Gold ores may contain liberated native-gold particles or very fine gold associated with sulfides and other carrier phases. That distinction changes the liberation target and the preparation required before gravity, flotation or leaching routes.
- Valuable phase
- Native gold or mineral associations
- Critical concept
- Liberation size
- Process boundary
- Separate preparation from metal-recovery route
What controls gold-ore behaviour?
Gold particle size, its position within gangue and association with pyrite, arsenopyrite or other sulfides can produce different processing behaviour even at similar grades. The phrase “gold ore” does not define one flowsheet.
A feed containing liberated gold and a feed where gold is locked in a sulfide matrix may require different grinding targets and downstream separation strategies.
Balancing liberation against overgrinding
Grinding can expose gold-bearing phases, but excessive fines may reduce the usefulness of gravity recovery and complicate dewatering or downstream reagent demand.
Product targets such as P80 are therefore not copied between ores; mineralogical examination, PSD data and recovery testwork are considered together.
Where do gravity, flotation and leaching begin?
Gravity concentration, sulfide flotation and chemical leaching are downstream technologies that may be selected according to ore response. None is automatically required from the ore name alone.
The focus here is the crushing, grinding, classification and feed preparation that precede those recovery steps; the final flowsheet is established by ore testwork.
Data required before a project
- Gold particle size and mineralogical occurrence
- Sulfide and gangue minerals
- Feed and target product PSD
- Grindability and abrasiveness
- Downstream gravity, flotation or leach test results
