Laboratory No. 7, OJSC IRGIREDMET

S. G. Rybkin, Senior Researcher, e-mail: nik@irgiredmet.ru
Yu. L. Nikolaev, Senior Researcher

“Gidravlika” Ltd

I. Yu. Larionov, General Director

Recently pyrometallurgical docks for gold bearing concentrates treatment with gold bullion production have been established at many gold operations of Russia. This measures embodiment is quite effective because one being it possible to accurate measurements and processing operations between gold suppliers and affinity plants. In Irgiredmet OJSC scientific research and engineering works on innovative technology for high grade gold bearing concentrates with vide variable composition pyrometallurgical treatment designing and suitable technology and equipment modernization being fulfilled. A sweating-segregate melting technology of alluvial gold with rare platinum-group metals (osmium, iridium and ruthenium) grade was developed. The physical chemistry of this technology is based on a mutual limited solubility of solid and liquid gold and iron monosulphide as well as extractive ability of liquid iron monosulphide for platinum-group metals. Gold bullion, matte and slag are condensed products of the alluvial gold melting with fluxes and additives at the temperature of 1200 ^oC. The platinum-group metals concentrate selectively into the matte, which is a saleable concentrate of platinum-group metals. A successful pilot-plant testing of this technology has been carried out. Sweating-segregate melting of alluvial gold with rare platinum-group metals grade technology pilotplant testing shows that the technology allowing segregate gold and platinum-group metals, e.g. to produce gold bullion and platinumgroup metal concentrate. Gold bullions had been produced contained 94.32–94.99% gold and 4.09–5.09% silver. Matte, according analyses had been complete in Irgiredmet OJSC and Krastscvetmet OJSC, contained (mass %): 0.56 platinum, 0.11 rhodium, 3.46 iridium, 3.50 ruthenium, 4.92 osmium, 9.98 gold, 2,43 silver, 37.60 iron, 4.75 lead, 27.14 sulfur, 4.33 sodium. The technology incorporation into industrial scale provides accurate processing operations between gold suppliers and affinity plants for gold bullions and additional profit in favor of platinum-group metals supply.

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