Improvements in Extracting Metals from their Ores, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting Metals from their Ores, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, JAMES JOHN SHEDLOCK of Framlingham, in the County of Suffolk,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the extraction or recovery of metals from their ores
and primarily has for its object the extraction of the precious metals from ores
of a refractory character but may be used for any other character of ores and the
extraction of any other metal or metals therefrom to which same may be
applicable.
The present invention is as follows:-
The ore to be treated should be in a more or less finely divided condition-and
in some cases having mixed therewith suitable salts or other equivalently acting
material and is subjected under heat in a suitable furnace or chamber while
falling therethrough to the action of numerous jets or sprays of steam air gases
or vapours or combinations thereof.
This furnace or chamber may advantageously be heated by a gas flame or
flames (the gas being produced or introduced from any suitable source) at the
lower part of said chamber or furnace from an atmospheric burner which latter
may have a conical protector thereover to guide the falling ore etc, clear of said
burner and suitable sloping sides or a converging bottom to the said chamber
serving to guide the falling ore hetween or onto suitable triturating surfaces
such as crushing rolls-as hereinafter explained-or the falling ore may be col-
lected and removed from the furnace in any other suitable manner.
The base metals and metalloids are oxydised and combinations formed by
the decompositions or double decompositions of the components (metallic com-
pounds, steam, gases, atmospheric air, etc.) and the salts (when used) with the finely
divided ore.
The gases or vapours and any light particles carried over are conveyed through
flues or suitable passages into chambers or receptacles where same may if desired
be treated in any well-known or suitable manner to recover or obtain bye products
therefrom.
The heavier or denser portions (metals etc) of the ore fall direct or are conveyed
in any suitable manner (as herein before set forth) onto or between suitable tritu-
rating or grinding surfaces advantageously crushing rolls which are or may be
arranged immediately below or in close proximity to the aforesaid furnace and
the ore is thereby further pulverized or disintegrated and is then uniformly
delivered (for instance it may drop direct or may be conveyed in any suitable
manner) into or onto what I 'term the "incorporating" or absorbing vessel.
This "incorporating" or absorbing vessel acts as follows:-
This said vessel is provided with one or more horizontal division plates or
partitions having apertures at opposite extremities thereof or same may be of less

page_text: size than the said vessel which latter is charged with any suitable absorbing or
"incorporating" fluid metal or other suitable menstruum which is caused to flow
(advantageously continuously) in any suitable manner for instance by suitable
mechanism such as a pump or by means of a bladed wheel or drum (like a paddle
wheel) the lowermost blades or paddles of which are immersed in the fluid metal
or menstruum in the vessel advantageously at or near one end thereof adjacent
to the end or opening in the aforesaid horizontal partition or partitions in such
manner that by revolving said wheel the blades thereof will cause the fluid metal
or menstruum to flow along over the said division or partitions pass down at the
other end thereof and flow under said partition (or partitions) and then cause
same to rise up at the first-named end and thus cause a continuous flow (or in
any equivalent or other suitable manner the fluid metal or menstruum may he
caused to flow or move in the vessel) so as thus to constantly present a fresh or
renewed surface in the vessel to the ore falling on same as aforesaid.
The ore is thereby carried along by the flowing menstruum and now parts
with its metal or metals to said menstruum while the non-metallic portions
residuum or "tailings" upon their arrival at the other end of the absorbing
vessel are or may be subjected to the action of jets or a blast of air gas or vapour
to thereby bring them under the influence of or into position or condition for
being removed by a discharging wheel or other suitable apparatus for discharging
the tailings" or residuum from the said vessel into any suitable receptacle (or
any other suitable method or means may be used as desired for collecting and
discharging the tailings or residuum from the vessel) the menstruum continuing
to flow round until fully or sufficiently charged with the metal or metals to be
extracted from the ore whereupon said menstruum is removed and treated for the
separation or recovery of the metal or metals therefrom in any well-known or
suitable manner while a fresh supply or fresh charge of the menstruum is pro-
vided and the operation is repeated and so on or we may arrange to draw off the
menstruum (continuously or intermittently) from the lower part of the vessel
while a fresh supply of the menstruum is correspondingly fed into the vessel to
maintain the desired level.
