An Improved Apparatus for Effecting the Amalgamation of Gold and the like Metals in Ores with Mercury.
Year: 1896

page_text: VISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Effecting the Amalgamation of Gold
and the like Metals in Ores with Mercury.
I, EMIL LAWRENCE OPPERMANN 132 Hanley Road Finsbury Park London
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for effecting the amalgamation
of gold and the like metals in ores with mercury, and consists in the improved
arrangement and construction of such apparatus.
Referring to my previous Patent No. 17020 Sept. 12th 1895 this apparatus is
especially designed to carry out this process.
The crushed ore in a wet or dry state passes from a mixer having rotating arms
to a slide over which it passes and during its passage over such slide it is subjected
to the action of mercury vapour and steam or gases which issue from apertures in
pipes, at a suitable pressure and impinge or mix with the crushed ore. The
mixture then passes over the amalgamating plates or plate & thence to a rotating
separating pan having electrodes.
The mercury is volatilised in a retort and is carried to the perforated pipes by
means of steam at a suitable pressure which passes through an injector and thus
the mercury vapour and steam are caused to mix or impinge upon the ore at a
suitable pressure & temperature. If desired I may mix suitable gases or vapours
with the steam and mercury under pressure in order to facilitate the union or
amalgamation of the gold or like metal with the mercurial vapour when such gold
is associated or coated with foreign bodies. By employing the mercurial vapour
at a suitable pressure & temperature greater efficiency of union or amalgamation of
the gold or like metals in the ore is obtained.
1000
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.
An Improved Apparatus for Effecting the Amalgamation of Gold
and the like Metals in Ores with Mercury.
I, EMIL LAWRENCE OPPERMANN 132 Hanley Road Finsbury Park London,
Electrician, 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 relates to an improved apparatus for effecting the amalgamation
of gold and the like metals in ores with mercury and consists in the improved
arrangement and construction of such apparatus.
Referring to my previous Patent No. 17020 Sept. 12th 1895, this apparatus is
especially designed to carry out this process..

page_text: The crushed ore in a wet or dry state passes from a mixer, having rotating arms,
to a slide over which it passes and during its passage over such slide it is subjected
to the action of mercury vapour and steam or gases which issues from apertures in
pipes, being at a suitable pressure and impinge or mix with the crushed ore. The
mixture then passes over amalgamating plates or plate and thence to a rotating
separating pan baving electrodes. The mercury is volatilised in a retort and is
carried to the perforated pipes by means of steam at a suitable pressure which
passes through an injector and thus the mercury vapour and steam are caused to
mix or impinge upon the ore at a suitable pressure & temperature. If desired
I may mix suitable gases or vapours with the steam and mercury under pressure
in order to facilitate the union or amalgamation of the gold or like metal with the
mercurial vapour, when such gold is associated or coated with foreign bodies.
By employing the mercurial vapour and steam at a suitable pressure and
temperature greater efficiency of union or amalgamation of the gold or like metal
in the ore is obtained.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I now refer to the annexed
drawings in which :-
Figure 1, is a plan view of the apparatus.
Figure 2, side elevation of same.
Figure 3, section through line X-Y in Figure 1.
In order to ensure the amalgamation of the gold when carrying out this process,
with this apparatus, I cause the vapour of mercury at a suitable temperature mixed
or combined with steam at suitable pressure and when required ammonia gas to be
brought into contact with the wet or dry crushed ore, either directly under the
stamps which crush the ore, or after the crushed ore has been removed from the
stamps.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a, is a retort in which the mercury is heated,
by any well known source of heat a tap being provided for regulating the supply
of fumes to the injector. The vapour will then pass to the injector, b, which may
be of any well known type, suitable for the purpose. The steam which is
generated in a boiler, is brought through the pipe, d, to the injector, b, at a
suitable pressure. The mixed mercury vapour and steam then passes through the
pipe, e, to the perforated pipes, /, having the perforations at, g, in the direction of
their length. The crushed ore is fed from the mixer, h, by means of the pipe, i, to
the covered passage or slide, j, and upon which the mixed steam and mercury
vapour impinge during the passage of the ore to the electrolytic rods, k, which are
secured to the bars, 1, by screw 4, or the like or the ore may pass direct from the
stamps to the passage without the intervention of the mixer. The rods, m, are
pivotally connected at, n, to the bars, 4, and at, o, to the supports, o, by which
means it will be seen that the bars, k, may be raised or lowered as required; being
shown in their raised position in Figure 2. The bottom, g, of the channel, p, is
metallic and has a slight inclination towards the lower end, and the bars, k, in
their lowest position do not of course touch this metallic bottom, q, as the bars, k,
and bottom, g, form two electric terminals. r, is a shallow rotating pan which is
driven by the bevel wheels, &, and pulley, t, by means of any convenient power.
u, and, v, are two electrodes carried upon the supports, w, and which dip into the
rotating pan, r. x, is a fixed piece which projects into the rotating pan, r, and
tends to guide the contents of the pan upon the electrodes, u, and, v. y, is a pipe
having the stop cock, z, so that when desired a certain amount of steam may be
admitted to the mixer, h, or covered slide with or without mercury vapour
mixed therewith. The mixer, 4, consists essentially of a conical vessel in which a
series of mixing arms, 1, are rotated by means of the bevel wheels, 2, and pulley, 3,
driven by any convenient power.
Although I have shown this form of mixer it will be readily seen that any of the
well known forms of mixers may be equally well employed.
When it is desired to mix ammonia gas with the mercury vapour and steam, the
ammonia gas may be mixed with same either in the injector, b, as shewn by

page_text: the dotted lines, 4, or other suitable position, 5, being the pipe which conveys the
ammonia gas from a suitable retort or receptacle.
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. The improved apparatus for effecting the amalgamation of gold and other
metals in ores consisting of a retort in which the mercury is heated, a pipe or pipes
connecting the retort to the injector, a pipe or pipes connecting said injector to a
supply of steam under pressure a series of perforated pipes through which the
mixed mercury vapour and steam are blown under pressure upon the crushed ore, a
mixer having rotating arms in which the ore is mixed, a pipe or pipes for conveying
steam to said mixer; electrodes carried by moveable supports, and forming one
terminal of a circuit, a channel having a metallic bottom forming the other terminal
and over which said electrodes depend; a rotating pan having electrodes in same;
a fixed projection for agitating the contents of the pan; all in combination and
substantially as described.
2. In combination with an apparatus for effecting the amalgamation of gold in
ores; an injector in which steam under pressure mixes with aud forces mercury
vapour through outlets upon the ore.
1000
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.