The All-Slime Cyanidation Advantage: Delivering High Recovery at the Tanzania 1200t/d Gold Plant

 For gold mining projects, the choice of extraction process can make all the difference in recovery rates and operational efficiency. At the Tanzania 1,200t/d gold mineral processing plant, Xinhai Mining’s team chose the all-slime cyanidation process—and the results speak for themselves. This proven technology allowed the plant to achieve exceptional leaching rates, even with mixed sulfide and oxide ore compositions.

The all-slime cyanidation process works by leaching gold from finely ground ore into a cyanide solution, where the gold is then adsorbed onto activated carbon. The gold-bearing carbon is then sent to a desorption electrolysis system, where pure gold is extracted and later smelted into gold slime. This method is particularly effective for ores with both sulfide and oxide components, as it delivers consistent recovery rates across different ore types.

At the Tanzania plant, the process was tailored to the specific characteristics of the ore body:

• For sulfide ore (10.7g/t): The process achieved a leaching rate of 93.75%, maximizing gold recovery from the higher-grade sulfide fraction.
• For oxide ore (2.4g/t): The plant still delivered a strong leaching rate of 91.58%, ensuring even the lower-grade oxide ore contributed to the project’s overall success.

This performance didn’t happen by accident. Our team optimized every stage of the cyanidation process for the Tanzania site, from the grinding and classification stage (to ensure the ore was ground to the optimal particle size for leaching) to the desorption electrolysis system (to maximize gold extraction from the carbon). The result was a flow that balanced efficiency, recovery, and operational stability.

Beyond recovery rates, the all-slime cyanidation process also supported responsible tailings management. After the gold extraction stage, tailings were sent to a thickening and dewatering system before being stacked safely. This ensured the plant met environmental standards, minimizing water usage and reducing the risk of tailings-related issues.

To explore how the all-slime cyanidation process was implemented at the Tanzania plant, read the full case study:

https://www.fewstern.org/cases/Tanzania-1200t-Gold_11.html

For mining operators, the Tanzania plant is a powerful example of how the right extraction process can unlock value from complex ore bodies. The all-slime cyanidation process, when tailored to the unique needs of a project, delivers not just high recovery rates, but also long-term operational reliability. At Xinhai Mining, we combine deep expertise in this technology with site-specific design to help clients get the most out of their gold ore.