IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT AND SEPARATION OF ORES AND MINERAL PRODUCTS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John King, of Bishopgate Avenue, in
the City of London, Merchant, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT AND SEPARATION OF ORES AND MINERAL PRODUCTS."
Sealed the 10th July 1874, and dated the 23rd January 1874.

page_text: and being thereby capable by means of such agency of being separated
from non-magnetic and other impurities, and this Invention consists,-
First. In submitting ores containing sulphur, such for example as iron
pyrites, which upon being subjected to the action of heat cither in a
closed or in a partially closed vessel shall be rendered magnetic or capable
of being attracted by means of a magnet or magnets.
Second. In submitting ores or mineral products containing the higher
oxides of iron, such for example as the sesqui-oxide of iron, to the action
of heat in conjunction with a reducing agent, such for example as
charcoal, in order that the same may be converted into a magnetic
product which may be capable of being attracted and separated by means
of a magnet or magnets.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I cause the ores con-
taining sulphur as sulphurets, such for example as iron pyrites by
preference in a state of division, to be submitted to the action of heat, 1
either in a closed or in a partially closed retort or other apparatus, or until
the said sulphurets shall have been converted into what is known as the
magnetic condition, or into that condition in which they are capable of
being attracted by means of a magnet or magnets.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention I cause the ores or 2
mineral products containing the higher oxides of iron, such for example
as the sesqui-oxide of iron, by preference in a state of division, to be
submitted to the action of heat either in a closed or in a partially closed
retort or other apparatus, until the said oxides shall have been converted
into what is known as the magnetic condition, or into that condition in :
which they are capable of being attracted by means of a magnet or
magnets.
Having thus rendered the ores and mineral products before-mentioned
magnetic, or capable of being attracted by means of a magnet or magnets,
they are then passed over a revolving wheel or roller, on the circum-
ference of which I place rings of iron or steel, each alternate ring being
in contact with the opposite poles of a number of magnets inserted in
the wheel or roller, and I place around this wheel or roller a continuous
band of silk or other textile fabric, or any material through which the
magnetic power will pass. I have found copper to be suitable for this a
purpose. This band is by means of a second wheel or roller or other

page_text: convenient arrangement drawn away from contact with the magnetic
wheel or roller during its revolution.
The ores and mineral products prepared as above described being
passed through a hopper or otherwise passed upon the band around the
magnetic wheel or roller the magnetic particles are carried to the point
where the band leaves the magnetic wheel or roller, and then drop into
a receptacle for the iron, while the non-magnetic ores or substances fall
from the band into another receptacle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Frederick John King in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 22nd July 1874.
:
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FREDERICK
JOHN KING, of Bishopsgate Avenue, in the City of London, Merchant,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the
37th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Frederick John King, Her special license
that I, the said Frederick John King, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Frederick John King, my executors,
administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and nó
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for " IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE TREATMENT AND SEPARATION OF ORES AND MINERAL PRODUCTS," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Frederick John King,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under mý
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Frederick John King, 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, that is to say :-
This Invention relates to effecting the separation of ores or of natural
mineral substances which by the application of heat or by the applica-
tion of heat together with a reducing agent are capable of being rendered
magnetic, or capable of being attracted by means of a magnet or magnets,
and thereby being capable by means of such agency of being separated
from non-magnetic and other impurities, and this Invention consists,--
Firstly. In submitting ores or other similar natural mineral products
containing sulphur, such for example as iron pyrites or minerals contain-
ing the same, which upon being subjected to the action of heat either in a
closed or in a partially closed vessel the sulphides of iron shall be rendered
magnetic, or capable of being attracted by means of a magnet or
magnets.
Secondly. In submitting ores or natural mineral products containing
the higher oxides of iron, such for example as the sesqui-oxide of iron,
to the action of heat in conjunction with a reducing agent, such for
example as charcoal, in order that the ores or the natural mineral
products may be converted into a magnetic product which may be
capable of being attracted and separated by means of a magnet or
magnets.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I cause the ores
containing iron or other natural mineral products containing sulphur
and iron as sulphurets, such for example as iron pyrites, by preference
in a state of division, to be submitted to the action of heat either in a
closed or in a partially closed retort or other apparatus until the said
sulphurets shall have been converted into what is known as the magnetic
condition, or into that condition in which the ores and natural mineral
products are rendered capable of being attracted by means of a magnet
or magnets.
In carrying out the second part of my Invention I cause the ores or
natural mineral products containing the higher oxides of iron, such for
example as the sesqui-oxide of iron, by preference in a state of division,
to be submitted in conjunction with a reducing agent to the action of
heat either in a closed or in a partially closed retort or other apparatus

page_text: until the said oxides shall have been converted into what is known as
the magnetic condition, or into that condition in which they are capable
of being attracted by means of a magnet or magnets.
-
Having thus rendered the ores or natural mineral products herein-
before mentioned magnetic or capable of being attracted by means of a
magnet or magnets, they are then passed over a revolving wheel or
roller, on the circumference of which I place rings or bars of iron or
steel, each alternate ring or bar being in contact with the opposite poles
of a number of magnets inserted in the wheel or roller, and I place
around this wheel or roller a continuous band of silk or of any other
textile fabric, or of any other material through which the magnetic
will pass.
power
I have found copper in the form of a band to be
suitable for this purpose. The band or bands so employed are by means
of a second wheel or roller or other convenient arrangement drawn away
from contact with the magnetic wheel or roller during its revolution.
The ores and the natural mineral products prepared as above described,
being passed through a hopper or otherwise passed upon the band or
bands around the magnetic wheel or roller the magnetic particles are
from thence carried to the point where the band or bands leave the
magnetic wheel or roller, and the magnetic products then drop or fall
by reason of the non-influence of the magnetic power of the magnets
into a receptacle.
The non-magnetic ores or natural mineral substances treated as before
mentioned are firstly separated, they not being capable of being affected
by magnetic influence, and they may be received in other receptacles.
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 In-
vention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. Effecting the separation of ores and of natural mineral products
by submitting such ores or natural mineral products containing sulphur,
such for example as iron pyrites, to the action of heat without the
addition of coal or of any other carbonaceous substance, either in con-
junction with air or otherwise, in order that the same shall be rendered

page_text: magnetic or capable of being attracted by a magnet or magnets, and
then submitting the same to the action of magnetic influence in the
manner herein-before described, or otherwise.
Second. Effecting the separation of ores or of natural mineral products
containing the higher oxides of iron, such for example as the sesqui-
oxide of iron, by submitting the same to the action of heat in conjunc-
tion with a reducing agent, so as to render the same magnetic or capable
of being attracted by means of a magnet or magnets, and then submitting
the same to the action of magnetic influence in the manner herein-before
described, or otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John King, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of July
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.