Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-04-14

ore and metals, how much base and
what kind. To get at this CORE ctly, q
few test, are necessary; but it is easily
worked out. And here, it is proper
to state that time is more the factor OF
per cent. than high per cent. OF cya-
hide. We have made many tests on
this point, and oil clearly establish this
fact, have failed in per cent. of
extraction on some ore, and then. by
few experiments, gained high per
cents. from same. It is process OF
study, but once you get time aud per
cent. determined, then there is no fail.
ure in your extraction from that espe>
cial ore, no matter to what extent you
may go. So true has this been with
our working, on small and large scale,
that taking any ore, from any mine, ]
would not hesitate to build so ton
mill on simple test of so pounds, If
the per cent. of extraction was satis>
factory.
There are two modes of having
action from the cyanide on the ore;
one is BY agitation. and the other is
by time and percoIation. Revolving
barrels, or settlers, as used at times in
silver mills, make good agitators. The
percolating plan is the use of large
tanks, whereby the ore rests in the
solution and in time is percolated of
into reservoirs. Agitators take at.
tention and power; percolation, less
attention and no power; besides.
agitated material must be discharged
into filtering tanks and allowed time
to draw off. At Calumet, We first
used agitators As per instructions but
after trying percolating, gave it the
preference, and are now pushing for
enlarged capacity on this plan. This
mode of working is being generally
adopted in South Africa, presumably
by Mr.. MacArthur's instructions.
From my S. A. correspondent, learn
they are now constructing oil mills for
this way Of operating the process.
The new mill of the Shasta company
is also changing to the rercolating
plan. Tho Merour mill Of Utah was
the first, in this country. to start on
the peroolating plan, on scale Of 80
tons per day. All percolstei solution,
whether from agitators or tanks, con-
tsins Cyanide, gold and silver in solu>
ton; consequently, all vessels reoeiv-
ing tho same should be perfectly
} tight, as you presumably are handling
, valuable liquid. This percolated So
, luton is now transferred to the pre-
, cipitating box, Of size according to
value of ore and quantity &c be treated
The box used at Calumet is IA feet
long, with IA apartments. These
i, boxes have wire screens on the bottom,
; and are filed with zinc shavings four
inches deep. Tie boxes are SO con.
structed, that the solution is made to
' pass through the body Of shavings
which precipitates the gold and silver
j. in dark blackish powder. BY thi.
part OF the process, a given part oil
; the zinc is destroys but this is Of
no particular moment, as the loss il
}, but trifling in dollars and cents.
The process is very simple and
8 easily worked. when you have you'
: plant right, and start right on the pei
cent of cyanide and time for YOU
3 especial ore. As to reducing ore, il
is as yet an unse tiled question whether
d it is best to crush wet or dry, al
IS points being considered. The ma
:. jori,y of the mills are crushing ,heil
ore dry. The Calumet Co. has started
. out on q new lay, which l think vii
= be tho winning one; to>wit, crushing
Is by stamps, and running the cyanid.
Is solution through the battery instea &C
"a of water. In other words, crush you
quartz in the solution; thus you com
: bino agitation, percolation and ex
- petition.
b This, though a new deal, suits US
Y and thus far no disadvantages presen
themselves, that override the ad
vantages gained. OF course you hav
!, to keep pumping your solution back
d and running round. For dry redsc
,e ton, the Shasta Co. IS mill uses pulve,
i. izing barrels. The advantage game
- by the use of barrels is, all the ore
of equal grain, AMI, as you do no
~ require fine crushing for this process
1t by uniform grain OF ore you do taste
,g percolating. Time, however, is tn
m essence of per cent more than FIN
- crushing. As to cost of working II
" process, there is a good deal to kno
g before this question can be correc.l
IL answered; to give some idea, will sa
e. from 81 to IS per ton. You can e,
.. tract the gold and high per cent
ng silver from any ore The question
It's as to time, and at what per cent
1t cyanide.
he AS to silver extraction, at first
,ss paid no attention to it, but have -four
i'll, the process very efficient, except r
il curing more time than gold; vet s.