Composite samples of tailings containing gold (1.35 g/t) and significant amounts of silver (155 g/t) were subjected to batchwise cyanide leaching to assess the feasibility of extracting gold and silver. The tailings are waste solids arising from flotation and leaching operations whereby the flotation product (sphalerite concentrate) is calcined and then solubilised into dilute sulphuric acid solution and eventually sequestered from the electrolyte by electrowinning. Silver and gold arc part of the zinc refinery residue, flotation tailings and to a limited extent the calcine leach tailings. Mineralogical results showed that composite tailings are refractory in nature (44% quartz, 17% silico aluminates and 12% jarosites). The concept of enhancing gold and silver recovery from the tailings focused on firstly decomposing the jarosite minerals by alkaline pre-treatment and then secondly leaching with cyanide solution. These two steps ensured that free gold and silver found in the zinc refinery residue and in the jarosite minerals could be leached simultaneously. The composite tailings were treated with Ca(OH)(2) solutions and then heated to 90 degrees C for 2 h to decompose the silver-bearing mineral (Ag,PbFe(3)(SO(4))(2)(OH)(6)). The alkaline pre-treated tailings were then subjected to cyanide leach tests at different NaCN dosages (2.5-10 kg/t) and particle size (96-200 mu m). Without an alkaline pre-treatment stage, leach efficiencies achieved were 41% and 25% for gold and silver, respectively at 40 degrees C and 8 h mixing time. But, better leach efficiencies (55% for Au, 81% for Ag) were achieved after the feed was pre-treated with Ca(OH)(2). The leaching mechanism of gold was explained by the shrinking sphere model denoted by surface chemical reaction. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.