Improvements in the Treatment of Ores.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Ores.
I, DAVID MAX HYMAN, of Room 10, Hughes Block, Denver, Colorado, United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to processes for treating ores, for the purpose of separating
and recovering the valuable metals contained therein, but more particularly to the
treatment of zinc-lead ore, for recovering the valuable products thereof.
The primary object of my invention is to provide a method of treating zinc-lead
and other ores so as to recover a greater percentage of the valuable products of
such ores than is possible when treated according to common methods, or such
methods as have heretofore been proposed.
Various methods have heretofore been devised for treating rich ores, particularly
those containing gold and silver, and other processes have been devised by which
an imperfect separation of the more valuable metals contained in other ores has been,
effected; but the first named processes, for treating rich gold and silver ores, are
inapplicable to the particular class of ores for which my invention is especially
designed, and no process has heretofore been devised, to my knowledge, for success-
fully treating zinc and lead ores and other mineral-bearing substances in such
manner that such ores can be commercially utilized, or the separation of the
valuable products thereof made practical or profitable; the amount of valuable
metal recovered in the treatment of these ores, by previous methods being so small,
and the expense so great as to render their treatment unprofitable.
In previous processes the ore has been mechanically reduced to a greater or less
extent, for purposes of separation according to the specific gravities of the different
particles; and in some processes the ore has been comminuted only to the extent
of separating the metallic particles from their matrix, while in other processes.
the comminution has been carried to such an extent as to reduce the ore to an
impalpable powder. Such methods are not practical or profitable in the treatment
of the particular class of ores to which my invention is especially adapted, because
of the impossibility of recovering a sufficient amount of the valuable products of
the ore to warrant the expense incident to their recovery. Moreover, in none of the
methods of treatment heretofore practised, to my knowledge, has there been
observed any ascertained law governing the amount or extent of pulverization to
which the ore is reduced, and the reduction has been largely if not wholly a matter
of mere guess-work.
The gist of my invention resides in the discovery of a certain fixed law governing
the reduction of the ore, and is based upon the known normal crystalline formation
of the minerals or metals to be separated, whereby the ore is reduced to a condition
which will insure the complete separation of the zinc and lead or other valuable
metal to be recovered in the subsequent processes of treating the crushed material
according to methods in common use.
My discovery in the art of dressing lead and zinc ores and their separation is

page_text: based on the fact that if the ore is crushed as it comes in a state of union from
the mine to a fineness equalling the size of the smallest crystal of galena, a perfect
separation of the crystals of the two minerals may be effected, and their division
subsequently into separate piles may be accomplished by known methods of applying
the law of specific gravity. By following the same law any two or more ores of
minerals may be separated in the same manner by crushing the crude ore to a size
that will leave each crystal of any and all the ores independent and separate from
the others. For example, in the separation of lead, iron and zinc ores, I crush the
same to a fineness corresponding to the smallest crystal in either the lead or iron
ore, which will release every crystal of lead or iron into its own independent
crystallization, in which state the crystals may be separated by utilizing the
natural law of specific gravity-each crystal of each metal being deposited with
its own kind and separate from the others by a suitable device or apparatus, well
known in the art, for accomplishing this result. In the separation of sulphate of
Barium (Baryta or heavy spar) and lead I crush the ore to the size of the smallest
crystal of galena thereby releasing the crystals of galena from the Baryta whereupon
their division and separation may be accomplished by subsequent treatment
according to common methods. The discovery in brief is that as ore occurs in
crystals, it may be crushed or reduced to such condition as to leave each crystal
independent of any other crystal, and in such condition, the separation and recovery
of the metal may be effected by utilizing the law of specific gravity.
Thus having first ascertained by proper analysis the size of the smallest crystal
of the mineral or metal having the greatest specific gravity of all the metals 'the
ore may contain, the mass of ore under treatment is crushed or reduced to such
state that its particles each approximate as closely as may be the size of such
smallest crystal, and here the process of reduction ceases. The crushed material
is subsequently treated according to common methods, by suitable screens or con-
centrating devices, for separating and concentrating the metals to be recovered.
