IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF THE PRECIOUS METALS FROM THEIR ORES AND FROM METALLURGICAL COMPOUNDS OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING THE SAME'
Year: 1883

page_text: 15
LETTERS PATENT to Astley Paston Price of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the
County of Middlesex Gentleman for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE EXTRACTION OF THE PRECIOUS METALS FROM THEIR ORES AND FROM
METALLURGICAL COMPOUNDS OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING THE SAME'
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Astley Paston Price at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1883.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF THE PRECIOUS METALS
FROM THEIR ORES AND FROM METALLURGICAL COMPOUNDS OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING
THE SAME
"
This Invention relates to the extraction and separation of precious metals
vis: Gold and Silver from ores and from metallurgical compounds or products
and consists in the treatment of ores such as Auriferous or Argentiferous copper
ores or metallurgical compounds products mattes or regulus which may contain
copper and silver, copper and gold, or copper silver and gold, so as to obtain the
same therefrom. In carrying out my Invention the ores or metallurgical compounds
or products are reduced to a state of division and are subjected to calcination
(either alone or with the addition of salt), the resulting product is then submitted
to the action of hydrochloric acid and the solution thus obtained which may
contain either copper and silver, or Copper and gold, or Copper silver and gold is
separated from the insoluble residue and is treated in the following manner :-To
the solution containing copper and Silver or copper and gold or copper silver and
gold, Copper in a fine state of division or precipitated Copper is to be added and
the solution together with the copper is to be well agitated in order that any of
the precious metals in solution may be precipitated therefrom. After such
precipitation the precipitated metals together with any excess of precipitated
copper are separated either by decantation or filtration and the silver or silver and.
gold may be obtained therefrom by any well known means or method.

page_text: Or instead of employing Copper either in a fine state of division or as precipi-
tated Copper either added to the solution or produced therein I employ either
sulphuretted hydrogen or a soluble sulphide such for example as Sulphide of
Sodium or I employ an insoluble metallic sulphide such for example as sulphide of
Copper and I add either of the before mentioned Sulphides to the solution
containing Copper and Silver or Copper and gold, or Copper silver and gold so as
to cause the separation of the silver and the gold, this admixture after incorporation
and agitation is allowed to settle and the precipitated metallic compounds are
separated either by decantation or filtration.
The precipitated sulphides or other compounds of Silver and Gold may be treated
by any well known means or method and the precious metals separated and
obtained therefrom.
The solutions of copper from which the silver and the gold have been separated
may be treated by any well known means or method in order that the Copper
contained therein may be separated and obtained therefrom

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Astley Paston Price in the Patent Office on the 10th April
1884.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE EXTRACTION OF THE PRECIOUS METALS
FROM THEIR ORES AND FROM METALLURGICAL COMPOUNDS OR PRODUCTS CONTAINING
THE SAME
"
This Invention relates to the extraction and separation of precious metals
videlicet Gold and silver from ores and from metallurgical compounds or products
and consists in the treatment of ores such for example as Auriferous or argentiferous
copper ores or Pyrites or of metallurgical compounds products mattes or regulus
which may contain copper and silver copper and gold or copper silver and gold so
as to obtain the same precious metals therefrom.
In carrying out my Invention the ores or metallurgical compounds or products
are reduced to a state of division and are subjected to calcination either alone or
with the addition of salt or firstly to calcination and subsequently to calcination
with salt or other chloride the resulting product is then submitted to the action of
an acid or acids such for example as hydrochloric acid and the solution thus
obtained which may contain either copper and silver or copper and gold or copper
silver and gold is separated from the insoluble residue and is treated in the
following manner. To the solution containing copper and silver or copper and
gold or copper silver and gold or such if necessary may be partially or entirely
neutralized. Copper in a fine state of division or precipitated copper is to be
added and the solution together with the copper is to be well agitated either by
the injection of air or of steam or by means of mechanical agitation in order that
any of the precious metals existing in solution may be precipitated therefrom.
After such agitation separation and precipitation of the precious metals videlicet
gold or silver or gold and silver the precipitated metals together with any excess
of precipitated copper are separated either by decantation or filtration and the
gold or silver or the gold and silver contained in the precipitate may be separated
and obtained therefrom by any well known means or method.
Or instead of employing copper either in a fine state of division or as precipitated
copper either added to the solution or produced therein I employ either sulphuretted
hydrogen or a soluble sulphide such for example as sulphide of Sodium or I employ
an insoluble metallic sulphide such for example as sulphide of Copper in such
quantity as to effect the precipitation of the precious metals and I add either the
before mentioned soluble or insoluble sulphides to the solution containing copper
and silver or copper and gold or copper silver and gold the said mixture being
agitated so as to cause the separation of the gold or the silver or the gold and the
silver this admixture after incorporation and agitation which may be effected either
by the injection of air or of steam or by mechanical means or methods. The
precipitate thus a settling is allowed to subside and the precipitated metallic
compounds may then be separated either by decantation or filtration.
The precipitated sulphides or other compounds of gold and silver may then be
treated by any well known means or method and the precious metals separated
and obtained therefrom.
The solutions of Copper from which the silver and the gold have been separated
may be treated by any well known means or method in order that the copper
contained therein may be separated and obtained therefrom.

page_text: In order to obtain any of the precious metals which may be contained in the
undissolved portions of the calcined Regulus or matte the residue may be converted
in Regulus and be treated as before mentioned or otherwise.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and
original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore
in part recited Letters Patent is.
First Effecting the precipitation and separation of the precious metals videlioit
of Gold or of silver or of Gold and silver from solutions resulting from the treatment
substantially as hereinbefore described of ores or of metallurgical products such as
or similar to those hereinbefore mentioned by the employment of copper in a fine
state of division and brought into contact with the solution and maintained in
contact by means of agitation or otherwise.
Second Effecting the precipitation and separation of the precious metals
videlicit of Gold or of Silver or of Gold and silver from solutions resulting from
the treatment substantially as hereinbefore described of ores or of etallurgical
products such as or similar to those hereinbefore mentioned by the employment of
either sulphuretted hydrogen or of sulphides either soluble or insoluble such as
hereinbefore mentioned the same being maintained in contact therewith by means
of agitation or otherwise.
In witness whereof I the said Astley Paston Price have to this my Specification
set my hand and seal the ninth day of April One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four.
ASTLEY PASTON PRICE (L.S.)