NEW CON- STRUCTED MACHINE FOR SEPERATING OF GOLD AND SILVER FROM EARTH, SCORIA, AND IMPURITYS, BY MEANS OF TRITURATION, MERCURY, AND AMALGAMA
Year: 1783

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, greeting.
CHARLES BARON DE CHASTEL, Citizen of Geneva, now residing in Grafton
Street, in the Parish of Saint Ann, Soho, in the County of Middlesex, sends
greeting.
WHEREAS the King's most Excellent Majesty, by Letters Patent under
the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April
last, gave and granted unto the said Charles Baron De Chastel, (by the
name and description of Charles Baron De Chastel, Citizen of Geneva, now
residing in Grafton Street, in the Parish of Saint George, Hanover Square, in
the County of Middlesex), his executors, administrators, and assigns, His
especial licence, full power, sóle priviledge and authority, that he, the said
Charles Baron De Chastel, his executors, administrators, and assigns, by
himself or themselves, or by his or their deputy or deputys, servants or
agents, or such other person or persons as he, the said Charles Baron De
Chastel, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter during the term of years therein and herein after expressed,
should and lawfully night make, use, exercise, and vend his "NEW CON-
STRUCTED MACHINE FOR SEPERATING OF GOLD AND SILVER FROM EARTH, SCORIA, AND
IMPURITYS, BY MEANS OF TRITURATION, MERCURY, AND AMALGAMA," within that
part of Great Britain called England, the Dominion of Wales, and Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner as to him, the said Charles Baron
De Chastel, his executors, administrators, and assigns, or any of them, should in
their discretions seem meet, and that he, the said Charles Baron De Chastel,
his executors, administrators, and assigns, should and lawfully might have and

page_text: enjoy the whole profit, commodity, benefit, and advantage, from time to time
coming, accruing, and arising, by reason of the said new Invention, for and dur-
ing the term of years therein and herein-after mentioned; to have and to hold,
exercise, and enjoy the said licence, powers, priviledges, and advantages herein-
before mentioned to be granted unto the said Charles Baron De Chastel, his
executors, administrators, and assigns, of the sole use, exercise, and vending of
his said New Constructed Machine for Seperating of Gold or Silver from
Earth, Scoria, and Impuritys, by means of Trituration, Mercury, and Amal-
gama, for and during and unto the full end and term of fourteen years from
the date of the said Letters Patent next and immediately ensuing, and fully to
be compleat and ended according to the Statute in such case made and pro-
vided, and thereby commanding all and every person or persons, bodys politic
and corporate, and all other His Majesty's subjects whatsoever, of what estate,
quality, degree, name, or condition soever, then being within that part of His
Majesty's said Kingdom of Great Britain called England, His Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, that neither they or any of them,
at any time during the continuance of the said term of fourteen years thereby
granted, either directly or indirectly, do make, use, or put in practice, the said
Invention, or any part of the same, so attained unto the said Charles Baron
De Chastel, his executors, administrators, and assigns, as aforesaid, nor in
anywise counterfeit, imitate, or resemble the same, nor make or cause to
be made any addition thereunto, or substraction from the same, whereby
to pretend himself or themselves the inventor or inventors, devisor or devisors
thereof, without the license, consent, or agreement of the said Charles Baron
De Chastel, his exors, admors, or assigns, in writing under his or their hands
or seals first had and obtained in that behalf, upon such pains or penalties
as can or may be justly inflicted on such offenders for their contempt of His
Majesty's said. Royal command, and further to be answerable to the said
Charles Baron De Chastel, his exors, admors, and assigns, according to law,
for his or their damages occasioned thereby; in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that if the said Charles Baron De Chastel, his exors,
admors, or assigns, or any other person or persons (which shall or may at any
time hereafter during the continuance of the said grant have or claim any
right, title, or interest, in law or inequity, of, in, or to the power, priviledge,
and authority of the sole use and benefit of the said Invention) make any
transfer or assignment, or any pretended transfer or assignment, of the said
liberty or priviledge, or any share or shares of the benefit or profits thereof
to or for any number of persons exceeding the number of five in the whole;
and also that if he, the said Charles Baron De Chastel, should not particularly

