Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-05-08
Paul & Woods Process.

Two or three days ago we were pres
emit at a trial Of Paul L Woods Electric
Process for the amalgatiou Of gold
and SILVER ores. TIL. trial was con-
Quoted at the lone Mill, Gold
Canyon, a short distance above DEVILS
Gate, and the ore worked was from the
Twin mine, Silver City. The working
test Of The new process was conducted
in the presence of quite II number of
the principal mill and mine Superiu-
tendents Of this section, by Mr.. Almarin
B. Paul, u Of the patentees, and well
known as the pioneer millman of Gold
Canyon. The ore-to be amalgamated
was 6rst reduced 10 II coars powder, in
the dry crushing battery Of the mill,
consisting OF five stamps of $50 pounds
each, which crushing of s Q n day
dry, or IL tom wet. Passing through
the coarse wire screens of the battery
the ore falls into u large box or pen,
made for the purpose. From there it is
shoveled into the grinder, where it is
further reduced to an impalpable pow
der like superine -four.
THE GRISDER
is quite u novelty in itself, although it
has been in use al this mill for some
time. II consists simply of q barrel or
drum Of stout boiler iron, five feet in
diameter and three feet in length be-
Ntween the two heads, which are of cast
ION. A charge Of $50 pounds of the
ore is shoveled into this barrel through
q trap-door ia the side, together with
1000 pounds of cast IRON buttons weigh
ing about an ounce each. This barrel
being hung by pivots in the heads, is
then reyolved at the rate Of Is revolu-
tions per minute for 40 minutes, when,
by a very simple screening process, the
finely pulverized ore is readily separa-
ted from the buttons. This Toured ore
is now ready for the ordinary process OF
wet amalgamation, or for
PAUL & WOODS ~AMALGAMAroR.
This, like the peculiar grinder we
have described, is simply = barrel or
drum of stout boiler-iron, with heavy
cast-iron heads. 1t Is So inches in d.
ameter and As inches long. 1t also is
hung on Two pivots in the heads, and
surrounding it is q sheet iron casing
and furnace beneath, like the furnace
Of nm ordinary steam boiler. 4 charge
Aof 1000 pounds Of pulrerized ore from
the grinder is introduced through II
hole for that purpose in one Of the
heads, and one.third the weight Of ore,
or 1913 pounds Of quicksilver, is added.
The hole being tightly closed by means
of a proper cover, the barrel is reyolved
at the rate Of 26 revolutions per minute,
a small FIRE being bull, in the furnace
Just sufficient to warm up the charge
and promote electric action, yet not hot
enough to vaporize the mercury. After
revolving at this rate tor four hours the
charge is withdrawn, aud so finely sub
divided and disseminated is the quick
silver found throughout the entire
mass that the whole resembles a
fne, light brown powder, no dis
tinct particles Of mercury being visi-
BILE to the naked eye. ltcertainiy is the
most thorough aud perfect amalsSmator
we ever saw. The natural effect of such
a perfect searching dissemination OF the
quicksilver throughout the orc Is to
amalgamate with and retain every parti-
Gle OF the precious metals, and, there
being no leakage or waste from the
barrel, there is no loss whatever OF
quicksilver, which can hardly be said
Of the ordinary wet milling process or
any other. The separation OF the mer-
curry or amalgam from the dry pulp is
yery readily effected. A small quantity
washed in a horn spoon in our presence,
Welded an ounce Of bright, lively quick
silver in less than u minute, collected Mt
the bottom of the spoon, although none
was visible 10 the dry pulp powder.
PAUL 4 STEVENS SETTLER.
In connection with Paul i Woods
Electric Amalgamator is Paul Il Stew
ems Electric Settler. This is a huge
wooden tub, after the style Of the ordi-
nary settlers 10 quartz mills, measuring
seven feet in diameter, by two aud one
half feet deep. The bottom is covered
by a copper plate, and at the top is a
floating cover, the under side of which
is sheeted with zinc. The dry mereu-
rallied pulp from the a~malsamator is
placed in this tub, plenty Of water is
added, together with certain chemicals,
and the whole is kept stirring by means
of the usual style OF revolving arms. A
current Of electricity, generated by the
sulphursts and chemicals between the
zinc and copper plates, acts upon the
amalgam in the pulp, and gradually,
but surely and completely, IN u four
hours rum, precipitates it in a collected
LIQUID mass at the bottom. The slum is
now run of, in a perfectly worthless
state, the entire amount OF the ore hay
ing been Invested Of the precious metals
contained.
CONCLUSIVE DEDUCTIONS.
By this new process Mr.. Paul claims
to work all classes Of ore with perfect
facility, regardless Of the character or
quantity of base metals contained, ex-
tracing nothing but the goldand silver,
and working the rock far more thor
ouvhly and effectively than By any
other known process. With the barrel
he has at the lone Mill be can work
three tons per day, but Of course the
amount of work is only limited by the
number and capacity Of the barrels,
which can be made Of any size to suit.
Mr.. Paul claims to work Coms,ock ores
by his process up to 90 per cent. Of the
FIRE assay, which is over 20 per cent.
higher than usually effected by the
ordinary process, although we know
of instances where Paul's barrel has
no much the advantage. Deciding
upon the merits and value Of the new
process is merely a matter OF figures rs
to the cost of machinery, number oil
men required, amount o capital en-
ployed, increased or decreased quantity
of ore worked, etc. In our opinion,
however, the figures Preponder"tG in
favor OF Paul l. Woods Electric Pro-
cess. All interested in such matters
can see all we have seen regarding II,
BY visiting the lone Mill. The process
is simple and easily comprehendsd At
sight, by even individuals more ootuse
than ourself.
OFFICERS ISsrALLEp.-At a regular
meeting Of Olive Branch Lodge No. 10,
1. o. G. T, held on Friday evening,