Study of Gold Extraction Based on Ore Characteristics using Hydrometallurgy in PT XYZ

Abstract Gold extraction is a vital process in the mining industry, as gold is a valuable and highly sought-after metal. A detailed mineralogical and characteristics study of refractory gold ores from PT XYZ was conducted. The primary components of refractory ores were silicates, carbonates, oxides, carbon, and sulfides. Because refractory ore contains contaminants that impact gold recovery, pre-treatment is necessary before processing to maximize gold recovery. To maximize the percentage of gold recovery, the refractory ore type in this study will be subjected to a pre-treatment technique called roasting, which attempts to reduce the sulfur content and alter the porosity of the ore. The hydrometallurgical method of extracting gold used in this research is cyanide; this technique was selected since it is the most technologically efficient way in the mining sector to date. Five ores were employed in this study: A, B, C, D, and E were obtained from PT XYZ in Indonesia. Based on laboratory and experiment testing using XRD, XRF, ICP, LECO & DLT (Diagnostic Leach Test), it concluded that sample A was free milling ore with a percent extraction of Au 95%. However, samples B, C, D, and E are refractories of the ore type, which need to be roasted before processing. Sample B had the highest percentage of gold extraction (89%), in the refractory type ore after roasting.