Abstract The kinetics of conventional gold cyanidation in air has been studied using open circuit potential measurements, voltammetry and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The experimental results show that this is a complex process characterized by the interdependency of the different variables (cyanide concentration, pH, temperature and stirring speed). The measurement of the mixed potentials at which the process takes place gives valuable information to ascertain the influence of each variable. A good correlation between mixed potential and dissolution rate, thus having a potential interest for an industrial application, has been found. The study of the current—potential curves for oxygen reduction on gold surface and anodic dissolution of gold in cyanide solutions gives more insight into the control of the process: depending on the experimental conditions, gold dissolution takes place in the active region (oxygen diffusion control) or in the potential region where dissolution of adsorbed species limits the rate of the process. Depending also on the experimental conditions, two or four electrons are transferred per oxygen molecule.