Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-09-09
Isslba the Asss : orSicr.
MELTING GOLD AND SILVER.

scarcely adequate Tor the purpose 20
which Il is applied. But here is slowed
away in its crude, that is to say, un-
coined state, almost untold wealth
Here, every day, the process of melt
ing and refining goes forward, and the
workers herein are forever toying with
millions.
BY the courtesy Of the authorities
you are permitted to enter the store
room where all the precious iDgots and
bars of gold and silver are kept. They
are piled up on all sides OF you, some
of them black and igrimy, not having
asyetgonc through the rchningprocess,
and others bright and sparkling, hav-
ing been so purged Of base matter that
! they have reached degree Of purity
presented by 99s parts in 1000. One
Of the precious bars, representing a
sum Of $4,000, is placed in your hands
for inspection. Perhaps the contact of
so much solid, compact wealth with
that more intangible affair, your hon
esty, is likely TO be the destruction Of
the latter, and Il may be that you
mediate an abrupt exit; but il So the
uncertainty Of such hazard presents
itself to your mind, and assuming an
aspect OF outward integrity you return
the treasure. You then proceed to
make yourself acquainted with the
various processes pursued in the Assay
Office, and learn some facts worth
knowing. ii.
The bullion is received in all forms,
gold dust bars, jewelry, amslgams, and
so forth. The deposits are all made in
the weigh-room, whore they ar duly
weighed. Receipts are given to tho
depositors in this department, and the
bullion is then transferred to the de
posit melting room. Payments are,
of course, not made to the depositors
until the Assaycr has made his report
as to the quantity of pure gold in their
deposits. For deposits of gold pay
ments are made either in gold bars or
in coin, according to the option of the
depositor. The first thing is to attach
a number to each deposit, and this
number follows il through all the stages
and processes through which it may
pass. Ii will be obvious that each de-
positor's bullion must be melted sepa-
rately, and for this purpose it is neces-
sary to be provided with crucibles of
all sizes, as the quantities to be melted
vary very considerably.
The process ofmelting is very simple
the bullion being simply placed in cru
cibles which are placed in furnace
at something like a white heat The
liquid gold is then poured into shapes,
and the number with which il starts
is subsequently stamped upon it. At
this stage the gold contains, of course,
a large quantity of base matter. Jew
elry, for instance, which is deposited
for melting and refining seldom con-
tains thirty per cent. of pure gold, this
being esteemed in such case rather
high average. The gold of jewelry is,
however, the least valuable kind de-
posted. The first thing to be done in
the matter of refining the gold is to
put it through a process known as
granulation. This is carried out in
department distinct from the deposit
melting room The granulation is ef-
fected by mixing two-thirds of silver
with one of gold. a
The result of this process is that the
mixed gold and silver takes the shape
of comparatively small grains or par
ticles; and the object of SO dividing it
is that when for the purpose Of purifi-
cation the gold is brought into contact
Z with sulphuric acid, larger surface of
the metal shall be exposed to its ac-
ton. The gold is now in it's granulated
form (mixed with two-thirds of silver,
but while il was necessary to have this
admixturc Of silver for the purpose of
having large surface of gold brought
under the action OF the sulphuric acid,
il is now necessary to have the silver
again separated This is effected in
this way: The granulated metal is put
into large iron kettles and is boiled in
sulphuric acid. Formerly il was the
custom to use nitric acid, but this was
found to be too expensive, and besides,
il nccessitated the use of proclaim
kettles, which were not so convenient
as the iron ones at present in use
The result of boiling the granulated
metal in the sulphuric acid is that the
|, silver becomes united with the acid,
, forming sulphate of silver 1t is held
in solution, and in this form is carried
/, off through syphon TO tanks in q
/ room down stairs, where the silver Is
, aiierward precipltated. The gold is
) subsequently subjected 10 several other
oatns oil suiphuric acld until y is thor
, oughiy separated from the silver 1t
, Is tnen placed IN a inter ana subjected
TO the acuon oil warm water. AZ this
stage IL SIMPLY resembles q muddy de-
post, ana mas not the slightest metal
, nc ius're' ~ Is subsequently drled,
, ana hyarauic pressure is brought to
, Dear on II so as TO squeeze the water
o". VI - '"o'o'g"y
~ Is aiierwaru cast INTO bars, and is
thoroughly mixed IN the process
Wheh IN nqmu state pono-dust Is
thrown on the surface, and this takes
up It's impurities which are afterward
; SKINNED on when the bars are cast
! a slice IS cut on each end, and these
are submitted TO two assayers, who
: are not in communication and who re
port separately. Their reports, be
SIDES determining the value Of the gold
check each other. The gold is now IN
! a. 'onoi,'on 20 put INTO the marset'--
nsa';wn,e sa,,'.;s ~ ,ne SILVER whlcn Is heid N
so,uuon ~ .ne se'Pnurlc aclu Is carried ,
: INTO TANKS IN Wnich are copper pl0cks