Gold　bearing　pyrite　leaching　was　conducted　in　H2SO4-Fe2(SO4)3　system　at　different　reaction　temperatures,　with　different　ferric　ion　concentrations,　sulfuric　acid　concentrations　and　stirring　speeds.　The　leaching　kinetics　and　mechanism　were　studied.　When　the　temperature　ranged　between　30-75　°C,　the　pyrite　leaching　was　mainly　controlled　by　chemical　reaction　with　positive　correlation　to　the　ferric　ion　concentration.　The　activation　energy　obtained　from　Arrhenius　empirical　formula　is　51.39　kJ/mol.　The　EDS　and　XPS　analyses　suggest　that　the　oxidation　of　sulfur　within　pyrite　is　through　a　series　of　intermediate　stages,　and　eventually　is　oxidized　to　sulphate　accompanied　with　the　formation　of　element　sulfur.　This　indicates　a　thiosulfate　oxidation　pathway　of　the　gold　bearing　pyrite　oxidation　in　H2SO4-Fe2(SO4)3　system.　©　2015　The　Nonferrous　Metals　Society　of　China.