Investigation of Complex Treatment of the Gold-Bearing Antimony Flotation Concentrate

This paper details the hydrometallurgical method of processing of refractory gold antimony flotation concentrate. Investigation of feed material has been occurred. Mineralogical analyses (XRD, SEM-EDS) and chemical analyses of the concentrate have been studied. Mainly, the material consists of compounds of antimony, silicon, calcium, sulfur and iron. The main phases are quartz, stibnite, calcium carbonate and ankerite, pyrite and arsenopyrite have been found as well. The feature of antimonite’s dissolving in alkaline solutions has been reviewed. The dependences of effects of the temperature, time, L/S ratio and NaOH concentration on the antimony and sulfur extraction from the feed flotation concentrate have been determined. During alkaline sulphide leaching of the starting material several physicochemical characteristics of gold dissolution have been identified. Agitated cyanide gold leaching test of the pre-treated cake was conducted. Gold recovery was 32.2%. The obtained low indexes of gold recovery are based on cyanidation. A nitric acid leaching of disantimonied cake was proposed.