When treating zinc and lead ores, the ore should be reduced to the fineness of the
smallest crystal of lead, and in treating other ores containing three or more metals
the ore should be reduced to the finest crystal of the mineral having the greatest
specific gravity in which state the separation of the valuable metals may be
accomplished by the use of suitable screens or concentrating devices such as are
now in use. When treating metallic-bearing ores containing several valuable
metals, the ore may be crushed to the size of the smallest crystal contained in the
two minerals or metals having the greatest specific gravity, and subsequently the
crushed material may be treated according to common methods for separating
and concentrating the metals to be recovered.
While my invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of lead and zinc
ores, it may be advantageously employed in the treatment of other ores, and hence
I do not desire to be restricted to the treatment of the particular ores mentioned.
Dated this 26th dox of Tul 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements
I, DAVID MAX HYMAN, of Room 10, Hughes Block, Denver, Colorado, United
States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and

page_text: in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention relates to processes for treating ores, for the purpose of separating
and recovering the valuable metals contained therein, but more particularly to the
treatment of zinc-lead and other complex ores containing two or more metallic
minerals for recovering the valuable products, thereof.
The primary object of my invention is to provide a method of treating zinc-lead
and other complex ores so as to recover a greater percentage of the valuable products
of such ores than is possible when treated according to common methods, or such
methods as have heretofore been proposed.
Various methods have heretofore been devised for treating rich ores, particularly
those containing gold and silver, and other processes have been devised by which
an imperfect separation of the more valuable metals contained in other ores has been
effected; but the first named processes, for treating rich gold and silver ores, are
inapplicable to the particular class of ores for which my invention is especially
designed, and no process has heretofore been devised, to my knowledge, for success-
fully treating zinc and lead ores and similar mineral-bearing substances in such
manner that such ores can be commercially utilized, or the separation of the
valuable products thereof made practical or profitable; for the reason that the,
amount of valuable metal recovered in the treatment of these ores, except those
which are of such high grade as to permit of their being worked at a profit,
notwithstanding the great waste of the zinc or lead product which results from,
their treatment by methods in common use, is so small, and the expense so great
as to render their treatment unprofitable.
In previous processes the ore has been mechanically reduced to a greater or less
extent, for purposes of separation according to the specific gravities of the different
particles; and in some processes the ore has been comminuted only to the extent
of separating the metallic particles from their matrix, while in other processes
the comminution has been carried to such an extent as to reduce the ore to an
impalpable powder. Such methods are not commercially practical or profitable in the
treatment of the particular class of ores to which my invention is especially adapted,.
and particularly low grade ores, because of the loss resulting from excessive com-.
minution on one hand,, and the incomplete separation resulting from too coarse re-
duction on the other hand, according to the method adopted, and consequently the
impossibility of recovering a sufficient amount of the valuable products of the ore in
More-
treating ores of low grade to warrant the expense incident to their recovery.
over, in none of the methods of treatment heretofore practiced, to my knowledge,
has there been observed any ascertained law governing the amount or extent.
of pulverization to which the ore is reduced, and the reduction has been largely
if not wholly a matter of mere guess-work.
The gist of my invention resides in the discovery of a certain fixed law governing
the reduction of the ore, and is based upon the known normal crystalline formation.
of the minerals or metals to be separated, whereby the ore is reduced to a condition
which will insure the complete separation of the zine and lead or other valuable
metal to be recovered in the subsequent processes of treating the crushed material
according to methods in common use, for instance, by feeding the same to con-
centrating tables, on which the crushed ore is jarred toward the lower end of the
table and washed by clear water on its road; the clear water washing the lighter.
ere toward the lower side of the table, which is inclined to the side away from
the feed side as well as slightly toward the discharge end. The heavier crystals,
being harder to move, lag behind, at the same time being jarred or bumped in
nearly a straight line toward the discharge end, which operation separates each
mineral into different lines, whence each may be caught independently by suitable
means and carried to driers to be dried.
