Improvements in Treating Rich Argentiferous Blende and other Ores.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 14th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Rich Argentiferous Blende and
other Ores.
I, JOHN DAVID, of Llwyndn, in the Swansea Valley, Wales, Analytical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to treating rich argentiferous and other ores containing
blende or sulphide of zinc; the objects of the invention being to increase the
quantity of silver obtained from the ore, to enable the zinc to be recovered, and to
lessen the cost of treatment.
In carrying out my invention, the ore is first reduced to a fine powder, and is
then placed in a suitable apparatus and agitated with a boiling solution of chloride
of iron (a waste product from tin plate works), to which are added hydrochloric
acid and oxidizing agents. The sulphide of zinc or blende in the ore is thus decom-
posed; the zinc being dissolved as a chloride and the sulphur set free. The ore is
then ready for calcination and smelting without the risk of the great loss of silver
always incurred in smelting silver ores containing a large percentage of sulphide of
zinc or blende. If desired, the zinc can be recovered.
CT 1900
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Treating Rich Argentiferous Blende and
other Ores.
I, JOHN DAVID, of Llwyndn, in the Swansea Valley, Wales, Analytical
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to treating rich argentiferous and other ores containing
blende or sulphide of zinc; the objects of the invention being to increase the
quantity of silver obtained from the ore, to enable the zinc to be recovered, and to
lessen the cost of treatment.
In carrying out my invention, the ore is first reduced to a fine powder, and is
then placed in a suitable apparatus and agitated with a boiling solution of chloride
of iron (a waste product from tin plate works), to which are added hydrochloric
acid and oxidising agents such as nitrate of soda. I have found that, if the solution
of chloride of iron be four to five times the weight of the ore, the hydrochloric acid
ten per cent. of the weight of the ore, and the nitrate of soda one per cent. of the
weight of the ore, good results are obtained. These proportions are, however,
given by way of example only, as the best proportions appropriate for any
Further, in cases where
particular ore can only be determined by experiment.
steam and air can be applied, nitrate of soda is not required.
The sulphide of zinc or blende in the ore is thus decomposed; the zinc being
then ready for calcina-
dissolved as a chloride and the sulphur set free. The ore
tion and smelting without the risk of the great loss of silver always incurred in
smelting silver ores containing a large percentage of sulphide of zinc or blende.
If desired, the liquor containing the chloride of zinc in solution may be treated
with milk of lime and the zinc recovered as is well understood.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim:
1. In treating argentiferous and other ores containing sulphide of zinc, for the
recovery of the precious and other metals therefrom, subjecting the ore in a ground
state to the action of a boiling solution of chloride of iron to which hydrochloric
acid and oxidising agents are added, whereby the zinc is dissolved and the sulphur
set free, substantially as herein described.
2. In the extraction of sulphide of zinc from argentiferous and other ores
prior to their treatment for the recovery of the precious and other metals con-
tained therein, the employment of chloride of iron, substantially as herein
described.
Dated this 27th day of February 1893.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.