated to determine if a more efficient
leaching strategy could be developed with the objective of
maximising gold recovery while minimising processing costs.
1. Mining and Mineral Sciences Laboratories, CANMET, Natural
Resources Canada, 555 Booth Street, Ottawa Ontario K1A 0G1,
Canada. Email: gdeschen@nrcan.gc.ca
2. Barrick Gold of Australia, Locked Bag 12 Cloisters Square, Perth
WA 6850.
3. Barrick Gold, Bay Street, Toronto Ontario M5J 2J3, Canada.
4. Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines, Private Mail Bag 27,
Kalgoorlie WA 6433.
† © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2005.
First Extractive Metallurgy Operators’ Conference Brisbane, QLD, 7 - 8 November 2005
The results of the laboratory investigation are presented in detail
in a recent manuscript by Deschênes et al (2005a). It was found
that a leaching in a high lime concentration with the addition of
lead nitrate reduced cyanide consumption while producing a
faster leaching rate.
The objectives of this phase two was to test and to implement
the new leaching strategy at the Gidji and Fimiston sites and to
simultaneously perform site laboratory work to improve the
understanding of the leaching system. The results are presented
in this paper.
APPROACH
Laboratory tests, pilot plant campaigns and plant trials were
operated in parallel to implement, assess and improve the
leaching technology. The first material that was studied was the
ultra-fine grind sulfide concentrate (UFG). Pilot plant and plant
trials on the UFG were performed at the Gidji site. The second
material assessed was the slime component of the sulfide
flotation concentrate with a pilot plant and plant trial performed
at the Fimiston site. The pilot plant trials were performed
simultaneously with the plant trial and were used to supply
additional information to the production circuit.
Laboratory testwork
Fimiston UFG and Fimiston slimes were used for this testwork.
Experiments were conducted on fresh samples and on pulp split
samples stored for no longer than 14 days to avoid the potential
effect of aging. The pulp density of the sample was adjusted
prior to the start of each test. The gold content, P80, sulfur, iron
and copper content were used to characterise the head samples.
The UFG had a P80 between 12.5 and 14.6 microns with gold,
sulfide, copper and iron respectively at 30.4 g/t to 46.3 g/t,
23 per cent to 35 per cent, 1.4 per cent to 3.4 per cent and
10 per cent to 20 per cent. Iron and copper sulfide are present as
pyrite and chalcopyrite. The typical composition of the slime
samples was: 17.6 to 33.0 g/t Au, 6.9 per cent to 14.7 per cent S,
1.0 per cent to 2.4 per cent Cu and 3.9 per cent to 21 per cent Fe
with a P80 between 10.5 to 12.5 microns.
The gold deportment in the pyrite concentrate is considered to
be one-third free gold, one-third gold tellurides (mainly
calaverite) and one-third fine gold included in pyrite or
submicroscopic gold in pyrite (Chrysoulis, 1998).
Experiments were run in 1L or 2L capacity glass jacketed
leaching cells depending upon the volume of pulp. The
temperature was maintained at 35ºC by circulating water from a
thermobath through the cell’s jacket. Pulp density was
40 per cent by solids weight. The cell has a cover with four
openings that allow for the insertion of pH and dissolved oxygen
(DO) electrodes, an agitator and a tube for gas addition. Carbon
conditioning was performed by rolling in a bottle with water for
12 hours.
Mixing was initially conducted by an agitator with a carbon
impeller with large blades to minimise carbon attrition. The
material was introduced into the leaching cell and conditioned
for a few minutes. Preattrited carbon was introduced. Lime
concentration was monitored by titration with oxalic acid. When
lead nitrate was added during preleaching, it was introduced
immediately after the start of mixing. No filtering was done after
this stage and the cyanidation used the same pulp.
35
G DESCHÊNES et al

