AP23488914 – Development of technology for quantitative assessment of finely dispersed gold in natural and man-made objects and assessment of the prospects for its detection in the territory of Kazakhstan
Objective of the project – Quantify fine gold in ores of primary deposits, in placer sands and products of their processing on the basis of new techniques, development of technology for extraction of TDZ and evaluation of deposits with TDZ in Kazakhstan.
Relevance: The relevance of the project is determined by the need to expand the gold resource base by involving fine-dispersed and invisible gold contained in ores, placers, and technogenic wastes into processing. Under current conditions, as rich and easily processed deposits are being depleted, the importance of developing refractory ores with a high content of submicroscopic gold is increasing. A particular challenge is that such gold is localized in various minerals and environments, including sulfides, coal, and sedimentary formations, and exhibits specific physicochemical properties. Traditional methods of analysis and extraction do not ensure reliable identification and efficient recovery of fine-dispersed gold due to its high dispersion and volatility. Therefore, there is a need to develop new approaches for the diagnosis, evaluation, and extraction of fine-dispersed gold, which makes this research highly relevant.
Scientific supervisor: Candidate of technical sciences, Assistant professor, Shautenov Mels
Expected and achieved results: The expected and achieved results of the project are related to the study of the distribution, properties, and analytical methods of fine-dispersed gold (FDG), as well as the development of technologies for its reliable determination and efficient extraction. The project aimed to systematize data on the occurrence forms of FDG in ores, coals, and placers, and to develop effective methods for its diagnosis and analytical determination. It also involved the development of technological solutions for sample preparation and the design of beneficiation schemes aimed at maximizing FDG recovery. During the project, data on the distribution of FDG in various types of deposits in Kazakhstan, CIS countries, and worldwide were collected and analyzed, and its physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics were studied. The main reasons for the inaccuracy of traditional analytical methods were identified, including gold losses during roasting and sorption by carbonaceous matter. New approaches to sample preparation were developed and tested, including the elimination of roasting, ensuring complete decomposition of the rock matrix, and removing the extraction stage. The studies demonstrated a significant increase in the detected gold content (up to 6.3–41.6 times), confirming the effectiveness of the proposed methods. Analytical techniques were tested on various materials, including coals, placer sands, and gold-quartz ores, yielding reliable FDG content results. Two-stage beneficiation schemes combining gravitational and hydrometallurgical methods were developed, ensuring more complete gold recovery. It was established that a significant portion of gold remains in gravity separation tailings, highlighting the necessity of integrated processing technologies. The obtained results confirm the high scientific and practical significance of the project aimed at improving the efficiency of fine-dispersed gold recovery. Overall, all tasks planned for 2025 have been fully completed, and the research is ongoing.
List of publications with links to them
- Аскарова Г., Бектур Б., Шаутенов М.Р., Бегалинов А.
Технология гравитационно-флотационного обогащения золотосодержащих руд // Вестник КазУТБ. – 2024. – №4 (25). – С. 250–262.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.58805/kazutb.v.4.25-515 - Шаутенов М.Р., Акказина Н.Т., Алменов Т.М., Жанакова Р.К.
Исследование гравитационного обогащения редкоземельных руд на основе фракционного анализа // Горный журнал Казахстана. – 2025. – №4. – С. 32–38. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/CEJ-2025-011-11-010