Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1886
Complete Left, 24th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th Sept., 1887.
АШИВАшанов от мощно.
I CLARENCE WILLIAM CROSSLEY of St. Mary's Chambers St. Mary Axe in the
City of London & County of Middlesex, Engineer and Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improved apparatus is more particularly applicable to the separation extraction
& amalgamation of gold and without confining the apparatus to that one use I shall
principally refer to the treatment of gold in this provisional specification. The
apparatus operates by the aid of centrifugal force, mercury or other amalgamating
metal and Electricity independently or conjointly. The foundation of my invention
is a revolving receptacle rotating at a high velocity. This receptacle may have
straight or curved sides and bottom, in the latter case 1 sometimes make it parabolic
in vertical section. In the receptacle is placed a suitable quantity of mercury or
other amalgamating metal or alloy & to this is added the pulverised ore or ore and
water either in the condition in which it leaves the "stamp-heads" or in the form of
"tailings
or otherwise. On rotating the receptacle by any suitable means the
mercury being of considerable weight flys to the extreme internal diameter of the
receptacle and on increasing the speed of rotation it will rise in the form of a coating
on the wall or inside of the receptacle this coating being thinner or thicker according
to the speed at which the apparatus is revolved. The action is similar to that of a
glass of water placed on a whirling table so that it can be rapidly turned, when the
water will leave the centre & rise towards the edges of the glass & may even be
thrown over the sides if the rotation is rapid enough.
Every particle of ore does not of course contain gold but those particles which do
are naturally heavier size for size than those which do not & in those cases where the
gold is quite separate that particle is heavier than the others.
The specific gravity of gold being greater than that of mercury those particles
which are comparatively separate from the ore endeavour by their greater weight to
pass through the mercury to reach the extreme distance from the axis of rotation but
in doing so are amalgamated by the mercury; in the same way those particles

page_text: consisting of gold & ore in conjunction although not so heavy as those just referred to
nevertheless also endeavour to reach the extreme distance from the axis of rotation
and in doing so come in contact with the mercury and the gold they contain is
immediately amalgamated.
The rotary movement has a tendency to keep the surface of the mercury cleaner
than it would be if simply remaining in a horizontal position as is the case with
ordinary "mercury-troughs" or "riffles ;" by varying the speed the thickness of the
coating of mercury can be varied & as this varying of thickness means a change in
the position of each particle of mercury there is less chance than usual of the mercury
"
"filmed over
becoming
" floured "
ог "sickened" and rendered comparatively
useless as it frequently is at present. The rotary movement also tends to dispel air-
bubbles which in many cases accompany the particles of ore & gold & prevent the
amalgamation of the latter.
It is well known that in many cases the application of electricity to amalgamating
apparatus renders the mercury much more "lively" and capable for a longer period
of taking in gold owing to the electricity affording a certain amount of remedy for
the discoloration "flouring" or "sickening" of the mercury.
The reason of this is not quite apparent and the action is no doubt dependent very
considerably on the nature of the particular ore under treatment. Whenever therefore
it is thought desirable to use electricity in my apparatus I connect it in any suitable
way but generally by putting the negative pole of the source of electricity in connection
with the mercury in the revolving receptacle & the positive pole I connect with a
suitable electrode so arranged that it is separated from the mercury by a wall or
septum of water & the ore under treatment & so that this septum completes the
circuit by joining the two poles. The anode or electrode of the positive pole can be
suitably arranged so that when the mercury is spread (by the rotary action of the
receptacle) on the inside of that receptacle then the anode will be comparatively low
in the receptacle and vice versa when the speed is decreased or stopped altogether it
will then be drawn up clear of the mercury which will then have fallen to the bottom
of the receptacle. This raising & lowering of the anode can if desired be effected by
means of a kind of governor attached to the revolving axle of the receptacle & acting
upon suitable mechanical arrangements. The application of the electricity can also
be arranged so that the current can be applied & controlled automatically either by
the action of the rising mercury or by the governor just mentioned.
Chemicals such as sodium, acid etc. may be added either to the ore, ore & water or
to the mercury or other amalgamating substance.
Spikes grids or the like either stationary or moving may be arranged in the
receptacle to further agitate the ore or ore & water & give the particles more chance
of finding their way towards the amalgamating metal.
When cold prevents the use of fluid mercury or where heat is necessary for any
reason the revolving receptacle may be surrounded by a jacket filled with hot water
or steam or it may be heated by other means.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1886.

page_text: Amalgamation of Metals.
