Year: 1888

page_text: I, GEORGE JONES ATKINS, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more especially to improvements in the treatment of gold
and silver ores, and to the apparatus employed therein, but it is also applicable
to the treatment of certain other metallic ores, and to the apparatus employed
therein.
It is well known that chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen, and other similar
bodies, especially when they are in the gaseous state, readily combine with certain
metals, especially gold and silver, to form therewith chlorides, bromides, iodides,
cyanides, etcetera of the metals and that advantage is taken of the affinity of those
substances for the metals to effect the separation of the latter from their ores, as in the
well known chlorinization process for extracting gold and silver for example. The
efficiency of any process for extracting metals by means of these substances depends
very largely upon the means employed for bringing them or their gases into contact
with the particles of metal contained in the matrix or gangue. For this purpose the
ore is generally crushed or ground to a fine powder and the beforementioned substances,
or their gases, are then brought into intimate contact with the powdered ores by
various means, all of which are, so far as I am aware, more or less imperfect and
require a considerable period of time for their operation. Ores containing sulphur
also require to be roasted either before or after being crushed or ground, and in some
cases the gold solutions are separated from the chlorinized or similarly treated mass
of ore by filtration through a charcoal or other suitable filter.
The objects of my present invention are, firstly, to effect the removal of the sulphur,
when such is necessary; secondly, to effect the intimate contact or combination of the

page_text: chlorine or other chemical substance employed with the particles of metal, or metal in
combination with other substances; and, thirdly, to effect the separation of the gold,
silver, or other metal from their chlorides, bromides, iodides, cyanides, or other
combinations in a more perfect and quicker manner than is possible by any of the
means heretofore employed for these purposes.
I take the ore in a finely divided state, either previously roasted or not according
to circumstances, and I bring it under the influence of a jet of steam, superheated or
not according to the nature of the ore being treated, and to the effect to be obtained.
The jet of steam may have combined therewith chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen,
or other similar and suitable gas or vapour. The finely divided ore is driven along
through a pipe or other passage by the jet of steam and gas or vapour, when such is
employed, and becomes heated while every particle of ore is surrounded by the steam
and gas or vapour so that on the one hand, the sulphur, if any be present, is liberated
by the heat of the steam, and separated from the ore or metal, and on the other, as
the particles of ore are separated from one another by the action of the steam the gas
or vapour is brought into intimate contact with every particle of the ore, so as to
have ample opportunity and time for combining with the metal or its compounds
contained in or attached to such particles. The jet of steam and gas or vapour
ultimately forces the powdered ore forward into a chamber or receptacle in which it
is collected for subsequent treatment. This chamber or receptacle may contain water
or a solvent of the chloride or other salt of the metal it is desired to recover, such
solvent may be a hyposulphite or cyanide solution or other suitable solvent according
to circumstances. I then pass the contents of the chamber or receptacle or the
solution of the salts or double salts formed, through a carbon or other filter in the
ordinary way or through a carbon filter provided with electrolytic arrangements to be
hereinafter described.
Instead of introducing chlorine or other gas or vapour into the jet of steam and the
finely divided ore, I sometimes introduce thereinto a spray of sulphuric acid or other
oxydizing agent, and deliver the mixture of steam, ore, and oxydizing agent into a
solution, such as chloride of lime for example, that will liberate chlorine, bromine,
iodine, cyanogen or other similar and suitable gas or vapour when subjected to the
action of the aforesaid oxydizing agent.
Or, instead of introducing a spray of sulphuric acid or other oxydizing agent
into the jet of steam, I sometimes introduce a spray of chlorine, bromine, iodine,
cyanogen, or other similar and suitable solution, and deliver the mixture of
steam, ore, and solution into a solution of sulphuric acid or other oxydizing
agent.
. I sometimes grind with the ore, chloride of sodium, chloride of lime, or other
suitable compound of chlorine, bromine, iodine, or cyanogen, for example, and inject
the mixture by means of a jet of steam into a solution of sulphuric acid or other
suitable oxydizing agent capable of combining with the sodium, lime, or other
material, so as to liberate chlorine, bromine, iodine, or cyanogen gas or vapour which
will combine with the metal in the ore and form a chloride, bromide, iodide, or
cyanide, for example, of such metal. In some cases double salts are formed; it is
then not necessary to employ any oxidizing agent.
I separate the metal from the chloride, bromide, iodide, cyanide, etcetera, whether
produced by the above described, or any other means, by passing its solution
through a carbon filter provided with electrolytic arrangements whereby the
deposition of the metal on the particles of carbon forming the filter is facilitated.
For this purpose I make the carbon material of the filter the negative electrode
of an electrolytic apparatus and apply a positive electrode in such manner that when
a current of electricity is passed through the solution or other material under
treatment the metal is deposited by electrolytic action on the surfaces of the carbon
forming the filtering material. By this means I am enabled to keep.the metallic salt
in solution until the metal is deposited on the surface of the carbon forming the filter,
to prevent the redissolution of the metal by the solution after it has been deposited on

