Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1903-11-19
New Cyanide Proc. ss.


NEW process of treatir :; ore Nv
cvaniding has recently been intro
duced by DR.. w. A. Hendryx Of
Spokane which promises to be OF
great value to mine owners. 1t
not only extracts the values in q
much shorter time than the old
process but does it with much
weaker solution Of the cyanide. In
an interview in the Spokesman
Review the other day DR.. Hendryx
said:
1T is . process for the extrac-
ton OF precious metals from ores
and mill tailings by means of cy.
anide of potassium in dilute SOL
ution usually one pound Of cyan
ide per ton of water) and deposit
ING the metals SO dissolved upon
metal plates by the agency of an
electric current. The essential
mechanical feature is the Hendrix
Apitstor, which consists Of u cylin-
dricsl tank having . conical bot
tom. In the center of the tank is
cylindrical we'll in which a ver-
tical shaft revolves, carrying two
or more screw propellers, and
driven by q pulley above the tank.
In the tank, outside the well, the
suode and cathode plates are
placed and supplied with current
from a small dynamo. The ore is
crushed to the proper fineness and
charged into the agitator, together
with the water and chemicals. Tie
revolution Of the propellers in the
we'll creates strong upward cur
rent there, which Immediately
starts agitation in the tank and
circulation of the whole charge up
ward through the well and down
ward through the electrically
charged plates. Thus extractions
Of the gold and silver by cyanide,
through aeration of the charge, and
deposition of the precious metals
ore going out at the same time.
"When the extraction is COM
pleted, which takes usually from
four to eight hours, a valve is
opened in the bottom of the tank
and the whole contents discharged
into settler, whence the solution
is pumped back to q storage tank
for further nse, aud the exhausted
tailings run to waste.
"The claims made for the pro-
cess are: First, that it will ex-
tract all the values that any cyan
ide process can; second, that it
will deposit the precious metals in
the form of mark etable bullion
without the intervention OF any
troublesome precipitating and re-
fning process; third, that it will
make the extraction with less
cynaide, on account of the perfect
aeration and the regenerating ac-
ton Of the electric current; fourth,
that it will do this work at much
less expenses for plant and opera
ting costs than the ordinary
methods; fifth, that it is especially
adapted to ,handle tailinss from
amalgamstipn and concentration
plants already equipped and run
ming"
A small plant is now running in
the ore testing works OF G. NJ
Fassett, 7O2 Main avenue, Spok-
and, Wash.
The cost of crushing sample of
100 pounds and testing it by the
Hendryx process is s25, which in-
cludes assays of heads and tailings
and solution every two hours dur
ing the run, also complete report
of the chemicals used, temperature
and cyanide consumed, as we'll as
percentage of extractions and
probable cost of working the ore.
In some instances single run will
demonstrate the adaptability Of
this process to an ore. In others,
two or more trials at different fine
ness Of ore or with different chem
icals or electrical conditions are
desirable, and if the ore carries
much free gold it is necessary. to
make an amalgamation test before
cyaniding. For a thorough test
sample of 300 pounds should be
sent and the-charges will run from
500 to 500, depending upon the
work required. These tests are
made under the personal super
vision OF Mr.. Fassett, and the re-
suits are reported and certified 70
nv him