An Improved Method or Process for the Treatment of Gold Bearing Antimony Ores.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method or Process for the Treatment of Gold Bearing
Antimony Ores.
I, JOHN JONES of Union Street, North Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has been devised for the purpose of providing an improved
method or process of treating gold bearing antimony orcs, and efficient apparatus
to carry such method or process into effect.
The invention may be described as follows-After the ore to be treated is
crushed to a fine powder it is placed in a vat or vessel constructed of such material
as will not be prejudicially affected by the action of the proposed solution. The
vat or vessel is then partially filled with preferably a solution of hydro-chloric acid
(or other solution to answer the same purpose). Whilst the ore is in this solution
a stirring action is steadily maintained, at the same time the temperature of the
solution is raised to a desired height by the introduction of hot water or steam
passing through a coiled pipe. The action of the heat assists the saturation of the
solution with antimony from the ore leaving behind a residue of gangue and gold
which is unaffected by the solution.
From time to time the liquid thus becomes surcharged with antimony and is
allowed to flow through a filter to a depositing tank. This depositing tank
contains plates of carbon and lead or other electrodes said electrodes being in
circuit with a dynamo or other source of electricity. The electrodes induce a
deposit on the cathodes of the metal from the solution.
The acid solution is repurified by this deposition on the cathodes and can be
allowed to return into or be pumped back into the treatment vat to continue the
process above described.
The sulphuretted hydrogen gas generated in the vat is allowed to escape there-
from into a water jacketted tank provided to receive same, meanwhile the chlorine
gas which is liberated from the solution in the deposition tank is allowed to
proceed by a pipe up to and into the water in tank aforesaid where it combines
with the sulphuretted hydrogen and is condensed by the water to form hydro-
chloric acid and free sulphur and the acid may now be led into the treatment vat
to continue the process.
I will now refer to the accompanying drawing in which-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the vat or vessel into which the ore is placed
and the mechanism to be used for stirring the solution and ore.
Figure 2 shews a sectional elevation of the filter, electrical depositing tank, and
arrangement of pump for circulating the liquid solution.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the water tank for condensing the gases.
In these figures "A" is the vat or vessel for the reception of the pulverized
ores and acid solution and is constructed preferably of wood or other acid resisting
material. It is provided at its top with a cover "B" in which are placed openings
with lids "C" through which the ore may be fed as required and also with a
pipe "B" through which the acid solution may be fed into the said vat or vessel.
A man-hole or trap door "A" is also constructed in such a manner that the
residue of gangue and gold may be drawn off when desired. "E" is a strong
wooden rod or shaft beginning at and secured to an iron flange "E" and
proceeding down into the tank where it terminates at the bottom in two or more

page_text: cross arms "E," said cross arms being provided with radially arranged scoops or
fingers of wood "E" which are arranged alternately and set near the bottom of
the vessel. This said shaft "E" is connected at the collar "E" with a metal
shaft "E" which is suspended from an overhead bearing "E" by a stop
collar "E" Motion is applied to the shaft "E" by bevel gearing "E" and
thus to "E" from the engine or other power. "D" is a pipe in which heated
water or steam is led into the vat to raise the temperature in said vat. "G" is a
pipe for leading away the neid solution surcharged with mineral from the vat "A."
"H" is the filter (see Fig. 2) which is preferably constructed of perforated
shelves on which a suitable acid resisting material may be placed, such for instance
as asbestos, pumice stone, furnace slag, or other non-corrosible filtering medium
and from which the solution passes by a pipe "H" into the depositing tank "K."
This tank is constructed as follows-At its top a flange is provided to which may
be bolted or otherwise clamped a lid "L." In this tank are secured positive and
negative electrodes "L" these electrodes proceed from side to side of the
tank "K" and are arranged in such a manner as to permit the solution to pass
through the said tank "K" to the pipe "M." A space is left above the top of
these plates or electrodes to allow the gases arising from the liquid to proceed to
the pipe "N."
The bottom of "K" is formed of dish shape and a small trap door "K" may
be conveniently arranged and worked by a handle to allow any paste or sludge to
be removed from time to time when required.
