The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1916-09-28
The Flotation Process--Its Invention,
Introduction and Development.
A stanley Gilmore in Mining

J
tical scale, neither did any one Of
them describe a practical form of APP
paratus for performing the proposed
Operation.
Notwithstanding the ransacking oil
ancient records. the taking over of the
dust heap of past failures, not one
particle of reliable evidence has ever
been produced that any Of these sug-
gestions did or could arrive at the
stage Of practical operation on COM
mereial scale. Nor has even the bold
est of the attackers had the courage
to try and demonstrate the working OF
any of these ideas In a large plant
for the very sufficient reason that they
know 1t is impossible. Not one of
these hoplessly impracticable schemes
has ever emerged from the oblivion
into which they fell and which they
are so well calculated to adorn.
Failure is inherent in them, as every
engineer knows, and 1t remained for
Frank Gilmore to discover the solu-
ton of the difficulty.
My appeal for an unbiased reading
of the description of the suggestions
set out above is addressed to engineers
anG metallurgists whose judgment
will not be warped by their CONNER
cia interests and associations. | do
,,at fn Ih % N N 70 In hoo ftin
those dishonest experts whose YER
aclty and conscience are elastic in pro-
portion to the Importance of the fee
they get Neither do | expect any
admissions Of value to this discussion
from witnesses who will swear to par
ticular facts in one court and with
equal solemnity swear to the exact
opposite in another court, justifying
themselves on the ground of change
of opinion in the interval"
This little depression brings us
along the highway to the sign set up
by Frank Gilmore In 1899.
Perhaps few words which think
have not previously been published
may be set down here as of interest
as showing why and how Frank Ell
more came to invent the flotation pro-
cess.
At the time | speak of he was an
engineer of known reputation having
had a first class scientific training In
mechanical, electrical and metallur-
glcal engineering and wide experience
OF works. construction and manage
ment, and was then In control of large
works in this country
producing copper tubes and sheets by
means of the Gilmore electro deposit
ing process. He was recognized as
possessing that rare combination of an
or inventive mind coupled
with sound practical ability to design
plant for applying on commercial
scale the product of his Imagination.
At this time William Gilmore (his
father) made a considerable invest
ment with friends in low grade aurif-
erous copper mine in this country. In
due time an important plant consist
ing of the usual iigs, shaking tables
etc, was erected and proved after the
expenditure of much time and money
to yield so low an extraction as to
result in financial loss
My brother and l were asked to in
Y estigate and see if the extraction
could be improved. On the occasion of
one of our visits to this mill 1t was
observed that at the angle where one
OF the launders carrying the water
borne pulp DETECTED the stream, some
spashing took place, and it so happen
ed also that oil had dripped onto the
outside of the launder at this point
from a shaft bearing Immediately
overhead, a strong sun was shining
upon it and a glittering reflection at
tracted the eye. On examination it
was noted with interest that adhering
to the oil was coating of what APP
peared to be quite clean copper pyrite
and it was remarked that no rock
seemed to adhere to the oily surface
A little later piece of ordinary 3
inch steam pipe, which was in such a
position that the discharge from one of
The slime launders splashed against il,
VAS found by us to have a clear pic
.ure of a mans hand printed on il
n bright copper pyrite. 1t had been
carried in a greasy nand and the
Whole of that part of the surface which
had received a very thin coating on
srease by contact with the hand sub
'equently became coated with pyrite.
1t was these two accidental obser-
'ations which led to the invention of
he flotation process, These were the
ource of Frank Elmore's Inspiration
Il that time he had no knowledge of
irgins of Hereodotus, nor of Haynes,
GVerson, or Robson 4 Crowder.
The fact was before us that finely
Nided wet copper pyrite would ad-
ere to greasy surface, whereas
nelly divided wet rock would not. A
Ieans of separation was here indicat-
ed, experiments were Immediately
ndertaken--on a small scale at first
radually increasing in importance as
Encouragement was obtained.
The result Of this work was the |
ling of Frank Elmore's patent of 1898.
he process there described was APP
lied on a practical scale at the mine
eferred to--one full-size working unit i
as first installed and others later.