Year: 1898

page_text: I, Mrs. LÉON BLOUME, born Marguerite Humbert, of 5, Rue Bridaine, Paris,
rance, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention concerns the extraction of gold or other amalgamable
metals, the more special object of which is an amalgamating process and appar-
tus which allow of the total extraction of the metal from the ore by obtaining
perfect contact between the said metal and the mercury.
With the apparatus now employed, the principal causes of losses are due to
he theft of amalgam, the carrying away of the Hoating gold and the defective
contact between the ore and mercury; indeed it is almost impossible to prevent
the theft of amalgam with the actual processes of extraction and the fine gold
held in suspension in the water is carried away by the current, or remains on
the surface or in the interior of the particles of rock which cannot practically
be reduced below a certain dimension if we wish to cyanide with success after
amalgamation; moreover the particles of gold which are covered with a preserv-
are not in direct contact with the mercury and
ing layer of any matter
consequently not being amalgamated, are carried away with the current and
remain in the mire.
My process consists in making the ore rise under pressure, suitably crushed,
drawn by any mechanical agent for instance water, through a column or sheet
of mercury, so as to reduce the column of water carrying the ore, to thin sheets
and to secure a perfect contact between the mercury and the ore.
is
Moreover to secure the. intimate contact better still the column of mercury
provided with suitable contrivances intended to oppose the current carrying the
ore, to make it travel transversely in the mercury to oblige the substances
carried away to change position at every moment, to strike and rub against each
other under pressure, also against the obstacles which are placed for this purpose.
My process does away with all ulterior chemical dressing of the ore, the amal-
gamation absorbing all the metal carried through the mercury.
With my process, the amalgamation taking place in a closed receptacle the theft
of amalgam is easily rendered impossible; moreover, by making thin ascending
sheets of water pass through the mercury, in which sheets the ore is kept in
suspension, a perfect contact is obtained between the mercury and the gold and
consequently a complete amalgamation of this latter, even when it is covered
with alien matters which are removed by the rubbing of the particles of ore
against the bars of the grates arranged in the mercury receptacles.

page_text: In the annexed drawing a form of construction of an apparatus intended for
the application of my process is given by way of example.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of the amalgamator, and Fig. 2 is a front view
of one of the gratings.
The amalgamator is composed essentially of a rectangular tank A, the sides
of which are of sheet iron, while the top, the ends and the bottom are in strong
pieces of wood G and C separated from one another by vertical sheet-iron par-
titions D which divide the tank into several transverse: compartments.
Each of these compartments is subdivided into 3.compartments by the vertical
partitions E which are connected by bolts to the sides of the tank A but do
not rise as high as this latter and leave a free passage of one centimeter between
their lower part and the bottom of the tank.
The central compartment is closed at its upper part by the piece of wood G
and communicates, by its lower part, with the 2 lateral compartments in which
the cast iron gratings H are arranged, the angular bars a of which are arranged
in such a way as to interfere and constitute a vertical zigzag conduit, of a small
width as shown in Fig. 1.
•
The bars a have their extremities connected by the 2 uprights which are
crossed at their upper part by a rode which serves as a handle to facilitate the
fixing or the removal of the grating (Fig. 2).
To increase the action of the gratings, these latter could be covered with a
rough and hard body such as quartz or emery, or they could even be made
entirely of emery.
t
41
Each cover G of the compartments F is provided with two tubes I, J the
first serving to evacuate the air and the second for the introduction of the water.
These tubes are respectively provided with cocks f and d, and the tubes J
are branched on the common conduit K which, through the main pipe L,
receives the water under pressure, in which the ore is suspended.
Each compartment comprising a central compartment and two lateral com-
partments with gratings, constitutes an element the lower part of which
communicates by a tube M with a main pipe N closed at one of its extremities
and provided with a flowing cock O, as well as a branching P which, through
a two way cock Q, can communicate successively with the receptacles R R serv-
ing as reservoirs for the overflow of mercury and provided with waste cocks.
