IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PRO- DUCTS FROM CERTAIN ORES AND OTHER COMPOUNDS OF CERTAIN METALS
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
GOSSAGE, of Neath, Metallurgist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing date at
Westminster, the Fourth day of December, in the ninth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Gossage, Her especial license, full power, sole privilege and authority,
that I, the said William Gossage, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
and such others as I, the said William Gossage, my executors, administrators,
or assigns, should' at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times during the term of years therein mentioned, should and lawfully
might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING PRO-
DUCTS FROM CERTAIN ORES AND OTHER COMPOUNDS OF CERTAIN METALS;" in which
said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging me, the said William
Gossage, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particularly
to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled.
in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters
Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more.
fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
William Gossage, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, is particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, that
is to say :-
The object of my Improvements in Obtaining Products from Certain Ores
and other Compounds of. Certain Metals" is, to obtain these products from
such ores and compounds more economically or more beneficially than the
same have heretofore been obtained. The products I obtain are either
certain metallic products which are contained in such ores and compounds,
or certain other products which are volatilized or driven off from some
of such ores and compounds whilst these are undergoing processes or
operations for the extraction of metallic products therefrom, and in some
cases I obtain both metallic products and other products from the same
ore or compound. The ores and compounds from which I obtain products
by the use of my Invention are, sulphureous ores and. compounds of copper,
sulphureous ores and compounds of zinc, sulphureous ores and compounds of
I effect some of the
lead, and sulphureous ores and compounds of iron.
objects of my improvements by the use of certain processes or actions
herein-after described, and I effect the other objects of my improvements by
the use of certain apparatus herein-after described; and my Invention consists
in the use of such processes or actions, and of such apparatus to effect such
objects. The sulphureous ores and compounds of copper from which I obtain
metallic products by the use of my Invention are, such ores and compounds
as contain certain other metals than copper, such as tin, bismuth, lead, nickel,
and silver, or some of these; and it is well known that the presence of these
metals, or of some of them, beyond a certain proportion in the said ores and
compounds, occasions a great deterioration in the value of the copper obtained
therefrom; and a mode of working has been long used by smelters of copper
ore, by means of which a certain portion of the copper previously contained
in such ores or compounds is obtained as sulphuret of copper or "regulus,"
which is nearly free from admixture with other metals, and the other portion
of copper previously contained in such ores or compounds is obtained in a
metallic state combined with other metals previously contained therein;
and such copper thus obtained (called "bottom copper") being deteriorated
by its combination with other metals, is only saleable at a comparatively
low price. The said mode of working is dependent on the strong affinity
of copper for sulphur; and in effecting this part of my Invention I avail
myself of the stronger affinity of copper for sulphur as compared with

page_text: the affinities of the said other metals, or some of them, for sulphur.
To accomplish this I take "bottom copper," obtained as herein-before
mentioned, and if this "bottom copper" contains such a quantity of
silver as to make it desirable, this should be extracted therefrom. I smelt.
such "bottom copper" (previously granulated by pouring it in a melted state
into water), in mixture with sulphurous ore of lead, using about three parts of
ore for each two parts of bottom copper, and I thereby obtain a sulphuret of
copper nearly free from other metals, and a metallic product containing lead
and some copper, also silver and other metals. I granulate this product by
pouring it in a melted state into water, and I mix the granulated product with
about twice its weight of sulphureous ore of lead, and melt this mixture.
I thereby obtain a sulphuret containing copper, lead, and some other.
metals, also a metallic product consisting of lead and other metals, but
free or nearly free from copper, and I separate the lead and other metal
so as to obtain these, or some of them, in a saleable state, by the use of such
processes or operations as are commonly employed for such purpose. I granu-
late the sulphuret containing copper, lead, and other metals (obtained as above
described), and I use this, instead of sulphurous ore of lead, to mix with a
further portion of "bottom copper," adding about two parts of such sulphuret
to one part of "bottom copper;" by melting these together I obtain a sulphuret
nearly free from other metals than copper, and a metallic product con-
taining lead, copper, and other metals, which I melt with sulphurous ore
of lead, to extract copper therefrom in the state of sulphuret, as herein-
before described. If the said "bottom copper " does not. contain such a
proportion of silver as to make it desirable to proceed at once to the
extraction of silver therefrom, I melt this with such a quantity of sulphureous
ore or compound of copper as will yield sufficient sulphur to convert the
"bottom copper" into sulphuret, and I thereby obtain a sulphuret containing
copper and other metals combined with sulphur, and I subject this sulphuret
to such operations as are commonly used for obtaining "bottom copper
and "regulus" from sulphuret obtained from ores and compounds of copper
in the ordinary way. I thus obtain from such "bottom copper" a certain
portion of the copper (previously contained therein) in the state of sulphuret
nearly free from admixture with other metals; also a new production of
"bottom copper," containing copper in a metallic state combined with a larger
proportionate quantity of.. other metals. I melt the bottom copper thus
obtained with such a quantity of sulphureous ore or compound of copper as
will yield sufficient sulphur to convert the "bottom copper" into sulphuret,
and I subject this sulphuret to the operations before mentioned, to obtain a
"

