The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-05-07
SUCCESS MINE NOW HAS MAGNETIC
SEPARATOR IN OPERATION; GOOD WORK
PROCESS WITH DRYING RAISE GRADE OF
CONCENTRATES AND MATERIALLY REDUCE THE
FREIGHT cAAReEs-oTAER IMPROVEMENTS

The magnetic separation plant, the
installation of which has for months
engaged the attention of the Success
has heretofore been made in this pa
per, was last Tuesday formally placed
in operation, after an exhaustive per-
iod of experimenting and trial runs.
Coincident with the starting of the
magnetic process, a drying tube was
also placed in operation which evap-
crates every particle of moisture from
the concentrates as they come from
the mill. The installation of these two
new features made necessary the erec-
ton of practically a new mill adjoin-
ing the old one, all Of which has been
accomplished in accordance with the
plans of C. c. Samuels, superintendent
Of the MILL and under his personal
supervision. The completion Of these
improvements by the Success company
marks another important step in eco
nomic mining in the Coeur dAlene
district, and 1t is probable that other
mines will find 1t possible to adopt the
system and effect a higher percentage
of recovery and accomplish a substan-
tial decrease in freight charges. These
are the two big results accomplished
by the Success and which amply JUS
tify the expense incident to bringing
| them about
Tho Drying Tube.
Moisture in ore shipments Is mat
ter Of frequent controversy between
shippers and the smelters, but where
regular shipments are made under
identically the same conditions, as Is
the case in this district the percent
age of moisture Is so we'll established
that the shipper knows in advance
what it will be. The weight deducted
on account Of moisture Is a direct loss
to the shipper, for he must pay the
freight on it, and 1t Is to save this
freight charge that induced the Sue
cess company to make provision to
eliminate the moisture before shipping
the ore or concentrates. The process
IS a simple one and absolutely effect
i've. The equipment consists Of q re-
volving tube 80 feet long and 3 feet In
diameter. At one end Of this tube Is
furnace and at the other Is an ex-
i haust fan. This fan creates a suction
draft through the tube. maintaining
temperature not less than 100 degrees
and generally $50. A belt conveyor
receives the concentrates as they come
from the jigs and deposits them into
this revolving tube. When the con-
centrates enter the tube they contain
from to s per cent moisture, or 120
pounds or more to the ton. When
they emerge at the other end and are
, again deposited on a belt conveyor
, they are absolutely dry, in fact, so hot
that one can hardly handle them.
Electric Separation.
From the drying tube the concen-
trates are elevated preparatory to
passing through the magnetic separa-
tors, a process which has raised the
shipping product of the Success mine
from 38 per cent zinc to 49, thus es-
Gaping the penalty which the smelters
impose upon zinc shipments falling
under 40 per cent, and eliminating
from shipments large amount Of
waste in the form Of iron which could
I tho oIp IN, "a
ordinary milling process. The Sue
cess plant consists Of four New Gen.
tury magnetic separators. Each ma :
chine consists Of two powerful mag
, nets, one of which acts as sort Of
, safety check on the other. Between
| the poles Of these magnets l2-lnch
, belt passes carrying the concentrates
q well distributed. Just above this bolt
less than an inch from 1t and running
I directly across 1t, just under and al
most touching the positive pole Of the
magnet is a narrow belt running at Q
rapid speed. AS the concentrates on
the large belt pass under the small
; one and within the poles Of the mag
3 net the strong magnetic attraction
snatches up the magnetic iron In the
u concentrates and holds it against tht
u little belt until it passes beyond thu
Il range of its attraction, when the iror
drops into a hopper to be reconveyet
: either TO other rolls to be furthe,
q crushed or to the tailings dump, al
3 the case may be.
' Pleased With tho Plant.
- Mr.. Samuels says these new feat
y, ures in the treatment of the ore hav'
r. already proved their success beyon
+ his expectations. The entire outpn
+. Of the mill from the jigs is now pass
N ing through the drying and magnet
process, and arrangements will 500
be made to treat in the same mannc
the zinc from the Whitley tables. TIL
handling of the dry ore has resulte
IN in much dust in the magnetic room
ST and this dust has a high percentag
g. of zinc. A bin has been built Int
re which the dust is being discharge
CONTINUED on Page 81