The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-08-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
smcI,,ng Copper Ores by EIectrIcity.

Having published several congratulations or this sub
ect nqurng the nature OF the process, and also descr
live particulars from our respected correspondent, Mr
John Mitchell OF Napers patent give the general
particulars of the French invention, mentioned by 81 H.
of Cornhll-tha of NJ M Dechaud and Gaher de Claub-
ry These gentlemen have long been engaged the elect
of weak electrical currents copper ores and the follow
ing account of the results at which they had arrived
before taking out their patent The process consists OF
two operations, viz roasing the and the pfecpta
ton OF the copper The roasting is effected in reyerbe
aory furnace either by the conversion OF the suphurei
into saphate by tie action OF the air. or in the ansor
nation Of the oxide OF copper INTO suphae, by cacnng
with suphae of iron, al dull red heat in current OF
ar-the iron being left in state OF peroxide Washing,
then, extracts the suphae of "copper" that the mostlm
pure minerals will afford copper equally pure with the car
Donates oxides In the precipitation by galvanis bat
teres would be far too costy and they have obtained the
results without the use OF exterior batteries Inc
principle is as follows Ii two solutions are placed one
over the other OF suphae of copper very dense,
and the other suphae of iron lees Dense and in the first
is placed plate of metal and in the second fragment
of cast rn and then unite these two metals by conduc
tor the precipitation OF copper commences ~ ehce and is
completed in long or short feiod, according to the
Temperature the ccncenraon OF the liquids, and the ex-
tent Of metallic surfaces the state OF the copper becomes
greatly changed the liquor becomes weaker. To OBJ
viae this, they take advantage of the following pheno-
mena: After some minutes action there exist Tour
strata in the liquids at the bottom dense solution OF
suphae of copper then less dense solution OF the same
salt next sulphate OF iron and on the surface less
dense solution of the same. H. therefore, we arrange at
the level OF each Of these liquids suitable aperues Tor
the addition removal Of the liquid they can be kept al
uniform state of density, and thus the copper is always
pure, and in the same physical condition
For convenience the liquids are now arranged in VERT
cal, instead of horizontal layers; they are now to be
separated by diaphragm very perineable to electricity
but not to hquds-pasteboard answers perfectly well for
this, and lasts for months The apparatus is then ar
ranged as fellows; A chest of wood lined with lead Oh
Some suitable masiic contains the solution of suphate
of iron; into this chest number of are plunged
made of frame having its ends and bottoms formed Of
iron plates coated with lead the sides being OF paseboard
The strong solution of of copper enters through
a pipe near the BOTTOM and escapes in its weak state
through opening at the top in each is placed
sheet of loaded ron and between each plates of cast
IRON; separate rods each plate with the
conductor which is supported over the apparatus, and
the COPPER is precpitated on both sides of the sheets
metal The pasteboard preventing the immediate contact
the two liquids; the suphae OF iron thus floats above
the suphate OF copper, and the APPARATUS fulh all tina
is required AT temperature OF IS degrees Fahrenheit
10 feet OF srace will receive 1544l grs of copper
- hours, perfectly pure and Immediately fit for hammer
ing or passing through the rolling mill This manuiac-
ture of copper presents difficulties requires refining
and gives no scoria The paentees consider that
metaurgcal result so per cent of the copper obtained
in sheets; rs per cent in fragment, which requires
fusion and 25 per cent of powder requiring subscquen
refining. The application of galvanism to smelling
appears TO be reduced the simplest FORM and electro
types on the largest scale can be obtained
London Mining Journal.