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Recoveryofgoldfromrefractoryauriferous
ironcontainingsulphidicconcentrates

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US4571263A
Concesso
US06/707,922
18fev.1986
4mar.1985
27set.1984
Pagas

concentrateincludesfeedingtheconcentrateasanaqueousslurrytoanacidic

Tambmpublicado
como

CA1235907A1,DE3585483D1,
EP0177290A2,EP0177290A3,EP0177290B1

pretreatmentstepandtreatingtheconcentrateintheacidicpretreatmentstep

Inventores

DonaldR.Weir,RomanM.GenikSas
Berezowsky

consumingganguecompounds.Thetreatedslurryisoxidizedinapressure

Cessionriooriginal

SherrittGordonMinesLimited

oxidationstepatatemperatureintherangeoffromabout135toabout250C.

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US4571263A
RESUMO
Aprocessforrecoveringgoldfromrefractoryauriferousironcontaining

withaqueoussulphuricacidsolutiontodecomposecarbonateandotheracid

underapressurizedoxidizingatmospherewhilemaintainingafreeacid
concentrationoffromabout5toabout40g/Lsulphuricacidtocausedissolution
ofiron,formationofsulphuricacidandoxidationofsubstantiallyalloxidizable
sulphidecompoundstosulphateformwithlessthanabout20%ofoxidized

Citaesdepatente(3),Citadapor(24),Classificaes(20),
Eventoslegais(5)
Linksexternos:USPTO,CessodoUSPTO,Espacenet

sulphurbeingpresentaselementalsulphurduringtheoxidationstep.Wateris
addedtotheoxidizedslurryinafirstrepulpingsteptoproducearepulpedoxidizedslurrywithapulpdensityintherangeoffromabout5toabout15%solidsby
weight,therepulpedoxidizedslurryissubjectedtoaliquidsolidsseparationsteptoproduceanacidandironcontainingsolutionandoxidizedseparatedsolids,a
portionoftheacidandironcontainingsolutionisrecycledtotheacidicpretreatmentstep,andgoldisrecoveredfromtheoxidizedseparatedsolids.

IMAGENS (1)

DESCRIO

REIVINDICAES (11)

Thisinventionrelatestotherecoveryofgoldandpossiblyothermetalvalues

WhatweclaimasnewanddesiretoprotectbyLettersPatentoftheUnited

fromrefractoryauriferoussulphidicconcentrates.

Statesis:

Itisknownthatgoldrecoveryfromsuchconcentratebyconventionalprocesses

1.Aprocessforrecoveringgoldfromrefractoryauriferousironcontaining

suchascyanidationisnotsatisfactory,andvariouspreliminarytreatment

concentratecomprising:

processeshavebeenproposed.However,forvariousreasons,thepreliminary
treatmentsinthepriorartdonotimprovegoldrecoveryproposedfromsuch
concentrateasmuchasisdesirableinacommercialoperation.
Itisthereforeanobjectofthepresentinventiontoprovideanimproved
preliminarytreatmentprocessforsuchconcentrateswhichincludespressure
oxidationtreatment.
Thepresentinventionprovidesaprocessforrecoveringgoldfromrefractory
auriferousironcontainingsulphidicconcentratecomprisingfeedingthe
concentrateasanaqueousslurrytoanacidicpretreatmentstep,treatingthe
concentrateintheacidicpretreatmentstepwithaqueoussulphuricacidsolution
todecomposecarbonateandacidconsumingganguecompoundswhichmight
otherwiseinhibitasubsequentpressureoxidationstep,oxidizingthetreated