page_text: the carbon of the filter, and to prevent precipitation of the metal by the ferric salts
contained in the solution. I also thereby avoid waste of the chlorine or other
substance employed, and enable the solution to be again used to take up more metallic
salts from the ore.
G. J. ATKINS.
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.,
A gent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Treatment of Metallic Ores and in Apparatus
Employed therein.
I, GEORGE JONES ATKINS, of 115 Cannon Street, in the City of London, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying sheet of Drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This invention relates more especially to improvements in the treatment of gold
and silver ores, and to the apparatus employed therein, but it is also applicable to the
treatment of certain other metallic ores, and to the apparatus employed therein.
It is well known that chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen, and other similar bodies,
especially when they are in the gaseous state, readily combine with certain metals,
especially gold and silver, to form therewith chlorides, bromides, iodides, cyanides
etcetera of the metals and that advantage is taken of the affinity of those substances
for the metals to effect the separation of the latter from their ores, as in the well-
known chlorinization process for extracting gold and silver for example. The
efficiency of any process for extracting metals by means of these substances depends
very largely upon the means employed for bringing them or their gases into contact
with the particles of metal contained in the matrix or gangue. For this purpose the
ore is generally crushed or ground to a fine powder and the beforementioned
substances, or their gases, are then brought into intimate contact with the powdered
ores by various means, all of which are, so far as I am aware, more or less imperfect
and require a considerable period of time for their operation. Ores containing sulphur
also require to be roasted either before or after being crushed or ground and in some

page_text: cases the gold solutions are separated from the chlorinized or similarly treated mass of
ore by filtration through a charcoal or other suitable filter.
The objects of my present invention are, firstly, to effect the removal of the sulphur,
when such is necessary; secondly, to effect the intimate contact or combination of the
chlorine or other chemical substance employed with the particles of metal, or metal in
combination with other substances; and, thirdly, to effect the separation of the gold,
silver, or other metal from their chlorides, bromides, iodides, cyanides, or other
combinations in a more perfect and quicker manner than is possible by any of the
means heretofore employed for these purposes.
I take the ore in a finely divided state, either previously roasted or not according
to circumstances and I introduce it into an apparatus shown diagrammatically in
Figure 1 of the Drawings so that it is brought under the influence of a jet of
steam, superheated or not according to the nature of the ore being treated, and to the
effect to be obtained. The jet of steam which enters through a nozzle A has combined
therewith chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen, or other similar and suitable gas or
vapour introduced through the passage B. The finely divided ore which is introduced
through the passage C is driven along through a pipe or other passage D by the jet
of steam and gas or vapour, and becomes heated while every particle of ore is
surrounded by the steam and gas or vapour so that on the one hand, the sulphur, if
any be present; is. liberated by the heat of the steam, and separated from the ore or
metal, and on the other, as the particles of ore are separated from one another by the
action of the steam the gas or vapour is brought into intimate contact with every
particle of the ore, so as to have ample opportunity and time for combining with the
metal or its compounds contained in or attached to such particles. The jet of steam
and gas or vapour ultimately forces the powdered ore forward into a chamber or
receptacle E in which it is collected for subsequent treatment. This chamber or
receptacle may contain water or a solvent of the chloride or other salt of the metal it
is desired to recover, such solvent may be a hyposulphite or cyanide solution or other
suitable solvent according to circumstances. I then pass the contents of the chamber
or receptacle E or the solution of the salts or double salts formed, through a carbon
or other filter in the ordinary way or through a carbon filter provided with electro-
lytic arrangements to be hereinafter described. E' is a condenser for condensing any
steam or other vapour that may escape from the receptacle E. A current of water
being introduced into the said condenser E for that purpose.
Instead of introducing chlorine or other gas or vapour through the passage B into
the jet of steam and the finely divided ore, I sometimes introduce thereinto through
the said passage B a spray of sulphuric acid or other oxydizing agent, and deliver the
mixture of steam, ore, and oxydizing agent through a pipe F shown in dotted lines,
for example into a solution, such as chloride of lime G for example, that will liberate
chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen or other similar and suitable gas or vapour when
subjected to the action of the aforesaid oxydizing agent.
Or, instead of introducing a spray of sulphuric acid or other oxydizing agent into
the jet of steam, I sometimes introduce a spray of chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen,
or other similar and suitable solution and deliver the mixture of steam, ore, and
solution into a solution of sulphuric acid or other oxydizing agent in a manner similar
to that last above described.
I sometimes grind with the ore, chloride of sodium, chloride of lime, or other
suitable compound of chlorine, bromine, iodine, or cyanogen, for example, and inject
the mixture by means of a jet of steam in a manner similar to that above described
into a solution of sulphuric acid or other suitable oxydizing agent capable of com-
bining with the sodium, lime, or other material, so as to liberate chlorine, bromine,
iodine, or cyanogen gas or vapour which will combine with the metal in the ore and
form a chloride, bromide, iodide, or cyanide, for example of such metal. In some
cases double salts are formed, it is then not necessary to employ any oxydizing
agent.
I separate the metal from the chloride, bromide, iodide, cyanide, etcetera, whether
produced by the above described, or any other means, by passing its solution through