When mercury is the fluid metal employed as the menstruum jets of water may
be caused to play upon its surface at or near the point at which the ore is intro-
duced but when the menstruum used is a metal requiring elevated temperatures
to maintain it in a fluid state the absorbing vessel is placed over a suitable
furnace or otherwise heated in any desired manner.
In order to prevent or reduce oxidation of the heated metal serving as the
menstruum jets of any suitable reducing gas are made to impinge upon its surface
which may furthermore serve as means to bring the gangue or tailings under
the influence of the discharging wheel hereinbefore referred to.
Dated this 1st day of December 1896
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting Metals from their Ores, and Apparatus
therefor.
I, JAMES JOHN SHEDLOCK, of Framlingham, in the County of Suffolk,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
45

page_text: the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the extraction or recovery of metals from their ores
and primarily has for its object the extraction of the precious metals from ores
of a refractory character but may be used for any other characters of ores and the
extraction of any other metal or metals therefrom to which same may be
applicable.
The present invention is as follows:-
The ore to be treated should be in a more or less finely divided condition-and
in some cases having mixed therewith suitable salts or other equivalently acting
material-and is subjected under heat in a suitable furnace or chamber while
falling therethrough to the action of numerous jets or sprays of steam air gases
or vapours or combinations thereof.
This furnace or chamber may advantageously be heated by a gas flame or
flames (the gas being produced or introduced from any suitable source) at the
lower part of said chamber or furnace from, an atmospheric burner which latter
may have a conical protector thereover to guide the falling ore etc. clear of said
burner and suitable sloping sides or a converging bottom to the said chamber
serving to guide the falling ore between or onto suitable triturating surfaces
such as crushing rolls-as hereinafter explained or the falling ore may be col-
lected and removed from the furnace in any other suitable manner.
The base metals and metalloids are oxydised and combinations formed by
the decompositions or double decompositions of the components (metallic com-
pounds, steam, gases, atmospheric air, etc.) and the salts (when used) with the finely
divided ore.
The gases or vapours and any light particles carried over are conveyed through
flues or suitable passages into chambers or receptacles where same may if desired
be treated in any well-known or suitable manner to recover or obtain bye products
therefrom.
The heavier or denser portions (metals etc) of the ore fall direct or are conveyed
in any suitable manner (as hereinbefore set forth) onto or between suitable tritu-
rating or grinding surfaces advantageously crushing rolls which are or may be
arranged immediately below or in close proximity to the aforesaid furnace and
the ore is thereby further pulverized, or disintegrated and is then uniformly
delivered (for instance it may drop direct or may be conveyed in any suitable
manner) into or onto what I term the "incorporating" or absorbing vessel.
This "incorporating" or absorbing vessel acts as follows:-
The said vessel is provided with one or more horizontal division plates or
partitions having apertures at opposite extremities thereof or same may be of less
size than the said vessel which latter is charged with any suitable absorbing or
incorporating" fluid metal or other suitable menstruum which is caused to flow
(advantageously continuously) in any suitable manner for instance by suitable
mechanism such as a pump or by means of a bladed wheel or drum (like a paddle
wheel) the lowermost blades or paddles of which are immersed in the fluid metal
or menstruum in the vessel advantageously at or near one end thereof adjacent
to the end or opening in the aforesaid horizontal partition or partitions in such
manner that by revolving said wheel the blades thereof will cause the fluid metal
or menstruum to flow along over the said division or partitions pass down at the
other end thereof and flow under said partition (or partitions) and then cause
same to rise up at the first-named end and thus cause a continuous flow (or in
any equivalent or ather suitable manner the fluid metal or menstruum may be
caused to flow or move in the vessel) so as thus to constantly present a fresh or
renewed surface in the vessel to the ore falling on same as aforesaid.
The ore is thereby carried along by the flowing menstruum and now parts
with its metal or metals to said menstruum while the non-metallic portions
residuum or "tailings" upon their arrival at the other end of the absorbing"

page_text: vessel are or may be subjected to the action of jets or a blast of air gas or vapour
to thereby bring them under the influence of or into position or condition for
being removed by a discharging wheel or other suitable apparatus for discharging
the tailings" or residuum from the said vessel into any suitable receptacle (or
any other suitable method or means may be used as desired for collecting and
discharging the tailings or residuum from the vessel) the menstruum continuing
to flow round until fully or sufficiently charged with the metal or metals to be
extracted from the ore whereupon said menstruum is removed and treated fer the
separation or recovery of the metal or metals therefrom in any well-known or
suitable manner while a fresh supply or fresh charge of the menstruum is pro
vided and the operation is repeated and so on or we may arrange to draw off the
menstruum (continuously or intermittently) from the lower part of the vessel
while a fresh supply of the menstruum is correspondingly fed into the vessel to
maintain the desired level.
