Improved Method or Process for Treating Metal Bearing Bodies and the Recovery of Metals therefrom.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method or Process for Treating Metal Bearing Bodies and
the Recovery of Metals therefrom.
I, WILLIAM CLARK LOE, of 11, Queen Victoria Street, City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the novelty of completely extracting and entirely
recovering metals from their matrices or metal bearing materials but more particularly
to the recovery of precious metals, avoiding the use of mercury, chlorine or
electricity as used in other known processes, but use those elements that are now
treated as antagonistic and obstructive agents, adding or increasing them as and if
required for metal recovery process or processes.
The elements of gold and silver may for the purposes of recovery first be treated
for gold and next to recover gold and silver.
In dealing with free milling matrices or only gold bearing materials pulverised
to float where required I calcine the bulk of the materials with about 4th part of
potassium or any other suitable alkaline agent or agents and th part of sulphur
to a dull red even heat maintained for 2 to 4 consecutive hours or longer if
required.
It is necessary in some cases to make a saturated solution of the last named
agents and saturate the metal bearing materials before calcining.
By using sulphur and potassium or any other suitable alkaline agent when
calcining the metal bearing materials the chemical conception that takes place
After the metal bearing
forms persulphide of potassium and it takes up the metals.
materials have undergone a washing process in suitable tanks in a slight solution of
persulphide of potassium at about 200° I draw off the solution (containing the gold)
at the surface level of the sediment.
If the solution were drawn at the bottom level of the sediment (percolating
through it) the gold would take up its former relations and remain in the leach.
The persulphide of gold may be precipitated and refined by various known
means.
In dealing with refractory or complex ores matrices or metal bearing materials
pulverised to float, I make a saturated solution of proto-sulphate of iron and with it
mix the metal bearing materials to pug consistency dump it and calcine and
afterwards I again saturate the metal bearing materials with a saturated solution of
sulphide of potassium, or other suitable alkaline agent or agents and let it remain
about 48 to 60 hours, or as may be required.
The metal bearing materials now part with the iron and gold which are taken up
with the sulphur and form sulphides of metals. The treated metal materials are
now placed in suitable tanks and after the process of washing with water at
about 200° the metal bearing materials are allowed to cool and settle.
After the sediments are completed, the solution containing the metals is drawn
of at the surface level of the sediment, not at the bottom for by so doing the
percolating of the solution would leave the metals in their former relations and
remain in the leaches.
The potassium, or other suitable alkaline acting on the silicous matters releases
the metals and they are then precipitated with a saturated solution of sulphide of
lime, which takes up the metals and form an intense black slime, this on being
roasted disengages all sulphurous gases when the said slime may be fluxed and
refined in any ordinary way or known means.
I wish it to be understood that the bulk of the pulverised metal bearing materials
must contain not less than 2 per cent. of iron and if less I add sufficient iron ore or

page_text: other suitable iron oxide to make up the deficiency previously to the pulverising
part of the process being commenced.
My modes and processes for the extraction and entire recovery of metals, more
particularly the precious metals, are so opposed and antagonistic to the processes
using mercury chlorine or electricity, all of which I ignore and use agents or
elements that are discarded (as being obstructive and detrimental to the recovery
process) adding to or increasing the quantity of such agent or agents if required.
By the use of such agents and in conjunction with the other parts of my
invention I accelerate the course of nature in segrating and recovering metals more
particularly the precious metals.
Dated this 18th day of April 1800
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said W. C. Loe.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method or Process for Treating Metal Bearing Bodies and
the Recovery of Metals therefrom.
I, WILLIAM CLARK LOE, of 11, Queen Victoria Street, City of London, Engineer,
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 :-
My invention relates to the novelty of completely extracting and entirely recovering
metals from their matrices or metal bearing materials, but more particularly to the
recovery of the precious metals, avoiding the use of mercury, chlorine or electricity
as used in other known processes, but use those elements that are now treated as
antagonistic and obstructive agents, adding or increasing them as and if required for
metal recovery process or processes.
