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Origin of the over consumption of cyanide during the leaching of the Amesmessa gold ore

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Category: Content №2 2025

Last Updated on 28 April 2025

Published on 28 April 2025

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Authors:

M.Y.Baghdadi, orcid.org/0009-0007-5807-9590, University of Bejaia, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Laboratory of Physico-Chemistry Materials and Catalysis (LPCMC), Bejaia, Algeria; University of Bejaia, Faculty of Technology, Department of Mining and Geology, Bejaia, Algeria

Z.Chafi*, orcid.org/0000-0002-7956-0160, University of Bejaia, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Laboratory of Physico-Chemistry Materials and Catalysis (LPCMC), Bejaia, Algeria; University of Bejaia, Faculty of Technology, Department of Mining and Geology, Bejaia, Algeria

M.Louz, orcid.org/0009-0009-0731-5236, University of Saad Dahlab, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Process Engineering,  Blida, Algeria

T. Tahri, orcid.org/0000-0002-3953-9914, University of Bejaia, Faculty of Technology, Laboratory of Materials Technology and Process Engineering (LTMGP), Bejaia, Algeria

M.E.A.Benamar, orcid.org/0000-0003-0787-6913, University of Ahmed Draia, Faculty of Materials Science, Mathematics and Computer Science, Department of Materials Science, Adrar, Algeria

S.Bellucci, orcid.org/0000-0003-0326-6368, INFN-Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati, Rome, Italy; National Institute of Materials Physics, Bucharest, Romania

* Corresponding author e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

повний текст / full article

Naukovyi Visnyk Natsionalnoho Hirnychoho Universytetu. 2025, (2): 026 - 032

https://doi.org/10.33271/nvngu/2025-2/026

Abstract:

Purpose. Physicochemical characterization of four gold ores from the Amesmessa deposit centre (western Hoggar, in the south of Algeria) to determine the mineralogical and chemical composition of the ore body in the depth zone and ore cyanidation behaviour. The principle is to compare the gold recovery and the cyanide consumption rates at the end of the leaching process. The purpose of this test is to detect the possible presence of cyanogenic elements in the mineralised zone.

Methodology. The samples were crushed and analysed using many techniques, such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy (IR), and x-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF). The leaching tests were carried out over a 24-hour period. Two different types of gold ore were used.

Findings. Gold is distributed throughout all the facies making up the orebody, including the schistose structure. Ore characterization by XRD revealed that quartz, dolomite, calcite, phengite, and pyrite are the major ore phases at depth. The quartz facies and the altered one located in the depth zone are rich in gold 163 and 10.8 g/t respectively. XRF characterization reveals that the schist facies are rich in iron and carbonates (23 % Fe and 14 % Ca). Infrared spectroscopy is a powerful and efficient tool for distinguishing the nature of the facies. Ore from altered facies shows overconsumption of cyanide, with an overage of 48 %, compared to the 86 % required for quartz ore. The presence of cyanide over-consuming elements leads to low overage in the altered ore.

Originality. The application of rapid and reliable spectroscopy, such as infrared spectroscopy in combination with XRD and XRF, allowed understanding the mineralogy of the different facies in the deep zone of the Amesmessa deposit.

Practical value. The knowledge of the facies mineralization is an important parameter for determining recovery and cyanide consumption during the leaching tests, anticipating the presence of cyanide overconsumption elements.

Keywords: Amesmessa deposit, gold ore, characterisation, cyanidation, gold recovery, mineralogy

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