An Improved Process for Amalgamating Gold by Volatilized Mercury.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1888
Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
An Improved Process for Amalgamating Gold by Volatilized
Mercury.
I, JOSEPH RALPH RAEBURN YEATS of Adelaide in the Province of South Australia,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "AN IMPROVED
22 and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
PROCESS FOR AMALGAMATING GOLD BY VOLATILIZED MERCURY
My invention relates to the treatment of finely divided gold bearing ores for the
recovery of the precious metal and consists in subjecting them when in a dry state
to the action of volatilized mercury.
By blowing the finely divided ore in a continuous cloud through a covered chamber
containing vapors of mercury I am enabled by the condensation of the vapors upon
them to secure the light particles of float gold which are usually lost in other processes.
After passing through the chamber containing the volatilized mercury the ore is
deflected upon an amalgamating table along the surface of which it is driven by a
continuous cold air blast or stream of water to be again deflected upon a similar table
and so on until it reaches the final exit.
In order that my process and the means of carrying it into effect may be the better
understood I will now proceed to describe the same by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which :-
Fig. I, is a side elevation partly in section of the apparatus complete.
Fig. II, a plan of the same the cover being partially removed and the blast pipes
shewn by dotted lines.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in both figures. A, is the hopper into which
the ore is fed in a finely divided state. The base of A, is so constructed that it can
be closed either wholly or partially and the supply of ore regulated at will. B, the
furnace or chamber heated by steam C, the blower preferably of the kind known as a
Roots blower. C, main blast pipes. C², inlets to chamber containing volatilized
mercury, preferably two in number and extending the whole width of chamber.
C³, inlets to amalgamating tables extending the entire width of the same and

page_text: connected with the main blast pipes C¹. D, pan of mercury over furnace B.
E, E, amalgamating tables. F, F, deflectors attached to roof of apparatus.
G, G, hinged covers in roof of apparatus for convenience in removing the amalgam
from the tables.
The method of carrying the process into effect is as follows:-All the covers G, of
the apparatus being closed. The pan D, is heated until the chamber above it is filled
with volatilized mercury. The blower C, is then set in motion and the base of the
hopper A, opened. On meeting the blast from C, which is heated during its passage
over the furnace through the main pipe C, the ore is scattered in a fine cloud and is
blown through the vapor arising from D, until it reaches the first deflector F, and is
by it diverted onto the surface of the amalgamating table E. Actuated by the cold
blast from C³, the ore is driven along the table E, to be again deflected upon the
second table and so on until it has passed the whole series. During the passage the
volatilized mercury condenses upon the fine particles of gold and causes them to fall
either into the pan D, or upon the amalgamating tables E, as the vapors become fully
condensed on meeting the cold blasts from the openings Ca. In place of the cold air
blast a stream of water may be applied for carrying the ore across the tables and
condensing the volatilized mercury in which case the blast openings C³, may be
dispensed with.
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details of the apparatus for carrying my process into effect but having now particularly
described and explained the nature of my said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. The treatment of gold bearing ores in a finely divided state by volatilized
mercury for the recovery of the precious metal contained therein.
Second. The process of amalgamating gold by blowing the finely divided ores
containing the same through volatilized mercury.
Third. In combination with the process of blowing the finely divided ores through
volatilized mercury contained in a covered chamber, the condensation of the vapors
and after treatment of the ores by amalgamating tables in conjunction with a cold
blast or stream of water substantially as herein described and for the purpose
indicated.
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