IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SILVER AND GOLD IN THE TREATMENT OF CUPREOUS ORES
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wigg, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS.
A
2
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Sealed the 15th August 1871, and dated the 20th May 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wigg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th May 1871.
I, CHARLES WIGG, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Alkali
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SILVER AND GOLD IN THE TREATMENT OF CUPREOUS
ORES," to be as follows:-
When Spanish, Portuguese, and other cupreous ores are treated to
yield copper by roasting, lixiviating, and subsequently precipitating the
copper on iron, the silver and gold, or either of them, present are or is
contained in the copper liquors.

page_text: The object of my Invention is to obtain or separate the silver and gold
from the copper liquors before such liquors are admitted into the
precipitating tanks.
For that purpose I reduce the specific gravity of the copper liquors
by adding water or weak liquor (one-half more or less) thereto. After
agitating or well mixing the whole I find on allowing it to settle the
silver and gold or either of them fall to the bottom of the containing
tank or vessel; they or either of them can be removed from time to
time. The water or weak liquor can be added in the cold or hot state.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Charles Wigg in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th November 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
WIGG, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Alkali Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Charles Wigg, Her special licence that
I, the said Charles Wigg, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Charles Wigg, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING SILVER AND
GOLD IN THE TREATMENT OF CUPREOUS ORES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Charles Wigg, my executors or administrators.
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within

page_text: precipitation after adding water or weak liquors, substantially in the
manner set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wigg, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.
In the presence of
J. T. KING,
Patent Agent,
Liverpool.
CHARLES WIGG. (L.S.).