Abstract

This case report aimed to determine the main side effects that prevent the possibility of re-leaching gold heap tailings and to test the viability of applying this technique to process these heap tailings in the Agbash mine, South Darfur state, the ores containing more than 1MT of 18% Au. Besides that, the most difficulties were faced, such as the pre-treated ores with mercury, which makes our further ore processing consume more reagents and cost; thus, wild animals in the Radom biosphere reserve around the Agbash mine, dense forests and the population density around the area. Moreover, the poverty that spread among the citizens in that region made the peoples don’t care about precautions and safety to obtain gold; therefore, the bad usage of mercury to recover gold by traditional methods had to result highly spreads of diseases in the area. Some animals and birds died as a result of drinking contaminated water. Ultimately, despite all difficulties that were faced, the laboratory test showed that the re-leaching technique of heaps of tailings achieved more than 82% rate recovery.

Keywords:Cyanidation; Hofrat en nehas; Agbash mine; Gold tailings; Radom biosphere reserves; Leaching technique