US9499A - Method of obtaining gold - Google Patents

Description

panying drawing. The frame UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MAYBURY A. BERTOLET, LEVIS KIRK, AND ANDREW M. DE HART, OF READING,

. PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD 0F OBTAINING GOLD, &0., BY .AMALGAMATIO1\T.

Specification of Letters Patent No.

T 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that we, MAYBURY A. BEnTo- LET, LEwIs KIRK, 'and ANDREW M. DE HART, of Beading, in the county of Berks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a. n-ew and useful Method of Separating Gold and other Precious Metals from Pulverized Earth or Rock by Amalgamation with Mercury, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which makes part of this specification, and in which- Figure l, represents a view in perspective of an apparatus suitable for carrying into effect our improved method of amalgamation, and Fig. 2, represents a vertical transverse section of the same.

Our invention consists, in heating pulverized auriferous earth or rock, preparatory to bringing it in contact with mercury for the purpose of causing the precious metal to be more effectually absorbed by the mercury and thus separated from the earth, whether the mercury for thus separating the preciousV metal from the mixture be heated or not.

Our invention further consists in causing the pulverized ore todescend in a shower through a current of heated gas or vapor while being fed into the channel which conducts it to the mercury, so that every particle of the powder will be heated in its descent which is of great importance, as the earth will then part with the spangles or particles of precious metal adherent thereto, much more readily when thus heated than when cold. And lastly our invention consists, in an arrangement of heating chainbers and pipes for receiving and conducting the fluids used in heating the apparatus mercury and ore whereby a single current of steam or other heated fluid circulating through a simple and compact system of conduits is made to heat the'apparatus, the ore preparatory to amalgamation and the mercury for amalgamation.

One form of apparatus suitable for carrying into eect our improved method of separating precious metals from pulverized earth or rock is represented in the accom- (A) of this machine is made of stout scantling, well fastened by joint bolts. To the base of this frame (A) is secured a large metallic disk (B). The underside of this disk (B) has 9,499, dated December as, 1852.

a chamber (C) fitted to it to receive heated air or vapor, and the upper side is concave and has a rim (o.) projecting up from its periphery. The central or lowest portion of the disk has an aperture made through itwhich is fitted with a plug or cock The disk (B) forms a wide and shallow pan to contain a pond of mercury, which is for the purpose of separating the precious metal from the ore by amalgamation. Above the concave disk (B) and concentric and parallel therewith a second disk (D) is susended by an upright shaft (E) which turns in boxes (E F) secured tothe cross-timbers of the frame. This shaft (E) is prevented from having vertical movement by collars (c c) above and below the boxes (F). The shaft (E) is hollow, and has a flange formed on its lower end by which it is secured to the disk (D) in such manner, that the opening through the shaft, and a central opening through the disk (D) shall coincide. The underside of the disk (D) is convex to make it parallel to the lower disk (B) eX- cept for a small portion of its diameter at the center, where it is concave to receive a double convex disk or shield plate (G) which is concentric with, and therefore opposite to the opening (e) through the shaft (E), and is held by studs (n n) at a sufficient distance from the disk (D) to permit a free communication with the interior of the shaft The disk (D) with the shaft (E) is rotated by means of a pair of bevel wheels, one secured to the hollow shaft (E) and the other to a driving shaft supported inthe frame, which driving shaft is fitted with a pulley by which it receives mot-ion from the engine or other prime-mover through the medium of a belt.

The upper end of the shaft (E) is made bell mouthed and receives the lower end of a funnel shaped chamber (H) which fits tightly into it. This chamber is firmly secured to the frame (A), and its upper part has a diaphragm (I) secured across it, which is perforated with numerous small holes to allow the auriferous sand or earth to run through in a series of small streams into the chamber (H) below. The sand or powder containing the gold is kept upon the diaphragm by means of a rim (J) surrounding the chamber In case the pulverized ore should not run freely and regularly through the diaphragm (I), the latter may have a jarring or rotary motion given to it, or it may have a stirrer arranged to agitate the ore upon it, and to keepits holes open.