page_text: a carbon filter provided with electrolytic arrangements whereby the deposition of the
metal on the particles of carbon forming the filter is facilitated. For this purpose I
make the carbon material of the filter or a portion thereof the negative electrode of
an electrolytic apparatus and apply a positive electrode in such manner that when a
current from a dynamo or other source of electricity is passed through the carbon of
the filter and through the solution or other material under treatment the metal is
deposited by electrolytic action on the surfaces of the carbon forming the filtering
material.
Figure 2 of the Drawings shows diagrammatically a section of one arrangement of
a carbon filter for this purpose. A is a funnel-shaped metallic vessel communicating
at its lower end with a receiver B, C is a porous vessel containing a positive electrode 1)
and a suitable solution such as sulphuric acid or chloride of sodium for example, E is
the carbon filtering material. The metallic vessel A is connected to the negative end
of the source of electricity while the electrode D is connected to the positive end
thereof. It will now be understood that as the solution containing the metal to be
separated passes downwards through the filtering material E it. is acted on by the
current of electricity and the metal is deposited therefrom on to the surfaces of the
particles of carbon forming the said filtering material while the solution passes into
the receiver B from whence it can be withdrawn at pleasure through the tap F.
Instead of the vessel A being made of metal, it may be made of non-conductive
material and the electric connection is, in that case, made direct with the carbon E.
Figure 3 shows another arrangement of carbon filter; A is a vessel of non-
conductive material having an opening at the bottom, B is a layer of carbon
filtering matorial connected with the negative pole of a source of electricity; C is
a layer of non-conductive filtering material such as gravel or sand for example,
and D is a second layer of carbon filtering material connected with the positive
pole of the source of electricity. The non-conductive filtering material C acts the
part of a porous plate between the positive and negative electrodes D and B. As
the solution passes downwards through the filtering material D-C-B, it is acted
on by the electric current and the metal is deposited therefrom on to the surfaces
of the particles of carbon forming the filtering material and negative pole B. By
these means I am enabled to. keep the metallic salt in solution until the metal is
deposited on the surface of the carbon forming the filter. Also to prevent tho
re-dissolution of the metal by the solution (should the said solution contain free
chlorine &c) after the inetal has been deposited on the carbon of the filter: I also
therby avoid waste of the. chlorine or other substance employed and enable the
solution to be again used to take up more metallic salts from the ore.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First-In the treatment of metallic ores the use of a jet of steam combined with the
gas or vapour or a solution of chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen or other similar and
suitable substance or with sulphuric acid or other oxydizing agent, as hereinbefore.
described, and for the purpose set forth.
Second-In carbon filters employed in the treatment of metallic ores the use
of a current of electricity as herein before described, and for the purpose, set
forth.
Third Apparatus for utilizing, in the treatment of metallic ores, a jet of steam
combined with the gas or vapour or a solution of chlorine, bromine, iodine, cyanogen
or other similar and suitable substance or with sulphuric acid or other oxydizing agent,
constructed substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figure 1 of the
drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth Carbon filters for the treatment of metallic ores, constructed so that the
carbon filtering material can be employed as the negative electrode of a source of
electricity the positive electrode being contained in a separate porous vessel as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed.

page_text: Fifth-Carbon filters for the treatment of metallic ores constructed so that one part.
of the carbon filtering material can be employed as the positive electrode and the
other part of the carbon filtering material as the negative electrode of a source of
electricity, as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings
hereto annexed.