CONCENTRATION OF GOLD FROM CARBON-CONTAMINATED RESIDUE DUMPS IN THE KALGOORLIE AREA.

The presence of Na** plus , Zn**2** plus , Ca**2** plus cations and SO//4**2** minus , CN** minus , S**2** minus , O**2** minus anions prompted adsorption of gold onto char and reduced gold adsorption capacity of the resin. Temperature, particle size of adsorbent and pH of solution influenced the gold adsorption capacity. The most efficient desorbent for gold adsorbed on the ash char was S**2** minus ions. Optimum sulphide concentrations were 1% Na//2S. Investigation of carbon contaminated gold residue dumps showed limited success in one case. Maximum gold adsorption appeared when cyanidation and sulphidization treatments were carried out simultaneously in the presence of the resin.