feedingtheconcentrateasanaqueousslurrytoanacidicpretreatmentstep,
treatingtheconcentrateintheacidicpretreatmentstepwithaqueous
sulphuricacidsolutiontodecomposecarbonateandotheracidconsuming
ganguecompounds,
oxidizingthetreatedslurryinapressureoxidationstepatatemperaturein
therangeoffromabout135toabout250C.underapressurizedoxidizing
atmospherewhilemanintaingafreeacidconcentrationoffromabout5to
about40g/Lsulphuricacidtocausedissolutionofiron,formationof
sulphuricacidandoxidationofsubstantiallyalloxidizablesulphide
compoundstosulphateformwithlessthanabout20%ofoxidizedsulphur
beingpresentaselementalsulphurduringtheoxidationstep,

slurryinapressureoxidationstepatatemperatureintherangeoffromabout

addingwatertotheoxidizedslurryinafirstrepulpingsteptoproducea

135toabout250C.underapressurizedoxidizingatmospherewhile

repulpedoxidizedslurrywithapulpdensityintherangeoffromabout5to

maintainingafreeacidconcentrationoffromabout5toabout40g/Lsulphuric

about15%solidsbyweight,

acidtocausedissolutionofiron,formationofsulphuricacidandoxidationof
substantiallyalloxidizablesulphidecompoundstosulphateformwithlessthan

subjectingtherepulpedoxidizedslurrytoaliquidsolidsseparationstepto

about20%ofoxidizedsulphurbeingpresentaselementalsulphurduringthe

produceanacidandironcontainingsolutionandoxidizedseparatedsolids,

oxidationstep,addingwatertotheoxidizedslurryinafirstrepulpingstepto
producearepulpedoxidizedslurrywithapulpdensityintherangeoffromabout
5toabout15%solidsbyweight,subjectingtherepulpedoxidizedslurrytoa

http://www.google.com/patents/US4571263

recyclingaportionoftheacidandironcontainingsolutiontotheacidic
pretreatmentstep,and

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liquidsolidsseparationsteptoproduceanacidandironcontainingsolutionand
oxidizedseparatedsolids,recyclingaportionoftheacidandironcontaining
solutiontotheacidicpretreatmentstep,andremovinggoldfromtheoxidized
separatedsolids.Theprocessmayincluderecyclingaportionoftheacidand
ironcontainingsolutiontotheoxidationstep.
Theprocessmayalsoincludeaddingaprecipitatingagentinaprecipitationstep
toaportionoftheacidandironcontainingsolutiontoprecipitatemetalsastheir
respectivehydroxidesorhydratedoxides,sulphateionsasinsolublesulphate
andarsenicasinsolublearsenate,separatingtheprecipitatesfromtheremaining
aqueoussolution,andutilizingatleastsomeoftheseparatedaqueoussolutionin
theoxidationstep.Aportionoftheseparatedaqueoussolutionmaybeaddedto

recoveringgoldfromtheoxidizedseparatedsolids.
2.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim1includingrecyclingaportionofthe
acidandironcontainingsolutiontotheoxidationstep.
3.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim1includingaddingaprecipitatingagent
inaprecipitationsteptoaportionoftheacidandironcontaining
solutiontoprecipitatemetalsastheirrespectivehydroxidesorhydrated
oxides,sulphateionsasinsolublesulphateandarsenicasinsoluble
arsenate,separatingtheprecipitatesfromtheremainingaqueous
solutionandutilizingatleastsomeoftheseparatedaqueoussolutionin
theoxidationstep.

theoxidizedseparatedsolidsinasecondrepulpingsteptoproduceasecond

4.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim3includingcoolingtheseparated

repulpedoxidizedslurrywithapulpdensityintherangeoffromabout5toabout

aqueoussolutionpriortoutilizationintheoxidationstep.

15%solidsbyweight,subjectingthesecondoxidizedrepulpedslurrytoasecond
liquidsolidsseparationsteptoproduceasecondacidandironcontaining

5.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim1includingmaintainingasufficient

solutionandsecondseparatedoxidizedsolids,andrecyclingatleastaportionof

amountofmagnesiumionsintheslurryinthepressureoxidationstepto

thesecondacidandironcontainingsolutiontothefirstrepulpingstep.The

produceaMg:Femolarratioinsolutionoffromabout0.5:1toabout

refractoryauriferousironcontainingsulphidicoremaybesubjectedtoaflotation

10:1tocauseironwhichisprecipitatedduringthepressureoxidation

steptoproducesaidconcentrateandflotationtailingswhichmaybeusefulas

steptotendtobeprecipitatedashematiteratherthanasotherinsoluble

precipitatingagentinsaidprecipitationstep.

ironcompounds.

