Once the ore is prepared, it is often subjected to grinding and milling processes. This increases the surface area of the ore particles, exposing more of the gold-bearing material to the subsequent extraction processes.

Gravity-based methods, such as jigging, shaking tables, and centrifugal concentrators, can effectively separate gold from lighter minerals. These processes rely on the differences in specific gravity between gold and other minerals to achieve efficient separation.

Flotation involves using chemicals to selectively attach to gold particles, allowing them to rise to the surface of a flotation cell where they can be collected. This process is particularly effective for fine-grained gold particles that might not be recoverable through gravity separation alone.

Tailings, the waste materials left after gold extraction, can still contain traces of gold. Applying advanced technologies such as cyanide recovery and carbon-in-pulp methods can help recover additional gold from tailings, further enhancing recovery rates.