Arizona republican., 1902-02-04
TREATING COPPER ORES
New Process for Use on Low Grade
Properties.

From present indications, and we are
firmly convinced that an investigation
% the matter viii bear US out in the
statement. the copper mines of the
CANYON mining district viii shortly
come to the front as paying properties.
says the Williams News.
Owing to the cost of mining, assort-
ing the ore and transportation to
smelters at a distance. only the best
grades could be shipped in the past,
and these not in quantities large
enough to pay greatly.
The country is well mineralized and
great deposits of low grade ore are in
evidence eveuyN here-which. il it could
only be worked on the ground. would
net a handsome profit on the invest
meut Among the companies which
would BE- greatly benefited by Il process
of local treatment are the Anita Con-
soIitiated the Val Verde. Arizona Cen
traI. Lucky group and others having at
present many thousand tons of ore on
the dump and in sight which runs from
three to seven per cent in copper, 4
few ounces III silver and some dollars
in gold.
The problem of treating the low
grade ores around Anita has, we be-
Iieve. been solved by Mr.. w. L. George.
who has for the past six months been
working on n process which he has now
perfected.
The following is related by Mr.
George regarding the discovery of his
process:
While experimenting with piece of
carbonate of copper ore he found that
by heating it 10 certain degree in
the open atmosphere and allowing it TO
cool slowly the ore had parted with the
carbonic acid gas and had taken to it
self oxygegx forming an oxide of cop
r1er--1hisssf to ,4he idea of --r-I,-i--ftt1f-1r
heat TO the ores in general, which con-
sist largely of carbonate of lime. car
Donate OF copper, iron and silica. when
the following conditions took place:
An oxide of calcium Qime), oxide Of
copper and the iron and silica had
united. forming an insoluble silicate of
iron. Gnsoluble in acids that are used
in d5ssoiving the more noble metals in
the presence of a compound OF this
kind. This. then. gave rise to the
question as to what element or conbi-
nation CT elements could be added to
the heated ores that would cause the
copper 10 remain in a metallic state
after the carbonic acid had been dis
lodged from the copper and at the same
time thoroughly ccidize the carbona te
OF lime. 1t was soon found that by
adding water To the heated ores it
brought about the desired results. The
water dissolVes all of the lime and so
suddenly arrests the heat Of the ores
that the metals, such as gold silver,
copper. lead. platinum. tin and zinc.
remain in Il metallic state in small
grains or gIcbules throughout the COM
pound of siiicate OF iron. The sflicate
OF iron is then crushed to u required
fneness and the metals retained by
concentration. while the lighter par
ticles or tailings are placed in watts or
tanks ready fer lixivation
Heretofore. in copper dissolved in the
presence of any of the aikaIies or aka
line earth. the acids used had a greater
affinity for the alkales than the copper
and allowed only the highly silicious
ores 10 be treated by Iixivation BY the
George process one ore is as easily
treated as another. The heat liberates
all of the fixed gases. together with
the sulphur and ali Of the volatile ele-
ments, such as arsenic ard antimony.
and the alkalies and alkaline earths.
such as barium. strontian, calcium and
magnesium and their compounds are
50 Gecomposed that they Will dissolve
in water and are washed away. leav-
ing residue of the metals and silicate
of iron.
George has applied Ter patent on
his process and is now engaged in
modelling a furnace peculiar to the
process. which same is to be protected
by patent. ut present he can produce
bullion within one hour from the time
heat is applied.
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