Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-07-18
An Arsenic Mine.

est mine in the country, says writer
in the London Graphic.
The lode then gave out and the mine
would have been abandoned as worth
less had it not been accidentally dis
covered that it was exceedingly rich
in arsenic. Copper is still produced
in the mines, but in comparatively
small amounts, and is despatched to
South Wales, there to be smelt.
The material brought up from un-
derground is crushed in machine
called the stonebreaker that resembles
a huge pair of jaws, which literally
chews up the stone until 1t has reduced
its proportions sufficiently to pass into
another machine, the crusher, wherein
it is pounded into pieces about the size
of walnut. The material isnow con-
veyed in barrows to the dressing floors,
and each barrow load is turned out
and washed in a running stream that
carries off the small PARTICLES. The
nuts are then thrown up with fork
upon a table, behind which recllne on
sloping board the mine girls who
assort them.
As soon as the arsenical pyrites is
completely separated from the com
mon ore and from the earthly matter,
then tits conveyed to the first calciner'
where it is burned with low class coal,
and produces arsenic SCOT, that Is to
saw arsenic so mixed with smoke SCOT
from the coal as to be of a gray color
The arsenic and SCOT are deposited
combined in the chimney or condenser
This is scraped out and taken to the
second calciners to be purified.
The method consists of rotary iron
like milestone, convex in the middle
under a surface studded with iron
fukes in three ranges, five in each
The arsenic to be refined is admitte-
from above. a fire is kept up IN
furnace at one side, and the flames are
swept in between the rotating mill
stone and its fuke studded cover. Al
are brought to a glowing red heat
The arsenic on falling in blazes al
stars, and, dropping on the burning
milestone is turned over by the tiuke
and gradually slips away over the fiery
bed to the edge, when, reaching tha
there is naught but earthly matter lett
the vapor zed arsenic being carried
off in the hue
The calciniug of arsenic IS let on
70 the workmen. Three men IN iou
weeks will make 100 tons of arsenic
if they make more they receive eXtr'
premium; if they burn the arsenl
badly, so that it is wasted, they ar
fined. and the fine has been known t
amount to thirty shillngs. Som
years ago arsenic SCOT fetched iron
half a crown to fifteen shillings a ton
lit is now worth from Ct to 81 To-
| The arsenic is refined till it is, to us
the local term, "as white as a hound
tooth"
It is deposited in the condenser'
| These are neither more nor less than
mile Of chimney carried on an inclin
up the hill, with doors of iron IN tn
side. As the hot blast passes up tn
chimney it deposits a crust OF arsenl
CRYSTALS on the brickwork all aroun
to the depth of from two TO three N
ches, and ut deposits minute dust {
CRYSTALS on the floor. Before the smok
passes into the upright chimney, tn
height Of which is l25 feet, it has
traverse a rain Of water which catch'
what remains of the arsenic, afte
which what passes forth is nothing br
sulphurous acid.
The crystals Of arsenic are scrape
out of the fue or condenser while ST.
warm and are ground in mill
flower Of arsenic, after which 1t
; packed in small barrels containing
little over three hundredweight.
The men who work the arseni
either raking up the arsenic SCOT
] scraping ont the condensers or grin'
ing it in the mill, are obliged to We
mufflers over their mouths and nos
J to prevent inhaling the particles. II
arsenic workers are obliged to wa
themselves thoroughly every day
returning from the works, as the a
senic is liable to produce sores whe
ever it lodges in wrinkles and folds
the flesh, especially about the mou
and nostrils, the wrists and ankles al
under the arms; in fact, wherever Pc
I spiration lodges. As rule it on
does this when the worker is carele
about his personal cleanliness. Othe
wise the work is healthy.
It According to Liverpool comic P