or other Finely Divided Auriferous Material.
Year: 1887

page_text: or other Finely Divided Auriferous Material.
I, CLAUDE THEODORE JAMES VAUTIN, of 23 Old Jewry, in the City of London,
Metallurgical 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 :-
My Invention consists of improvements in the apparatus forming the plant
employed for the extraction of Gold by what is known as the wet or hydro-
metallurgical process from crushed or other finely divided auriferous material.
The complete process employed consists of treating the pulverised auriferous
material with chlorine or other equivalent re-agent in the form of gas or in solution
applied under a pressure greater than that of the atmosphere according to a part.
process patented to J. C. Newbery in conjunction with myself under No. 4609
dated 28th March 1887.
This I carry out by means of an air force pump and a closed chamber, which closed
chamber is caused to agitate the contents under treatment by rotation from some
suitable source of motion. The chamber is provided with a suitable hermetically
closing door, and is connected to the said air force pump, and is as aforesaid capable
of rotation, so that after the auriferous material has been subjected for a sufficient
time to the action of the chlorine or other re-agent, the said chamber may be inverted,
and the charge delivered into a filtering vessel conveniently placed beneath it.
The auriferous solution mixed with the pulverised material, is now passed into this
filtering or leaching vessel, and the solution is thrown through the filtering medium
by means of suction produced by a suction pump, which is so constructed as to pro-
duce in every stroke a partial reflux through the filtering medium of the withdrawn
liquid charge, so as to keep the filtering medium cleansed and free from choking as
particularly described in my application for a Patent under even date herewith.
From the said suction Pump the auriferous solution is discharged into a suitable
Vat, through which also air or steam is passed. From this point the auriferous
solution is passed through a filter of charcoal or other suitable re-agent, consisting of
successive beds of alternately rough and fine pieces of Charcoal or other re-agent.

page_text: ged in vertical beds or columns of considerable height. The auriferous solution
is here rapidly decomposed and deposits its gold upon the charcoal or other re-agent
from which it is obtained in any convenient manner.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to describe
the nature of the apparatus in connection with the drawings hereunto annexed,
reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a general elevation of my apparatus forming the plant employed for
the extraction of gold.
Figure 2 is a sectional detail of the closed chamber in which the gold is
acted on by any suitable re-agent such as chlorine.
Figure 3 is a sectional detail through the filtering vessel or leaching vessel when the
flow is downwards.
Figure 4 is a modified detail of my filtering vessel with cover when the flow is
reversed or taken upwards.
a
A A are the hoppers from which the pulverised ore is discharged for treatment into
the closed vessels B B by chlorine, bromine, or other equivalent re-agent, in a liquid
or gaseous condition, which is applied under pressure and which is caused to re-act
on the ore under a pressure greater than that of the atmosphere by means of an air
force pump C. This Vessel B, shown in detail in figure 2, is strongly constructed of
iron or similarly suitable material, to carry considerable internal pressure. It is
hermetically closed by a man hole door D, by which the charge of ore is admitted
when required, and discharged when sufficiently treated, I have found it important to
effect the lining of this chamber in the following manner :--Within the iron shell I
apply a coating of lead to protect the former against the action of the chemical
re-agents or salts, and within that 1 apply another protective coating of wood, earthen-
ware, or suitable material, to prevent the abrasion of the lead lining by the agitation
of the ore therein by rotation. The gas or air communications I effect through
suitable stop valve E, to which the pipes are connected by a suitable union.
By this means, after the admixture of the pulverised ore and the chlorine
or other chemical re-agent has been made in this chamber, compressed air
is admitted from the air compressor C. until the required working pressure
of about five atmospheres per square inch is arrived at. The valve E is then
screwed down, and the pipes detached, whilst agitation of the contents by the
rotation of the vessel proceeds. Before discharge of the contents into the filtering
vessel or leaching tub F F, the compressed air and gas is allowed to pass through
this valve E by a suitable connection into a solution of lime water in the tub G, to
absorb noxious vapours-The ore so treated is then discharged by inversion of the
chamber B into the leaching tubs or filters F F (shown in alternative detail in
figures 3 and 4). The leaching or separating of the auriferous solution from the
pulverised material mixed therewith, is effected by the direct suction of a Pump P
through the alternative suction pipe H H (figure 3) a flow of water being maintained
as long as required-In the apparatus as shewn in figure 3, this operation is carried
out by filtration downwards. In figure 4 the inverse process is used, the solution
being withdrawn upwards through the filtering medium K, consisting of a perforated
wooden diaphragm covered with a suitable filtering medium such as canvas or
asbestos, a flow of water being maintained through the supply pipe J.
In this case the filtering vessel or leaching tub conveniently closed by a
cover L bolted down upon the open mouth of the vessel. The pulverised material
and the filtering medium are prevented from choking by a reflux action from the
suction pump P through the suction pipe H or H', particularly as described in the
application for a Patent made by me under even date herewith.
After sufficient leaching of the ore or pulverised material has been effected in this
leaching vessel, the solid material is conveniently discharged by reversal of the
filtering vessel, and taken away by a trolly or other convenient means-To prevent
the filter bed M, as shown in figure 3, from being discharged by reversal of the
filter, I provide a series of obliquely inclined wooden slats interspersed between the
filtering medium, to keep it in place even during reversal of the said filter vessel-

page_text: The auriferous solution so withdrawn from the filtering vessels is delivered into
the Vat Q, where it is treated with a jet of steam or air, to drive off any free
chlorine or uncombined re-agent that may remain in the solution. The solution is
then passed through a filter R, composed of charcoal or other re-agents which is
formed of alternate layers of coarse and fine pieces respectively, and is of considerable
height and small sectional area. The gold is here precipitated from its solution and
is recovered from the material of the said filter by burning or other suitable chemical
process.
The moving portions of my apparatus are conveniently driven by a steam engine S.
or other convenient motor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In a hydro-metallurgical gold extracting apparatus such as herein described
the combination together of an air forcing pump or compresser, a hermetically closed
vessel in which the gold is acted on by any suitable re-agent, a filtering vessel, a
reflux suction pump, an air or steam agitated vat, and a deep filter bed of charcoal
or other suitable re-agent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. In a hydro-metallurgical gold extracting apparatus such as herein described,
the combination of an air forcing pump or compressor and a hermetically closed
vessel in which the gold is acted upon by any suitable re-agent, with a filtering
vessel, substantially as described.
3rd. In a hydro-metallurgical gold extracting apparatus such as is herein described,
the combination of a vessel in which the gold is acted on by any suitable re-agent
with a filtering vessel and a suction pump, drawing the solution therefrom, and giving
a part reflux action of the charge to keep the said filtering medium from becoming
choked, substantially as described.
4th. In a hydro-metallurgical gold extracting apparatus such as is herein described,
the combination of a vessel in which the gold is acted on by any suitable re-agent,
and a filtering vessel and suction pump drawing the solution therefrom with a part
reflux action of the charge, with an air or steam agitated vessel, and a deep filter of
charcoal or other suitable re-agent, substantially as described.
5th. In a hydro-metallurgical gold extracting apparatus such as is herein described,
the construction of the vessel in which the gold is acted on by any suitable re-agent,
substantially as described.
6th. In a hydro-metallurgical gold extracting apparatus such as is herein described,
the construction of the leaching or filter vessel, substantially as described.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.