The Elk Mountain pilot., 1881-08-25
ON THE REDUCTION OF
ORES BY THE .SlNEL TING
PROCESS.

PROCESS.
The chemical laws governing the
reduction of ores by the smelling pro-
cess, are SO well established and are
so Interchangeable in their operation,
that the cost of treating ores at any
point by this method is readily and
accurately ascertained by the simplest
mathematical computation. If these
laws had been inquired into by many
who have rashly erected smelters at
various impracticable points in this
state, there would not have been that
loss Of capital, and that sourness
against mining enterprises, that have
resulted from the bitter experience OF
those who have been wrecked in
smelling enterprises. 1t is the pur
pose Of this article to present as plain
ly as possible the requirements that
underlle' the smelling process. 1t
seems to the uninformed as if it should
be ar easy matter to throw silver
bearing galena intU a furnace and
draw away the bullion at the bottom.
rothem, all that is necessary is " to
melt the stuff" The fact is, smelt-
ing IS very complicated and difficult
process, and demands skill and expert
ence, even after its fundamental laws
are clearl ly comprehended. 1t is no
detrlment for miners to understand
these laws, for mill men are frequent
ly abused without stint for their
charges for reducing ores, by those
who have not the slightest knowl-
edge Of the actual cost Of reduction.
Those who carefully pertse this article
Will see that the cost of reducing a
ton of ore is always variable and is not
the question that enters into the mind
of the smelter. What he wants to
know is, what it will cost to produce
a pot Of Stag; for this ascertalned at
any point the cost remains a constant
s-szvs-ess=s7-z ~ ess $
If your ore was composed Of moth
ing but galena, or galena and lime
stone, as in Missouri and Wisconsin,
it would be ready matter to dis
pose Of it. But all ore in primitive
rocks--granites, porphyries, ETC., is
associated with quart; or as it is
technically called silica. 1t is this
silica that gives the trouble in smell
ing. 1t is one of the most intractable
substances known. A heat sufficiently
great to turn lead, silver and gold into
vapor and pass them off like steam,
will not even make this silica LIQUID.
1t forms into an exceedingly tough
mass into which the best steel bars
cannot be driven, even when it is
heated to 2,5ooo Fahr. But if it is
heated in connection with certain
proportions Of iron and lime, they
will enter into combination with it and
at white heat it will then flow like
water. Let us see how much iron an
lime is required to effect this change.
what will be their cost, &C., for or
this depends to a great extent the
cost or economy Of the work:
A miner with quite hard or siliciou:
ore, that is carrying much silica
or quartz, will frequently remark tha
his ore will run thirty per cent. II
lead. Thirty pounds Of lead derived
from galena, is accompanied in the
ore (avoiding smaller decimals), by
about four and half pounds of sGl
phur. Deducting this and the leae
we have left in the ore 65H per cent
of something else. What is this 65H
pounds in every hundred? If YOU
ore carries some zinc and quite a PEI
cent. of iron pyrites, these with all othel
minor substances in it, may constitute
I5H per cent. Of the original mass
and deducting these we have remain
ing fifty per cent. of silica which
must be combined with sufficient iro,
and lime to become LIQUID under {
smelling heat. When it is in this free
liquid state, the lead, silver and gold,
sink through it by the force of grav
lty, and separation Of the metals
from the Stag is thus effected.
We must make the most liq uid sla;
possible. For If not the correct nro.