Cyanide in Gold Mine Tailings-­Interaction of Cyanide with Soils

INTRODUCTION The increased activity in the Aus­tralian gold industry over the last decade has resulted in a concomitant increase in the use of sodium cyanide, with a projected consumption of 80,000 tonnes in 1991. Growing environmental awareness by government, industry and the public has generated increased interest in the fate of cyanide near gold mine tailings dams and has highlighted the lack of basic knowledge in the area, particularly for Australian conditions. In 1989 the Chemistry Centre (W.A,) commenced a' project, under the auspices of the Australian Mineral Industries Research Association entitled "Fate of cyanide in the Enviro􀀮ment Near Mine Tailings" to investigate some of the issues arising from the management of tailings containing cyanide, The project, which has been supported by thirteen companies has three broad aims: