1388 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
metallurgical strategies to process complex single, double
and triple refractory ores. This is one of the first key steps as
part of “problem diagnosis” in Barrick’s five-step approach
to developing breakthrough solutions to complex metallur-
gical problems (Gorain and Kondos, 2015).
CONCLUSIONS
This study discusses the major findings of utilizing the
advanced quantitative gold deportment methodology on a
copper-gold single refractory ore as well as on double and
triple refractory ores with a view to develop insights for met-
allurgy diagnostics. These studies allowed high confidence
characterization and quantification of the gold in different
mineral species and also highlighted the key sources of gold
losses in different flotation and hydrometallurgical process
streams. The findings of these gold deportment studies were
immensely useful for Barrick in initiating strategies to opti-
mize metallurgy and also assisted in development of novel
processes to maximize gold recovery from various complex
ore bodies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The paper is based on the experience gained by the authors
over 25 years, working with various mining companies,
centers of excellence, commercial laboratories, engineer-
ing companies and consultants working on different proj-
ects and operations, and would like to thank them all for
their support, discussion, partnership, and collaboration.
The authors would like to thank the support and coopera-
tion from different members from SGS Minerals, Barrick
Gold Corporation, Process Research OreTech, XPS, BV
Minerals, Surface Science and Laval University for instru-
mental analysis and their input during the last 15 years.
REFERENCES
Baum, W., Sanhueza, J., Smith, E. H., and Tufar, W.
(1989). The use of process mineralogy for plant opti-
mization at the El Indio gold-silver-copper operation.
Erzmetall, 42(N9), 373–378.
Bradshaw, D. (2014). The role of process mineralogy in
improving the process performance of complex sul-
phide ores. In Proceedings of the XXVII International
Mineral Processing Congress (pp. 1–23). Santiago, Chile
(Chapter 14).
Cabri, L. J., and Jackson, S.E. (2011). New developments
in characterization of sulphide refractory gold ores.
World Gold 2011, In Proceedings of the 50th Annual
Conference of Metallurgists of CIM, (pp. 51–62), Eds.
Deschênes, D., Dimitrakopoulos, R., and Bouchard,
J., Montreal, QC, Canada.
Chattopadhyay, A., Gorain, B. K., Dimov, S. and Hart,
B.R. (2020). Applications of integrated novel gold
deportment technique for complex refractory and cop-
per gold ore. In Proceedings of the XXX International
Mineral Processing Congress, Cape Town, South Africa,
18–22 October 2020.
Chattopadhyay, A., Gorain, B. K., Dimov, S.S., Hart, B.R.
and Jiang, J. (2018). Integrated gold deportment meth-
odology for complex refractory copper gold ore. In
Proceedings of the XXIX International Mineral Processing
Congress. (pp. 138–149). Moscow, Russia (Chapter 1).
Chattopadhyay, A., Dimov, S., Hart, B. and Gorain,
B., 2016, Novel Gold Deportment Technique—
Applications for Complex Copper-Gold and Refractory
Gold Ores, XXVIII International Mineral Processing
Congress (IMPC 2016), Quebec City, Canada.
Chattopadhyay, A. and Gorain, B., 2014, A Novel Approach
to Quantify Gold Deportment for Double Refractory
Gold Ores, XXVII International Mineral Processing
Congress (IMPC 2014), Santiago, Chile.
Chattopadhyay, A. and Gorain, B., 2013, Gold Deportment
Studies on a Copper Gold Ore – A Systematic Approach
to Quantitative Mineralogy Focusing on Diagnostic
Metallurgy, (2013), 45th Annual Canadian Mineral
Processors Operators Conference, Ottawa, pp. 29 -42.
Chattopadhyay, A., and Gorain, B. K. (2012). Gold
deportment studies on a copper-gold ore -A system-
atic approach to quantitative mineralogy focusing
on diagnostic metallurgy, paper #615. In Proceedings
of the XXVI International Mineral Processing Congress
(pp. 778–788). New Delhi, 24th–28th September.
Chryssoulis, S. L. and McMullen, J. (2016). Mineralogical
Investigation of Gold Ores. In Gold Ore Processing,
2nd Edition, (pp. 57–93). Amsterdam:Elsevier, doi:
10.1016/B978-0-444-63658-4.00005-0.
Chryssoulis, S. L., and McMullen, J. (2005). Mineralogical
investment of gold ores. In Adams, M.D., (Ed.),
Developments in Mineral Processing, Vol. 15, (pp. 21–67).
Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0167-4528(05)15002-9.
Coetzee, L. L., Theron, S. J., Martin, G. J., Van
Der Merwe, J. D. and Stanek, T. A. (2011). Modern
gold deportments and its application to industry,
Mineral Engineering, (pp. 565–575), Vol. 24.
Dimov, S.S., Hart, B.R., and Chattopadhyay, A., 2009,
Speciation and Quantification of Surface Gold in
Carbonaceous Matter from AC POX Stream Products
by TOF-SIMS, Mineralogy Proceedings of the 48th
Annual Conference of Metallurgists of CIM, Sudbury,
Ontario, pp. 85–91.
metallurgical strategies to process complex single, double
and triple refractory ores. This is one of the first key steps as
part of “problem diagnosis” in Barrick’s five-step approach
to developing breakthrough solutions to complex metallur-
gical problems (Gorain and Kondos, 2015).