When mercury is the fluid metal employed as the menstruum jets of water may
be caused to play upon its surface at or near the point at which the ore is intro-
duced but when the menstruum, used is a metal requiring elevated temperatures
to maintain it in a fluid state the absorbing vessel is placed over a suitable
furnace or otherwise heated in any desired manner.
In order to prevent or reduce oxidation of the heated metal serving as the
menstruum jets of any suitable reducing gas are made to impinge upon its surface
which may furthermore serve as means to bring the gangue or tailings under
the influence of the discharging wheel hereinbefore referred to.
And in order that this invention may be easily understood and readily carried.
into practice I will proceed to fully describe same with reference to the drawings
hereunto annexed, in which :-
Fig. 1 is an exterior view in elevation of the calcining chamber C and absorb-
ing vessel L thereunder.
Fig. 2 is a similar view at right angles to Fig. 1, i.e. looking in the direction
of the arrow 1 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the calcining chamber C and absorbing vessel L
on the line 3-3 Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4 Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the absorbing vessel L and feeding
rolls etc but shown on a larger scale-i.e. on the line 5-5 Fig. 6.
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 5-omitting the rolls K.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail the valve h and box or
case carrying thereon the jets or nozzles D D and the valve regulator h
Fig. 8 is a local sectional view of the delivery end of the absorbing vessel L
showing a modified arrangement of the latter when it is charged with water or
aqueous solutions.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
The ore to be treated is first reduced to a fine state of division in some cases
having mixed therewith suitable salts or other equivalently acting material such
as sodium chloride (or any other suitable material may be mixed with the ore)
in which condition it is fed into the hopper A from whence it is delivered in
well-defined quantities by means of the reciprocating frame or grating B into the
calcining or decomposing chamber C through which the ore descends in an even
shower.
At or near the bottom end of this calcining chamber C a large burner E is
provided by means of the flame or flames from which the ore is heated as it falls
through the aforesaid chamber C; or any other suitable means may be used to
heat the falling ore..
Combustible gases are supplied to the burner E (from a gas producer of any
suitable character or from any suitable source) through the pipe p. to the
pipes F. F see Figures 1 and 3.
The ore in its descent through the calcining or decomposing chamber C first

page_text: becomes highly heated whereby its volatile constituents are driven off. The
metalloids and baser metals etc. are oxidized or freed from the ore by the action
of the sprays D D D of steam air gas or vapour which issue from the jets or
nozzles D Dsuch sprays acting upon the falling ore keep it in a constant state
of agitation causing it to make a tortuous passage in its descent and thereby
maintaining it for a considerable period under their influence.
The gases vapours and lighter oxides thus produced are carried off with the
ascending column of heated gases in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 3
through the passages C to the descending flue C thence by the passages C into
the ascending flue C to the outlet C to the chimney stack or if preferred the
said gases etc, may be conveyed into settling chambers with a view to their further
treatment is desired.
or
and
The reservoirs f. f. (see Figures 1 and 3) are charged with steam air gas or
vapour by any suitable means but advantageously by steam injectors d. d. The
sprays DD issuing from the jets or nozzles D¹ 1 are governed by means of the
valves h. h. h. operated from the outside of the reservoirs f. f.. by means of the
regulators hhh. When it is found desirable in the treatment of certain ores
to subject them to the action of a gas or vapour such as chlorine для hydro-
carbon vapour then such gas or vapour may be introduced from any convenient
source into the reservoirs f. f. by the pipes g. g. controlled by suitable valves gl g¹.
The calcined ore freed from its metalloids, baser metals, etc (or as I term them
its" pernicious constituents") having passed through the calcining or decomposing
chamber C and after being subjected as aforesaid to the action of the sprays D D D
falls on to the sloping bottom JJ and is delivered by the latter between the
triturating or crushing rolls KK which not only reduce any clinker which may
have formed in the calcining or decomposing chamber C but said rolls KK also
serve to deliver the ore (in an even and well-defined stream) into the alloying or
absorbing vessel L.
