Evaluación de la aplicabilidad del agente Lixiviante Gold Max para la concentración de oro a escala laboratorio en minerales sulfurados procedentes de los distritos mineros Camilo Ponce Enriquez y Chinapintza

Abstract

The use of cyanide for gold recovery has demonstrated its profitability. However, it decreases its efficiency in the selectivity of gold during its recovery when there is the presence of sulfide minerals; so, the mining industry is looking for alternatives to cyanide to solve the problem. This project aimed to evaluate the applicability of the Gold Max leaching agent in comparison with sodium cyanide for the concentration of gold in sulfide ores from the Camilo Ponce Enriquez and Chinapintza mining districts. The methodology was based on a mineralogical characterization of the samples through a bibliographical review and physical and chemical methods. The leaching tests were conducted at a laboratory scale by applying the Gold Max and Sodium Cyanide lixiviants, varying the concentration in 1000, 2000, and 2500 ppm, followed by metallurgical indexes evaluation. The selectivity analysis between the reagents was finally conducted, considering the concentration of cyanide elements and valuable metals in the rich solution. The results indicated that in the Camilo Ponce Enriquez sample, Gold Max leaches fewer cyanicidal elements, as well as gold and silver, compared to cyanide. In contrast, the Chinapintza sample showed significant recoveries using both reagents. Additionally, the concentration of cyanicidal elements was higher in the Gold Max reagent. In conclusion, the Gold Max lixiviant is applicable in ores with characteristics similar to those of the Camilo Ponce Enriquez district because the concentration of cyanicidal elements dissolved in the rich solution was 37% to 69% lower than sodium cyanide. In contrast, the Chinapintza district showed a total cyanide concentration between 54% and 74% higher than sodium cyanide.