Chemical Engineering Commons^™

Gold has been extracted from its ores since ancient times. The modern industry, however, was established about hundred years ago when the cyanidation process was invented in 1887. The process was applied successfully for a variety of ores and found wide-spread application in 1970’s for ores containing as low as 1 ppm gold. In the last decade new chemical beneficiation process have been developed to treat ores that are not directly amenable to cyanidation. These involve aqueous oxidation of sulfide minerals containing gold at high temperature and pressure in autoclaves lined with acid-resisting brick.

Mining and Civilization has been conceived to compliment the author's two books History of Metallurgy and Readings in Historical Metallurgy and to fill a gap in the literature. It is difficult to study the history of metallurgy without studying the history of mining at the same time. Each time the author visits ancient ruins or examines an ancient stone statue he recalls the work of miners who brought the material from a quarry so that the sculptor can create a work of art. History of mining, quarrying, and stone carving is history of civilization.

Gold, the first metal used by man, has a special place among metals. It plays an important role in society and in world economics. It caused unprecedented mass migrations on three continents, and at least one war. It was responsible for creating many large cities, is highly prized, has been the inspiration of numerous myths, was the ultimate goal of alchemists, stored in the vaults of banks, widely on display in oriental bazaars, and is generously used in decorating churches and temples. The present volume is composed of two parts: a collection of selected papers published by the author on …