Cyanidation tests were either 22 or 24 hours in duration. Solid
and liquid samples were collected at regular intervals throughout
the leach for monitoring, and adjustment of cyanide concentration
or lime concentration through titration with AgNO3 and oxalic
acid respectively. The gold assays of solids were used to
determine the leaching kinetics. The concentration of dissolved
oxygen (DO) was maintained by adjusting the flow of an air and
oxygen mixture with a mass flow controller.
Pulp samples were passed through either a 841 microns or a
595 microns screen to recover carbon and filtered to obtain a tails
solution for assay. The final filter cake was then washed with a
volume of distilled water equivalent to the volume of the original
pulp and analysed for precious metals by fire assay after it was
dried and homogenised. The controlled value of the free cyanide
concentration and lime concentration are an average obtained by
the summation of the adjusted content values (Ci) multiplied by
the time interval (delta t) divided by the total time (ΣCi ∆ti/t). The
value of the gold extraction is based on the gold content values of
the processed tails compared to the single gold content value of
the head sample. Gold concentrations in solution were used to
calculate the extraction kinetic plots for regular cyanidation tests.
The leach solution and wash solutions were titrated for free
cyanide with silver nitrate using rhodamine as an indicator, and
then assayed for gold and base metals (Fe, Cu) by atomic
absorption spectroscopy. The calculation of the cyanide
consumption was based on no recycling of the cyanide.
Because of the uncertainty in the effect of aging, various
samples were collected. Comparison of results between various
sets of samples must be performed with caution as sample
variability could not be assessed between each sampling event.
The initial leaching conditions tested in the plant were: 30 kg/t
lime, 1000 g/t lead nitrate, DO 4 - 5 ppm, 15 g/L carbon, 2500
ppm NaCN, 35°C. These conditions were considered as baseline
conditions from the laboratory work.
Pilot plants operated at Gidji and Fimiston used a split
approach. One leach train used the base line conditions while the
second train modified one leaching parameter. The Gidji plant
trial alternatively added and stopped lead nitrate addition and
compared the leaching profiles and final leach residues.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
UFG
The effect of lead nitrate on laboratory leaching of the UFG is
illustrated in Table 1. From 1000 g/t lead nitrate to 200 g/t and to
no lead nitrate, the gold extraction decreased from 89.2 per cent
to 88.2 per cent and 87.2 per cent (Tests 1, 2 and 3, leach
residues increased by respectively 0.4 and 0.7 g/t Au). The
cyanide consumption increased by 0.4 and 0.7 kg/t respectively.
The leaching kinetics were reduced with a decreased addition of
lead nitrate. The systems with 0 and 200 g/t lead nitrate did not
reach a steady state within 24 hours while the system using
1000 g/t lead nitrate reached a steady state in only six hours.
A 15-hour conditioning with lime and oxygen also proved
detrimental on the gold extraction by significantly increasing the
gold content of the leach residue by 3.4 g/t Au (Figure 1).
A decrease of gold extraction occurred with the increase of the
grind, from a P80 of 12.5 microns to 14.6 microns (Tests 3 and 5).
The final gold content of the leach residue increased from 3.9 g/t
Au to 5.1 g/t Au. This comparison is not totally rigorous because
the sulfide content of initial feed is not the same (sulfide content
and head grades are different).
A decrease in the free cyanide concentration from 2500 ppm
NaCN to 1700 ppm NaCN did not affect the overall gold
extraction, which remained at 88.7 - 89.0 per cent (leach residue
at 3.8 g/t Au, tests 6 - 8) but which did result in a 30 per cent
reduction of cyanide consumption. At 1400 ppm NaCN, the gold
extraction decreased to 87.5 per cent (residue at 4.5 g/t Au).

TABLE 1
Results of cyanidation experiments on UFG and slimes.

Material S P80 [C] Pb(NO3)2 CaO DO NaCN NaCN Residue

(%) ( m) (g/L) (g/t) (kg/t) (ppm) (ppm) (kg/t) (g/t Au)
1 UFG 33.0 12.5 30 0 30 4-5 2500 8.7 4.65
2 UFG 33.0 12.5 30 200 30 4-5 2500 8.4 4.28
3 UFG 33.0 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 8.0 3.93
4 UFG† 33.0 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 7.9 7.31
5 UFG 30.0 14.6 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 8.7 5.12
6 UFG 24.1 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 9.0 3.79
7 UFG 24.1 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2000 7.8 3.71
8 UFG 24.1 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 1700 6.4 3.82
9 UFG 24.1 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 1400 5.6 4.49
10 Slimes 7.7 10.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 11.7 1.40
11 Slimes 6.9 11.6 20 1000 30 4-5 2500 9.1 1.69
12 Slimes 6.9 11.6 0 1000 30 4-5 2500 9.2 2.04
13 Slimes 7.7 10.5 30 500 30 4-5 2500 12.9 1.40
14 Slimes 14.7 12.5 30 500 30 30 2500 11.8 3.36
15 Slimes 14.7 12.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 11.3 3.48
16 Slimes 14.7 12.5 30 200 30 4-5 2500 11.7 4.01
17 Slimes 14.7 10.5 30 1000 30 4-5 2500 10.5 1.18
18 Slimes 14.7 10.5 30 1000 30 4-5 1700 - 1.18
19 Slimes 14.7 10.5 30 1000 30 4-5 1200 5.3 1.02
20 Slimes 14.7 10.5 30 1000 30 4-5 700 4.4 1.14

