The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1869-01-09
REDUCTION OF INTRACTABLE ORES
BY ELECTRICITY.

BY kLECIRlC1II.
Some short notices, by telegraph ant
otherwise, having been given through
the press of this State of newly dis
covered process for the reduction of in
tractable ores, we are glad to lay before
our readers the following description Of
the apparatus, from the San Francisco
Times:
The principal portion Of the apparatus is a
large wooden tub, lined with copper. Into
this the ore, after being crushed, is thrown,
and solution of quicksilver. common salt
and sulphate of copper (vitriol) is poured
upon 1t. From the center OF the tub rises a
screw, upon which revolves a wooden frame
work furnished with four horizontal arms, in
the form of cross. Each Of these arms is
fitted with two Stats, or blades, placed vertic-
ally, runni ng down to the bottom of the tub,
and SO arranged as to revolve in the interior
as paddle-wheel does in the water. 1t is,
III fact, a mixing apparatus. Steam is in
troduced from below, and forced into the tub,
but at present the arrangements for this part
ofthe process are not as perfect as they will
be made hereafter. SO far, we have nothing
very new or very startling in the machinery.
But at this point, electricity comes into play.
The tub is lined with copper, and the Stats
or paddles OF the mixer are covered with
plates of the same metal. From the side of
the tub runs metal rod, which, diverging
into 4 fork, embraces the axis of the mixer, a
collar or band of platinum receiving its con-
tact and being interposed between it and the
steel screw on which the frame works. This
is the negative pole of the battery, and the
positive pole enters the tub from the oppo-
site side. Small wires connect the poles with
the appropriated paddles, and conduct the
electricity. The latter, is supplied by forty
pairs of powerful Daniels batteries. At
present the mixer is made TO rotate BY a sim
pie crank, worked by hand-pnwer but it is !
the intention of the inventors to erect a |
steam engine, in few days, when manual
labor viii be dispensed with. So soon as the
circuit is closed, the action of the electric |
current is perceptible. The silver begins to |
attach itself to the negative pole, and after
few minutes work, an appreciable quantity
OF the precious metal may be obtained.
The ore upon which the experiment was
made yesterday, was of a very rebellious
character, taken from a Mexican mine,
owned by Mr.. l.. l.. Robinson, Of this city.
The amalgam found was of a very fine quail
ity, and extremely rich. This ore has never
before been reduced, save by the roasting
process.
Mr.. Phoebe has in his possession con-
quantity of amalgam and bars, OBJ
tanned by this process. and one of the latter
has a fneness of $40. The tailings from
the new process exhibited copper in appre-
cisble quantities and of good quality.
4 kerry curious experiment was made on
this occasion, for the purpose of exhibiting
the direct effect of the current of electricity
upon quicksilver. The negative pole causes I
oxidation to commence Immediately on its
application, while the substitution of the
positive poe cleanses the quicksilver, and
drives off the brown scum.
ADVANTAGES CLAIMED.
In addition to the very obvious merit of an
invention which prevents that destruction of
quicksilver which has never before been
sbviated, the patentees claim the following Y
advantages for the new process. ,
First-The facility with which all the salts
of copper used in the operation can be con- G
or the copper can be deposited in +,
I metallic state bv the use of old iron.
Second-That the amalgamation is effected t
" means Of single pole, and that the neg n
tive pole, and that consequently the silver
an be easily collected. a
Third-The facility with which the process a
an be continued, until the whole of the silver
obtained in the ore is extracted. L
1t is of course understood that we are h
peakins here Of those ores which are the
most rebellious in working, and the combi- c
cations of which with the metalloids cannot Il
e broken up save by a prolonged and ex
ensiye roasting. The new process ccntem-
lates the avoidance of this roasting, which "
; an item of great expense and embarrass-
ient, particularly in those mining countries
here wood is very rare and consequently if
cry dear.
At frs; sight it might appear that the large =
uniher of batteries employed in this process
ouid render it encumhrous, ifnot Expensive
: the old methods, but this is cot SO. Ia "
rectinS works on large scale, where many re
ubs would be used, each tub would be bat
~, and the electricity which aided in the et
peration would be evolved from the chem W
AIS, which are also necessary to the pertec-
on Of the process. U,
The invention Of Messrs. Nolf & Pioche th
aims to be, and appears to be, much
ore economical than the old process it
as several very decided advantages over be
lie latter; it has been successful almos:
.yond belief. so far and there is reason to
.lieve that the patient labors of these per- is
rverrng Investigators viii be rewarded by ,
e universal adoption OF the electro chem p'
n process. Ar
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF B'NAI B RITH.-
be Sacramento Bee says: 1.-The twenty {"