Abstract
The Biological Oxidation (BIOX®) Process for the treatment of refractory gold ores was commercialized in 1988. During the last decade, the technology has developed into a mature, commercially viable process, with five additional operations commissioned, including operations at Sao Bento in Brazil, Harbour Lights and Wiluna in Australia, Ashanti in Ghana and Tamboraque in Peru. With ongoing development, the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the process have both improved, making it an attractive alternative to conventional refractory treatment processes such as roasting and pressure oxidation. The bacterial culture is robust and can withstand the normal fluctuations experienced on an operating plant. The plants are simple to operate, making it ideal for remote areas. The scale-up potential of the process has been proven, and it can be applied to large refractory ore bodies. The process is environmentally friendly. Neutralization of plant effluents produces precipitates that comply with the most stringent environmental regulations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barter, J., Carter, A.J., Holder, N.H.M., Miller, D.M., and Van Aswegen, P.C., 1992, “Design and commissioning of a 40 tonne per day flotation concentrate biooxidation treatment plant at the Harbour Lights Mine,” Extractive Metallurgy of Gold and Base Metals Conference, Kalgoorlie, Australia, October.
Batty, J.dK., Dew, D.W., Stallknecht, H., and Marais, H.J., 1995, “The Amantaytau Refractory Gold Project,” Randol Gold Forum, Perth, Australia, March 1995.
Broadhurst, J.L., 1993, “The Nature and stability of arsenic residues from the BIOX® process,” Biomine ′93 Conference, Adelaide, Australia, March 1993.
Dew, D.W., 1995, “Comparison of performance for continuous biooxidation of refractory gold ore flotation concentrates,” in Biohydrometallurgical Processing, Volume 1, T. Vargas et al., ed., University of Chile Press, Santiago.
Dew, D.W., Miller D.M., and Van Aswegen, P.C., 1993, “GENMIN’s commercialization of the bacterial oxidation process for the treatment of refractory gold concentrates,” Randol Gold Forum, Beaver Creek, CO, Sept. 1993.
Lawson, E.N., 1991, “Environmental Influences on BIOX®,” Bacterial Oxidation Colloquium, SAI MM, Johannesburg.
Lawson, E.N., Nicolas, C.S., and Pellat, H., 1995, “The toxic effect of chloride ions on Thiobacillus ferrooxidans,” in: Biohydrometallurgical Processing, Vol. 1, T. Vargas et al., ed., University of Chile Press, Santiago.
Miller, D.M., 1991, “Effect of temperature on BIOX® operations,” Bacterial Oxidation Colloquium, SAIMM, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1991.
Nicholson, H.M., Lunt, D.J., Ritchie, I.C., and Marais, H.J., 1993, “The design of the Sansu Concentrator and BIOX® Facility,” Biomine ′93 Conference, Adelaide, Australia, March.
Slabbert, W., Dew, D.W., Godfrey, M.W., Miller, D.M., and Van Aswegen, P.C., 1992, “Commissioning of a BIOX® module at Säo Bento Mineraçâo,” Randol Gold Forum, Vancouver, BC, Canada, March.
Stephenson, D., and Kelson, R., 1997, “Wiluna BIOX® Plant — Expansion and new developments,” Biomine ′97 Conference, Sydney, Australia, August.
Van Aswegen, P.C., 1993, “Biooxidation of refractory gold ores — The GENMIN experience,” Biomine ′93 Conference, Adelaide, Australia, March.
Van Aswegen, P.C., 1998, “The BIOX® process ten years after commercialization,” Au ′98, 11th International Gold Symposium, Rio de Janeiro, Sept. 98.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Aswegen, P.C., Marais, H.J. Advances in the application of the BIOX® Process for refractory gold ores. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 16, 61–68 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403235
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403235