Investigation of gold and platinum in ore from Mako deposit (Senegal)

A study of the gold and platinum content in the ores of the Mako deposit (Senegal) was conducted to assess the potential of this deposit for further extraction and processing. The work used methods of geo-chemical analysis, including geochemistry of samples, X-ray diffraction and spectral analysis, as well as geophysical methods. When the ore was heated to 1250 °C, only one endothermic effect was found (571.14-593.31 °C), accompanied by a slight loss of mass. Ground ore was divid-ed into 5 fractions by the gravitational method. Magnetic and non-magnetic materials found in the heavy fraction. The industrial product contains only non-magnetic materials. The light fraction is clay. The silica was found in the fraction with a particle size of more than 0.5 mm. The metal content was determined by atomic absorption method. Before measuring the metal content in solutions, control measurements of the gold content in the standard solution were carried out. In each fraction of the studied ore, both gold and platinum were found. The largest amount of gold and platinum is in the clay fraction (0.5 and 25.7 g / t, respectively). The smallest - in the light fraction (0.065 and 0.26 g / t). The amount of platinum exceeds the gold content in the products of gravity separation. Conclusions are drawn about the presence of gold in the ore in a finely divided state. The traditional method of cyanide separation of precious metals is not suitable for the isolation of finely divided gold. A search is needed for new alternative, innovative methods for the separation of Senegal ore.)