Theprocessmayfurtherincludecoolingtheseparatedaqueoussolutionpriorto

6.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim5includingaddingaprecipitatingagent

utilizationintheoxidationstep.Advantageously,asufficientamountof

inafirstprecipitatingsteptoaportionoftheacidandironcontaining

magnesiumismaintainedintheslurryinthepressureoxidationsteptoproducea

solutiontoraisethepHtoavalueintherangeoffromabout5toabout

Mg:Femolarratioinsolutionoffromabout0.5:1toabout10:1tocauseiron

8.5toprecipitatedesireddissolvedvalueswhilecausingmagnesium

whichisprecipitatedduringthepressureoxidationsteptotendtobeprecipitated

ionstoremaininsolution,andrecyclingatleastsomeofthe

ashematiteratherthanasotherinsolubleironcompounds.Aprecipitatingagent

magnesiumcontainingsolutiontotheoxidationsteptoprovide

maybeaddedinafirstprecipitationsteptoaportionoftheacidandiron

magnesiumionstherein.

containingsolutiontoraisethepHtoavalueintherangeoffromabout5to
about8.5toprecipitatedesireddissolvedvalueswhilecausingmagnesiumions
toremaininsolution,andrecyclingatleastsomeofthemagnesiumcontaining
solutiontotheoxidationsteptoprovidemagnesiumiontherein.Atleastsomeof
theslurryfromthefirstrepulpingstepmaybesubjectedtoaclassificationstep
toseparatesolidsaboveapredeterminedsizefromtheremainingslurry,grinding
theseparatedoversizesolidstoasmallersize,feedingthegroundsolidstoat
leastoneoftheacidicpretreatmentandpressureoxidationsteps,andreturning
theremainingslurrytothestepfollowingthefirstrepulpingstep.
Embodimentsoftheinventionwillnowbedescribed,bywayofexample,with
referencetotheaccompanyingdrawingwhichshowsaflowsheetofaprocess
fortherecoveryofgoldandothermetalvaluesfromrefractoryauriferous
sulphidicconcentrate.

7.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim3includingaddingaportionofthe
separatedaqueoussolutiontotheoxidizedseparatedsolidsinasecond
repulpingsteptoproduceasecondrepulpedoxidizedslurrywithapulp
densityintherangeoffromabout5toabout15%solidsbyweight,
subjectingthesecondoxidizedrepulpedslurrytoasecondliquidsolids
separationsteptoproduceasecondacidandironcontainingsolution
andsecondseparatedoxidizedsolids,andrecyclingatleastaportionof
thesecondacidandironcontainingsolutiontothefirstrepulpingstep.
8.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim1includingsubjectingatleastsomeof
theslurryfromthefirstrepulpingsteptoaclassificationstepto
separatesolidsaboveapredeterminedsizefromtheremainingslurry,
grindingtheseparatedoversizesolidstoasmallersize,feedingthe
groundsolidstoatleastoneoftheacidicpretreatmentandpressure

Referringtothedrawing,refractoryauriferoussulphidicconcentratewhichis

oxidationsteps,andreturningtheremainingslurrytothestepfollowing

treatedinthisembodimentcontainsfromabout10toabout800g/tAu,from

thefirstrepulpingstep.

about30toabout300g/tAg,andbyweightfromabout10toabout40%Fe,from
about5toabout40%SiO2,fromabout10toabout45%S,fromabout0.1to
about25%As,fromabout0.01toabout3%Sb,fromabout0.1toabout6%Al,
fromabout0.1toabout5%Ca,fromabout0.1toabout10%CO2,fromabout

9.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim3includingsubjectingrefractory
auriferousironcontainingsulphidicoretoaflotationsteptoproduce
saidconcentrateandflotationtailings,andutilizingatleastaportionof
theflotationtailingsasprecipitatingagentinsaidprecipitationstep.