The rolls KK (enclosed in a gas-tight cover O see Figures 2 and 4) are kept
cool by water or steam introduced into them by the pipes r. r. and are maintained
at the desired position relative to one another by means of the spring m and the
regulating screw n.
The alloying or absorbing vessel L may be charged with any suitable fluid
metal L (or other suitable menstruum) having an affinity for the metal or metals
it is desired to extract from the ore, and in order to present a clean and fresh
surface to the ore as it falls from the rolls K K through the channel K¹ the fluid
metal or menstruum L is caused to flow continuously in one direction by means
of the paddle wheel or bladed drum P raising the fluid metal or menstruum L'
on to the partition Q which extends nearly the whole length of the alloying or
absorbing vessel L dividing it horizontally or approximately so the said fluid
metal or menstruum returning under the partition Q towards the paddle wheel
or drum P.
The ore as it is carried forward by the flowing metal or menstruum L' parts
with its gold or other metal or metals (which it is desired to recover) which are
absorbed in and by the said menstruum L' while the gangue and tailings upon
their arrival at the delivery end of the alloying or absorbing vessel L are carried
on to the shelf It from whence such gangue and tailings are removed by the
wheel or bladed drum R and passed into the outlets or shoots S S S.
When a fluid metal such as molten lead is employed as the alloying or absorb-
ing medium the gangue and tailings are advantageously removed from the surface
of the molten metal on which they float and driven on to the shelf R by means
of jets or nozzles U U (on the supply pipe U) from which issue under pressure
de-oxidising or reducing gases which not only act upon the gangue and tailings
for their effectual removal or assisting in their removal on to the shelf R but
also act as a means to keep the surface of the molten metal perfectly clean or

page_text: in such a condition as to readily' alloy itself with or absorb the precious or other
metals contained in the ore.
If desired jets similar to and in addition to the jets U U may be placed at any
desired point or points between the propelling wheel P and the shelf R such
additional supply pipes U and jets U U being arranged in any convenient and
suitable manner.
The alloying or absorbing vessel L and drums P and R are enclosed in a
suitable gas-tight cover upon which is fitted a receiver provided with a valve W
through which fresh supplies of the fluid metal L' or other menstruum are
introduced as required. The fluid metal or menstruum when saturated to the
required degree with the precious or other metal or metals to be recovered may
be withdrawn at the outlet valve W and the absorbed metal or metals may be
separated from the menstruum in any well-known or suitable manner.
When an alloying metal such as lead is employed then it is necessary to
maintain it at the required degree of fluidity by any suitable means advan-
tageously by the combustion of gaseous fuel under the absorbing vessel L and
conveyed to the burner t. regulated by the valve t¹) by the pipe y. connected to
the pipe p. while the products of combustion from this burner L. are carried off
by the pipe a. into the flue C¹¹.
When the fluid metal L' employed is mercury then instead of using gas jets
at U U jets of water or air or both may be introduced into the alloying or absorb-
ing vessel L through the aforesaid supply pipes U and nozzles U U while at or
near the point where the stream of ore enters the vessel L water may be intro-
duced by means of the pipes P¹ or same may be placed at 'any other convenient
part of the alloying or absorbing vessel L, the gangue or tailings being removed
as before described by means of the wheel or bladed drum R¹ into the shoots S S S
into which latter the water (when used) will overflow.
In the treatment of certain ores (such as those containing silver) by means of
chlorine or similar gas or vapour introduced into the calcining chamber C com-
binations of the chlorine gas etc. and the silver etc. are formed and the absorbing
vessel L being charged with a suitable liquid such as an aqueous solution of
potassium cyanide or sodium chloride the said combinations are thereby absorbed
or when the ore contains gold and the latter is brought down into the absorb-
ing vessel L in a free state then the liquid in the said vessel may be an aqueous
solution of potassium cyanide or other suitable salt.
