[" The

Cyanide

Process

of

Gold

[Published

by

CimiLKa

Griffin

"

Co.,

Ltd.,

London

.]

THE

CYANIDE

PROCESS
OF

GOLD
A

EXTRACTION:

TEXTBOOK

FOR

USE

THE

CYANIDE

AND

METALLURGISTS,

MINING

OF

STUDENTS,
OPERATORS.

BY

JAMES
PROFESSOR

OP
OF

FELLOW

MINING
THE

AND

DIRECTOR

GEOLOGICAL

INSTITUTE

OP

MINING

MKTALLURGY,

[The

First

ENGLISH

English

published

itl) JTronttgpieee,

(Authorized

Text-book.

GRIFFIN
EXETER

MINES;

OF

SUPERINTENDENT,
WORKS,

AND

REVI8ED

in

and

New

ENLARGED.

enlarged from

the

Third

Australian

anb

Schools

Illtxgt ration*.

of Mines.)

"

STREET,

Edition

Zealand.]

opiate*

LONDON
CHARLES

OF
AMERICAN

GOLDFIKLD.

revised

was

THE

INSTITUTE

THE

METALLURGICAL

EDITION.

Edition

OF

; LATE

GOVERNMENT

SCHOOL
OF

MEMBER

MEMBER

LONDON

THAMES

THIRD

LONDON

OF

ENGINEERS;

ZEALAND

UNIVERSITY

OTAGO

OP

SOCIETY

MINING

AND
NEW

PARK,

COMPANY,
STRAND.

1904.

[All Rights Reserved.]

LIMITED,

Complete

Catalogue

of

Works

Engineering,
on

post

Metallurgy

and

Mining,

free

application
on

be

will

to

the

forwarded

publishers.

'

"o**'bOA

78161
APR

14

1904

MKWL
Pa.

PREFACE

TO

favourable

The

much

revise

old

the

gold-slimes,the

of

In

filter-press
practice.
pressing

of the

character

density

for

formed

the

value.

In

slimes

the

are

The

treatment.

Africa,

South

has

in all

for

gold

milling
the

where

been
a

cases

so

the

saline
The

purposes.

the

of

slow, laborious, and

of

attention

secondary product

imperative

should

mills, and

question

engaging

and

ores

settlement

slimes,it

of the

filter-

the

water, and

almost
filter-presses

of

primary product

or

decantation

versus

fresh

of the

and

peculiar

of

the

use

lead-

to

adoption of

process

effective

first

the

combination

rendered

waters

add

sulpho-tellurideores,

tendency

available

couraged
en-

time

same

decantation

make

to

and

quick

the

in

imperfect as

by

has

part, relates

Australia,

natural

water

brackish

material

finer

only

the

of

of

editions

the

at

most

slimes, the scarcityof

form

to

and

the

Western

earlier

to

treatment

local conditions, namely, the

matrix

for

determined

mainly

was

EDITION.

matter,

material, which,

new

smelting

accorded

reception

to

me

THIRD

be

noted,

of

were

high

filter-pressing

for
and

time,

some

of

low-grade

value.
been

Filter-pressinghas
Waihi

Company,

slimes, but,

on

in New

the

other

neighbouring companies
for

the

treatment

relative

merits

by

Zealand,
hand,
are

of similar
of the

exhaustive

two

trials

for

the

it should

be

satisfied

with

material.

processes

over

of

mentioned

that

is
in
a

by

success

treatment

the

It

must,

extending

much

with

adopted

ordinary

decantation

several
process

quite

clear

that

every

case,

be

period of,

the

say,

the

mined
deterfour

to

^PREFACE.

VI

mouths,

six

so

of

favour

in

costs

be

to

that
The

introduction

notable

the

in

the

in

short

New

obviously

of

Zealand
of

one

cost.

subordinate

is

cost

several

to

The

process.

this

and

is

American

chemists.

awaited

with

interest.

have

much

to

acknowledge
and

M.I.M.M.,
contributions

Waihi

on

the

B.

Allen,
and

slime

goorlie sulpho-telluride practice

the

of
Australian
articles

In

these

and

are

made

in

Mining

Journal,

Mining

Standard

which
all
the

other

appeared
cases,

their

and
the

to

columns

at

acknowledgment

make

1903.

N.Z.,

prietors
pro-

extracts

different
and

Kal-

Journal,

times.

reference

text.

Dunedin,

September

special

for

to

be

Banks,

Engineering

permission

is

will

G.

E.

and

JAMES

University,

solutions

B.Sc,

M.A.,

cyanide

work

Mr

respectively;

for

due

the

have

investigation by

their

to

in

number

Africa
of

of

of

and

plants.

filter-press practice

Mining

in

of

cyanide

subject

indebtedness

treatment

investigation

literature

results

prehensive
com-

cyanide

South

foul

Mr.

of

more

acid-

researches

of

lead-smelting

and

in

the

to

my

by

chemical

chemists

The

Frank

Mr

verified

the

respect

claims

probable

special

present

several

the

smelting

regeneration
at

if

larger permanent

material

successful

still unsolved,

the

metallurgical

valuable

much

old

the

for

in

and

most

seems

marks

gold-slimes

are

process,

room

and

directions,

accomplished

the

all

in

rate

any

of

practice,

displace

is still much

There

from

of

question

indeed

as

time

at

processes,

and

is

chance

estimate

and

African

lead-smelting

of

reliable

problem

cyanide

author

trials

added

the

of

of

advance

Tavenor,

of

South

fortuitous

of

enable

thereby

solution

Australia,

element

expediency.

of

will

the

With

prepared.

Western

In

and

either,

the

conditions,

eliminate

to

as

PARK.

TO

PREFACE.

ENGLISH

FIRST

THE

EDITION.

The

favourable

work,

and

available

this

on

the

of

retained

in

England,

and

as

of

the

the

and

and

perplexing

most

Gold

of

this

due,

problems,

in

of

than

often

in

presents

the

to

ores

chemical

obvious

cases,

in

application

on

which

many

been

treatment

more

Extraction,

has

the

the

of

use

introduced

dependent

more

is

department

the

been

years

to

general

published

first

have

late

methods

and

The

operators,

changes
Of

more

no

Process

Cyanide

the

in

such

information

for

the

is

his

before

placing

intended

which

again

to

latest

cyanide

needful.

metallurgy

knowledge,

and

only

investigations

rendered

has

which

into

of

this

of

author

metallurgy.

was

edition,

present

considered

scientific

which

work,

the

the

of

metallurgists,

the

author

branch

Edition

Third

view

anticipated,

progressive

students,

mining

with

was

original

"

enabled

has

text,

than

earlier

readers,

plan

the

enlarge

the

to

Zealand,

New

in

published

revise

accorded

reception

simplest

causes.

In

the

been

the

greatly
and

while

added,

slimes,

closer

although
Since

treatment

edition

present

information

of

solutions,

setting,
the

the

text

revision

have

while,
the

has

the

by

been

of

largely

relating
and

considerably
these

cyanide
of

adoption

number

actual

pages,

superseded

and

illustrations

new

the

analyses

extended

several

of

pages

the

to

tables

has

of

treatment

poisoning,
slightly

have

has

smaller

been

been

type,
reduced,

enlarged.
wet-crushing
dry-crushing

and

and

cyanide
direct

PREFACE.

Vlll

cyaniding
attended

been

with

chalcedonic

associated

varying

The

complex
by

the

in

author

of

world-wide

mines.

The

both

The

varying

and

January

in

occurs

strengths

unremitting

of

care

large
mostly

are

ores

fine

separate

the

of

treatment

interest,

and

these

have

solution

part

1900.

comparatively
been

gold

constantly

the

on

embodied

appendix.

JAMES
Auckland,

the

coarse

silver

has

charge.
in

in

installation

notwithstanding

contain

and

obtained

are

the

sulphide.

extractions,

results

ores

and

requiring

proportions,

metallurgist

the

of

their

case

every

success,

some

silver

with

adequate

obtain

at

character,

in

in

complete

slimes

of

proportion

and

Zealand,

New

in

PARK.

to

of

OF

TABLE

CONTENTS.

I.

CHAPTER

PAGE

The

Process,

Forrest-

McArthur

CHAPTER

Chemistry

op

IT.

Process,

the

III.

CHAPTER

17

Experiments,

Laboratory

IV.

CHAPTER

Control,

Testing,

and

Analysis

of

Appliances

Extraction

Actual

48

by

Treatment

of

of

by

VII.

80

VIII.

98

Concentrates,

CHAPTER

Leaching

69

Slimes,

CHAPTER

Treatment

VI.

Cyanide,

CHAPTER

The

V.

Plant,

and

CHAPTER

The

22
....

CHAPTER

The

Solutions,

Agitation,

IX.

96"

ILLUSTRATIONS.

OP

LIST

CHAPTER

X.
page

Zinc

Precipitation

Treatment

and

Application

of

121

XII.
171

Process

Sibmens-Halske

XIII.

CHAPTER
Other

Cyanide

177

Processeb,
XIV.

CHAPTER
Antidotes

Process,

the

CHAPTER
The

.100

XI.

CHAPTER
The

Slimes,

Gold

op

184

Poisoning,

Cyanide

for

188

Index,

LIST

ILLUSTRATIONS.

OF

PLATES.
PAGE

Cyanide

Mammoth

Leaching

I. Wooden
II.
II

Steel

IV.

Zinc

IVa.

Zinc

VII.

Extractor

Slime

IX.

Discharge

Door,

58
.

,,

62

Box,

New

Box,

and

Plan

,,

,,

74
,,

,,96

Room,

Agitators

,,

74

Furnace,
Elevation,

and

64

Pattern,
Roasting

Plant

Roche's

52

to/ace

....

,,60

Distributor,

Precipitation

IX.

Bottom-

Distributor,

Tailings

VIII.

Door,

Extractor

Butters'

VI.

Supports,

54

Improved

Butters'

V.

and

Frontispiece

Side-Discharge

III.

Vat

Africa,

Vat,

Park's

a.

S.

Plant,

at

Waihi,

,,136

Waikino,

Bottom-Discharge

138
.

Door,.

,,

138
.

,,

WOODCUTS.
Fig.

1.

Showing

Turn-Buckle

Fig.

2.

Butters'

Bottom-Discharge

Fig.

3.

Irvine's

Fig.

4.

Side-Discharge

53

Bottom-Discharge

Door,

57

Door,

58

Door,
.59
.

THE

PROCESS

CYANIDE

FOR

EXTRACTION

THE

OF

GOLD

AND

CHAPTER

THE

It

has

been

of

alkaline

solutions
years
to

that

the

this

is

solvent

remarkable

the

and

mark

the

for

natural

the

in

epoch

an

the

The

cyanide
of

or

of

free-milling

tailings

copper-plate
It

refractory
a

process

and

in

ores

which

also

ores,

finely-divided

be

used

especially
form

or

for
those

that

with

even

the

most

metallurgical

in

of
for

in

occurs

the

all

fact
time.

the

amalgamation

fine

the

ment
treat-

particles,
and

wet-crushing

from

treatment
which

to

success

dry-crushing

in

potassium

among

extraction

gold

the

the

of

application

resulting

concentrates

amalgamation,

can

applied

be

can

ores.

century

gold

scale

PROCESS.

THE

OP

ranks

few

past

commercial

solution

successful
of

the

their

dilute

present
and

on

from

in

soluble

are

within

only

gold,

history

SCOPE

silver

applied

the

that

widespread

is

metals

preoious

of

it

been

fact

discoveries

science

but

has

the

and

gold

cyanides,

of
of

PROCESS.

that

knowledge

discovery

cyanide

must

known

extraction

The

I.