The chamber is connected by a pipe (K) with the chamber (C) beneath the disk (B), and the former chamber has an eduction pipe (L) and the latter an induction pipe (M). Heated air or steam or other fluid is introduced from any convenient or suit-able generator through the tube (M) into the chamber (C) to heat the disk (B) and the pond of mercury (N), and as the steam or other hot fluid is supplied in a constant stream, it passes through the chamber (C) into the pipe (K) and into the chamber (H) and out at the eduction pipe (L), after the said chamber (H), and the shower of pulverized ore passing through it, have been heated. The steainmay be discharged from 'the pipe (L) into the atmosphere or may be reconducted to the generator for the purpose of saving the heat it contains instead of dissipating it into the atmosphere. l prefer highly heated steam to all other fluids for the purpose of heating the apparatus, and as the chambers (C and H) are constantly kept filled with it, and as a rapid current is kept flowing through them, there is but little danger of inconvenience'resulting from condensation as I' propose toI keep the chambers at a 'temperature of not less than about 220o of Fahrenheits scale.

The ore, whether auriferous earth, sand, or rock, should be finely pulverized preparatory to submitting it to the action of this machine. lt is then placed upon the perforated diaphragm (l) through which it is sifted into the chamber (H). As the ore passes down in a shower through the chamber (H) it encounters a current of steam by which it is heated. It then enters the revolving shaft (E), and descends until it strikes the shield plate (G) by which it is deflected laterally upon the surface of they mercury. The centrifugal force imparted to the powder by the rotation of the disk (D), causes it to pass to the periphery thereof, and while the powder is thus forced out, it is rubbed by the underside of the disk (D) against the surface of the mercury which is in sufficient quantity to be in contact with a considerable portion of the disk As the disk revolves rapidly, the pulverized ore passes over the surface of the mercury (N) in an exceedingly thin film, so that every atom of the powder is brought into contact with the mercury whose affinity for the precious metal is great, especially when exalted by heat. After the powdered ore has passed the mercury (N), it is discharged from between the disks (B and D) into the annular space (P) where it gradually works over the flange and drops down. The purpose for which the ore is retained in the space (P), is, that such particles of the mercury as may be carried out with the earthy matter may have an opportunity to drain out and fall back into the pond (N).

After the pond of mercury has become saturated with the precious met-al to the desired extent, it is drawn off through the aperture fitted with the plug (b), and after the amalgam has been thus withdrawn, a fresh supply of mercury is placed between the plates or disks (B and D), by pouring it into the annular space The heating of the ore preparatory to bringing it into contact with the mercury expands the gases in itscells until many of them are fractured and enlarged, thus giving to the ore an increased degree of porosity. The heat also expands the particles of metal much more than it expands the rock in which the metal is embedded. This fractures the rock and loosens the metal. This fracturing` of the rock and opening of its pores facilitates the access of the mercury to the particles of metal within it, and hence this preliminary heating is an efhcient agent in the separation of precious metals from their ores by amalgamation, for the reasons stated but there arey others beside these which it is deemed unnecessary to mention.

This apparatus may be greatly diversified in form and arrangement without any departure from the principle of our invention, but as the modifications are almost without end, it would be superfluous to describe them, especially as any competent engineer will be able to make the changes that may be necessary to adapt our invention to the particular circumstances of each case in which it may be used.

One or more of the parts of our invention and especially the heating of the ore or mercury, may in some cases be used in connection with the common amalgamators, and their efficiency will thereby be greatly increased.

Instead of using the pulverized ore dry, it may be mixed with hot water, and passed through the machine in the same manner as the dry powder above described, but the method of working the ore in a dry state is deemed preferable, because it brings the particles of ore into immediate contact with the mercury without the interposition of even a film of water.

Instead of heating` the mercury by means of a heated fluid, it may be heated by the direct application of a fire, to the underside of the disk or pan which contains the mercury.

Having thus described our improved method of separating precious metals from the apparatus, the mercury, and the ore, by means of a Current of heated fluid circul5 lated through chambers and pipes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof We have hereunto subscribed our names.

MAYBURY A. BERTOLET. LEVS KIRK. A. M. DE HART.

Vitnesses MATTHIAS MENGEL, J. HAGENMAN.

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