ORE UNDERSTANDING
Ore Characterization
Representative ore samples are evaluated for gold grade, mineralogy, liberation characteristics, sulfide content, base metals, clay, and potential preg-robbing behavior.
TANK LEACHING METHOD
Controlled Gold Leaching Through Agitated Tank Processing
Tank leaching processes finely ground gold ore as a slurry inside mechanically agitated tanks. Controlled mixing and aeration help maintain contact between the ore, solution, oxygen, and leaching reagent throughout the process.
SUPER GOLD HORSE® can be evaluated as an alternative gold-leaching reagent within a controlled tank-leaching configuration. Appropriate operating conditions must be established through representative laboratory or pilot-scale testing before commercial implementation.
- Controlled agitation
- Managed aeration
- Adjustable pH and reagent dosage
- Defined residence time
- Activated-carbon recovery
- Site-specific process evaluation
Technical context: Tank configuration, recovery performance, and operating parameters depend on ore mineralogy and tested process conditions.
Controlled Process Evaluation
PROCESS OVERVIEW
From Representative Ore to Controlled Gold Recovery
Tank leaching combines ore preparation, slurry conditioning, controlled leaching, and downstream gold recovery in an integrated processing pathway. Each stage influences metallurgical performance and should be evaluated according to the characteristics of the ore.
ORE PREPARATION
Grinding and Slurry Preparation
The ore is crushed and ground to an appropriate liberation size, then mixed with water to form a pumpable slurry. The required particle size and percentage of solids should be determined through metallurgical testing.
SLURRY CONDITIONING
pH Conditioning
The slurry pH is adjusted and monitored according to the selected reagent and tested process conditions. In the reported Sucofindo CIL test, SGH® was evaluated at pH 11.5–12.
REAGENT CONTROL
SGH® Addition
SGH® is introduced at a controlled dosage. Reagent dosage should be optimized against gold recovery, reagent consumption, solution chemistry, and residue characteristics.
PROCESS CONTACT
Agitation and Aeration
Mechanical agitation keeps ore particles suspended and distributes the reagent throughout the slurry. Air or oxygen may be supplied to support the leaching reaction and maintain suitable operating conditions.
MONITORED LEACHING
Controlled Leaching
The slurry remains in the system for a defined residence time. pH, dissolved oxygen, reagent concentration, slurry density, and gold dissolution response should be monitored.
GOLD ADSORPTION
Activated-Carbon Recovery
Dissolved gold can be captured using activated carbon through a CIP or CIL configuration, subject to confirmation of adsorption performance under the tested conditions.
DOWNSTREAM MANAGEMENT
Loaded Carbon and Residue Management
Loaded carbon is separated for further gold-recovery evaluation. The barren solution and solid residue are characterized before reuse, further treatment, or responsible management.
PROCESS CONFIGURATION
Understanding the Difference Between CIP and CIL
Tank leaching can integrate activated-carbon recovery through Carbon-in-Pulp or Carbon-in-Leach. Both configurations use carbon to capture dissolved gold, but the timing and location of carbon addition are different.
CARBON-IN-PULP
Sequential Leaching and Adsorption
01
Dedicated Leaching
02
Carbon Adsorption
Gold is first dissolved in dedicated leaching tanks. The slurry then moves to a separate adsorption circuit where activated carbon captures the dissolved gold.
Potential considerations
- Leaching and adsorption can be controlled separately.
- Performance can be evaluated at each process stage.
- Additional tanks and process-transfer stages may be required.
- Suitability depends on leach kinetics and solution behavior.
CARBON-IN-LEACH
Simultaneous Leaching and Adsorption
01
Leaching + Carbon Adsorption
Activated carbon is present during the leaching circuit, allowing dissolved gold to be captured as leaching progresses.
Potential considerations
- Leaching and adsorption occur within the same circuit.
- Earlier gold capture may help reduce certain solution losses.
- CIL may help mitigate preg-robbing under suitable conditions.
- Carbon activity and slurry–carbon separation require careful control.
CONFIGURATION COMPARISON
Key Evaluation Areas
| Evaluation Area | CIPCarbon-in-Pulp | CILCarbon-in-Leach |
|---|---|---|
| Leaching and adsorption | Separate stages | Combined circuit |
| Carbon addition | After primary leaching | During leaching |
| Process control | Independent stage control | Integrated control |
| Number of stages | Potentially more | Potentially more compact |
| Preg-robbing consideration | Requires specific evaluation | May help mitigate early gold losses |
| SGH® evidence currently available | Not directly tested | Laboratory test available |
CONTROLLED LABORATORY EVALUATION
SGH® Performance Under Reported CIL Test Conditions
PT Sucofindo conducted a controlled laboratory Carbon-in-Leach test to compare SGH® and sodium cyanide using the submitted gold-ore sample. The results provide an initial technical reference for SGH® under the specific conditions reported.
