US895509A - Process of saving the values of concentrates and slimes. - Google Patents

Description

I Liz-pinup PATENTED AUG. 11, 1908.

S. M. SMITH. THE VALUES OF GONGENTRATES AND SLIMBS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 19m.

v n A w 1 4 .u\ w U M 1 SS OF SAVING moor:

STEPHEN MATHIAS SMITH, OF BOISE, IDAHO. i

PROCESS OF SAVING TIE VALUES OF QONCENTRATES AND SLDIE S.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Application filed. June 4, 1903. Serial No. 160,067.

To a-Zl w.7,0m it may concern:

Be it'knovm that I, STEPHEN MATIHAS I Sm'rn, a citizen of the United States, residlargely composed of slimes, which ores have ing at Boise city, in the county of Ada, State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of Saving the Values of Concentrates and Slimes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention while relating generally to the treatment of ores for the extraction therefrom of the precious materials contained therein, is directed more particularly to the treatment of tailings, or concentrates for the recovery of values escaping from the concentrator or equivalent mill appliance, an object of my improved process being the separation from the partly worked ore-bearing materials of all of the contained values regardless of the character or condition of such materials or of the degree of fineness of the valuable roduct or products. It will be un dcrstood iowever that my improved process is equally applicable to the treatment of orebearing materials in their initial state or condition, hence the hereinafter stated specific adaptation is not to be regarded as a limitation. y

The nature of my improved process and the simplicity of construction of apparatus necessary for carrying the same into effect, renders it especially adaptable for the treatment of low grade ores and ores which are heretofore been regarded as practically valueless by reason of t 1e great expense attending their reduction and the inefficiency of the processes or apparatus employed.

A further difficulty encountered in the treatment of certain kinds of ores is in the.

elimination of arsenic, antimony, sulfur and other elements which, as is well known, have a detrimental eflect on the ores, and in many instances practically defeat the purpose of the process or action of the apparatus employed. My improved process is especially designed with the view to overcoming this last named difficulty, the objectionable elements being entirely eliminated at one stage of the process.

Another advantage possessed by my improvedproccs is economy in the use of water. In carrying the process into effect, the

' I same body of water may be repeatedly used,

thereby rendering the rocess adaptable to mining districts in whic 1 a scarcity of water prevails.

The nature of my improved process will be readily comprehended reference being had to the following detailed descriptionand to the accompanying drawing which illustrates by a perspective view an apparatus capable of carrying the process into effect.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, 1 designates a pipe for conveying to the a pa-,

ratus the water and material discharged Tom the concentrator, crushing machinery or other appliance, a preferred way being to i connect said pipe with a suitable hopper at the overflow or tailiiws end of the concen tra-tor. The pipe delivers the water and material into one end of a washing and settling tank 2 which is divided transversely by partitions 3 into compartments and is provided near its opposite end with a lower discharge opening 4, for gangue, and with an upper discharge spout 5 for the lighter materia s, such as slimes, arsenic, antimony, sulfur and the values. The water and material is delivered by the pipe 1 into the first compartment and overflows therefrom into the next compartment, and so on, until the tank is filled, whereupon the pipe may be brought into position to fill a second tank 6 arranged alongside the tank 2 and similarly provided with compartments formedby partitions 7 and with lower and upper discharges 8, 9. Obviously the number of tanks employed will depend upon the desired capacity of the apparatus. The function of these tanks is to separate the gangue, slimes'and values, the former settling to the bottoms of the compartments, and the slimes and values being discharged through the spouts 5, 9.

