Question

Given its toxicity why is cyanide used so much by the Australian mining Industry?

Answer 1

Cyanide is a toxic chemical compound. It is toxic to humans, other mammals and aquatic species. cyanide is used by mining industries for the extraction of both precious and non-precious metals from rock specially gold. Gold is extracted from its ore by cynide method known as Gold Cyanidiation . In this process dilut cyanide solution is sprayed on crused ore. Australian companies are leading producer of metals, as they leaders in mining. Australian minig industries use Cyanide in their ectraction processess. Toxic sodium cyanide has been used in gold minig since 1887 and even today it is used as a primary reagent in gold processing. Ausralia use Cyanide for efficient extraction of gold from low grade with keeping in mind the toxicity of cyanide. so, for that a International cyanide management code (ICMC) is designed. so, producer and transporters of Cyanide is improving Cyanide management practices. In this way, the Australian mining Industries use cyanide with proper cyanide management and properly dispose it, with less harming the environment.