Process Mineralogy of a Gold multi-metal Ore in Beiya, Yunna

Based on the chemical analysis data, Beiya Gold multi-metal Ore contains Au 2.17 g/t, Ag 59.36 g/t, Fe 38.51%, Cu 0.57%, Pb 2.00%, and Zn 0.48%. Chemical phase analysis shows that 95.72% Au exists as nature gold; 67.22% Fe exists as limonite and hematite, and only 23.65% exists as magnetite; 26.41% Cu exists as malachite and only 12.14% exists as sulfide minerals such as chalcopyrite and covellite; in the same way only 3.98% Pb exists as galena and 26.09% Zn exists as sphalerite. So the Systemic process mineralogy study is very necessary to guarantee separating these valuable elements from the ore reasonably and economically. Based on the process mineralogy research, reasonable technology flowsheet is worked out: the ore is ground to 90% under 0.074 mm, leaching Au firstly, then enriching Fe by low-intensity and high-magnetic separation. The Cu, Ag, Pb and Zn in the ore are unavailable now.