Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-03-10
Farrand's Amalsamators.

Every new invention that saves labor and llcli'
itates work is q great gain. and deserves some
public notice Hence, the writer OF TINS article
wishes TO make some few remarks on III" subject
of Win d. Farraud's new machine for rulrvrZ-
ing and sinalganatiug gold and silver ores, now
in operation on Market, opposite Sahsom"' street
He WAS recently Invited by the inventor 10 VIII
ness so;, trials Of lis merits on different kinds OF
ore. and every opportunity aud facility WAS given
him L, form an impartial ami correct OPINION as
+, il, character This was chccrtully accepted
a, he has had much experience himself III these
matters and has given very close attention 10 inc
treatment al argeutterOus and aurllefOns ores
and feels that there is need Tor still greater M
movement in the mining machinery of the day.
however free he may be to admit, that more pro-
rcss has been made in California, within the last
five Years than in any other country, or dnfihs
anv preceding period 0f ten wears, i'll TINS or any
other state.
This i, not a matter probably, for which many
have AN equal taste with the writer, but II APP
bears nj least TO the interest OF every man, anu
hence the constant discussion Of these mechanical
matters bv all GLASSES Of the community. IL IL
but necessary rrmark, before describing TINS IN
Ycutun tLuI the recent great mechAnlc"l huN 'ihee
followed lS surely Is the night the day, when thr
fact had been put beyond question that silver ana
gold orr, rf cnmpiicaed chemical character could
be successfully reduced by the use ~ mercury
and irituratiJn alone, without chemicals or roast
ing furnaces. This machine effects TINS noJect
iudrcal. hollow vessel, with proper dies or false
bottoms of hardened cast irnn containing frame
that carries several convex IRON mulrrs, hitng
the Concave surface of the vessel An osclliatlng
or pendulum motion is given to the frame by AN
easy rock shaft action, that works without nOise
or lar. and consumes bu; little power. The null
lrrS OF which there are four act Independently OF
each other, and contact with the bottom is secured
bv springs of moderate strengths, whereby the
pressure is scfregulaed 10 suit the hardness and
character of the rock under operation; and the
mullcrs by the same device, impart TO themselves
aud the bottom an even regular weHr-beinS sell.
adjustable by the action OF the springs.
The OscHting motion of the mullrrS or grind
crs in this machine. effects u very important OBJ
ject as the pulp is thrown alternately from the
circumference TO the centre, and vice versa, and
is thus most thoroughly mixed, and every particle
in its turn necessarily brought under the grind
ing surface This greatly h;ssteus the reduction.
and assures thorough work, aud may well be
called the circulation Of the machine. As soon
rs the ore is sufficiently reduced, and in this ANAL
g.tmator il is ground as finely rs paint. or the
tiurst wheat flour, the frame holding the nuilrrs
is raised quarter uf an iuch or less, uSt enough
70 break contact with the bottoms, and the IGrr-
curry is then added and the machine run for an
hour and halt to effect anOlSamatinn. by this
elevation Of the mulIerS which Is easily and quick
~ done by turning two set screws. All grinding
oil the mercury and amalgMn, from which such
great loss OF metal and mercury i'll the machines
has arisen, is entirely obvated. This is IN ad.
vantage Of immense Importance, rs all ininerG
know and is too obvious to dwell upon
Though OF minor interest, il Is well 10 say that
the Osc!llating motion is found 10 act RS very
good settler or concentratOr of the amag1m or
mercury which is distributed through the pulp,
and greatly facilitates the washing and cleaning
up NJ the completion of the operation.
M Farraad has been aided i'll his working of
the machine by NJ. J. II. Smith from whose
knowledge and great experience i'll these mat
tiers he has received most valuable assistance,
Mr.. Smith having been engaged Tor years in this
and kindred pursuits i'll the Eastern States and
Mexico. and fer year or more AZ the Ophir works
in WAshoP.
Trials were made with the machine in the pres
ence OF the writer on three different parcels of
rock Gnd estimating its simple inexpensive char
ucrer and the short time required and the results
obtained. he thinks ii but just 10 say tina; lis
operation is in every way perfect. and emincnt!y
satisfactory.
The iirsr parcel rf rock, of seventy pounds,
from the Golden ,.Ec Mine, CalavcraS county.
containing sulphurrts OF iron in considerable pro
portion gave sol " of gold aad silver, or Slis3
~ per ton The second parcel from Mexico, Of
sixty pounds. from Mr.. Gray's niue. of a very
pure sulphurct of silver Welded Si7 So or To the
ton. SJt5. The third parcel was lot Of very
rica gold quartz rock from the Omega Lead Nc
vadu county of tifty.Six pounds weight. aud WAS
handed 10 Mr. Farrand by the writer II con.
tanned considerable SulphurrtS Of iron, and pro.
duccd Sl3 Il. or S46S per ton. In each OF these
cases the result came very near the assay value
OF the rock. aud gave entire satisfaction 10 tho
owners, f. iitd.