Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1888-11-03

gather up and dispel the nitric acid,
leaving the gold ch.ioriles perfectly free;
then a solution oi sulphate Of iron being
added, the precipitation Of the goiu
readily follows.
Any silver contained in the ore will
be found in the filter az a chloride and
should the quantity prove sufficient, the
tailings may be treated by hyposulph-
ties in the ordinary way. All substances
soluble in hydrochloric acid would pass
through the charcoal untouched lime
and magnesia being of little value, are
generally run to waste If the solution
were passed over scrap iron, any copper
contained in it would DC deposited bv
natural chemical action.
The advantages claimed by this new
method are as follows: BY treating ores
with liquid chlorine, resulting from the
introduction of compressed air to liquefy
the Gas, the metals are rapidly absorbed
in the barrel the continual agitation
while being chlorinated causes "a friction
between the grains Of tailings, sand, and
gold. which prevents any films of inso-
lnble chiorides coating their surface,
also grease, clay, sulphur, or even
minute air-bubbles. The short duration
Of the process prevents the formation Of
hydrochloric acid, which would return
the gold to its original state. Rapidity
of filtration Is, moreover, a substantial
gain the intermittent action of the
vacuum-pump adds an advantage even
beyond the suction. The use of char
coal rs a decomposing agent is Obvious,
as explained before. This part of the
process cannot be patented, for over
twenty years ago Mr.. Newbery publicly
advocated its use, and in some cases
since then it has been employed. Our
American cousins tried To patent the
idea a few years ago, but they were too
late in the field, its advantages being
common property years before.
1t has been tried, and Is in work at
present in some of the principal mines
in Victoria, at the United Pyrites Works
at Sandhurst, where they treat, by it,
ores of every possible character, from all
parts of Australia and New Zealand; it
is in use at Maiden, at Walhalla, at Gun
ningar, in New South Wales, where
smelling works have been abandoned.
At the famous Mount Morgan Mine
(proper), in Queensland, 1t is exclusive
~ used, after II trial failure of many
other systems at Norton it is giving
the greatest satisfaction and here in
London, Ravenswood refractory ores
have been treated most successfully az
ter the system of local smelling works
had been abandoned. These Raven
wood ores are by Que~enslanders consid.
cred to be the most refractory found
anywhere in the colony.
If this most important question is now
solved-namcly, that of extracting
practically all the gold from ores
then it may be said that nothing in late
years has occurred equal 10 this, to in
fuse new life into many of the thou
sands of gold companies which have
either collapsed or are dragging on a
precarious exi tence, and to make those
mines now paying large dividends turn
into investments quite double the value
they at present represent Other pro
ccsses may come forward, but it is to-
wards cheapness of working they vii
have to aim. At any rate, when they
come they will be heartily Welcome
and the cause for regret Is hat we have
not had such improvements long ago.