DIAGNOSTIC LEACH TEST

&
BOND WORK INDEX
Report Prepared
by
Trust T. Masiya
Institute of Mining Research
University of Zimbabwe
P.O. Box MP167
Mt Pleasant, Harare
Cel. No.: +263772424105
e-mail: trumasiya@gmail.com

For

Tabatana Mines
Mudzi

Contact Person

Evans Masiko
Cel No. +263716998657
e-mail: masikoevans@gmail.com

26 November, 2023

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DIAGNOSTIC LEACH TEST FOR GOLD BEARING TAILINGS DUMP

Disclaimer
The data provided in this report and the associated interpretations offered are based on the
samples made available to the consultant by the client. No assurances can be made by the
Consultant on the representativity of the samples supplied and tested.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Institute of Mining Research was contracted by Tabatana Mine to carry out a metallurgical
test-work of their ores. The scope of the test-work included the chemical characterization,
grindability tests, diagnostic leach test and determination of the Bond Mill Works Index of the
ore.
2. SAMPLE PREPARATION AND HEAD ASSAY
Two different lumpy samples, ~22.2kg grayish and 48kgs brownish were availed for the test-
work. The as-received samples were first sun-dried, followed by crushing to less than 3.325mm,
mixed and homogenized in the ratios they were received. The homogenized samples were split
by a riffle splitter into aliquots of approximately 1.0kg each which were used for the head assay
determinations, sieve analysis, bond work index test and the diagnostic tests. The gold content in
solids were determined by fire assay, other elements by wet methods and gold in solution by the
AAS machine. The diagnostic test was done on the 80% passing 75µm material which was
determined through milling calibration curves.

Figure 1: Supplied ore samples on receiving (left) and after crushing (right)

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3.0 CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF THE ORE
3.1 Head Assays
The head assay values of the samples are presented in Table 1.

Table 1: Head assay values

Parameter Value
Gold (g/ton) 46.7-73.2
Copper (%) 0.04
Nickel (%) 0.01
Lead (%) 0.04
Fe2O3 (%) 8.57
CaO (%) 2.36
SiO2 (%) 73.90
Arsenic (%) 0.01
MgO (%) 0.36
Sb% 0.05

3.2 Extend of Leach with Ore Grinding

The ore crushed to 3.325mm was subjected to grinding at various times in a small laboratory ball
for various times, 5mins, 11mins, 19mins and 20mins. The ground material was subjected to 24hr
bottle roll leaching under the following conditions, 0.2%NaCN, pH 11 and 33% solids. The
results obtained are presented in Table

Table 2: Grind versus leachability

Grind Time (mins) %Passing 75μm Gold Extraction (g/t)

5
60.8 47.4
11
88.6 48.8
19
98.3 55.0
25
99.2 57.0

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4.0 DIAGNOSTIC LEACH METHODOLOGY
The basis for diagnostic leach for gold ores is the mineral specific thermodynamics and kinetic
response in a given lixiviant. The concept of diagnostic leach is simple, in that the least stable
minerals present in the matrix of the sample is eliminated first in aqueous medium using a
selective oxidative leach, after which cyanidation is used to extract the liberated gold by the
destruction of this mineral. The gold extracted can be measured in solution to give a fairly
accurate record of the amount of gold associated with that mineral. The leach residue from the
first stage can be further subjected to a more oxidative acid leach and the process repeated. Gold
remaining in the last stage leach residue is most likely locked or encapsulated in silicate gangue
minerals and probably not recoverable unless adequate liberation can be achieved by finer
grinding.

After the test is completed, a metallurgical balance is calculated to determine the distribution of
gold recovered during each stage of the test. The diagnostic test was done on the homogenized
sample ground to 80% passing 75μm. The test samples and leach residue were analyzed by fire
assay for total gold content whilst the Au in solution by AAS. The schematic presentation of the
test-work and detailed results obtained are presented in Figure 2 and the Appendix I respectively.
Figure 2 shows the sequence and conditions of acid leaching steps proposed in this diagnostic
leach tests.

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Figure 2: Schematic presentation of the diagnostic leach test

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The results of the diagnostic leach of the sample are summarized in Table 2. The results obtained
shows that 97.14% of the gold in the suppied ore is cyanide leachable (i.e. free milling gold). The
head accounted for (HAF) after the diagnostic test-run is 56.93g/ton.

