IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ORES AND EARTHS CONTAINING IRON IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE METAL THEREFROM
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Thomas, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey,
Iron Founder, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING ORES
AND EARTHS CONTAINING IRON IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE METAL THEREFROM."
Sealed the 7th January 1864, and dated the 8th July 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Thomas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th July 1863.
J, JOHN THOMAS, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Iron Founder, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TREATING
ORES AND EARTHS CONTAINING IRON IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE METAL THEREFROM,"
to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in treating ores and earths containing iron, par-
ticularly surface ores and sands, as hereafter explained.
"I first reduce the matters to be operated on to a state of sand, if not already
in that state, and mix them in or about the proportions following with the
ingredients named :-
Sand, or ores reduced to a state of sand
Clay
Chalk
Coal or other fuel:
2 parts.
-
2 parts.
-
1 part.
One fourth part
The proportions must, however, be varied according to the richness or

page_text: quality of the ore and clay, but they must be such that a brick may be formed
of the materials used.
After the materials have been well mixed and amalgamated I prefer to
form them into bricks, blocks, or lumps, or I proceed directly to dry them,
and then calcine them by burning, as for instance in the burning of ordinary
building bricks, or otherwise, care being taken during the burning to prevent
contact of the air with the mass.
After calcination the mass is ready for reducing in the manner ordinarily
followed in smelting iron ores.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Thomas in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th January 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
THOMAS, of Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Iron Founder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing datè. the Eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the, said. John Thomas, Her special licence that I, the said John
Thomas, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said John Thomas, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no. 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
TREATING ORES AND EARTHS CONTAINING IRON IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE METAL
THEREFROM," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Thomas, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Thomas, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in treating ores and earths containing iron, par-
ticularly surface ores and sands, as hereafter explained:
I first reduce the matters to be operated on to a state of sand, if not already
in that state, and mix them in or about the proportions following with the
ingredients named :-
.
Sand, or ores reduced to a state of sand
Clay or argillaceous earth
Chalk, lime, or other material containing lime
Coal or other fuel
-
->
2 parts.
->
2 parts.
-
I part.
One-fourth part.
-
The proportions must, however, be varied according to the richness or
quality of the ore and clay or argillaceous earth, they must be such that a
brick may
be formed of the materials used, or that they may be moulded.
After the materials have been well mixed and amalgamated I prefer to
form them into bricks, blocks, or lumps, and dry them, or I proceed directly
to dry them and then calcine them by burning, as for instance, in the burning
of ordinary building bricks, or otherwise, care being taken during the burning
to prevent as far as possible contact of the air with the mass.
After calcination the mass is ready for reducing in the manner ordinarily
followed in smelting iron ores.
Where the materials are calcined in a retort or other close vessel I dispense
with the coal or other fuel in compounding them.
.
Where chalk cannot be readily obtained, limestone or other material
containing lime may be used separately from the compound, and in the
ordinary manner followed in smelting iron.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim treating ores and
earths containing iron substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Thomas, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of January One thousand eight hundred