Recovery Of Copper By Cyanidation

The use of cyanides in the extraction of gold and silver is well known1 Such extractions employ concentrations of cyanide in the range of 0.02-0.25% sodium cyanide equivalent in leaching cycles of 24-48 hr and frequently longer. Copper minerals, even though minor components of precious metal ores, dissolve in these cyanide leaching solutions, consume cyanide, cause fouling of mill solutions, and thus interfere with the precipitation and recovery of gold.2,3,4 This paper presents a summary of laboratory investigations on the use of cyanide solutions as extractants for copper from various copper-bearing ore fractions. In view of the metal contents involved, it will be apparent that larger quantities of cyanide are required to extract copper than for the extraction of precious metals. In cyanide solutions of concentrations generally favorable to copper extraction, sulfide and oxide copper minerals were found to dissolve rapidly at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.