1 CLARENCE WILLIAM CROSSLEY of St. Marys Chambers, St. Mary Axe, in the
City of London and County of Middlesex, Engineer & Manufacturer, 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 improved apparatus is more particularly applicable to the separation extraction
and amalgamation of gold and without confining the invention to that one use I shall
only refer to the treatment of gold in this specification. The invention has for its
object to bring the gold (or the ore containing it) by simple means into closer contact
with the mercury than has hitherto been done even by more complicated & elaborate
apparatus and it operates primarily by the aid of centrifugal force impelling the
particles of gold or its oro against the surface of a coating or layer of mercury spread
by centrifugal force on the inside of a rotating receptacle.
In a conveniently shaped receptacle (such as a pan or barrel) which can be revolved
at the necessary speed is placed a suitable quantity of mercury & to this is added the
pulverized oro or ore with water either in the condition in which it leaves the "stamp-
heads" or in the form of "tailings" or otherwise. On rotating the receptacle by any
suitable means the mercury being of considerable weight flys to the extreme internal
diameter of the receptacle and on increasing the speed of rotation it will be spread in
the form of a coating on the wall or inside of the receptacle, this coating being
thinner or thicker according to the speed at which the apparatus is revolved. The
action (in the case of a vertically supported receptacle) is similar to a glass of water
rapidly revolved on a whirling-table when the water will leave the centre and rise
towards the edges of the glass and will if the rotation be rapid enough be thrown
over the edges. In fact, whatever is contained in the receptacle above referred to,
will on sufficient rotation being given to the receptacle range themselves into layers
at distances from the axis of rotation varying according to their specific gravities-
the lightest being nearest the axis of rotation and the heaviest farthest from that axis.
The various layers will however be in very intimate contact where one begins and the
other ends owing to the particles of each layer endeavouring by centrifugal force to
get as far as possible from the axis of rotation & in thus endeavouring to displace
those immediately in advance of them the contact between each naturally becomes
very close. My object is to take advantage of this to bring the particles of gold (or
of the ore containing the gold) into such close contact with the surface of the mercury
that it has little or no chance of escaping amalgamation.
Every particle of the ore contained in the receptacle will not of course contain gold
but those particles which do will naturally be heavier-size for size than those which
do not and where the gold is quite separate those particles will be heavier-particle
for particle-than the others.

page_text: The specific gravity of gold being greater than that of mercury those particles
which are comparatively pure gold will by the centrifugal force generated by the
rotating receptacle and by reason of their greater weight, endeavour to pass through
the mercury to reach the extreme distance from the axis of rotation but in doing so
they will become amalgamated with the mercury. Indeed were it not that mercury
has the property of absorbing and amalgamating gold, the particles. would actually
pass thro' the mercury and take their place outside the mercury & at the greater
distance from the axis of rotation. In the same manner those particles consisting of
gold & ore in conjunction, altho' not so heavy as those of pure gold just referred to,
will nevertheless also endeavour to reach the extreme distance from the axis of 1
rotation & in doing so are brought into that intimate contact I have already mentioned
and the particle of gold afforded a much greater chance than usual of becoming
amalgamated. When the mercury is sufficiently charged with the gold the latter is
recovered by retorting or otherwise treating the mercury.
"float" or "flour
There are cases where some of the gold is what is known as
gold, which means that under ordinary conditions it will float on water—a property
which most metals when finely divided seem to possess in a greater or lesser degree.
Nevertheless if the particles are of gold they must be heavier than water and unless
something in their shape or condition is against it, they must sink and they must also
in the centrifugal machine range themselves at the distance from the centre of rota-
tion in accordance with their gravity. The reason of the gold floating is according
to some theorists because each particle is surrounded by a bubble of air which supports
it and according to others because the gold is of a flattened (laminated) shape and
that owing to this shape the particles remain suspended until some disturbance of the
liquid turns them edgowise, when they sink. It has also been observed that float
gold can often be made to sink by raising the temperature of the water in which it is
contained, to about boiling point the explanation of this is according to the one class
of theorists that the heat dispels the air bubbles which kept the particles afloat and
according to the other that the commotion caused by the boiling brings about the
desired change in the position of the particles of gold & places the lamina or flakes
in such a position that they sink. It will therefore be readily seen that whichever
theory is the correct one the use of a centrifugal machine according to my method
will tend greatly to prevent the floating of the small particles of gold-because the
commotion caused by the rotary motion and the consequent rubbing of particle
against particle will aid in breaking the air bubbles if existent and also give the
laminated particles of gold (if such be their form) a chance of getting placed edgewise
and so ceasing to float.