† Pretreated.

36 Brisbane, QLD, 7 - 8 November 2005 First Extractive Metallurgy Operators’ Conference

 IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW LEACHING APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF KCGM GOLD FLOTATION CONCENTRATE
100
80
Au Extraction (%)
Pretreatment, tail 7.31 g/t Au, 7.9 kg/t NaCn
60
12. 5 microns, tail 3.93 g/t Au, 8.0 kg/t NaCN
40
20
0
0 6 12
Time (h)
FIG 1 - Effect of the pretreatment on leaching of the UFG.
A new leaching regime was implemented at KCGM in June
2002 for the treatment of the UFG at the Gidji leaching circuit.
Lime concentration was maintained above 600 ppm and lead
nitrate was added at a rate of 1.0 kg/t. The UFG was initially
preconditioned for 24 hours and leached with cyanide for 96
hours. Plant leaching profiles indicated that leaching rates were
faster and leach residues had a lower gold content. Figure 2
shows the difference in gold extraction with and without lead
nitrate in function of the nature of the feed. There is a decrease
of 1.2 - 1.7 g/t Au with the addition of lead nitrate.
14
12
10
Tails, g/t Au
8
6
4
2
0 database gold in pyrite is 6.8 g/t so for this example, the leach
20 30 40 50 60
Feed grade, g/t Au
FIG 2 - Effect of lead nitrate addition on the leach residue at
various feed grade for leaching of UFG at the Gidji Roaster.
1000 g/t lead nitrate.
The parameters assessed in the Gidji September pilot plant
trials were: dissolved oxygen, lead nitrate, free cyanide and pulp
density. Based on laboratory results and pilot plant results
(Habner, 2002), the pretreatment was stopped in the fall of
September 2002. The gold content of the leach residue was
reduced below 5.0 g/t in the second leach tank. The cyanide
control level was gradually reduced from 2500 - 2700 ppm
NaCN to 2000 - 2200 ppm NaCN in 15 days. The cyanide
consumption decreased from 12.7 kg/t to 7.7 kg/t (Figure 3).
However, in spite of these modifications, gold leaching rates
obtained in the laboratory were always faster that at the plant
scale. While a steady state was obtained in 12 - 24 hours in the
laboratory, the plant circuit could not reach it before 60 - 72
hours.
The variation in the performance of the cyclones was
identified as an additional factor on limiting gold extraction.
The leaching performance of the UFG is affected by the size
of the particles presented to the leach and also by the relative
amounts of free gold, telluride gold and gold locked in pyrite.
First Extractive Metallurgy Operators’ Conference
16.0
Cyanide Consumption (kg/t)
14.0
12.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
4.0
2.0
-
18 24 Apr-02 May-02 Jun-02 Jul-02 Aug-02 Sep-02 Oct-02
Time (months)
FIG 3 - Cyanide consumption of the Gidji Roaster UFG leaching
circuit during the implementation of the new leaching strategy.
Mineralogical examination of laboratory leached 10 µm material
showed almost all of the gold in the residue to be associated with
gold locked in pyrite and not amenable to further cyanidation.
It was therefore possible to develop a model to predict the leach
tail grade based on the quantity of pyrite in the sample (per cent S)
and the particular grind size (P80) from large numbers of
laboratory tests of material with differing sulfur grades and grind
sizes. The key model assumption was that free and telluride gold
would be successfully leached and that the base quantity of gold
was intimately locked in pyrite and unavailable to cyanidation,
was constant:
Predicted Leach Tail (g/t) = (3.8 * ln(P80) - 2.68) * per cent S/53
where the per cent S/53 determines the relative amount of pyrite
in the sample, ie a pure pyrite sample would assay 53 per cent S.
An alternative method whereby a leach result could be quickly
compared with the theoretical leach results is to assign all of the
gold in the leach tail to the mass of pyrite present. For example,
if a sample contained 30 per cent S, then the percentage pyrite in
the sample mass would be per cent S/53 or 56.6 per cent. Thus
ON, as g/t for a leach residue grade of 5.0 g/t, assuming again that all of the
OFF, as g/t
gold was contained in the pyrite, the grade of the pyrite would be
8.8 g/t (5.0/0.566). At 12 µm grind and 30 per cent S, the
Linear (OFF, as g/t)
Linear (ON, as g/t)
70 80 90 100
was not able to recover all of the free or telluride gold due to
factors such as gold passivation during leach or inadequate
residence time.
In addition, the pulp density was decreased from 40 per cent to
37 per cent and 27 per cent. With these changes, the plant
leaching rate was improved to a level equivalent to those
obtained in the laboratory and plant leach residues were
equivalent to a laboratory leach residues (Figure 4).
The use of high lime concentration makes the slurry viscous.
The use of a lighter pulp density increased the mass transfer of
reagents at the solid-liquid interface and consequently assisted
the improvement the gold leaching kinetics. Overall gold
recoveries were improved and the final gold content of tailings
were reduced below 4.0 g/t. At the start of this project, it was
considered impossible to reduce the gold content of tailings
below 5.0 g/t.
Slimes
Prior to being finely ground in the IsaMill, the sulfide
concentrate is deslimed. The slimes are mixed with the UFG
before entering into the leaching circuit. The sulfide content of
the slimes is, on average, three times lower than for the UFG.
Because the pyrite content of the slimes is much lower, it was of
interest to determine if a CIL approach is necessary. Figure 5
shows the effect of carbon concentration on the gold leaching
Brisbane, QLD, 7 - 8 November 2005 37
G DESCHÊNES et al

