The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-14

MANUFACIUSE OF ARTIFICIAL DIAMoNDs.-The
French publication, La Propagation Industrelle,
publishes description by NJ. Caliste Saix of his
method OF producing colorless, coored or black
diamonds. Tlss system is based on a princne
that when Current of chlorine or of hydroch-
loric gas passes through cast iron in LIQUID state
perchloride OF protochloride of iron is formed
both OF which Haporize, the carbon contained In
Inc cast iron tremaning in both cases perfectly
intact because the chlorine cannot directly unite
with IT, The capitalization OF the carbon Is then
within the general rule, for in body which is dis
solved and capable OF capitalization, crystaliza-
ton takes piece each time that the dssolyiur
agent evsporStes. the size of the crystals de.
pending alwayr on the slowness of the evapora
ton. LIST. To obtain colorless dismonds, current
OF dry chlorine must be brought to the bottom of
the current containing the cast iron by means OF
a bent tube Il china or ire-clay. No organic
colorlDg mattx.- resists the action of chlorine
90 that the ptrchloride of iron in evaporating
leaves the cabon 10 become q colorless crys.
tai. I'd. Wxen IL Is desired to give the
crystal blue green. pink, or yellow tint ii is
only necessary TO mix with the cast iron certain
metallic oxides "a sufficient quantity, such as those
OF chromium, cobalt, and others. or their salts
winch viii give these colors. 8. To obtain black
diamond, hydrychloric gas must be brought TO the
bottom OF the crucible in the same manner "a for
eolored or colJress diamonds. Protochlorids of
iron will be for ned. which is volatile, but in this
ease the carbog will remain black, in Consequence
OF the presence Of hydrogen. This explains the
fact of all diahonds having the same chemical
aDd mineral properties, and why in nature the
black Diamond Is found in the greatest
eusntity. because its formation in slluvial soils
requires only the presence Of sulphuric acid aud
marine salt, whereas the others require the pres
eace Of particular oxides which are often wanting.
TO obtain all these varieties of diamonds special
furnaces are nos necessary; the crucibles must be
coyared 10 prevent the oxidation of the cast
ifen.F which might change the carbon into
carbenie oxide and diminish, in consequence, the
yield of The operation; these crucibles should be
provided with & email tube, reaching outside the
furnace, whiehwill enable the chlordes resulting
from. the fssction to be gathered. When the
rquid cast iron has been almost completely evap-
Qrated eept efsfee crucibles, the diamonds can be
removed without disturbing the crucibles, and by
means Of Solvents any cast iron which might be |
adhefnggso the@ can be removed; the operation |
OF cutting viii thus be shortened for there will
be no more oxitised particles 10 remove, and the |
csucible viii b ready for fresh operation. Lc- /
oording 70 n. do ssix one kilogramme of cast
iron win yield 81 least sixty grammes of diamonds
The cost psieefof the colofiess diamonds will be |
about 20f. per eixty grammss. which, al the cur.
rent. price. wdald be rs, 0o0f. The cost of the
basok dsamont.s swff be under 81. per sixty
erammest representing value Of IA, 2O0f-I sciel-
tho Americsnsi. r. .ssssF s'--5 = , ~ 4