My discovery in the art of dressing lead and zinc ores and their separation is
based on the fact that if the ore is crushed as it comes in a state of union from

page_text: the mine to the fineness equalling the size of the smallest crystal of galena that a
perfect separation of the crystals of the two minerals may be effected, and that their
division subsequently into separate piles may be accomplished by known methods of
applying the law of specific gravity. By following the same law, any two or more
ores or minerals may be separated, in the same manner, by crushing the crude ore to
a size that will leave each crystal of any and all the ores independent and separate
from the others. For example, in the separation of lead, iron and zinc ores, I crush
the same to a fineness corresponding to the smallest crystal in either the lead or iron
ore, which will release every crystal of lead ore or iron into their own independent
crystallization, in which state the crystals may be separated by utilizing the
natural law of specific gravity-each crystal of each metal being deposited with
its own kind and separate from the others by a suitable device or apparatus, well
known in the art, for accomplishing this result. In the separation of sulphate of
Baryum (Baryta or heavy spar) and lead, I crush the ore to the size of the smallest
crystal of galena, thereby releasing the crystals of galena from the Baryta, where-
upon their division and separation may be accomplished by subsequent treatment
according to common methods, that is, by the use of concentrators and well known
devices for applying the law of specific gravity. The discovery in brief is, that as
ore occurs in crystals, it may be crushed or reduced to such condition as to leave each
crystal independent of any other crystal, and in such condition, the separation and
recovery of the metal may be effected by utilizing the law of specific gravity.
Thus, having first ascertained by proper analysis the size of the smallest crystal
of the mineral or metal having the greatest specific gravity of all of the metals the
ore may contain, the mass of ore under treatment is crushed or reduced to such
state that its particles each approximate as closely as may be the size of such
smallest crystal, and here the process of reduction ceases.
In this condition the separation of the crushed material may be easily effected
by subjecting it to the action of suitable screens or concentrating devices, for
separating and concentrating the metals to be recovered according to their specific
gravities.
The crushing of ores to the natural size of the finest constituent particles
is not necessarily the same thing as reducing the ore to the size of the smallest
crystal of the mineral or metal having the greatest specific gravity. The advantage
in result peculiar to my method I conceive to be that the particles having the
greatest specific gravity are at least as large as any of those of less specific gravity,
and that consequently those which are smaller are also of less specific gravity, and
thus the differences, for the purpose of separation, are exaggerated and accurate
separation is facilitated.
When treating zinc and lead ores, the ore should be reduced to the fineness of the
smallest crystal of lead ore, and in treating other ores, containing three or more
metals, the ore should be reduced to the finest crystal of the mineral having the
greatest specific gravity, in which state the separation of the valuable metals may be
accomplished by the use of suitable screens or concentrating devices such as are
now in use.
In the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated diagrammatically 4
a suitable plant or combination of apparatus and machinery for practicing my
invention.
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a plant for reducing, separating
and concentrating the crushed ore according to the gravity of its particles, showing
the various steps in the treatment thereof from the initial to the final step; and 5
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevation of the reducing and concentrating
mechanisms and apparatus shown in Figure 1.
The specific mechanisms shown in the diagrams may be of any well known
construction such as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, so that
a specific description thereof is not deemed necessary herein.
The several machines and apparatus being arranged and adapted to carry out
the process of reduction and separation, the ore is brought by any suitable means,

page_text: a,
as by railway track in cars with self-dumping arrangement, immediately over the
bins marked is dumped into these bins and fed into a crusher b with a movable
feeder having a grizzly underneath to take out the finest of the ore d, the
finest of the ore d passing underneath the crusher b, joining the stream coming
through the crusher b, which is fed by the feeder, the crusher 6 breaking
the larger of the coarse ores to a size of one inch in diameter, whence
the combined stream d² is fed to the rolls e which crush to 1/8
to 1/2 inch in diameter. The ore is then raised by an elevators to a bin
holding a day's run, marked f, from which bin it is fed to three (more or less)
Chilian Mills g by means of suitable mechanical feeders;-all this process being
dry.
