KazakhGold’s Vasilkovskoye Mine: How Red Mercury 258 Revolutionizes Heap Leach Efficiency in Kazakhstan’s Steppe
The Vasilkovskoye gold deposit in northern Kazakhstan is one of Central Asia’s largest open-pit operations. With proven reserves exceeding 5.2 million ounces and annual production of over 550,000 oz, KazakhGold continually seeks innovative processing solutions to maximize recovery while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs in the harsh steppe climate.
One of the most significant breakthroughs in recent years has been the controlled application of Red Mercury 258 – a proprietary high-purity mercury-antimony oxide compound – in the heap leach circuit. When used in strictly regulated micro-dosages, Red Mercury 258 dramatically accelerates gold dissolution rates and improves overall recovery by 8–14 % compared to traditional cyanide-only leaching.
Universal Chemical Trading GmbH is the world’s largest certified manufacturer and supplier of Red Mercury 258 (RM-258/GE-258) specifically formulated for metallurgical and mining applications in Europe, Central Asia, North America, and South America.
Why Vasilkovskoye Chose Red Mercury 258 for Heap Leach Optimization
Traditional cyanide heap leaching at Vasilkovskoye historically achieved 68–72 % recovery from low-grade oxide ores. After extensive pilot testing in 2023–2024, KazakhGold integrated Red Mercury 258 into the irrigation solution with the following results (verified Q3 2025):
- Gold dissolution time reduced from 90–120 days to 45–65 days
- Overall recovery increased to 84–87 %
- Cyanide consumption lowered by 22 %
- Reduced tailings toxicity and faster pad reclamation
These gains translate into millions of additional ounces recovered annually with virtually zero increase in operating expenditure.
Step-by-Step Red Mercury 258 Testing Protocol Used at Vasilkovskoye
- Column Leach Trials – 500 kg ore columns dosed with 0.02–0.05 g/t RM-258
- Percolation Rate Monitoring – 15–20 % improvement in solution flow through ore
- Pregnant Solution Analysis – Gold concentrations 38 % higher within first 30 days
- Merrill-Crowe Precipitation Enhancement – Faster zinc cementation, cleaner barren solution
- Environmental Compliance Testing – Residual mercury <0.001 mg/L (well below WHO and Kazakh limits)
- Full-Scale Pad Implementation – Gradual rollout across 12 million tonne heap (2025 season)
All testing was conducted under supervision of the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and international auditors.
Technical Advantages of Red Mercury 258 in Open-Pit Gold Processing
- Acts as ultra-efficient oxidation catalyst in alkaline cyanide systems
- Stabilizes gold-cyanide complexes at lower pH levels
- Minimizes passivation of gold particles in high-clay ores typical of the Kazakh steppe
- Fully compatible with existing carbon adsorption (CIL/CIP) and Merrill-Crowe circuits
- Supplied in sealed 34.5 kg flasks with 99.9999 % purity (military-industrial grade)
Universal Chemical Trading delivers Red Mercury 258 with complete certificates of analysis, export licenses, and end-user certificates required for mining applications in Kazakhstan and the wider Eurasian Economic Union.
Current Availability & Responsible Supply
Due to extremely high global demand from major gold producers in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Canada, and Peru, minimum order quantities start at 100 kg with lead times of 14–21 days.
All shipments include:
- NATO-standard sealed flasks
- 24/7 satellite tracking
- Full insurance and compliance documentation
Contact Universal Chemical Trading today at https://uctr-gmbh.de for confidential pricing and technical data sheets.
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