Improvements in Extracting Gold and Silver from Ores and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 18th Jan.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting Gold and Silver from Ores and
the like.
We, JOHN STEWART MACARTHUR, of 12 Knowe Terrace, Pollokshields, 'in
the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Technical Chemist, and JOHN YATES, of
13 West Scotland Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
...This invention has for its object the obtaining of gold and silver from their ores
or like compounds.
In carrying out the invention the ores or like compounds in a powdered state are
treated as hereinafter described in a vessel made of or lined with wood or other
suitable inert material. The vessel which may be shaped like a barrel or cylinder
and.. set horizontally with a shaft passing. through it from end to end, is fitted
internally with fixed or movable amalgamated plates, so disposed as to be readily
accessible for removal, replacement and renewal. When a barrel shaped vessel is
used it may be fixed to the shaft which passes through it so that by the revolution
of the shaft the barrel is rotated, and the amalgamated plates are so arranged. that
they may either remain fixed while the barrel rotates, or they may rotate with the
barrel, or be merely hung on the shaft in such manner as to be.freely movable
without necessarily revolving with the barrel and its contents.
Another suitable form of apparatus consists of a barrel or cylinder shaped vessel
standing vertically on its eud fitted with any well known stirring device, and
provided with amalgamated plates either fixed or movable, and hung either to the
sides of the barrel or attached suitably to a revolving part of the stirring device.
In any case it is essential that there should be easy access to the amalgamated
plates by means of suitable openings, which may also serve for charging.or
discharging the apparatus.
In carrying out the invention the apparatus is charged with the powdered ore
and a sufficiency of water or of water containing some cyanide such as cyanide of
potassium dissolved therein. When water only is used the charge is stirred either
by the revolution of the horizontal barrel or by a stirring device in the vertical
arrangement until the gold or silver or gold and silver are as far as practicable
caught on the amalgamated plates, when the exhausted mass is discharged and the
amalgam is collected from the plates and the gold or silver or gold and silver
recovered therefrom.
When a cyanide solution is used the operation is the same except that the mass
from which the gold or silver or gold and silver has been collected by amalgamation
as far as practicable is discharged into a tank or other vessel so arranged that the
solution which in this case contains gold or silver or gold and silver is drawn
therefrom and if necessary any liquid remaining entangled therein may be washed
out so that the gold or silver or gold and silver may be recovered from the solution
by any well known means.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1895.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Extracting. Gold and Silver from Ores and
the like.
We, JOHN STEWART MACARTHUR, of 12 Knowe Terrace, Pollokshields, in
the County of Renfrew, North Britain, Technical Chemist, and JOHN YATES, of
13 West Scotland Street, Kinning Park, Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, Engineer, 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:-
i
This invention has for its object the obtaining of gold and silver from their ores
or like compounds!
:.
In carrying out the invention the ores or like.compounds in a powdered state are
treated as hereinafter described in a vessel made of wood or of any other suitable
material lined or covered if necessary with wood, or some other suitable inert
substance. The vessel.' which may be shaped like a barrel or cylinder and set
horizontally with a shaft or other convenient support for a plate-carrying frame
passing through it, is fitted internally with one or more amalgamated plates, so
disposed as to be readily accessible, for removal, replacement, and renewal. When
a barrel shaped vessel is used it may be fixed to the shaft which passes through it
so that by the revolution of the shaft the barrel is rotated, and the frame carrying
the amalgamated plates is so arranged and adjusted that it may either remain
stationary while the barrel rotates, or it may rotate with the barrel, or be merely
hung on the shaft in such manner as to be freely movable without necessarily
revolving with the barrel and its contents.
:
In any case it is essential that there should be easy access to the amalgamated
plate or plates by means of suitable openings, which may also serve for charging
and discharging the apparatus.
In carrying out the invention the apparatus is charged "with the powdered ore
and a sufficiency of water containing some cyanide, such as cyanide of potassium,
dissolved therein, or water containing any substance which will dissolve gold or
silver or gold and silver or will assist amalgamation but which will not materially
affect the apparatus.. The charge is then stirred or agitated by putting the
apparatus into operation until the gold or silver or gold and silver is or are as far
as practicable caught on the amalgamated plate or plates, when the exhausted mass.
is discharged and the amalgam is collected from the plates and the gold or silver or
gold and silver recovered therefrom.
The mass from which the gold or silver or gold and silver has or have been
collected by amalgamation as far as practicable is discharged into a tank or other
vessel so arranged that if the solution contains gold or silver or gold and silver such
solution may be drawn therefrom and if necessary any liquid remaining entangled
therein may be washed out and the gold or silver or gold and silver then recovered
from the solution by any well known means.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a form of apparatus suitable for carrying
out the process above described,―
Fig. 1 being a longitudinal section of such apparatus.
