Improvements in the Method of and Means to be Employed in Extracting Gold from Ores, Tailings, Slimes, or other Auriferous Material.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Means to be Employed in
Extracting Gold from Ores, Tailings, Slimes, or other Auriferous
Material.
I, RICHARD KIRKMAN, of 4, Woodlands Terrace, Swansea, in the County of
Glamorgan, Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in the method of and means to be
employed in extracting gold from ores, tailings, slimes or other auriferous
material, and has for its object to obtain a simple and comparatively inexpensive
apparatus and method of working which will ensure the extraction or recovery
of the gold in a more complete manner than heretofore and at the same time
effect a considerable economy in time and labour.
For this purpose the material to be treated consisting of crushed ore, tailings
or the like after having been mixed with a sufficient quantity of water or the
like is forced through a series of perforated amalgamated plates or other surfaces
by which means every particle of the material is brought into direct contact
with the amalgamated Surfaces, and the whole of the amalgamable gold asso-
ciated therewith is thereby arrested and recovered.
The form of the apparatus employed for carrying the invention into effect
may be considerably varied as will be readily understood but the following is
an example of one form thereof which it is anticipated will give good results
in practice.
In carrying the invention into effect according to this example a hollow
and preferably cylindrical chamber provided with removable end covers is
employed and into this chamber is introduced and removably fixed in a central
position a shaft or carrier upon which have been previously mounted at suitable
intervals a series of discs or plates axially apertured to fit onto the shaft and
perforated over their entire surface with holes of suitable area and so propor-
tioned that they closely fit the interior surface of the cylinder or chamber.
The discs or plates are loosely mounted upon the central shaft with capability
of removal, and are held apart at suitable distances by means of distance pieces
which might consist of short lengths of tube placed upon the shaft between the
discs and the discs thus threaded upon the shaft are coated or amalgamated
with quicksilver.
The cylinder or chamber is provided with suitable inlet and exhaust ports
for the material to be treated and this material is forced into the cylinder at
one end by the aid of any suitable forcing or propelling device and is thereby
forced through the perforations of the series of amalgamated plates and out at
the exhaust port of the chamber, in its passage owing to the breaking up of
the material into minute streams by the perforations and the various positions
thereof causing every particle of the material to be brought into intimate
contact with the amalgamated surfaces and thus extracting therefrom the whole
of the gold contained therein.

page_text: At suitable intervals of time the shaft or carrier and charged discs or plates
are removed from the cylinder or chamber and immediately replaced by a new
carrier and fresh series of plates whilst the removed plates are then cleaned
in the usual way in readiness for re-insertion in the apparatus.
By these means the great loss of time usually occasioned by the long stoppages
in the work for cleaning which are necessitated by the processes at present in
use are avoided.
In lieu of, or in addition to amalgamating the plates or discs previous to
their introduction into the chamber a suitable proportion of quick silver or
amalgam may be introduced with or at the same time as the material to be
treated.
In some cases a rotary or other motion may be imparted to the discs prefer-
ably through the carrier and the form of the carrier may be varied, for example
instead of a central shaft a removable skeleton frame may be employed to
support the perforated plates or discs in the required position whilst in lieu of
plates or discs other forins of perforated metal may be employed.
By the means herein before described a simple and inexpensive means is
obtained by the aid of which the extraction of gold from crushed ores or other
material may be effected in a more thorough and economical manner than
heretofore.
Dated this 12th day of January 1899
Improvements in the Method of and Means to be Employed in
Extracting Gold from Ores, Tailings, Slimes, or other Auriferous
Material.
I, RICHARD KIRKMAN, of 4, Woodlands Terrace, Swansea, in the County of
Glamorgan, Works Manager, 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:
.
The invention relates to improvements in the method of and means to be
employed in extracting gold from ores, tailings, slimes or other auriferous
material and has for its object to obtain a simple and comparatively inexpensive
apparatus and method of working which will ensure the extraction or recovery
of the gold in a more complete manner than heretofore and at the same time
effect a considerable economy in time and labour.
For this purpose the material to be treated consisting of crushed ore tailings
or the like after having been mixed with a sufficient quantity of water or the
like is forced through a series of perforated amalgamated plates or other surfaces
by which means every particle of the material is brought into direct contact
with the amalgamated surfaces, and the whole of the amalgamable gold asso-
ciated therewith is thereby arrested and recovered.
The form of the apparatus employed for carrying the invention into effect
may be considerably varied as will be readily understood but the following is
an example of one form thereof which it is anticipated will give good results
in practice.
In carrying the invention into effect according to this example a chamber
preferably cylindrical and provided with removable end covers is employed

