Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-05-13
A Valuable Invention.

For many years those interested in
mining matters have been inpatient
ly hoping for the introduction of a
process that would successfully per-
folm the work of abstracting the prec-
ious metals from refractory ores. The
want of such process has been pccul-
iarly felt in Montana and Colorado,
where the good ores are of the most
obdurate character, being filled with
pyrites and sulphurets. Arizona and
some portions of California are equally
interested in the matter. At last we
believe the desideratum has been
reached. Mr.. ROBERT M. FRYER of
Grass Valley, it is thought by many
of the most practically experienced
miners from various localities has ac-
complished the desired result, and all
who have seen the working of the
process are satisfied with it. A dis
patch from Grass Valley, where the
main works are situated. and have
just been thrown open to the public.
says:
The whole apparatus is entirely different
from anything that has been in use before,
and consists OF furnace designed 10 roast at
high temperature refractory ores in order to
reduce the noble metals to IL pure state before
amalgamation. The second operation is
treating the roasted ores in a revolving appa-
ratus OF octagon shape, provided with equal
capacity to five-stamp battery. Quicksl-
yer, hot water and some cheap chemicals vet
unnamed are placed in the cylinders with the
roasted ores, the heads of the cylinders are
tightly closed and the pulveriZing apparatus
is set in motion at the rate of ten revolutions
to the minute. A cylindrical weight OF two
bundled and fifty pounds in each cylinder
falls twice upon the ore in every revolution,
pulverizing 1t to impalpable powder, while
at the same time amalgamation is going on.
After SIX hours OF this treatment the cylin.
ders are opened and the pulp IL elected
through pipe into separator, where il is
met by powerful stream of water at the bot
tom OF the separator vat,which keeps the pulp
receptacle at the bottom of the separator, and
the slums float off at the top. These pass
through rotary square box provided with
copper plates to catch the smallest particle
The amalgam is Imm mediately drawn off and
retOrted, and in twelve hours from the quartz
is first put in the furnace the result in bullion
is obtained, varying from ninety to ninety
hve per cent. OF the assayed value of the ore
and that effcted at a very small cost. With
free ores t1e furnace is omitted, as the pull
verizer is sufficient without it. There was q
great enthusiasm among the visitors as the
machinery started. The octagon pulveriZeI
moved off as perfectly as though it had been
In use for years. Mr.. Fryer,the inventor, and
Mr.. Hall, the President of the Fryer Noble
Metal Mining Company, were both warmly
congratulated at the magnificent success
There was but one sentiment heard, namely
that revolution in mining had been inaugu-
rated, and the busy times OF California would
return. Mr.. Hall who had waited to witness
the inauguration of this triumph, left by the
afternoon train for New York.
Mr.. FRYER says that the highest
cost for working will not exceed six
dollars per ton. This achievement
may be regarded as one of the most
remarkable of the age, and citizens Of
the Pacific coast and Rocky Mountain
slope can congratulate themselves
ang trust upon thssure coming of re.
newed prosperity.