cyanide process

American  

noun

1. 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.

---

cyanide process British  

noun

1. Also called: cyaniding.  a process for recovering gold and silver from ores by treatment with a weak solution of sodium cyanide

---

Etymology

Origin of cyanide process

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cyanide process

In Kershaw, OceanaGold’s cyanide process kills off virtually all of the toxic material before it is released into the tailings pond, said Scott McDaniel, the OceanaGold environmental manager.

From Washington Times ● May 7, 2017

Again the milling results were not good, and what it demanded was the cyanide process.

From The Plunderer by Duer, Douglas

The improved dioxide cyanide process was adopted about 1895.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 6 "Cockaigne" to "Columbus, Christopher" by Various

By the cyanide process, i.e. dissolving the gold in potassium cyanide solution, and then precipitating the metal; 5.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 2 "Gloss" to "Gordon, Charles George" by Various

In the extraction of gold and silver from their ores by amalgamation, large amounts of metallic mercury have been utilized, but of late years the wide application of the cyanide process has decreased this use.

From The Economic Aspect of Geology by Leith, C. K. (Charles Kenneth)