page_text: describe and ascertain the nature of his New Constructed Machine for
Seperating of Gold and Silver from Earth, Scoria, and Impurities, by means of
Trituration, Mercury, and Amalgama, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, by an instrument in writing under his hand and seal, and
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
four calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Royal
Letters Patent, that then the said Royal Letters Patent, and all liberties and
advantages whatsoever thereby granted, should utterly cease, determine, and
become void, anything therein contained to the contrary thereof in anywise
notwithstanding.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Baron De Chastel, in pur-
suance of and in compliance with the said proviso in the said recited Royal
Letters Patent contained, do by this present Instrument declare that the
nature of my said Invention, or New Constructed Machine for Seperating of
Gold and Silver from Earth, Scoria, and Impurities, by means of Trituration,
Mercury, and Amalgama, and the manner in which the same is to be used
and performed, is described and ascertained in the Schedule and Drawing,
with the explanation thereof, hereunto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Baron De Chastel, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
HARLES DARUN (L.S.) DE CHASTEL.
BE IT REMEMBRED, that on the same Twenty-seventh day of August,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Charles Baron De Chastel came
before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in the
form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stampt according
to the tenor of the Statute made in the sixth year of the reign of their late
Majestys King William and Queen Mary of England, and so forth.
Inrolled the Twenty-seventh day of August, in the year above written.
SPECIFICATION OF THE PRINCIPAL MATERIALS THAT COMPOSE THE ABOVE
MACHINE AND THEIR EFFECTS.
The Baron De Chastel will not confine himself to a Specification which tends
to move this machine are to be constructed; it is a matter absolutly arbitrary,
depending upon the locality where the establishment is to be formed; and
he thinks that the Plans will sufficiently demonstrate of themselves the

page_text: means that he has made use of. Neither will he limit himself to the manner
in which he has laid down the powers of motion. It may be produced by
the arms of a man, by means of water, fire, wind, or by the power of a horse,
&c. &c. It imports little how it is produced, provided that the means made
use of are sufficiently powerful. He will neither specify in what manner
the water may be procured; that also is arbitrary. It may be effected by a
river or rivulets, which, by means of small pipes, may supply the water that
may be wanted. In towns, where every house is supply'd with water, it will
be easy to obtain a sufficient quantity to proceed in the course of that
operation which this machine requires; wells may be sunk, pumps, &c. &c.
It is easy to comprehend how superfluous it would be to specify all those
articles which are absolutely arbitrary, and which enter in the principal of
this Invention only as collateral matter. Here it is then the Baron De Chastel
thinks only necessary to specify:-
REMARKS ON THE FIRST ARTICLE.
The bason might be made in
different forms; for example, instead
of being flatt at the bottom they
might be made simi-circler; the
height might also be increased or
diminished; they might also be made
of other metal than iron, even of hard
stone. But tho' the aforesaid mate-
rials tend to the same principal and
object, yet they might not be so
advantageous.
ARTICLE 1ST.
Cast iron basons at oblique widenings,
wherein the trituration and the amalgama
are to be made. The Plans shew the
measure and the forms. Plate 1st, Figure
2d, letter a. Plate 2d, Fig. 1st, letter e.
Figure 2nd, the same without mark.
Plate 3d, Fig. 1st, the same without
mark. The basons must be extreemly
flatt and smooth in their bottoms,
that the [Document mutilated] in the
interior may have a facility of grinding
and rendering impalpable the earthly and

