Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-01-18
GOLD EATING WATER
SPARKLING LIQUID CHARGED WITH
CYANIDE OF POTASSIUM.

Millions In the Yellow Metal Recovered
by Percolation-A Simple but Interest
ing Process, With Results Which Are
Nothing Less Than Marvellous.
1t is not generally known, even in
California, that millions of dollars in
glittering gold are annually taken from
rude heaps Of base looking quartz by
the gentle flowing of crystal water over
huge piles of broken rocks that contain
the precious metal, but such is the fact.
1.-THE process of robbing the earth of
its gold has now been reduced to such a
fine point" said Professor Price, that
the gentle flowing of water over the ore
CLEANS it of its golden treasures, and
this works we'll in cases where the old
chloride and other methods are not so
useful"
But the water of which Professor
Price spoke is not so pure as it looks,
though the eye could never distinguish
it from that which is dipped by the old
oaken bucket from we'll in the deep
tangled wildwood. The water used by
miners in bringing gold from piles Of
mineral bearing quartz is charged with
simple chemical which has the potency
to dissolve gold and hold it in solution
In truth, the sparkling liquid which
flows over hundreds of tons of quartz,
trickles through the mines and seeks its
level, laden with gold, is charged with
a deadly poison, cyanide Of potassium,
a drug which ferrets ont the minutest
particles of the yellow metal, dissolves
them and brings the precious burden to
the watts for conversion into refined gold
again.
The cyanide process is as noiseless and
unerring as the laws of gravitation, do
ing its work as quietly as "the majestic
dance of the hours" unhindered by
darkness or weather, by disasters of field
or flood
The state mining bureau of California
was one of the first in the United States
to investigate the merits Of the cyanide
process, and since the earliest investiga-
lions the method has found extensive
application. 1t is SO interesting that its
results are nothing less than marvellous.
This method of extracting both gold and
silver from ores is based on the fact that
even very weak solution Of cyanide Of
potassium dissolves gold and silver,
forming respectively "auro potassic
cyanide and "argento-potassic cyan
ide, i'll the language of the chemists.
This interesting process consists Of
treating the ores with weak solution
of potassium cyanide, usually by allow
ing the solution to percolate through the
ore, Or by agitating a mixture of the
ore and solution. When this part of the
operation is completed, the solution is
separated from the solid material, and
the gold and silver are precipitated i'll a
metallic form. The process is modern
in its application, though it has long
been known that cyanide of potassium
would "eat gold" During the last five
years, however, the process has been
introduced into almost every goldfield
i'll California and elsewhere, and more
than $40, 100000 have been recovered
by the gentle flowing of waters charged
with the magical chemical over heaps Of
ore. Aside from the thoroughness of the
permeating water method, its economy
is marked feature in mining. 1t is in
great favor with the gold mining COM
panies of New Zealand and at Johannes
burg, Africa, as we'll as in California.
One of the most advantageous features
of the cyanide method is that it can be
applied to many gold and silver ores gen.
orally called "rebellious'' or "refrao-
tory" The rebellious ore is placed in a
vat for percOlation, and the solution is
run preferably from the bottom by a
pipe, rising slowly through the ore. The
solution containing gold is carried
through precipitating appliances into
the final reservoir, where, robbed of its
wealth Of metal, it may be repumped
into ore watts and again used for search
ing out the coveted metal
One of the curious things about the
solution is that a total percentage not
stronger than an eighth Of per cent
will carry away the gold almost as we'll
as fluid Of greater strength.
Precipitation is effected by the use Of
fine pieces of zinc, so arranged that
when the rich waters flow over them the
fine gold clusters i'll rich deposits over
the zinc, for which it has an affinity
The gold which thus deserts the waters
of cyanide deposits itself in the form Of
fine dust on the plates of zinc The per-
centage of gold extracted by this process
is very large. A large parcel of fine
sulphurets from the Utica mines yielded
an average of 93. IS per cent of the gold
value under the cyanide treatment, and
similar results have been experienced
elsewhere i'll the state. The cyanide
plants are being extended, and the
noiseless process is everywhere becoming
pOnular SIM EranciScO Chronicle