In cases however where the particles of gold persist in keeping near the axis of
rotation by reason of their artificial or conditional lightness I provide for catching
them on amalgamated drums plates or the like placed near to or surrounding the axis
of rotation and these amalgamated drums &c. may if desired be connected with a
source of electricity for the purpose hereafter mentioned.
The rotary movement given to the mercury will tend to keep the surface of it
brighter and cleaner than is the case where it remains simply in a horizontal position
as it does in ordinary pans, mercury-troughs, riffles & other apparatus of that kind
where the ore and water simply passes over the surface of the mercury and is in some
forms of apparatus disturbed by revolving spikes, &c. for the purpose of making the
gold sink by its own gravity alone. In my centrifugal apparatus however by varying
the speed the thickness of the coating of mercury will be varied and as this varying
of the thickness means a change in the position of each particle of mercury and a
consequent disturbing of its surface there will be much less chance than usual of the
surface becoming filmed over (floured or sickened) as it does when remaining in an
undisturbed horizontal position and in which state there is very little chance of
amalgamation.
It is well known that in many cases the application of electricity to amalgamating
apparatus renders the mercury much more bright and "lively" and capable, for a
longer period, of absorbing gold-under some circumstances it appears to afford a

page_text: certain amount of remedy for the "flouring" or "sickening" of the mercury above
referred to. The reason of this is not quite apparent and the action is no doubt
dependent very considerably on the nature of the particular ore under treatment.
Whenever therefore it is thought desirable to use electricity in my apparatus I connect
it in any suitable 'way but generally by putting the negative pole of the source of
electricity in connection with the mercury in the revolving receptacle and connecting
the positive pole with a suitable electrode so arranged in the receptacle that it is
separated from the mercury by a layer or body of the ore and water under treatment
-this layer forming the connection between the two poles and so completing the
circuit. The anode or electrode of the positive pole can be suitably arranged so that
when the mercury is spread (by the rotary action of the receptacle) on the inside of
the receptacle then the anode will be comparatively low in it and vice versa when the
speed is decreased or stopped altogether it will then be drawn up clear of the mercury
which will then have fallen to the bottom of the receptacle. This raising & lowering
of the anode can if desired be effected by means of a kind of governor attached to the
revolving axle or shaft of the apparatus & acting upon suitable mechanical arrange-
ments. The application of the electricity can also be arranged so that the current
can be applied and controlled automatically either by the action of the spreading
mercury or by the governor just mentioned or by other suitable means.
Chemicals such as sodium, acid &c. can be added either to the ore, ore and water
or to the mercury so as to improve and lengthen the amalgamating property of the
latter or to render the gold in the former more likely to amalgamate. The ore may
be submitted to any treatment which will render the gold contained in it more readily
amalgamable.
Spikes, grids, balls or the like either stationary or moving may be arranged in the
receptacle to further agitate the ore, etc., and accelerate the passage of the particles
towards the mercury.
When electricity is used in the apparatus these spikes &c.
may form the anode by being made of metal or other suitable material and connected
with the positive pole of the source of electricity. They might also be made of metal
(copper, for instance) amalgamated so as to catch any stray particles of gold which
came in contact with them. Amalgamated spikes, plates &c. in the position they
would thus occupy or would occupy when placed to catch the float gold as mentioned
in a previous paragraph, would not be so liable to have the amalgam taken off their
surfaces by the rubbing of the ore and water as might be supposed, as the heavier
particles of ore will be furthest from the spikes &c. and nearest the mercury.
The main rotating receptacle may have an inner one into which the ore &c. is to be
fed and from which it may by rotation be "flung out," through apertures in the
sides, on to the coating of mercury distributed over the inside of the main receptacle.
When cold prevents the use of fluid mercury or where heat is necessary for any
purpose the revolving receptacle may be surrounded by a jacket filled with hot water
or steam or it may be heated by any other suitable means.
The accompanying drawings (which are not to scale) will help to explain the way
in which my invention may be put in practice, but I do not confine myself solely to
the methods shewn by these drawings as the details, relative proportions and dis-
position of the various parts as also their shape and the material of which they are
constructed may be considerably varied without departing from the invention. Similar
letters and figures of reference indicate wherever possible corresponding parts in ench
apparatus shewn.