0.1toabout10%Mgandfromlessthan0.1toabout8%C(organic).
10.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim1whereinthetreatedslurryisoxidized
Thesulphidiccontentofsuchconcentratemaycompriseoneormoreofthe

atatemperatureintherangeoffromabout160toabout200C.

followingmaterials,namelypyrite,arsenopyrite,pyrrhotite,stibniteand
sulphosalts,andtheconcentratemayalsocontainvaryingamountsoflead,zinc

11.Aprocessaccordingtoclaim1whereinthetreatedslurryisfurther

andcoppersulphides.Also,someconcentratemaycontainoxidizable

treatedbytheadditionofalignosulphonate,chosenfromthegroupof

carbonaceousspecies.

calcium,sodium,potassiumandammoniumlignosulphonate,priorto
oxidationatalevel0.1to10Kg/tofconcentrate.

Oregroundtoatleastabout70%minus100Tylerscreen(lessthan149microns)
isfedtoaflotationstep12toproducethepreviouslymentionedconcentrates
togetherwithflotationtailings.Theconcentrateisregroundinanoptional
regrindingstep14withwaterfromasubsequentliquidsolidsseparationstep16toabout96%minus325Tylerscreen(less
than44microns).
Concentrateslurryfromtheseparationstep16withapulpdensityoffromabout40to80%solidsbyweightproceedstoan
acidicpretreatmentstep18wheretheslurryisrepulpedwithacidicwashsolutionobtainedbywashingsolidsfromthe
pressureoxidationstepwhichwillbedescribedlater.Suchacidicwashsolutionwillgenerallycontainiron,aluminum,
magnesium,arsenicandothernonferrousmetalvaluesdissolvedinthepressureoxidationaswellassulphuricacid.The
acidicpretreatmentdecomposescarbonatesandacidconsumingganguecomponentswhichmightotherwiseinhibitthe
pressureoxidationstep.Theacidicpretreatmentstep18thusalsoreducesacidconsumptioninthesubsequentpressure

