USRE10400E - Datid w - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

PROCESS or. ROASTING AND DlSINTEGMIliQG w run-Suva ours IIQIFIOATION forming-portal Leiuued Letters Intent Io. 10,400, datedfloiember 6,1888

Original marten, dated August :1, 1m. Ap llatlou mime lled an 151533,,

3'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID W. Bmmnon ur, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glifton, imthe county of Richmond and 'State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes of. Roasting and Disintegmting Gold and Silver Ores, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relateo' to the manipulation and treatment of urea of the precious metals, especially those having refractory'bases, the object being to obtain a more thorough, speedy, and convenient dcsulphurization of such ores without fluxing or slugging the same, and to prepare the ores for a more perfect and check ual amalgamation, whereby I obtain a higher percentage of value from a given quantity of ore than is otherwise possible.

Tothis end my invention consists in mechanicallyl combining the broken ores with abulk of broken charcoal of any required size, and any salt of lime, preferably the hydrate, and artificially roasting the said ores so combined in any reverberatory or other furnace suitable for the purpose, and subsequently subjecting the charge to a bath of water, butpreferably of a solution of common salt, cyanide of po t'assium, and sulphate of copper, or to any suitable bath of saline or acid solution used singly or in combination, according to the refractory bases of the ore.

In carrying out my invention I first break the ores by any suitable crushing mechanism to any suitable degree-say to a size, preferably, of gravel, or finer, according to the rebellious qualities of the ore. \Vith the crushed ore are then mingled broken charcoal or other carbonaceous material and lime in the proportion, say, of about one bushel (more or less) of each to one ton of the ore. While I may use anyform cflimc [or this purpose, the hydrate is to be preferred, and although the proportions of the lime to the charcoal mentioned may be taken as the standard, it should be noted that this is subject to variation accord ing to the fusible character of the ore under treatment, the fusion of which itis desired to prevent. y

The art or principle of working is as follows: The ores mechanically crushed. in the above manner, and in bulk of about half a ton,

are then admitted through asuitable aperture into the upper end-say, a reverbcratory furnace having,preferably, an inclined hem or in anysuitablefurnaoe-and then subj 5 to a gradual roast by impinging \ipon the f the heat or flame derived ,from a fire from wood or any suitable material, the inportant feature being to gradually; he temperature of the are as high as ouiible do without slugging the same, or touch a temperatur'e as may seem requisite for the elimi nation of the bases. Thechargeat the upper end of the furnace, being most remote fromthe fire, receives during the roast the'least degree of heat, which is from-time to time increased as the treatment of the ores under manipulation and their character may suggest by approaching the same nearer to the fire located at the other end of the furnace, and is accom- 7o; plished, ordinarily, in reverberatory furnaces by rakes or other tools made and used for that purpose. At each periodical moveinc nt down or removal of said ores to a nearer approach to said fire after a discharge of similar quantity of roasted ores, another charge of similar bulk is admitted, as before, and this plan is-: pursued until the gases, fumes, and refractorybases are eliminated, when, by an'exit in the hearth constructed for the purpose, they are,

7 discharged at a red, white, or intermediate heat, as the case may require, into a bath, as herein more fully' set forth. I V

The presence of lime and charcoal gives to the mass a light, pufi'y, buoyant consistency, holding the ore, as it were, in suspension, and giving an even and equally-distributed heat throughout the same, the lime being herein used and applied in the management of the roast as a prevention to slagging the ores, and, like the charcoahand in conjunction therewith, acts as an absorbent and deconiposcr .of. the rebellious constituents.

It should be also noted that while I may use the combination of lime and charcoahas spccifled, I'am not to be restricted to their comhined use with all classes of ores in the manner referred to; but I may defer using either of these materials when they or their equivalents are. found in natural combination with the ores themselves-tha is to say, foriustance, when ores contain suificicnt lime in charge I form a solution of common themselves I may simply use the c hareoal therewith, and when ores require less heat -I may use the lime alone withithe ores.

Now, WheuI have prepared the ores by a thorough roast in the manner before described, after their (lesulphurization, and the ores at proper temperature of heat, I at once discharge them into a water-bath, or bath composed, preferably, of an aqueous solution of chloride of sodium, cyanide of potassium, and sulphate of copper prepared in the following manner. \Vithin a vat or car made of :fiuitable dimensions and used for receiving the-disalt, sulphate of copper, and cyanide ol"potas. um with Water, the proportions being about ione pound more or less) of each of the snbsta 106$ .namcd, to a suflieient volume of water to cover the bulk of ore roasted at a single operation,

salt being added to the point of saturation. \Nhilelmay use thiseombination, preferably, as

" a whole, I may also use them separately or in following quantities, to wit: say one pound of the cyanide of potassium to a sufiicient quantity of water to cover the ore, salt being added to saturation; or, say, one pound of the sulphate of copper to a' like quantity of waterqrith salt added to saturation, or in aecordan cc u'ith the quality and refractory condition of the ore 0 to be treated. ,limay use an \'saline or aeidnlatcd bat-h, singlyi'or in combination, as while some ores are successfully treated in one solution other ores" may require and be more advantageously treated in a solution composed of dilferent ingredients. 7 The action of the roast in combination With-this bath upon the heated ores eflects their disintegration, leafling them in a friable condition, in whiehthqy are readily crumbled or pulverized, thereby effecting a separation of the bases, setting frt'b the precious metals, and leaving the orcs "in conditionfor amalgamation.

This process, aside from its advantages, SG- cures much economy as compared with other methods.

What I claim is- 1. In the separation of gold and silver from their ores, the process hercindescribcd of preparing said ores for amalgamation, consisting in mechanically combining therewith lime and charcoal, and roasting the mixture in a suitable furnare, and subsequently plunging the hot ore into asuitahle bath, substantially as described.

2. The process described of preparing gold and silver ores for amalgamation, said process consisting in combining lime and charcoal, or their equivalents, with said ores, roasting them in conjunction with said substances, and plunging the hotore after roasting into a bath composed of an aqueous solution of common salt, cyanide of potassium, and sulphate of copper, or their equivalents, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set any hand in presence of two subscribing wit- ULSSOS.

DAVID W. llll'iMlNGl-IAM.

\Vitnesses:

\VUIIJA 3r Fnos'r, L. L. Lehman.