IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND IN
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Medley Stuart of Queen Victoria Street in the City
of London and John Elliott of Reigate in the County of Surrey for an
invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF ORES AND IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Medley Stuart_and
John Elliott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th June
1882.
JOHN MEDLEY STUART of Queen Victoria Street in the City of London and
JOHN ELLIOTT of Reigate in the County of Surrey IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF ORES AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH TREATMENT
This invention consists of a method of treating ores containing gold and other
metals, especially applicable to refractory ores and is more fully described as
follows. We place in a furnace or receiver capable of being closed, a suitable
quantity of ore of convenient size, which is then heated to redness, a certain gas
prepared as hereinafter described is then forced into the furnace through a flue or
flues or tuyere made of fireclay or fire stone or iron pierced with holes to allow of
the gas permeating the ore with the object of disintegrating it preparatory to its
subsequent treatment by amalgamation or by some leaching process
As the layers
of ore are packed in the furnace or receiver they are sprinkled from time to time
with potash or salt-petre or sometimes with both in order to facilitate the action
of the gas. The gas that is to be forced into the furnace is made as follows (viz)
1 part sulphate of Copper
1 part potassium
8 parts common salt together
with a few pieces of scrap iron, water is then added in proportion to the strength
required These materials are placed in a retort or retorts and are then subjected to
heat with the object of forcing the gas generated into the ore such forcing being if
necessary aided by a blast The object of the process being to render the ore
friable and to relieve it from the sulphur it may contain so as to render it fit for
amalgamation After the gas treatment the ore is amalgamated with quicksilver
D

page_text: to which is added some solid acid preferably acetic acid in order to keep the
quicksilver in a better condition for union with the gold or other metals
We do not confine ourselves to any particular form of furnace but we prefer a
furnace or receiver designed with the especial object of permitting the ore treated,
to be readily subjected first to the heat required and secondly to be thoroughly
permeated by the gas forced in, objects which we believe will be best
attained in the following manner. That is by an upright furnace or receiver of
about eight feet square externally with walls of two feet thickness having an
internal flue of about nine inches square at each internal angle such flues to be
pierced with holes to allow of the heat first and then the gas passing into and
amongst the ore, such flues to be closed in at the top by a stone or fire tile. We
prefer to form such flues of brick or fire stone but pipes of iron or stoneware may
be carried up the angles or up the centre of the structure which we propose
building to a heighth of about 14 (fourteen) feet, the top of the portion containing
the ore being made with a moveable covering which may be taken off while the
heating by fire is going on and closed during the forcing in of the gas We propose
to build the furnace, or receiver, with fire brick, or stone and to bind it with iron
bands at intervals. At the bottom we construct one or more ovens or furnaces in
which the heat required is generated and from which it is conveyed to the internal
flues We also construct one or more retorts outside the furnace or receiver in
which the gas described is produced and from which it is forced into the internal
flue or flues. The inside bottom of the furnace or receiver we make with an
inclination to one side in which is a sliding or hinged door, through which the ore
may be charged and after treament may be withdrawn into the receiving pit below,
or into other suitable receivers for removal and for subsequent treatinent.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Medley Stuart and John Elliott in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th December 1882.
JOHN MEDLEY STUART of Queen Victoria Street in the City of London and
JOHN ELLIOTT of Reigate in the County of Surrey IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF ORES AND IN THE APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN SUCH TREATMENT
This Invention consists of a method of treating ores containing gold or other
metals, especially applicable to refractory ores and is more fully described as follows
We place in a furnace or receiver capable of being closed, a suitable quantity of ore
of a convenient size preferably about the size of a hens egg, which ore is then
heated to redness, when first, low steam and then a certain gas prepared as herein-
after described, is supplied or forced into the furnace through tuyeres into a flue
or flues made of fireclay or firestone or iron, constructed with open spaces, or
pierced with holes to allow of the gas permeating the ore, with the object of

