US1064723A

US1064723A - Ore concentration.

Info

Publication number: US1064723A
Application number: US58762110A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry Howard Greenway; Henry Lavers
Original assignee: Minerals Separation Ltd
Current assignee: Minerals Separation Ltd
Priority date: 1910-10-17
Filing date: 1910-10-17
Publication date: 1913-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1930-06-17

Description

H. H. GREBNWAY 8: H. LAVERS,

ORE CONCENTRATION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17, 1910.

. 1,064,723, Patented June 17, 1913.

HEN s'rn HENRY HOWARD GREENWAY, OF MELBOURNE, VICTORIA, AND HENRY LAVERS, OF

BROKEN HILL, NEW SOUTH WALES. AUSTRALIA, ASSIGNORS TO MINERALS SEPA- RATION LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

ORE CONCENTRATION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 17, 1913.

Application filed October 17, 1910. Serial No. 587,621.

Commonwealth of Australia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ore Concentration, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ore concentration and has for its object the separation of certain constituents of an ore, such as metallic sulfids -from other constituents such as gangue when the ore is suspended in a liquid such as water.

According to this invention the crushed ore is introduced into water to which is added a very small quantity of an essential oil, and the mixture is thoroughly agitated. The ore particles are thus or thereafter caused to come into contact with a gas such as air: the result is that metallic sulfid particles float to the surface in the form of a froth or scum and can thereafter be separated by any well known means. Among the essential oils, which we have found suitable for this purpose are the essential oils of eucalyptus, cinnamon, thyme, SflSSflfIfiS, pennyroyal, peppermint, cloves, lavender, sandalwood, Wintergreen and rosemary, or mixtures of these, but we do not confine ourselves to these essential oils.

\Ve have hereinafter, in the broader claims, designated a suitable essential oil for this process as a froth producing essential oil.

The following is an example of one method of carrying this invention into eifect:

lVatercontaining a small percent-age of sulfuric acid in solution, say from 0.1% to 0.5%, and containing also a small quantity say 0.4 lbsato 2.25 lbs. per ton of ore to be treated of an essential oil such as eucalyptus oil is with finely pulverized ore introduced into an agitating apparatus in the proportion of from three to five parts by weight of water to one part by weight of ore. The

agitation is carried out in such a way as thoroughly to disseminate air through the' mixture which is thereafter discharged into a spitzkasten. It is found that a froth floats on the surface of the water in the spit-zkasten. This froth contains a large proportion of the metallic sulfids but is substantially free from gangue. Any well known means may be employed for collecting the froth.

If desired the resulting tailings can be retreated by the same process with or without the addition of fresh quantities of the substances referred to.

The action may be in some instances be improved by heating the mixture and in some instances, as in the concentration of copper pyrites, the operation may be conducted without the addition of acid.

To graphically illustrate one way of practicing the present invention, there has been shown in the accompanying drawings a perspective view of one form of apparatus, parts being broken away to disclose the interior construction.

Several agitation vessels A are placed in series. These may conveniently be large vats separated by partitions A having openings A at the bottom so that the liquid may pass from one to another. Each vessel is provided with a rotatable stirrer B which is conveniently of the formshown in the drawing. Each stirrer is carried on a spindle B rotated at a high speed by any convenient means. Crushed ore or similar finely divided mineral is fed into the first vessel A through any convenient ore-feeding device such as C, and water is also fed into the vessel A. A small proportion of one or more essential oils which enable metallic sulfidsto be floated by air under the conditions specified may be-introduced from the feeding vessels D and The liquid containing ore in suspension is vigorously agitated in the agitation vessels and escapes at the outlet A highly charged with air.

A settling apparatus consisting of one or more spitzkasten F, is placed immediately at the outlet from the agitation apparatus. As shown in the drawing, the spitzkasten F has a launder G to receive the floating froth which passes away through the outlet G The liquid and the sunken material pass out through the outlet H at the bottom of the spitzkasten. The level of the liquid in the spitzkasten is slightly above the lip J. Within the spitzkasten is placed an inclined baffle or guide plate K, which may be made adjustable, extending upward from below the inlet A and arranged Y to direct the stream of ore particles and air-bubbles toward the surface of the liquid in the spitzkasten.

We claim:

1. The herein described process of concenr trating ores, which consists in mixing finely divided ore with water containing a frothproducing essential oil, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

2. The herein described process of concentrating ores, which consists in mixing finely divided ore with water containing a small quantity of a froth-producing essential oil, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

3. The herein described process of concentrating ores which consists in mixing finely divided ores with Water containing a frothproducing essential oil, heating the mixture, agitating the heated mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

4. The herein described process of concentrating ores, which consists in mixing finely divided ores with water containing eucalyptus oil, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

5. The herein described process of concentrating ores, which consists in mixing finely divided ores with water containing a small quantity of eucalyptus oil, agitating the mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

6. The'herein described process of concentrating ores, which consists in mixing finely divided ore with water containing eucalyptus oil, heating the mixture, agitating the heated mixture to form a froth, and separating the froth.

7. The herein-described process of concentrating ores, which consists in mixing the ore in a finely divided condition with water and a froth-producing essential oil, the latter in the proportion of less than one-fifth of one per centum of the ore, agitating the mixture to form a froth and separating the froth. 1

8. The herein-described process of concentrating ores, which consists in mixing the ore in a finely divided condition with water and eucalyptus oil, the latter in the proportion of from 02% to .1% of the ore, agitating the mixture to form a froth and separating the froth.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification. in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

HENRY HOWARD GREENVVAY.

\Vitnesses CHARLES NICHOLAS CoLLisoN, VV. H. CUBLEY.

HENRY LAVERS.

Witnesses:

THOS. RoUNswELL, EDW. PovEY.-