GOLD RECOVERY BY A PROPOSED HEAP LEACHING METHOD, CASE STUDY PIQUE MINE, PORTOVELO – ECUADOR

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the operational feasibility of gold recovery by the heap leaching method - cyanidation, carried out at the benefit plant that processes minerals from the Pique mine, located in the El Tablón sector of the Portovelo canton in the province of El Oro – case study. For this purpose, elemental and metallurgical analysis tests are used, along with technical feasibility tests through cyanidation tests in bottles and leach column. From the bottle test, a 94.4% metallic recovery of gold was obtained as a result, and 90.88% of the column test at a cyanide concentration of 800 ppm for both cases. To reach these results, this method does not require a prior comminution process since the required granulometry is adequate from the removal of the rock material carried out in blasting, it is not necessary for specialized labor to control reagents, it has low energy consumption and requires little water, which considerably reduces production costs. Leaching minerals extracted from the Pique mine, which have associated precious metals, is technically feasible, since the heap leaching method favors the extraction of elements such as gold, regardless of whether these are low-grade minerals where economic resources could be scarce. For the complete implementation of the process, additional highly technical chemical studies are recommended, as well as to specify the dimensioning of the leaching pile and the irrigation system.