page_text: basons, which were also to be semi-
circular to receive them, or in such
other form. The number of those
mills might also be multiply'd or
diminished, more heavy or more
light, larger or smaller, and of dif-
ferent metals, even of hard stone;
they might also be made to roll
compleatly in the water; but all
mills which are possessed of a suffi-
cient weight and power to render
the earthy and strong particles im-
palpable will be founded upon the
same principals of this Invention,
and would not be so advantageous.
To avoid expence they might also
only have one machine, and without
apprehending any more they might
also have more of them than this
establishment proposes, by aug-
menting the powers of motion, but
this also must be founded upon the
The
sure and their forms. Plate 1st, Fig. 8,
letter d. Plate the 2d, Fig. 1st, letter g.
Figure 2d, the same without mark.
Plate 3d, Fig. 1st, the same without mark.
Those mills must be extreamly flat and
smooth in their circumferance, that they
may roll more easily and perpendicularly
in the bottom of the basons.
greatest care must be taken that the
flatt part of the mills correspond with
the flat part of the basons, for then no
earthly and stony particles can get thro
between the said basons & the mills,
but will become impalpable powder.
Care must be taken that one mill turn
on one side of the bason and the other
on the other side, such as they are placed
and indicated in the Plans, Plate 2d,
Fig. 1st, and by this means you may be
sure of all the efficacy in the working
them, and that nothing can escape the
power and motion of the mills.

page_text: might be raised, and in that case tho
principal of this Invention would become
imperfect, and be defeated. The im-
portance of exactly pursuing the princi-
pal laid down will be easily perceived
by the purport of the articles which
Follow
neignt of the circle m
De
increased or diminished or moved
nearer or farther from the freestones.
This circle, instead of being of wood,
may be of iron or any other metal.
Oblique apertures may also be made
in the freestone which surround the
bason. Pipes may also be made,
not to the height of the bason for
the carrying off the water. Pieces
of iron or of other metals might also
be constructed in a certain manner,
and by degrees which impart to the
water the necessary gradations in
flowing out; but all these means
would be established upon the essen-
tial principal of this Invention, would
be more complicated, and be less
advantageous.
Wooden Circles at one inch distance
on the inside of the sade freestone, and
at one inch above. This circle is placed
so that the body of water of the basons
should not sweep away in flowing and
running out the metallic particles. Round
this circle is placed several laths perpen-
dicularly, which reach to the stone of the
bason, so that it is kept at an equal
distance. The Plans shew the form
and measure. Plate 1st, Fig. 3, letter b.
Plate 2d. Fig.1st, letter i, Fig. 2d, the
same without mark. Plate 3d, Fig. 1st,
the same without mark. This circle
serves also to check the motion of rota-
tion which the mill produces in the water.
If that motion was not checked, it would
infalibly carry away the fine particles,
which are light enough to follow that
motion but this citation being stant he
.
increased or diminished or moved
nearer or farther from the freestones.
This circle, instead of being of wood,
may be of iron or any other metal.
Oblique apertures may also be made
in the freestone which surround the
bason. Pipes may also be made,
not to the height of the bason for
the carrying off the water. Pieces
of iron or of other metals might also
be constructed in a certain manner,
and by degrees which impart to the
water the necessary gradations in
flowing out; but all these means
would be established upon the essen-
tial principal of this Invention, would
be more complicated, and be less
advantageous.
on the inside of the sade freestone, and
at one inch above. This circle is placed
so that the body of water of the basons
should not sweep away in flowing and
running out the metallic particles. Round
this circle is placed several laths perpen-
dicularly, which reach to the stone of the
bason, so that it is kept at an equal
distance. The Plans shew the form
and measure. Plate 1st, Fig. 3, letter b.
Plate 2d. Fig.1st, letter i, Fig. 2d, the
same without mark. Plate 3d, Fig. 1st,
the same without mark. This circle
serves also to check the motion of rota-
tion which the mill produces in the water.
If that motion was not checked, it would
infalibly carry away the fine particles,
which are light enough to follow that
motion; but this agitation being stopt by
this circle, the water becomes calm be-
tween the bason and the circle, from
whence it flows upon the surface of the
rims of the bason in a kind of calm.
Then the fine particles, incapable of the
power of rising, must necessarly precipi-
tate themselves by their weight, and sink
to the mercury for amalgaration. Here

page_text: been hitherto sought after, and the means
by which is effected that no precious water
can escape. The larger the circumfer-
ance of the bason is from which the
water is to flow, the more calm will be
the water that issues, and the more the
principal will be observed. The reason
is this, an inch of water which runs
over the nutt, as indicated by the Plans,
Plate 2d, Fig. 1st, Fig. 2d, without mark;
Plate the 3d, Fig. 1st, idem without
mark, that inch of water expanding and
dividing itself upon the whole of the cir-
cumferance of the rims of the bason, about
7 feet diameter,-it is obvious that that
water will, upon its issuing, form but a
kind of humidity on the rims of the cir-
cumferance, i. e. of the basons, and that
water forming no current cannot carry
off or sweep away but very little of the
metallick particles.

