IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND Mineral ProDUCTS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John King, of Bishopsgate Avenue, in the City
of London, Merchant, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT
OF ORES AND Mineral ProDUCTS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left ly the said Frederick John King at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th April 1880.
FREDERICK JOHN KING, of Bishopsgate Avenue, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND MINERAL PRODUCTS."
My Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of the minerals or
mineral products separated in the manner described in the Specifications to former
Letters Patent granted to me, dated the 29th July 1873, No. 2574; and the
23rd January 1874, No. 296, or otherwise rendered fit for treatment. When a
inineral, such for example, as copper pyrites or iron pyrites carrying copper is
roasted, so as to dispel all or nearly all the sulphur, the copper is in a state in
which it is soluable in ammonia; if the whole is not rendered soluble it may be
made so by further roasting with or without salt, or by the addition of salt or salt
and water and exposure to the air for some time. I then place such mineral
products in a vessel, such for example, as a cylindrical steam boiler mounted on
rollers, and introduce dilute aminonia, and I rotate the vessel slowly until the
minerals soluble in ammonia are dissolved, I then allow the contents of the vessel to
remain for the solid matters to settle, or I clear by filtration; I then conduct tho
ammonia liquor into an air tight vessel, which I connect with an air pump or
exhausting apparatus, by which means I remove the atinospheric pressure and cause
the ammonia gas to be disengaged from the liquor and the copper is thereby
precipitated. If any silver is present in solution it may be first precipitated by
copper, while the copper may in turn be precipitated in the metallic forin by zinc,
which can be separated as white oxide of zinc by the removal of the ammonia gas
in the manner above described. The ammonia gas is passed from the pump into
water forming fresh ammonia liquor for further solutions, I prefer to use a steam
jacket round the vessel from which the ammonia gas is pumped, as the removal of
the whole of the ammonia gas is facilitated by heat.
After the ammonia liquor has been drawn off, from the mineral products treated
water is added, and the vessel is revolved until all the ammonia and dissolved
mineral has been washed out and drawn off, when the mineral residue is cleared out
and another charge inserted.
This process is applicable to the ores of zinc and silver, and all such minerals as
are soluble in ammonia.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick John King in tho Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th October 1880.
_FREDERICK JOHN KING, of Bishopsgate Avenue, in the City of London, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND MINERAL PRODUCTS."
My said Invention relates to improvements in the treatment of the minerals or
mineral products separated in the manner described in the Specifications to former
Letters Patent granted to me, dated the Twenty ninth July, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy three, number 2574, and the Twenty third January, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy four, number 296, or otherwise rendered fit for
treatment. When a mineral, such for example, as copper pyrites or iron pyrites
carrying copper is roasted, so as to dispel all or nearly all the sulphur, the copper is
in a state in which it is soluble in ammonia, if the whole is not rendered soluble it may
be made so by further roasting with or without salt, or by the addition of salt or salt
and water and exposure to the air for some time. I then place such mineral products
in a vessel, such for example as a cylindrical steam boiler mounted on rollers, and
introduce dilute ammonia, and I rotate the vessel slowly until the minerals soluble
in ammonia are dissolved, I then allow the contents of the vessel to remain for the
solid matters to settle, or I clear by filtration; I then conduct the ammonia liquor
into an air tight vessel, which I connect with an air pump or exhausting apparatus,
by which means I remove the atmospheric pressure and cause the ammonia gas to
bo disengaged from the liquor, and the copper is thereby precipitated. If any
silver is present in solution it may be first precipitated by copper, while the coppor
may in turn be precipitated in the metallic form by zinc, which can be separated
as white oxide of zinc by the removal of the ammonia gas in the manner above
described. The ammonia gas is passed from the pump into water forming fresh
ammonia liquor for further solutions, I prefer to use a steam jacket round the
vessel from which the ammonia gas is pumped, as the removal of the whole of the
ammonia gas is facilitated by heat. After the ammonia liquor has been drawn off
from the mineral products treated water is added, and the vessel is revolved until
all the ammonia and dissolved mineral has been washed out and drawn off, when
the mineral residue is cleared out and another charge inserted.
This process is applicable to the ores of zinc and silver, and all such minerals as
are soluble in ammonia.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
In the treatment of ores and mineral products which are soluble in ammonia
subjecting the ammonia liquor, having the ore or mineral product in solution
therein, to the action of a vacuum or partial vaccum in order that the ammonia
gas may be disengaged from the liquor and that the metal may be precipitated,
substantially as hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof, I, tho said Frederick John King, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.