The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1897-07-23
The Pelatan-Clerici Process Now in Use
at the DeLamar Mill.

by Mr.. Huntley, manager for the De
Lamar Mining Company, Limited
concerning the above process now en-
ployed here, that he has been prompt
ed to prepare for publication full de-
scription of the plant, giving full par
| ticulars of the character of the ores
being worked, results, etc. But as the
paper he is preparing will be some
what technical in character and more
for the information of metalurgists
than for lay readers, he has kindly Civ
en- us such particulars as will be of in
terest to miners and general readers:
While seeking for cheaper process
than pan amalgamation to work their
large bodies of low grade ore, the at
| tention of the directors of this Com
pany was directed to the Pelatan- Cler-
lei process in the summer of 1895. A
large number of experiments were
made at Denver on this ore, and 90
ton plant erected here in the winter of
1856. A portion of the plant-a
brick tank-was failure in its mech
anical operation. The home office of
the Pelatan- Clerici Co. was in London;
the drawing of new plans and the max
,g of entirely new machinery took
considerable time; Capt. Plummer, the
former manager here, was quite ,un-
well, and died in August, 1896; a strike
of the miners occurred, and another one
was threatened. A lotion experimental
plant was finally completed in the fall
of '96, and working tests made on lots
of to 100 tons each-469 tons in all
in October, November and December,
SO. These tests gave varying results,
but in general gave yield in bullion
of 78 to SO per cent. The above ex-
plains the cause of some of the many
ielays which occurred before the COM
pletion of the new 50-ton plant in
June '97.
The entire plant was put in opera
ton between June 9th and 10th. 1t has
run steadily since-barring minor stop
pages of the engine for repairs. July
1st cleanup was made, showing a
yield in bullion of 701 per cent.
The Screen used was 30 mesh on the
Huntington mill and "a mesh on the
10-stamps. Considering this as the
first cleanup of new vats in which some
of the precious metals solution have
doubtless been absorbed by the wooden
vat slaves, or plated onto the copper
bottoms of the vats, the result is quite
The machinery used for the 50-ton
Pelatan- -Clerici plant consists of:
10 stamps.
One #. Huntington mill and self
feeder.
fiat chain conveyor belt. because
the pulp is thick and the mill was built
so high that there was not grade en-
ough for it to run freely.
circular wooden agitator vats, 8
#. deep and S1s ft. diam.
10 circular wooden agitator precipit-
ating watts, 4 ft. deep and 8 #. in, di-
ameter.
l ordinary mill cleanup pan.
l 10-volt dynamo.
l EXETER for dynamo. eve have an
extra of each of these dynamos in
place to change upon in case of emer
yency. In hot weather, it seems fire.
Iuently necessary,
One 15 H. P. engine to run the
1ynamos.
l main horizontal shaft and pulleys
and belts.
l short vertical shaft and counter
shaft, each with spur gear for each of
The agitators and precipitating vats.
The main mill engine furnishes all
;he power-excepting that for the dyn-
amos. The total is estimated at GO to
10 H. P The rock breaker and retort
lsed are those in the main mill. The
of the agitator precipitat-
ng vat is as follows: 1t is round vat
fl. 8 in. in diameter and ft. high,
having a copper plate covering the en-
ire bottom and cement on the edge to
prevent leakage of quicksilver or pulp
lnder it. Motion is given to the pulp (
n the agitator by hanging vertical
haft driven by spur gear. The shaft ;
erminates in a frame-4 arms and
wooden pegs like any old-style agitator.
IN the low part of each arm is sheet
# wrought iron u in. thick, IA in. {
vide and 4 ft. long)-the annode plates |
from which the electric current pass
s through the liquid to the quicksilver !
'eneath. Each vat is charged with {
bout 600 pounds of quicksilver-en {
ugh to cover the bottom Z in. deep. {