page_text: or this cistern is a large plate of cast
iron, a little concave, in order to facili-
tate the fine particles to reunite in the
midle, where must be a concavity such
as indicated in Plate 3d, Fig. 2d, letter f.
This plate or sheet must be extreamly
smooth; it receives two broyards and
[Document mutilated] operation for
continuing to grind and pulverize all the
heterogeneous particles; then the metallick
particles are found compleatly freed from
anything that covered them, and are in-
sensibly carryd off it into the concavity in
the centre, where the casement forms the
last trituration and amalgama. This cis-
tern or reservoir is lined with another with-
out a bottom, Plate 1st, Fig. 4, letter e,
and Plate 3, Fig. 2d, same letter; leaving
between them a vacuity of an inch, in
which vacuity are perpendicularly placed
laths to check the motion of the water,
upon the same principal as mentioned in
Article 5th.
This cistern is enclosed at the top with
freestones, which receive, by an exterior
canal, the waters which overflowes from
the cistern, as indicated by the Plans,
Plate 1st, Fig. 4, letter c, and Plate 3d,
Fig. 2, same letter; which waters issue
out afterwards from the building thro'
the canal, Plate 1st, Fig. 4th, and by
Fig. 2d, Plate 3, same letter, where
they carry of the non-metallick water.
The advantages resulting from this re-
servoir in analysing are very great. All
these waters which have passed the pre-
ceeding operation being there conducted,
the metallick particles which might have
escaped with the stony or earthy par-
ticles are not blended with the hetero-

page_text: To make use in general of the said machine, although there be four
machines, yet it may be said thero is but one, because they are founded on
the same principal, and their variation in their service is indicated in the
Spicification and in the Plans. When any lavigation whatsoever is intended
to be made, such as mines and rich sands, sweepings, or ashes of workshops,
erusible impregnated with matter, scorias, and hetrogeneous matter, you must
proceed in the following manner :-
First Operation.-When you intend to take away dry what is called the
gross, the matter which is to be pulverised is put into the machine, which has
but one mill, Plate 3d, Fig. 1st. As the mill operates the particles over
which it passes must be risen successively; then they are put into a sieve, and
you put successively into the bason what has not passed the sieve, till the
earthy and stony particles are sufficiently pulverized, so as to dray off dry the
metallic particles. Care must be taken not to load the bason too much, not
to embarrass the mill. This machine has but one mill to give more ease to the
workman to take up the pulverized particles without stoping the-work, and
without fear of accident. When you have no matter to pulverize, this machine
may be made use of for the same purpose as the other by supplying it with
water. Remark, what is called the gross weight is pulverated with
broyards, morters, or pestles, which would answer the same purpose, but not be
equally advantageous.

