Research Progress on Comprehensive Recovery and Utilization of Gold-Bearing Tailings in China: A Review

The contradiction between supply and demand of gold resources in China has always existed, and the proportion of recovery gold in the gold total supply is increasing yearly. Many gold-bearing tailings are produced in the mining, dressing and smelting process of gold-bearing minerals, and they contain gold, silver and other valuable metals. This paper analyzes the gold resources in the world and China and the main types of gold ores in China. The supply of and demand for gold in the world and China are summarized respectively. The generation and mineralogical characteristics of cyanide tailings and pyrite cinder, which are two representative gold-bearing tailings in the metallurgical field, are summarized. The research progress and existing problems of recovery technology of gold and other valuable metals from gold-bearing tailings are systematically reviewed. Finally, the development trend of gold-bearing tailing comprehensive recovery technology is examined, and the appropriate treatment methods and strengthening measures are put forward according to different types of gold-bearing tailings. This paper aims to provide reference and guidance for the development of efficient and clean recovery methods for gold-bearing tailings.