AN IMPROVED METHOD OF DESULPHURIZING MINERAL MATRIX FOR THE EXTRACTION OF AURIFEROUS, ARGENTIFEROUS, AND OTHER METALS CONTAINED THEREIN
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Augustin Godefroy, of No. 3, King's Mead
Cottages, New North Road, Islington, in the County of Middlesex,
Operative Chemist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
DESULPHURIZING MINERAL MATRIX FOR THE EXTRACTION OF AURIFEROUS,
ARGENTIFEROUS, AND OTHER METALS CONTAINED THEREIN."
Sealed the 9th February 1858, and dated the 10th August 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Augustin Godefroy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
10th August 1857.
1, PETER AUGUSTIN GODEFROY, of No. 3, King's Mead Cottages, New
North Road, in the County of Middlesex, Operative Chemist, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF
DESULPHURIZING MINERAL MATRIX FOR THE EXTRACTION OF AURIFEROUS, ARGEN-
TIFEROUS, AND OTHER METALS CONTAINED THEREIN," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in a new method of separating the sulphur or
sulphates from all mineral matter by the use of fluids composed of the
strongest known alkalis under a high temperature. The matrix, rock quartz,
pyrites,&c., is first ground up or pulverized as fine as the finest wheaten flour,
and then subjected in a suitable vessel or vessels to the action of powerful
alkaline fluids by injection of steam, at a pressure of eighty pounds or upwards
Price T

page_text: to the square inch, above boiling heat, which decomposes the matrix and
causes the separation and absorption of the sulphurous portion thereof, leaving
the metallic residue in a granulated state, to be afterwards consolidated by
known ordinary means. The treatment varies according to differences in the
character of the matrix, and other circumstances; sometimes one boiler (or
digester) only is used,in which case the boiling is produced by fire underneath.
The solvent may consist of caustic soda, or caustic potash, or muriate of soda
with caustic lime, together or separate. In the boiler or boilers is introduced
a shaft with arms attached, as in a pug mill, the purpose of which is to
keep the contents. in motion and prevent thereby all precipitation of the
matter while undergoing treatment. Sometimes the matrix thus treated is
condensed to dry powder before it is discharged from the vessel, whereby
the metallic and sulphurous portions of the matter are more thoroughly
disunited than by the absorption process only. This dry coudensing pro-
cess is applicable chiefly to desulphurize iron ore preparatory to smelting
operations.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Augustin Godefroy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 10th February 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
AUGUSTIN GODEFROY, of No. 3, King's Mead Cottages, New North Road,
Islington, in the County of Middlesex, Operative Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, in the twenty-first year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Peter Augustin Godefroy, Her special licence that I, the said Peter
Augustin Godefroy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF DESULPHURIZING MINERAL MATRIX FOR
THE EXTRACTION OF AURIFEROUS, ARGENTIFEROUS, AND OTHER METALS CONTAINED.

page_text: THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Peter Augustin
Godefroy, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy, 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 thereof, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in a new method of separating the sulphuror sulphu-
rates from all mineral matter by the use of fluids composed of the strongest
known alkalies under a high temperature. The matrix, rock quartz,pyrites,&c.,
is first ground up or pulverized as fine as the finest wheaten flour, and then
subjected in a suitable vessel or vessels to the action of powerful alkaline
fluids, by injection of steam, to a pressure of eighty pounds or upwards to the
square inch, above boiling heat, which decomposes the matrix and causes the
separation and absorption in large measure of the sulphurous portion thereof,
leaving the metallic residue in a granulated state to be afterwards consolidated
by known ordinary means. The treatment varies according to differences in
the character of the matrix, and other circumstances; sometimes one boiler
(or digester) only is used, in which case the boiling is effected by fire
underneath. The solvent may consist of caustic soda, or caustic potash, or
muriate of soda with caustic lime, together or separate. In the boiler or
boilers is introduced a shaft with arms attached as in a pug mill, the purpose
of which is to keep the contents in motion and prevent thereby all precipita-
tion of the matter while undergoing treatment. Sometimes the matrix thus
treated is condensed to dry powder before it is discharged from the vessel,
whereby the metallic and sulphurous portions ofthematteraremorethoroughly
disunited than by the solvent or absorption process only. This dry condensing
process is applicable chiefly to desulphurize iron ore preparatory to smelting
operations.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention of" An
Improved Method of Desulphurizing Mineral Matrix for the Extraction of
Auriferous, Argentiferous, and other Metals contained therein," together with
the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect,
I would remark iu conclusion that I hereby declare my Invention to consist in

page_text: In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Augustin Godefroy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE, Patent Agent,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
PETER A. GODEFROY. (L.s.)