Mycohydrometallurgy: Biotransformation of double refractory gold ores by the fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The present research focused on assessing the possibility of using the fungus to simultaneously decompose sulfides and deactivate carbonaceous matter in refractory gold ores so as to liberate locked-up gold and reduce preg-robbing. Flotation concentrate (FC) of DRGO and bacterial-oxidized FC (BFC) were utilized in this investigation. After 21 days of fungal-treatment, overall sulfide sulfur decomposition of 57% in FC led to increase in gold extraction from 41% to 78%. Similarly, fungal-treatment of BFC led to 13% increase in gold extraction over the as-received (81%). The results demonstrate a novel alternative pretreatment process for DRGO.