For simplicity in describing the drawings it has been assumed that the revolving
receptacle is in the form of a pan or tub which turns on a vertical shaft and this
I consider, when it can be used, the best arrangement as it takes less power to work
it, and the coating of mercury can by varying the speed be made thinner or thicker
as above described which could not be so readily or simply done in a receptacle not
turning on a vertical axis. The receptacle may however be of barrel or drum shape
and revolved on a horizontal instead of vertical shaft-the mercury & ore and water
forming layers on the inside of the barrel or the like, by the action of centrifugal
force. In fact the principle of using centrifugal force for the purpose of this invention

page_text: could without much difficulty be applied to many existing pans or barrels simply
by rotating them at sufficient speed to spread the mercury as described, instead of
turning them so slowly (from 12 to 16 revolutions per minute) as at prosent, that the
mercury remains almost if not quite stationary and horizontal. It is obvious also that
mercury, for the purpose of this invention, might be used in centrifugal machines not
originally constructed for carrying out this method of amalgamation."
In the drawings the receptacle is shewn driven from overhead but it may also be
driven from below or it may be suspended from a suitable socket above & revolved
without any support below as is frequently done in centrifugal machines for the
extraction of sugar & for other purposes. In describing the drawings I shall 1
generally designate the revolving receptacle "the pan."
Fig. 1. shews one of the simplest modes of carrying out my invention. In this
drawing (which is in vertical section) ABCD represent the pan which may be of
iron or other suitable material. The pan can have an inturned lip all round the top
(as shewn in dotted lines) to prevent the contents being thrown over the edge or it
can have a properly fitting lid somewhat as shewn. From & fastened to or forming
part of the bottom of the pan rises a column EE which is hollow to about the top of
the pan, from there upwards it is solid & has a pulley F' keyed on by which it is
revolved. This end of the column turns in a suitable bearing G. From a base or
bed-plate H rises a vertical column or shaft K over which is put the hollow part
of EE and round which it (EE) is turned by the revolution of the pulley F.
or by other means. In the pan is put the charge of mercury and ore and water. The
mercury is shown up to the lovel LL and the ore & water up to M M.
On rotating the apparatus by the pulley F or some other convenient means the
mercury flys from the centro of the pan and being prevented by the sides of it, from
proceeding any further in that direction, it rises in the form of a layer or coating
round the inside of the pan the ore and water taking a similar position next to the
mercury, but between it and the axis of rotation. The approximate position of the
mercury is shewn in the drawing by the portion with diagonal lines crossing in
opposite directions & marked LL. The ore & water is represented by the short
almost vertical lines and the dots of varying size as the distance from the axis of
rotation increases & is marked M¹ M². The gold and the ore will be nearest the
mercury & the water & lighter substances nearer the axis of rotation as explained in
the carlier part of this specification. The height of the mercury is guaged by the
screw plug N or some similar contrivance. After the pan has been revolved for a
space of time sufficient to effect the amalgamation of the gold-the ore and water can
be run off by the outlet N and the mercury by the plug Ŏ. The mercurial amalgam
is then retorted or otherwise treated so as to obtain the gold contained in it. Fig. 2
shews a modification of the above apparatus whereby it is made self-emptying as
regards the ore and water, several charges of which can be operated upon with only
one charge of mercury. In this apparatus the bottom of the pan has a circular or
other shaped ring or partition P. the top of which is coincident with the level of the
charge of mercury.
Between this ring & the centre shaft there are openings in the bottom of the
pan as at QQ, and underneath is the trough or shoot RR to catch and carry away to
its desired destination the ore and water when the apparatus is stopped.
In this apparatus the mercury is first introduced and the pan being rotated the
mercury is spread over the inside as before described and the space between the ring P
and the sides of the pan (& which the mercury occupied when first introduced) will
be nearly emptied owing to the mercury running up the sides of the pan. The charge
of ore, etc., is now introduced through the hopper SS or otherwise and at first (but for
an exceedingly short time) occupies so much of the space between P and the sides of
the apparatus as is now unoccupied by the mercury. "The ore, etc., is however by the

page_text: space
rotary action of the pan almost immediately spread over the vertical surface of the
mercury & after it has been revolved for so long as may be decined necessary the pan
is stopped. The mercury now falls into its original position in the ring like
between P and the sides of the pan. The ore and water also falls, but as the only
position it can occupy is on the top of the mercury whose level is on a line with the
top of P. it has no other course open to it but to run over the top of P, through the
openings QQ in the bottom of the pan and away along the trough R-its course being
indicated by the arrows 2.2.
