Improvements in the Extraction of Metals from Ore.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug.. 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Extraction of Metals from Ore.
We, WILLIAM PATERSON, Chemist, 9 Huntley Terrace, North Kelvinside,
Glasgow, and ROBERT STARKE, Solicitor, West Regent Street, Glasgow, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the wet method of extracting gold and
other metals from crushed ores or other powdered material containing metals such
as gold, silver, etc.
The extraction is carried out by the use of chlorine, bromine or iodine. We
employ a series of vessels which may be arranged in a circle. Each vessel is
provided with a man-hole at the top, through which the ore in a finely divided
state, and previously roasted if required, is introduced, and a manhole at the bottom
through which the tailings, after all the gold or other metal has been extracted, is
discharged. The upper ends of all the vessels are connected to a pipe or pipes
running along above them, and stop-cocks are provided in this pipe between each
vessel. The lower ends of all the vessels are also connected to another pipe or
pipes with a stop-cock between each vessel. A force pump is provided connected
to the top pipe, by which a solution of chlorine, bromine, or iodine is forced through
the several vessels to a long vertical pipe, at the upper end of which the liquor
with the gold in solution is discharged.
The process of extracting the gold or other metal is as follows :-
All the vessels are filled with the ore in a ground state and previously roasted if
the nature of the ore requires this process, and the man-holes shut. The stop-cocks
are arranged so that there is connection only at the bottom between the first and
second vessel, at the top between the second and third, at the bottom between the
third and fourth, and so on to the last, the top of the last being in connection with
the vertical pipe. The pump is now started, and the solution of chlorine, bromine,
or iodine introduced at the top of the first vessel which percolates down through
the ground ore carrying the gold or other metal with it in solution. From the first
vessel it passes to the bottom of the second, permeates up to the top, then passes to
the top of the third, percolates down, and so on till it reaches the vertical pipe.
The solution is forced up this pipe, passing through a series of filters, and is
discharged at the top in a clear, or semi-clear state. By thus passing through a
series of vessels the full amount of extraction that the chlorine, bromine, or iodine
is capable of performing is obtained. When the liquor has been flowing for a
sufficient time to allow of all the gold or other metal being extracted from the ore
of the first vessel the liquor is cut off from the first vessel, but continues flowing
through the others. The tailings of the first vessel are then discharged, and it
is again charged with ore and connected to the series, but it now becomes the last
vessel of the series. The next vessel is similarly cut off, the tailings discharged,
and it is filled up and becomes the last in the series, and so on through the series.
The process is thus a continuous one, the liquor being kept flowing continuously
while each vessel in turn is disconnected to have the tailings removed and to be
filled up with ore. The disconnection, discharging, filling and reconnection of the
vessels may be done automatically.
Instead of the vertical pipe, we may at the end of the series employ a discharge
valve loaded to give any required pressure in the vessels of the series.
Dated this 1st day of Navambor 1800

page_text: Improvements in the Extraction of Metals from Ore.
We, WILLIAM PATERSON, Chemist, 9 Huntley Terrace, North Kelvinside,
Glasgow, and ROBERT STARKE, Solicitor, 43 West Regent Street, Glasgow, 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:
Our invention relates to improvements in the wet method of extracting gold and
other metals from crushed ores or other powdered material containing metals such
as gold, silver, etc.
The extraction is carried out by the use of chlorine, bromine, or iodine. We
employ a series of vessels which inay be arranged in a circle. Each vessel is
provided with a manhole at the top through which the ore in a finely divided
state and previously roasted if required is introduced, and a manhole at the
bottom through which the tailings after all the gold or other metal has been
extracted is discharged. The upper ends of all the vessels are connected to a pipe
or pipes running along above them, and stop-cocks are provided in this pipe between
each vessel. The lower ends of all the vessels are also connected to another pipe
or pipes with a top-cock between each vessel. A force pump is provided connected
to the top pipe, by which a solution of chlorine, bromine or iodine is forced under a
pressure of about 100 lbs. per square inch through the several vessels to a long
vertical pipe, at the upper end of which the liquor with the gold in solution is
discharged.
