Processes and Apparatus for Classifying, Amalgamating, and Cyanizing Gold and Silver Ores.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act
being date of first Foreign Application (in 7th May, 1896
France).
Date of Application (In United Kingdom), 30th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 30th June, 1897
being date of first Foreign Application (in 7th May, 1896
France).
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 30th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 30th June, 1897
Processes and Apparatus for Classifying, Amalgamating, and
Cyanizing Gold and Silver Ores.
I, JULES GARNIER of 14, Rue de Berlin, Paris, France, Civil Engineer; do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to processes and apparatus for the treatment of gold and
silver ores for the purpose of classifying, amalgamating, and cyanizing the same.
The accompanying drawing represents the two apparatus which I employ for carry-
ing out these processes either together or separately.
The gold ore whether obtained from alluvial deposits or crushed is placed in the
first apparatus (Figure 1) consisting of a large cylindrical sheet or cast iron tank A in
which a perforated false bottom B is fitted to be moved as a piston in the tank A by
the action of a piston C. The surface of the false bottom B is kept constantly
covered with coarse fragments of some heavy substance, such as gold ore or grains of
iron or lead, so as to prevent the fine particles under treatment from passing through
the perforations to the underside of the false bottom B. The tank A cominunicates
by a passage D with a closed chamber E which is capable of being put in communica-
tion with the air by a stop-cock F. A pipe G provided with stop-cock G¹ connects the
upper part of chamber E with a steam boiler or compressed air reservoir for admitting
steam or air at high pressure to said chamber. The cover of chamber E carries a rod
a b movable therewith to which are attached plates of amalgamated copper ff upon
which the auriferous slimes passing into the cylinder E can deposit their gold.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-A sufficient quantity of water is
first supplied to the communicating vessels A and E, cock F being open, after which
crushed ore is introduced into tank A so as to be entirely covered by the liquid. The
cover plate N of tank A, from which depend strips S of amalgamated copper, is then
placed in position so that the strips are deeply immersed in the liquid, a crane or
other lifting apparatus being employed for the purpose. This done the cock F is
closed and steam or compressed air admitted to vessel E through cock G¹ whereby
the water is forced into tank A in which it rises carrying with it the whole mass of
ore which is then more or less in suspension. The cock G¹ is closed when the up-
heaval of the mass is sufficiently effected and the steam introduced gradually
condenses while the ore in suspension becomes graded or classified in the order of its
size and density. The free gold, pyrites, and coarser lumps precipitate at the relative
velocities which they are capable of acquiring. The poor and fine parts remain in the.
upper layers while the very fine particles and mud or slimes float in the liquid which
covers the ore. During this classification the gold in suspension adheres by degrees
to the amalgamating strips. If compressed air or the gases resulting from any suit-
able explosive be used instead of steam, the gases are allowed to escape by degrees by

page_text: means of a special cock, to allow time for the particles of ore to classify themselves.
The oscillations of the liquid are repeated for a certain period of time and in order to
hasten the solution of the gold a solution of cyanide of potassium may be used whose
effect supplements that of the mercury.
This first apparatus classifies the charge as follows:-
(1) A bottom layer of concentrates rich in gold and pyrites;
(2) Above this a layer of coarse tailings;
(3) Above this a layer of fine tailings;
(4) At the top the fine particles or slimes in suspension in the liquid;
Lastly a certain proportion of gold is caught by the mercury or dissolved in the
cyanide.
The piston C is now raised and the water containing the slimes is run into the
apparatus (Figure 2) hereinafter described. The tailings are also run off through
inclined channels specially provided for the purpose into tanks where their treatment
is completed according to size. The concentrates are lastly collected by means of
scrapers for example.
I will now describe the treatment of the slimes, that is to say the mud in
suspension.
The slimes are received in the apparatus represented in Figure 2 which may
contain the products or slimes of several operations performed in the first apparatus
Figure 1.
The second apparatus consists essentially of two cylinders K L communicating by
an inclined passage o. The cylinder K contains a solid piston M fitted watertight
and operated by a hydraulic piston n. The rod of piston M is extended as at c d
and carries a number of amalgamated copper plates t t. Similarly the cover of
cylinder L supports a rod c¹ d¹ carrying amalgamated plates t¹ t¹.
The pure water or the cyanide of potassium solution holding the slimes in
suspension is agitated as in the apparatus (Figure 1) by fluids under pressure enter-
ing at passage o, so that the plates quickly collect the gold in suspension while the
remainder is dissolved by the cyanide. When the slimes are sufficiently impoverished
the piston M is raised so as to discharge them into tanks where the settling of the
slimes is hastened by adding agglomerating matters such as plaster or chloride of
lime but in the latter case the solution must be alkaline in order to prevent the
formation of free hydrochloric acid which would precipitate the gold.
It is to be understood that both apparatus (Figures 1 and 2) would be provided
with a complete system of cocks for the discharge of the steam or compressed gases
and the liquids for the admission and escape of air beneath the pistons B and M
during their movements, as well as for the discharge of solid deposits from below said
pistons.
T
300
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Processes and Apparatus for Classifying, Amalgamating, and
Cyanizing Gold and Silver Ores.
I, JULES GARNIER of 14, Rue de Berlin, Paris, France, Civil Engineer; 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 processes and apparatus for the treatment of gold and
silver ores for the purpose of classifying, amalgamating, and cyanizing the same.