page_text: new production of "bottom copper" and " regulus" therefrom, and I repeat
those meltings of "bottom copper") obtained by successive operations) with
sulphureous ore or compound of copper; I also repeat the treatment of the
sulphurets obtained by such meltings, so as to obtain new productions of
regulus and bottom copper, so long as I find by trial that the "regulus" pro-
duced is sufficiently free from other metals than copper, to yield copper of
good quality, and I thereby obtain a much larger proportionate quantity of
copper in the state of "regulus," sufficiently free from other metals to yield
copper of good quality; and I obtain also "bottom copper," containing a
much larger proportionate quantity of other metals than copper, than was
present in the bottom copper originally used. If the "bottom copper" thus
obtained contains such quantity of silver as to make it advisable this should be
extracted, I either treat this "bottom copper" with sulphureous ore or
compound of lead in the manner herein-before described for extracting
silver from "bottom copper," or I mix it with metallic lead, and subject the
product to the well-known processes of eliquation, and thereby extract silver
therefrom. But if this "bottom copper" should not contain such a quantity
of silver as to make it advisable to separate the same, I refine this " bottom
copper" in the ordinary way, and I obtain an alloy of copper with other
metals, which is applicable to sundry useful purposes, but is not so valuable
commercially as the copper obtained from the " regulus" herein-before
mentioned. I have herein stated that I melt "bottom copper" with such
a proportionate quantity of sulphureous ore or compound of copper as will
yield sufficient sulphur to convert the "bottom copper" into sulphuret, and
that I treat this sulphuret so as to obtain a new production of "bottom copper"
therefrom. I prefer this mode of working, but the same object may be
obtained (although not so perfectly) by melting "bottom copper" with a
smaller proportion of sulphurous ore or compound of copper than will yield
sufficient sulphur to convert all the "bottom copper" into sulphuret, when a
new production of "bottom copper" will result.from such melting. To obtain
metallic products from sulphureous ores and compounds of lead I mix such ore
or compound with metallic iron in a state of division; and having introduced
this mixture into a melting furnace, I level it therein, and cover its surface
with a coating of fusible slag (previously granulated by running it into water),
mixed with sufficient lime or other flux to fuse the earthy matters contained
in the ore or compound. I apply heat to this mixture, when the fusible slag
protects the ore or compound of lead from the action of air, and by melting I
obtain metallic lead (combined with silver if the ore or compound employed con-
tained silver) and sulphuret of iron. I grind this sulphuret of iron to powder,