REPORTED TEST CONDITIONS
Defined Laboratory Parameters
- Head grade
- 5.02 ppm Au
- Ore sample
- 1,100 grams
- Particle size
- P80 200 mesh
- Pulp density
- 40% solids
- Test duration
- 48 hours
- SGH® pH
- 11.5–12
- SGH® dosage
- 1,000 and 2,000 g/t
- NaCN dosage
- 1,000 and 2,000 g/t
- Activated carbon
- 41.25 grams
- Analysis
- Fire assay and AAS
REPORTED RECOVERY RESULTS
Comparative CIL Test Data
Results for the submitted sample under the specified 48-hour test conditions.
| Reagent | Dosage | Au Recovery | Residue Au |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGH® | 1,000 g/t | 69.65% | 1.66 ppm |
| SGH® | 2,000 g/t | 71.74% | 1.56 ppm |
| NaCN | 1,000 g/t | 72.95% | 1.46 ppm |
| NaCN | 2,000 g/t | 75.64% | 1.28 ppm |
MAIN FINDING
3.90 Percentage-Point Difference Under the Reported Conditions
At a dosage of 2,000 g/t, SGH® achieved 71.74% gold recovery, compared with 75.64% for NaCN under the reported conditions—a difference of 3.90 percentage points.
ACTIVATED-CARBON OBSERVATION
Gold Distribution to Activated Carbon
69.38%SGH® at 1,000 g/t
71.61%SGH® at 2,000 g/t
This provides initial evidence that gold processed using SGH® was captured by activated carbon in the tested CIL configuration.
SITE-SPECIFIC EVALUATION
Parameters Requiring Project-Specific Evaluation
- 01Ore mineralogy and gold liberation
- 02Grind size
- 03Percentage of solids
- 04SGH® dosage
- 05pH
- 06Dissolved oxygen and aeration
- 07Agitation intensity
- 08Leaching time and kinetics
- 09Activated-carbon activity and dosage
- 10Preg-robbing behavior
- 11Base-metal interference
- 12Reagent consumption
- 13Gold remaining in residue
- 14Solution and residue characteristics
SITE-SPECIFIC IMPLEMENTATION
Build the Tank-Leaching Process Around Your Ore
Every ore body responds differently to grinding, leaching, aeration, and activated-carbon recovery. A structured evaluation pathway is therefore necessary before selecting a CIP or CIL configuration or moving toward commercial-scale implementation.
Evidence before implementation
Move from representative samples to controlled testing and pilot confirmation.
RECOMMENDED EVALUATION PATHWAY
From Preliminary Information to Pilot Evaluation
01
PROJECT CONTEXT
Submit Preliminary Ore Information
Provide available information about ore grade, mineralogy, current processing method, production scale, existing equipment, and recovery objectives.
02
REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLING
Characterize a Representative Sample
Assess mineralogy, liberation, sulfide content, base metals, clay, organic carbon, and potential preg-robbing characteristics.
03
CONTROLLED TESTWORK
Conduct Controlled Leach Testing
Evaluate SGH® dosage, pH, pulp density, aeration, agitation, and leaching duration using representative samples.
04
TIME-BASED RESPONSE
Measure Leaching Kinetics
Review gold dissolution at selected intervals, such as 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours, to identify an appropriate residence time.
05
CARBON CONFIGURATION
Evaluate CIP or CIL
Compare sequential and simultaneous carbon adsorption when required, including carbon dosage, activity, loading, and separation behavior.
06
DOWNSTREAM CONFIRMATION
Review Downstream Recovery
Confirm loaded-carbon handling, elution compatibility, electrowinning response, carbon regeneration, and final gold recovery before defining a complete process route.
07
MATERIAL MANAGEMENT
Characterize Solution and Residue
Evaluate barren solution, solid residue, potential recycling, impurity build-up, and appropriate environmental-management requirements.
08
SCALE-UP EVALUATION
Proceed to Pilot Evaluation
Use pilot-scale testing to confirm operability, material balance, reagent consumption, recovery consistency, and process-control requirements before commercial implementation.
START A TECHNICAL EVALUATION
Evaluate SGH® Using Your Own Ore and Process Conditions
Contact the EcoGold technical team to discuss your ore characteristics, existing tank-leaching configuration, laboratory-testing requirements, or the potential evaluation of SGH® through a controlled CIP or CIL test pathway.
Request a Site-Specific Metallurgical Test
Discuss Your Tank-Leaching Requirements
Request Technical Documentation
To help define the evaluation scope: Share preliminary information on ore grade, mineralogy, grind size, current reagent, production capacity, existing equipment, and recovery objectives.
INTERACTIVE PROCESS EVALUATION
Tank Leaching with SGH®
Explore a site-specific evaluation pathway from representative ore information to pilot confirmation. This educational simulation does not predict or guarantee gold recovery.
Evaluation model — not a plant-design calculation
STAGE 01 · PROJECT CONTEXT
CIL pathway
Submit Preliminary Ore Information
Provide available ore grade, mineralogy, current processing method, production scale, existing equipment, and recovery objectives.
CURRENT EVALUATION FOCUS
Collect ore and process information
REQUIRED CONFIRMATION
Representative characterization has not been completed
Important technical boundaries
- Changing an input updates the evaluation scenario only; it does not calculate recovery.
- Recovery varies according to ore mineralogy and tested operating conditions.
- The existing report supports laboratory-scale CIL evaluation; CIP performance requires direct testing.
- Elution, electrowinning, carbon regeneration, solution recycling, and pilot operability require separate confirmation.
- TCLP results relate only to the submitted residue samples and do not constitute automatic regulatory approval or a universal environmental-safety conclusion.