The angue, before its withdrawal from the tanks, is thoroughly washed and rinsed to effect the recovery of any remaining values, this being accomplished by water supplied under pressure from a ieustock 10, through a preferably flexible tube or hose 11 and through nozzles 12, 12 at openings in a, pipe 13 arranged above and longitudinally of the tanks. Said pipe is connected centrally with the hose by a valved pipe 13. As shown, I prefer to employ two nozzles for each compartment, the nozzles of a pair inclining in. opposite directions, and to facilitate the stirring, washing and rinsing operation, the pipe is vibrated by hand, suitable I vided for the purpose. The no z zle equip ed over the tank 2.

notes a pipe leading from the lower end of 'equal capacity and of relatively lesser di- 4 ameter, whereby to diminish the flow, which below the settling tank.

pipe 13 is shiftable from one tank to theot' 101, whereby interruptions in the operation are avoided, the hose 11 being of the proper length to allow of the pipe being brought In the step of treating the gangue for the recovery of the values remaining therein, the material is violently; agitated and is brought into astate of suspension in the water whereby its discharge through the openings 4,8 is facilitated. The washed and rinsed gangue fails from the openings into a trough 15 between the tanks and from thence is conveyed away in any suitable manner.

The lighter materials discharging from the tanks are conducted by inclined troughs 16 to settling tanks 17, 18, of relatively large capacity, the function of which is to separate the deleterious substances or elements, such as arsenic, antimony and sulfur from the sliines and values. Preferably, the tanks 17 and 18 afiord the support for the elevated tanks 2, 6, though this is not an essential arrangement. In the tanks 17, 18, the slimes and values are caused to settle to the bottom, the arsenic, antimony and sulfur rising to the surface where they are skimmed and run into discharge spouts 19, 20 and are conveyed therefrom to any oint outside of the mill. The separation of t 1e slimes and values from the objectionable substances named, is effected by heat applied to the contents of the tanks 17 18, by )ipes in which the heating medium, preferab y hot water, is caused to circulate. Referring to the heating means, 21 dethe penstock to furnaces 22, 23, said pipe being branched, as at 24, 25, and each branch leads to its respective furnace and is pro vided with a controlling valve. Each of said pipes is connected by suitable couplings, including reducers, with two pipes 26 27 of smaller pipes enter the finnace and are bent, as shown, to provide the proper heating surface to bring the water therein to the required temperature. The pi es 26, 27 commonly connect with a valve( pipe 28 which enters the respective tank 17 or 18, at the bottom thereof, and is divided, as at 29, and bent to zig zag form to provide a large heat-, ing surface for raising the temperature of the contents of the tank to effectthe se aratiou of the arsenic, antimony and sulfur rom the slimes and values, as above stated. The pipe extensions 30, 30 of the pi e 28, finally extend vertically and project a ove the top of the tank, as at 31, new connections may be made with the respective settling tank, or with a sump tank 32 located adjacentjo and 33, 34 are drying tanks for the coneen tively on the furnaces 22, 23 whereby they receive heat from the latter, but to obtain the requisite degree of temperature, zig zag heating pipes 35 are arranged in the tanks, the heating medium being supplied from the pipes 28 by a valved connecting pipe 36.

discharges int-o the settling tanks from pipes 37, 37.

the use of hot water as a heating medium for the separating tank. My purpose in using hot water is to give me a heating medium which can be readily controlled and which will heat up the mixture in the tank withoutcausing the same to boil. It will be further noticed that by the use of a heat which does not produce boiling, that the mixture in the tank is heated up without the same being agitated. \Vhile I have described the use of hot water as a heating medium, it is to be understood that any other heating agent may be used, if found desirable.

In practice, initial separation of the slimes, values and deleterious substances from the gangue, having been accomplished, in the manner stated, by the employment of the tanks 2 and 6 and the water jets, the gangue is thoroughly washed and rinsed to effect the separation of any values remaining therein, and the separated materials are collected in the tanks 17, 18, where, by the application of heat, the arsenic, antimony and sulfur are caused to rise to the surface and are skimmed off. The clear water is then drawn oil from the tanks 17, 18 at different levels, plug ed outlets 38, 38 being successively opened, eginning at the uppermost one and ending with the lower one which latter is provided with a screen 39 to strain the water from the slimes. The slimes remaining in the tanks are then dried by the application of heat from the ipcs 28, 29 and 30 end are removed throug 1 door controlled openings -10 in the inner walls of the tanks. The slimes are here loaded on cars which travel on a track 41 leading to the sacking house or smelter, as the case ma be.

