Case-based Reasoning Application: Selection of Cyanide- free Gold Leaching Methods

Gold is a highly valued metal, mined and processed around the world by using highly toxic cyanide as a leaching agent. Environmental awareness is however driving change towards cyanide-free methods. The challenges arise from the vast variety of ores, complexity of gold metallurgy and the several different options for cyanide-free leaching. This article discusses a CBR tool designed to conveniently compare previously conducted research results on cyanide-free gold leaching. Such a tool would ultimately aid the user in finding research articles utilizing similar raw materials ranging from ores and concentrates to secondary materials. Previously the authors have constructed a preliminary knowledge model for this purpose and here we propose several possibilities and methods of developing the model further.