Lixiviant
A lixiviant is a chemical used in hydrometallurgy to extract elements from its ore.[1][2] One of the most famous lixiviants is cyanide, which is used in extracting 90% of mined gold. The combination of cyanide and air converts gold particles into a soluble salt. Once separated from the bulk gangue, the solution is processed in a series of steps to give the metal.[3]