256 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
91
92
93
94
95
96
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Grind Size P80 (μm)
Untreated
Treated
Source: Batchelor et al. 2022
Figure 10. Improvement in gold leaching at fine grind sizes
[a] [b]
MW
ROM/Crush
Secondary
Crushing
Tertiary
Crushing
Agglomer-
ation
Heap
Leaching
PLS
ROM/Crush
Agglomer-
ation
Heap
Leaching
PLS
MW
Secondary
Crushing
Figure 11. Typical heap leaching flowsheet with integrated
microwave pre-treatment for [a] crushing prior to
agglomeration and [b] no crushing prior to agglomeration
Untreated Treated
21mm
Source: Giyani 2023
Figure 12. X-ray computed tomography rendered crack and void thickness maps before and after
microwave treatment for cylindrical specimens of a porphyry copper ore
Gold
Recovery
(%)
91
92
93
94
95
96
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Grind Size P80 (μm)
Untreated
Treated
Source: Batchelor et al. 2022
Figure 10. Improvement in gold leaching at fine grind sizes
[a] [b]
MW
ROM/Crush
Secondary
Crushing
Tertiary
Crushing
Agglomer-
ation
Heap
Leaching
PLS
ROM/Crush
Agglomer-
ation
Heap
Leaching
PLS
MW
Secondary
Crushing
Figure 11. Typical heap leaching flowsheet with integrated
microwave pre-treatment for [a] crushing prior to
agglomeration and [b] no crushing prior to agglomeration
Untreated Treated
21mm
Source: Giyani 2023
Figure 12. X-ray computed tomography rendered crack and void thickness maps before and after
microwave treatment for cylindrical specimens of a porphyry copper ore
Gold
Recovery
(%)