In these receptacles two floating plates S S are placed provided with a ver-
tical index-rod T T passing freely through the covers of the receptacles R R¹
and moving vertically in front of the hands VV₁ fixed on the covers.
The cover G of the central element is traversed by a tube in porcelain or
any other insulating material and which is also traversed by a metallic rod h
provided with a screw at its upper extremity, and to the lower extremity of
which a sheet of lead i is suspended, the said piece of lead, through the inter-
mediary of the rod hand of a conductor, is electrically connected with the
positive pole of any electric source, the negative pole of which communicates
with one of the metallic sides of the tank A by a conductor fixed on this latter
by means of a screw k.
This apparatus works as follows:
The main pipe L being previously connected with a forcing pump of any
system, some mercury is introduced through one of the tubes I in a sufficient
quantity to fill the free spaces of the gratings and the bottoms of the elements
these latter with a thickness of about one centimeter..
The ore, crushed as fine as possible and sifted, is then forced into the apparatus
through the pipes J with about ten times its weight of water; it will be seen
that the pressure of this liquid which soon fills all the compartments F, causes
the mercury to rise in the gratings H and that all the excess fall into one of
the receptacles R R¹, whence it is allowed to flow through the waste-cock until
the float S or S¹ descends again to the lower part of the corresponding receptacle
and the zero of the rod T or T' corresponds with the hand V or V¹.

page_text: During the filling, the tubes I remain open to allow the air contained in the
apparatus to leave this latter; but as soon as the water spouts to the upper part
of these tubes, the cocks f are cut off and the water produces its whole action.
on the columns of mercury. Now the circulation is established as follows:
The water containing the substances to be dressed coming through the tubes LK
and J in the compartments F, is compressed in the said compartments, forces
the mercury into the gratings H and escapes vertically in very thin sheets,
through the column of liquid metal. These sheets are successively repelled from
right to left and vice versa, through the projectures or bars a of the gratings
which are arranged to interfere with each other and thus oblige the substances
carried away to come into contact with the mercury electrified or not. Owing
to this circulation of the matters to be dressed in the amalgamator, the gangues
lighter than the mercury escape with the current through the upper part of the
apparatus, the oxides, impurities and multiple combinations which are formed
at the contact of the dressed matters and the mercury rise to its surface owing to
their inferior density, the gold in heavy particles remains at the bottom of the
recipients F, the floating gold is amalgamated in the gratings H and finally the
gold covered with alien substances, which is heavier than the quartz gangue
which accompanies it, and circulating less quickly in consequence, is continually
shaken, cleaned and rubbed under pressure and rid of the layer which preserves
it and finally absorbed by the mercury.
Electricity is employed with this apparatus with the object of facilitating and
pushing on the amalgamation.
The water current drawing the mire is disengaged at the upper part of the
columns of mercury and flows through the channel constituted by the upper
part of each element situated above the wooden piece G and limited laterally
by the partitions D.
These channels communicate with a general conduit through which the mire
is led either to the concentrating apparatus or to the place reserved for it.
Owing to the amalgamation the mercury increases in volume and its excess
empties through the tubes N and P into the receptacle R where it causes the
ascension of the float S and of the rod T which will indicate the quantity of
amalgam contained in the apparatus and consequently of gold to be gathered.
When the receptacle R is full, the two-way cock Q is turned to communicate
the tube P with the reservoir R¹ and thus stop the introduction of the mercury
into R which is then emptied by its waste-cock.
When it has been thus drawn to about one tenth of the quantity of mercury
contained in the apparatus, this latter is completely emptied by the cock 0 and
the mercury coming from it, is filtered, rid of the gold which it contains, then
put back into the apparatus.
With this apparatus all the joints are made water tight by means of rubber
sheets or other suitable matter; moreover, all the cocks serving for evacuating
the mercury are provided with any safety contrivances closed by means of pad
locks, with the object of completely preventing the theft of amalgam.
