Improved Apparatus for Extracting Gold and Silver from their Ores by Electrical Amalgamation.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4 h July, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1890-Accepted. 4th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Extracting Gold and Silver from their
Ores by Electrical Amalgamation.
We, GEORGE BUTTON and WILLIAM EDWARD WYETH, Engineers of Cambridge,
Griqualand West, South Africa, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved apparatus for extracting gold and silver from
their ores by the combined action of amalgamation and electrolyses.
For this purpose we construct a table having transverse shallow channels or corru-
gations, in each of which is contained a body of mercury, and the finely crushed ore
to be treated is made to flow together with water across such channels in passing
along the table; above each channel is suspended a brush the body of which is formed
of a bar of iron or other suitable conducting material, suspended by wires or chains
from a fixed insulated metal conductor, the bristles of the brushes being made to dip
into the water and just touch the surface of the mercury. The said brushes all
receive a reciprocating motion by any suitable means, so as to sweep continuously to
and fro over the surface of the mercury and thus prevent any deposit of the ore
thereon which would impede the amalgamating action.
The table, which is by preference formed of corrugated copper plates, is con-
nected to the negative pole of a dynamo machine while the conducting support of
the brushes is connected to the positive pole. Thus as the ore and water flow
continuously over the table, passing from channel to channel, an electric current
passes from the dynamo down through the brushes, the water, the mercury, and
the table, back to the dynamo, thereby producing an electrolytic action that causes
the gold or silver to be effectually taken up by the mercury.
The channels or corrugations of the table are by preference coated with gold burnt
into the copper, so as to prevent any action upon the latter.
The to and fro motion of the brushes may be conveniently effected by means of an
eccentric driven by the dynamo.
The ore and water are made to flow over flat plates both before and after passing
over the corrugated table, and these plates are also coated with gold burnt in.
Dated this 4th day of July 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Extracting Gold and Silver from their
Ores by Electrical Amalgamation.
We, GEORGE BUTTON and WILLIAM EDWARD WYETH, Engineers of Cambridge,
Griqualand West, South Africa 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved apparatus for extracting gold and silver from
their ores by the combined action of amalgamation and electrolysis.
For this purpose we construct a table having transverse shallow channels or
corrugations, in each of which is contained a body of mercury, and the finely crushed
ore to be treated is made to flow together with water along the table passing across
these channels.
Above each channel is mounted on a pivot a brush having its stock made of con-
ducting metal, and its bristles of such length as to dip into the water and nearly

page_text: touch the surface of the mercury. These brushes are caused to reciprocate by cranks
or eccentrics.
The table, which is by preference formed of corrugated copper plates is connected
to the negative electrode of a dynamo machine, or other source of electricity, while a
conducting bar or framing on which the brushes are pivotted is connected to the
positive electrode.
Thus as the ore and water flow along the table passing from channel to channel,
while an electric current is transmitted by the brushes through the ore bearing liquid
and the mercury to the table, the electrolytic action combined with the stirring action
of the brushes causes the gold or silver to be effectually taken up by the mercury and
amalgamated with it.
The corrugated plates are preferably coated with gold burnt into the copper, so as
to prevent any action upon the latter.
The ore and water are made to flow over flat plates both before and after
passing over the corrugated table and these plates are also preferably coated with
gold burnt in.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
For extracting gold and silver from their ores, the combination of a transversely
corrugated metal plate having mercury in its hollows and connected to the negative
electrode of a dynamo machine or other source of electricity, with brushes connected
to the positive electrode and caused to reciprocate over the mercury through a layer
of pulverised ore flowing with water over the successive hollows of the corrugated
plate, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of April 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.