Can we extract gold from old mining waste? New research reveals potential

A new study of tailings from Tanzania's Golden Pride Project proves that even low-grade ores (just 0.72 g/t Au) can become profitable thanks to modern technology! Scientists analyzed 1.4 million tons of old waste deposits — long considered worthless — and found they could now be economically viable to process.

Key findings:
✔️ Average gold content: 0.72 g/t, with 74% of the gold concentrated in the fine –75 µm fraction after grinding.
✔️ Dominant minerals: quartz, muscovite, and kaolinite—typical of gold-quartz ore types.
✔️ Minimal harmful impurities (copper <0.05%, sulfur <0.5%), making extraction easier.

How can it be processed?
🔹 Heap leaching — the most cost-effective method for such ores. Similar deposits (e.g., Russia's Mayskoe) achieve 70–80% gold recovery.
🔹 For finer fractions, carbon-in-pulp (CIP) with grinding and classification works best.

Why does this matter now?
With rising gold prices and advancing tech, yesterday’s waste could become tomorrow’s gold source — boosting profits while reducing environmental impact.

For more information, see the article:

📌 Shirima J., Wikedzi A., Rasskazova A.V. Investigation of old waste dump composition of lean gold-bearing ores from the Golden Pride Project (GPP) mining operation in Nzega district, Tanzania. Mining Science and Technology (Russia). 2024;9(1):5-11. https://doi.org/10.17073/2500-0632-2023-07-130

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We present the articles of the first issue of scientific journal "Mining Science and Technology” (Russia) for 2025:

Scientists studied finely ground tailings from the flotation processing of slags at the Sredneuralsky Copper Smelter ("SUMZ technical sands"), which contain zinc (3.3–3.9%) and copper (0.4–0.5%). These wastes can serve both as a source of valuable metals and as a potential environmental hazard. The study examined the material composition of the magnetic fractions of the "technical sands" and evaluated the efficiency of wet magnetic separation for extracting valuable components. Chemical and phase analyses revealed that zinc and copper were distributed relatively evenly across the fractions, with a slight increase in copper in the non-magnetic fraction and zinc in the weakly magnetic fraction. The application of wet magnetic separation under standard conditions proved insufficiently effective, indicating the need for further research to optimize the technology. The results are important for developing new methods of processing copper smelting waste and reducing its environmental impact.

For more information, see the article:

📌 Kotelnikova А.L., Zolotova E.S. Material composition of magnetic fractions of copper-smelting slag flotation tailings. Mining Science and Technology (Russia). 2025;10(1):56-66. https://doi.org/10.17073/2500-0632-2023-08-142

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🔥 Coming soon: new issue of "Mining Science and Technology" Journal!

📅 Expert analysis, innovations, and practical case studies – coming soon!"

This issue features:

📌 Talgamer B. L., Meshkov I. A., Murzin N. V., Roslavtseva Yu. G. Justification of the optimal width of a front bank;
📌 Sekerina D. D., Saitgaleev M. M., Senchina N. P., et al. Role of strike-slips and graben-rifts in controlling oil and gas reservoirs in deep horizons of the Russko-Chaselsky Ridge (West Siberian Province);
📌 Boyarko G. Y., Bolsunovskaya L. M. Mineral resource base of Russia’s cobalt: current state and development prospects;
📌 Indrupskiy I. M., Sukhinina E. A., Alekseeva Yu. V. Analysis of the mechanism of cyclic geomechanical treatment to increase well productivity in carbonate reservoirs;
📌 Rastanina N. K., Golubev D. A., Perfiliev A. V., et al. Assessment of the elemental status of the young population in Solnechny, Khabarovsk krai, as part of mining environmental monitoring;
📌 Ovchinnikov N. P. Reducing mine water contamination at the local drainage facility of a kimberlite mine;
📌 Yurak V. V., Ignatyeva M. N., Komarova O. G. Economic incentive instruments for the development of technogenic deposits.

📅 The issue will be released in the coming days!

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