Mineralogical Examination of Gold Processing Plant Tailings

Abstract

The results of the mineralogical examination of old sulphide and oxidized gold ore tailings of a mining and processing plant in the Krasnoyarsk Territory are presented. Secondary mineral forms of antimony, namely, antimony bloom Sb2O3 and tripuhyite FeSBO4, as well as iron are found. Gypsum in the waste is a newly formed phase, undetected in the initial ore, revealed in sulphide and mixed ore tailings and is absent in oxidized ore tailings. The key valuable component is gold represented by fine accretions in arsenopyrite, free gold size is not more than a few first microns.