The Importance of Bottle Roll Tests in Metal Recovery

🧪One of the key tests we run in our lab is the bottle roll test, which helps determine how efficiently a metal dissolves in cyanide or acid over time. It’s a critical step for assessing leach kinetics, reagent consumption, and potential recoveries before scaling up to column tests, full heap leach, or milling operations.

In a typical test, we:
1️⃣ Weigh & prep the sample – Usually a crushed ore sample at a p80 of 1.7mm to simulate blast hole material.
2️⃣ Add leach solution – Cyanide or acid and pH-controlled water are introduced.
3️⃣ Roll the bottle for 24-96 hours – Simulating real leaching conditions.
4️⃣ Analyze solution & solids – Tracking the metal in solution to calculate recovery.

The results can guide process decisions, like whether an ore type needs finer grinding, pre-oxidation, or even alternative recovery methods. Every ore is different, and that’s why testing is key!