The process of extracting the gold or other metal is as follows:-
All the vessels are filled with the ore in a ground state and previously roasted if
the nature of the ore requires this process, and the manholes shut. The stop-cocks
are arranged so that there is connection only at the bottom between the first and
second vessel, at the top between the second and third, at the bottom between the
third and fourth, and so on to the last, the top of the last being in connection with
the vertical pipe. The pump is now started, and the solution of chlorine, bromine
or iodine introduced at the top of the first vessel which percolates down through
the ground ore carrying the gold or other metal with it in solution. From the first
vessel it passes to the bottom of the second, permeates up to the top, then passes to
the top of the third, percolates down, and so on till it reaches the vertical pipe.
The solution is forced up this pipe passing through a series of filters and is
discharged at the top in a clear or semi-clear state. By thus passing through a
series of vessels the full amount of extraction that the chlorine, bromine, or iodine
is capable of performing is obtained. When the liquor has been flowing for a
sufficient time to allow of all the gold or other metal being extracted from the ore
of the first vessel the liquor is cut off from the first vessel, but continues flowing
through the others by a rearrangement of the cocks or valves. The tailings of the
first vessel are then discharged, and it is again charged with ore and connected to
the series, but it now becomes the last vessel of the series. The next vessel is
similarly cut off, the tailings discharged, and it is filled np and becomes the last in
the series, and so on through the series.
The process is thus a continuous one, the liquor being kept flowing continuously
while each vessel in turn is disconnected to have the tailings removed and to be
filled up with ore. The disconnection, discharging, filling, and reconnection of the
vessels may be done automatically.
Instead of the vertical pipe, we may at the end of the series employ a discharge
valve loaded to give any required pressure in the vessels of the series.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect we have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in the

page_text: several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus.
Figure 2 is an elevation.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of one of the vessels on an enlarged scale.
In carrying out our invention we employ a series of iron vessels A', A², A³, Aª,
A², Aº, A² Ã³, A', A", A", A", A", lined with lead or other suitable material
which may be arranged in a circle as shown on the drawings. Each vessel is
provided with a manhole B at the top, through which the ore is introduced, and a
manhole Cat the bottom, through which the tailings, after the gold has been
extracted. is discharged. The upper end of each vessel is connected to a common
pipe D running along above them. Stop-cocks E¹, E' are provided in this pipe
between each vessel, and there is a stop-cock F in each connecting pipe. The lower
ends of each vessel are also connected to another pipe G, having a stop-cock H
between each vessel, and a stop-cock J on each connecting pipe. K is a force
pump for forcing the solution of chlorine, bromine, or iodine into a pipe L, which
has branch connections with stop-cocks M, to the pipe D which connects the upper
ends of the vessels.
It
As shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings, the vessel A." is cut off from
the series, for the purpose of emptying the tailings and being filled with fresh orc.
The solution of chlorine, bromine, or iodine is pumped up and enters A' first.
percolates down through the ore in A', then along the pipe G, and enters the
vessel A at the bottom, permeates up through the ore in A, and enters A³ at the
top, and so on till it reaches the vessel A, from the top of which it passes by
the pipe N to a vertical pipe O. The solution is forced up this vertical pipe
through a series of filters, and is delivered in a clear or semi-clear state. Instead
of this vertical pipe we may have a discharge valve loaded to give any required
pressure in the vessels of the series. In the apparatus above described a continuous
flow of the solution under pressure is maintained and the strong solution of chlorine
enters first into the vessel from which most of the gold has been previously taken
away, and as the solution becomes less powerful owing to the amount of gold held
in solution it goes on to vessels containing ore from which little of the gold has by
this time been extracted. By this means the chlorine has an opportunity of fully
acting on the gold and carrying it away as chloride, thereby saving a considerable
amount of chlorine which would otherwise be lost.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The extraction of gold from the ore by means of a continuous flow through the
finely divided ore of chlorine solution or other solvent under a pressure of about
100 lbs. per square inch in the manner described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 21st dor of Avo 1801
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.