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oxidationstepandlimeconsumptioninaneutralizationstepwhichwillbedescribedlater.Itwillalsobenotedthatthe
pretreatmentstep18utilizesacidproducedinsituinthesubsequentpressureoxidationstep.
Thetreatedslurrymaybefurthertreatedbytheadditionofalignosulphonatechosenfromthegroupofcalcium,sodium,
potassiumandammoniumlignosulphonate,priortooxidationatalevel0.1to10Kg/tofconcentrate.
Thepretreatedslurryfromapretreatmentstep18proceedsdirectlytopressureoxidationstep20wheretheslurryistreated
inoneormoremulticompartmentautoclavesatatemperatureoffromabout160toabout200C.andintowhichoxygenis
spargedtomaintainatotalpressureoffromabout700toabout5,000kPa,withacidityof5to40g/LH2SO4tooxidizethe
sulphur,arsenicandantimonyminerals.Itisespeciallyimportanttooxidizethesulphidestoanoxidationstephigherthan
freesulphur,sincethepresenceoffreesulphurisdetrimentaltogoldrecovery.Insuchoxidation,ironistheeffective
oxygentransferagent.Itisthereforenecessarythatadequateironbepresentinsolution,particularlyintheinitial
compartmentsoftheautoclave,thisbeingachievedbyensuringasufficientlyhighsteadystateacidity.
Additionally,theautoclaveacidityandtemperaturearecontrolledsuchthatthedesiredliberationofgoldisachievedby
oxidationofthesulphides,arsenidesandantimonialcompoundstoahigheroxidationstage,andatthesametimethe
physicalcharacteristicsofthesolidsproducedaresuchthatsubsequentthickeningandwashingisfacilitated.Acidityand
temperaturecanbecontrolledbyrecyclingacidicwashsolutionandcoolingpondwater,aswillbedescribedinmoredetail
later,toappropriateautoclavecompartments.
Thepressureoxidationofpyriteresultsinthegenerationofferricsulphateandsulphuricacid.Someoftheferricsulphateis
hydrolyzedandmaybeprecipitatedashematite,ferricarsenate,hydroniumjarosite,basicferricsulphateoramixtureof
thesecompounds.Thenatureoftheprecipitatedironspeciesdependsonsuchparametersastemperature,totalsulphate
levels,acidity,pulpdensity,gradeofconcentrateandthenatureandquantityofacidconsuminggangue.Thepressure
oxidationofhighgradepyriteand/orarsenopyritefeedsathighsolidscontentsinthepulpgenerallyfavoursprecipitationof
theironasbasicferricsulphate,hydroniumjarositeorferricarsenate.
Accordingtoafurtherfeatureoftheinvention,ithasbeenfoundthatitisdesirable(forreducinglimerequirementsina
neutralizationsteppriortocyanidation)thatdissolvedironwhichbecomeshydrolyzedandprecipitatedinpressureoxidation
step20beprecipitatedashematiteratherthanasbasicferricsulphateorhydroniumjarosite,andfurtherthatsuchhematite
precipitationcanbepromotedbymaintainingasufficientlyhighconcentrationofmagnesiuminthepressureoxidationstep.
Withtheprocessofthepresentinvention,ithasbeenfoundthathematiteisthepreferredformofironprecipitateinthe
pressureoxidationstep20,inthatitresultsinabetterreleaseofacidinpressureoxidationstep20whichisreadilyremoved
bylimestoneinafirststageprecipitationstepwhichwillbedescribedlater,thusreducinglimerequirementsinthe
