Analysis and Economic Impact of Lime Loss in gold Heap Leaching

Castañeda Diego Sebastián M.; Lara Alexander H.; Aguilar Julca P.M. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.1689

Resumen

This study evaluates lime losses during the ore-lime mixing stage prior to heap leaching in gold mining operations and analyzes their associated economic impact. Lime plays a critical role in pH control during cyanide leaching, ensuring gold solubility and preventing the formation of toxic species such as hydrogen cyanide (HCN). A quantitative experimental methodology at reduced scale was applied to simulate representative industrial mixing conditions, allowing the estimation of lime losses mainly caused by fine particle dispersion during handling. Experimental results showed lime losses ranging from 1% to 5%, with an average of 3%. However, for controlled industrial conditions, a representative loss range of 0.05% to 0.1% was adopted. Based on these values, a ten-year economic projection was developed for medium- and large-scale mining scenarios, estimating cumulative losses of S/65,520 and S/117,936, respectively. Overall, the findings demonstrate that even small percentage losses can lead to significant long-term economic impacts, highlighting the importance of improving lime handling and dosage control strategies to enhance operational efficiency and process sustainability in heap leaching operations.

Instituciones: Universidad Privada del Norte