The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-12-04
|CYAN|DE PROCESS
4 WINS THE DAY
Respective Merits of Cyanide
and COLONIZATION Pro-
cesseS Determined.
BUT THERE IS A CHANCE
Electrolytic Chlorine May Yet
Restore Prestige of System
Now Little Used.
BUT THERE IS A CHANCE

I Less than decade ago the respective
herits OF the chlorination and cyanide
brooessrs OF treating gold bearing ore
nrrned the basis of many a heated con-
iroversy which aligned leading metal
nrgists In two opposing factions, Each
jrocess had its champions, but neither
peld undisputed sway in practice or re-
,eived the unqualified approval OF a ma
ority CT the profession, Today cyanida-
Ion appears 10 have the field 10 itself,
bnly one prominent chlorination plant
'emainine in this country, viz, that of
he United States Reduction & Refining
ompany in Colorado.
WITH apparently such a sweeping VIC
pry for cyanidation 1t might be sur
nised that the disparity between the
no processes is greater than il really
h An excellent opportunity has been
Ifforded In Colorado for a close COM
Rrlson OF the two processes as applied
Cripple Creek ores. This comparl-
cn Is tho more complete because both
hiorlne made by electrolysis and chic
ud sulphurc acid have been used for
BARS in two competing custom plants.
Is significant fact that the one using
iectrolytic chlorine continues 10 treat
re by chlorination. while the last TO use
1eRching powder and acid has aban
pned the method in favor OF cyan!da-
on
In The matter OF initial cost of In
'tallation of plant the chlorination pro-
eBs is more expensive than cyanida-
ipn. due largely TO the lead-llned solu-
ton tanks. etc. required in the former
focess, If electrolytic chlorine is used,
nptler item also IS added TO plant cost.
stain. the chorination process is re-
Ticted in its application TO non-arEen
terous gold ores and 10 those contain
~ little or no lime. In the latter re-
pect chlorinatlon has been losing ground
L Colorado, as lime has been an in
.fes. requiring the addition Of as much
, forty pounds of sulphuric acid per
10 OF ore treated.
The cost for chemicals in the two pro-
tsses will be about the same per ton
ore treated, provided sufficiently cheap
.ectrolytiC chlorine is available for
'uorinaion II chlorine can be mads
cost of 4 cents per pound for salt
I'd power, the latter costing about
ut per kw-hour. It Is likely that chlo-
pation can compete with cyanidation
Il cost of treating a favorable ore. I'm
,r the conditions given the cost Of
lporlne would range from Is TO 80 cents
4r ton on sulpho- telluride ores such as
-e now being mined in the Cripple Creek
Ftrlct.
Tn refining costs chlorination has an
Vantage over cyauidation. az II also
fs in the possibility OF making monthly
,rohhfNs 'l'itps HHblbIi- VIC hSiNcS!lS
4 carrying r. large amount Of gold iri
Hutton 10 be estimated in the monthly
ventery. This IS considered quite an
iportant point in favor of chlorination
II custom plant.
obviously the chlornation process has
Ut ground for good economical reasons.
at II is A fact that in none Of the
lorination plants OF the past or pres"
the latest advances I'm elecrolyJic
Z Tforme processes (which have been
m!ficant IN more than one way have
zen employed, simply because they were
a yet available when those plants were
HIT With electrolytic chlorine now
instantly looking for new outlets. il is
4 Impossible that The pendulum may
. ofIng back and chlorinatlon may get
aWther and better chance in the metal
aBy OF certain particularly suitable
leerInf