The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1897-02-13
MINING METHODS.
A New Way OF Extracting Gold
from Quartz.


| mere are Two genera1 methO0G OF sep
arating gold from the rock with which
it ia associated in q vein. In both th<
ore Is crushed to a certain degree OF
fineness, greater or less, according tc
circumstances. The stuff Is then
washed with water over layer of mer.
| curry. with which the gold amalgamates
or else (perhaps after preliminary
roasting) mixed with chemical solu-
ton which dissolves the precious metal.
subsequently the gold is recovered from
the amalgam or the solution by further
treatment. In the system in which
quicksilver is employed there is ALWAYS
certain loss OF the precious metal.
Inasmuch as the rock is exceedingly
hard, usually quartz, it is subjected to
heavy hammering in the final stage
OF pulverization, and in consequence
some OF the particles of gold are fiat
tened into tiny plates or saucers, and
hoat away with the wash water. Then,
too, the mechanical separation is not
quite perfect, and a little Of the gold
still remains imbedded in the fhinute
bits of rock which go off as refuse, or
"tailings." As it is usally a rather high
grade ore which is handled in this way,
the loss is apt to be disregardeds But
there has been a 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 "tailings" and
low-grade ores.
Attention has recently been directed,
in England and Australia, to still an
other plan Of insuring the recovery of
very large percentage OF the gold
originally existing in the ore. The main
idea involved, that OF breaking up the
quartz by alternately heating. and cool
ing it, is old; but some of the details
of the process are new, and it is claimed
for the so-called "ore-atomic" system
that it is more successful than any pre-
vious attempt in the same direction.
In the preliminary crushing the rock
is brought down only to small Jumps
of convenient size, and not to actual
powder. The material is then inclosed
in a chamber from which the outside
air is carefully excluded, and the cham
Der is placed in furnace, in which,
beside the fuel, there are pieces of red
hot iron. A jet of steam is thrown upon
both the coal Tor coke) and iron, and
the result is the development of water
gas and hydrogen. These gases have
access to the chamber, and prevent the
oxidation of the metal. Indeed, if there
be any oxide in the ore it is reduced"
by the hydrogen. Any sulphur which
may be present is also eliminated, pass
ing off in the form of suphuretted hy-
;lrogen. After the ore has remained
in the heated chamber for a time, whose
length varies according to the compo-
sition of the rock, it is suddenly
'quenched" by the injection of cold
water. Inasmuch as the fragments to
which this first chill breaks up the
quartz are not as small as could be
desired, the water is drained of and
the series of operations is repeated sew
eral times. Finally the contents Of the
chamber are dumped into tank. When
The ore is cool enough to be taken be-
tween the fingers, it crumbles into pow |
Ter easily. No heavy stamps are re-
.uired to pulverize the substance now. /
It is alleged that there is absolutely no |
oss in the form of float gold" and no |
oxidation, and therefore that all the |
precious metal originally in the ore
nay be recovered.
In some experiments recently made
With the ore-atomic system in London,
;amp..s of Cripple Creek and West Aus
ralian ores were treated. An English
weekly publication, Invention, declares
hat disinterested experts were pres
mt and assisted in the tests. 1t adds:
In every respect the results were most
and unquestionably DEM
,nstrated the correctness of the prin-
iple involved" It is announced that
he West Australian Gold Distric) cor
,oration has bought the right to use
he ore-atomic system.-N. Y. Tribune.