The water carrying away the matters to be dressed, instead of getting at the
same time into all the elements, and passing simultaneously through all the
columns of mercury, may also be introduced only into the central compartment
where the water is divided into two currents one of which passes into the
columns of mercury of the right element and the other into that of the left
O element.
The carrying away of the matters to be dressed may also be effectuated by
means of compressed air or steam.

page_text: Amalgamating Process and Apparatus.
I, Mrs. LÉON BLOUME, born Marguerite Humbert, of 5, Rue Bridaine, Paris,
France, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:―
The present invention concerns the extraction of gold or other amalgamable
metals, the more special object of which is an amalgamating process and appar-
atus which allow of the total extraction of the metal from the ore by obtaining
a perfect contact between the said metal and the mercury.
With the apparatus now employed, the principal causes of losses are due to
the theft of amalgam, the carrying away of the floating gold and the defective
contact between the ore and mercury; indeed it is almost impossible to prevent
the theft of amalgam with the actual processes of extraction and the fine gold
held in suspension in the water is carried away by the current, or remains on
the surface or in the interior of the particles of rock which cannot practically
be reduced below a certain dimension if we wish to cyanurate with success after
amalgamation; moreover the particles of gold which are covered with a preserv-
ing layer of any matter are not in direct contact with the mercury and
remain in the mire.
My process consists in making the ore rise under pressure, suitably crushed,
drawn by any mechanical agent for instance water, through a column or a sheet
of mercury, so as to reduce the column of water carrying the ore, to thin sheets
and to secure a perfect contact between the mercury and the ore.
Moreover to secure the intimate contact better still the column of mercury is
provided with suitable contrivances intended to oppose the current carrying the
ore, to make it travel transversally in the mercury to oblige the substances
carried away to change position at every moment, to strike and rub against each
other under pressure, also against the obstacles which are placed for this purpose.
My process does away with all ulterior chemical dressing of the ore, the amal-
gamation absorbing all the metal carried through the mercury.
With my process, the amalgamation taking place in a closed vessel the theft
of amalgam is easily rendered impossible; moreover, by making thin ascending
sheets of water pass through the mercury, in which sheets the ore is kept in
suspension, a perfect contact is obtained between the mercury and the gold and
consequently a complete amalgamation of this latter even when it is covered
with alien matters which are removed by the rubbing of the particles of ore
against the bars of the grates arranged in the mercury recipients.
In the drawing annexed to my Provisional Specification a form of construction
of an apparatus intended for the application of my process, is given by way of
example.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of the amalgamator, and Fig. 2 is a front view
of one of the gratings.
The amalgamator is composed essentially of a rectangular tank A, of which
the sides are of sheet iron while the top, the ends and the bottom are in strong
pieces of wood G and C separated from one another by vertical iron partitions D
which divide the case into several transverse compartments.
Each of these compartments is subdivided into 3 compartments by the vertical
partitions E which are connected by bolts to the sides of the case A but do
not rise as high as this latter and leave a free passage of one centimeter between
their lower part and the bottom of the case.
The central compartment is closed at its upper part by the piece of wood G

page_text: d communicates, by its lower part, with the 2 lateral con
e cast iron gratings H are arranged the angular bars a of which are arranged
such a way as to interfere and constitute a vertical zigzag conduit, of a small
dth as shown in Fig. 1.
The bars a have their extremities connected by the 2 uprights 6 which are
ossed at their upper part by a rod e which serves as a handle to facilitate the
xing or the removal of the grating (Fig. 2).
To increase the action of the gratings, these latter could be covered with a
ough and hard body such as quartz or emery, or they could even be made
ntirely of emery.
Each cover G of the compartments F is provided with two tubes J, J the
irst serving to evacuate the air and the second for the introduction of the water.
These tubes are respectively provided with cocks f and d and the tubes J
are branched on the common conduit K which, through the main pipe L,
receives the water under pressure in which the ore is suspended.
