The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1915-10-07
TREATMENT OF ZINC ORE
ANACONDA HAS PROCESS
BELIEVE 1T WILL REVOLUTION.
lZE METHODS OF HANDLING
ORES IN THE WEST.

ORES IN THE WEST.
! From Butte, Mont, comes news tho
! metaiiurgists in the employ of the An
aconda Mining company have perfect
ca a process, after years of xperi
mentlng, that will permit of the pro
htable treatment of millions of ions o
heretofore worthless zinc bearing ore,
IN the mining camps of the west, com.
ments the Daily Mining World.
If this news is correct, it has a ire.
mendous significance to the minine
industry and will result in the recov.
cry OF many millions of dollars worth
OF new wealth that otherwise would he
lost to the world. The reduction OF
zinc ores, as is universally known has
heretofore been one of the most costly
processes in metallurgy, from various
standpoints. The late discovery, it is
confidently affirmed. will revolution
lie the treatment of these ores.
Acquire Zinc Properties.
1t is stated that Anaconda of1cial s
are so confident of the potentialities
OF the new process that they have ac-
quired for the company many old pro-
perties that have been shut down
ever since the price of silver dropped
below so cents and will operate these
abandoned producers on an extensive
scale, thereby giving employment to
thousands of men. The parties in
terested predict that the maximum
cost of producing zinc will not exceed
3R cents a pound, and that no ore is
too refractory to be amenable to the
process. Ever the ores Of San Juan
county, Colo, long noted for their
complex qualities, can and will be
successfully treated by the Anaconda
experts, it is claimed.
Details of Process.
The new process rs described in a
general way as follows: 1t provides
for a preliminary roasting of the zinc
ores, for the purpose of eliminating
the volatile sulphur and breaking
down the sulphides into soluble salts.
the greater part of the ~arsenical and
lntimonical %sulphides thus being elm
mated. The roasting mass, compris-
ng oxides and sulphates, is then
.reated to a solution of sulphuric acid
IF a strength yet to be worked out on
| commercial basis.
The sulphuric acid places in solu-
ion the zinc, copper, silver, gold, iron
nd other metals, all of which, with
exception of the zinc, are precipi-
ated from the solution. The steps
aiken to accomplish this precipitation
re not announced, but It is said that
employment of manganic oxide
enters into the process.
Handling the Residue.
The clear solution passing through
oliver filter, carrying the zinc, is
onducted to electrolytic cells, where
he zinc is recovered on the cathode
ole, this stage of recovery being sim
ar to the method employed in the
.lectrolysis of copper. If the residue
aught on the filter predominates in
opper, it is treated for It's red metal, {
liver and gold, at the Washoe copper {
'orks, but should the residue carry a
redominance of lead, then it will be
ent to a silver-lead smelter for the
scovery of its values. 1t is possible
nat the concentration of certain zinc !
res may be found advisable, concen-
both the iron and zinc values,
'ssening the bulk of ore to be roast :
d and leached and increasing the
trength of the solution to be electro
,zed. -,
Large Expenditure. :
1t is reported that the Anaconda Is .
something more than ST. :
10000 for new buildings and equip :
lent for the purpose of putting the :
formulated process into prac- .
cal use. If the method turns out to :
2 as successful as its originators :
)pe, 1t will be one of the most i'm :,
ortant discoveries ever made in thu >
lining business. Further reports re- =
lrding results obtained by the new =
'ocess will be awaited with profound h
terest. :,
.