cyanidationcircuit.Also,theprecipitationofironasbasicferricsulphateand/orahydroniumjarositeisundesirablefortwo
reasons.Firstly,agreaterportionoflabilesulphate(whichisapotentiallimeconsumer)entersasubsequentneutralization
stepresultinginahigherconsumptionoflime.Secondly,thereactionoflimewithbasicferricsulphateandjarosites,with
conversionoftheironprecipitatetoinsolubleironhydroxidesandgypsum,resultsinthegenerationofslimyprecipitates,
increasesthesolidscontentandresultsinanincreasedlossofgoldandsilvertotheslimesbyadsorption.
Thus,ithasbeenfoundthatthereshouldbeasufficientamountofmagnesiuminthepressureoxidationstep20toproduce
anMg:Femolarratiointhesolutionofatleastabout0.5:1.0andpreferablyatleastabout1:1.Manyauriferouspyriteores
containappreciablelevelsofacidsolublemagnesiumwhichmaymeetatleastpartofsuchmagnesiumrepuirements.In
manyinstanceshowever,thegoldandsulphidiccontentoftheoreisupgradedbyflotationstep12,therebyreducingthe
magnesiumcontentoftheconcentratetotheoxidationstep20.Themagnesiumrequirementsofthepressureoxidationstep
20maybeprovidedatleastinpartbythepreviouslymentionedrecyclesofacidicwashsolutionandcoolingpondwater(to
whichmacnesiumionsmaybeaddedinamanneraswillbedescribedlater).
Afterasuitableretentiontimeinthepressureoxidationautoclave,forexampleabout1.5hours,theoxidizedslurryis
repulpedwithsolutionfromalaterliquidsolidsseparationstep28todilutetheslurrytolessthan10%solidsbyweightsoas
toobtainefficientuseofflocculantwhichisaddedinrepulpingstep22.Solidsfromseparationstep24proceedtoasecond
repulpingstep26wherecoolingpondwaterisaddedtoformaslurryofagainlessthan15%byweight.Therepulpedslurry
thusproceedstoseparationstep28fromwhichsolutionisrecycletorepulpingstep22aspreviouslymentioned.The
treatmentofthesolidsfromseparationstep28willbedescribedlater.
Solutionfromseparationstep24containsacidanddissolvedironandnonferrousmetalsulphates.Someofthissolutionis
recycledtoacidicpretreatmentstep18andpressureoxidationstep20aspreviouslymentioned,andtheremainingsolution
proceedstoafirststageprecipitationstep30wherelimestoneisaddedtoraisethepHtoabout5andprecipitatemetal
valuessuchasferriciron,aluminumandarsenicaswellasremovingsulphatesulphurasgypsum.Flotationtailingsfrom
flotationstep12maybeusedinthisprecipitationstep.Theslurrythenpassestoasecondstageprecipitationstep32where
limeisaddedtoraisethepHtoabout10toprecipitatemagnesiumandothermetalvalues.Theresultantslurryispassedto
liquidsolidsseparationstep34fromwhichrelativelypureseparatedwaterproceedstocoolingpond36forsubsequentuse
inpressureoxidationstep20andrepulpingstep26aspreviouslydescribed.Thesolidsfromseparationstep34canbe
disposedofastailings.
Ifdesired,thesecondstageprecipitationstep32maybelocatedaftertheseparationstep34(asindicatedindottedoutline
inthedrawing)sothatthewatersuppliedtothecoolingpondandsubsequentlytothepressureoxidationstep20and
repulpingstep26containsmagnesiumionswhichassistinmaintainingthepreviouslymentioneddesirabledissolved
magnesiumconcentrationsinthepressureoxidationstep20.

