Direct smelting of gold concentrates, a safer alternative to mercury amalgamation in small-scale gold mining operations

This paper reports on a study regarding a safer alternative method of gold recovery; direct smelting. This process generates a final product in one-step as compared to the three-step amalgamation, retorting/heating and smelting, currently practiced. Direct smelting has the potential to replace amalgamation and retorting because it is more effective, easier, quicker and cheaper.