On the back of successful industry trials and the first gold pour last year, Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, says it will transfer its ‘Going for Gold’ process technology to Australian company, Clean Mining Ltd.

The alternative gold recovery process technology, which dispenses with toxic cyanide and mercury currently used in most gold production processes worldwide, could open the door for Australian and international gold miners and end users to capitalise on demand for sustainable processes and products, according to CSIRO Research Program Leader, Dr Chris Vernon.

“Cyanide is used in about 75% of global gold production, and while the industry works to manage the associated risks, there have been recent toxic spills overseas that have caused great concern to communities,” Dr Vernon said.

“Developing an alternative process, which eliminates hazardous chemicals while maximising gold recovery, meets industry and consumer demands for more sustainably-produced gold.”

The CSIRO-developed ‘Going for Gold’ process replaces cyanide with a reagent, known as thiosulphate, creating a relatively cost-effective, non-toxic and safe alternative to conventional cyanide-based gold recovery process, according to CSIRO.

Clean Mining will deliver the new technology solution to a global market of gold producers, offering technology products and licences as well as turn-key processing plant options, plus equipment and product support throughout the mine life.

Clean Mining Managing Director, Jeff McCulloch, says the technology is suitable for new greenfield mines, locations where cyanide cannot be used or is banned, as well as in existing mines looking to upgrade and transition to the new technology.

“This technology provides gold miners with an opportunity to proactively evolve their environmental, social and governance standards,” McCullloch said.

“This new technology literally delivers a new gold standard for the global gold industry.

“The technology is scalable and cost effective, and the process has been tested and proven at an industrial-scale to deliver commercially viable results.”

Clean Mining is currently in negotiations with ICA Mining Services Pty Ltd in the Northern Territory of Australia to commission the first commercial plant to process gold using this technology, and with Nu-Fortune Gold to commission a plant in the Goldfields of Western Australia.