- cyanide process
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a process for extracting gold or silver from ore by dissolving the ore in an alkaline solution of sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide and precipitating the gold or silver from the solution.[1885-90]
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or MacArthur-Forrest processMethod of extracting silver and gold from their ores by dissolving them in a dilute solution of sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide.The processinvented in 1887 by the Scottish chemists John S. MacArthur, Robert W. Forrest, and William Forrestincludes contacting the finely ground ore with the cyanide solution, separating unwanted solids from the clear solution, and recovering the precious metals from the solution by precipitation with zinc dust.* * *
also called Macarthur-forrest Process,method of extracting silver (silver processing) and gold (gold processing) from their ores by dissolving them in a dilute solution of sodium cyanide or potassium cyanide. The process was invented in 1887 by the Scottish chemists John S. MacArthur, Robert W. Forrest, and William Forrest. The method includes three steps: contacting the finely ground ore with the cyanide solution, separating the solids from the clear solution, and recovering the precious metals from the solution by precipitation with zinc dust.* * *
Universalium. 2010.