As it is fed to the Chilian Mills g water is added and it is crushed to the desired
fineness and discharged through screens in the mill, which screens are part of the
mill but removable and adjustable. Thence, passing from the Chilian mills g to
classifiers marked h, which sort the ore in ascending currents of water, the largest
sizes passing to table marked 1; the next size passing to table marked 2;
the next size k passing to table marked 3; the next size 7 passing to table
marked 4, thus disposing of the coarser ore ¹.
The dirty water o and fine slimes p, r, that overflow from the classifier or size
sorter h passes to a spitzkasten marked A, the products of the first compartment
of which pass to table marked 5; while the products of the remaining three
compartments pass to table marked 6.
The dirty water o from the whole mill may be collected and run to a spitzkasten
marked B, settling the mineral r contained in the waste water so that any of the
lighter minerals p, having but slight specific gravity, may be collected and dis-
charged to a pump w and pumped to a pond, or other dressing device for further
use, if it should be desirable to utilize the same.
The mill or mechanical devices, machinery and apparatus for treating the ore
are preferably arranged in duplicate, below the reserve bin or bins f, so that different
ores may be run at the same time, or in order that the mill may run at half
capacity and a break-down may not require the stoppage of the entire plant. The
diagrammatic view, Figure 1, shows the machinery employed on one side only;
the machinery and process on the other side below the reserve bins f being identical
with that shown, so that a description or illustration of the machinery at the
other side of the mill is not deemed necessary.
The ore which is fed into the ore feed compartment or compartments and thence
on to the table t, is separated into various classes, according to its specific_gravity,
as indicated in the diagram, Figure 1, by the markings of the tables C, D, E, F,
and the different classes are carried by the launders or conducted into suitable
collecting or receiving cars n, as indicated in the diagram, and from thence is
discharged on to suitable driers, which remove the superfluous moisture, and is then
scraped into cars, one of which is shown in Figure 2, marked m, whence it may
be delivered to any place desired, being then in condition to be sent to further
reduction works or smelters.
While my invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of lead and zinc
ores, it may be advantageously employed in the treatment of other ores, and hence
I do not desire to be restricted to the treatment of the particular ores mentioned.
In reducing zinc-lead ores and similar metal bearing substances, it will be found
that the valuable metals contained therein exist in crystalline form, the crystals
varying in size from very minute particles to a size many times larger than one
of these minute crystals, or an aggregation of crystals, and hence, in using the
term smallest crystal, in the following claims, I do not wish to be understood as
using that term selectively, so as to limit my invention to the selection of a single
crystal that may exist in different ores more minute than all its fellows, but one
of a series of the smallest crystals contained in the ore of approximately a uniform
size.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-

page_text: vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The improvement in the art of separating metallic bearing substances or
complex ores containing two or more minerals, which consists in crushing the ore
to the size of the smallest crystal of the mineral having the greatest specific gravity,
and then subjecting the crushed material to the action of suitable devices for
separating the comminuted ore according to the gravity of its particles, substan-
'tially as described.
9.
.
2. The improvement in the art of separating the valuable products of complex
'mineral substances or metallic bearing ores containing several valuable metals,
which consists in crushing the ore to the size of the smallest crystal contained in
either of the two minerals having the greatest specific gravity, and subsequently
subjecting the crushed material to the action of suitable devices for separating and
concentrating it according to the gravity of its particles, substantially as described.
3. The method of treating zinc-lead or other complex ores containing two or more
minerals for recovering the valuable metals contained therein, which consists in
crushing the ore to the fineness of the smallest crystal of the mineral having the
greatest specific gravity, and then subjecting the crushed material to the action of
suitable devices for separating and concentrating it according to the gravity of its
.particles, substantially as described.
4. The method of treating zinc-lead ore for recovering the valuable metals
contained therein, which consists in crushing the ore to the fineness of the smallest
crystal of galena, and then subjecting the crushed material to the action of suitable
devices for separating and concentrating it according to the gravity of its particles,
substantially as described.
Fember 1897.
.
.1..
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, 'Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.