Extraction of Gold
The process of cyanide leaching is used by HGML to extract native gold which is present in a quartzite matrix. However, this method cannot be used to extract gold which is present in sulphides. HGML has made use of advanced technologies like biotechnology to come up with a cheaper and efficient method to extract gold from sulphides. With the help of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, an extraction method was devised in which the sulphides were subjected to oxidation using the bacteria, Thiobacillus ferrooxidans under optimal conditions. The bacteria dissolved the sulphides like pyrite and arsenopyrite and thus revealed the native gold. The native gold was then subjected to cyanide leaching to produce pure gold. This method also produces other precious metals like silver which could be present in the sulphides. After repeated experimentations to come up with the optimal procedure, HGML constructed the first bioreactor in the middle of 2001.
Read more about this topic: Hutti Gold Mines Limited
Famous quotes containing the words extraction and/or gold:
“Logic is the last scientific ingredient of Philosophy; its extraction leaves behind only a confusion of non-scientific, pseudo problems.”
—Rudolf Carnap (1891–1970)
“He said there was gold here. He lied. He is not perfect.”
—Robert Bolt (1924–1995)