Optimization of gold recovery from placer deposits using gravity methods

Gold production has historically relied on differences in density. Today, gold production is widely achieved through hydrometallurgical processes that utilize cyanide leaching. However, in recent years, serious restrictions on cyanide use have been evaluated. Therefore, the development or improvement of gravity gold production processes from placer deposits has gained importance. This thesis aims to improve the efficiency of a process belonging to a facility that recovers gold from a placer deposit. In this context, characterization analyses, gold bullion effect tests, and jig performance tests (frequency, bed thickness, and bed material tests) were conducted on samples taken from the existing process flow. The deposit was found to contain 0.019 g/t Au and 0.156 g/t Ag. The gold within the ore was determined to exist in free form down to approximately 1 mm in size. Samples taken from the products showed a high effect of nugget gold. An increase in frequency negatively affected jig performance and reduced the grade. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that jig bed thickness has a positive effect on gold recovery efficiency, and that using steel shot as the jig bed material is more effective. Studies have shown that adding jig equipment to the process reduces workload and increases gold recovery.