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Also,ifdesired,aportionoftherepulpedslurryfromtherepulpingstep22maybepassedthroughaclassifier38(suchasa
cyclone)beforepassingtotheseparationstep24.Theclassifier38removesapreselectedoversizematerialsomeofwhich
isrecycledtoregrindingstep14andsomeofwhichisregroundinregrindingstep40andpassedtopressureoxidationstep
20.Suchafeatureenablesgoldtoberecoveredwhichmightotherwisehavebeenlostinrelativelyoversizematerialwhose
treatmenthadnotbeensatisfactorilycompletedinthepressureoxidationstep20.
Solidsfromtheseparationstep28passtoneutralizationstep44wherelimeisaddedtoraisethepHtoanextentsuitable
forcyanidation,preferablyabout10.5.Waterfromalaterliquidsolidsseparationstep47isaddedtoachievethedesired
pulpdensityforcyanidation,namelyabout40toabout45%solidsbyweight.
Theneutralizedslurrythusproceedstoatwostagecyanidationstep46,withcyanidesolutionbeingaddedtothefirststage.
Thepartlyleachedpulp(60to95%leached)cascadesintoaneightstagecarboninleachadsorptionsection48tocomplete
theleachingandrecoverdissolvedgoldandsilver.Aftertheeighthstage,thebarrenslurryispassedtoliquidsolids
separationstep47withtheliquidbeingrecycledtocyanidationstep46aspreviouslymentionedandthesolidsbeing
discardedastailings.Theloadedcarbonpassestoametalsrecoverystep50whereloadedcarbonisstrippedunder
pressurewithcausticcyanidesolution,andgoldandsilveraresubsequentlyrecoveredbyelectrowinningorothersuitable
meansfromtheeluate.Strippedcarbonisregeneratedinakiln,screenedandrecycledtothecarboninleachadsorption
step48.
EXAMPLE
Thefeedmaterialwasarefractoryauriferousconcentrate,containingpyriteandarsenopyriteasthemajorsulphideminerals.
Thechemicalcompositionoftheconcentratewas236g/tAu,0.1%Sb,7.0%As,4.2%CO2,24.7%Fe,21.8%SiO2and
19.3%S.Conventionalcyanidationextracted74%ofthegold,yieldingaresiduecontaining60g/tAu.
Theconcentratewasprocessedinacontinuouscircuitwhichconsistedofanoxidationfeedslurrypreparationtank,feed
pumpingsystem,afourcompartmentautoclavehavingastaticvolumeof10L,anautoclavedischargesystem,anoxidation
thickenerfeedtank,anoxidationthickener,andacountercurrentdecantationwashcircuitcomprisingtwothickenersand
theirrespectivefeedtanks.Thecontinuouscircuitalsocontainedagoldrecoverysectionwheregoldwasdissolvedfromthe
oxidizedsolidsbycyanidationandadsorbedontocarbon,andaprecipitationsectionwherewasteacidicsolutionwas
treatedwithlimestoneandlimetoprecipitatearsenic,metalsandassociatedsulphateasarsenates,metalhydroxidesor
hydratedoxides,andgypsum,forrecycleofthemetalsdepletedsolutiontotheoxidationandwashcircuits.
Theconcentrate,asa72%slurryofsolidsinwater,waspretreatedanddilutedto38%solidswithacidicoxidationthickener
overflowsolutioninthefeedpreparationtank,Theacidicsolution,containing2.9g/LAs,14.9%g/LFe(total),2.4g/LFe
(ferrous)and26.1g/LH2SO4wassuppliedataratesufficienttoprovideanequivalentof100kgacidpertonneof
concentrate,todecomposethecarbonatespriortoautoclaving.Alignosulphonatewasalsosuppliedtothefeedslurry,ata
levelof1kg/tconcentrate.Thepretreatedslurrywaspumpedintothefirstcompartmentoftheautoclave.Waterwasalso
fedtothefirstcompartmentfortemperaturecontrol,dilutingthesolidscontentoftheoxidationslurryto16.7%.Oxygenwas
spargedintoallcompartments.Theoxidationwasconductedat185C.andtheworkingpressurewascontrolledat1850
kPa.Thenominalretentiontimeofthesolidsintheautoclavewas2.6hours.
Sampleswerecollectedfromtheindividualcompartmentstoprovideameasureoftheoxidationofsulphurandliberationof
gold,asdeterminedbycyanideamenabilitytestingofthesampleofoxidizedsolids.Representativeautoclavesolution
compositions,theextentofsulphuroxidationtothesulphateform,andgoldextractabilitydataobtainedunderthese
continuouspressureoxidationconditionsaretabulatedbelow:
__________________________________________________________________________Solution%Cyanidationanalyses,
g/LSulphurResidueExtractionSamplepointAsFeFe2+H2SO4oxidationg/tAu%
Au__________________________________________________________________________Treatedfeed<0.15.05.0*0
63.373.2Compartment10.84.11.725.56816.493.1Compartment20.64.21.032.3879.1996.1Compartment30.89.2
1.033.3936.1497.4Compartment40.811.10.933.8953.62
98.5__________________________________________________________________________*pH=3.6
Theautoclavedischargeslurrywaspassedthroughaflashtank,intotheoxidationthickenerfeedtank,whereitwasdiluted
toabout9%solids,andfedtotheoxidationthickener.Aportionoftheoxidationthickeneroverflowsolutionwasrecycledto
theconcentratefeedpretreatmenttankdescribedearlier,whiletheremainderwastreatedwithlimestone,thenlime,inthe
precipitationcircuittoprovidemetalsbarrenwaterforthewashcircuit.Theoxidationthickenerunderflow,containing48%
solidswassubjectedtotwostagesofwashingintheCCDcircuittoremovethebulkoftheacidicoxidationliquor.The
secondwashthickenerunderflow,containing53%solidswasprocessedbyconventionalmethodsfortherecoveryofthe
gold.
Otherembodimentsandexamplesoftheinventionwillbereadilyapparenttoapersonskilledintheart,thescopeofthe
inventionbeingdefinedintheappendedclaims.

