The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1870-07-15


We yesterday gave a description of the
Pattinson process of separating lead
from argentiferous bullion. That pro-
cess has long been in use in works at
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and Is
perhaps the simplest and most inexpen-
siye one in use. There is, however, a
French method of capitalization, in
vogue in works in France, which is CON
sidered by some m improvement ON the
other. Instead of using a system of
iron pots, and removing the crystals by
hand. or with the aid OF crahes, a pro-
cess has been introduced by which man.
nal labor is nearly altogether dispensed
with. Il consists of two kettles-the
metal and the crystalizing. The melting
Dot, ON the side next the erystalizer, has
a discharge pipe, and the crystalizing
vessel consists Of an ordinary cast iron
not provided with a vertical stirrer.
This pot has, at opposite sides Of the
bottom, two discharge pipes fitted with
lnnA VANCE,. anu Ialh 40 INV - -
small separate fire to prevent obstruction
by the cooling metal. Beneath each OF
these pipes il placed a vessel for the re-
ception Of the liquid alloy. which drains
through on opening the valves. The
stirring apparatus consists of two verti-
cal shafts, working in the center OF the
pot-one solid, the other a tube and en-
closing the former. The two shafts re-
yolye in contrary directions. To the
lower end Of each is connected an iron
~stirrer, provided with knives which al
most touch the sides of the pot, and pre-
vent i%ncrustation of lead. The object
of this ~stirrer IL TO promote throughout
the mass of molten metal the uniform
temperature necessary for ITS crystaliza-
ton, and at the same time to so COM
press the CRYSTALS formed as to force them
TO readily separate from the liquid alloy.
The pots are heated by a suitable fire.
place. and above those into which the
liquid alloy is run is a crane by which
the enriched lead is lifted ont by means
of iron eyes cast into the metal and
brought back to the melting pot for the
purpose of being further enriched. To
use this apparatus successfully, such n
quantity of original lead must be melted as
corresponds to the capacity of the crys-
TALKING pot, and as soon as it is fused 1t
is run into it, and the operation Of stir
ring commences. The formation of
crystals is effected by lowering the tenn
perature in the usual way. and as soon
as a sufficient amount has been formed.
the lateral valves are opened and the EN-
riched alloy is run into the receiving
~ - IL. .au4o ~tahA.uu "a. oil
yer as the crystals remaining in the crys-
t~alizer, is now melted in the melting
pot in sufficient quantity to make
mp, with them, another charge; and
this is tapped in upon the crystals,
the mixture again crystalized and a
certain quantity of liquid alloy obtained
rs before. These operations are repeated
until a concentrated rich alloy, ready
for cupellation, is produced OF the one
hand, and, ON the other, desilverized
crystals, which, after being run into
molds, are ready for market. We ara not
aware whether this process Is found more
economical than the ordinary n in
which the crystals are removed by means
Of perforated ladies' and cranes. 1t in
wolves, however, an engine to work the
agitators and secure an equable teEupera-
ture for the purpose of crystalizing the
lead. There is also. we understand, a
German process, which differs somewhat
Ia detail from the English and French;
but they all involve the same material
principle, and that Is the crystalization
OF the lead, and its gradual withdrawal
from the liquid alloy, until the latter has
been so far purified ~ to be ready for
cupellation. We have said that the max
imum amount OF silver contained in n
iun of the enriched alloy is 5000. When
this degree of richness IL reached the
lead refuses TO crystalize further. Now,
the advantage Of having this rich alloy
separated from the lead, is that we have
brought our metal to a shape that we can
turn il into money by q process which is
established, and admits of no question.
The point Of cupellation would be at
tanned within ourselves, and we would
save the cost OF transportation, the in
terest charged against us, the profits
realized by purchasers abroad, and the
delay in receiving returns, which now
seems 10 amount to n delay calculated to
destroy every enterprise connected with
the Development and prosperity Of our
base metal mining interest. Welook for
the bringing ont of some important facts
in connection with the advantages TO nc
Z u from separating works established
here, at the meeting tomorrow night, at
City Hall. We shall recur TO this i'm
portant subject.
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