AN IMPROVED METHOD OF ABSTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM THEIR ORES BY THE COMBINED ACTION OF MERCURY ELECTRICITY AND
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Barker of Seacombe in the County of Cheshire,
for an Invention of AN IMPROVED METHOD OF ABSTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER
FROM THEIR ORES BY THE COMBINED ACTION OF
MERCURY
ELECTRICITY AND
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Barker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th June 1882.
RICHARD BARKER of Seacombe, in the County of Cheshire AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF ABSTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM THEIR ORES, BY THE COMBINED
ACTION OF ELECTRICITY AND MERCURY
My invention relates to improvements in the methods of abstracting gold and
silver from their ores, by the combined action of electricity and mercury. These
improvements are specially applicable to those ores which contain sulphurets,
arsenical or iron pyrites, black sand, or other heavy substances.
I provide a table, insulated or not, and made of iron, wood, porcelain, or of
earthenware glazed or unglazed, or of any combination of these materials. In this
table are formed rifles, either in one piece with the table or fitted thereto. These
rifles are made of enamelled iron, gutta percha, wood, iron, porcelain or earthenware,
glazed or unglazed, or of any combination of these materials.
A current of electricity is conducted into the mercury in each riffle, by one or
more suitable cathodes. The electricity is thereby compelled to rise through the
mercury to anodes placed above with energy sufficient to agitate it, and cause it to
absorb gold silver lead or copper without fusing any other metals exposed to its
influence.
I cause, by any convenient means, a stream or streams of cold water to pass over
the surface of the ore under treatment, for the purpose of effecting the recondensation
of the mercury.
In each riffle, I mount a stirrer or agitator, of any convenient and well-known
form, made of iron, enamelled or plain; gutta-percha; porcelain or Earthenware,
glazed or unglazed; or of any other suitable substance; which is made to revolve,
by any convenient means, either in or under the mercury, and either with or against
the currents of cold water above mentioned, in order to prevent any heavy
mineral substances from accumulating upon the surface of the mercury.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Richard Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th November
1882.
RICHARD BARKER, of Seacombe, in the County of Cheshire, AN IMPROVED
METHOD OF ABSTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM THEIR ORES, BY THE COMBINED
ACTION OF ELECTRICITY AND MERCURY
My Invention relates to an improved method of abstracting or extracting gold
and silver from their ores, by the combined action of electricity and mercury, applied
in the manner, and by means of apparatus, such as is hereinafter described. For
the purpose of my Invention I provide a table, insulated or not, in which I place
two or more riffles, or baths, containing mercury, at convenient distances from
one another, and fitted, or not, with the ordinary agitators. Over this table, the
quartz, alluvial deposit, or other matter containing gold, silver, or both these metal-,
is washed, by the ordinary method. A current of electricity is then passed through
the apparatus, as hereinafter shewn, by one or more suitable conductors, in the
following manner. The negative pole (or cathode), of the battery, or other source
of electricity, is connected with the mercury in the riffles, and the positive pole (or
anode), is introduced into the water, immediately above the mercury, and
Bufficiently close to it, to cause an energetic action, the electric current being allowed
to pass through the water, by placing in it, at convenient distances, plates or wires
of copper, or other good conductors of electricity.
It is necessary to keep the mercury covered with a stratum of water, as the action
of the mercury is thereby properly maintained. The introduction of an electric
current into the water, as above specified, causes continual agitation at the surface
of the mercury, prevents it from what is technically termed "sickening" in the
presence of arsenic, sulphur, oil, or any other substances known to act in like
manner, and which are deleterious to the action of mercury in amalgamating with
gold or silver; and also prevents titanic sand, or other heavy mineral deposits, from
remaining on the surface. The surface of the mercury immediately under and
around the copper plates, wires, or the like, is kept thoroughly bright and capable
of amalgamating readily with gold and silver, despite the presence of foreign
substances. The conducting plates, wires, or the like, I make either stationary, or
moveable, and attached to the riffiles, taking care, however, that if revolving, or
otherwise in motion, the plates, or wires shall never come into contact with the
mercury. In the provisional specification reference is made to lead and copper,
but in practice I find that those ores cannot be advantageously absorbed or
separated.
And in order that my Invention may be readily understood, and carried into
effect by any competent person experienced in the art or process to which it relates,
I proceed to describe the same, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
:
Fig 1, is a longitudinal elevation, and fig: 2, a plan of my improved electro
amalgamator. Figs: 3 and 4 details of certain parts.
A, is the riffle table, in which are fomed the riffles a, a, a; this table, and the
riffles, may be made in one piece, or otherwise, as may be most convenient.
