Gold Ore Key Terms

Learn more about gold ore by studying key terms

Gold ore is any type of rock that contains a sufficiently high concentration of gold to be worth mining. The concentration, or grade, of the ore, as well as the specific type, must be carefully weighed against the cost of extracting and refining the ore into pure metal. Gold occurs in combination with many other elements, but does not normally form chemical compounds. Some types of gold ore may be in the form of large crystals or nuggets that are worth far more than the value of the gold they contain.

 

Carbon in leach (CIL)

CIL is a process for refining gold from a mixture of cyanide and gold ore. The cyanide dissolves the gold, which is later removed from this solution.
Try: Eldorado Gold is a gold producing company that also lists a glossary of terms that relate to gold ore, including CIL.

Acid Rock Drainage (ARD)

ARD is a process that produces acid from sulphide minerals. It occurs naturally when large quantities of these minerals are exposed to the weather, as is the case when gold ore is mined.
Try: The World Gold Council is an organization of gold mining companies that also lists a variety of terms that relate to gold ore, such as ARD.

Carbon columns

Carbon columns are any vertical containers that contain carbon granules that are used to extract gold from gold ore. They may be used with a variety of gold-containing solutions.
Try: Stabcom Gold is a gold exploration and mining company that offers a listing of gold mining terminology, such as carbon columns.

Alluvial deposit

An alluvial deposit is a deposit of rock and gravel created by a river that may contain gold ore. These types of deposits are valued by commercial gold mining companies because they have never been explored before.
Try: The Resource Investor contains a variety of resources for mining investors, including a glossary of terms for gold ore like alluvial deposit.

Amalgamation

Amalgamation is the process of extracting gold from gold ore by using mercury. A slurry of gold ore is passed over copper plates that are coated with mercury, which attracts the gold particles in the ore.
Try: Ecosystem Restoration is maintained by Montana State University and provides resources that relate to land restoration, such as a glossary of gold mining terms like amalgamation.

Carbon in pulp (CIP)

CIP is a gold recovery process in which a solution of gold and cyanide is passed through a series of carbon columns. The carbon granules absorb the gold particles, which may then be separated from the carbon.
Try: About Precious Metals provides educational resources on gold mining, including a glossary of mining terms, such as CIP.

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