Improvements relating to the Separation or Extraction of Metals from their Ores by Amalgamation and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1888

page_text: Improvements relating to the Separation or Extraction of Metals
from their Ores by Amalgamation and to Apparatus therefor.
I, THOMAS ROWLAND JORDAN, of 52 Gracechurch Street in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the treatment of auriferous and argentiferous ores for the
purpose of separating or extracting the precious metals therefrom by amalgamation,
and to machinery or apparatus therefor.
The main feature of my said invention is the employment of cone-shaped or inclined
plates the upper surfaces of which are amalgamated and which are arranged one above
another and are to be rotated at a suitable speed.
Upon these cones or cone-shaped plates the auriferous or argentiferous ores, after
having been reduced or pulverized to a suitable degree of fineness, are introduced.
The particles of ore are subjected to frictional contact with the said cones by the action
of centrifugal force thereon, as hereinafter specified.
In carrying my said invention into practice I arrange upon a vertical spindle one
above another circular copper plates so as to form inverted cones. These cones are enclosed
in a casing constructed in halves, each half of which carries a series of copper plates
slightly inclined downwards towards the centre of the machine. These plates are so
fixed as to come immediately under and between the cone-shaped plates on the vertical
spindle, a space being left between the spindle and the inner edges of the inclined
plates; a space is also left between the inner circumference of the casing and the outer
edges of the cone-shaped plates.
At the bottom of the machine and below the lowermost inclined plate I arrange a
mercury well of conical or other suitable form, and I provide a step bearing for the
vertical spindle above described. In this mercury well I insert a water pipe through
which an upward current of water may be introduced into the well with any required
force. At the top of this well 1 provide a series of outlets or overflow passages at
different levels, and at the bottom a mercury stand pipe having a bend and rising to a
sufficient height to prevent any discharge when the pipe is vertical. The said mercury
stand pipe is fitted with a joint which admits of the upper end or outlet being lowered.
at will for the purpose of drawing off the mercury.

page_text: At the top of the machine I place a hopper with an opening for delivering the ore
or other material automatically into the first or uppermost cone.
The vertical spindle carrying the inverted cones is to be rotated at a sufficient speed
to force the pulverized ore by centrifugal force up the inclines formed by the inverted
cones; by this means the particles are brought into severe frictional contact with the
upper amalgamated surface of the cones or cone-shaped plates. In passing up over
the first cone shaped plate some of the particles of gold will become amalgamated with
the mercury on the said plate, whilst other particles thereof together with the sand and
other deposit will pass over the periphery of the first cone-shaped plate and fall onto
the inclined plate under it, upon which it is again washed to the centre of the machine
where falling into the second inverted cone, it is again subjected to the same action,
this action is repeated as many times as there are inverted cones and inclined plates.
In addition to the amalgamation of the surface of the plates I sometimes introduce
live mercury at intervals which together with any sickened mercury or other heavy
particles of value passing over the plates will be caught in the mercury saving well at
the base of the machine, as above described.
To facilitate the "cleaning up" of the machine and the collection of the amalgam
formed on the plates I mount the two halves of the outer casing carrying the inclined
plates on runners and rails so that each half of the casing may be run back to allow
free passage round the open machine.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Separation or Extraction of Metals
from their Ores by Amalgamation and to Apparatus therefor.
I, THOMAS ROWLAND JORDAN, of 15 George Street. Mansion House in the City of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 relates to the treatment of auriferous and argentiferous ores for the
purpose of separating or extracting the precious metals therefrom by amalgamation,
and to machinery or apparatus therefor.
The main feature of my said invention is the employment of cone-shaped or inclined
plates the upper surfaces of which are amalgamated with mercury, and which are
arranged one above another and are to be rotated at a suitable speed. Upon these
cones or cone-shaped plates the auriferous or argentiferous ores, after having been
reduced or pulverized to a suitable degree of fineness, are introduced. The particles
of ore are subjected to frictional contact with the said cones by the action of centri-
fugal force thereon as hereinafter specified.
be
may
Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one form of my improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1.
2011-
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the said apparatus.
Figure 4 is a plan of one half of the casing hereinafter described, showing also
means for supporting the same on side rails.
A is a casing which is conveniently constructed in two parts or halves which are
firinly united by bolts or otherwise. B is a vertical spindle which is supported at its
lower end in a step bearing C, adjustable vertically by means of a screw (, and at its
upper end in a suitable bearing in a cross-bar D' forming part of a frame D arranged
above the casing A. This spindle has fixed thereon one above another circular plates E
Each part
of copper or other suitable metal so constructed as to form inverted cones.
or half of the casing A has attached thereto, one above another, plates F of copper or
other suitable metal, which are slightly inclined from the centre of the machine towards
the side or wall of the said casing. There are as many of the plates F as there are
cone shaped plates E, and the said plates F are so arranged that each of them is a
short distance below the corresponding cone-shaped plate E, a space being left
between the vertical spindle B and the inner edges of the inclined plates F, and also
between the inner circumference of the casing A, and the outer edges of the said cone-
shaped plates E. The angle or inclination of the said plates E, F, may be greater or
less than that shown in the drawing, if it is found that the efficiency of the machine is
increased by altering such angle or inclination. At the bottom of the casing A and
below the lowermost inclined plate F I arrange a mercury saving and concentrating
well G which is wedge shaped or of conical or other suitable form. To this well