CONCLUSIONS
This study discusses the major findings of utilizing the
advanced quantitative gold deportment methodology on a
copper-gold single refractory ore as well as on double and
triple refractory ores with a view to develop insights for met-
allurgy diagnostics. These studies allowed high confidence
characterization and quantification of the gold in different
mineral species and also highlighted the key sources of gold
losses in different flotation and hydrometallurgical process
streams. The findings of these gold deportment studies were
immensely useful for Barrick in initiating strategies to opti-
mize metallurgy and also assisted in development of novel
processes to maximize gold recovery from various complex
ore bodies.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The paper is based on the experience gained by the authors
over 25 years, working with various mining companies,
centers of excellence, commercial laboratories, engineer-
ing companies and consultants working on different proj-
ects and operations, and would like to thank them all for
their support, discussion, partnership, and collaboration.
The authors would like to thank the support and coopera-
tion from different members from SGS Minerals, Barrick
Gold Corporation, Process Research OreTech, XPS, BV
Minerals, Surface Science and Laval University for instru-
mental analysis and their input during the last 15 years.
REFERENCES
Baum, W., Sanhueza, J., Smith, E. H., and Tufar, W.
(1989). The use of process mineralogy for plant opti-
mization at the El Indio gold-silver-copper operation.
Erzmetall, 42(N9), 373–378.
Bradshaw, D. (2014). The role of process mineralogy in
improving the process performance of complex sul-
phide ores. In Proceedings of the XXVII International
Mineral Processing Congress (pp. 1–23). Santiago, Chile
(Chapter 14).
Cabri, L. J., and Jackson, S.E. (2011). New developments
in characterization of sulphide refractory gold ores.
World Gold 2011, In Proceedings of the 50th Annual
Conference of Metallurgists of CIM, (pp. 51–62), Eds.
Deschênes, D., Dimitrakopoulos, R., and Bouchard,
J., Montreal, QC, Canada.
Chattopadhyay, A., Gorain, B. K., Dimov, S. and Hart,
B.R. (2020). Applications of integrated novel gold
deportment technique for complex refractory and cop-
per gold ore. In Proceedings of the XXX International
Mineral Processing Congress, Cape Town, South Africa,
18–22 October 2020.
Chattopadhyay, A., Gorain, B. K., Dimov, S.S., Hart, B.R.
and Jiang, J. (2018). Integrated gold deportment meth-
odology for complex refractory copper gold ore. In
Proceedings of the XXIX International Mineral Processing
Congress. (pp. 138–149). Moscow, Russia (Chapter 1).
Chattopadhyay, A., Dimov, S., Hart, B. and Gorain,
B., 2016, Novel Gold Deportment Technique—
Applications for Complex Copper-Gold and Refractory
Gold Ores, XXVIII International Mineral Processing
Congress (IMPC 2016), Quebec City, Canada.
Chattopadhyay, A. and Gorain, B., 2014, A Novel Approach
to Quantify Gold Deportment for Double Refractory
Gold Ores, XXVII International Mineral Processing
Congress (IMPC 2014), Santiago, Chile.
Chattopadhyay, A. and Gorain, B., 2013, Gold Deportment
Studies on a Copper Gold Ore – A Systematic Approach
to Quantitative Mineralogy Focusing on Diagnostic
Metallurgy, (2013), 45th Annual Canadian Mineral
Processors Operators Conference, Ottawa, pp. 29 -42.
Chattopadhyay, A., and Gorain, B. K. (2012). Gold
deportment studies on a copper-gold ore -A system-
atic approach to quantitative mineralogy focusing
on diagnostic metallurgy, paper #615. In Proceedings
of the XXVI International Mineral Processing Congress
(pp. 778–788). New Delhi, 24th–28th September.
Chryssoulis, S. L. and McMullen, J. (2016). Mineralogical
Investigation of Gold Ores. In Gold Ore Processing,
2nd Edition, (pp. 57–93). Amsterdam:Elsevier, doi:
10.1016/B978-0-444-63658-4.00005-0.
Chryssoulis, S. L., and McMullen, J. (2005). Mineralogical
investment of gold ores. In Adams, M.D., (Ed.),
Developments in Mineral Processing, Vol. 15, (pp. 21–67).
Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/S0167-4528(05)15002-9.
Coetzee, L. L., Theron, S. J., Martin, G. J., Van
Der Merwe, J. D. and Stanek, T. A. (2011). Modern
gold deportments and its application to industry,
Mineral Engineering, (pp. 565–575), Vol. 24.
Dimov, S.S., Hart, B.R., and Chattopadhyay, A., 2009,
Speciation and Quantification of Surface Gold in
Carbonaceous Matter from AC POX Stream Products
by TOF-SIMS, Mineralogy Proceedings of the 48th
Annual Conference of Metallurgists of CIM, Sudbury,
Ontario, pp. 85–91.