The Philipsburg mail., 1897-11-12
CHEAP CYANIDE PROCESS.
Hints to Those Opening in Inaccess.
ible Localities.

| ~~AH'' w ~-No'o Di'NiiiiS LII 1EhOSOSo'
ible Localities.
A writer in the New Zealand Mining
Standard gives some hints to those
who wish to carry the cyanide process
into inaccessible localities. or who have
an accumulation of tailings that Will
not jutify the erection of an expenive
plant:
The lots of tailngs to be leached
were from an arastra, and
extremely Shiny, fully two-t thirds be-
ing clean shines. AS any heavy pres
sure would pack such material the
two feet in depth and twelve feet
square. The first solution was added
slowly from the bottom, and, care
having been used in putting the mate
rial lightly into the vat without tamp
ing, but little tendency to settle was
found as long us the surface of the
solution or wash water did not fall be-
low the level of the top of the tailings
in the vat.
The small amount of mateial in sight
to be handled would not Justify the
puchase of expensive tanks, especially
since an exceptionally large amount of
teaching surface was required owing
both to the shallowness of the teaching
and its exteme slowness in this Shiny
material. A cheaper method of build
ing watts had therefore to be found, and
after a few experiments the following
was adopted: A row Of seven boxes,
two feet deep and twelve feet square,
braced from the outside every four feet.
was built, surfaced with lumber, 10
inch stuff being used throughout, but
no extra precaution being taken in the
construction beyond thorough mailing
Over the cracks strips of canvas three
inches wide were laid on top of a
streak of hot (but not boiled) asphalt.
A sheet of canvas of medium weight,
sixteen feet square, sewed with double
seams, was then laid down in the vat
and folded up in the corners. the side
next the board being covered with
good layer of hot asphalt just as it was
laid, causing it to stick fast to the
wood throughout. The upper edges
were tackled to the vat-no other
tacks being put through the canvas.
The inside of the canvas lining was
then thoroughly asphalted, with spe-
cial care about the corners The vat
floor inclined ~ inches in twelve feet
both east and north. In the northeast
corner, one foot from the sides, the
floor had been cut three fourths of an
inch deep in a sauaer shaped depres-
sion, and a hole for 14-inch pipe
bored. This was put in through
hole in the canvas and bolted tight in
hot asphalt with 3.inch washers on
the canvas and on the plank below
Filters were of double burlap on l.
inch square strips, 1 inch apart, laid
diagonally on the canvas bottom, to
within six inches of the sides-these
held in place by canvas strips tackled
across. Four strips 1x4x11 feet 6
inches, cut at 40 degree angle on COR
nes, were laid around the bottom of the
vat, small roll of burlap being
tackled to the thin under side, which
stuck to the warm asphalt To these
strips was fastened the burlap filter.
The outlet pipe was bent at right
angles inches below the vat. A
short piece of hose was wired on it,
and into the end OF the hose was
pushed wooden spigot, which drain
ed directly into 2x4inch launder
running alongside the watts to the zinc
mouse. InlS laundef was uned WIN
a strip Of aspha]ted canvas and covered
tightly except at the spigots. The
same method of preventing leakage by
means of asphalt and canvas was used
in the construction of the zinc boxes
and solution tank, the latter being
built on the same general principle as
the vat.
The pumping from sump tank to old
solution tank was done by small sized |
Pelton motor, so set that the waste
water from it could be used in leach
ing. Solutions were carried to the watts
from the tank by means of rubber
hose.
With proper care, however. in the
use of we'll seasoned lumber and good |
grade Of asphalt, these vats lasted very
we'll. A leak is easily mended by a
new coat of asphalt and this should be
applied every four or six weeks as
precautionary measure. The tanks
and watts have given excellent service
and. are now being uscd to leach till
ings from 5-stamp mill since built
on the ground.