Daily national Democrat., 1859-06-22
For the National Democrat
MINING IN CALIFORNIA.
NUMBER II.

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We would recommend all persons engaged
In quartz mining, aid such other substance.
as are supposed to contain gold in fine par
ticles, the following process: First, erect a
humber OF ovens-say ten or twelve-some.
what similar to those used for burning lime,
"'th this difference: that the floor or hearth
Is made uniformly smooth, and laid in such
manner TOT sto, or hard blicks) as to pre-
vent the loss or escape of gold In changing
these ovens or furnaces, commence by lay.
ing hard dry wood at the bottom, to the
depth of one foot at least, and cover it with
small brush or twigs, fern leaves, or such
vegetable matter as will yield, after being
burned, large percentage Of potash Next.
put on a layer of the material containing the
gold-say one foot thick-leaving several
holes for the ascent of the fire; next Law.
er of wood, and SO on until the furnace is
filled, which should be from ten to twelve
leet high, then close the TOP, with the excep.
ton of small hole. not more than four
inches in diameter; next set fire to the wood
and allow very little draught, and let it burn
say twelve days, or until all smoke ceases.
By arranging twelve of these ovens, one
should be changed each day in succession.
and one would be ready to be cleaned out
The material so burned should be kept at a
gentle red heat for at least eight days, dur
Ing which time the materials will lose from
one third to one half Of their original weight,
degree that "a common stamping mill will re-
duce at least three times the quantity at any
given time, and TO greater degree of fine
ness than can be produced in any other way.
The gold becomes liberated and cleansed
from all adhering matter and left in free
state, SO that it is acted upon Immediately
when coming in contact with mercury BY
preparing the material in this manner, and
using stamping mill of the following de-
scrption. the whole amount of gold con-
tained in the materials will be obtained.
The MILL: Make Il stamping mill with a
reservoir surrounding the stamps, so that
they are under water to the depth of six
feet at least The material to be fed in by
separate passage or hopper communicating
with the interior of the mill at the bottom.
and II stream of clean water also coming into
the mill at or very near the bottom, from a
reservoir much higher than the top of the
hopper which encloses the stamps In the
bottom of the mill put few hundred pounds
of mercury, and let the stamps strike direct
ly in the mercury. The materials having
been previously prepared as above. the differ.
ent substances in the combination resume
their elementary form, and by the agency of
clean water and mercury, they nre quickly
separated. The gold and mercury-by their
superior specific gra,ity-reman at the bot
tom, while most of the other matter becomes
solvent in water, and with it flows over the
top and runs way. In taking the materials
from the furnace, cnre should be taken to
save all the coals, ashes and everything, and
the whole put into the mill, the ashes in par
tieular; and, if the wafer that feeds the mill
is made sli htly saline, it would be all the
better; but as that would be somewhat ex-
pensive, it will he neglected. There will be
a small portion of free slick, not solvent in
water, but will gradually pass away with
the water, and the quantity of materials to
be operated upon in a given time will he
governed entirely hy the quantity of water
that is allowed to flow through the mill.
A MrNrp