MAKTHUBrFOEREST

long

SILVER.

and
of

gold

tion.
pan-amalgamamany

so-called
in

occurs

in

such

fails

pans

to

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

in
of ores
of the
values; or
satisfactory percentage
the gold is coated
with
of metallic
which
oxide or sulphide,
a film
and
the gold is assoin
it
which
ciated
ores
rendering non-amalgamable,
matrix.
a
with, or entangled in, highly pyritic

recover

All

the

solutions

(AgCl)

common

and

the

abundant

most

is much

slower

the

rate

than

that

of

cyanide
of

treatment

condition.

less soluble

or

ores

When

dissolution

of

gold,

and

is

of

in

chloride

the

are

dilute

fortunately

silver

and

accompanied by

its
a

the

ores

higher

cyanide.

LIMITATIONS

The

more

most

; but

of

consumption

are

readilysoluble
sub-sulphide(Ag2S), and these are
Those

cyanide.

of

of silver

ores

OF

cannot
process
the
in which
an

ore

be

gold

contains

PROCESS.

THE

applied
occurs
a

with

even

success

in

proportion

to

the

fairlycoarse

of both

fine

and

fine
be
extract
to
cyanide process may
will
have
be used
to
to
supplementary treatment
a
gold, but
the
slowness
of the
the
dissolution
gold, since
recover
coarse
take
would
too long for a commercial
basis of working.
With
of the
latter
class
the
of the
free-milling ores
recovery
coarse
gold is generally effected by copper-plate amalgamation ;
the
of
in
case
and,
wet-crushing, this treatment
precedes the
of dry-crushing, it follows
it.
cyanide leaching, while, in the case
has
of the cyanide process
The experience gained during the use
when
that
of potassium cyanide, even
shown
solutions
very dilute,
all
the
and
carbonate
act most
ores
sulphide, oxide,
energeticallyon
of
and
also
the
and
bismuth
of
on
sulphides
antimony
;
copper,
these
of
is
in
small
hence, when
present, even
proportion,
any
becomes
of the ore
sometimes
the treatment
difficult,and
sible,
imposthe
of
account
on
great consumption of cyanide. In practice
that an unduly large consumption of cyanide is generally
it is found
of the
accompanied by a low rate of extraction
gold and silver
in the ore
contained
or
tailings.
the foregoing it is obvious
that
From
the process
will be most
the
which
the
in
of ores
in
in a
successful
treatment
gold occurs
and
in
which
the
base
fine
of
minerals
state,
or
quantity
very
to cyanide, is small.
metallic
salts,destructive
coarse

gold

Further,

the

the

the

used

author

ascertained

as

the

result

of

many

taneous
simul-

Government
working trials in the N.Z.
Metallurgical
which
amenable
that argentiferous gold ores
Works
to treatment
were
Washoe
in
the
most
cases
pan-amalgamation
by
process,
results
when
better
tained
cyanide
by
treatment, even
they conyielded
small percentage of zinc and lead.
a

MARTHUR-FORREST

THE

An

intelligent

widen

the

point
of

ores

of

the

scope
is

the

America

progressive

of

and

of

the

original

trend

of

cyanide

has

the

affords

important

rich

to

to

many

greatly

notable

case

sulpho-telluride

satisfactory
branch

experience

led
been
A

process.
of

which

this

which

of

by

has

requirements

treatment

Kalgoorlie,

backed

principles

tendency

successful
and

first

working
the

adaptations,

ingenious

in

details

working

of

knowledge

PROCESS.

of

evidence

metallurgy.

CHAPTER

THE

When

gold

cyanide,

CHEMISTRY

acted

is

by

(AuKCy2),

PROCESS.

solution

aqueous
when

which,

the

having

THE

an

obtained

is

crystals

cyanide

OF

on

solution

octahedral

II.

is

which

takes

double

potassium

evaporated,
of

composition

which

of

the

yields

auro-potassic

cyanide

and

gold

of

potassium.
The

reaction

exact

equation

required

the

rate

reaches

of
that

the

dissolution

of

maximum

character
determined
A

weak

rate

On

of

most

now

the

by

ing
follow-

is

Skey,

f Jour.

the

of

laboratory

always
N.Z.
Chem,

Soc.,

of

correct

shown

0*25

the

conditions,

it
per

was

cent,

varies
ore,

that

concentrated

maximum

and

can

tions
solu-

proved
solution
with

easily

the
be

experiments.
active

more

Mines

to

of

constituents

port
sup-

those

have

experiment,
with

scale

working

series

solution

reached

was

from

theoretical

dilute

actual

for

subject

Maclaurin

under

from

the

substantial

experimentally

the

on

and

is

oxygen

employed

and

1891,

proved

gold,

By

of

received

in

Skey

passing

mineral

the

by

gold.

one

ounce

cyanide

paper

pure

cyanide.

maximum

cyanide.

of

maintain

4KHO.

an

has

been

of
of

in

potassium

view

classical

his

AuKCy2

potassium

since

researches

valuable

The
the

experiments
has

t in

Maclaurin

by

the

is

represented

equation,

This

gold.

and

1892,

2H20

of

author's

the

in

the

on

1842

is

others

acts

subject

authorities,

some

while

in
It

above

pound

every
of

02

the

to

from

Skey*

8KCy

According

dissolution

Eisner

chemists.

by

to

then

still

by

4Au

for

and

dissolved

is

being

According
dissolved

is

by

gold

understood,

oxidized

suggested

accepted

generally

it

first

is

reaction

The

well

yet

before

cyanide

the

that

not

uncertainty.

oxidized

is

gold

the

and

doubt

much

of

is

cyanide

potassium

when

place

Report,
May

than

1894.

1893,

p.

724.

strong

one,

and

THE

that

considers

Maclaurin

OF

CHEMISTRY

fact

remarkable

this

PROCESS.

THE

accounted

be

may

the
of dissolution
of gold is partly
rate
by supposing
of cyanide molecules
in a unit
volume
dependent on the number
;
the
the
molecules
in
number
of
and
same
partly on
oxygen
volume.
One
of the
most
important results of his exhaustive
the
of the fact that
the demonstration
experiments was
solubility
with
in
solutions
of the
of oxygen
decreases
concentration
cyanide
that

for

solution.
Weak
action

gold

on

of

ores

solutions

aqueous
and

silver

and

copper

cyanide

when

This

marked

very
associated

are

with

becomes

circumstance

of

treatment

exert

metals

these

antimony.
the

during

prominent

of

cupriferous

ores

on

very

large

scale.
The
those

cyanides of
of the

alkaline

heavy metals,

insoluble.

are

the

The

metals

with

insoluble

the

soluble

are

exception

salts

are,

of

in

gold

and

mercury,

soluble

however,

while

water,
in

excess

of

potassium cyanide.
of an
use
oxidizing agent that will
in a cyanide solution
portion of its oxygen
The

feature

several

of
of such

gold

agent

an

contained

solutions

in

artificial

supply atmospheric

to

of

aeration

oxygen

with

essential

ment
employof

the

cyanide
with

the

object.

same

of

Consumption
about
in

The

ore.

is undertaken

the

The
processes.
accelerate
the
dissolution

to

serves

the

forms

cyanide

patent

new

readily part

lbs. of

4*5

Cyanide.

cyanide

dissolve

to

100

Eisner's
of

ounces

equation,
gold, but

that
nearly forty times
The
which
causes
quantity.
operate in the practice of the process
of cyanide, over
to effect so large a consumption
that required by
Eisner's
simple equation, are at present not fully investigated.
To dissolve
100
of silver would
oz.
require 7*5 lbs. of cyanide,
the
to
:
according
equation
it

practice

found

According

should

is

that

takes

it

4Ag
For

the

8KCy

dissolution

02
of

7*01

sulphide (Ag2S),
following equation':

lbs.

2H20

100

oz.

of

4(AgKCy2)

of

cyanide

silver
would

4KHO.

existing as the
be required by

subthe

Ag2S
The

4KCy

2(AgKCy2)

K2S.

of silver
potassium sulphide resulting from the dissolution
further
loss of cyanide by precipisulphide also tends to cause
a
tating
which
will
of
gold
free
to
excess
require an
cyanide
redissolve
it.
It is the
need
this
for
of
excess
cyanide which
necessitates
the
of
solutions
in
the
use
^comparatively strong
of argentiferous gold ores.
treatment

THE

CYANIDE

PROCESS.

Potassium

cyanide is, chemically, a most

possessing the property of forming
complicated and
unexpected combinations
acids

mineral

and

different

with

be

only

base

classes

of

unravelled

that

metals,

large

so

in

pound,
com-

number

of

the

of
presence
and
behaviour

reactions

under

and

ore,

its

organic

active

varying conditions,

much

can

tory
labora-

by
patient research,
conditions.
working
of ores
During the treatment
by the cyanide process, the most
with, requiring the constant
puzzling difficulties are continually met
and attention
of the metallurgist in charge.
care
of the
Causes
of LOSS
Some
of Cyanide.
principal and
loss
obvious
the
of
of
takes
more
enormous
causes
cyanide which
place in the working of the process are as follows :
1. Loss
tanks.
vats
or
by absorption in wooden
2. Loss by decomposition by atmospheric carbon
dioxide.
3. Mechanical
loss in residues, and
dilution
of
solutions
by
during washing.
4. Loss by decomposition due
of mineral
acids
to the
presence
both

the

in

under

and

and

salts.

5.

Loss

due

6.

Loss

when

7. Loss

exists

ores

soluble

of charcoal
in kiln-dried
ore.
presence
is
in
This
Vats.
Absorption
especially noticeable

by

the

At

Witwatersrand

Goldfields,

is said

cause

of

amount

the

"

below

cent,

per

rises

With

Loss
Dioxide.

the

theoretical, but

within

to

determined

by
iron

or

due

assay.
steel vats

to

the

liberation

prussic

acid

there

six

is

per

of

acid

the

first

few

cent,

of

from

of
pound
"
clean
monthly
to

is often

loss

twenty
months
the

more

or

it

ally
gener-

extraction

as

appreciable loss by absorption.

no

by Atmospheric

of
gas
formation

Carbon

the

atmosphere decomposes
potassium carbonate,
hydrocyanic (prussic)acid, thus :

with

2KCy
The

to

after

Decomposition
carbonic

The

three

potassium cyanide
and

cyanide.

amalgam.

as

to
by Mr. C. Butters
treated.
At
tailings
cyanide per ton
in
a new
plant, the actual extraction
up

this

in

the

to

plants.

new

of

presence

gold

due

Loss
in

to

thus

the

of

C02

H20

liberated

K2C03

would

be

2HCy.
neutralized

by

any

cyanide solution.
in Residues,
and
Mechanical
Loss
during
by Dilution
the
there
is
to
extract
an
During washing
inability
'Washing.
the
of
residual
dilution
whole
of the cyanide from
tailings. The
also occasions
loss of cyanide in washing.
the cyanide solutions
a
is formed,
A large quantity of dilute
a
cyanide solution
portion
utilized
make
be
to
can
only of which
up fresh solutions.
caustic

alkali

present

in the

THE

CYANIDE

PROCESS.

sulphate, insoluble
other

basic

react

upon

basic
sulphates, and probably also traces of
complex and variable composition, all of which
of potassium cyanide, thereby causing a loss
solutions

salts of

cyanide.

of

which
reactions
most
are
likelyto take place in acid
of cyanide are
tailingsin the presence
:
of hydrocyanic acid.
(a.) The liberation
of ferro- and
(b.) The formation
ferri-cyanides.
The
free acids
in the ore
shown
the cyanide as
react
on
by
equation :

The

or

ores

the

2KCy
Feldtmann

liberated

diffuse

itself

K2S04.

the

it

considers
to

2HCy

H2S04=

possible for
through the

ore

hydrocyanic
and

dissolve

acid

thus

appreciable

he
the
strongly condemns
quantities of gold.* For this reason
the
these
of
in
acid
must
washing
tailings
leaching vats, as
practice
which
residual
always contain
a
portion of cyanide from
prussic
acid would
be liberated.
Any gold dissolved by this gas would

carried

be

in

away

the

water

alkaline

or

which

of

he

loss,
possible source
mysterious discrepancy sometimes
the

actual

found

recommends

he

; and

wash

thinks

avoid

to

for

account

may

between

the

the

assay

this
the

and

of

washing in one
system
and
On
in
another.
the
other
cussing
disvat
hand,
leaching
Skey, when
this subject with
the author, stated
that
hydrocyanic acid
solvent
It is obvious, however,
for gold.
that
this
not
a
was
liberated
of any
alkali
residual
in the
HCy in the presence
vat,
alkaline
form
would
an
cyanide capable of dissolving and removing
and
this combination
Feldtmann
in his mind
gold,
probably had
of writing.
time
at the
Of the iron salts, the one
of most
in pyritic
common
occurrence
the
is
ferrous
soluble
ores
or
tailings
sulphate (FeS04), which
with
form
reacts
potassium cyanide to
potassium ferro-cyanide
and
sulphate, thus :
extraction,

FeS04

6KCy

K4FeCy6

K2S04.

is, in
potassium ferro-cyanide thus formed
still
ferrous
of
sulphate
excess
by any
present
blue
of Prussian
according to the equation :

its turn,

The
on

with

the

reacted

tion
produc-

3K4FeCy6

6FeS04

30

Fe203

6K2S04

surface

of

Fe4(FeCy6)3.
i

blue

in the

seams

colour

in the

of the
*

solution,

staves

Feldtmann,

of the
Notes

on

on

the

vats, indicates
Gold

Extraction, p.

the

tailings,or
large consump5.

