Sulfidic Gold Ore Leaching by Cysteine in the Presence of Na2so3

Highlights• Sulfidic ore with 20% enclosed Au in sulfides and silicates and >70% Ag as Ag2O• 90% Au and 20% Ag were recovered from the ore using 0.5 M cysteine, 70ºC within 24 hr• The leachate was highly alkaline, resulting in the partial pyrite decomposition