page_text: and I calcine it to convert sulphuret into oxide of iron, and I mix this oxide of
iron with small coal or other carbonaceous matter, and expose this mixture to
a red heat in an oven or furnace, and thereby convert oxide of iron into
metallic iron, which I obtain in a state of division, and which I employ to
decompose a further portion of sulphureous ore or compound of lead, and
thereby to produce a further portion of sulphuret of iron, to be treated in the
manner herein-before described, and so on repeatedly. I supply such waste
of iron as occurs in these operations by adding scrap iron in sufficient quantity
for this purpose to the mixture of sulphureous ore or compound of lead and
iron. When the sulphureous ore or compound of lead employed contains
silver the metallic lead and the sulphuret of iron obtained will each contain
silver, and in such case I separate silver from the lead by some of the processes
usually employed for such purpose; and the sulphuret of iron being converted
into oxide of iron, and subsequently into a metallic iron, and this metallic
iron being used to decompose a further portion of sulphureous ore or
compound of lead, silver contained therein is thereby obtained in combination
with lead, and I separate these metals as herein-before mentioned.
I will now describe that part of my Invention which relates to obtaining
certain products which are volatilized or driven off from some of the sulphureous
ores and compounds herein-before mentioned, whilst these are undergoing
processes or operations for the extraction of metallic products therefrom.
In the Specification of an Invention of a certain improved apparatus for
decomposing common salt, and for condensing and making use of the
gascous product of such decomposition, for which Invention Letters Patent
were granted to me, bearing date on or about the Twenty-fourth day of
December, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, I have described a
condensing apparatus for condensing and absorbing by water, and thereby
separating muriatic acid gas from smoke. This condensing apparatus being
constructed in the form of a hollow tower or shaft, the interior of which is
nearly filled with siliceous pebbles, or other suitable materials which will afford
extensive surfaces, these surfaces being moistened by water flowing from the
upper to the lower part of such condensing apparatus. I use an apparatus of
a similar construction to that which I have described in the said Specification
(as suitable for separating muriatic acid gas from smoke) for the purpose of
arresting volatilized products which pass off from sulphureous ores or compounds
herein-before mentioned, whilst these ores or compounds are undergoing
operations for the extraction of metals therefrom; and I conduct the said
volatilized products into such apparatus from the upper part of a chimney which
is connected with the furnaces or other apparatus in which the said operations

page_text: are being carried on. The nature of the volatilized products which pass off
from the said sulphureous ores or compounds varies with the constitution of
such ores or compounds; thus, when sulphureous ores or compounds of lead are
subjected in furnaces to such operations as are usually employed for the extrac-
tion of metallic products therefrom, the volatilized products consist of sulphureous
acid gas, also lead combined with oxygen and sulphuric acid, forming oxide of
lead and sulphate of lead, and these products pass off in mixture with smoke
.proceeding from the combustion of fuel used in these operations. As the oxide
of lead and sulphate of lead are more valuable than the sulphureous acid
gas so obtained, I prefer to conduct these operations so as to arrest the oxide
and sulphate of lead; and when sulphureous ores, or compounds of copper,
iron, or zinc, are calcined preparatory to the extraction of metals therefrom,
the volatilized products consist of sulphureous acid gas and some metallic
compounds, but as the quantity of the latter is small I prefer to conduct
.these operations so as to render valuable the sulphureous acid gas so produced.
For this purpose I effect the calcination of the said ores or compounds of copper,
iron, or zinc, in kilns or in brick ovens, heated by heat transmitted through
the floors and coverings of such ovens; and I decompose the sulphureous acid
gas produced by such calcination by the means described for decomposing
sulphureous acid gas in the Specification of an Invention for which Letters
Patent were granted to William Newton, of London, bearing date the
Fifth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and forty-four, or by
other suitable means, and I thereby obtain sulphur in the state of vapour
as one of the volatilized products from the said sulphureous ores and com-
pounds of copper, iron, or zinc. These volatilized products (whether con-
sisting of sulphate and oxide of lead, or of sulphur and vapour, as herein-
before mentioned, are obtained in mixture with large quantities of heated gases;
and I separate such volatilized products from such gases by conducting the
mixture into the upper part of an apparatus of the construction I have
herein-before referred to (as suitable for separating muriatic acid gas from
its admixture with smoke), and by causing it to percolate through such
apparatus at the same time that I cause a large supply of water to flow
through the said apparatus, and I thereby occasion the siliceous pebbles, or
other materials contained therein, to be continually washed with water, so as
to remove from their surfaces the solid matters which become arrested thereon
during the percolation of the mixture of gases and volatilized products
through such apparatus, and these solid matters thereby become mixed with
water. I conduct this mixture through a channel at the lower part of such
apparatus into reservoirs, where the solid matters become deposited, and