100 of P80 = 12 µm, 20 per cent is coarser than 12 µm but the number
contains no information on just how coarse these particles are.
Figures 6 and 7 show a sizing curve for samples with the same
80 P80 of 12 µm. However, it can be seen that one sample has
significantly more coarse material than the other. A more
informative way to measure the quantity of coarse material
Air Extraction (%)

grade 45.6 g/t, tails 3.87 g/t

60
grade 37.8 g/t, tails 4.08 g/t
grade 31.3 g/t, tails 2.90 g/t
grade: 21.6 g/t, tails 2.73 g/t
40
escaping a hydrocylone is the P98. In the example shown, the
relative P98’s for the two samples are 25 µm and 45 µm, which
highlights the difference in the quantity of coarse material
present.

Particle Size Distribution

105
20 100
95
90
85
80
0 75

Volume (%)
0 12 24 36 48 70
65
Time (h) 60
55
50
FIG 4 - Leaching kinetics of a mixture of UFG and slimes in CIL 1, 45
40
Fimiston, June 2003 (pulp density: 27 - 37 per cent weight). 35
30
25
20
100 15
10
5
0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 3000
80
Particle Size (µm)
Au Extraction (%)

c 14/9 15' of, Wed, 07 May 2003 09:36:58

60 c 22/9 12 of, Wed, 07 May 2003 09:33:28

40
FIG 6 - Cumulative size distribution for two samples with same P80.
Carbon 30 g/L, tail 1.40 g/t Au, P80 10.5 microns, NaCN 11.7 kg/t
Carbon 20g/L, tail 1.69 g/t Au, P80 11.6 microns, NaCN 9.1 kg/t Particle Size Distribution
20
No Carbon, tail 2.04 g/t Au, P80 11.6 microns, NaCN 9.2 kg/t 7.5
7
0 6.5

