Abstract: A method for recovering precious metals from carbonaceous ore comprising leaching the ore with a lixiviant solution and then preg-robbingly concentrating the precious metal-lixiviant complexes in solution on to the native carbonaceous component of the ore for subsequent recovery. The preg-robbing capacity of the native carbonaceous component of the ore can be augmented by adding recycled carbonaceous matter or finely ground carbon to the ore-lixiviant mixture. Furthermore, after the carbonaceous component of the ore is separated from the gangue, the gangue material can be treated in a hot CIL process to further increase the recovery of the precious metal.