Improvements in Copper Amalgamating Plates.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Copper Amalgamating Plates.
We, ROWLAND JOHN ATCHERLEY, of 23 Bucklersbury, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Berlin, Fellow of the Chemical
Societies of London and Berlin, Metallurgical Chemist, and ALEXANDER EDWARD
SARTI, of 15 Myddleton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to so construct copper amalgamating plates used
for collecting or extracting gold, that an increased and more highly sensitive amalgamat-
ing surface will be presented to the gold-containing substances.
For this purpose we form a surface of a grauular or spongy nature upon which
mercury is applied in the usual manner, so that the mercury surface exposed will be
of a correpondingly. granular nature, and consequently present a greater area and
possess a greater retaining power than is the case when the mercury is applied to a
compact, smooth surface.
:
In carrying out our invention we take a plate of copper and make the surfaces of
such plate of a granular or spongy nature by an electro-deposition of copper thereon;
or if desired the whole of the copper plate may be formed by electro-deposition.
Upon the surface to be exposed to the gold bearing substance we then effect an electro-
deposition of silver, so that its surface will also be of a granular nature, and the
mercury applied to such surface will consequently present a greater area and have
more retaining or collecting power than if it were applied to a flat, smooth, and
compact surface.
As the plates thus constructed will have the contact surfaces between the copper
and silver of chemically pure metals, the local electric action which occurs when less
pure metals are employed will be avoided, and consequently the plates will have
a longer life.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1888
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Copper Amalgamating Plates.
We, ROWLAND JOHN ATCHERLEY, of 23 Bucklersbury, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Berlin, Fellow of the Chemical
Societies of London and Berlin, Metallurgical Chemist, and ALEXANDER EDWARD
SARTI, of 15 Myddleton Street, Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, Electrician,
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:
The object of our invention is to so construct copper amalgamating plates used for
collecting or extracting gold, that an increased and more highly sensitive amalgamat-
ing surface will be presented to the gold-containing substances.
For this purpose we form a surface of a granular and nuclear nature upon which
mercury is applied in the usual manner, so that the mercury surface exposed will be
of a correspondingly granular and nuclear nature, and consequently present a greater
area and possess a greater retaining affinity for gold or silver than is the case when
the
mercury is applied to a compact, smooth surface.
In carrying out our invention we take a plate of copper and make the surfaces of
uch plate of a granular or nuclear nature by an electro-deposition of copper thereon;

page_text: or if desired the whole of the copper plate may be formed by electro-deposition.
Upon the surface to be exposed to the gold or silver bearing substance we then effect
an electro-deposition of silver, so that its surface will also be of a granular nature,
and the mercury applied to such surface will consequently present a greater area and
have more retaining or collecting power than if it were applied to a flat, smooth, and
compact surface. Further the amalgamating surface of silver and mercury is less
liable to strip or leave the plate of copper than when the plate of copper is simply
a rolled sheet.
As the plates thus constructed will have the contact surfaces between the copper and
silver of chemically pure metals, the local electric action which occurs when less pure
metals are employed will be avoided, and consequently the plates will have a
longer life.
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 :-
Copper amalgamating plates having surfaces of a granular or nuclear nature
produced by an electro-deposition of copper, upon which an electro-deposition of
silver is then effected, and mercury applied thereto in the usual manner, substantially
as specified.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.