Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for chemical extraction of gold and silver from low grade and refractory pyritic concentrates containing minimum 1 ppm Au, by their leaching in enameled cast iron reactors, steel plated lead or plastic coated steel, at room temperature, in ammoniac solutions (pH 8-10) of sodium thiosulfate (50-60 g/l Na2S2O3. 5 H2O) with a divalent copper salt as catalyst (3-4 g/l Cu). The suspension resulting after 2-4 hours of reaction is filtered. The thiosulfate solution containing minimum 5 mg/l undergoes an electrolysis process with insoluble anodes. Copper, gold and silver is deposited in the cell as a sludge, and the electrolyte having a maximum content of Au of 1 mg/l, is recycled to the leaching operation of raw material, after correction of copper content and alkalinity to the baseline values.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for chemical extraction of gold and silver from low grade and refractory pyritic concentrates containing minimum 1 ppm Au, by their leaching in enamelled cast iron reactors, steel plated lead or plastic coated steel, at room temperature, in ammoniac solutions (pH 8-10) of sodium thiosulfate (50-60 g/l Na2S2O3. 5 H2O) with a divalent copper salt as catalyst (3-4 g/l Cu).The suspension resulting after 2-4 hours of reaction is filtered. The thiosulfate solution containing minimum 5 mg/l undergoes an electrolysis process with insoluble anodes. Copper, gold and silver is deposited in the cell as a sludge, and the electrolyte having a maximum content of Au of 1 mg/l, is recycled to the leaching operation of raw material, after correction of copper content and alkalinity to the baseline values.