CHEMISTRY

THE

PROCESS.

THE

OF

tion

and

loss of

tion
cyanide due to imperfect washing and neutralizaof the acidity in the preliminary treatment.
A white
the surface of
seen
soum
or
on
precipitateis sometimes
the
This
solutions
when
precipitate
they are
coming off acid.
into Prussian
turns
blue by exposure
to the air and
light.
ferric
in
The
normal
water,
sulphate Fe2(S04), is insoluble
It
and
be
removed
oannot
reacts
by ordinary water-washing.
with
loss
due
the
to
of
potassium cyanide, causing a
cyanogen
of prussic acid and
liberation
the formation
ferric hydrate,
of the
shown
as
by the two following equations :

Fe2(S04)8+ 6KCy

Fe2Cy6

3K2S04

and

Fe2Cy6

6H20

Fe2(HO)6

6HCy.

It is

and
probable that in most
partially oxidized pyritic ores
tailings the ferrous and ferrio sulphates exist together, the former
in large excess.
the
In this case
decomposition of the cyanide
result
in the production of ferrous
would
cyanide and potassium
thus
sulphate,
:

12KCy
In

the

the

3FeS04

Fe2(S04)3 Fe8(FeCy6)2 + 6K2S04.

the

of

earthy pyritic ores,

result
sulphides would

case

metallic

weathering or
the production

in

of

the

hydrated

which

as

The
careful
to

All

reactions

preliminary

avoid

undue

the

iron

metals

insoluble

an

above

the

of

loss

alkaline

cyanide, and ensure

earthy sulphates can
application of an alkali before
of

basic

ones

important
and
the

not

with

cyanide

solution.

cyanide
Loss
The

to

the
as

due

be

to

the

Presence

sulphide, oxide,
of
antimony

and

and

salts

these

precipitated
hydrate ; while

ferric

of

Ores

carbonate

bismuth,

ores
are

iron

is

applied before,
will

destroy

nearly neutral
only, alkali and

acid

in

copper,

acted

It

Soluble
of

alkali.

salts

in

as

the

are

of the
presence
alkali
should
be

cipitated
pre-

ous
innocuwith

treatment

to

strongly alkaline
the
free
tailings contain
applied together.
in

rendered

be

the

cyanide solutions, as

much

When
should

that

remember

in

iron

oxidizes

rapidly

oxidize

soon

soluble

be

solution

salts and

all the

the

of

would

pipes.
necessity of a most
pyritic material, in order
satisfactoryresults.

of

treatment

formation

the

clearly emphasize

by the
oyanide. By this means
ferrous
as
hydrate, which
the

in the

incrustation

these

on

question,

in

of

sulphates
sulphates is
cyanide with the

action
The
magnesia, lime, or alumina.
not
clear, but they most
likely react
very
liberation
of prussic acid, accompanied
by

oxide

of

of

oxidation

on

Cyanide.
and

the

phides
sul-

by potassium

10

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

and
cyanide both in weak
a
strong solutions, and thereby cause
In
in the ore.
loss of cyanide in proportion to their abundance
the treatment
of an
ore
containing as little as 0*25 per cent, of
the consumption of cyanide will be doubled.
copper
It is during the treatment
the selective
of cupriferous ores
that
An
action
of weak
most
ore
cyanide solutions becomes
apparent.
solution
contain
1
sufficient
to
cent,
a
decompose
may
copper
per
0*35
of cyanide and give a low
extraction
of gold, whereas
a
per
solution
dissolve
would
cent,
proportionately less copper, and give
But
the
results
of the gold.
same
a fairlysatisfactoryextraction
would

obtained

be

shown

been

in

that

the

passing

from

solution,
a

weaker

the

maximum

of that

metal

notice

The

ore

free

from

bright

chemist
in

an

on

the

on

and

even

An

the

at

by

Crown

source,

from

or

and

any
Mr.

plant,
of
in charge, was
small
infinitesimally
zinc
turnings after

at

which

proved

gold.

pure

of
zincprecipitation
in

in which

ores

the

of

this

mines

at

of almost

could not
copper
of the mechanical

be

trace

no

under

came

Karangahake.
white

pure
a

the

chemical

rigid

most

impurities ; nevertheless,
coated
often
was
precipitation boxes
The

cent,

per

been

has

metallic

copper.

0*35

strength

which

instance

consisted

there

and

of copper

detected,

author,

cyanide

or

per
of ores,

large samples.

metallic

outside

cent,

than

the

nearer

occurs,

existence

be

treated

all
the

0*25

the

the

being

in

zinc

of

being

treatment

on

the

be

to

gold

more

mum
maxi-

Hence

solutions.

strong

extract

solution

could

examination

to

of dissolution

rate

experimentally
The
cyanide
gold, have shown

dilute

should

solution

cent,

per

of copper,
for it has
dissolution
of gold reaches

of

rate

already

absence

in the

even

quartz,

portion
with

of
film

derived

from
the

fittingsin

the
of
an

mill

Napier, the metallurgist and

in the
the
ore
opinion that it existed
manifest
and
became
only
quantity,
James

the

treatment

of

hundreds

of

tons

of

ore.

peratures,
sulphate at low temCopper pyrites is oxidized to the soluble
and
this salt requires a greater heat
to
decompose it
that
It
than
iron
is, therefore, probable
a
portion, at
pyrites.
in kilns, preleast, of this mineral
present in an
ore, being dried
paratory
be
direct
would
to dry-crushing and
cyanide treatment,
an
appreciable loss of cyanide in
sulphatized, and thereby cause
that
caused
similar
to
manner
by the decomposition products of
a

iron

pyrites.

Malachite

and

azurite, the

and

blue

in
solutions
readily soluble
production of copper-potassic cyanide and

are

both

green
dilute

carbonates
of

of copper,
cyanide, with the

liberation

of

prussic

also

readily

acid.

Antimonite,

the

grey

sesqui-sulphide of antimony,' is

THE

acted
in

on

the

The

of

presence

to

have

small

of

THE

all
the

to

at

It

attempts

is

Beef

Creek,
them

large consumption

of

goldnelds.
the
large

ton

antimonite

treat

with

frequently met

and

Boatman's
to

11

PROCESS.

of

percentage

tailings

caused

chiefly owing
rate

OF

by weak
cyanide solutions.
of the
Thames
gold-bearing oars

accumulation
said

CHEMISTRY

in

is

Reefton,

near

end

to

cyanide

failure,

in

and

the

low

of extraction.

Loss
is well

of

Cyanide

known

most

Gold

when
millmen

that

Exists

It

Amalgam.

as

the
portion
gold in tailings,resulting from copper-plate amalgamation or panform
When
such
of
amalgamation, exists in the
amalgam.
treated
be
the
the
to
dissolve
to
tailings have
cyanide has
well
the
thus
as
gold,
as
causing a larger consumption
mercury
of the solvent
be
would
than
if the
gold existed in a
necessary
free

to

of

considerable

state.

According

Gmelin,
cyanide; but

potassium
process

has

to

shown

is

mercury
the

that

his

not

dissolved

is

the

of

practical working
conclusion

acted

or

contrary

by
cyanide
on

actual

to

experience.
At the cyanide works
Gold
of the
Cassel
Extracting Company,
at Waihi, where
from
residues
stack
of
and
a large
tailings
panof
in
75
collected
lbs.
amalgamation were
were
treated,
mercury
the condenser
attached
for roasting the zinc slimes.
to the furnace
The
thus
recovered
was
only a small prpportion of the
mercury
dissolved
precipitated in
by the cyanide, and afterwards
mercury
the

zinc-extractor

roasting of

the

volatilized

was

with

zinc
that

On

bullion.

slimes

pervaded

vapours

on

every
silver worn

cool

surface,
the

when

occasion

every

being conducted,

was

the

buildings, condensing
all objects of gold and

so

every
and

much

part

the

mercury
of
the

amalgamating

workman.

by
during the roasting of zinc slimes,
the
of tailings, was
noted
treatment
resulting from
by the
author
several
the
Government
occasions
at
on
Experimental
at the cyanide plants
Cyanide Works, and is of frequent occurrence
The
Kuaotunu.
at
circumstance
noted
same
was
by Dr. Scheidel
at the Sylvia Cyanide Works
at the
Thames, where
was
mercury
found
in the zinc-bullion
in considerable
quantities.
The
in
the
of
generally occurs
tailings in the form
mercury
amalgam in a very fine state of subdivision, and is dissolved
by
the cyanide, together with
It is
the
associated
gold and silver.
with
the
bullion
in
the
zinc
precipitated
precipitation boxes.
Whenthe
zinc
oxidized
the
slimes
are
greater portion of the
The

the

volatilization

mercury

Loss
the

Ore.

of mercury

is volatilized.

of

Cyanide
It

has

due

long

to

been

the
known

Presence
to

chemists

of

Charcoal
that

in

charcoal

14

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

with
these
tion
sulphides, in addinecessarily occur
; but
will
there
be
of
to loss of cyanide,
loss
gold, and a still
a
in
the
of
loss
to
silver,
proportion
quantities present.
greater
that
This loss is brought about
the
is, the alkaline
sulphur
by
sulphide sulphurizing these metals to form sulphides with them,*
the sulphide film so formed
the metal
preventing, or greatly
upon

cyanide

will

action
of the
proper
does combine, and very

retarding,the
That

gold
the

both

already

alkaline
shown,

It is to

cyanide

sulphide

and

of

cyanide solution.
readily,with the sulphur of
hydrogen sulphide, Skey has

precipitate the sulphur

that

process

Mr.

that
has

McArthur

into

gets

the

proposed

salt dissolved

cyanide

in the

or

does

to

use,

(as per patent),a soluble lead

cyanide.
for
the
at
the
is
chemist
works
find a
to
cyanide
problem
and
practicalmethod, whereby all the sulphur of antimonial
rous
cupwith
be made
the cyanogen,
rather
to combine
sulphides can
than
the potassium of the cyanide.
with
The
how
following results obtained
by Skey show
extremely
when
alkaline
the
in
objectionable
sulphides are,
present
cyanide

use

in the

The

solution.
solution

the

cyanide, containing a small

placed over
a strip of gold coupled with
proportion of sulphur, was
a
piece of copper-glance (sulphide of copper), but no solution of
gold was
perceived ; however, on substituting chalcopyrites for the
rapidly removed.
copper-glance, the gold was
that
the
This
gold was
sulphurized at the
experiment shows
outset
sulphide present in the cyanide, and that
by the alkaline
it required connecting with
substance
of a strongly negative
a
A

rather

kind

order

in
so

Further

1 per

strong

to

effect

the

of

decomposition

of

the

auriferous

phide
sul-

formed.

experiments

of

solution

kind

different
dissolved

showed

that

while

pure

given weight of gold in

of the salt of the same
ten
taining
strength, but conminutes, a solution
of
sulphur (as a ^sulphide),% required two
^ 0 0 part
T0
the same
to dissolve
hours
weight of gold. The
speeds were
as
of the
1 in favour
12
to
cyanide.
pure
what
extent
phurizing
to
The
even
a
gentle sulfollowing results show
its solution
with
:
flouring of the gold, interferes
or
60
in
seconds
in
dissolved
Gold
sulphurized
cyanide in
K2S,
cent,

cyanide

minutes.

