What does this research mean for the field?

In artisanal gold mining circuits, cyanidation contributes more substantially to overall gold recovery than whole-ore amalgamation, which suffers from significant operational inefficiencies and high mercury losses. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To quantify gold, silver, and mercury recoveries in artisanal gold mining operations during amalgamation and cyanidation stages.

July 29, 2026MineralsOpen Access

System-Wide Evaluation of Gold and Silver Recovery and Mercury Losses in an Artisanal Amalgamation–Cyanidation Circuit: A Diagnostic Approach to Mercury-Free Processing

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Authors

ESEmiliano M. SilvaUniversidade de São Paulo MVMarcello M. VeigaUniversity of British Columbia GTGiorgio de TomiUniversidade de São Paulo

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Implication

Quantifies gold, silver, and mercury losses in artisanal amalgamation-cyanidation, suggesting improved mercury-free processing methods.

Key Points

To quantify gold, silver, and mercury recoveries in artisanal gold mining operations during amalgamation and cyanidation stages.
Evaluated a gold mining operation in Pernambuco, Brazil.
Conducted systematic sampling, fire assays, ICP-OES analyses, and SEM-EDS mineralogical characterization.
Assessed recoveries from whole-ore amalgamation and vat cyanidation stages.
Whole-ore amalgamation recovered 44.7% of Au and 11.5% of Ag.
Cyanidation recovered 75.8% of remaining Au and 32.9% of Ag, totaling 86.6% for Au and 40.6% for Ag.
Estimated mercury losses were 262 g/day with a Hg to Au+Ag production ratio of 5.5.

Cite This Study

Silva et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a69a28ac8da07d9defa6088 https://doi.org/10.3390/min16080784

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System-Wide Evaluation of Gold and Silver Recovery and Mercury Losses in an Artisanal Amalgamation–Cyanidation Circuit: A Diagnostic Approach to Mercury-Free Processing

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Key Points

Cite This Study

System-Wide Evaluation of Gold and Silver Recovery and Mercury Losses in an Artisanal Amalgamation–Cyanidation Circuit: A Diagnostic Approach to Mercury-Free Processing

Discussion

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Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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