Gold Characteristics And Their Influence On The Ore Extraction Process Of Oxidized High Sulfidation Epithermal Mineralization: A Case Study From The Tumpang Pitu Deposit, East Java, Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51835/ijeg.2025.1.2.495Abstract
The variability of ores in mineral processing is important, as it affects process efficiency and final product quality. The inability to effectively manage this variability can lead to decreased process efficiency, increased production costs, and inconsistent product quality. This study investigates the geological and metallurgical aspects by characterizing two representative ore samples, classified as low-grade (LG) and high-grade (HG) sample with a diagnostic leaching test (DLT) and cyanidation with several methods, such as pulverized bottle roll test (PBRT), intermittent bottle roll test (IBRT), and column test (CT). Ore characterization is carried out with advanced tools, such as the Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) and Scanning Electron Microscope – Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), to determine the mineralogy of the ore. Measurement of dissolved gold concentration was carried out by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). Based on SEM-EDS analysis, the LG sample could not be identified morphologically, but the diagnostic leaching test indicated it was gravity/free cyanidable. HG samples based on SEM-EDS analysis and diagnostic leaching tests are included in the gravity/free cyanidable fraction and are present as free gold between the oxide mineral grids. The percentages of gold extraction for the LG sample using the PBRT, IBRT, and CT methods were 93.81%, 91.85%, and 84.36%, respectively. In contrast, the gold extraction percentages for the HG sample using the PBRT, IBRT, and CT methods were 94.74%, 96.19%, and 90.73%, respectively. The higher the grade of ore, the higher the gold extraction. In addition, the smaller the ore particle size, the higher the gold recovery obtained. The results can be used for the development of flow diagrams or process selection and processing optimization.
Keywords: Epithermal High Sulfidation, Gold, Leaching, Metallurgy
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