page_text: disintegrating it preparatory to its subsequent treatment by amalgamation or by
some leaching process In order to facilitate the action of the gas on the ore as it
is packed in the furnace or receiver, it should be sprinkled at about each successive
foot in thickness with potash or salt petre or sometimes with both, and at about
each two feet six inches of thickness as packed, a layer of sawdust about 3 inches
thick should be spread The gas that is to be supplied to or forced into the furnace
or receiver is made from the following substances. viz. 1 part of sulphate of copper,
1 part of potassium 8 parts of common salt, together with a few pieces of scrap
iron, water being then added in proportion to the strength required We do not
confine ourselves to the exact proportions named, but consider them the best for
the purpose
These materials are placed in a retort or retorts, and are then
subjected to heat with the object of forcing the gas generated thoroughly into and
through the ore under treatment such forcing if necessary being aided by a blast,
produced mechanically or created or aided by placing in the retort or retorts, hanks
of asbestos or cotton thread, or both portions of which being laid through a pipe
or pipes communicating with the furnace or receiver and such pipes are there
exposed to heat preferably produced by a moveable lamp arranged to burn
petroleum or the vapour of gasoline or benzoline The object of the process is to
render the ore friable and free it from the sulphur it may contain so as to render it
fit for subsequent treatment by leaching or amalgamation or any other known
process or processes for separating gold, silver copper or other metals, but the
method we prefer after the treatment of the ore by the gas process, is to amalgamate
it with quicksilver, to which is added some solid acid, preferably acetic acid, in
order to keep the quicksilver in a better condition for union with the gold or other
metals The process above described with the addition of proper fluxes to the ores,
may often be applied to reduce them to a metallic state We do not confine
ourselves to any particular form of receiver or furnace but we prefer a furnace or
receiver designed with the especial objects of allowing the ore to be easily packed
in and readily withdrawn, capable of subjecting the ore firstly to. the heat required
before the admission of the steam and gas and secondly to permit the ore to be
thoroughly permeated by the gas admitted or forced in, objects which we believe
will be best attained in the following manner reference being made to the
accompanying drawings which form part of this specification and in which
Fig 1 represents an exterior elevation of the proposed furnace
Fig 2 represents a sectional elevation of the same on the line A. B Fig 4
Fig 3 represents a side elevation of the same on the line C D Fig 4
Fig 4 represents a plan through the furnace, pipes, retorts and ovens
The receiver or furnace is made upright and of about eight feet square externally
in horizontal section with walls E E of about two feet in thickness provided with
flues e. e. e carried up in each internal angle of about 9 inches square constructed
with open spaces or pierced with holes to allow of the heat first, and then of the
steam and gas passing up and into the ore, such flues to be closed in at the top by a
moveable cap or cover d, of firestone or firetile or iron, to allow of the flues being
opened or closed We prefer to form such flues of firebrick or firestone bonded
in with the containing walls, but pipes of iron or stone-ware may be carried up
the angles or up the centre of the furnace or receiver which we propose building
to a heighth of about fourteen feet and to form a moveable cap or cover of firestone
firetile or iron to the portion containing the ore, which may be taken off when the
fire heat is applied and replaced when the gas is admitted, or closed and opened
alternately with the flue covers. We propose to build the furnace or receiver of
firestone or firebrick and to bind it together with iron bands at proper intervals
At the bottom we construct one or more ovens or fireplaces F or apparatus for using
petroleum for fuel in which the heat required for the first part of the process is to
be generated and from which it is conducted to the internal flues, to be dissemenated
through the ore during which operation the covers of the flues d. d are to be on
and the cover g over the chamber to be off wholly or partially open. We.also
construct one or more retorts H with necks long enough to admit of separate

page_text: application of heat to them, if the asbestos and cotton hanks are used to force in
the gas, from which retorts the gas generated is to be conducted or forced into the
internal flues constructed to allow of such gas permeating the ore. The inside
bottom of the furnace f we make with an inclination to one side in which is a
sliding or hinged door I which when opened allows of the ore being discharged
into the receiving pit or into suitable receivers running on rails for removal for
subsequent treatment The ovens or fire places to generate the heat required
in the first stage of the process, should be provided with dampers to shut off the
heat from the internal flues as soon as the gas is required to be introduced to
them Intermediately to these two operations and before closing the dampers
earthen vessels containing water may be placed in the ovens in order to generate
the steam that is required to prepare the ore for the better action of the gases
Dampers will also be required to shut off the retorts from internal flues while the
heat and steam are being passed through them We propose to construct a plat-
form or stage around the top of the receiver or furnace on which to stack the ore
for charging and to facilitate its packing We also propose to construct a hood G
over the top of the furnace, with a turning cowl on its top to conduct the fumes
away from the men working on the stage
Having described our invention and how the same may be practically employed
What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.―
1st For the treatment of ores the improved furnace hereinbefore described in
combination with the ovens and retorts all arranged to operate substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
2nd For the treatment of ores, the generation and application of a gas made
preferably from sulphate of copper, potassium, salt, iron and water, together with
the heating of the neck of the retort for the purpose of forming a blast, all
substantially as and for the purposes set forth
1.
3rd The improvement in treating ores bereinbefore set forth which consists in
heating them and then subsequently submitting them to the action of steam and
gases all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said John Elliott for myself and on behalf of the
said John Medley Stuart have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh
day of December in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and
eightytwo.
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of
ALLEN P JONES
53 Chancery Lane
London W.C.
JOHN ELLIOTT (L.S.)