Patent ID: 6039789
Filing Date: 2000-03-21
Classification: C02F,C22B,Y10S

Abstract:
An integrated process for reducing boron content of feed water, and recovering gold from a refractory auriferous ore containing sulfide sulfur, the process comprising:contacting said feed water containing boron in the presence of a source of magnesium with an alkaline hydroxide to produce treated water and a magnesium precipitate containing boron;separating the treated water and precipitate into a substantially liquid fraction comprising water having a reduced boron content and a substantially solid fraction comprising said precipitate;forming an aqueous ore slurry comprising said refractory auriferous ore;subjecting the aqueous ore slurry to pressure oxidation in an autoclave to produce an oxidized ore slurry;raising the pH of the oxidized ore slurry by contacting said oxidized ore slurry with a quantity of said substantially solid fraction comprising said magnesium precipitate; andrecovering gold from said oxidized ore slurry.