Diagnostic gold deportment studies and leaching behaviour of small-scale gold mining tailings from eastern region, Ghana

• Autorzy: Quaicoe Ishmael , Beyuo Martin , Quaicoe Solomon , Lasidzi Nikao A.

Identyfikatory

DOI

10.46873/2300-3960.1375

• Języki publikacji: EN

Abstrakty

EN

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) sector employs about 80% of the mining workforce but only contributes about 20-30% of Ghana's gold production. The low gold production is linked to low recoveries associated with the activities because of inadequate understanding of the chemical, mineralogical and metallurgical characteristics of the ores. This study examined the metallurgical characteristics of typical small-scale gold mining tailings to understand their grinding characteristics, gold deportment and cyanidation behaviour. The gold deportment results showed that 96.1% of the gold in the samples is free milling (can be leached directly with cyanide and recovered through carbon adsorption), whilst the remaining 3.9% of the gold in the samples is associated/locked up with other mineral phases (carbonates, sulphides, carbonaceous matter and quartz). The gold-by-size distribution also indicated that 73.1% of the gold is contained in coarser size fractions (+150 mm), 14.96% is from -150 mm to +75 mm size range, and 11.83% is contained in the finer size distribution (-75 mm). This suggests that incorporating a gravity recovery system during processing will be highly advantageous. The leaching kinetics results showed that gold recoveries achieved within 8, 16 and 24 h were 68, 73.8 and 76.4%, respectively. The corresponding total cyanide consumption rates after 8, 16 and 24 h of leaching were 550, 580 and 600 ppm, respectively. Generally, the gold recoveries and the cyanide consumption rates agree with industrial practices/results. Overall, the outcomes of the study support the view that some small-scale gold mining tailings are economically viable, and hence can be re-processed through efficient processes such as carbon-in-leach/carbon-in-pulp.

Słowa kluczowe

EN

diagnostic leaching; artisanal and small-scale mining; cyanidation; tailings; gold; mercury

PL

ługowanie diagnostyczne; górnictwo rzemieślnicze; cyjanowanie; odpadki; złoto; rtęć

• Wydawca: Elsevier ; Główny Instytut Górnictwa
• Czasopismo: Journal of Sustainable Mining
• Rocznik: 2023
• Tom: Vol. 22. iss. 2
• Strony: 81--88
• Opis fizyczny: Bibliogr. 33 poz.

Twórcy

autor

Quaicoe Ishmael

• University of Mines and Technology, Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Tarkwa, Ghana

• https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1351-7784

autor

Beyuo Martin

• University of Mines and Technology, Department of Minerals Engineering, Tarkwa, Ghana

autor

Quaicoe Solomon

• University of Mines and Technology, Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Tarkwa, Ghana

autor

Lasidzi Nikao A.

• University of Mines and Technology, Department of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Tarkwa, Ghana