page_text: The drawing accompanying my Provisional Specification represents the two
apparatus which I employ for carrying out these processes either together or
separately.
The gold ore whether obtained from alluvial deposits or crushed is placed in the
first apparatus (Figure 1) consisting of a large cylindrical sheet or cast iron tank
A in which a perforated false bottom B is fitted to work as a piston by the action of a
piston C. The surface of the false bottom B is kept constantly covered with coarse
fragments of some heavy substance, such as gold ore or grains of iron or lead so as to
prevent the fine particles under treatment from passing through the perforations to
the underside of the false bottom B. The tank A communicates by a passage D with
a closed chamber E which is capable of being put in communication with the air by a
stop-cock F. A pipe G provided with a stop-cock G¹ connects the upper part of
chamber E with a steam boiler or compressed air reservoir for admitting steam or air
at high pressure to said chamber. The cover of chamber E carries a rod a b movable
therewith to which are attached plates of. amalgamated copper ff upon which the
auriferous slimes passing into the cylinder E can deposit their gold.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-A sufficient quantity of water is first
supplied to the communicating vessels A and E, cock F being open, after which
crushed ore is introduced into tank A so as to be entirely covered by the liquid. The
cover plate N of tank A, from which depend strips S of amalgamated copper, is then
placed in position so that the strips are deeply immersed in the liquid, a crane or
other lifting apparatus being employed for the purpose. This done the cock F is
closed and steam or compressed air admitted to vessel E through cock G¹ whereby
the water contained therein is forced into tank A in which it rises carrying with it
the whole mass of ore which is then more or less in suspension. The cock G¹ is
closed when the upheaval of the mass is sufficiently effected and the steam introduced
gradually condenses while the ore in suspension becomes graded or classified in the
order of its size and density. The free gold, pyrites, and coarser lumps precipitate
at the relative velocities which they are capable of acquiring. The poor and fine
parts remain in the upper layers while the very fine particles and mud or slimes float
in the liquid which covers the ore. During this classification the gold in suspension
adheres by degrees to the amalgamating strips. If compressed. air or the gases
resulting from any suitable explosive be used instead of steam, the gases are allowed
to escape by degrees by means of a special cock, to allow time for the particles of ore
to classify themselves. The oscillations of the liquid are repeated for a certain period
of time and in order to hasten the solution of the gold a solution of cyanide of
potassium may be used whose effect supplements that of the mercury.
The first apparatus classifies the charge as follows:-
(1) A bottom layer of concentrates rich in gold and pyrites;
(2) Above this a layer of coarse tailings;
(3) Above this a layer of fine tailings;
(4) At the top the fine particles or slimes in suspension in the liquid;
Lastly a certain proportion of gold is caught by the mercury or dissolved in the
cyanide.
The piston C is now raised and the water containing the slimes is run into the
apparatus (Figure 2) hereinafter described. The tailings are also run off through
inclined channels specially provided for the purpose into tanks where their treatment
is completed according to size. The concentrates are lastly collected by means of
scrapers for example.
I will now describe the treatment of the slimes, that is to say the mud in
suspension.
The slimes are received in the apparatus represented in Figure 2 which may
contain the products or slimes of several operations performed in the first apparatus
Figure 1.
The second apparatus consists essentially of two cylindrical tanks K L communicat-
ing by an inclined passage o. The cylinder K contains a solid piston M fitted water-

page_text: tight and operated by a hydraulic piston n. The rod of piston M is extended as at
cd and carries a number of analgamated copper plates tt. Similarly the cover of
cylinder L supports a rod c¹ d¹ carrying amalgamated plates t t.
The pure water or the cyanide of potassium solution holding. the slimes in
suspension is agitated as in the apparatus (Figure 1) by fluids under pressure
entering at passage o so that the plates quickly collect, the gold in suspension while
the remainder is dissolved by the cyanide. When the slimes are sufficiently
impoverished the piston M is raised so as to discharge them into tanks where the
settling of the slimes is hastened by adding agglomerating matters such as plaster
or chloride of lime but in the latter case the solution must be alkaline in order to
prevent the formation of free hydrochloric acid which would precipitate the gold.
It is to be understood that both apparatus (Figures 1 and 2) would be provided
with a complete system of cocks for the discharge of the steam or compressed gases
and the liquids, for the admission and escape of air beneath the pistons B and M
during their movements, as well as for the discharge of solid deposits from below. said
pistons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In apparatus for simultaneously concentrating, classifying, and amalgamating
gold ores the combination of a main tank, a second closed tank, communicating with
the main tank, a perforated bottom in the main tank for receiving the gold ores in
suspension in a liquid body, means for raising and lowering the said bottom and a
removable cover for the said main tank provided with depending amalgamated plates
substantially as described with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings
and for the purposes set forth.
2. An apparatus for amalgamating and cyanizing muds or slimes, consisting in the
combination of a main tank, a solid piston sliding water-tight therein, and carrying
amalgamated copper plates and a second tank, in communication with said main tank,
having a cover supporting amalgamated plates substantially as described with
reference to Figure 2 of the drawings for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 20th day of March 1907
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.