TITLE:
Comparative Study of Gold Concentration by Elutriation from Different Precious Metal Bearing Ores
AUTHORS:
Martín A. Encinas-Romero, Guillermo Tiburcio-Munive, Jesús L. Valenzuela-García
KEYWORDS:
Elutriation; Precious Metals; Oxides, Sulfides; Free Gold; Black Sands
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Nonferrous Metallurgy,
Vol.2 No.4,
September
16,
2013
ABSTRACT: Conventional methods for precious metals gravimetric
concentration involve equipment such as shaking tables, centrifuging
concentrators, jigs, trommels, or a combination of those. A less commonly used
technique is elutriation, which represents an efficient, safe and low-cost
method of separation. The goal of the present investigation was to make a
comparative study of gold concentration by elutriation from different precious
metal bearing ores: an oxide ore, a mineral consisting of a sulfide matrix, a
mineral in which the precious metals are free and disseminated and a slimy and
clayey black sand material. The best recoveries of precious metals by
elutriation were attained for the free disseminated ore and for the black
sands, obtaining gold recoveries of 70% and 96% respectively, with appreciable
ratios of concentration as well.