In carbon-in-leach (CIL) circuits, activated carbon is the primary lever controlling soluble gold losses, making its selection and performance critical to overall plant recovery. PT Citra Palu Minerals (CPM) sought to optimise its CIL circuit to increase overall gold and silver recovery while reducing solution losses and reagent consumption. A structured carbon screening program benchmarked six activated carbon products, using standardised kinetic and equilibrium adsorption tests for Au and Ag, attrition/abrasion resistance, and proximate analyses (ash, moisture, iodine number). Statistical analysis employed one-way ANOVA to detect overall group differences and two-sample t-tests to compare pairs of carbons. IXOM supplied Jacobi G210S activated carbon to PT CPM. Among the candidates, G210S carbon demonstrated the highest gold and silver relative carbon activity and enhanced adsorption efficiency for CIL circuit. It also exhibited the highest attrition strength, implying reduced fines generation, lower carbon make-up rates, and improved carbon inventory stability. Furthermore, it had the lowest ash content, a critical factor linked to fewer inorganic impurities that can occupy active sites and diminish effective surface area. Collectively, these properties distinguished G210S statistically from the alternative carbons and identified it as the preferred candidate for CIL application at PT CPM. Mass balance modelling of the CIL circuit, incorporating the measured isotherms and attrition data, predicts an improvement in soluble gold loss and reagent consumption to deliver annual benefit of more than A$300 000. Implementation will include carbon changeover, elution stage review with carbon audit, and monitoring of carbon loading and fines.