The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-05-08
A New Discovery.
HOW TO SEPARATE GOLD FROM DIRT WITHOUT
...2. THE USE OF WATER.

.. ~. THE USE OF WATER.
Professor Paschal Plants g dry gold
q machine intended to separate
gold from earth, gravel, pulverized quartz,
or other extraneous matter, without the
use OF water, was tried for the first time at
Rainsay's foundry yesterday. The machine
consists of series OF hollow ,recesses five
inches in length and three.sixteenths OF an
inch in depth-the recesses set about
quarter OF an inch below each other on an
incline. The plan adopted Is to run
dry earthly matter, gold-bearing sand,
or pulverized ore or quartz, from the
distributors placed above these re-
cesses, so that the depth OF the layer
OF ore shall be from one-eiehth to three
siyteentbs of an inch. The depth OF these
LAYERS OF ore or auliferous matter in which
the penetration and separation Of precious
metals will most successfully take place will
be found to be somewhat variable with
different ores, sand, and gravel. The mo-
ton given TO the framework is recipro-
eating, and is particularly adapted to the
size of the recess and quantity to be treated
in each. The gold particles will and must
inevitably settle to the bottom OF the le-
cesses and remain there, while the lighter
material and substances are agltated to
such an extent rs to continually pass OIL Dy
specific gravity unit! the reccsses be-
come filed up with the heavier particles
Of gold. A lucid description OF the machine
is almost.impossible. 1t Is ten feet long by
eight wide. It's motion when in action ls
reciprocating both longitudinally and lati-
tudinal;y. Three funelsbaped cutters are
on ton. lined with coarse sleeves. Through
these the earth passes to disintegrator,
and thence to- finesieye, whence it reaches
the recesscs in a pulverized condition.
Zach recess resembles an old-fashioned
sluice-box, except that 1t is curvelinear,
and while the machine is, In motion no ex-
traneous matter can possibly be caught and
mix with the weigbtier precious metal.
Professor Plant. has solved q problem
which old prospectors, miners, and gold
hunters never dreamed OF. Lands which
were welLknown to be- rich in gold were
abandoned, passed by, and neglected on 'ac-
count OF the scarcity OF water. His lnyen-
tion opeps new field to the searchers after
a1lriferous treasure. A running stream in
the vicinity is no longer O. necessity. Dry,
barren ground, rich in nothing but metallic
wealth, is as open TO the prospector as
the beds Of the Yuba or Sacramento.
The experiment yesterday, while be-
ing the third, was actually the
first publicly made with tine: macn'ne;
1t was perfect success. and demonstrated
TO those present that there is mlillons IN
it.' 4 few sboyelIuls Of earth, sand, and
gravel, with which had been mixed aurife-
rous matter, was thrown into the hoppers,
and the motion OF the machine almost in
stantly brought the latter ito the recesses,
while the useless waste passed of through lts
properreceptacle. Anumber OF Well-knto'Wn
eastern capitalists witnessed the working.
and expressed themselves as greatly pleased
With whatit promisedto do. Itis u I'd tor
that machines have been forwarded to the
Pacific coast, and others will follow, and ere
long The barren plains Of Lower California.
now known to be rich in precious metal
and yet supposed to be unavailable on ac.
count, OF the lack Of ifunntng streams, vii
be one of the additions to.the wealth .of the
Western Continent II Professor Plant
don't make fortune out of.his invention
be certainly deserves it.-Battimore Anaera
can, I'd. .,,... :54.i4ss,t zs s,t4