page_text: having run off water (which may be again passed through such apparatus),
I collect the solid matters, and apply these to useful purposes by well-known
means, according to the respective nature of such solid matters. I also
provide a channel at the lower part of such apparatus for conducting off the
gases not absorbed by water during this operation, and I prefer to connect
this channel with a chimney to carry off the said gases, and by its draft to
'assist the percolation through the said apparatus; but I rely upon obtaining
the said percolation, also upon obtaining a suitable draft for the furnaces or
other apparatus in which the said sulphureous ores or compounds are being
subjected to operations, by means of the downward current occasioned in the
apparatus through which the percolation is effected by the descent of a large
quantity of water, as herein-before mentioned; this current being also assisted
by the difference of the specific gravities of the gaseous column contained in
the said chimney, and of the gaseous column contained in such apparatus.
I will now describe a part of my Invention, which relates to obtaining
metallic products from some of the sulphureous ores and compounds herein-
before mentioned by the use of an improved furnace-for smelting such ores and
'compounds. The ores and compounds for which this part of my Invention is
useful are, the sulphureous ores and compounds of copper, and such sulphureous
ores and compounds of iron as contain copper. To carry into effect this part of
my Invention I construct a reverberatory furnace, having a smelting chamber
of about twice the usual length, and in that part of the roof or covering of
such smelting chamber which is most distant from the fire, but extending half
the length of the chamber towards the fire, I provide a number of apertures
for the introduction of ore or compound into such chamber, and I adapt
a stopper to each of these apertures. I introduce ore or compound into these
stoppers, which, falling into the chamber, forms conical heaps on the floor
thereof, and I continue the introduction of ore or compound until the conical
heaps reach to the stoppers, and I then fill the stoppers with ore or compound
and provide a continual supply therein, so as to renew the conical heaps as
these melt away.
I arrange the said apertures at such distances from each
other that there may be sufficient passage for flame through the said chamber.
Between such conical heaps I construct the floor or bed of such furnace so that
it may have a slight declination towards the fire bridge, and I provide suitable
openings for skimming or tapping off slags, and for tapping off the metallic
products as near to the fire bridge as may be convenient. In using my
improved construction of smelting furnace extensive surfaces of ore or con
pound are exposed in conical heaps to the action of flame passing through such
furnace, and as the ore or compound so exposed becomes melted it flows away

page_text: and leaves a fresh surface of ore or compound to be acted upon by the flame.
The melted ore, or compound flows upon that portion of the furnace bed
nearest to the fire, and thereby acquires sufficient heat to complete its smelting
so as to provide for a proper separation of the slags and metallic products.
I have herein described such means of carrying into effect my Invention as
I consider to be most suitable for that purpose, but I do not confine myself
strictly to the exact particulars herein mentioned, as these may be modified to
some extent without deviating from the nature of my Invention. I claim
as my Invention the use of certain processes herein-before described, by means
of which silver and copper are obtained from certain descriptions of the
material known as "bottom copper" (which is previously obtained from
sulphureous ores or compound of copper) by the action of sulphuret of lead.
Also the use of certain processes herein-before described, by means of which
copper of good quality is separated from the said material known as "bottom
copper;" also by means of which silver (when present in such "bottom
copper") is concentrated and obtained, in combination with a smaller propor-
tionate quantity of copper.
I claim also the use of certain processes herein-before described, by means
of which I decompose sulphureous ores and compounds of lead by the action
of metallic iron obtained from such sulphuret of iron, as I have previously
obtained by decomposing such ores or compounds by metallic iron.
I claim also the use of such apparatus as I have herein-before referred to as
suitable for separating muriatic acid gas from its admixture with smoke) for
the purpose of arresting such volatilized products (proceeding from certain
sulphureous ores and compounds of metals) as I have herein mentioned, when
the draft requisite for the use of such apparatus is obtained by the action of a
descending current of water passing through such apparatus in the same
direction as the current of gases, and volatilized products are conducted
through the same.
And, lastly, I claim the use of my improved apparatus for smelting sul-
phureous ores and compounds of copper and of iron, which improved apparatus
is so constructed that such ores or compounds are smelted by being exposed to
the action of flame in conical heaps instead of being spread upon the bed of
a furnace for such purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Gossage, have hereunto set
my band and seal, this Third day of June, One thousand eight hundred
WILLIAM (L.S.) GOSSAGE.

page_text: AND BE. IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Third day of June, in the
year above mentioned, the aforesaid William Gossage came before our Lady
the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And also
the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the Statute
in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the Fourth day of June, in the year above written.