page_text: connect a water pipe H through which an upward current of water may be introduced
into the said well with any required degree of force. At the top of the said well I
provide a series of outlets or overflow passages J at different levels, and the bottom of
the said well is connected with the mercury stand pipe K rising to a sufficient height
to prevent any discharge when the pipe is vertical. The said mercury stand pipe is
fitted with a joint which admits of the upper end being lowered at will for the purpose
of drawing off the mercury. At the top of the casing A is a hopper L with an opening
for the delivery of the ore or other material into the first or uppermost cone E. The
ore or other material may be fed to the said hopper by any automatic feeding apparatus
for giving a regular and adjustable supply of ore to the machine herein described.
The spindle B is connected by bevel wheels M, M with a driving shaft N carried in
bearings in the frame D and provided with fast and loose pulleys N N. Each of the
separate parts or halves of the casing A is supported upon side rails O by means of a
frame formed of axles P united by tie-bars 1" and securely attached to the said part of
the casing, which axles are provided with wheels or rollers Q arranged to run on the
said rails any other suitable method of mounting the parts of the casing may
however be employed. The hopper L, and frame D are supported upon beams or
girders R extending beneath shoulders or projections D' on the said frame D, or in
any other suitable manner.
The upper surfaces of the plates E, F are amalgamated.
The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows:
The
The auriferous or argentiferous ores, reduced or pulverized to a suitable degree of
fineness, are introduced through the hopper L into the uppermost cone E.
vertical spindle B is rotated with such velocity as to produce sufficient centrifugal
force to cause the pulverized ore, as it falls on the plates E. to move up the inclined
surfaces of the said plates: by these means the particles are brought into more or less
severe frictional contact with the upper amalgamated surface of the cones or cone-
shaped plates E. In passing over the inclined surface of each cone-shaped
plate E, some of the particles of gold or silver become amalgamated with the
mercury on the said plate, whilst other particles of the precious metal together with
the sand and other deposit pass over the periphery or upper edge of the said plate E,
and fall on the inclined plate F beneath it, and are washed thereon by the water which
is supplied with the crushed or pulverized ore towards the inner edge of the said
inclined plate F, then, falling into the next inverted cone E, the material is again sub-
jected to the rubbing action, to which action the material is repeatedly subjected as
many times as there are inverted cones E. The flow of water and the inclination of
the plates F will ensure motion of the particles of ore on them towards the centre of
the inachine. In addition to the amalgamation of the surface of the plates I sometimes
introduce live mercury, at intervals which assists the process of amalgamation and also
tends to keep the amalgamated surfaces of the plates E, F in good working condition.
The said mercury together with any sickened mercury or other heavy particles of value
passing over the plates, will be caught in the mercury saving well G at the base of
the machine, as above described. To facilitate the cleaning of the machine and the
collection of the amalgam formed on the plates, the two parts or halves of the casing A
are moved along the rails O in opposite directions, so that free access may be had to
the cones E and to the inclined plates F attached to the said casing A. The amalgam
is removed or collected from the plates in the ordinary manner and the plates may be
reset also in the usual manner when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood that I claim :-
First. The above described method of extracting precious metals from their ores, by
pulverizing the said ores and passing them over rotating amalgamated surfaces
arranged one above another.
Second. A machine for the extraction of precious metals from their ores, wherein
inverted cones or cone-shaped plates having their upper surfaces amalgamated are
fixed one above another on a rotary vertical spindle, for the purpose above specified.

page_text: Third. The combination, with the rotary amalgamated cones or cone-shaped plates,
of a casing enclosing the same and having attached thereto inclined plates having
amalgamated upper surfaces, substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Fourth. In a machine such as is hereinbefore described, the employment of a divided
casing, the parts of which are suspended or supported in such a manner that they may
be readily moved to and from each other for the purpose above specified.
Fifth. The combination, with a revolving amalgamating machine, of a mercury
saving and concentrating well provided with a water-supply pipe, substantially as
described.
Sixth. The improved apparatus consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating
as, and for the purpose, above specified.
Dated this 14th day of Decemo
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.