and
The water or aqueous solutions having absorbed the said combinations or metals
the gangue or tailings sink in the agueous solution and are withdrawn from the
absorbing vessel L by means of the wheel or bladed drum R arranged as illus-
trated in Figure 8 viz: the gangue and tailings falling into the vessel L (instead
of floating on the surface of the flowing fluid L' as previously described when
molten lead or mercury or the like is used) would become immersed in the water
or aqueous solution and would be carried therewith along the division or parti-
tion Q and fall over the end thereof on to the tray R (Figure 8) or into the lower
part of the vessel L whence they (ie. the gangue and tailings) are dredged or
removed by the blades or scoops on the wheel R or by any other suitable means
and such gangue or tailings being wet with the liquid in the vessel (which liquid
would now contain in solution the precious or other metal to be recovered) there-
fore means should be provided or care taken to drain such liquid from the gangue
or tailings either during their removal or subsequently so that a minimum (if
any) of such solution is lost.
Instead of the aforesaid pair of triturating or crushing rolls KK-any equival-
ent or other suitable means may be employed for crushing regulating or delivering
the finely divided ore coming from the chamber C-either directly or otherwise
into the absorbing vessel L and such rolls K K or their equivalent may be mounted
directly under said calcining chamber C as shown or same may be arranged in
any other suitable position (ie. otherwise than perpendicularly below said

page_text: chamber C) and any suitable means interposed or provided to deliver thereto
the ore coming from said chamber C.
Also the absorbing vessel L may be arranged in any suitable position relative
to said rolls K K or equivalent i.e. arranged otherwise than as shown if desired.
The provision and employment of a flowing menstruum in an alloying or
absorbing vessel such as L constitutes a very important and essential feature of
the present invention and it is to be clearly understood that this flowing men.
struum may be used either in conjunction with the calcining chamber C and
other parts as shown or same may be used in combination and acting in conjunc-
tion with any suitable apparatus other than that shown or if desired the absorbing
vessel with this flowing menstruum may be used alone .e. entirely separate
from any calcining apparatus as shown separately in Figures 5 and 6-for instance
in the case of ores containing their metals in a free state such ores can be
delivered direct from crushing rolls or stamps into the alloying or absorbing
vessel L.
In some cases however for instance with molten lead as the menstruum instead
of the latter being made to flow I may use a sufficient number of gas jets of
sufficient power to carry along the ore floating on the lead to the point where
same is removed while in the case of mercury being the menstruum I may if
desired use jets of air water or gas or combinations thereof for the same purpose:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The improved process of treating ores of the character described which
consists in delivering finely divided ore in an even shower into a caleining or
decomposing chamber such as C, heating same to the required degree as it falls
and also subjecting it to the action of sprays of steam air gas or vapours or combina-
tions thereof as it descends then passing the ore between suitable grinding and
feeding rolls or equivalent, then delivering the ore in an even stream into an
absorbing vessel L containing a fluid metal or other suitable menstruum in which
latter the precious or other metal (or metals) to be recovered is absorbed, separating
the recovered metal or metals from the menstruum in any well-known or suitable
manner, and removing the gangue or tailing from said vessel, substantially in
the manner and for the purposes herein before set forth.
2. In the extraction of metals from their ores-the use and application of a
flowing menstruum in an alloying or absorbing vessel substantially as and for the
purposes described.
3. In an apparatus for extracting metals from their ores-the combination of
an absorbing or alloying vessel such as L, a division or partition such as Q, fluid
metal or liquid in said vessel and means to cause said fluid metal or liquid to flow
over the said partition or division Q and return under same substantially as and
for the purposes described.
4. In an apparatus for extracting metals from their ores-the combination of
an absorbing or alloying vessel such as L, a division or partition such as Q, fluid
metal or liquid in said vessel and means to cause said fluid metal or liquid to
flow over the said partition or division Q and return under same and means such
as the bladed wheel R¹ to remove the gangue or tailings substantially as and
for the purposes described.
5. In the extraction of metals from their ores the use and application of a
series of gas jets such as U U in combination and acting in conjunction with
molten metal such as lead as the menstruum in an alloying or absorbing vessel
substantially as and for the purposes described.
6. In the extraction of metals from their ores-the use and application of jets
of water air or gas or combinations thereof acting in conjunction with mercury
as the menstruum in the alloying or absorbing vessel substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.

page_text: 7. In extracting metals from their ores the improved construction of apparatus
combined and arranged to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 1st day of September 1897.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.