Table 3: Gold distribution in various mineral phases for the two samples
Distribution
Inferred Deportment
g/ton %
Cyanide Soluble 55.30 97.14
Oxides and carbonates & pyrrhotite locked 1.45 2.55
Pyrite, marcasite & arsenopyrite locked 0.02 0.04
Carbonaceous material locked 0.07 0.13
Silicates locked (balance) 0.08 0.14
Total 56.93 100.00

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5.0 BOND WORK INDEX

5.1 Sample Preparation

Approximately 10kg lumpy portions from the as-received ores were sampled (which should be
100% +3.325mm) and stage crushed to 100% passing 3.325mm followed by splitting into
aliquots of ~1kg by use of a riffle splitter. Upon drying the sub-samples, they were ready for use
for the Bond Work Index (BWi) determination.

5.1 Bond Work Index (BWI) Determinations

The feed that has been crushed all to pass 3,325µm (Mesh 6) and the mass of this ore material
packed to 700cc volume is used as the initial charge to the mill and is maintained throughout the
test. For the first grinding cycle, the mill is started with an arbitrarily chosen number of mill
revolutions.
The undersize of the original or new added feed (B) passing the selected test (75µm) is calculated
and recorded (C). At the end of the grinding cycle the ground product is discharged from the mill
and is screened on a test sieve (Pi); the mass of undersize fraction is recorded (E). The oversize
material (>75µm) fraction is returned to the mill for the second run together with fresh
unsegregated feed to make up the original mass corresponding to 700cc. The mass of product
produced per revolution called the ore grindability of the cycle, is then calculated (G) and is used
to estimate the number of revolution required for the second run to be equivalent to a circulation
load of 250% (1/3.5 or 0.286 of the mass equivalent to 700cc target undersize material). This
process is continued until a constant value of ore grindability is achieved, which is the
equilibrium condition. This equilibrium may be reached in 6 to 12 grinding cycles. After reaching
equilibrium, the average of the last three ore grindabilities is taken as the standard Bond
grindability (Gbp) in Equation (1) which gives the Bond Work Index in KWhr/ton.
The products of the total final three cycles are combined to form the equilibrium rest product.
Sieve analysis is carried out on the material and the results are plotted, to obtain 80% passing size
of the product (Pi).
44.5
BWi = 0.23 � 0.82 1 1
(1)
�� �bp �10 −
�80 �80

Where BWi is the Bond ball work index, Pi is the screen test size in microns (75µm), Gbp is the
average net grams undersize (-75µm) per revolution, P80 is the 80% product passing size in
microns and F80 is the 80% feed passing size in microns.

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5.3 RESULTS
This section of the report summarises the stages and results used for the determination of the
Bond ball work index. It is broken into two subsections; sieve analysis and Bond work index
determinations.

5.3.1 Sieve Analysis

Sieve analysis results for the feed material into and product material of the BWi mill are
summarized in the Tables 4 and 5 that follow. The particle-size distribution from the sieve
analysis is plotted on semi-logarithmic chart with the grain size on a log scale and percent finer
on a natural scale; see Figure 3 and 4 which represent the plots for the feed (F) to the BWi mill
and the products (P) for both samples. From these plots the values for P80 and F80 are determined,
see Table 6.

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Table 4: Size distribution for feed (F) material to BWI Mill
Sieve Opening Mass of material retained % Mass retained Cumulative Percent % Finer
(µm) on each sieve M (g) on each sieve, R Retained, ∑R (100-∑R)

3325 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0

2800 306.0 29.1 29.1 70.9
2360 113 10.8 39.9 60.1
2000 95 9.0 48.9 51.1
1000 201 19.1 68.0 32.0
500 102 9.7 77.7 22.3
300 45 4.3 82.0 18.0
150 56 5.3 87.3 12.7
106 24 2.3 89.6 10.4
75 18.0 1.7 91.3 8.7
Pan 91 8.7 100.0 0.0
Total 1051.0 100.0

