The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1920-07-30
Fortunes Extracted Daily From
Froth by Treatment Of Low.
Grade Ores.
GREAT SAVING OF COPPER
Knowledge Of celioid and Organic
Chemistry Necessary for the Flo
tation Miliman-skiilfui
Work for Q Profit.

New York.-Billions are being added
to the worlds wealth by the forces at
work in the soap bubble. The fiotation
method Of mineral separation. by
which every day In the year fortunes
are literally extracted from froth. Is
now exercising so powerful an infiu-
ence on mining operations In this and
other countries that, according to Co
lumbia university authorities. the fu-
ture Of copper production. and there
fore Of the electrical Industry, largely
hinges on bubbles.
The process of ore concentration has
always been considered important in
mining engineering schools and the flo
tation process Is a leading factor In
laboratory practice at Columbia. where
the ore dressing laboratory Is now un-
dsvgoing considerable expansion.
According to both Dean George Il.
Pegram Of the Columbia School of
Mines. Engineering and Chemistry. and
Arthur F. Taggart. professor Of ore
dressing. the advent of fotation has
worked q revolution in mining meth
DDS.
The word bubble used In connec-
ton with mining properties formerly
referred to kind Of financial manage
ment which could hardly be tolerated
In these dry and sober days, but in the
last few years bubbles have taken on
new and more important significance
for the larger part Of the mining in
dustry." said Dean Pegram. "The most
important problem of the mining en-
gineers is usually how to concentrate
the mineral In low-grade ore to such
an extent that the working Of the ore
will be profitable. A process has been
developed which applies particularly
to all sulphlde ores, and these include
most Of the copper, zinc and lead ores,
In which the ores may be beautifully
concentrated by the action Of fine bub-
bles Of air attaching themselves to the
particles Of mineral. finely ground and
mixed with water.
Separate Sand and Froth.
THE bubbles with the sulphide min
eral then rise to the top as a thick
froth. while the sand and other worth.
less material sink to the bottom Of the
vessel. This flotation process has not
only made much more profitable the
working Of the better grade Of copper,
zinc and lead ore, but has also made
very profitable the working Of ores
which previously could not have been
handled without actual loss.
"The whole secret Of the bubbles OF
air gathering up the mineral particles
and leaving the sand depends upon
treating the finely crushed ore in water
with one Of various chemical sub.
stances, among them oleic acid and
pine oil. Only very small amount OF
the oil is necessary, less than per
cent by weight Of the amount of min
eral that Is In the ore.
After the proper reagent has beer
added to the water and the finely
crushed ore, air Is introduced into |,
either BY heating 1t in with stirre,
or by forcing 1t in through fine pores
In the bottom of the vessel. or any wa,
IN which to bring fine bubbles Of the
air into intimate contact with the fine
particles of the ore. The separation Il
marvelously complete, the mineral 90
ing to the top in bubbles, forming 8
thick froth, which is collected BY suit
able arrangements, while the sand an(
other gangue material settles quite
clean Of any valuable mineral to tn,
bottom Of the vessel.
"Of course the process Is made I,
run continuously, and in some mills a.
much as 1000 tons of mineral in frott
Is separated each day. Altogether il
1918 there were 6O,O00.00O tons Of ,or,
treated by the flotation process
1T may truly be said that the futur,