Gold is a precious metal that is often closely association with the sulfidic minerals pyrite and arsenopyrite. Flotation concentrates produced from low-grade gold ores contain gold that is ´hidden´ within the lattice of sulfidic minerals and cannot be extracted by conventional means. Thus, the concentrate must be pre-treated in order to decompose the lattice of host minerals and expose the gold. Oxidation of the host sulfidic minerals can be catalyzed by microorganisms. This project aims to establish the amenability of a gold-bearing flotation concentrate to bio-oxidation using microorganisms enriched from the gold mining site, and to establish the optimal parameters for its dissolution.
Responsible persons: Professor Jaakko Puhakka, PhD Kathryn Wakeman
Researchers: BSc Tech Toni Jaatinen
Funding: TUT Research Foundation
Schedule: 6/2010 – 2/2011