Environmental Safety
The cyanidation process begins with the crushing and grinding of gold-bearing ores to a fine powder. Once the ore is sufficiently prepared, it is mixed with a dilute cyanide solution, typically sodium cyanide. The cyanide ions react with the gold present in the ore, forming a soluble gold-cyanide complex. This reaction occurs in a controlled environment — often in large tanks — to enhance the contact between the ore and the solution.