The Placer herald., 1859-09-24
New System of Obtaining Gold from
Quartz

A few days since some notice was taken
by the Alta, of new plan (patented) of
extracting gold from quartz rock, showing
results from practical workings, varying
from 800 to 600 per cent in favor of the
new plan. This system is the invention of
Mr.. Brevout, of Sonora, Tuolumne county.
A two stamp mill has been erected for the
purpose Of making practical working tests
From seven workings, taken from as many
different veins of quartz, we select two only,
the highest and lowest, and from these re-
suits fair estimate of the success of the new
system is fairly presented. The Confidence
Lead, in Tuolumne, under the old system,
yields $l5 per ton; under the new working,
or Brevout system &S7 40. The Thompson
Lead, under the old system, yields IS to Sc
per ton, under the new or Brevout plan
$40 G3; these results present fair average
of the respective workings of the old and
new systems.
As the advantage Of the Brevout system
is now reduced to positive practical certainty,
a brief description of the Brevout mill may
be interesting to quartz miners. The ordi-
nary stamper is used, in the same manner as
the old mill, the bed or plate upon which
they play or work is different in being open
work, through which the partially crushed
quartz is suffered to pass, in dry state;
it then passes into machinery similar to mill
stones faced with iron, and working in the
same manner. The quartz is run through
these stones in dry state, and comes out in
the form Of an impap pable powder. In this
last named condition it is placed in amalga
mators and moistened with water so as TO
make thick paste; then the quicksilver
is added. The entire process, which ends
with the amalgamation, is perfect, and no
gold is left in the quartz as shown by analy-
sis: in fact there is no waste after undergo
inc the above described working.
The reader will perceive that two princi
pes are involved in the new system Of work
iug quartz.
lst. Reducing the quartz in dry state to
an impapable powder.
Cd. In this condition, amalgamating with
out the use of water, excepting, only suili
cient to make thick paste)
The cost of erecting & mill of the descrip-
ton aforesaid is about the same as the old
fashioned mill; and the expense Of working
the quartz the same. The same amount of
WOfk per Gay IL dIso pelloitheui the ohiy
difference of cost is for the right to use the
patent. And, SO far, the proprietor, with
commendable liberality, has taken the risk
of success by agreeing to receive the earn
ings of the mill Qess eXpense) until the price
Of the patent is paid for.
The invention of Mr. Brevout is bound to
revoutionze the system of quartz mining in
California and elsewhere, for the whole sys-
tenn has undergone a thorough practical test,
silently and surely, and now the inventor
and his associates are prepared to back up
the same by practical demonstration as there
are two or three mills Changed from the
old plan) already in operation, besides fine
new mill, erected bv Messrs. Brevout and
HesIep, near the town of Sonora, will also
be in operation in few days, and its Sue
cess will add further evidence of the value
of the system. S. Il, National.