Improvements in Apparatus for the Recovery of Gold, Silver, and other Precious Metals.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Recovery of Gold, Silver, and
other Precious Metals.
I, STEPHEN VIVIAN, of Fairlawn, Southall, in the County of Middlesex,
Mining Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of revolving drums
or barrels used for the recovery of gold, silver and other precious metals by
deposition on mercurially amalgamated surfaces, and has for objects to form and
arrange the amalgamated surfaces of said drums or barrels in such manner as to
obtain increased efficiency in results as compared with existing apparatus, and to
enable the operation of washing and recovering gold from sand to be effected with
the use of only a very small quantity of water.
In carrying out my invention I propose to substitute flat or corrugated
amalgamated plates-preferably of copper-for the usual curved surfaces presented
by the interior lining of drums or barrels as hitherto constructed, which are
unfavorable to the satisfactory deposit of gold by reason of the continuous sc>ur
of the sand occasioned on such surfaces by the revolution of the drum.
I have ascertained in practice that more satisfactory results in the deposition of
gold upon amalgamated plates are obtainable, when the saud or other loose material
containing it is thrown into sudden contact with the amalgamated surfaces.
To ensure this condition I construct my improved barrel interiorly of a
triangular or polygonal form, and lined with sheet copper amalgamated in the usual
manner with mercury.
In the case of a hexagonal or other polygonal barrel, I subdivide the interior
space by means of radially arranged partitions extending from the axis to the
angles formed between the several sides, such partitions being formed either of
wood, iron, steel or other suitable material covered with sheet copper, or of
copper plates secured in grooves provided on the axis, by means of suitable clips.
The partitions or plates thus arranged will form a number of triangular com
partments corresponding to the number of sides of the barrel, and for convenience
in introducing the water and sand or other material to be operated upon, the sides
may be arranged to open on hinges.
It will be seen that with the above described arrangement the rotation of the
barrel will necessarily cause the sand and other contents to be thrown alternately
from one side to another of the several triangular compartments.
The advantages of the barrel described are:-
1st. A more rapid amalgamation of the particles of gold because of the
impingement of the sand against the plate, and in consequence the more ready
change of position of the particles in the barrel.
2nd. A satisfactory collection of the amalgam formed without any subsequent
settling treatment of the pulp after it leaves the barrel, and consequent
practicability of treating gold ore with a minimum quantity of water.

page_text: I propose to add the necessary mercury either periodically to the copper plates,
or to the pulp before or after its introduction to the barrel.
Dated this 28th day of April 1896.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Recovery of Gold, Silver, and
other Precious Metals.
I, STEPHEN VIVIAN of Fairlawn, Southall in the County of Middlesex,
England, Mining Engineer, do bereby declare the nature of my 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 improvements in the construction of revolving drums
or barrels used for the recovery of gold, silver and other precious metals by
deposition on mercurially amalgamated surfaces, and has for objects to form and
arrange the amalgamated surfaces of said drums or barrels in such a manner as to
obtain increased efficiency in results as compared with existing apparatus, and to
enable the operation of washing and recovering gold from sand to be effected with
the use of only a very small quantity of water.
In carrying out my invention I propose to substitute flat or corrugated
amalgamated plates, preferably of copper-for the usual curved surfaces presented
by the interior lining of drums or barrels as hitherto constructed, which are
unfavorable to the satisfactory deposit of gold by reason of the continuous scour of
the sand occasioned on such surfaces by the revolution of the drum.
I have ascertained in practice that more satisfactory results in the deposition of
gold upon amalgamated plates are obtainable, when the sand or other loose material
containing it is thrown into sudden contact with the amalgamated surfaces, and in
order that my invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to the
accompanying sheet of drawings, upon which,
Figure 1 illustrates a vertical section through a drum or barrel constructed
according to my invention;
Figure 2 being a transverse section through the same, and
Figure 3 illustrates a section of the angularly corrugated plates.
To ensure this condition I construct my improved barrel A interiorly of a
triangular or polygonal form, and lined with sheet copper amalgamated in the
usual manner with mercury.
In the case of a hexagonal or other polygonal barrel, I subdivide the interior
space by means of radially arranged partitions B extending from the axis C to the
angles formed between the several sides, such partitions being formed either of
wood, iron, steel or other suitable material covered with sheet copper, or of
copper plates D secured in grooves provided on the axis, by means of suitable
clips.
The partitions or plates B thus arranged will form a number of triangular
compartments E corresponding to the number of sides of the barrel, and for
convenience in introducing the water and sand or other material to be operated
upon, the sides may be arranged to open on hinges; or in lieu of making the metal
plates of an ordinary corrugated section as shewn on Figure 2, I may give to some

page_text: or all of them an angular corrugation, as shewn in Figure 3, and fit the same
within a cylindrical drum of ordinary construction, or as illustrated.
It will be seen that with the above described arrangement, the rotation of the
barrel will necessarily cause the sand and other contents to be thrown alternately
from one side to the other of the several triangular compartments.
The advantages of the barrel described, are-
1st. A more rapid amalgamation of the particles of gold, because of the
impingement of the sand against the plate, and in consequence the more ready
change of position of the particles in the barrel.
2nd. A satisfactory collection of the amalgam forned without any subsequent
settling treatment of the pulp after it leaves the barrel, and consequent
practicability of treating gold ore with a minimum quantity of water.
I propose to add the necessary mercury either periodically to the copper plates,.
or to the pulp before or after its introduction into the barrel."
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. A revolving drum or barrel having a hexagonal or polygonal section and
furnished upon its inner circumference with flat or corrugated plates, as and for
the purposes described.
2. Revolving drums or barrels having a hexagonal or polygonal section and
subdivided interiorly by means of radially arranged partitions lined with flat or
corrugated plates, for the purposes and as described and illustrated upon the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
3. In revolving drums or barrels having a cylindrical or other section the use
of angularly corrugated plates, for the purposes and as described upon Figure 3 of
the accompanying drawings.