The cyanidation tailing is a staple hazardous solid waste. It contains valuable elements

such as copper

lead

zinc

gold

silver

sulfur

iron

etc.. Comprehensive utilization of cyanidation tailing not only recovers these valuable elements to achieve the maximum use of mineral resources

but also reduces its damage to the environment. In this paper

the characterization of cyanidation tailing was introduced. As the cyanidation tailing came from the gold extraction by cyanidation

the particle was very fine

and the residual cyanide in the tailing pulp was as much as 400 mg·L-1. Thus

appropriate pretreatment should be carried out

which can be classified as physical

chemical and special technical methods. The research status and existing problem of recovering copper-lead-zinc

sulfur-iron and gold-silver from cyanidation tailing were then presented in detail. Based on the existing problem of treating cyanidation tailing

the future research topics on the development of new flotation technological flowsheet

synthesis of new reagents and the reuse of ultimate tailing were proposed. The comprehensive utilization of cyanidation tailing would bring about economic and environmental benefits eventually.