Each compartment comprising a central compartment F and two lateral com-
partments with gratings, constitutes an element the lower part of which
communicate by a tube M with a main pipe N closed at one of its extremities
and provided with a flowing cock 0, as well as a branching P which, through
a two-way cock Q, can communicate successively with the vessels RR¹ serv-
ing as reservoirs for the overflow of mercury and provided with waste cocks.
In these reservoirs two floating plates S S are placed, provided with a ver-
tical index-rod T T which pass freely through the covers of the vessels R R¹
and move vertically in front of the hands VV fixed on the covers.
The cover G of the central element is traversed by a tube g in porcelain or
any other insulating material and which is also traversed by a metallic rod h
provided with a screw at its upper extremity and to the lower extremity of
which a sheet of lead i is suspended, the said piece of lead, through the inter-
mediary of the rod hand of a conductor, is electrically connected with the
positive pole of any electric source the negative pole of which communicates
with one of the metallic sides of the tank A by a conductor fixed on this latter
by means of a screw k.
This apparatus works as follows:
The main pipe L being previously connected with a forcing pump of any
5 system, some mercury is introduced through one of the tubes I in a sufficient
quantity to fill the free spaces of the gratings and the bottoms of the elements
with a thickness of about one centimeter.
The ore crushed as fine as possible and sifted, is then forced into the apparatus
through the pipes J with about ten times its weight of water; it follows that
40 under the pressure of the liquid which soon fills all the compartments F, the
mercury rises in the gratings H, and that all the excess falls into one of the
vessels R R and flows through the waste-cock until the float S or S¹ descend
again to the lower part of the corresponding recipient and the zero of the rod
or T corresponds with the hand Vor V
45
During the filling, the tubes I remain open to allow the disengaging of th
air contained in the apparatus but as soon as the water spouts to the upper par
of these tubes, the cocks will be closed and the water then produces its whol
action on the columns of mercury. From that moment the circulation is estal
lished as follows: the water containing the substances to be dressed, comin
50 through the tubes L K and J in the compartments F, is compressed in the sa
These sheets are succe
compartments, forces the mercury into the gratings H and escapes vertically
very thin sheets, through the column of liquid metal.
sively repelled from right to left and vice versa, through the projectures or bar
of the gratings which are arranged to interfere with each other and thus obli
55 the substances carried away to come into contact with the mercury electrif
or not. Owing to this circulation of the matters to be dressed in the amalgan
tion, the ganges lighter than the mercury escape with the current through

page_text: upper part of the apparatus, the oxides, impurities, and multiple combinations
which are formed at the contact of the dressed matters and the mercury, rise to
its surface owing to their inferior density, the gold in heavy particles retains at
the bottom of the vessels F, the floating gold is amalgamated in the gratings H
and finally the gold covered with alien. substances, which is heavier than the
quartz gangue which accompanies it, and circulating less quickly in consequence,
is continually shaken cleaned and rubbed under pressure and rid of the layer
which preserves it and finally absorbed by the mercury.
Electricity is employed with this apparatus with the object of facilitating and
pushing on the amalgamation.
The water current drawing the mire is disengaged at the upper part of the
columns of mercury and flows through the channel constituted by the upper
part of each element situated above the wooden piece G and limited laterally
by the partitions D.
These channels communicate with a general conduit through which the miré
is led either to the concentrating apparatus or to the place reserved for it.
Owing to the amalgamation the mercury. increases in volume and its excess
emptied through the tubes N and P into the vessel R where it causes the
ascension of the float S and of the rod T which will indicate the quantity of
amalgam contained in the apparatus and consequently of gold to be gathered.
When the vessel R is full, the two-way cock Q is turned to communicate the
tube P with the reservoir R¹ and thus stop the introduction of the mercury
into R which is then emptied by its waste-cock.
When it has been thus drawn to about one tenth of the quantity of mercury
contained in the apparatus, this latter is completely emptied by the cock o and
the mercury coming from it, is filtered, rid of the gold which it contains, then
put back into the apparatus.
With this apparatus all the joints are made water-tight by means of rubber
sheets or other suitable matter moreover, all the cocks serving for the passage
of the materials treated, or to be treated are provided with any safety con-
trivances closed by means of pad locks, with the object of completely preventing
the theft of amalgam.
