National Republican., 1876-02-23
MINING ENGINEERS.

Annual Meeting Of the American Institute.
The American Institute OF Mining Engineers
assembled last evening at o'clock at the lecture
room OF the Smithsonian Institute.
The association was called to order by the
president, A. l.. HoIley, esq, who, in few ele-
giant remarks, introduced the venerable Pro-
lessor Henry, who edited the society in an enter
tanning and instructive discourse upon scientific
mining, &c. Professor Henry also alluded to the
many improvements which have recently bser
made in the "City OF Magnificent Distances"
A paper upon scientific education and prepara-
ten was then read by the president, which was
frequently interrupted by voclferous applause.
Interesting remarks were also made By Messrs.
yanIa. Among the audience were noticed Prof.
Sterry Hunt, Eckley Cog, etq Prof. Frazer, Mr..
Rossiter Raymond, Prof. Sillman, Mr.. COrryell
apd PreI: Frank Flrmstops.
motion elected members Of the association:
Messrs. w. a. Cone, S. W. Thorne, Thomas e.
Bowman, F. g HaTIey F. L nyIIas5.yE, nwIIthe5Iy, e. l.
Brown. General William l.. Smith, Francis A.
Lowe, John Stepenson. General R9seerans. }.
P. Clemer. +. Steinback, II. J. l.. Warner MAJOR
j. W. Powell, K. ]. Anderson, esq.,, A. f. SILL
man, ESQ.,, Robert Frazer, esq, and W. p. Hulst.
AssociaTes-Messrs. II. ). Haar, A. Temeks, ].
b. CantweIl, Q. K; Buckley, W. W. Shotusll, A.
T. Collins, X. W. Hall, Rosco WOolson and
others.
to-day at 10 O'Clock.
German System o: Classifying Lew Grade
Ores.
Ofthe several branches OF mining engineering,
none is so important to the success OF mine as q
successful and economical concentration to high
degree Of the metal contents of an ore, the great
preliminary to their final smelling.
To dress ores successfully is as important and
as dificult as 10 smelt them successfully, and any
means of reducing the metal lost' to its mini
mum value is of the greatest Importance to those
who are interested In the successful treatment OF
aI frsctuous ores. especially lowgrade orss.
IDe uimculty OF concentrating a slampeu VI %
low grade when the grains are OF many sizes, in.
tImately associated and coated with a mass OF
slime, is apparent 10 every mining engineer; but
when the stamped ore ts systematically graded
classified, and freed from all its slime, the diff
fculty changes to q very simple manipulation.
To discover some method OF freeing all fraetuous
low grade ones Of their shines, and reducing the
same to a condition to De easily concentrated had
neering mind OF Europe. Several methods were
tried, but none fitted so we'll as the ingenious de-
the great Himmelfahrt Frind mine Of Freiberg,
Saxony, IA mine employing 900 men, and work.
ing fifteen shafts to depth of 1000 feet each,
Francis A. Lowe, of Washington, d. Q.
The system is termed classification, and is the
Of .akng fas sa%Psa eTs 5ssnS
freed into different corn or grain sizes, the
great essential preliminary to nnal concentration
problem Of concentration reduces itself to Its sim
| plest form.
Through this system they, at Frebsrg have
| been able to concentrate to Q very high degree
IS per cent, the different ingredients OF an ore
| and as the Freberg ore. especially the ore from
| carrying throughout, besides the argentiferoul
| galens, their main source Of silver, immense
quantities OF zinc blendsir copper and arsenica
pyrites, 1t has been source Of great satisfaction
| 10 the mine TO be able to concentrate separately
| the above ingredients from the argentIferoul
| galena.
| Through this system the immense amount o
| low-grade silver, copper, and gold airing sui
phurets can be concentrated to so and 30 per cent
at greatly reduced time, labor, and expense.
| The merits OF the German system of classihca
tion and concentration OF ores, especially OF low
| grade, are little known md studied in this coun
try. Depending, as we do, upon the crude snC
unsystematiZed methods which prevail, We wit
| ness, with much concern, the great loss which
| goes to waste annually, and cry aloud for tn,
| want of a system to take up this loss and max,
| It profitable. The experience OF many countries
economical, so broad and comprehensive, that q
is we'll worthy the attention Of all who are interest
| ed in the successful treatment Of low grade ores
to study It's n erits and introduce the same init
| this country.
| MI, Lowe spent four years abro ad studying tn,
European system Of coal and silver mining, AM
| their system OF treatment as carried on in tn
| great dressing floors Of Frieberg and Clausthsl
and is competent to draw up specihcations ant
4 plans OF ali the necessary machinery used In tn
| dressing Of ten, twenty, thirty, forty and MI.
thousand tons Of ore annually, and Will guarantee
saving OF so to 90 per cent. Of the ore treated.
Mr.. Lowe is graduate Of the civil engiReerinl
| course of ale, and served a period OF four year
in the machine shops OF the Washington nav.
1 yard.