Daily national Democrat., 1859-06-08
0,lllp 9lltionlI ncntutrat.
For the National Democrat
MINING IN CALIFORNIA.


t lose already we'll informed in chemical
science AMI the manipnhtions connected
Herewith, as applied to mining in this or any |
other countries. but desires me ely to net as
a frien lily assistant to such rs mty think
proper to avail them selves ofiny information
they can obtain through the medium OF
public journal
Mining in this state has been commenc d
and con iactel hy thousands of individuals,
in the simple Ameriean fashion, viz: To 90 it
for the lig lump'.-- the small ones won't
pay. Bat since the big Jumps have been
m sty gathered. aud rational men are be-
g inning 10 consider. we hear the enquiry
"Shtt 81 III we 10 next2" AMI will say to
all suc', Investigate the principles OF Science,
an 81 far as practical, apply them for yoar
benefit.
Tho principle of amalgamation ia one of
vit,l Importance to the miner, and think !
may s,frly stat. So FIR MS this State is con-
cernel. quite im1erfectly understood. The
art of ANAL lgamating gold or silver with mer
curry canoot he accomplished in n hurried or
OF handed mnner Time INST he allowed
fnr the union Of the metals. In the ordinary
use of Mtrclrv 10y the miners in California.
II il put into the Lo,tom of the sluices, and
large stream Of mud and stones allowed to
flow over it. In many local. les the earth :"
washed contains millions Of particles Of gold
smaller than the humIn mind cIn conceive,
and sm Her. perhlps, than any particles o.
known matter, with one exception the odorS
frome the rose In it, progress through the
81 icrs. ther is pcrlI ips two parts out OF one
mi lion that come in contact and are caught 10y
tine mercury. while most but not all of the
crIrser particles are deposited in The 'niees.
Upon examining The tailings in almost every
locality where washing is performed IN tins
manner, large portion Of gold found and
even pieces varying from one to five dollars
in value During this operation the miner is
paying some ditch company a compensation
for large stream of water whereby the ma
ior part of his gold, and a considerable por-
tion Of his mercury. is carried onwards be-
yond his grasp, and he is left to contemplate
the appearance of the place from whence the
earth was dug, with perhaps enough gold
saved to pay board. There are locations
where the gold is mostly coarse. that the pro-
cess of sluiee washing saves nine-tenths of the
whole. but even that is not accomplished
through the agency of me eury,-hut of its
own gravity. In all cases where mercury is
used for collecting or extracting gold or sill
yer from other substances, it should he warm.
siy lsO degrees, and so mixed with the ma
terias, in combination with water that it
acquires the consistency of common mortar,
(salt water is the best). In this condition it
should be kneeded. tramped, or ground until
the mercury is so much divided and incorpor-
ated that no one particle can be seen by the
naked eye. II too wet. the mercury separ-
ates and runs to the bottom without the de.
sired effect. If dry. the slme result is pro-
duced The amalgamation cannot be com
rlete, unless the quantity of water used is
such that the whole mass is in the condition
of mortar, and by being worked, the mercu-
ry becomes separated to such an infinite ex'
tent that it comes in contact with eaeh and
every particle of matter in the whole mass.
In this condition it should remain at least ten
days When put into n vat and running wafer
applied. the mercury sinks to the bottom inn
mediately. and earres the gold or silver. or
both, with il. do not wish to be under
ftood as recommending this process in all
eases hut in miny localities where the ma
teriIl il cay and free from stone and at each
a. every qlrtz mill, this process should be
universally adopted 1t is prIcticed in other
cnuntrie. with beneficial results, and sooner
or later ml,t come into u'e here. The pro-
css' of lmilSm ,tion Is the only and proper
mole for separating the gold from the SUI
ptNTets of iron. orides of iron, &c
The srphurets of iron. as found in this
State, mostly coatrin large percentage Of
e I'd. in s)ma instances, onethird of the |
Whole mass. The gold canno be separated
10y stamping and washing. so US TO make it
profitable; hut by the ama g,naiing process
it can be made to pay better than almost any
other branch Of nliling The mlteri Il should
lie first heated to about u re ! heat, and kept |
in shat con lition for at least one hour, or
II It'll the sulphur. arsenc. and other suhstnn-
ees thlt become volatile hy heat are entirely |
dispelrd, then let cool, -pllverizrdnud ANIL. |
ganated rs heretofore c:en,ionei The hlack
SIN Is which aboand in almost every mine in
the State, are impregnated with gold.-in
mlny localities to the amount of twenty ami
even twenty-five per cent. The lack sand
rs it is eorlmanly called. is chemically. the
prot oxide of iron nor. in other ,rds, il /,
the same as The scale that falls from II red hot
iron. In this state it is net acted upon hv
water. but ty being heatelt red heat and
kept ~ forsom time it becomes changed 10
the pure or rel oxide of iron and in this coa-
dition becomes elsily pnvtrent, and readily
com5inin with water. The gold it contain
el is liberated. and becomes susceptible of
a'nalgamating with the mercury; while in
the FIRST or natural state, the mercury could
not act uponit. In many localities this sand
is so heavy that it will sink in mercury,
which circumstance alone. should satisfy any |
rational mind that it contains something
more valuable than iron. II the sand in |
question was simply particles of rure iron. it
could not sink in mercury, as the specific
gravities of iron and mercury are rs seuen aud