0 6 12 18 24 6

Time (hrs) 5.5

5
Volume (%)

4.5
FIG 5 - Effect of carbon concentration on leaching of slimes.
4
3.5
rate (laboratory test). The figure indicates that the leaching 3

profiles are similar at 20 g/L carbon and 30 g/L carbon (tests 10 2.5
2
and 11). The gold content of the leach tails did not change much
1.5
with a value of 1.40 g/t with 30 g/L carbon and 1.69 g/t with
1
20 g/L carbon. Further testwork on a different sample indicated 0.5
that 10 g/L carbon was efficient also. 0
0.01 0.1 1 10 100 1000 3000
A significant reduction of leaching rate occurred in the Particle Size (µm)
absence of carbon. Gold extraction was reduced by 20 per cent in c 14/9 15' of, Wed, 07 May 2003 09:36:58
the first few hours of leaching in the absence of carbon (test 12 in c 22/9 12 of, Wed, 07 May 2003 09:33:28
Table 1). This reduction disappeared over the duration of the test
and the final gold content of the leach residue was 0.4 g/t higher FIG 7 - Individual size distribution for two samples with same P80.
in the absence of carbon after 24 hours leaching (2.04 g/t versus
1.69 g/t Au). Because the leaching kinetics are very different Another indirect measure of poor hydrocyclone performance
with and without carbon, it is felt that this 0.35 g/t improvement in the desliming circuit is the amount of sulfide material
is statistically significant. reporting to the cyclone overflow, as measured by per cent S.
The success of the leach of slimes is affected by the The high specific gravity (SG) fractions contain free gold,
hydrocyclones efficiency. Some short circuiting of the hydrocylone telluride gold and sulfides, preferentially report to the underflow,
occurs even with good operational practice. However, if the whereas the lighter, lower SG gangue fraction is the chief
cyclone is operated close to roping conditions (too small spigot component of the overflow. Poor cyclone operation will result in
size and/or too high a cyclone feed density) some underflow an increased portion of the underflow being directed to the
material is forced to report to the overflow. The effect of overflow with a resultant increase in both gold and sulfur
misclassification on the leaching rate of gold bearing particles bearing.
can be very large. One 100 µm particle contains 1000 times more A slime product with more pyrite generates a leach residue
mass than of a 10 µm particle and takes ten times longer for with a higher gold grade as illustrated by Figure 8 (laboratory
complete leaching to occur. A leach feed material size is data). The sulfide content of the feed increased from 7.7 per cent
normally measured using P80, which measures at what sizing, 80 to 14.7 per cent because of the poor performance of
per cent of the material will pass if screened. For a nominal grind hydrocyclones. Consequently, coarser material was sent to the