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http://www.google.com/patents/US4571263

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BarrickGold
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Goldrecoveryusingcontrolledoxygendistributionpressure
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SantaFe
PacificGold
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Methodfortreatingmineralmaterialhavingorganiccarbonto
facilitaterecoveryofgoldandsilver

US5653945*

18abr.1995

5ago.1997

SantaFe
PacificGold
Corporation

Methodforprocessinggoldbearingsulfideoresinvolving
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22jun.1999

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Environmental
Science,Inc.

Aerobicbiooxidationtoformferricionsolutioninfirstbioreactor,
thenanaerobicallyexposingmetalsulfideoretoferricionsand
sulfuroxidizingbacteriuminsecondbioreactortoreleasegold

US6039789*

27mar.1998

21mar.2000

BarrickGold
Corporation

Removalofboronandfluoridefromwater

US6210648

23out.1997

3abr.2001

Newmont
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Usinganoxygendeficientflotationgas.

US6296773

7fev.2000

2out.2001

BarrickGold
Corporation

Removalofboronandfluoridefromwater

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24dez.2002

PhelpsDodge
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Methodforprocessingelementalsulfurbearingmaterialsusinghigh
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US6613271

1mar.1999

2set.2003

Alexander
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Apparatusandmethodsforrecoveringvaluablemetals

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Methodfortreatingmineralmaterialhavingorganiccarbonto
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26/11/2014

PatenteUS4571263Recoveryofgoldfromrefractoryauriferousironcontainingsulphidic...PatentesdoGoogle
SantaFe
PacificGold
Corp

Amethodforprocessinggoldbearingsulfideoresinvolving
preparationofasulfideconcentrate

WO1996033146A1*

22mar.1996

24out.1996

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1mar.1999

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LewisGray
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31jan.2002

PhelpsDodge
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Processingelementalsulfurbearingmaterialsusinghigh
temperaturepressureleachingforsulfuricacidproductionandmetal
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*Citadapeloexaminador

CLASSIFICAES
ClassificaonosEstadosUnidos

205/568,205/571,423/87,423/42,423/150.4,423/45,423/36,423/158,423/41,75/744,423/146,423/27

Classificaointernacional

C22B11/08,C22B3/04,C22B,C22B3/00,C22B11/00,C22B3/08

Classificaocooperativa

C22B11/04

Classificaoeuropeia

C22B11/04

EVENTOS LEGAIS
Data

8ago.1997

Cdigo

Evento

Descrio

FPAY

Fee
payment

Yearoffeepayment:12
Ownername:698638ALBERTALTD.,CANADA
Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTERESTASSIGNOR:VIRIDIAN
INC.REEL/FRAME:008200/0150
Effectivedate:19961024
Ownername:SHERRITTGORDONLIMITED,CANADA
Freeformattext:CHANGEOFNAMEASSIGNOR:SHERRITTGORDONMINES
LIMITEDREEL/FRAME:008200/0281

31out.1996

AS

Assignment

Effectivedate:19880601
Ownername:SHERRITTINC.,STATELESS
Freeformattext:CHANGEOFNAMEASSIGNOR:SHERRITTGORDON
LIMITEDREEL/FRAME:008200/0118
Effectivedate:19930705
Ownername:VIRIDIANINC.,CANADA
Freeformattext:CHANGEOFNAMEASSIGNOR:SHERRITTINC.REEL/FRAME:008200/0194
Effectivedate:19960422

21jul.1993

FPAY

Fee
payment

Yearoffeepayment:8

12jul.1989

FPAY

Fee
payment

Yearoffeepayment:4
Ownername:SHERRITTGORDONMINESLIMITED,2800COMMERCECOURT

28maio1985

AS

Assignment

Freeformattext:ASSIGNMENTOFASSIGNORSINTEREST.ASSIGNORS:WEIR,DONALDR.GENIK
SASBEREZOWSKY,ROMANM.REEL/FRAME:004406/0613
Effectivedate:19850515

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http://www.google.com/patents/US4571263

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