New process for gold extraction

A new technique for processing mine tailings has been developed at the University of Queensland in Australia.

According to Australia-based Gold Gazette, the extraction technique uses an ion-exchange process to remove gold dissolved in cyanide solution instead of the usual activated carbon.

Over a 24-hour period, the new process will remove 100% of the gold and 66% of the silver and excludes base metals and other impurities. The conventional method, which uses activated carbon, extracts 56% of the gold and 24% of the silver, but does not differentiate between base and precious metals as well as the resins developed by the Queensland researchers.