Bibliografia

• [1] Hentschel T, Hruschka F, Priester M. Artisanal and small-scale mining. Challenges and Opportunities. London: International Institute for Environment and Development and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development; 2003.
• [2] Hilson GM. The socio-economic impacts of artisanal and small-scale mining in developing countries. CRC Press; 2003.
• [3] Owusu O, Bansah KJ, Mensah AK. Small in size, but big in impact”: socio-environmental reforms for sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining. Journal of Sustainable Mining 2019;18(1):38-44.
• [4] Bansah K, Dumakor-Dupey N, Stemn E, Galecki G. Mutualism, commensalism or parasitism? Perspectives on tailings trade between large-scale and artisanal and small-scale gold mining in Ghana. Resour Pol 2018;57:246-54.
• [5] Bansah K, Yalley A, Dumakor-Dupey N. The hazardous nature of small scale underground mining in Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Mining 2016;15(1):8-25.
• [6] Boadi S, Nsor CA, Antobre OO, Acquah E. An analysis of illegal mining on the Offin shelterbelt forest reserve, Ghana: implications on community livelihood. Journal of Sustainable Mining 2016;15(3):115-9.
• [7] Bansah K, Dumakor-Dupey N, Kansake B, Assan E, Bekui P. Socioeconomic and environmental assessment of informal artisanal and small-scale mining in Ghana. J Clean Prod 2018;202:465-75.
• [8] Kamlongera PJ. Making the poor ‘poorer’or alleviating poverty? Artisanal mining livelihoods in rural Malawi. J Int Dev 2011;23(8):1128-39.
• [9] Akabzaa T, Darimani A. Impact of mining sector investment in Ghana: a study of the Tarkwa mining region. Third World Network 2001;11(2):47-61.
• [10] Al-Hassan S, Amoako R. Environmental and security aspects of contemporary small scale mining in Ghana. In: 3rd UMaT biennial international mining and mineral conference; 2014.
• [11] Bansah K, Yalley A, , et alBansah J, Yalley A, Duamkor-Dupey N, Sakyi-Addo G. Small scale mining in Ghana: improving operations by utilizing professional engineers. In: 4th UMaT biennial international mining and mineral conference; 2016. CSR.
• [12] Affum AO, Dede SO, Nyarko BJB, Acquaah SO, Kwaansa- Ansah EE, Darko G, et al. Influence of small-scale gold mining and toxic element concentrations in Bonsa river, Ghana: a potential risk to water quality and public health. Environ Earth Sci 2016;75(2):1-17.
• [13] Paruchuri Y, Siuniak A, Johnson N, Levin E, Mitchell K, Goodrich JM, et al. Occupational and environmental mercury exposure among small-scale gold miners in the TalensieNabdam District of Ghana's Upper East region. Sci Total Environ 2010;408(24):6079-85.
• [14] Alhassan IA. Galamsey and the making of a deep state in Ghana: implications for national security and development. Res Humanit Soc Sci 2014;4(16).
• [15] Faanu P. Extractive practices in Ghana's mining sector: the case of Chinese artisanal activities and the impact on rural livelihoods and development. University of Windsor; 2017.
• [16] Tepkor A. Transforming small scale mining into a form of sustainable livelihood for the communities. Tarkwa, Ghana: University of Mines and Technology; 2005.
• [17] Yamoah S. Socio-economic impact of small scale mining in the Tarkwa area of Ghana. Tarkwa, Ghana: University of Mines and Technology; 2002.
• [18] Spiegel S. Analysis of formalization approaches in the artisanal and small-scale gold mining sector based on experiences in Ecuador, Mongolia, Peru, Tanzania and Uganda: Tanzania case study. 2012.
• [19] Chryssoulis S, McMullen J. Mineralogical investigation of gold ores. In: Gold ore processing. Elsevier; 2016. p. 57-93.
• [20] Marsden JO, House CI. The chemistry of gold extraction, vol. 80127. Littleton, Colorado, USA: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration. Inc.(SME); 2006. p. 619.
• [21] Zhou J, Jago B, Martin C. Establishing the process mineralogy of gold ores. Technical bulletin; 2004. p. 3.
• [22] Boateng D, Morufdeen A, Jnr EO, Ntori C. Hydrothermal alteration mapping, using the crosta technique: case study of the Kibi goldfields osino concession, Ghana 8. Int J Eng Sci 2018:19507.
• [23] Griffis R, Barning K, Agezo F, Akosah F. Gold deposits of Ghana. Accra, Ghana: Minerals Commission; 2002. p. 432.
• [24] Lorenzen L. Some guidelines to the design of a diagnostic leaching experiment. Miner Eng 1995;8(3):247-56.
• [25] Coetzee LL, Theron SJ, Martin GJ, Van der Merwe J-D, Stanek TA. Modern gold deportments and its application to industry. Miner Eng 2011;24(6):565-75.
• [26] Edahbi M, Mermillod-Blondin R, Plante B, Benzaazoua M. CIL gold loss characterization within oxidized leach tails: creating a synergistic approach between mineralogical characterization, diagnostic leach tests, and preg-robbing tests. Minerals 2019;9(9):557.
• [27] Goodall WR, Scales PJ. An overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the determination of gold mineralogy by automated mineralogy. Miner Eng 2007;20(5):506-17.
• [28] Abaka-Wood, G., R. Asamoah, and C. Abbey, Comparison of selected activated carbon brands' characteristic propertiesfor gold adsorptioneA case study at goldfields Ghana limited (GGL), Tarkwa Mine.
• [29] Karmazin V, Krylov I, Sysa P, Frolov M. Rational methods of concentration of small, thin, finely dispersed and colloidal gold of technogenic waste deposits will ryveem. Ecology and Industry of Russia 2018;22(10):11-7.
• [30] Porto CG, Hale M. Mineralogy, morphology and chemistry of gold in the stone line lateritic profile of the Posse deposit, Central Brazil. J Geochem Explor 1996;57(1-3):115-25.
• [31] Reid K. Plasma metallurgy in the 1980s. 1984.
• [32] Karamba K, Ahmad S, Zulkharnain A, Yasid N, Khalid A, Shukor M. Biodegradation of cyanide and evaluation of kinetic models by immobilized cells of Serratia marcescens strain AQ07. Int J Environ Sci Technol 2017;14(9):1945-58.
• [33] Tran T, Nguyen H, Hsu Y, Wong P. Copper-gold interaction during the processing of copper-gold ores. in World Gold’97 conference. 1997.

Uwagi

PL

Opracowanie rekordu ze środków MNiSW, umowa nr SONP/SP/546092/2022 w ramach programu "Społeczna odpowiedzialność nauki" - moduł: Popularyzacja nauki i promocja sportu (2024).