62

Trans.

N.Z.

t Trans.

N.Z.

% Trans.
Chromes."

N.Z.

Inst., vol. iii p. 216.

Inst., vol. xxi., 1888.
Inst., vol. xxi, 1888,

"On

the

Preparation

of Artificial

CHEMISTRY

THE

seconds

sulphurized 54

Gold

in

15

THE

PROCESS.

K2S,

dissolved

OF

in

cyanide

in

50

in

cyanide

in

36

minutes.

second

sulphurized

Gold

in

dissolved

K2S

minutes.

clean, dissolved

Gold,

washed

well
gold was
before
being placed in
the
approximate times
The

minutes.

12

potassic sulphide
gold the unit,

adherent

clean

Making

dissolution

of

Sulpho-cyanides.

of

Action

from

cyanide.

the

in

cyanide

in

1:3:4:5.

are

It

held

been

has

by

some

of
solutions
of these
in working
metallurgists that the presence
As
the
cyanide is injurious,retarding the dissolution of the gold.
Bird
of
of much
result
Camp
research, Godfrey Doveton, formerly
tion
soluthat
that
he
has
found
informs
a
me
Mills, Ouray, Colorado,
containing potassium sulpho-cyanide up to a certain point
than

active

more

was

solution

in

corresponding strength

of

2-50

with
sulpho-cyanide present, and that even
KCy,
grams,
the
extraction
of
influence
in
solution
100 c.c.
did not
of KCyS
in
in
salt
The
solution
water, is a slow
alone,
unfavourably.
solvent for gold.
the same
much
result, and
Experiments on mill solutions show
he

has

quantities

of

of
the

Waitekauri,

near

the

in

of

presence

able
consider-

even

should

solutions

working
Oxides

Manganese

the treatment

During

salt

sulpho
of

Action

The

that

not

uneasiness.

any

cause

conclusion

the

to

come

parcel of

author

there

was

gold-mine,

Komata

the

from

ore

fouud

Cyanide.

on

unusual

an

tion
consump-

ore
mullqcky, friable
cyanide.
quartz, coloured quite black by a large percentage of pyrolusite^
and
cobalt.
of nickel
and wad, and
containing a trace
the
made
of
determine
afterwards
to
A series
experiments were

the

cyanide

with

more

to

Further

cobalt

cyanide.
was

It is

The

Action
in

ores

solution

of

is well

the

of

dissolved

copper,

that

that

the

of heat

loss

alone,

silver

the

due

was

on

found

to

ing
consum-

in

zinc

cobalt
the

with

interfere

the

to

dissolved

the

but

substance.

readily,thus
that

note

author

easily oxidizable

somewhat

tractor
ex-

the

gold.

Oxygen-bearing

or
containing copper
the
potassium cyanide,

in the

the

portion of
pyrolusite parts

oxidized

influence

an

was

led

first

at

known
the

interesting to
the
gold and
like

and,

precipitationof
that

which

precipitatedwith
box,

It

soft

oxides

manganese

showed, however,

ore,

of

these

of

under
of its oxygen
in the presence
of

research
in the

the

cyanate*

portion
readily so

results

the

that

conclusion

the

to

loss, and

of the

cause

consisted

The

of

ore,

Agents.
other
base

base
metal

necessarilyutilize

the

It

probable

seems

metal

would,

soluble
from

greater

in

its preponderance

amount

of

16

the

available

the

gold

that

of

the
chemists

of

the

That

special
and

author
in

South

use

seems

cases,

the

of
well

an

that

established

by
Western

reliable

would

ores

agent
the

the

supply

containing

by*

of

conclude

to

would

oxygen-bearing

and

dissolution

reasonable

gold

reported
America

is

agent

complex

results

Africa,

it

oxidizing

an

the

render

to

Hence

such

in

oxygen

beneficial.
in

imperfect.

employment

deficiency
be

and

tending

thereby

oxygen,
slow

the

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

is

fied
justi-

experience
metallurgical

Australia.

of

18

cyanide and
the cyanide
On

the

actual

gold,

coarse

extraction

an

containing

ore

results

The

from

ore

an

the

in

give

lower

cyanide works.

on

of

case

laboratory

extracted

those

author

made

Marlborough,

N.Z.

was

40

in

number

of

The

average
while

the

battery the ore

and
dry-crushed through a 60-mesh
investigation
was
screen,
that
fine enough
showed
reduced
gold was
a large portion of the
amenable
to pass
to
cyanide
through the screen, and thus became

cyanide plant

60

over

At

sample

obtained

cent.,

per

tively
compara-

the

where

than

under

successful

are

confidence.

with

laboratory experiments

will

the

practice in
experiments

the

trials

working

adopted

be
may
in the

hand,

is hand-crushed

If the

extraction.

treatment

other

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

cent.

per

the

treatment.

ACTUAL

THE

1. Procure
When

bell-

about
four and
inches
in diameter.
bell-jars,
a half
clear
jars are not procurable, lamp glasses or
glass pint
six

bottles, with
well.

In

EXPERIMENT.

the
neck

the

the
off, will answer
jar fit a cork, perforated

bottoms

cut

of each

quite

purpose
with

one

hole.

short

length of glass tube, on the end of

rubber
few
of pliableblack
tubing. On the end
the rate
of the rubber
of which
tubing place a screw-clip,by means
be regulated to a nicety.
of percolation of the cyanide solutions
can
fix them
the jars,and
in a wooden
2. Now
invert
frame, so as
to stand
upright. In each jar place a thin layer of small rounded
beans
the size of French
about
the
pebbles,
pebbles place
; above

Through the
which
place a

an

inch

of

hole

pass
inches

sand, and

coarse

above

this, half-an-inch

of

fine

sand.

of
place a piece of loose scrim, the diameter
the jar. This
completes the filter-bed.
of cyanide experiments are
When
a large number
being made, a
into three compartments,
the
three
divided
box
to hold
grades of
be
material
for the
filter-bed, should
kept well replenished and

Above

hand.

at

near

fine sand

the

sample of the pulverized ore to be tested,

Mix
thoroughly, and carefully
weighing, say, six or eight pounds.
the original value.
to accurately determine
assay
should
if there
is a serious
Check
always be made, and
assays
the assay
and
its check, amounting
to
over
discrepancy between
3.

Next

cent,

per

form

the

of the

basis

When
be

placed

value,

of the

hence

and
the
in

ore
a

fair

procure

jar

in

be

greatest
tested
the

should

assays
and

calculations

the
to

fresh

final

condition

the
that

The

made.

results

should

accuracy

is from

be

be

of
aimed

the

assays

ments,
experi-

at.

battery, or mill, it should

the
it comes
from
mill,

LABORATORY

when

except, of course,
fineness, which

would

washed

twice

19

EXPERIMENTS.

the

tests

degree

the

determine

to

are

of

extraction.
give the best economic
be
When
the ore
is hand-pulverized, a separate portion should
reduced
to
through, say, a 30-mesh, 40-mesh, and 60-mesh
pass
of each
sieve
grade,
respectively. Separate tests should be made
affected
determine
what
the
extraction
is
extent
to
to
by the
as
so
varying fineness of the ore.
and
of the powdered
into each
4. Introduce
jar 10 or 12 ounces
has
been
obtained
by careful
sampled ore, the value of which
6.
Mark
the jars 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and
assay.
In
the
of
5.
case
tailings or ores
containing iron pyrites, or
metallic
be
base
other
sulphides, the samples in the jars should
or

once

With

solutions

cyanide

used

solution

on

0*6 per

exceeds

antimony
the

All

cent.

series

of

clean

would

phates.
sul-

alkaline

dilute

very

soluble

any

wash

scale

for
of

ores

of

class

any

try

both

seldom

ore

arsenic, and
copper,
when
either
of these

and
will

the

have

latter

tried than

be

to

series

useful

of

tailings,or
compounds, the most

the

of

silver,

solutions

With

or

ores

of all

event
to

its

cyanide,

0-15%, 0-20%

advisable

Chapter IV.)
the
to
as
strength of the
will depend
this
the
much
as
on
gold value ; but the strength of

0-1%, 0-15%, 0-2%, 0-25%, 0-3%

arsenic

the

as

the

ores.

contain

pyritic
or

used,

stronger

case

With

be

can

be

consume

005%,

those

of

cyanide.

containing

instructive

mony,
anti-

copper,

series would

be

0-25%, 0-3%, 0-35%, 0-4%.

tests

being unsatisfactory,it
and

stronger

already employed, according

as

weaker

solutions

the character

of the

ore

would

than

be

those

material

or

suggest.

may

It is
necessary

experiments
to

remove

laid down

sample as on
a
working

on

solutions

In

to

tailings

and

act

present

in

to

of the

character

is

rule

general

No

6.

acid

very

water

applied. (Test for acidity,see

be

may

clean

with

extract

7.

weight

used
will

each

of
to make
ore
new
a number
every
ascertain
the strength of cyanide solution
of the

adequate proportion
jar, already charged

of solution

as

of

ore.

The

gold

with

the
of

excess

and

laboratory

silver

ore,

required
contents.

add

solution

the
is

same

required

the
into
filterlarge portion immediately finds its way
and
numbers
the
the
the
of
Record
jars
strength of cyanide
the
that
in each.
the
Regulate
screw-clips so
percolation
A longer time
take
tried if the
be
at least thirty hours.
may

because

bed.

an

To

to

with

first trials

are

not

successful.

With

testing highly pyritic material,

very

it may

dilute solutions, or
be

necessary

to

when

continue

20

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

longer before satisfactoryresults

solution
If the
obtained.
comes
through too quickly, return
are
this
time
to percolate more
allow it
it again and
slowly.
wash
with
the
8. When
is
two
complete,
washings of
leaching
clean
to drain
a"
rapidly as possible.
water, allowing the wash- water
wash-water
when
The
is
the
no
longer gives an
complete
washing
the

leaching

alkaline

for six

days

or

even

reaction.

the
strength of the spent solution to ascertain
centage
perThe
and washings are
solution
collected
of cyanide used.
and
measured
together, then tested for cyanide.
The
by determining
consumption of cyanide can be calculated
solution
and
the strength of the combined
making
washings, and
the

Test

9.

allowance

an

the

for

in bulk

increase

due

to dilution.

of
cyanide is generally
consumption
shown
less than
that
much
by the laboratory experiments.
different
the cyanide and
Sometimes
washings are kept separate
with
and
the addition
of litharge (in the manner
evaporated down
described
The
under
Assay of Cyanide Solutions),and the gold
results
by each, calculated
separately. The
actually extracted
lesson
the
value
instructive
of
successive
afford an
on
washings.
and
washed
the jars,dry,
the leached
from
10. Remove
residues
As
the
will probably
residues
mix
thoroughly and again assay.
1200
1000
be excessively low-grade, it will be necessary
to take
or
determination.
calculate
the
Then
grains for the assay
age
percenteach
from
of extraction
jar by difference, recording the results
On

and

scale

working

values

assay

the

follow

as

Value.

