LEACHING OF A SILVER BEARING SULFIDE BY-PRODUCT WITH CYANIDE, THIOUREA AND CHLORIDE SOLUTIONS

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1995

Authors

Manuel Fonseca Almeida (Author) FEUP; AMARANTE, MA (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Minerals Engineering

Vol. 8

Pages: 257-271

ISSN: 0892-6875

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 14 Citations

Scopus - 14 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-H8A

DOI: 10.1016/0892-6875(94)00124-u

Abstract (EN): The aim of this research was to increase the value of sulphide tailings assaying 1000-1500 g/ton Ag per tonne and high arsenic (about 13%) content. The sulphides were characterized and it was verified that silver occurs both as mathildite, AgBiS2, and in solid solution in galena. Three alternative routes were assessed: cyanidation, thiourea leaching and chloride leaching. The cyanidation route showed that there was a high consumption of cyanide and led to the formation of an insoluble compound of silver thiocyanate. The leaching with thiourea was achieved without the introduction of Fe3+ but it is not an economically viable route. Chloride leaching of the product in its original particle grain size showed very good extraction even without addition of Fe3+. Operating under [Cl-]greater-than-or-equal-to3 M at 80-90-degrees-C for at least 3 h it was possible to dissolve 60-80% of the total silver, and higher recoveries of lead and bismuth were also achieved.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 15