The water carrying away the matters to be dressed, instead of getting at the
same time into all the element and passing simultaneously through all the
columns of mercury, may also be introduced only into the central compartment
where the water is divided into two currents one of which passes into the
columns of mercury of the right element and the other into that of the left
element.
The carrying away of the matters to be dressed may also be done by means
of compressed air or steam.
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:
1. A process for extracting gold and other metals by amalgamation, consisting
in making the ore rise under pressure, carried by water or any mechanical agent,
through mercury, and in reducing this water or mechanical agent which carries
the ore, into thin sheets offering a large surface of contact with the mercury thus
facilitating the amalgamation, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. A process for the extraction of gold and other metals by amalgamation,
consisting in making the ore rise under pressure, driven by water or any
mechanical agent through the mercury and in reducing this water or mechanical
agent drawing the ore into thin sheets, and in checking the course of these thin
sheets by means of suitable contrivances arranged in the mercury to make the
ore travel transversally in this latter, thus increasing the surface and the dura-
tion of contact and disintegrating the particles of ore to facilitate the amalgamation
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 3. A process for extracting gold and other metals by amarg
g, under pressure, through the mercury in thin sheets, of the ore converged
any mechanical agent, consisting in the electrifying of the mercury bath
th the object of facilitating the amalgamation, substantially as and for the
rpose set forth.
4. An amalgamating apparatus distinguished by a tank divided into compart-
ents communicating at the bottom, the said compartments being intended to
ceive the mercury, then the fluid conveying the ore to be dressed, some of these
ompartments closed at the top serving to introduce the conveying fluid, the
thers, open at the top serving for the dressing proper; conduits for the intro-
uction of the conveying fluid, the said fluid forcing the mercury into the
ressing compartments and passing through its mass from bottom to top; and
onduits for the evacuation of the amalgam, substantially as and for the purpose
et forth.
5. An amalgamating apparatus distinguished by a tank divided into compart.
ments communicating at the bottom intended to receive the mercury, then the
Huid which conveys the ore to be dressed, some of these compartments 'closed at
the top, serving for the introduction of the conveying fluid, the others open at
the top serving for the dressing; tubes for the arrival of the conveying fluid,
which fluid forces the mercury into the dressing compartments and passes
through its mass from bottom to top; tubes for expelling the amalgam and con-
trivances arranged in the said dressing compartments to check the course of the
conveying fluid, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. An ascending amalgamator with checked current for dressing the ores of
gold or other amalgamable metals distinguished by a tank divided by vertical
partitions, into compartments constituting elements which are likewise subdivided
by partitions into three other compartments inter communicating by their lower
parts, the central compartment of each element being closed at its upper part
and provided with an overflow tube and an inlet tube for the substances to be
dressed, and the lateral compartments containing each a grating of a suitable
shape, into which the mercury contained in the apparatus, rises under the action
of the pressure of the water or of the fluid bringing the substances to be dressed,
the said elements of the apparatus communicating by suitable tubes with one or
more reservoirs receiving the excess of mercury according to the production of
the amalgam substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In an ascending amalgamator with checked current a grating distinguished
by two series of triangular bars joined at their extremities by lateral uprights
having one of their edges facing each other, and arranged to interfere with each
other so as to constitute a zigzag conduit of a small breadth which contains a
0 column of mercury, the object of said grating being to successively deviate
from left to right, and vice versa, the thin sheet of water or fluid which passe
through the column of mercury, carrying with it the substance to be dressed
with the object of obtaining a perfect contact between this matter and the mer
cury and to cause a rubbing of the particles of gold or other amalgamable metal
45 covered with a layer of alien substance, against the bars of the gratings covere
or not, for this purpose, with a rough substance, to remove the layer of alie
substance and to allow the amalgamation of all the metal contained in the or
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
1000
Dated this 20th day
J. P. BAYLY,
11.m
Place London, W., Agent for the Applicant.