The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1911-02-25
Lawson Has New Process.

ing ore with chemleal amaigamation
process under pressure and heat, He
il going to install plant at one OF the
mining camps in either Colorado or
Nevada for the purpose of demon
strating the efficiency of his method
and this camp was commended to him
as being one that would meet his re-
Dqprements He did not come here
asking the people to put up bonus.
subscribe for stock or contribute dol
lar towards his enterprize as he and his
associates intend to put up the mon
ey for building and machinery to cost
about SI2 900. They have a plant in
Chicago in which tAey have treated
ores from various camps extending
from Mexico to British Columbia and
some of the most difficult and refractory
ores in these different sections and the
saving has been very large. He very
successfully treated some ore that was
shipped to him from property in the
Newhouse tunnel. All the company
wants is that it be assuredof tonnage
that will keep the mill running to the
full capacity of 25 tons per day for
period of thirty days in order that the
most exacting tests can be made of the
different low grades Of ores. Mr.
Lawson is satisfied that he can handle
the ores of all descriptions that are
found here at reasonable cost of
treatment and get high recovery.
He will investigate other sessions,
perhaps, although he seems pleased
with the conditions here for making
commercial success of his method.
He met with number of our
people and explained the working of
his machinery and SO his methods of
treating ores under heat, pressure and
chemical amalgam. He has that conf
dence in it that he is willing to risk his
time and money in constructing
plant and it is hoped he will conclude
to select this camp for operations
where there is such an immense ton
mage Of the low gr ades of ore that can
not now be successfully treated. 1t
would be inconsiderate for our people.
to miss this opportunity of securing
this mill for demons tratng whether
this method will prove successful or not
when so little is asked in order to get
it here.
The process has been developed prin-
cipa ly by David McKelvey Of Chicago,
who as early as 1872 began his expert
ence in Colorado in mining and gold re-
covery 1t covers the following prin-
ciples.
First, Mechanical release of the lie
talic values by fine grinding.
Second, Cleansing of the gold and
metallic silver by chemical treatment
in final step of grinding.
Third, Forced contact of all pulp
with heated chemically charged mer-
curry bath.
The first step consists in stone crush
erredu ction of ore followed by fur her
grinding in a ball mill to from 16 to 20
mesh tlneness. The final reduction is
through tube mill during which the
pulp is che mically treated by amalgam
in inexpens We quantities being ground
with it. All of the foregoing is dry
The second step is the introduction
ofthe pulp into the receiving column
of the amalgamator. Upon entering
this column the pulp is encountered and
y fabricated by chemically charged hot
water which converts the dry amalgam
ground with the pulp in the tube
mill in.o a liquid amalgam of great
matchmaking ability Half way
down this column tearing or mix
ing streams of this chemically
charged water, under nozzle pressure,
thoroughly mix and intermingle the
LIQUID amalgam I'M with all the pulp. The
outlet of tie receiving column is sub
merged from one-half to three-quarters
of an inch in the mercury bath at the
bottom of the column. In fifty ton
machine this oath consists of rs pounds
of hot chemically charged mercury. A
100 ton mill carries 1926 pounds in the
bath. The heating of the mercury by
a steam Jacket serves to quicken the
chemical action, prevents sickening of
quick and reduces the specific gravity
Of this Quick to a point below ten.
The third step consists of forced
contact of all the pulp with mercury
bath which is Affected as follows: In
terlaced downward DETECTED streams
of the hot chemically charged water
under pressure with nozzle discharge
continuously drive the pulp from two
and one half to four inches into the mer
curry. This il the step which affects. the
recovery.
Tn fourth step is the election OF the
,,,,l, h., .rac;f. ~vr~ vitv NJ the mercury.