Fig. 8. shows an apparatus similar to the one last described, but it has a valve T. T.
closing the space between P. P. and the centre shaft. The valve can be opened for
the exit of the ore and water by means of the rods U. U. passing through guides
attached to the sleeve shaft E and having their ends screwed where they pass thro' the
hand wheels V. V. by turning which the rods and the valve are raised & the ore, &c.
discharged. In this arrangement both the mercury & ore & water can be put in before
the pan is revolved, instead of revolving the pan previous to putting in the ore and
water as in the last described arrangement.
Any other methods of emptying may of course be used instead of those just described.
Fig. 4 shews a method of depressing & raising the anode or anodes (when used) by
means of a governor as & for the purpose mentioned early in this specification.
The governor is attached to the centre shaft by which the pan is revolved and as the
rotation increases the projecting ends W W of the governor bars will be depressed by
the balls XX flying out more or less from the centre shaft. Attached to.the
ends W W are the connecting rods YY which are fastened loosely to a ring ZZ
sliding freely on the shaft E. The ring is suitably connected with the cylindrical or
other shaped anode as at Z¹ & Z or it may support a frame carrying the anodes when
in the form of rods &c. Other methods may be used for this purpose besides that just
described.
The mechanical arrangements for raising the anodes would not be needed if the
electric current is cut off previous to stopping the apparatus. The approximate position
of the internal amalgamated drum, cylinder plates rods or the like is shewn at Y' Y'
Fig. 1. and similar drums &c., &c. for the purpose of catching the float (flour) gold, as
before described, are applicable to any apparatus used or constructed for carrying out
my Invention.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
Invention & in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The herein described method of amalgamating gold & other amalgamable
metals by impelling by centrifugal force the particles of the metal (or of the ore
containing them) into intimate contact with a layer or coating of mercury-the said
layer or coating of mercury being spread on the inside of a receptacle by the
centrifugal force generated by rotating that receptacle-the whole substantially as
described & set forth in this specification & partly shewn in the drawings or any mere
modification or imitation thereof.
(2) The application to and use in all amalgamating apparatus to which it can be
applied or in which it can be used of centrifugal force acting substantially as & for the
purpose herein set forth.
(3) In centrifugal machines however made worked or operating and whether or not
originally or specially constructed for putting into practice this method of amalgamation
the application & use of mercury operating substantially as and for the purpose of
amalgamation herein set forth.
(4) In apparatus used or constructed for carrying into effect this method of amal-
gamation the application & use of electricity substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore mentioned.
(5) In apparatus used or constructed for carrying into effect this method of
amalgamation the application & use of moveable or stationary amalgamated cylinders
drums plates rods or the like such amalgamated cylinders etc. being or not in connection

page_text: with a source of electricity & having for their object primarily to absorb any floating
or light gold &c. which may by chance or otherwise not be driven by the
centrifugal force into the mercury-substantially as herein described & partly
shewn in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings or any mere modification or imitation
thereof.
(6) In apparatus used or constructed for carrying into effect this method of amal-
gamation the application and use of sodium chemicals acids or the like or any other
treatment whereby the action of the mercury is quickened & improved or the ore &c.
is brought into better condition for allowing the amalgamation of the gold &c.
substantially as described.
(7) In apparatus used or constructed for carrying into effect this method of amal-
gamation the application and use of heat when necessary to keep the mercury fluid or
for any other purpose substantially as herein described.
(8) In apparatus used or constructed for carrying into effect this method of amalga-
mation the application & use of spikes, grids, rods, balls or the like stationary or moving
for agitating the ore or ore & water for the purpose herein set forth such spikes
rods &c. being or not connected with a source of electricity substantially as and for
the purpose herein described.
(9) In apparatus used or constructed for carrying into effect this method of
amalgamation the application and use of an internal receptacle into which the
ore or ore and water is fed & from which it is thrown, by centrifugal force,
through apertures in the receptacle on to the layer or coating of mercury spread
on the inside of the main receptacle in the manner substantially as herein set
forth.
(10) The general arrangement construction & combination of the several & respective
parts together forming an apparatus for carrying into effect this method of amalgamation
substantially as described in connection with Fig. 1. or any mere modification or
imitation thereof.
(11) The arrangement for rendering the apparatus used or constructed for
carrying into effect this method of amalgamation self-emptying and capable of being
used for the treatment of several charges of ore and water by one charge of mercury
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3 or any modification or
imitation thereof.
(12) The arrangement described with reference to Fig. 4. for raising and lowering
the anodes substantially as and for the purpose set forth or any mere modification
thereof.
L00 d Amount 1887