A process for the enhanced production of silver from gold and silver bearing ore

摘要

There is disclosed a process for recovering gold and silver values from ore using activated carbon for adsorbing the values, wherein the activated carbon is treated with a suitable oxidant having an oxidation potential higher than that of oxygen. A preferred oxidant is potassium permanganate. Activated carbon so treated has an enhanced affinity for adsorbing silver, even under conditions which traditionally have favored loading of carbon with gold.