The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-12-29
THE RUSSELL PROCESS

The New York Engineering and Min.
ing Journal Of the 18th inst has an in.
teresting article on the Russell process Of
extracting metal from ores. The process
has been a costly one to many mining
men, and il at last it is \ complete sue
cess, the invention will be Of great bene-
fit to the mining interests Of the country:
The Russell process Of adding certain
amount OF cuprous hyposulphate to So
luton of sodium hyposulphite used in
lixiviating silver ores was invented in
1888 by E. Fl. Russell, then assayer for
the Ontario Silver Mining company. The
laboratory results were remarkable, and
these were confirmed by working tests on
several ores, particularly those of the
Ontario mine. While Russell was exper-
imenting, w. s. Godbe, of Salt Lake,
who had secured the old tailings dumps
of the Raymond & Ely and Meadow
Valley mines lat Pioche), near Bullion.
vile, New, and who was looking for
method to work these twice worked ores,
heard Of the new lixiyiating prces ss. He
shipped to the Ontario mill several tons
Of the tailings, which, unfortunately, as
later events proved, were not representa-.
tive of the large quantity which it was
desired to treat. The teaching results on
this class of tailings was 80 good that a
plant for treating them raw was built in
1885, at Bullionville, by a company in
which Russell, Godbe, r. G. Chambers
and several other officials of the Ontario
company were largely interested. 1t was
soon found impossible to successfully
treat the raw tailings, and when Stede'
feldt furnace was erected no better re.
suits were obtained. Immediately aftel
this, other financial failures, not due
however, to the Russell process itself
were made in Lake Valley and Silve
City, New Mexico.
The first introduction OF the process ii
Mexico was at the Cusihuiriachic mine
Chihuahua. The results here were un
satisfactory as whole, although the ad
vantage of the Russell process over tn
Pstera process, as at the previous Intro
duction, was clearly shown. In realit
the first actual success was not made ur
til November, 1887. when excellent re
, suits were obtained at Las Yedras, Sins
loa, Mexico,
Up to this time, Russell expected to-
much from the increased solvent energ
, of cuprous hyposulphite solution. Nil
led by laboratory results, he depende
upon it rather than thorough chloridi,
> ing roasting. Having proved the fallac
, of this, and finally recognizing that car,
!, full preparation OF ore was lequiredlin a
instances, it was not remarkable tbs
success was met with at the Marsac mi
of the DAILY Mining company, where ii
= process was first. introduced in 1888. I
: at the Holden mill, Aspen, Colo, whis
for the past year has been buying d.
= ores in the open market, regardless
: the competition OF the lead smelters.
e II is now stated authoritatively tn
h the Ontario company is about to ado
}. the process. A mill is about to be blu
5. at Lehi, Utah. to work low grade Q
4. from Tintic, and possibly another will
,r built at Neihart. Mont.
B. One Of the greatest drawbacks OF u
p and any other lixiviation process yieldi
base precipitate, the treatment OF
sulphides, is now believed to have be
h overcome, Frederick P. Dewey. contr
N ling process invented by Cabsll VIII
h, head, having contracted to treat the p
" duct for 1t cents per ounce OF silver &C
N tanned, which 10 much less, witht
or including the frequent loss, than it