page_text: and into this chamber is introduced and removably fixed in a central
position a shaft or carrier upon which have been previously mounted at suitable
intervals a series of discs or plates axially apertured to fit on to the shaft and
perforated over their entire surface with holes of suitable area and so propor-
tioned that they closely fit the interior surface of the cylinder or chamber.
The discs or plates are loosely mounted upon the central shaft with capability
of removal, and are held apart at suitable distances by means of distance pieces
which might consist of short lengths of tube placed upon the shaft between the
discs and the discs thus threaded upon the shaft are coated or amalgamated
with quicksilver.
The cylinder or chamber is provided with suitable inlet and exhaust ports
for the material to be treated and this material is forced into the cylinder at
one end by the aid of any suitable forcing or propelling device and is thereby
forced through the perforations of the series of amalgamated plates and out at
the exhaust port of the chamber, in its passage owing to the breaking up of
the material into minute streams by the perforations and the various positions
thereof causing every particle of the material to be brought into intimate
contact with the amalgamated surfaces and thus extracting therefrom the whole
of the gold contained therein or nearly so.
At suitable intervals of time the shaft or carrier and charged discs or plates
are removed from the cylinder or chamber and immediately replaced by a new
carrier and fresh series of plates whilst the removed plates are then cleaned
in the usual way in readiness for re-insertion in the apparatus.
By these means the great loss of time usually occasioned by the long stoppages
in the work for cleaning which are necessitated by the processes at present in
use are avoided.
In some cases a rotary or other motion may be imparted to the discs prefer-
ably through the carrier and the form of the carrier may be varied, for example
instead of a central shaft a removable skeleton frame may be employed to
support the perforated plates or dises in the required position whilst in lieu of
plates or discs other forms of perforated metal may be employed.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section representing an apparatus
constructed according to the present invention and horizontally disposed.
Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof with the forcing apparatus removed.
Figure 3 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side view of the perforated plates and their carrier separately.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 4 representing a modified form of
carrier.
Figure 6 is an end view thereof partly in section.
Figure 7 is a sectional side view of a modified form of apparatus in which
motion is imparted to the perforated plates and
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of a vertically disposed apparatus.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figure 7 is drawn to an increased scale and Figure 8 to a reduced
scale with respect to the other figures of the drawings.
Referring to Figures 1 to 4 « represents a frame or stand upon which is
mounted a cylindrical chamber 6 consisting of a shell formed of sheet iron,
for example boiler plate, or it might be constructed of other suitable material
and this cylinder is at its ends provided with flanges b¹ to which are removably
secured by means of bolts and nuts end covers b³.
The chamber 6 has removably arranged upon the interior and at or near to
each end thereof a beam or frame provided with a bearing b³ arranged axially

page_text: of said chamber and adapted to receive the ends of a shaft or carriage c upon
which are mounted at suitable intervals a series of discs or plates axially
apertured to fit onto the shaft c and perforated over their entire surface with
holes of suitable area and said discs or plates are of such diameter that they
closely fit the interior surface of the cylinder or chamber b.
The discs or plates c¹ which must be of a thickness to resist the pressure to
which they are subjected as hereinafter described are loosely. mounted upon the
shaft or carrier e with capability of removal and with their perforations out
of alignment and they are held apart at suitable distances by means of distance
pieces which in the drawings are shown to consist of short lengths of tube
but they might be skeleton wheels or frames or of other suitable form and the
discs or plates and distance pieces are forced towards. each other and
firmly held in the required position with relation to the shaft or carrier by
means of nuts screwing upon threaded parts of the shaft c.
The discs or plates previous or subsequently to being threaded upon the
shaft or carrier c are coated or amalgamated with quicksilver and the carrier.c
together with the discs or plates c¹ is then, after the removal of one of the
covers b², preferably the rear end cover, of the cylinder or chamber and the
corresponding beam b*, introduced into the cylinder or chamber when said parts
are replaced in position.
The cylinder or chamber is provided with inlet and exhaust ports 66 67 for
the material to be treated and which may consist of crushed ore tailings or the
like mixed with a sufficient quantity of water or the like and this material is
forced into the cylinder or chamber 6 by the aid of a centrifugal pump d or it
might be any other suitable form of forcing or propelling apparatus, coupled
with the inlet port be by the aid of a flexible or other connection d'.
The material is thus forced into the chamber and through the perforations c²
of the series of amalgamated plates and out by the exhaust port 67 of the
chamber and in its passage by reason of the breaking up thereof by the per-
forations into minute streams of various positions which impinge upon the
plates every particle of the material is caused to be brought into intimate
contact with the amalgamated surfaces of the plates or discs e¹ thus effectually
extracting therefrom the whole of the gold contained therein or nearly so.
At suitable intervals of time the shaft or carrier c and charged discs or plates c¹
are removed from the cylinder or chamber b and immediately replaced by a new
carrier and fresh series of amalgamated plates several sets of such parts being
employed in connection with one chamber whilst the removed plates are then
cleaned by scraping or otherwise in readiness for re-insertion in the apparatus
and the removed amalgam is treated in the usual way for the separation of gold
therefrom.
By these means the great loss of time usually occasioned by the long stoppages
in the work for cleaning which are necessitated by the processes at present in
use are avoided.
In the example given at Figures 5 and 6 the carrier e instead of being formed
as a rod or shaft upon which the dises or plates are threaded and spaced
consists of a skeleton cradle formed of transverse semi-circular ribs or frames c
to which are fixed longitudinal bars provided at suitable intervals with clips
or notches into which the plates or discs c¹ which are notched to countersink
the bars are inserted and thereby firmly held and spaced and the entire
device is introduced into the cylinder or chamber b.
It will be seen that this device possesses many advantages compared with
that herein before described with respect to Figures 1 to 4 amongst them being
that the placing in position and removal of the plates is greatly facilitated.
It will be obvious that the form of the carrier may be further modified and
that in lieu of plates or discs other forms of perforated metal surfaces may be
employed.
In the example given at Figure 7 the carrier e is similar to that hereinfirst