"M" is a pipe for leading the solution to the valve box of a pump
This
pump may be operated by any convenient mechanism. "J" is a pipe by which
the pump "J" forces the acid solution back into the treatment vat. "N" is a pipe
to lend the liberated gases generated in the depositing tank into a condensing
tank "P" (Fig. 3). This pipe "N" may be provided with a pump to force the
gases into the water tank. The tank "P" is water jacketted to keep down the
temperature and is partially filled with water for the purpose of condensing
the gases coming therein from the pipes "S" and "N." "Q" is a pipe by which
an additional supply of chlorine gas may be led into said water tank "P" said
supply may be regulated by a cock on pipe "Q." "R" is a pipe provided with a
safety valve for the escape of superfluous or waste gases and has a branch "R"
to be hereinafter referred to. "S" is a pipe by which the sulphuretted hydrogen
gas generated in the vat is led out to the water tank "P" and is provided with a
branch pipe "S1" hereinafter referred to. The gases thus led into the water
tank "P"after being condensed will combine in form of hydrochloric acid and
may be led out by a pipe "T" into the treatment vat "A." A block or small
filtering piece "TI" is provided in the tank "P" at the entrance to the pipe to
prevent residue passing into the vat. "V" is a pipe by which the acid may be run
out from the vat "A" when it is desired to remove the residue or clean out the
vessel. This pipe may be led to any convenient chamber to receive the acid and
from which it may be returned to the vat.
The modus operandi of the invention may be described as follows-
The hydro-chloric acid solution is admitted by a pipe "B" to the necessary
height in the vat "A." Rotary motion is then given to the bevel gearing "E"
which rotates the wooden shaft "E" and stirring arms "E" from which depend
the fingers "E3" the lids "C" are then removed from the cover "B" and the
necessary quantity of pulverized ore allowed to drop into the tank "A."
The
caps "C" may be replaced and the churning caused by the rotation of the
shalt "E" maintained. The arms "E" and fingers "E" keep the ore paste
exposed to the acid whilst at the same time the heat given off by the hot water or
steam in the coiled pipe "D" assists the saturation of the solution with antimony
from the ore.
The operation hereinbefore described is continued until the surcharging of the
liquid is considered sufficient the cuck on the pipe "G" may be opened and the
surcharged liquor allowed to flow into the filter "H." Here it is robbed of

page_text: mechanical impurities by the filtering material employed and after it has percolated
to the bottom of the filter runs away by pipe "H" into the depositing tank "K."
As before described this tank "K" bas a series of alternate plates (negative and
positive) placed therein so that the liquor entering at one end of the box passes
through the arrangement of plates and is electrolysed. Meanwhile owing to the
electrodes being electrified the antimony contained in the said flowing solution
adheres to the plates thus freeing the solution from its surcharged metal. The
piston of the pump "J" being meanwhile in operation sucks up the said solution
through the inlet valve and on its return stroke forces the liquor again out through
the outlet valve and by pipe "J" back into and near the top of the vat (where it
is preferably discharged as spray to allow any free chlorine to combine with any
free sulphuretted hydrogen). At the same time the liberated chlorine and other
gases generated within said depositing tank "K" may flow by the pipe "N" into
the tank "P," said gases being regulated or cut off if required by a cock provided
on said pipe "N." "Whilst this process is continuing the sulphuretted hydrogen
gas generated in the vat "A" is led off to the water tank by the pipe "S" where
it combines with the chlorine gas to form hydro-chloric acid and free sulphur, the
said gases being condensed by the cool water in the said tank "P." This hydro-
chloric acid may be led off to the vat "A" by the pipe "T" provided with a
cock to regulate the supply as required. If it be desired to remove the residue
accumulating at the bottom of the vat "A" (consisting of gangue and gold) this
may be removed by the sludge door "A" and treated in any approved manner for
the recovery of gold.
The branch pipes "R1" and "S1" are for the purpose of leading away the
waste gaseous exhalations (practically speaking sulphuretted hydrogen) to any
convenient and efficient apparatus or destination for their recovery for commercial
purposes.
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-
1. In methods or processes of treating gold bearing antimony ores-Treating
the pulverized ore by subjecting it to the action of hydro-chloric acid or other
dissolving acid solution, said solution being heated and being kept agitated by
mechanical stirrers.
2. In methods or processes of treating gold bearing antimony ores-Filtering
the surcharged liquor and allowing same thus purified to flow through a tank
containing active electrodes for the purpose of inducing a deposit of antimony on
the cathodes from the solution, and returning the solution thus eliminated from the
metal by such action into a preparing tank where it may be again treated and
surcharged substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In methods or processes of treating gold bearing antimony ores-The employ-
ment of a vat as "A" in which a stirring or churning apparatus as "E, E', E2"
and "E" is kept at work and provided with a heating coil as "D" substantially
as and for the purposes described.
4. In methods or processes of treating gold bearing antimony ores-The herein-
before described methods of receiving and condensing the gas arising from
antimony ores when being treated by an acid solution and the gas arising from an
electrical deposition tank by leading the said gases to water contained in a tank to
combine and form an acid, said acid to be utilized in the further treatment of the
ore as aud for the purposes explained.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.