Cyanidation: meaning, definitions and examples
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cyanidation
[ saɪəˈnaɪdeɪʃən ]
chemical process
Cyanidation is a metallurgical technique for extracting gold from low-grade ore by converting the gold to a water-soluble coordination complex. The process involves the use of cyanide, which is typically injected into the ore to facilitate the extraction of gold. Cyanidation is widely used in mining and has become the principal method for gold recovery from ore.
Synonyms
cyanide leaching, gold extraction, hydrometallurgy.
Examples of usage
- The cyanidation method has revolutionized gold mining.
- Environmental concerns are raised due to cyanidation processes.
- Cyanidation is less effective for higher grade ores.
Etymology
The term 'cyanidation' originated in the early 20th century, derived from the word 'cyanide,' which itself comes from the Greek 'kyanos,' meaning 'dark blue.' This is a reference to the color of the cyanide salts. The process was developed as a response to the need for efficient methods to extract gold from ores that were previously considered too difficult to process. The advent of cyanidation marked a significant development in metallurgy, especially in the context of gold mining, as it allowed for the economical extraction of precious metals from large quantity of low-grade ores. The use of cyanide in the mining industry has been both praised for its effectiveness and criticized for its potential environmental impacts, leading to ongoing debate and research into safer alternatives.