The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-04

The silver that remains ID extracted by
the use of sulphuric acid. This is effec
ted by the use of the platinum apparatus
an English invention. 1t consists of 6
small tray, technically called basket
made of platinum, divided into twelve
small compartments, each of sufficient
size to hold cornet. In this is boiled
nitric acid, which extracts the silver and
leaves the gold free from admixture with
any other metals. The gold is then lefl
in its purity. But, while il may be pure
gold it still may not be up to the stand.
ard of the quality required by the Mint
for there is as much difference in the
quality of pure gold as there is in any
other metal, in iron obtained from differ
ent mines, for instance. The gold OBJ.
tained from the Georgia mines is the gold
nearest purity, being purer than even the
California gold. The final weighing Of
the little coil determines che fneness OF
the original sample by proportional
weights in thousandths. The arrival at G
Just conclusion is by comparison in
weight with cornet Of chemically pure
gold. The entire process is beautiful,
and the delicacy to which it has been
brought exhibits the rapid advance made
in metallurgical chemistry within this
century.
Granulated silver is used in the silver
ASSAY, as it has been demonstrated by
this Mint and the Mint of Paris, France,
that out of granulated mass the same
6neness results, whether by assaying q
single granule or a number together.
From sample of silver prepared in this
way, the weight 1115-10O0 of fixed
very small quantity is taken, which is
dissolved with nitric acid. Into this So
luton pipette full of standard solution
of salt is introduced and it instantly pro-
duoes white precipitate which is chlo-
ride of silver, containing of metallic silver
1000 parts. A pipette is q small vial
shaped glass vessel To make this chic
ride subside rapidly the liquid should be
violently shaken, and this is done by q
mechanical arrangement, the time occu-
pied being about twenty minutes. If the
entire amount of silver is not precipita-
ted an introduction of portion of the
solution is made capable Of precipitating
a thousaudth Of silver, and white cloud
of the chloride will be seen. This is re-
peated until the liquor is clear. If in
this operation three measures of the dec
imal solution is effective it will show that
the l lis parts of silver contained 1908
parts of pure silver. 1.-THE. excess was
impure matter. This department of the
Philadelphia Mint has been brought to
the utmost limit of present metallurgical
science. AS confrmative of their evident
superiority an incident would not be in
appropriate.
Some years ago, when but moderate
quantities of gold were mined in this
country, the Mint depended for its supply
mainly upon the receipt of British coin.
1t was discovered by an assay that con-
signment from England was below the
English standard. Notice to this effect
was served upon the Royal Mint at Lon
don. The assertion was strenuously de-
MED on their part, and insisted upon just
as firmly by the officials of the United
States Mint. The controversy, which
was animated, gave rise to the formation
of committee of investigation on the
part of the London mint, and the result
completely sustained the allegations OF
the American experts. From that date
there has been no questioning of the de-
cisions of our mint masters.
The separating room occupies the
greater part of the western side of the
building on the second floor. The gold
and silver in large masses are separated
from each other after samples have been
once melted and assayed. In separating
and purifying gold certain quantity OF
pure silver is added. The whole is then
immersed in nitric acid, which dissolyes
the silver and leaves the gold pure. The
silver solution is drawn off and the gold
is left at the bottom of the tub. In pre-
pairing silver the mass is melted and gran
uated and dissolved in nitric acid. 1t is
then a chloride and contains all of the
baser metals. The chloride is precipita-
ted by using common salt, and rendered
into a thick, creamy mass. By putting
zinc on the precipitate it becomes metallic
silver, and washing and melting brings it
to virgin silver.
In the melting department there is O
force of forty-one men engaged in smelt-
ing gold and silver or in subsidiary ope.
ratious. Of this force there are seven
melters and seventeen helpers engaged
solely in melting silver. This gang are
now working exclusively upon tile prepa.
ration of the silver dollars. 1t is claimed
by Professor Booth that he can melt daily
with this force ingots sufficient to make
$50 1000 silver coin. This is their full
capacity of work within ten hours, and
is larger than has ever been executed in
this Mint or in any other. By working
overtime with the same furnaces and
the same force they could produce $751;
900 daily, or, lastly, by using the add.
tional furnaces and overtime, $4,000
per day might be produced. This would
increase the ratio Of production from
81, 100000 per month to $2,5OO,OOO pei
month.
1t is curious TO note the amount OF
work $1O0O,000 per month involves
The 100000 production per day weighs
6,l7O pounds, and being handled 16 time:
a day makes $500 pounds. The iron
moulds, weighing 40 pounds each, carried
Ga times for each melt; makes 76,S00
pounds handled, the total being 175,52C
pounds, or 7S tons. A melt of silver
from the present pots averages 81 ingots
weighing altogether about 5000 ounces
The size of the ingot is 13 inches in
length, IL inches in width and one-hal
inch in thickness; weighing about 4
ounces troy. These ingots are rolled
down for the new dollar to thickness o.
S2-1OO0th of an inch, and cut to diam
eter of u inches. The keeping up o.
the average of purity in the smelling j:
done by constant succession of granu
lated assays. In a melt after the frs
two ingots they pour granulated assay
and next to the last another assay. /
the two do not agree the melt is con
demned. The silver now in use is the
Dore silver, from the Comstock lode. L
seldom needs refining, and is taken as {
rule from the bar to the melting pot.
The losses in the melting department
| allowed by law is, in silver, .0015th, o.