Estudio de factibilidad para la recuperación de oro por el método de lixiviación en pilas - cianuración llevado en la planta de beneficio de la empresa Oroconcent S.A., ubicada en el sector El Tablón del cantón Portovelo en la provincia de El Oro – caso de estudio: “Mina Pique”.

Abstract

The main objective of the current research work was to develop a feasibility study for the recovery of gold through the heap leaching and cyanidation methods applied to the processing plant of the OROCONCENT SA Company, located in “El Tablón” Portovelo County, “El Oro” Province. The case study called “Mina Pique” used metallurgical tests including a detailed economic evaluation useful to determine the project feasibility. The technical feasibility was carried out through tests of cyanidation in bottles, and then column leaching and the economic evaluation were carried out using typical economic indicators such as: the NPV and the IRR. As result from the bottle test, it obtained 94.4% metal recovery and from the column test 90.88% with a cyanide concentration of 800 ppm for both cases. The operating costs vary from 4 to 20 USD/TM with a capital return time after the third year of its implementation; taking into account that the method does not require grinding due to the necessary granulometry is adequate from the start of the material made in blasting; nor is it essential specialized manpower for the reagents control, besides uses low energy consumption and little water is required reducing production costs. It concludes that leaching minerals with precious metals extracted from the “Mina Pique” is technically and economically feasible, due to the short investment recovery time and the feasibility of extracting low-grade minerals by the heap leaching method where the economic resources are scarce and investment is a key factor. Finally, it recommends further technical studies for the sizing of the heap and the irrigation system for a complete implementation of the process.