The material I prefer to employ in the construction of my riffle table, and riffles,
is wood, but iron, porcelaine, earthenware (glazed or unglazed), or any combination
of the abovementioned materials may be employed.
The number of riffles in a table depends upon the nature of the ore to be
treated; where the ore is refractory, ten riffles (as shewn), or more, may be
required.

page_text: In the first series, three riffles are shewn, each one provided with combined
revolving mechanical stirrers and revolving electrodes (anodes) B. Each set of
stirrers consists of a shaft b, to which are attached arms or pins 61, which act as the
stirrers, and a second set of arms or pins 6³, which act as the electrodes. These
shafts are kept in constant contact with the main current of electricity, by means
of any suitable connection. The mechanical stirrers are designedly longer than the
electrodes; the object in making the electrodes shorter than the stirrers is to prevent
them from coming into contact with the mercury, which would otherwise destroy
the whole operation.
In the second series, the stirrers are the same as described in the first series, but
instead of the electric current being supplied along the shaft it is conveyed by wires
or plates c, which are laid across the riffle (as seen in plan, fig: 2,) a little above the
mercury, special care being taken that they shall not come into contact with the
mercury.
In the third series, the mechanical stirrers are dispensed with, but the current is
rendered intermittent by means of a special construction of revolving electrodo, B³,
and is supplied along the shaft, as in the first series, but in such a manner that
when the arms or pins are perpendicular, as in fig: 1, the current is caused to
flow, and when horizontal, the current is interrupted. This special construction
of revolving electrode is clearly shewn in detailed view, and on a larger scale in
fig. 3.
In both the first and the third series, I establish the electric connection, by strips d
and bands d', of metal, arranged on the surface of the shaft, as clearly shewn in
detailed view, big 4, or by a metallic core, in contact with the inner ends of the
electrodes.
The shafts are made of wood, the stirrers of any suitable non-conducting material,
and the electrodes (anodes) of brass, or any other hard and durable metal. The
shafts may also be made of metal, and where metal is used, the shafts would be
insulated in the usual way.
In the fourth series, I dispense with the shafts and stirrers, and, in this instance,
the electrodes are carried across the riffles, either as shewn in the ninth riffle, in
fig. 2, or interlaced as shewn in the tenth riffle.
In all cases care must be taken that the electrodes ("nodes), shall never come into
contact with the mercury (cathodes).
Each riffle is provided at bottom, with a tap or cock e, by means of which the
mercury may be drawn off. Or the conducting wire may be passed through the
heads of the plugs of the taps or cocks, and when desired to run off the mercury,
this wire must be disconnected and removed.
The electric current is supplied direct to one end of the first riffle, and passing
through the mercury, is then conveyed or led out by the wire L, to the adjoining
riffle, and so on, to the whole series of rifles, as shewn in full lines and dotted lines
in fig: 2.
The return current to the electric generator, in the first and third series, is
conveyed by depressing screws, suitably placed for the purpose, on the side of the
riffle table, and in immediate proximity to the shafts, so as to come into contact
with the metallic bands d', but in the second and fourth series, by the bars ƒ ƒ.
At that side of the riffle table, opposite to the discharge taps or cocks, each shaft
carries a pulley C, for the purpose of revolving the same, and the pulleys may be
driven by any suitable gearing.
The most suitable speed for the shafts is 45 revolutions per minute.
Mercury is supplied to each riffle in the manner employed in the ordinary
amalgamation, and in my invention discharges the duty of a cathode in each
riffle.
The ore is supplied to the platform D, in the usual way. The table A, is placed
at a suitable inclination, and a current of water is applied in such a manner that
the ore is caused to travel down the table, and pass through each of the riffles
between the several sets of electrodes (cathodes and anodes).
aran

page_text: The electric action upon the surface of the mercury keeps the titanic sand, &c,
in a constant state of agitation, thereby ensuring perfect 'contact between the
mercury and the particles of gold and silver, which would otherwise be lost, as the
titanic sand, &c, would form a layer upon the surface of the mercury, and so cause
imperfect amalgamation, with a consequent loss of gold, or of silver.
Having now described my Invention, I claim, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent.
First. The improved method of extracting gold and silver from their ores by the
combined action of electricity and mercury, substantially as herein described.
Second. The construction or use of apparatus, such as is herein described, for
the purpose of extracting gold and silver from their ores, in the manner above
indicated.
Third. The combination, substantially as described and shewn, of the riffles with
the various mechanical and electrical appliances, for the purposes specified, as
herein before mentioned, and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Fourth. The construction or use of revolving electrodes (anodes) as described,
and as shown in the drawings, for the purposes herein specified.
In witness whereof I the said Richard Barker have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twentyseventh day of October 1882.
ממלתית הסוDIAE