page_text: Second Operation. All that passes the sieve must be carryed into some
vessel large enough to be moistened & reduced into a paste. Remark, that
might be done by other means and answer the same end.
Third Operation. This paste is carried by small parcels in different places
upon the newetts of the machine, Plate 2d, Fig. 1 & 2. The water which
incessantly, during the operation, runs circular on the side newetts, succes-
sively carries off the ashes or sands, which with they which are loaden in the
bottom of the basons, and this undergoes the grinding and amalgama of the
mercury, which care must be taken to place in the basons before the beginning
of the lavigation. This operation is multiplied till the lavigation is finished or
the amalgama taken away, when the mercury is sufficiently loaden with
metal.
Fourth Operation.-When you would take away and draw off the amalgama,
you continue to let the water flow and supply it without loading the newets
with ashes or sands, the mills continually turning. This operation finishes to
pulverize the earthy and stony particles which remain in the bason, the
water clears up, and the mercury amalgamized either of gold or silver remain
at the bottom of the bason.
The amalgamized
water of the large
Fifth Operation. When the water is clarify'd, the amalgama is drawn off
by taking away the spigot, Plate 1st, Fig. 2d, letter b; Plate 2d, Fig. 1st,
letter c; which closes the aperture of the cast iron bason.
mercury is received into a portable bason; you empty the
bason into the little bason c, Plate 1st, Fig. 2d, & f; Plate 2d, Fig. 1st, which
passes thro' the canal a into the reservoir, Plate 1st, Fig. 4, and Plate 3d,
Fig. 2d; if any other part amalgamized escape, they precipitate themselves in
the concavity of the little bason d, Plate 1st, Fig. 2d, and t, Plate 2d, Fig. 1st.
In short, if any of the rich particles escape, they are carried off into the
reservoir, Plate 1st, Fig. 4, and Plate 3d, Fig. 2d.
Sixth Operation. When it is intended to draw from the great reservoir
all the particles that may have escaped from the machines 1, 2, and 3, you
will proceed in the following manner :-You will supply and clarify the
water by turning the broyards all the while. Then you will open the
aperture marked n, Plate 8, Fig. 2d, in order to draw off the water, and what
remains at the bottom must be taken up with spunges; then the amalgamized
mercury, with gold and silver, which will be drawn off at the bottom, must
be passed thro' the skin, as well as that of the machines 2 and 3, in the usual
and known manner, to be afterwards passed thro' the retort. Remark, this
operation of the lam & retort is customary, and does not enter into the
principal to be explained of this now Invention.

page_text: The Baron De Chastel, after having taken great pains in the researches he
has made, after having been at great expense, together with his father, to
detect all the errors of the antient mills which caused so great a loss of
precious matter, after having made different trials and different pursuits
and experiments upon this subject in the Republic of Geneva, has at length
succeeded in the construction of this machine, which promises very con-
siderable advantage. After its first construction made at Geneva, he has still
made new trials and improvements upon this Invention, and has made
considerable additions & improvements & essential corrections, of which he hero
has given a Spicification, so that he believes that this machine is now actually
in a very high perfection.
I, the underwritten, do certify the aforegoing Descriptions, Specifications,
and Proceedings; in witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal
of my arms. Done in London, this Twenty-seventh day of August,
in the year One thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
CHARLES BARON DE CHASTEL. (L.B.)
I, John Leonhardi, of the City of London, Notary Public, by Royal
Authority duly admitted and sworn, do hereby certify that the aforegoing is a
true and faithfull translation of the Baron De Chastel's description and
manner of proceeding in his new-invented lavigating mills, calculated to
extract by trituration and by amalgamy of mercury the [precious metallic
particles of whatsoever mixture or composition, written by the said Baron De
Chastel in tho French language. In witness of the truth whereof, I have
granted these Presents, under my notarial firm and seal of office, to serve and
avail as occasion may require.
Thus done and passed in London, this Twenty-seventh day of August,
J. LEONHARDI,
Not. Publ.
1783.

page_text: PLAN Representing the Profile or the diametrical cut of the Figures
1&1 of Plate the 1st taken of A & B. surmounted with their accessaries.
Figure the 1st
Is exactly the same as lig.! Plate 2ª except that this has but one Mill
a representation thereof is needless.
Figure 2 d
Brickwork which saves as an enclosure to the Reservoir
Octangular Carpenters work which supports the Freestones c.
Freestones or water londut.
Large Lavigator with its wottom
Second Lavigator without Bottom with its Laths
Large cast Iron plate cmncave in the Centre, laid on the bottom of
the Lavigator d
Cast Iron Broyard.
Little cast Iron Casement.
Leaver to move the Broyards.
Cross piece, which supports the axle Tree
Canal for carrying off the waters and to rid the Building of the mud
Space round the Lavigator
Aperture for drawing off the water from the Lavigator or Reservoir