Original
ozs.

Gold,
.10

Value,

.9

example

take

the

is

ozs.

83'9

18

89*8

simply

recovery

grs.

of

proportion.

dwts.

12

.0

12

Extracted,

.200

would

the

extraction

ton.

per

what

an

grs.

.2

ounces

As

gold.

Original gold,
After
leaching,

if two

89'9

12

of

matter

ozs.

Then

Percentage of
Recovery.

Leaching.
dwts.

12

calculation

After

grs.

Silver,

The

dwts.

extracted

were

be

from

100

from
1

ozs.

dwt.

12

grs.,

4 dwts.

ozs.

12

grs.

21

EXPERIMENTS.

LABORATORY

ozs.

100

89*9

cent.

per

100
=

89*9

cent.

per

2-225
of calculating the
percentages
expeditious method
the
in the
weights of the
of extraction
laboratory-test is to use
putation
bullion, gold, and silver (in grains or grams) as the basis of comAn

and

easy

instead

of

the

extended

same,

dwts., and

ounces,

as

grains.
Example

After

Original
Assay.

^Z*

Extracted.

Leaching.

per

cent.

900

'0020

'0002

-0018

Gold,

0018

0001

0017

94-4

Silver,

0002

0001

0001

50*0

Bullion,.

Value,
The

calculation

10

0018

For

'

For

94*4.

943.

100

50
9-1

0002

and
adopt
Compare the results obtained
extraction.
the
highest
gives
series of experiments
it
With
Remarks.
a
11.

percentage

Value.

8-587

100
=

the

100

0018

Silver.
x

90

002

0001

Gold.

0017

100
=

For

94-3

:-

Bullion.

For

11

of

extraction,

or

rate

of

solution

the

will

dissolution

strength
be

found
of

which

that

the

gold,
strength,

cyanide
a
this
the
of extraction
rate
strength
The
which
solves
disrapidly diminishes.
strength of cyanide solution
the
of gold will depend on
the character
maximum
percentage
of cyanide is not
The
action
of the ore.
so-called selective
in practice.
the
it
is
laboratory experiments as
so
apparent in
in the
On
becomes
evident
of
treatment
working scale it soon
a
of cyanide of potassium
that
base
sulphide ores
a
strong solution
and
small
dissolves
a
a
large proportion of the base metals
tion
proporsolution
dissolves
of the gold, while
weak
a
large proportion
a
metals.
small proportion of the base
of the gold and
a
reaches
and

that

maximum
above

with

and

below

of

certain

CHAPTER

CONTEOL,

To

the
of

operation
and
of

the

by

personal

of

supervision

standard

solution

of

silver

By

standard

solution

of

mercuric

3.

By

standard

solution

of

iodine.

Standard

the

of

The

depends

added

is

unites

with

forming
This

is

of

by

any

cyanide

shown

AgN08

KCy

that

as

cyanide

mination,
deter-

cyanide,

white

of

potassium
equations
AgCy

of

the

and
:

still

may

silver

cyanogen

precipitate,
which

KCy,

is

cyanogen.

solution

It

plants.

of

when

free

the

by

in

potassium

appearing

double

reaction

up

works.

the

for

estimation

fact

solution

silver,

the

on

dissolved

immediately

charge

made
the

Solution.

adopted

volumetric

Liebig's

to

the

be
of

chloride.

Nitrate

generally

modification

nitrate

accuracy

nitrate.

Silver

method

reaction

an

method

alwavs

used

be

is

By

is

with

volumetric

in

may

1.

This

chemist

methods

2.

By

by
should

the

This

performed

foreman

solutions

volumetric

namely

standard

The

Solutions.
be

can

intelligent

any

different

Three

and

SOLUTIONS.

OF

Cyanide

simplicity,

great

estimation.

ANALYSIS

of

Strength

expedition

under

AND

TESTING,

Test

IV.

which
be

is

sent,
pre-

silver.

KN08

and

AgCy
A

standard

molecular

solution

of
the

of

weights

KCy=AgKCy2.

silver

nitrate

constituents

AgN08

silver
to

-013

use

grams,

grm.

are

of

KCy.

the

130
13

decinormal

dissolved

from

17

nitrate

follows

up

2KCy.

saturates

170

With

as

made

be

can

in

solution
1000

c.o.

of

then

water,

if
1

c.c.

17
will

grams
be

of

equal

CONTROL,

To

Make

dissolve

works,
34

Standard
silver

of

grams

To

where
in

Test

Nitrate

23

SOLUTIONS.

OF

Solution.

17

Take

nitrate

KCy

of

burette

2. Measure
another

Silver

Solutions

Fill

1.

ANALYSIS

(triple crystallized if procurable),and

litre
In
one
(1000 c.c.) of distilled water.
large,
much
dissolve
to
testing is going on, it is advisable
then
mark.
litres
in
and
two
stoppered-bottle
place
;

in

grams

AND

TESTING,

with

13

silver
of

c.c.

and

burette

nitrate

solution

cyanide

transfer

to

solution.

tested

beaker.

smaller

be

to

from
obtain

To

results

accurate

the

and

beaker
Bun

3.

add

few

till the

white

beaker

is shaken

by
KCy.
Suppose

that

reaction
off

divide

is

solution

The

For

to

of

result

of

burette
the

when

opalescence

permanent

complete.

standard

of

c.c.

will

example

c.c.

re-dissolve

to

ceases

faint

the

cautiously from

just

when

is,

number

10.

13

iodide

potassium

solution

AgN08

precipitate formed

the

of

shake.

in standard

appears
4. Read

drops

the

represent

used,

solution

able
avail-

of

percentage

and

KCy

sol. took

14*5

then

AgN08l

of

c.c.

1^-1-46%KCy.
of

If

measure

and

titrate

of silver
10

is

strong solution
off,say, 3 c.c.

or

standard.

silver

with

nitrate,

13

being tested, in order

4 c.c.
of cyanide solution

would

c.c.

if 4

Thus,

require

19*5

to

AgN03

save

instead

of

required

c.c.

; and

13,
c.c.

divided

19*5

by

1-95% KCy.

Even

obtained
tions,
be
in testing strong soluaccuracy
may
those
in the dissolving tank, together with
a
saving

greater
such

of silver

as

nitrate, by measuring

and

diluting

this

diluted

above.

with

water

solution

Note

the

the

130

to

and

off

of

reaction, and

c.c.

with

the

of

c.c.

Then

c.c.

titrate

number

13

off

measure

silver

nitrate

of standard

solution

strong
as

solution

13

of

c.c.

described

required

to

complete
represent
percentage of
KCy in the strong solution, for since the 13 c.c. of dilute solution
contained
only a tenth of the original 13 c.c. of strong solution,
there
is hence
need to divide the quantity of silver nitrate by ten.
no
To test the strength of very dilute
cyanide solutions, measure
off 130
the

c.c.

of the

number

will

give

130

c.c.

of
the

of

c.c.

this

solution,
of

cyanide

5+

100, and

100=0-05%

thus

KCy,

required

nitrate, and

silver

required by

of available

solution

the

with

titrate

standard

percentage

will

c.c.

KCy.

of

the

divide

result

standard, then

24

and

calculation

avoid

To

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

the

reduce

of silver

nitrate

solution
reading the burette, a standard
13
'07
.made
grams* of silver nitrate
by dissolving
up
with
of water.
To test a cyanide solution
this, measure
in

and

titrate

standard

required
will

result

silver

with

If 10

be

the

of

c.c.

cyanide

10=0-5%

the

Two

should

floats

always

addition

The

reaction

In

due

to

Solutions,"
and

t Mr.

Silver
in the

present

reduces

the

H.

the

the

solution,

The

cyanide

chemical

the

Erdmann

exact

reading.

per
tested

cent,

solution

renders
of

of

the

end

over-estimating

and

of

to

the

indicator

fulfils

the

silver

about

is

Cyanide
Mexican
copper

where

the

to

is
the

nitrate

attack

the

thereby preventing
an
example,

copper,

As

cyanide.

free

Use

where

that

iodide

with

of the

measure

standard.

the

shows

an

combination

over-estimation

gram.

Chemist

Chief

of indicating the
point
purpose
titrated
all the
free
cyanide, and
in

1-1 0th

danger

further
has

to

nitrate

Titration

of

use

nitrate,

solution.

Virgoe,
Company,

Recovery

the

; one

be

to

on

Walter

to

of

drops

"

and

silver

obtain

to

as

alkalinity of

the

the

solution

and

interesting paper

an

Gold

the

defined,

more

KCy

or

to

so

three

used

be

always

graduated

used,

of

c.c.

KCy.

for

one

be

be

of two

iodide

potassium
the

should

burette

gram

should

and

solution,

cyanide

The

burettes

c.c.

by ten,

of silver

c.c.

c.c.

off 10
of

thus

KCy,

required 5

solution

divide

reaction,

be

can

1000

in

number

the

of available

percentage

5hRemarks.

the

complete

to

Note

nitrate.

mistakes

make

liabilityto

of
cent,
and
containing
per
copper
alone, may
titrating0*52 per cent, of cyanide with silver nitrate
of KCy
titrate only 0*13
correctly if KI be used.
per cent,
finds
that
in
Virgoe
titratingpure solutions of potassium cyanide,

he

says

that

the

amount

when
with

is

solutions

To

1.
nitrate

present,

using

containing

grain

burettes

2.

Measure

off,from

be

tested.

Add

dissimilar

reason

addition

Solutions

by dissolving170

proportion,

very

but

whatever,
lie shows

that

percentages

he

points

of

KI

out

before

the

of

bility
advisa-

titration

of

copper.

Cyanide

When

this

difference

no

small

in

minimum

makes

indicator

For

obtained.

Test

used

even

of

amounts

are

of

0*3

of indicator

copper
different

cyanide

to

solution

few

Thus:

17:

Trans.

Inst.

are

with

used,

grains

in

burette,

drops
13 '08

Min.

and

Grain

make

Standard

up

solution

10,000 grains
130

grains

of

of pure

cyanide

of KI.

13:10.

Met., London,

Solution.

1901-1902.

of

silver

water.

solution

26

Remarks.
but

With

with

the

with

simultaneous

iodine

is added

colour

so

long

(2.) To
:

as

silver

obtained

results

Solution.

fact

that

when

solution

of

loses

its

Iodine

Solution.

the

Use

action
re-

21 +

KCy

254

saturates

254

Therefore, to
iodine, place

6*5

make
in

When

in

water, and

place

(b.)From

bottle.

c.c.

solution
c.c.

in

until

(d.) Read

off the

by 10, and
required.
Remarks.

of
presence
discoloured.

Make
of

This

the

making

to

water

up

6*5

add

will

do)

carbonic
to

when

yellow

not

be

the

all

in

cyanide

common

and
is

slowly,

produced.

employed,

results
is

solution

There
use

are

in

two

divide

KCy

of

percentage

reliable

give

Solutions.
in

colour

of standard

will

the

solutions

the

convert

bi-carbonates.

c.c.

does

acid

contained

iodine, cautiously
of

cyanide

of

c.c.

this

alkalis,

into

result

Cyanide

pure

off

permanent

method

sulphides, or
up

soda

standard

number

with

c.c.

iodine.

measure

tested, and

slight but

with

cyanide,

run

iodine

KCy.

mono-carbonate

commercial

1000

Then

grm.

burrette

and

the

grams
cient
suffi-

add

and

water,

to

up

25*4

out

dissolve

standard

the

ordinary

of

caustic

(c.)Now

'0065

with

be

to

of

c.c.

stoppered

another

(20

200

completely

to

burette

with

Determination

Actual

(a.) Fill

solution, weigh

make

(3.) The

solution.

dissolved,

is

in

decinormal

standard

ICy.

