Crittenden record=press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1907-1909, 1909-04-15
Western Section Of Kentucky and Eastern III.
nOis One Of the Richest FIuor Spar Pro-
duCmg Areas in the WOrId.--COn.
siderable Money Has Been
Made Onf|uofSpaF.

II is a well known fact that the
western section Of Kentucky and east
ern Illinois is one Of the richest fuor-
spar producing areas in the world, and
considerable money has here been made
in working the pure spar vein, but in
asmuch as most of these spar veins also
contain zinc and lead, which up TO the
present time, has not been amenable
to separation: there is a fortune in an
economic method which will produce
the pure spar from this class of ma
terial
Although considerable work has been
done towards cleaning up fluorspar
from zinc. lead, sulphur, etc, through
various methods, such as oil fotation
water concentration. and air separa-
ton, nothing definite has been accom-
plished, and the problem is therefore,
as far as these methods are concerned,
still unsolved.
Some few years ago II was supposed
that oil fotation would affectuaily solve
the problem. Clean lead was separa-
ted. but the main problem, that of
eliminating zinc from the spar. is still
unsolved, on account of the slight diff
ference in gravity between the zinc
and the spar. which is delicate opera
ton. and one almost impossible to &C.
complish. and makes it financially i'm
possible. At about this time it was
suggested that the problem might pos
sibly be solved through chemical
means. and therefore certain ore re-
duction schemes we're proposed. The
most feasible and best adaptable meth
cd to accomplish the desired end, was
found to be the application of bydroch-
loric acid in the presence of an oxidiz-
ing agent. By this means the zinc,
lead, etc, are converted into chlorides,
and as such can then be readily re-
moved by washing and dissolving out
with water, leaving the spar in its
natural ground condition, ready to be
of as ground spar Of A num-
Der quality, and also producing zinc
and lead chlorides.
The process as carried out in practice
is as follows:
The fluorspar which should be free
from calcspar, (viz: carponate of lime)
but may contain variable percentages
Of zinc and lead sulphides. is crushed
and ground to about forty mesh. This
crushed material is then treated in a
suitable furnace and at proper tenn
perature, said temperature not to ex-
coed $50 deg. Cent. to the action Of
gaseous hydrochloric acid, in the pres
ence of an oxidizing agent. This oxi-
dizing agent may be oxygen from the
air, the decomposition products result /
ing through the addition of nitric acid |
or nitrates to the charge, or chlorine
gas, which the inventor prefers. The
chlorine gas which is used in this oper-
alton is produced primarily through |
the electrolisis of a salt or brine sou-
ton. This operation produces caustic
soda and chlorine gas. The caustic
soda selling at price of "a cents per
pound. (60o will cover the major cost |
IF the production of the necessary
chlorine gas.
Now in treating the impure spar
with hydrochloric acid and the above
produced chlorine gas as previously de-
'cribed. the impurities such as lead,
zinc and sulphur are eliminated. Sup
posing we have spar containing ) per
,ent of lead 10 per cent zinc. then we
should have per ton 100 pounds of lead,
100 pounds of zinc, few pounds of
sulphur, which is eliminated and the
est Gf the ore be pure) approximate
y 1850 pounds Of spar. At the pres
mt market price. say cents for lead.
cents for zinc, we would have 100
l. - l~~l .,~l..~ A M non l. \