The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-03
ASEATTLE INVENTION
May RevolutiOnize Treatment
of Concentrating Ores.
BY THE USE OF ELECTRICITY.
Discovered simultaneously With the
Ipswich Process. 1t Has Many
Points Of Superiority.

process OF treating concentrating ores,
now in operation at Ipswich, England.
brings to light the fact that a similar
process has been invented by Alfred VIII
Jams and ". r. Phillips, OF this city. and
the patent has been allowed by the United
States patent Office. This process en-
bodies every feature of the British inven-
ton, and has in addition the advantage OF
centrifugal force. The English process
works follows: The pulvarized GRE.
with a small quantity OF common salt, is
fed into a vertical cylinder, the bottom
of which Is covered with mercury. In
the center Of the cylinder is a carbon
shaft, which revolves and stirs up the
pulp. A current of electricy passes from
the carbon shaft through the liquid ard
pulp TO the mercury. The action OF the
current in conjunction with the solution
OF chloride OF sodium Common salD en-
ables the metal to smalgamate. by virtue
OF the chemical action on the salts. From
this cylinder the ore passes through other
devices. which save what the first process
loses
The history OF the Seattle process is as
follows: Several years ago the first lab
oratory experiments were made by one
OF the inventots. and several electrical
reactions between metals and electrolytes
gave announcement 10 further research.
About eighteen months ago the inventors
made the first actual experiments with a
small machine. a couple OF two-yolt bat
teries being used to supply the current.
The results from this machine were more
than satisfactory. and since then a good
deal of money and time has been spent
In perfecting the process. The present
machine consists OF a vertical steel cylin-
der fifteen inches in diameter. This cylin-
der revolyes on a shaft, through which
the wires from a small dynamo are car
ried. The electr 'deS are insulated from
the machine. when the machine is sta
tlonary. the mercury lies in the bottom.
but as the power IS applied and the ma
chine revolves the mercury climbs un
the sides OF the cylinder to the top and
connects with the negative wires. Thus
the mercury itself becomes the negative
electrode. The sand or pulp is fed In, as
desired with small amount Of chic
ride of sodium. AMI takes Its place on
the surface OF the mercury, according TO
the well-known law OF centrifugal fierce.
A stlrrer which plows through the sand
at right angles to the rotating contents,
constantly stirs and changes the position
OF the sand: and, as the centrifugal force
acts on the contents according 10 their
mass. the heaviest particles are forced TO
the wall OF mercury. The gold and silver.
whether native metal or chemically COM
hined with sulphur or other salts found
in the refractory ores, are naturally or a
greater specidc gravity than the pup u
=
the mercury wall and held there. The ma
tive metal, IL heavy enough. at once ANAL
eapoa+as (Anv machine or stamp mill can
save this kind OF metaD. The lighter par
tirIes ordinarily win not amalgamate, ow-
ing TO their inability 10 overcome the ten
sion OF the mercury. However me eiec.
trio current following the line OF
Teas, resistance passes through
these light particles or -four gold.
ara thew disappear into the mercury as
ouicklv as a lightning fash. But at this
stage the marvellous beauty OF the effect
comes In AS stated above the coneen-
rates usually metal combined with sui
pl1nr etc. are held centrifugally at the
wall OF mercury. II these concentrates
we're against or even IN the mercury for
n wear they could not amaigamate
thence the DISADVANTAGE OF the present
urocessesl. but the current disinfegrafes
thear cons rsictlon and liberates the sui
phur from the sulphideS, and any other
element from its combination. and leaves
the metal free and bright, although IN
a very minute state OF subdivision. The
moment the metal Is free the current
amalgamates 1t
II Is a noteworthy coincidence that two
proc ssses so similar in their working
should have been evolved ct the same
time and at a distance o. 1900 miles apart
The Seattle inventors had no idea that
this line until the past month, when tech
rfoal napers generally have been print
ing results from experiments made by
thls simple Yet complex electro-chemical
uroce<z However. the patent has been
GRANTED. and the Seattle process is safe.
THE inventors show some beautiful ex.
-,arsrsents In explaining their process
Taking a piece OF copper oxide ore
which hitherto neceSsRated smelling for
she recovery ot the metal. in less than
% seconds action OF .be current with
their process they reduced the piece OF
ore. and ths free metal was visible plain
". the oxygen having all disappeared
from the oxide Gold leaf Il grain OF
which makes two square fee) Is passed
through a mass OF mercury. but the Leaf
appears agssn az the surface untArnished
and ssnanaigarnated. showing the diff
ncaitty OF saving this fine gold. but the
moment tire current IS passed through the
electroiyte the gold disappears .nto the
mercury.
The inventors claim that their process
Is much more perfect than the English
pr0c@ss. as iu the lAtter's mode OF work
ing, the gold and silver aSe released from
-hssir combinations vita salts at nny
fscint in xss cylinder and have 10 over
come IRE mechanical difficulties OF find-
ing ths4r way by mere gravItataon 20 the
mercury. Ia the Seattle machine the con-
centrases. being Of a greater specific grav-
fsy. are separated centrsfugaily and
thrown 70 the mercury. AZ that point
tsae current releases the sulphur. etr.,
and the newly freed gold. being In q
Tzazcent condition. S. easily &uaalganateti.
much more SO than * II had been freed
I, a. d aistsn. paint and then worked its