IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN ORES CONTAINING COPPER IN ORDER TO OBTAIN COPPER THERE- FROM
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mason, of Eynsham Hall, near Witney, in the
County of Oxford, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF CERTAIN ORES CONTAINING COPPER IN ORDER TO OBTAIN COPPER THERE-
FROM"
Sealed the 6th October 1877, and dated the 4th August 1877.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mason at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th August 1877.
JAMES MASON, of Eynsham Hall, near Witney, in the County of Oxford.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN ORES CONTAINING COPPER IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN COPPER THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to a method of effecting the extraction of copper contained
in what are known as cupreous pyrites or as iron pyrites, containing a small
quantity of intimately mixed copper sulphide, or of copper compound or compounds,
such or similar to those which occur in the Rio Tinto, Tharsis, and the San Domingo's
mines and districts, and it consists in subjecting the ore in its natural or unprepared
condition, broken or subdivided into coarse lumps, or as it comes from the mine, or
by subdivision into smaller lumps, or reduced to coarse powder, to the combined or
to the alternate action of air and water, or the vapor of water, in order that certain
compounds of copper which before such treatment were insoluble in water shall have
been in part or entirely converted into a soluble form capable of being extracted by
means of water.
..
The ores thus treated, after the copper, which by the before-mentioned treatment
has been rendered soluble, are submitted to a washing process in order that the
copper which has been rendered soluble in water may be extracted from the ore,
and these alternate or conjoint actions of air and water, together with washings
with water, are repeated until the exhaustion of the greater part of the copper is
effected. The solutions or liquors containing copper are then to be submitted to a

page_text: cementation process in order that the copper may be separated therefrom, or any
other method for effecting the separation or utilization of the copper, or of the salts
or compounds of copper may be adopted.
.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer that the ore in its natural condition should
be placed in heaps or mounds, and that they should be so arranged as that the air
and the water or aqueous vapor should have free access thereto, vizt., that a current
of air should by preference pass from the lower to the upper and lateral portions of
the mound or heap, and that the water should be permitted or caused to flow or
trickle over the surface of such ore or ores from above downwards.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Mason in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd February
1878.
JAMES MASON, of Eynsham Hall, near Witney, in the County of Oxford.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF CERTAIN ORES CONTAINING COPPER IN
ORDER TO OBTAIN COPPER THEREFROM."
This Invention relates to a method for effecting the extraction of copper con-
tained in what are known as cupreous pyrites or as iron pyrites containing a small
quantity of intimately mixed copper sulphide or of copper compound or compounds,
such pyrites being either those or similar to those pyrites containing copper which
occur in the Rio Tinto and Tharsis mines in the kingdom of Spain, and in the San
Domingo's mines and districts in the kingdom of Portugal, and it consists in sub-
jecting the pyrites either in its natural condition, or either broken or subdivided,
and placed in heaps, mounds, or piles to the combined or to the alternate action of
atmospheric air and of water in order that certain compounds of copper which before
such treatment were insoluble in water shall by such treatment be in part or entirely
be converted into a soluble form, and in such condition be extracted by means of the
water employed. The solutions or liquors containing the soluble compounds of
copper thus resulting may then be submitted either to a cementation process, in
order that the copper may be separated therefrom, or any other method for effecting
the separation or utilization of the copper, or of the salts or compounds of copper
may be adopted.
In carrying out my Invention I prefer that the pyrites should be placed in heaps
or mounds, and that they should be so arranged as that the atmospheric air and the
water should have free access thereto, videlicet, that a current of atmospheric air
should pass from the lower to the upper and lateral portions of the mound or heap, and
that the water should be caused to flow or trickle over the surface of such ore or
ores from above downwards.
Pyrites having thus been treated will be found applicable for the production of
sulphurous acid in the manufacture of sulphuric acid, and may be employed in a
manner similar to that in which crude pyrites or pyrites derived from similar sources
are now employed.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,

page_text: and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the separation and the obtaining of copper or of compounds
of copper from cupreous pyrites, such as before referred to, in the manner herein-
before mentioned.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mason, have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
JAMES MASON. (L.S.)