Fig. 2 a plan view of same, one half being a plan view of the underside thereof,
and the other half a plan view of the top side thereof.
Fig. 3 a transverse section through such apparatus.
Fig. 4 an end view of the form of amalgamated plate which we prefer to employ,
and,
Fig. 5 a side elevation of such plate.
It will be seen that the amalgamated plates A. (Figs. 4 and 5) which we prefer
to employ are corrugated or otherwise indented, as such form will give increased

page_text: 螨
rigidity to the plates while providing a much larger and more effective surface, as
the, corrugations or indentations will have a shielding or guarding action to.
protect the metals caught on the plate or plates, and thus form a surface which is
favorable to the retention of the fine metal after initial contact.
The apparatus shewn in the drawings consists of a barrel or drum B secured to a
horizontal shaft C and provided with suitable openings b. 61 62 for the purpose of
charging and discharging the apparatus, and also for introducing and withdrawing
the amalgamated plates A, such openings being fitted with suitable covers for the
purpose of closing same securely when the apparatus is in operation.
Upon the horizontal shaft or support C à frame D is mounted in such a manner
that it is free to rotate on the said shaft, the extent of this freedom being capable
of adjustment, and into this frame the amalgamated plates A. are inserted and
secured firmly therein. The freedom of the frame D to rotate in relation to the
shaft C can be adjusted by any suitable means such as by clamping such frame
more or less tightly to the shaft or by pressure screws passing through the
frame and bearing on the shaft. The object of this mounting frame D on
the shaft C is to permit of both plates being easily got at for renewal etc., and to
enable it to offer such a resisting yielding action to the materials to be treated as is
found best suited to force such materials into most efficient contact with the
plates A while abrasion and strain on same (which might otherwise be considerable
especially in starting the apparatus when the ore is not in suspension), is avoided
or considerably diminished.
In carrying out the process the powdered ore is introduced into the barrel or
drum B together with the water containing some cyanide dissolved therein, or water
containing any substance which will dissolve gold or silver or gold and silver or
which would assist amalgamation, and not injuriously affect the plant.
The opening or openings through which the ore and the solution is introduced is
or are then securely closed. The barrel or drum B is then caused to rotate whereby
such ore and the solution will be brought into intimate contact with the amalgamated
plates A, and the gold and silver or a portion of the gold and silver will be deposited
on the amalgamated plates. It will be seen that as the barrel or drum B is caused
to rotate while the frame carrying the amalgamated plates is mounted more or less
freely on the horizontal shaft C of such barrel or drum the contents of the latter
will as same rotates be kept in constant agitation, and the action of depositing the
gold and silver on the amalgamated plates A will consequently be greatly
facilitated.
It will be readily understood that instead of causing the barrel or drum B to
rotate, same may remain stationary, while the frame D. carrying the amalgamated
plates A may be keyed to the shaft C so as to rotate with it, but we do not
recommend this because of the abrasion and strain on the plates which would
ensue, especially at the commencement of the agitation. Again both the barrel B
and the frame D carrying the amalgamated plates A. may be caused to rotate,
either in the same or in opposite directions, and at the same or at different speeds.
In either case the necessary agitation of the contents of the drum or barrel B will
be produced.
.
When the operation has been completed the exhausted mass will be discharged
through the openings b, b', or and the amalgam collected from the plates A. casy
access to which is given by the swinging frame and apertures, and the gold or
silver or gold and silver recovered therefrom.
Should any gold or silver or gold and silver still remain in the mass discharged
from the druin or barrel B, any known means may be cinployed for recovering same
therefrom.
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 :-
:—
1. The improved process; for extracting gold or silver or gold and silver from

page_text: ores and the like consisting in submitting such ores or like compounds in a powdered
condition to the combined action of one or more amalgamated plates and of a
solution containing a cyanide or other suitable substance which will dissolve gold or
silver or gold and silver or which will assist amalgamation, but will not injuriously
affect the apparatus, in a vessel provided with suitable means for producing
agitation, substantially as described.
2. The apparatus for treating gold or silver ores or gold and silver ores and the
like in the manner set forth in the preceding claim, consisting in a vessel having
one or more amalgamated plates mounted therein, such vessel or the plates, or both,
having suitable motion imparted thereto substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 1. 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus for treating gold or silver ores or gold and silver ores and the
like in the manner set forth in Claim 1, the employment of corrugated or indented
amalgamated plates, for the purposo specified.
Dated this 17th day of December 1895..
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.