Specialists at the Kazmekhanobr centre, led by Baurzhan Surimbaev, have developed a new processing method for hard-to-treat gold-bearing raw materials. Laboratory tests have confirmed its effectiveness: metal recovery rates increase while processing costs decrease.
Refractory ores — deposits from which gold is difficult to extract — present a challenge for gold miners worldwide. A portion of gold reserves occurs in forms that standard leaching methods cannot adequately process. The Kazakhstani researchers have proposed a differentiated approach depending on ore type.
For oxidised ores, they applied a preliminary chemical treatment with specialised reagents prior to the leaching stage, opening up the gold and converting it into a soluble form. For sulphide ores, which are traditionally considered even more challenging, the team developed an intensive cyanidation technology that not only increases the share of recovered metal but also reduces losses in tailings — the waste material from ore processing.
The scientists also identified substitutes for some expensive reagents, replacing them with more affordable alternatives — a step that should significantly improve the method’s economic appeal for industry.
The research findings have already been published in international peer-reviewed journals, reflecting recognition by the scientific community. The next stage is industrial trials. If successful, the technology could be adopted at mining and processing plants across Kazakhstan and potentially beyond.
For a country with substantial gold reserves, developing its own effective methods for refractory ore processing is an important step toward improving mining profitability and reducing dependence on imported solutions.
Source: @zolteh
Image: Kazmekhanobr
