An Improved Process for the Treatment of Gold-bearing Antimony Ores.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for the Treatment of Gold-bearing
Antimony Ores.
I, JOHN JAMES CHRISTMAS, of Gladstone Chambers, Pirie Street Adelaide, in
the Province of South Australia, Mining Agent, 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 process relates to the extraction of gold from ores containing antimony or
sulphide of antimony, and consists essentially in the addition at a low temperature
to the melted antimony as taken from the reducing furnace, of melted lead with or
without fluxes or reducing agents.
In my invention, the ore containing antimony or sulphide of antimony is first
smelted in any suitable furnace. The molten antimony is run from the furnace in
suitable quantities into mixing pans. To the charge in the mixing pan when, at a
low temperature there is added melted lead at a similar temperature (such
temperatures being at or near the melting points of the metals) equal in quantity
to about twenty five per cent. (25%) more or less of the melted antimony. The
contents of the pan are then stirred by means of an iron bar and the admixture of
antimony and lead discharged into suitable moulds. The moulds during the
pouring operation are "packed" or tapped causing the part of the lead to settle at
the bottom of the mould carrying with it the gold contained in the antimony.
When the contents of the mould have cooled the lead containing the gold which
has set at the bottom can easily be separated from the antimony at the top by a
smart blow. The lead is then removed for subsequent separation of the metals by
any known process.
Although the proportion given (twenty five per cent.) well answers the purpose,
it may be required to vary the quantity if in practice from the particular character
of the antimony ore and the quantity of gold contained therein a large proportion
of the lead alloys with the melted antimony and a sufficiency is not available for
carrying down the gold.
I find in practice that the success of the operation is largely dependent upon the
temperature of the melted antimony and that this should be at a low temperature,
otherwise the added lead is apt to alloy too largely with the antimony.
I may add to the melted antimony or to the melted lead any suitable fluxes or
reducing agents which will assist the operation, such as common salt, in combination
with iron filings, scrap iron, manganese, iron oxide &c. but do not claim this
specifically as part of my invention.
Dated this Twenty-second day of April 1005
JOHN J. CHRISTMAS.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Process for the Treatment of Gold-bearing
Antimony Ores.
I JOHN JAMES CHRISTMAS of Gladstone Chambers, Pirie Street, Adelaide,
Province of South Australia, Mining Agent, 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 process relates to the extraction of gold from ores containing antimony or
sulphide of antimony, and consists essentially in the addition at a low temperature
to the melted antimony as taken from the reducing furnace, of melted lead with or
without fluxes or reducing agents.
In my invention, the ore containing antimony or sulphide of antimony is first
smelted in any suitable furnace. The molten antimony is run from the furnace in
suitable quantities into mixing pans. To the charge in the mixing pan when at a
low temperature there is added melted lead at a similar temperature (such
temperatures being at or near the melting points of the metals) equal in quantity
to about twenty five per cent. (25%) more or less of the melted antimony. The
contents of the pan are then stirred by means of an iron bar and the admixture of
antimony and lead discharged into suitable moulds. The moulds during the
pouring operation are "packed" or tapped causing the part of the lead to settle at
the bottom of the mould carrying with it the gold contained in the antimony.
When the contents of the mould have cooled the lead containing the gold which
has set at the bottom can easily be separated from the antimony at the top by a
smart blow. The lead is then removed for subsequent separation of the metals by
any known process.
Although the proportion given (twenty five per cent.) well answers the purpose,
it may be required to vary the quantity if in practice from the particular character
of the antimony ore and the quantity of gold contained therein a large proportion
of the lead alloys with the melted antimony and a sufficiency is not available for
carrying down the gold.
I find in practice that the success of the operation is largely dependent upon the
temperature of the melted antimony and that this should be at a low temperature,
otherwise the added lead is apt to alloy too largely with the antimony.
I may add to the melted antimony or to the melted lead any suitable fluxes or
reducing agents which will assist the operation, such as common salt, in combination
with iron filings, scrap iron, manganese, iron oxide &c., but do not claim this
specifically as part of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
The herein described process for the extraction of gold from gold bearing
antimony or antimony ores, consisting in the addition to melted antimony when at
a low temperature, of melted lead, at a similar temperature, and preferably equal
in quantity to about twenty five per cent. (25%) of the charge of antimony, all
substantially as herein described.
Dated this First day of February 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.