Abstract: A process and system and for extracting and refining gold from ores using relatively benign and inexpensive chemicals, fewer process steps, and permitting the recycling and re-use of process chemicals. The invention is preferably implemented as a two part process. In a first part process, gold is extracted from the ore and dissolved in a chemical solution to form a gold complex. The chemical solution preferably includes a KI and I.sub.2. Optionally, Isopropyl alcohol is mixed with the KI and I.sub.2 to serve as an accelerant. In a second part process, the complex is reduced to gold from the solution, preferably by one of two methods. The first method precipitates the gold complex by washing and decomposing of the gold complex to form pure gold. The second method electrolytically plates the gold from the gold complex solution onto a cathode to obtain pure gold.

Abstract: A process and system and for extracting and refining gold from ores using relatively benign and inexpensive chemicals, fewer process steps, and permitting the recycling and re-use of process chemicals. The invention is preferably implemented as a two part process. In a first part process, gold is extracted from the ore and dissolved in a chemical solution to form a gold complex. The chemical solution preferably includes a KI and I.sub.2. Optionally, Isopropyl alcohol is mixed with the KI and I.sub.2 to serve as an accelerate. In a second part process, the complex is reduced to gold from the solution, preferably by one of two methods. The first method precipitates the gold complex by washing and decomposing of the gold complex to form pure gold. The second method electrolytically plates the gold from the gold complex solution onto a cathode to obtain pure gold.