65.

beaker

iodine

the

KI

potassium iodine
frequent shaking.

methods

the

on

Standard

up

of

the

potassium cyanide, the iodine

undecomposed
cyanide remains.

any

not

number

of

one

Make

the

so

do

alkalis

made

and

Iodine

depends

to

has

methods,

Standard

method

it is not

impurity,

Caustic

author

delicate,

is very

throughout.

same

By

reaction

much

working cyanide solutions, by

chloride

mercuric

This

The

reaction.

practicallythe

To

this

method.

nitrate

tests, with

and

nitrate

(1.)

substances

pure

silver

the

as

interfere

were

PROCESS.

cyanide solutions, containing

reliable

of

CYANIDE

THE

in

muddy

the
or

different

cyanide plants.

CONTROL,

OF

ANALYSIS

AND

TESTING,

27

SOLUTIONS.

of solid
cyanide salt is added
requisiteamount
the
in
others,
sump-solution ;
working strength is made
up
solution
the
tank
the
from
to
dissolving
by adding strong
sump
In

some

to

the

the

cases

solution.
The

exercises

following

render

will

methods

these

clear

1 lb. of pure
KCy dissolved in 100 lbs. of water gives a 1 per cent,
solution
have
a vat
containing 100 cubic feet of
; therefore, if you
make

to

water

up

lbs. of pure

to, say,

0*6

100

62

KCy.*
Thus

and

if 100

require

require 37*35

would

cent., you

per

lbs.

of

water

6225

lbs. of

0*6

require

water,
6225

KCy,

lbs.

lbs.

would

100

6225

0'6

6225x0-6
o7.q*iv0
35
37

lbs-

ioo

Commercial
to

use

cyanide is seldom
greater quantity to make

Suppose

the

crude

78
100

78

100

of

cent,

per

34*35

have

required strength.

the

up

contains

KCy

would, therefore,

; you

pure

then

KCy,

37-35

lbs. crude

KCy.

will do for

making

48

78

The

quantity
solution

would

of
were

Then

cyanide solution.
required.

if 100
4

of calculation

form

same

of water

ozs.

Suppose
require

^-^-5
=

to, say,
solution

proceed

have

0'5

per

from
to

ozs.

ozs.

of

of

any
0*5

required
per

cyanide, how

cent,

much

require ?

ozs.

100

If you

0*5

up

make

0*2

per

cent.,

0*5

cent,

subtract

0*5

480

as

directed

9-6

solution

and

the

0*2

cent., leaving 0*3

per
up

002

in the

grains.

you

per
per

wish

cent,

cent,

to

make

already
required.

it up
in the
Then

preceding paragraph.

Exercises.

(1.) I

have

4000

lbs. of sump
*

See

Constanta

solution

at

end

of

containing
Chapter.

0*2

per

cent.

28

THE

of available

solution,

which

KCy,

how

wish

additional

much

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

100
4000

0*5

required

be

0-3

to

up

will

KCy

4000

make

to

cent,

per

-3

lbs. pure

12

KCy.

100
If
then

KCy

crude

your

salt

contains

only

82

of

cent,

per

KCy,

12xl00aaU.6

crude

lbs

KCy

required

82

(2.) How
should

be

lbs. of solid

many
used
to

solution?

Ans.

make

10

up
lbs.

119*46

of 75 per cent,
0*4
cent,
per

cyanide salt
of

tons

lbs. of solid cyanide salt of 82 per

many
make
5 tons
of a 0*45
be used
should
to
per
up
solution
solution, using a sump
containing 0*15 per
40*97 lbs.
Ans.
for making
up?

(3.)How

strength
working
strength
working
of KCy

cent,
cent,
cent,

(4.) How
should

be

many

used

Solution.
mixer's

rule

make

to

solution, using

14

per

cent,

10

tons

of

up

0*18

per
is easiest

This
of

of

lbs.

cent,

00

\S

"40

working

/\

'18

sump

*2 2

'40

13*60
Proportion of weak
Neglecting decimals,
=

then:

1360

of strong

22

lbs. of the
how

1382

have

we

strong

1360

of

be

give 1382
required for

22400

of

strong.

required mixture,

solution;
lbs. of

10

taining
con-

if 22

mixture?

of the

22

therefore,

required mixture,

the

tons

(10x2240)

1382:

proportion

the

weak

solution

will

lbs.

many

and

solution

1382.

lbs. of

or

solution

22

parts

cent,

for

"

by

per

thus

Strong solution 14
Working solution

Here

working
making up?
Alligation," the tea-

solution

sump

solution

cyanide

0*4

determined

proportion,

stock

: x

22

"x

356,58

1382
The

answer

(5.) How
used

to

make

0*12

sump
(6.) How

used

to

make

is,therefore, 356*58
many

lbs.

up

of

lbs.

22

per

cent,

9 tons

of 0*5

per

cent,

solution

for

making

up

many

lbs. of

up

10

tons

twelve

of

0*6

stock

solution

working

Ans.

per

cent,

per

cent,

solution, using

351*27
stock

should

be
a

lbs.

solution

should

be

working solution,using

CONTROL,

0*15

the

vat.

of

solution

6.

solution, thus:

'80

20

the

tons, thus

0*8 solution

much

4 tons

of

of 0*8

already

the

working
cyanide

cent,

per

45

*60

of the
4

65

working

'15

sump

of

'45

+
:

(0*8
already in

solution

solution

proportion

of strong.

mixture.

required

strong

tons

'60

/
"";'
/\

mixture,

how

out

the

'20
Proportion of weak
Neglecting decimals, then

if 45

drawing

Strong solution
solution
Working

Then,

of

tons

Before

up?

lbs.

find

from

up

29

SOLUTIONS.

OP

making

359*74

First

made

be

can

Ans.

No.

for

first utilize

solution

solution

Solution

solution

sump

stock

the

from
in

cent,

per

ANALYSIS

AND

TESTING,

cent.)give

per
the

65

of the

tank

solution

will

required
give 5*77

45

65

: x

4x65

577.

45
And
stock

10

5*77

solution,

4*23

thus

tons

made

be

to

from

up

the

12

cent,

per

Strong solution
Working solution

12*00

\/

'60

/\

*1 5 sump

working

solution
.

*60

1 1 '40
Proportion of weak
:
Neglecting decimals

-45

solution

proportion

of

strong.

1 140
if 45

Now,
lbs.

of the

lbs.

the

of

45

1 185

stock
how

required mixture,
1185:

of mixture.

solution

(4-23x2240)

4*23

2240

(12
will

much
:

45

per
4*23

cent.) give
tons

1185

require ?

: x

45

359.741bg

1185
,

TO

(7.) How
6 tons

of

dilution?
Solution

DILUTE

CYANIDE

of a 0*45
tons
many
0'8 per cent,
solution

Ans.
:

10*66

SOLUTIONS.

would
working solution
for
cyanide make, using water
cent,

per
of

tons.

45

*80

: x

8_0|_6
10.66.
=

45

30

THE

(8.) How
cyanide would
cent,

per

of

tons

many
8 tons

of

solution

cent,

per

Ans.

make,
13*71

of

solution

working

cent,

per

using

0*12

tons.

Strong solution
Working solution

of the

if 28

8 tons

"60

will

"40

working solution

"12

sump

""-:

"40

of weak

Proportion

Now,

0*4

0*6

PROCESS.

for dilution?

solution

sump

Solution

CYANIDE

/\

*20

*28

20

28

solution

strong

give 13*71
28

^i?

of mixture.

48

48

required

the

of

ture,
mix-

48

13*71

of strong

proportion

give

tons, thus:

solution

tons.

28

(9.) How
of

tons

To

for

Test

formed
of

0*7 per

solution

tons

many

cent,

dilution

of

0*6

solution
Ans.

10

Strength

the

make,

of Crude

KCy.

is very
is lixiviated
in a
impure, and
metallic
iron, yielding the yellow
finely-divided

product

which

is

as

KCy is
hoofs, clippings
This

carbonate.
vessel

containing
prussiate of potassium
all
of
starting-point
cyanogen

the

compounds.
Crude
cyanide of potassium
the yellow prussiate,thus :

sump

Commercial

any nitrogenous organic bodies, such

wool, and blood are fused with potassium

(K4Fe6Cy6),

cent,

per

tons.

when

hides,

would

solution

cyanide
using a 0*2

cent,

per

is formed

the

by

of

action

heat

on

K4FeC6T6
The

chief

impurities

iron, alkaline

sulphides in

4KCN

in commercial
and

carbonates,

FeC2

N2.

cyanide

black

are

alkaline

sometimes

carbide

of
and

chlorides

small

quantities.
the strength of the solid cyanide salt, for the
it contains, proceed as follows :
free or available
KCy which
cake
of
Break
KCy in two, and select a piece,say, a pound
a
(1.)
the
whole
thickness
the
cake
in weight, showing
in
of
To

accurately

test

section.
this

(2.) Reduce

pound
pulverize to

f urthur

(3.) Weigh
(4.) Dissolve

out

(5.) Measure
nitrate

standard

described.

Note

of

1 gram

in pure
off 13

to

powder, sample well,

moderately fine powder.
powdered and sampled KCy.

water
c.c.

and

of this
solution
number

coarse

make
solution
from
of

c.c.

to

up

and

100

c.c.

titrate

burette

of

and

standard

as

with

silver

previously
required to

CONTROL,
form

permanent

the
For

example

13

of

c.c.

and

10

by
of the

this

crude

will

give

salt.

solution

KCy

31

SOLUTIONS.

OF

; divide

1 gram

in

KCy
Suppose

then

ANALYSIS

p.p.

of

amount

of standard,

AND

TESTING,

7*5

required

c.c.

7*5

which

is

equal

75

to

Yi'orks where
be

effected

by

It

has

used

for

with

the

the

in

of

contents

cyanide

Method

I.

methods

II.

care.
over

of both
of

salt.

gold

and

and

silver

must

Several

reliable

give

very

III.

large

daily

which

of

in

accurate.

is in

and

solutions

made

are

expeditious
given below, all

are

crude

SOLUTIONS.

both

determination

is necessary
and III. are

in the

KCy

determinations

many

ordinary
advantage

the

1 gram,

CYANIDE

gold

method

methods

alternative

results

great

of

OF

of the

estimation

in

KCy

cent,

per

ASSAY

THE

The

*75

common

that

use.

it

be

can

which

contents,

Methods
II.
gold ores.
devised
F. Crosse,
by Andrew
processes
well
known
South
African
the
chemist.
Method
metallurgical
IV.
is a copper
H. Virgoe for
sulphate process used
by Walter
for the
is
It
some
rapid assaying of cyanide solutions.
years
Like
recommended
method
be
I. it can
used
for
by Crosse.
silver contents.
valuation
of gold and
silver

case

argentiferous

nitrate

I.

Method

(1.) Measure

half

small

bulk

flame,

or

the

rub

in

sides

furnace

lid.

so

the

solution

the

iron

down
at

solution

of

round

the

on

salts

(2.) To

pint

to

as

and

evaporate

slowly

to

drying-dish, over
a
As the evaporation proceeds,
Bunsen

collect

the

whole

of

solved
dis-

the

bottom.

add

600

grains of litharge. Mix

well;
to
cautiously
dryness.
evaporate
transfer
to a clay-crucibleand
with
mix
200
(3.) Then
grains of
100
48
grains of soda, and
glass-powder,
grains of argol
of
Cover
with
little
a
potash).
borax, and
(bi-tartrate
When

fuse.