The sump tank receives the clear water from the tanks 17 and 18 and also, if desired, the hot water discharging from. the pipes 31. At 42 is a plugged opening by which to empty the tank when desired. A conveyer is provided '0 elevate the water from the sump tank to a pressure tank -13 supported by framing 44 at a suitable height and from the bottom of which leads the penless belt 45 carrying at intervals buckets 46 and passing around a lower driven wheel in the sump tank and around an upper wheel 47 supported above and at one side of the ressure tank 43. The inner wall of each ucket is relatively longer than the outer trates. Said tanks aresupported respec wall, and said buckets discharge their con- It will be noticedthat I have described stock 10. The conveyer consists of an end- The hot water, after traversing the pipes alower opening t9 from which the .water discharges into the pressure tank. The

"buckets are each provided at their discharge end with an inwardly bent extension 50, the

angle of whichflis approximately eight degrees, for retaining the water in the bucket until the point of discharge is reached. It will be understood that any sediment en tering the sump tank is allowed to settle to the bottom whereby only clear water is elevated to the pressure tank. The tanks 33,

34 are employed for drying the concentrates collected. from the concentrating tables below the battery, the heat being, as above stated, derived from their proximity to the furnaces and from the heat radiating pipes -35.

It will be observed that all of the conducting pipes are equipped withivalves whereby the operation of the apparatus is under complete control. The number "of tanks emloyed will depend upon the desired capac lty of the apparatus, and the number shown is not, therefore, to be regarded as a limitation.

I claim as my invention- 1. The process of recoi'ering'slimes from water in which they are suspended, and se crating aisenic, sulfur or antimony from he slimes, which consists in placing the water containing the slimes in a receptacle and uniformly heating the same without boilin or agitation, whereby the slimes are caused to precipitate after the arsenic; sulfur or antimony has been separated therefrom.

2. The process of recovering slimes from water in which they are suspended, and se arating arsenic, sulfur or antimony-from t 10 slimes, which consists in placing thewatcr containing the slimes in a receptacle and uniformly heating-the same without boilin or agitation, whereby the slimes are caused to precipitate after the arsenic, sulfur or anticeases mony has been separated from the slimes,

and then drawing the watcrfree from the slimes from the rece tacle.

into a rece tacle, subgecting the material therein to tee action 0' the water, whereby the slimes will be separated from the crushed ore or gangue and will flow out over the edge of the recepta le with the water, the slimes by the addition of washing water being greatly diluted, conveying the water carr ing the slimes in suspension into a receptac e, and uniformly heat ng the same throughout without boiling. agitating or boiling currents in the water containing the slimes, whereby the slimes are caused to precipitate without disturbance, and then drawing oil' the water free from slimes from the receptacle.

- 4. The recess of recoverin slimes from water in w rich they are sus ended, and clarifying the water which consists in placing the water containing the slimes in a receptacle and heating the same without boilin or agitation} whereby the slimes are caused to recipitatetand the arsenic, antimony or su fur compounds which may be contained in the slimes caused to rise to the surface, removin the elements on the surface of the water, an drawing oh the water from the receptacle free from slimes and foreign matter.

5. The proces of settling slimes and purifying the water in which they are sus )ended, which consists in subjecting the liqui carr ing. the slimes to the action of heat, whereby the slimes are precipitated and the impuritics in the liquid caused to rise, removing the impurities from the top of the licl uid, and dceanting the liquid from the sett ed slimes.

STEPHEN MATIIIAS SMITH. \Vitnesses:

Gimmes Tn. HAYES, Enwann SMITH.

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