Figure 3: BWI feed sieve analysis

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Table 5: Size distribution for product (P) material from BWI Mill
Sieve Opening Mass of material retained % Mass retained Cumulative Percent % Finer
(µm) on each sieve M (g) on each sieve, R Retained, ∑R (100-∑R)

75 0 0.0 0.0 100.0

63 110.0 23.5 23.5 76.5
45 135.0 28.8 52.4 47.6
38 22.0 4.7 57.1 42.9
Pan (-45μm) 201.0 42.9 100.0 0.0
Total 468.0 100.0

Figure 4: Sieve analysis for BWI product

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Table 6: Sieve size through which 80% of material passes for both product and feed material

Parameter
F80 Feed 3,000µm
P80 Product 66µm

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5.3.2 Bond Work Index Determinations
Data obtained for the determination of the BWi are summarized in Table 7.

Table 7: Bond ball work index determination

MILL FEED MILL DISCHARGE

A B C D E F G H
Grinding New Feed <75µm <75 Undersize %Circulati
<75µm Revs
Cycle (g) Present Produced (g/rev) on Load
1 1132.0 98.48 100 230.0 131.52 1.315 392.2
2 230.0 20.01 200 284.0 263.99 1.320 298.6
3 284.0 24.71 200 292.0 267.29 1.336 287.7
4 292.0 25.40 200 299.0 273.60 1.368 278.6
5 299.0 26.01 200 311.0 284.99 1.425 264.0
6 311.0 27.06 200 310.5 283.44 1.417 264.6
7 310.5 27.01 200 312.0 284.99 1.425 262.8

NB: The yellow shaded cells shows that the last three cycles gave a constant value of ore grindability
(g/rev)-as required for the calculation of the Bond Work index.

5.3.2.1 Bond Ball Work Index Calculations

Gbp = average grindability g/rev of the last three cycles (5, 6 & 7) {from Table 7)
= (1.425+1.417+1.425)/3
= 1.422g/rev
Pi= 75µm
F80 = 3,000 µm
P80= 66µm
Substituting into Equation 1
BWi = 11.78KWhr/ton

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6.0 CONCLUSIONS
It can be concluded that the bulk of the gold (>97%) is cyanide leachable and the Bond Work
Index of the ore is 11.78kWhr/ton. The gold assay value for the gold ranged between 46.7g/ton to
73.2g/ton indicating great variability within the same sample.

T.T. Masiya

Research Metallurgist

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 APPENDIX I

DIAGNOSTIC LEACH TEST

GOLD DEPORTMENT

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Diagnostic Leach test work-sheet:
Tabatana
ppm mg mg g/ton %
Stage Diagnostic Weight Loss Au in
Description Product Quantity
Sequence Au in Soltn (ppm) soltn Au in soltn adj extraction Au Distribution Adj. Weight (g)
(g) (%)
Feed (g) 600
Intensive
Cyanidable gold Residue
Cyanidation Leach 0.00 0
(g) 600 55.3 33.180 33.180 55.30 97.14 600.00
Feed (g) 592.0
HCl Pre-treatment Au in oxide, carbonate &
+ cyanidation pyrhotite Residue
512.0 80.00 13.51
(g) 1.68 0.860 0.872 1.45 2.55 518.92
Feed (g) 496.0
HNO3pre-treatment Au associated with, pyrite,
+ cyanidation marcasite & arsenopyrite Residue
468.0 28.00 5.65
(g) 0.03 0.014 0.015 0.02 0.04 489.63
Feed (g) 464.0
Roasting +
Au in carbonaceous material Residue
cyanidation 453.0 11.00 2.37
(g) 0.09 0.041 0.043 0.07 0.13 478.02
Au in silicate minerals Feed (g) 453.0 0 0.00 0.1 0.045 0.048 0.08 0.14 478.02
34.157 56.93 100.00

NB: It is important to note that diagnostic leaching will not ever replace mineralogical evaluations as it cannot selectively leach only one mineral. It only suggests with which group of minerals the
gold is associated with. For example during the acid digestion steps it can be identified that the majority of the gold is associated either with hydrochloric acid digestible minerals (such as pyrhotite,
calcite, dolomite, galena, goethite, calcium carbonate, and may also include calcine, hematite and ferrites) or with nitric acid digestible minerals (arsenonpyrite, pyrite and marcasite)

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