If the

bullion.

When

weight

of

the

end

of

the

ton

of solution.

and
and

contains

ore

the

per
the

pour

lead-button

the

(4.) Cupel

fused,

and

gold
chapter

resultinggold

is

allow

weigh

the

resulting

silver, part

of silver
to

cool.

to

; then

ascertain

weighed

with

so

as

refer
the

gram

to

to

bead

of

determine

the

quantity
weights,

table
of

at

each

refer

to

32

CYANIDE

THE

the

Gram

end

of

Table

when

and,

in

PROCESS.

grains

Grain

the

to

Table.

(See

chapter.)

of determinations
have
be
to
large number
form
efficient evaporatmade, ordinary enamelled
plates and mugs
ing
be
dishes ; in this case
also the
stirred
into
the
litharge can
solution
before
the evaporation begins.
At many
the
cyanide works
cyanide solutions
are
assayed by
evaporating a measured
portion of the solution in a boat of sheetlead and
then
the
scorifying the residue, and cupelling. When
solutions
are
cyanides the results are
charged with base metallic
the
solution
reliable
when
is evaporated with
not
as
generally so
fused in a clay crucible.
litharge and afterwards
Remarks.

When

Method

II.

(Crosse).

(1.) Measure
nitrate

solution

should

be

after

half

until

added

little at

addition.

each

pint of cyanide solution,

to form.
precipitate ceases
the

All the

time,

gold

and

in

the

The

solution

the

add

and

solution

silver

well
is

silver
salt

shaken

precipitated

argentic-auric-cyanide.
clear
tion;
soluoff the
(2.) Allow the precipitate to settle ; decant
and
filter
with
200
dry the precipitate and mix
grains
100
and
48
100
soda,
litharge,
grains glass-powder,
grains
grains
of argol.
Fuse, pour, and cupel the lead-button.
bead
the
of bullion
the
from
(3.) Extract
cupel, flatten, and
weighing.
part without
the results.
(4.) Weigh the resulting gold and calculate

as

Method

(1.)
Put

III. (Crosse).*
Pour

it in

cyanide
cupboard with

500

c.c.

stink

(2.) Add

nitric

of

acid

till the

(3.) Boil 15 minutes.

add gram
(4.) Then
(5.) Filter ; fuse the
usual

into

shows

dissolved

filter-paperand
flux;

evaporating

an

dish.

good draught.

solution

of silver

litharge, and

with

solution

then

acid

an

in silver
contained

cupel

and

reaction.

nitrate.

precipitate as
weigh resulting

bead.

Method

IV.

(1.) To

(Virgoe).

litre of solution

add

excess

of weak

sulphate

of copper

solution.

hydrochloric, nitric,or sulphuric acid.

and
The
is white
flocculent,
precipitate, which
The
bluish
of
all the gold and
silver.
contains
or
greenish colour
of copper
the filtrate indicates that
excess
sulphate has been added.

(2.) Acidify
(3.) Filter.

1902.

The

Journal

with

of

the

Chemical

and

Metallurgical Society of S.A.,

May,

34

attention.

much

object

the

devoid

of

in most

THB

CYANIDE

Many

useful

The

"

"

method

This

been

used

much

is

tion
every-day applica-

of

laboratories

the

in

Cyanide.

of

Consumption
rapid and
cyanide with

affords

and

Cyanide Company,

for

methods,

reliable

devise

to

formulated,

been

have

yet capable

refinement,

cyanide works.
Test
Shaking

in

schemes

having

cases

much

too

PROCESS.

Cassel

the

of

fairly approximate

classes
of
different
consumption of
and
It is useful for comparative purposes,
as
a
preliminary
ore.
the
suitable
most
of
strengths of cyanide
determining
means
for laboratory experiments.
solutions
and
of the
ore
place in a stoppered bottle
(1.) Take 200 grams
with, for example, 100 c.c. of a 0'5 per cent, cyanide solution, and
shake

the

of

estimate

for

with

Ores

Test

(1.) Weigh
in

water

(2.) Fill

and

burette

grams

with

standard

the

jar

(litmus) paper.
(3.) Every c.c.

of the

soda

of caustic

be

wash

to

the

added

cyanide

Standard

Make

until

0*2

posed.
decom-

acidity by

shake

up

solution

of

the

with

250

of

c.c.

to

every

used

will

of

ton

soda, and
is neutral

reaction

solution

titrate
test

to

represent

0*1

(or tailings)in

ore

Solution.

soda

in

1000

c.c.

10

Dissolve

of

pure

(or

grams

water,

and

paper

should

place

bottle.

secure

Remarks.

the

During

dipped in clean, pure

adhering particlesof ore
Tests

Alkaline

for

titration,
from

water
so

that

the

Sulphides

litmus

the

time

in

time

to

reaction

to

be

may

Cyanide.

be
the

remove

clearly seen.
phides
sul-

Alkaline

injuriously in cyanide solutions during leaching, and

all soluble
important to detect their presence.
They are
act

is

lb.

treatment.
Soda

grains)of caustic

154*3
in

in

soda

before

To

or

for

ore

Acidity.

and

ore

consumed

the

test

portion of the

If it contains

KCy.
been

up,

for

off

glass-jaror cylinder.

ore-solution

the

has

cent,

of

; draw

for

test

Tailings

224

out

tall

0*3 per

settle

cyanide is used
given below.

method

Feldtmann's

To

then

much

(3.) When

to

pipette and

KCy,

of

cent,

per

of bottle

contents

solution

clear

minutes.

twenty

(2.) Allow

it
in

water.
First

Test

To

the

clear

cyanide solution
alkaline
be
sulphide
present, sulphur will
to the
solution.
a
cloudy appearance

an

Second
coin.
This

Test
It

and

will
the

In

become

the

clear

black

preceding

test

solution

place

and

tarnished

will

not

detect

if

add
be

little acid.

If

liberated, imparting
clean, bright

silver

sulphide be present.

minute

quantities.

CONTROL,

Third

Test

solution

The

solution.

If
the

quantity,
Fourth

the

of

solution

will

When

by

assume

acetate, is added

to

present,

solution
solution

of

nitro-

acid

nitric

the

to

cyanide
minute

in

even

colour.

purple

brilliant

dilute

is

the

of

means

nitro-prussideto

of

sulphide

alkaline

is

test

35

SOLUTIONS.

formed

solution

Test

as

or

an

OF

by adding a little
ferri-cyanideof potassium.

drops

few

ANALYSIS

delicate

most

are

of ferro-

Add

such

These

prussides.

AND

TESTING,

lead

soluble

containing an
lead sulphide soon

salt,

alkaline

forms.
precipitateof
of free
When
alkaline
in
the
the
sulphide exists
presence
will
and
carbonate
white
lead
of
cyanide, a
cyanide
precipitate
of lead acetate, thus
tending to
immediately form on the addition
render
the lead sulphide precipitateyellowish or nut
brown.

sulphide, a

blackish

brown

ANALYSIS

THE

OF

(Feldtmann
From

dissolved
The
lead

10

to

in

or

and

water,

solution

of

Bbttel.)

and

of

grams

the

insoluble

the

agitated

is

carbonate

more

SOLUTIONS.*

CYANIDE

with

slightly

course

in

filtered

if any,

matter,

small

cyanide

commercial

quantity
and

excess,

are

off.

precipitated

of

filtered.

The

and
ferred
sulphide, is transprecipitate,consisting of lead carbonate
of
with
few
c.c.'s of a solution
to
a
a
flask, and covered
sulphides, sulphocyanides, or
potassic or sodic cyanide free from
be prepared from
potassic
ferrocyanides. This solution may
pure
distilled
sodic
hydrocyanic acid.
or
hydrate and a solution of pure
add
beaker
the
To the mixture
in
hydrogen peroxide in slight
excess

i.e.,three

times

four

or

as

much

is needed

as

to

whiten

should
precipitate. (The hydrogen peroxide for this purpose
and
ether
be purifiedby agitation with
evaporation of the ether
in a water-bath.)
of manganese
A small
peroxide is then
quantity
say \ gram
two
the
mixture
minutes, after
agitated for about
added, and
with
solution
is filtered off, acidified
the
which
sulphuric acid,
the

and

titrated

potassic permanganate.

with

N
1

c.c.

of

potassicpermanganate
0*000182

or

grm.

The

potassic permanganate
potassic sulphocyanide.
1
*

Paper

read

c.c.

before

may

0*000053

potassic sulphide.
be standardized
by

-0001618
the

equals

Chemical

grm.
and

grm.

means

KCyS.
Met

Society

of S. A.

sulphur

of pure

36

CYANIDE

THE

Estimation
solution

of

add

carbonate,
Deduct

the

equals

of

this

of

amount

Estimation
soda

then

titrate

above

; the

The

HCy

AgN03

of

c.c.

with

KCy

0-0414

and

solution,

free

from

KCy.

for

as

The

the

difference

HCy.

here

Add

and

KCy
KCy*,

as

of

KI

pure

solution,

HCy,

found

as

less 7 '9 per

calculated

is

of

excess

drops

few

Deduct

K2Zn(Cy)4

found

as

Titrate
found.

Cyanides.

AgN03.
is

soda,

or

of

c.c.

present.

double

difference

KCy

under

cent.

K2Zn(Cy4),

to

as

KCy

0-9493

organic

parts
of

Estimation

is

matter

Add

K2Zn(Cy)4.

92 -1

for every

or

50

to

amount

c.c.

of

acid.
of

50

-To

potash

of

carbonic

the

caustic

of bicarbonate

excess

or

from

Acid.

Hydrocyanic

solution

PROCESS.

add

7 '9 per

to this

total,

of

cent,

7*9 parts.

and

Ferro-

Sulpho-Cyanides.

shake

present,

with

powdered

When

quicklime

and

filter.
A

is filled

burette
10

into

run

with

until

H2S04
50

of the

c.c.

half

about

c.c.

the

then

x
x

(x) 1
(z) 1

be
y

c.c.
c.c.

with

the

Vioo normal
Vioo normal

In

Mr.

blue

is

required

KjM^Og
K^Mo^O^

ANALYSIS

scheme

(5.)
(6.)
Extracts

H2S04
shaking for
the
separated from
The

oxidize

0'003684

filtrate

is

ferro-cyanide,

M.

the

The

ferrocyanides

The

zinc

from

Paper

KCyS.

grm.

SOLUTIONS

Green,

following

K4Fe(Cy)6.

grm.

0*0001618

depend essentiallyon

used

Green's

A.R.S.M.)
alkalimetric

constituents

(1.) The total cyanide

(2.) The protective alkali
(3.) The alkaline or alkaline-earth
mono-carbonates
(4.) Alkaline

with

After

washed.

to

CYANIDE

OF

(by Leonard
tests

poured

in.

z.

THE

The

is acidified

K2Mn208.

permanganate

c.c.

chloride

precipitate

normal
1/100

analysis, and
strongly acidified

K2Mn208

Prussian

the

for

just discharged.

sulphate or
cyanide solution

minute

titrated

Let

is

solution

cyanide

1/100Normal

colour

liquid by filtration,and
next

the

of ferric

solution

A
and

20

or

with

determinations.
are

estimated:
=T.

hydrates

=p.
h.

=N.
=S.
=

read

before

the

Inst.

Min.

and

Z.

Met., London.

TESTING,

CONTROL,

The

methods

depend

(I.) Potassium
(2.)

That

ANALYSIS

the

on

facts

ferrocyanide

c.c.

solution

of

zinc

when

phenolphthalein.
potassium ferrocyanide precipitates
to

zinc

from

dilute

neutral

salt.

dilute

is neutral

decinormal

c.c.

37

SOLUTIONS.

