Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1863-10-24
Processes.

As very many erroneous lueaS nave oo-
tanned credence throughout this Territory
in relation to the proper chemical treat
ment of the various ores found in our
lodes, and as great amount OF money has
been thrown away by the proprietors Of
our various mills, by the purchase and
use of articles which have been of no
earthly benefit to them in eliminating
the precious metals from the ores under
treatment in their establishments-we
propose giving them the benefit of our
researches and experience, Ito certain
extent,) by citing them to the different
chemical substances as used hereto
gether with their composition, nature and
effects. In order to do this as briefly and
plainly as possible, we shall divide them
into three classes-accordins to the effect
they produce, and the manner
in which they should be used; and m
order that we may be easily understood,
we shall avoid as much as possible, all
chemical terms-rather using such as we
hear every day about our mills.
CLASS FIRST.
Sulphuric Acid {symboD S 8, COM
posed of Sulphur and Oxygen. Nitric
Acid N o s.; Nitrogen and Oxygen, and
Sulphate Of Copper (Cu O-S o Sx HO)
Protoxide of Copper, Sulphuric Acid and
parts water Of capitalization.
CLASS SECOND.
Salt (Na CD Chloride of Sodium, Sal
Amoniac On H CD Chlorine and
Amonia, Muriatic Acid Oh CD Hydro
ehloric Acid, Chlorine and Hydrogen.
CLASS THIRD.
Sulphate of Iron (Fe is O3x7 o.
Protoxide of Iron, Sui. Acid and parts
water of crystahzation.
Gum Catechu may also be considered
as belonging to this class. Its chief con-
stituent being Tanic Acid.
There are other substances used, such
as sulphate of soda, acetic acid, ETC., but
as their effects are in the main neutral,
we forbear description of them to avoid
confusion.
Now, the principle employed in the
elimination of silver at Halsbrucke, near
Freyberg, is admitted to be the most sue
cessful of any, and although too expen-
sive to be pro6tably employed on ordin-
airy ores here, yet the nearer We can imi-
tate it, the more successful we are. That
principle is to reduce the sulphur Of the
sulphurets to sui. acid, freeing the metals
at the same time. When the sui. acid
combines with the sodium of the salt, and
its chloriLe with the silver to form a
chloride of that metal. This result is &C.
compished by roasting the pulverized ore
with salt, and after this has been success
fully effected, nothing then remains to be
done hut to free the silver from the chic
rine, thus precipitating and matchmaking
it with the mercury.
This is accomplished in the German
barrel, and the chemical agent is sulphate
of iron, or eopperas.
Now, it viii be seen that the opera
ton is, first, to oxidize; second, to reduce
to chloride, and lastly, toprecipitate and
amalgamate; and we have classed the
chemical substances above in this same
order as to their chief effects. As of the
second class, we would also mention the
chloride Of copper but it is very delete
rious when used to excess, as it tends to
reduce the mercury to q sub-chlmride,
{ealomel9 1t may be formed by dissolv-
ing metallic copper in nitric acid and add
ing mrritic acid until all the nitrate is
reduced. No general " Process" can be
laid down for the treatment Of ores any
more than one remedy can be found to
cure all diseases; and we have given the
above simply as groundwork, that our
amalgamators may experiment more un-
derstandingly, and arrive at more profita-
L l.