The elements of gold and silver may for the purposes of recovery first be treated
for gold, and next to recover gold and silver.
In dealing with free milling matrices or only gold bearing materials pulverised
to float where required, I calcine the bulk of the materials with about th part
of potassium hydrate or any other suitable alkaline agent or agents and
soth part of sulphur to a dull red even heat maintained for 2 to 4 consecutive hours
or longer if required.
It is necessary in some cases to make a saturated solution of the last named agents
and saturate the metal bearing materials before calcining.
To make the saturated solution, if the metal bearing body contains no sulphur, I
take the proportions of about 1 of finely powdered sulphur with 2 parts of alkali
potash, or other suitable alkaline agent and by boiling at a regular heat add from
time to time sufficient water to form a complete combination of the agents until no
portion is left as sediment. When cooled, the saturated solution will be a bright
clear dark brown showy color.
If a sufficient quantity of sulphur is contained in the metal bearing bodies the
solution of potassium hydrate only is required.
The longer the metal bearing materials can be left after being dumped, greater
opportunity is given for oxidization to take place and the strength of the solution
can also be considered with the length of time the dump materials stand previously
to undergoing the washing process.
By using sulphur and potassium or any other suitable alkaline agent when
calcining the metal bearing materials the chemical conception that takes place
forms persulphide of potassium and it takes up the metals. After the metal bearing
materials have undergone a washing process in suitable tanks in a slight solution of
persulphide of potassium at about 200° I draw off the solution (containing the gold)
at the surface level of the sediment,

page_text: If the solution were drawn at the bottom level of the sediment (percolating
through it) the gold would take up its former relations and remain in the leach.
The persulphide of gold may be precipitated and refined by various known
means.
In dealing with refractory or complex ores matrices or metal bearing materials
pulverised to float I make a saturated solution of proto-sulphate of iron and with
it mix the metal bearing materials to pug consistency, dump it and calcine and
afterwards I again saturate the metal bearing materials with a saturated solution
of sulphide of potassium or other suitable alkaline agent or agents and let it remain
about 48 or 60 hours or as may be required.
The metal bearing materials now part with the iron and gold which are taken up
with the sulphur and form sulphides of metals. The treated metal materials are
now placed in suitable tanks and after the process of washing with water at
about 200° the metal bearing materials are allowed to cool and settle.
After the sediments are completed the solution containing the metals is drawn off
at the surface level of the sediment, not at the bottom for by so doing the percolating
of the solution would leave the metals in their former relations and remain in
the leaches.
The potassium or other suitable alkaline acting on the silicous matter releases the
metals and they are then precipitated with a saturated solution of sulphide of lime
which takes up the metals and form an intense black slime, this on being roasted
disengages all sulphurous gases when the said slime may be fluxed and refined in
any ordinary way or known means.
I wish it to be understood that the bulk of the pulverised metal bearing materials
must contain not less than 2 per cent. of iron and if less I add sufficient iron ore or
other suitable iron oxide to make up the deficiency previously to the pulverising
part of the process being commenced.
My modes and processes for the extraction and entire recovery of metals more
particularly the precious metals are so opposed and antagonistic to the processes
using mercury, chlorine or electricity all of which I ignore and use agents or elements
that are discarded (as being obstructive and detrimental to the recovery process)
adding to or increasing the quantity of such agent or agents if required.
By the use of such agents and in conjunction with the other parts of my invention
I accelerate the course of nature in segrating and recovering metals more particularly
the precious metals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
The hereinbefore described means, mode or process, for the extraction and
recovery of metals from metal bearing bodies (without the use of the usual agents,
such as mercury, chlorine, or electricity) by regulating the necessary agents to set
up chemical conception or conceptions whereby the metals are released from their
bodies and form sulphides.
Dated is om way of Decem
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London, Agent for the said W. C. Loe.