Vancouver – A combined flotation and heap leach mineral recovery process has been selected for the final feasibility study on Minefinders’ (MFN-T) Dolores gold-silver deposit in Mexico’s Chihuahua State. Adding flotation to the Dolores mine plan is expected to increase the recovery of contained silver while maintaining favourable recoveries for gold.
Several methods and combinations for recovery were being considered. Testing was done on standard heap leach, flotation, agitated cyanide leaching, and pulp agglomeration methods.
The plan is to direct high-grade and sulphide ores which contain most of the gold and silver to the mill and flotation plant and place the low-grade ores onto pads for low-cost heap leach processing.
Total recoveries using flotation for the different ore types were projected at 93% for gold and 82% for silver for mixed oxide/sulphide material and 90% for gold and 94% for silver in the sulphide ore.
Heap leach recoveries from the lower grade ores were projected at 78% for gold and 45% for silver in the oxide ores; 70% for gold and 50% for silver in the mixed ore, and; 59% for both gold and silver in the sulphide ore.
Minefinders says that the combined recovery operation will provide the flexibility needed to maximize returns at current and higher precious metals prices and cushion against lower prices.
Be the first to comment on "Dolores’ gold and silver recovery method chosen"