The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-19
MINING METHODS.
4 New Way OF Extracting Gold
from Quartz.
Chemical Processes ~ which EvsRY
Particle Of the Precioas Metal
Il Saved - Recent Experi-
meats.

There are two general nethodk of sep
kratiag gold from the rock with which
1t Is associated In a vein. In both the
ore is crushed 70 certain desree Of
fneness, greater or less, according to
circumstances. The stuff u then
washed with water over layer OF mer>
curry, with which the gold amalgamates,
or else perhaps after . preliminary
roasting) mixed with q chemical ssolu-
ton which dissolves the precious metal!
Subsequently, the gold is recovered from
the anialgam Or the solution by further
Treatment In the system In which
quicksilver Is employed there Is always
certain loss OF the precious metal,
1nasmuch g. the rock Is exceedingly
hard, usually quartz, it is subjected Ia
heavy hammering in the final stage
OF pulverization, and in consequence
some of the particles OF gold are fat
tened into tiny plates or saucers. and
float away with the wash water. Then,
too. the mechanical separation Is not
quite perfect, and q little OF the gold
still remains irnbedded IN the minute
bits Of rock which 60 on as refuse, on
tailings-" As It is usally rather high
grade ore which Is handled in this wav,
the loss is apt to be diNegarded. But
there has beep great tendency to.
wards more economical methods Of
late years, and some Of the chemical
processes now In vogue are well adapted
TO the treatment both Of ''tailines" and
low-grade ores
Attention has recently been directed
IN England and Australia, TO sriri ana
other piao of insurang the recovery Of
very large percentage of the gold
originally existing IN the ore. The main
idea Involved, that of breaking up the
quast'by alternately heating and coolI
ing it, is old: but some OF the details
or the process are new. and it is claimed
for the so-called -ore- atomic" system
that It is moro successful than spy pre-
vious attempt in tie same direction.
in tho preliminary crushing the pocN
is brought down only TO smakl luanps
OF Convenient size, and pot to actual
powder. The material 10 then inclosed
in a chamber from which the outside
air Is carefully excfp3ed, and the chime
Der Is placed in furnace. tn which,
beside the fuel there are pieces Of redl
hot iron A jet of stesm Is thrown upon
both the coal (er coise) and Iron, and
the result is the Development OF watei
gas and hydrogen These gaees have
access TO the chamber, and prevent the
oxidation 6f The metal kn6eeA IL there
he any oxide in the ore II il "reduceds
by the hydrogen. Any sulphur which
may be present h also ehminAfed. pass
ing on in the form Of sn1phufeesed by,
drogen. After the orc las remained
in the heated chamber for ultima. whose
length varies according to the eornpo'
sition of tho rock. IL IL suddenly
'quenched" by ehe Injection OF cold
water. Inasnuch as the fragments "a
which this first chill breaks 10 ths
quartz are not as sBan an could be
the water Is drained OF and
the series OF operations is repeated sev.
eral times Finally the contents Of tha
chamber are dumped INTO tank. When
tho ore II cool enough 10 be taken be-
tween the fingers, it crunSbles into powa
der easily. No heavy stamps are re-
quirea to pulvertze tks Enbstssce now
II is alleged THAI there y shsaluskiy nd
loss In tho form of ''fiost gold" and nd
exidatioh, and therefors 1s4 sn the
precious metal originally an thu ore
may be recovered.
In some experiment. recently mans
with the ore-sfomic system n bondont
samples Of Cripple Creek and Wc<f Aus
traiian ores were treated. An Eagikh
weekly publication. Inv~ufion. dxhrsa
that disutcrcsted experts were pres
.nt sna assisted IN tbe tesla Il sddss
In svery respect the resuits were NEST
Ard Uarstsosnsiy dsnS
pust1atsd the correctnezs OF the rrin4
iple involved" L. So gnDot,nced that
tie WestAustrslian (GoA4 Dxtr1rf) carl
Doration has bought the light 10 nd
Tho ore-atonio syBtem~-S. Y Tnbuaa