38 Brisbane, QLD, 7 - 8 November 2005 First Extractive Metallurgy Operators’ Conference

 IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW LEACHING APPROACH FOR THE TREATMENT OF KCGM GOLD FLOTATION CONCENTRATE
100
80
Air Extraction (%)
60
40
7.7% S, P80 10.5 microns, tail 1.40 g/t Au, 12.9 kg/t NaCN
20
14.7%S, P80 12.5 microns, tail 3.40 g/t Au, 11.8 kg/t NaCN
0 the improvement of dissolution rate and the importance of
0 6 12 18
Time (h)
FIG 8 - Effect of the grind and sulfide content on the leaching of
slimes.
leach. The gold is not liberated from coarse pyrite with a poor
leach of coarse calaverite (test 13 and 14, Table 1). An increase
of 2.0 g/t Au was noticed in the final tails (1.4 to 3.4 g/t).
The feed at 7.7 per cent sulfide has a P80 of 10.5 microns and the
feed with 14.7 per cent sulfide has a P80 of 12.5 microns.
The measurement of the P80 does not reflect the problem
related to classification as much as the measurement of the
sulfide content of the feed. Whilst the grind was only increased
by two microns, from 10.5 to 12.5 microns, the reduced leach
result is due mostly to the higher sulfur content where more gold
is intimately locked in the pyrite and unavailable for contact with
the cyanide solution.
The effect of lead nitrate addition was conducted on slimes
containing 14.7 per cent S at a grind of 12.5 microns (tests 14,
15, 16, Table 1). Decreasing lead nitrate from 1000 g/t to 500 g/t
did not affect the overall extraction (final leach residues 3.4 and
3.5 g/t Au). However, a decrease in lead nitrate to 200 g/t
resulted in a reduced gold extraction with a higher residue
(4.0 g/t). Lowering the carbon concentration from 30 g/L to
10 g/L, did not affect the gold extraction.
The decrease in free cyanide concentration from 2500 ppm
NaCN to 700 ppm NaCN did not have a detrimental effect on
gold dissolution (tests 18 - 20). Gold was efficiently leached with
a free cyanide concentration as low as 700 ppm NaCN (average).
The final gold content of leach residues were in the range of 1.02
- 1.18 g/t.
A pilot plant trial (three months, Fall 2002) on the leaching of
slimes was run at Fimiston prior to the plant trial. The variation
on the nature of the feed made impossible to come with leaching
conditions different than for the leaching of the UFG. This result
was rather unusual because the slimes have a much lower pyrite
content than the UFG.
Using the same leaching conditions as the UFG, but with a
CIL, the plant trial was conducted in the fall of 2002 for the
Fimiston circuit. The first trial was stopped because of cyclones
problems (generation of coarse particles). Further attempts were
successful and finally a mixture of UFG and slimes were leached
together efficiently (Figure 4). The close monitoring and
improvement of cyclones performance and the use of a P98
contributed to the improvement of gold extraction.
At the beginning of the project (October 2001), plant data
indicated an average gold content of slimes leach residues at
5.8 g/t (Nelson, 2001b). Because of difficulties experienced with
First Extractive Metallurgy Operators’ Conference Brisbane, QLD, 7 - 8 November 2005
slimes leaching, the plant trial at the fall of 2002 did not target a
leach residue lower than 4.5 g/t Au. Improvements of circuits
classification and leach monitoring demonstrated that a leach
residue on slimes could be generated below 4.0 - 3.5 g/t Au,
depending on the sulfur content. When the slimes were floated to
reduce the sulfide content, leach values as low as 0.8 g/t were
obtained in laboratory testwork.
A recent study on synthesised calaverite showed that its
leaching rate decreases significantly with a lime concentration
below 600 ppm. The problem associated with leaching at low pH
is the formation of tellurium oxide on grains of calaverite.
The work also demonstrated the positive effect of lead nitrate on
24
increasing lead nitrate dosage with the concentration of pyrite
(Deschênes et al, 2005b).
CONCLUSIONS
The overall gold extraction of KCGM sulfide concentrate was
improved by the implementation of a new leaching regime, using
a high lime concentration (> 600 ppm) and lead nitrate (1.0 kg/t).
The preconditioning of the UFG was shut down because of its
detrimental effect and the cyanide consumption was reduced by
40 per cent. Leaching the UFG with a low dissolved oxygen
concentration (ie 3 - 5 ppm) did not present an issue and avoided
high consumptions of lime and cyanide. The slime product could
be leached with a higher DO because of its lower reactivity.
Other critical parameters to optimise the leaching performance
were the classification and the use of a lower pulp density to
minimise mass transfer problems due to high viscosity of the
slurry. The grind, previously controlled with a P80 was replaced
by a P98.
The carbon-in-leach circuit of Fimiston generated a faster
leaching rate. The slimes plant trial showed that this material is
less refractory than expected and that a leach residue of 2.5 g/t or
less could be produced. The presence of carbon in the leach is
believed to minimise the adsorption of gold on fine pyrite.
The implementation of the new leaching strategy reduced the
gold content of the leach residues by 1.5 - 2.0 g/t. Many
unknowns remain and additional efforts are required to continue
improving the treatment of sulfide concentrate.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge Mark Kearns, Nicole
Turton-White, Eleonora Swist and Hai Guo for their participation
in the project.
REFERENCES
Chrysoulis, S, 1998. Amtel report 98/26.
Deschênies, G, McMullen, J, Ellis, S, Fulton, M and Atkin, A, 2005a.
Investigation on the cyanide leaching optimization for the treatment
of KCGM gold flotation concentrate – Phase 1, Minerals
Engineering, 18:832-838.
Deschênes, G, Pratt, A, Fulton, M and Guo, H, 2005b. Kinetics and
mechanism of leaching synthetic calaverite in cyanide solutions,
Annual SME 2005, Salt Lake City, February, SME preprint 05-47.
Ellis, S and Gao, M, 2002. The development of ultra fine grinding at
KCGM, 2002 SME Annual Meeting, Phoenix Arizona, February,
Preprint 02-072.
Habner, M, 2002. Gidji UFG Leach pilot leach trail, KCGM report,
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