The weekly Arizonian., 1859-07-21
For the Arzonian. The Reduction of Silver from it's Ores.

The Reduction of Silver from it's Ores.
 To many of your readers engaged in mining operations, a few notes on the different meth ods employed to reduce silver from its ores may not be uninterestng but these necessarily must be confined to the general principles of the met allary of silver ouly
 The reduction of some of the useful metals from their ores by fusion was we'll known by the ancients, reaching beyond the time when regu- lar records were made in writing, and probably even beyond that period when this was invented. The reduction by the aid of quicksilver is how ever, comparatively new, and if quicksilver was used at all, it was only employed for the extrac- ton of virgin gold from its ores Fusion also must have been an uncertain and mysterious operation, simply based on experiments or ac- cidental discovery and not as in our days on we'll established and proved principles of chem istry. The first successful application of mer- cury for the extraction of silver from its ores was made in the sixteenth century by Bartolome de Medina in Mexico, whence it was transplanted by Fernandez Velasco to Peru Attempts to introduce it into the mines of Europe failed, and only two hundred years afterward the subject was revived by Baron Bern of Vienna. In the seventeenth century AloIzo Barba, an Anda- luz, while in South America, discovered a con siderably modified process, by which the ores were treated in copper kettle, from whence it received the name of Gaze Ca kette) amalga- nation Baron Bern's experiments were based on this discovery. His modified plan was par tially successful, but still the process was i'm perfect. This partial success, however caused intelligent miners to investigate the matter fur ther, and resulted finally in the erection of the greatest, and even now most perfect, amalga- nation works, at Halsboucken, near Freyburg in SaXony, from which it was universally called the Freyburg amalgamation. After great alter. ation, barrels were substituted for kettles, and in place of agitation, these were so arranged as to revolve on an axle. By far the greatest mass of silver is extracted by either of the fore going process of amalgamation, It must, how ever, not be supposed that they can be indiscri- minately applied on the contrary comparison of ores, climate, and locality and material have to determine which is the most proper method to make mining pay In most instan- ces the Freyburg or barrel process will succeed where others fai provided this is under the surveillance of good, practical chemist.
 During the last fifteen years new process to extract the silver without the use of quicksilver has been introduced by MT. Augustin, a metal lurgist from the Mansfield mines in Germany which for products of the furnace and certain classes of ores, promises complete success, and an aDOHSnnenC or all a1nalSamatlOn: ltlS called Augustus process of extracting silver,
 Another new process has lately been intro duced by MT. Ziervogel, from the same loca lty. We find then in use
 lst. The Furnace.
 2d. The Mexican or patio amalgamation
 2d. The Gaze Cor kettle) amalgamation.
 4th. The Freyburg or barrel do.
 9th. Augustus method by salt, without mer
 cury.
 9th ziervogels method, without salt or mer
 cury.
 NO. l-FURNACE
 Ores are generally turned over to the furnac, when they contain considerable quantities o lead copper, and some other metals; also whei fuel is very cheap and abundant; when rigo rous climate prevents chemical action in tn patio, and for some other reasons The ore are then smelted for the predominating metal If this be lead, a simple refining after fusiol will oxidize the lead, forming litharge, anc leave the silver nearly pure on the herd of thu 1edniDg furnace, If copper predOminates, tn