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Co-Extraction of Tellurium from Gold Ore
Kylie Blackwell, Laurence Dyer, Bogale Tadesse
Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University
ABSTRACT: Tellurium is a high risk critical element in the transition to renewable energy due to its use in solar
panels and thermoelectric devices. Refined tellurium is currently a by-product of copper and lead processing
from a limited number of operations.
Gold telluride ores present an opportunity to increase the production of tellurium from existing operations for
the same environmental footprint. The recovery of tellurium has potential to improve gold recovery and reduce
costs. Two processing routes incorporating flotation for new and existing gold operations are presented.
INTRODUCTION
One hundred years makes a big difference in the value of
an element. In the 1920s tellurium was considered “use-
less,” an “abomination” and a “nightmare to the metallur-
gist.” Tellurium’s undeserved reputation was due to the
interference in the processing of gold, copper and lead ores
(Clevenger, 1923 Tyler, 1932). Prospectors had a different
view knowing that the presence of tellurides often meant
rich gold and silver deposits were nearby (Clevenger, 1923).
In the current movement towards net zero energy genera-
tion, tellurium is making a resurgence (McNulty &Jowitt,
2022). Used in technological applications such as thin film
solar panels and thermoelectric devices, demand for tellu-
rium is predicted to exceed supply by 2050 (Valero et al.,
2018).
Uses of Tellurium
At 1–5 parts per billion in the upper crust, tellurium is
one of the least common elements on Earth (Chivers &
Laitinen, 2015 Goldfarb, 2015 Missen et al., 2020). The
scarcity of tellurium was partly to blame for its limited use
in early years. Diethyl telluride was used as an anti-knock
addition to fuel however this was displaced by tetraethyl
lead as it was cheaper plus the required tellurium demand
was greater than the visible supply (Lenher, 1923 Tyler,
1932 Waitkins et al., 1942).
The use of tellurium on a commercial scale occurred
in 1932 as indicated in Figure 1. Tellurium is used in rub-
ber production as a vulcanising agent and accelerator as it
improves the resistance to heat, oxidation, abrasion and
enhances aging properties (Anderson, 2022 Hoffmann et
al., 2000 Waitkins et al., 1942).
The growth of tellurium use in metallurgical processes
was slow, however by 1970 it was the dominant application
as seen in Figure 1. Tellurium was initially used as a hard-
ening agent in lead production (Tyler, 1933). Other uses
have followed including tellurium being added to stainless
steel to improve machinability without impairing corrosion
properties and to copper to improve machining without
affecting the thermal and electrical properties.
Tellurium use as a chemical catalyst emerged during
the 1950s (USGS 1958, 1959). The selectivity, favourable
yield of products, and resistance to poisoning resulted in
tellurium catalyst use in a range of applications (Cooper,
1971). The increase in price of tellurium since 2010 has
Co-Extraction of Tellurium from Gold Ore
Kylie Blackwell, Laurence Dyer, Bogale Tadesse
Western Australian School of Mines, Curtin University
ABSTRACT: Tellurium is a high risk critical element in the transition to renewable energy due to its use in solar
panels and thermoelectric devices. Refined tellurium is currently a by-product of copper and lead processing
from a limited number of operations.
Gold telluride ores present an opportunity to increase the production of tellurium from existing operations for
the same environmental footprint. The recovery of tellurium has potential to improve gold recovery and reduce
costs. Two processing routes incorporating flotation for new and existing gold operations are presented.
INTRODUCTION
One hundred years makes a big difference in the value of
an element. In the 1920s tellurium was considered “use-
less,” an “abomination” and a “nightmare to the metallur-
gist.” Tellurium’s undeserved reputation was due to the
interference in the processing of gold, copper and lead ores
(Clevenger, 1923 Tyler, 1932). Prospectors had a different
view knowing that the presence of tellurides often meant
rich gold and silver deposits were nearby (Clevenger, 1923).
In the current movement towards net zero energy genera-
tion, tellurium is making a resurgence (McNulty &Jowitt,
2022). Used in technological applications such as thin film
solar panels and thermoelectric devices, demand for tellu-
rium is predicted to exceed supply by 2050 (Valero et al.,
2018).
Uses of Tellurium
At 1–5 parts per billion in the upper crust, tellurium is
one of the least common elements on Earth (Chivers &
Laitinen, 2015 Goldfarb, 2015 Missen et al., 2020). The
scarcity of tellurium was partly to blame for its limited use
in early years. Diethyl telluride was used as an anti-knock
addition to fuel however this was displaced by tetraethyl
lead as it was cheaper plus the required tellurium demand
was greater than the visible supply (Lenher, 1923 Tyler,
1932 Waitkins et al., 1942).
The use of tellurium on a commercial scale occurred
in 1932 as indicated in Figure 1. Tellurium is used in rub-
ber production as a vulcanising agent and accelerator as it
improves the resistance to heat, oxidation, abrasion and
enhances aging properties (Anderson, 2022 Hoffmann et
al., 2000 Waitkins et al., 1942).
The growth of tellurium use in metallurgical processes
was slow, however by 1970 it was the dominant application
as seen in Figure 1. Tellurium was initially used as a hard-
ening agent in lead production (Tyler, 1933). Other uses
have followed including tellurium being added to stainless
steel to improve machinability without impairing corrosion
properties and to copper to improve machining without
affecting the thermal and electrical properties.
Tellurium use as a chemical catalyst emerged during
the 1950s (USGS 1958, 1959). The selectivity, favourable
yield of products, and resistance to poisoning resulted in
tellurium catalyst use in a range of applications (Cooper,
1971). The increase in price of tellurium since 2010 has