page_text: described but formed of square or like section for the greater part of its length
and the axial holes in the plates or discs c¹ are of corresponding shape.
In this case the bearings 65 are provided with glands or stuffing boxes and
fixed upon the exterior of the covers 62 so as to exclude therefrom as far as
possible the granular material and the shaft or carrier c is at its rear end reduced
to fit its bearing so as to be capable of insertion therein and removal therefrom
whilst in order to take out the carrier c and its plates c¹ the front cover 6² is
removed bodily therewith.
Beyond the front cover ba the shaft or carrier c is provided with a band
pulley by the aid of which rotary motion may be imparted to the shaft c and
discs c from any suitable source of power thereby bringing the amalgamated
surfaces into still more intimate contact with the material under treatment.
In addition to or in lieu of the rotary motion an endway reciprocating motion
may by slightly modifying the parts be imparted to the carrier on shaft cas
will be readily understood.
In the example given at Figure 8 the apparatus is assumed to be the same
as that represented at Figures 1 to 4 but instead of being arranged horizontally
it is placed vertically and in lieu of the centrifugal pump or the like for forcing
the material through the apparatus a hopper shaped receptacle d is provided
into which the material is fed and said hopper is placed at such an elevation
as to afford a sufficient head to carry the material through the apparatus by
the force of gravitation.
By the means herein before described a simple and inexpensive means is
obtained by the aid of which the extraction of gold from crushed ores or other
material may be effected in a more thorough and economical manner than
heretofore.
It will be obvious that the shape of the parts and other details of construction
may be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The method of extracting gold from auriferous material consisting in
passing said material through a series of perforated amalgamated plates or other
surfaces arranged at short distances apart substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material comprising a
series of perforated amalgamated plates or other surfaces arranged at short
distances apart through which the material is passed substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material comprising a
cylinder or chamber a series of perforated amalgamated plates or the like
arranged at short distances apart within the chamber. inlet and exhaust ports
to the chamber and means for forcing the material therethrough substantially
as herein shown and described.
4. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material comprising a
cylinder or chamber provided with covers a shaft or carrier arranged axially
within the chamber with capability of removal and having removably mounted
thereon at short distances apart a series of perforated amalgamated plates or
the like. inlet and exhaust ports to the chamber and means for forcing the
material therethrough substantially as herein shown and described.
5. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material comprising a
cylinder or chamber provided with covers, a skeleton frame or carrier fitting
said chamber with capability of removal, a series of perforated amalgamated
plates or the like removably fitting said frame at short distances apart, inlet
and exhaust ports to the chamber and means for forcing the material there-
through substantially as herein shown and described.

page_text: 6. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material comprising a
cylinder or chamber a series of perforated amalgamated plates or the like
arranged at short distances apart within the chamber inlet and exhaust ports
to the chamber and an elevated feed for forcing the material therethrough by
gravitation substantially as herein shown and described.
7. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material comprising a
cylinder or chamber provided with covers, a carrier arranged within the chamber
with capability of removal and having removably mounted thereon at short
distances apart a series of perforated amalgamated plates or the like, means for
imparting a rotary or reciprocating motion to the carrier, inlet and exhaust
ports to the chamber and means for forcing the material therethrough substan-
tially as herein shown and described.
8. An apparatus for extracting gold from auriferous material constructed
arranged and operating substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 13th day of Varamba 1800
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.