OF

that

decinormal

of

0*75

(3.) That

AND

neutral

solution

of

salt

zinc

is

carbonate
of sodium
excess
precipitated by adding an
alkali
of
carefully
solution, the excess
being afterwards
neutralized
the
addition
of
to
phenolphthalein, by
decinormal
of
acid, a precipitate of basic zinc carbonate
The
almost
constant
tate
precipicomposition is obtained.
obtained

in this way

is the

normal

carbonate.

basic

with
treated
an
hydrate or carbonate, when
cyanide
ferroforms
zinc
excess
potassium ferrocyanide,
the
and
carbonate,
potassium hydrate or
alkalinityproduced being proportional to the precipitate
acted
This
reaction
does not
on.
immediately proceed
to the
end, as at first only a portion of the alkalinity is

(4.) That

zinc

of

formed

The
the
to

total
the

; but

if this

amount

of alkali

reaction

taking

Actual

Analysis.
This

cyanide.

solution

to

be

is

be

neutralized

formed,

little time

is

tested

and

so

the

of

excess

finish, the

is that

first estimation

an

to

on

further

the

completion.

for

(1.) The
performed in

acid

with

usual

potassium iodide, and titrating with silver

yellowish cloudiness appears.
permanent
until
there
the
end-point is not reached

nitrate
It

and

till

distinct

little

distinct,

noted

be

must

is

by adding

way

soda

caustic

of

that

yellowish

cloudiness.
much

Where

zinc

cloudiness, probably
is sometimes

and
due

produced

be

ferrocyanidesare
to

the

precipitation of
the

before

present,

true

"

faint, white

zinc-ferrocyanide,

end-point."

This

must

"

end point
the yellowish
disregarded, the true
occurring when
This
is the
cloudiness,due to silver iodide, is permanently formed.
solution, and
a
only definite end-point in titrating such
a
large
of sodium
excess
hydrate does not appreciably alter it.
In
the
second
the alkaline
and
alkaline-earth
test
(2.)
hydrates
half
the
the
plus
mono-carbonates,
viz.,
"protective alkali," is
determined.
This
of Clennel's.
is a simple alteration
test
Excess
the
of potassium
to
solution, and
ferrocyanide is added
then

"

twice

the

of silver

amount

total

cyanide, viz., sufficient

does
cyanide. A slight excess
chloride,

some

cyanide

or

or,

if

ferrocyanide.

no

The

nitrate
to
not

precipitate
matter,

chlorides
zinc

all

to

necessary

are
occurs

the

indicate
whole

the

precipitates
sulphopresent, some
in the precipitate as
as

it

merely

of

the

38

ferrocyanide, and

the

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

hydrates and

alkaline

carbonates

left in

are

solution.

decinormal

greenish
The

than

and

identical

an

the

cyanide,
towards

of its

acted

the

titrated

with

the

faint

acquires
of ferrocyanide.

excess

alkali."

by only adding

nitrate

indicate

to

necessary

little

the

leaves

potassium silver-cyanidein solution,

there
titration
is a slight chance
on
by the acid forming AgCy, and setting free
the acid required, and
obscure
slightlyincrease

close

would
HCy, which
the end-point.

(3.) In

silver

of

this

the

being

third

acid

of the

alkaline

the

test

hydrates

is first added

chloride

of barium

excess

the

is obtained

result

amount

but

till it

or

indicates

Usually
total

colourless,

till

solution

the

tinge produced by
the
"protective

yellow

result

more

acid

nitric

and

added,

is then

Phenolphthalein

and

precipitate the

An

estimated.

are

solution

the

to

carbonates),and

(sufficient
ure
proced-

then

the

sulphates
The
result
obtained
is repeated.
indicates
only the alkaline
hydrate.
In the event
of no hydrates being present, bicarbonates
probably
exist
be
in solution.
estimated
They may
by adding a known
of standard
sodium
ing,
amount
hydrate, and repeating the test, allowin calculating the results, for the amount
of hydrate added.
is that of the total cyanide +
chlorides
(4.) The next estimation
+
sulphocyanides + ferrocyanides + any other salt precipitated
This
by silver nitrate before the precipitationof chromate.
test,
for
the
in
is
not
though
itself, necessary
subsequent
important
to

the

in

last

determination
The

test

of

drop

the

solution

to

neutralize

is titrated

reddish
Towards

goes
is due
to

silver

till there

nitrate

end

of the

again slowly
the

fact

reddish

titration,the

shaking

on

that

the

and

up

with

silver

ferrocyanide

when

the

(5.)
acid

reddish

The

Sufl"cient
for

zinc

is formed.

fifth estimation

faint

the

manent
per-

necessary

zinc

in the
to

silver

chromate,

appears,

few

seconds.

nitrate

consequently

end-point

The

is decided

to

in

Then

solution.
the

and

of the

is added

precipitate

indicate

standing

the

on

silver

some

when

however,

ferrocyanide,is decomposed,

is that

carbonate

basic

enough already
nitrate

the

colouration

sodium
the

is

colouration

of the

action

precipitated zinc ferrocyanide is slow,

chromate
is temporarily formed;
this
shaken

to

the

and

well

is first added

protective alkali). Then

is added, and
potassium chromate

of

with

test

colouration.

the

only

This

in the

strong solution

second

used

sufficient
(viz.,

one

and

zinc.

of acid

amount

solution

the

of

total

therefore

only

and

occurs

permanent.

zinc

the

ferrocyanide.
supply enough carbonic

case

twice

there
the

cyanide

should
amount

is added

not

of
and

be

silver
the

CONTROL,
whole

is

TESTING,

well

shaken.

silver

cyanide,
precipitate some
The

the

slight

any
chloride.

will

zinc

All

and

ANALYSIS

AND

OB1

cyanide

is

now

of silver

excess

3d

SOLUTIONS;

precipitated as
will merely
nitrate

been

have

partially precipitated as ferrocyanide

der
by
ferrocyanide originallypresent in solution, but the remainwill have
been
basic
there
precipitated as a
oarbonate, and
will be
alkali
of
in
solution.
This
the
an
excess
alkalinity is
neutralized
of decinormal
acid.
by the addition
During this
neutralization
the
basic
zinc
carbonate
gradually acquires its
normal
3Zn
the
neutralization
composition
(HO)2.2ZnC03, and
the

be

not

must

The

hurried.

colour

show

of the
of

trace

pink,

neutralization
of

acid,

at

above

the

precipitate must

standing a minute
frequently shaken.
apparently complete, it is best to

is

shake

solution

even

on

flask should

of the

contents

clear

well

up

and

add

then

from

In
add

burette,

aud

two,

or

be

not
the
when

fact,
another

c.c.

drop

or

so

time,

venient

solution

strength),till

sodium

of

the

carbonate

(roughly

con-

shows

again just

clear solution

is

pink

colour.
All

the

zinc

which

the

precipitateas
phenolphthalein.

added,

the

forming

basic

If

now

zinc

of basic

an

carbonate

and

end

of

in

now

to

be

ferrocyanide

ferrocyanide,

the

to

the

present.

the

again slightly,so

returns

reacts

with

alkalinity proportional

alkalinityis then titrated

zinc
less what
representing the
ferrocyanide originally present.
the

potassium

is

is neutral

solution

the

of

excess

carbonate

This

Towards

and

carbonate,

ferrocyanide

zinc

amount

basic

ferrocyanide

precipitated as

is not

that

been

has

titration

acid,

decinormal

with

the

little

result

precipitated by

colour
time

the

discharged

is

for

is necessary

the

and
the

determination.
last

(6.)The
added

in,

as

in the

well

same

shaken.

cyanides
whole
an

in the

will

of the

excess

determination

previous
amount

The
then
zinc

of alkali

is of the

test
as

was

; then

used

zinc.

silver
in

Sodium

solution

nitrate

test

No.

4,

is

carbonate

and

the

is

run

flask

ferrocyanides, chlorides, sulphocyanides and

have
been
precipitated as silver salts, and the
will have
been
precipitated as a basic carbonate,

remaining

in the

solution.

This

is naturalized

of ferrocyanide added, and

precisely as in the last test, an excess
acid.
decinormal
the alkalinityproduced titrated with
This
result
consequently represents alkalinity proportional to
metals
the
whole
the
It includes
of
zinc.
acting similarly to
and
if present in small
quantity.
zinc, such as cadmium,
copper

40

CYANIDE

THE

Summary.

the

with

described,

(1.) Take
and

50
little

till there

nitrate

of

c.c.

distinct

50

(2.) Take

c.c.

of the
Kun

thalein

with

and

titrate

then

50

c.c.

of

ferro-

potassium
Add

nitrate.

phenolph-

till colourless.

c.c.

Add

of solution.

BaCl2 solution, and

of

excess

potassium ferrocyanide.

of

excess

drate
hysilver

with

Result

(3.) Take

acid

nitric

sodium

Titrate

excess

of silver

c.c.

c.c.

Add

solution.

in 2T

cyanide solution.

tests

yellowish cloudiness.

permanent

Kesult

of

excess

solution.

iodide

potassium
is

Add

solution.

the

the

of

following is a short
summary
solution
of
etc.
taken,
quantities

The

PROCESS.

Run

2T

in

c.c.

silver

of

N
add

nitrate,

and

phenolphthalein

with

titrate

nitric

till

acid

colourless.
Result

(4.) Take

50

c.c.

c.c.

Add

solution.

of the

2T

of silver

c.c.

nitrate,

N
then

of

of

c.c.

p.

is

faint

Result

(5.) Take

50

solution
of

silver

added)

nitrate,

well.

shake

with

silver

nitrate

Nc.c.

10

about

Add

Run

(roughly decinormal).
and

strong solution

colouration.

(Total AgNo8

of solution.

c.c.

titrating

reddish

permanent

of

drop

one

continue

and

potassium chromate,

till there

Add

acid.

nitric

in

of sodium

c.c.

2T

bonate
car-

(see Test

c.c.

Add

phenolphthalein,

clear

solution

1)
and

N
neutralize

with
well

Shake

during

intervals

at

till the

acid

nitric

the

neutralization.

up,

and

is colourless.

Add

about

N
1

c.c.

nitric

more

acid,

shake

then

add

solution

of

sodium

drop,
Add

(roughly

carbonate

till the

clear

excess

of

strongly

solution

is
--

is

convenient

just faintly pink.

potassium ferrocyanide.
to phenolphthalein.

alkaline
N

Titrate

with

nitric

acid

strength),drop by

till colourless.

Result

c.c.

The

solution

becomes

42

and

potassium,

of

nitrate

PROCESS.

CYANIDB

THE

(1-1).

sulphuric acid

dilute

of

c.c.

shaking up and allowing to stand for 15 minutes, titrate in

solution
an
atmosphere of coal gas with a hyposulphite of sodium
is equal to 0*25
of which
containing 7*75 grams
per litre,1 c.c.
liberated.
for the iodine
m'grams of oxygen
is apparently
The
iodine
is that
no
peculiarityof the reaction
iodine
But
colourless.
liberated,and the cyanide solution remains
After

has

liberated

been

to

same

form

compound,

unstable

very

proportion to the
plus the quantity to be subsequently allowed for, and
oxygen
estimated
be
by the hyposulphite solution, using a starch

iodide
free
can

in

any

about

0*3

liberated

iodine

c.c.

ferrous

pure
shake

under

solution

of the

sulphate

lime,

coal gas

all the

free

in the

oxygen

add

examination,

and

the

filter into
up well and
is passing, the precipitated ferrous

caustic

the

estimate

to

and

400

grams

the

it is necessary

course

by the reagents,
nitrates
were
present in the cyanide solution.
in the following manner
made
is easily
:

correction

Take

is in exact

amount

Of

for

required

case

This

the

indicator.

an

as

correction
also

and

of cyanogen,

solution

it

all the

weight of
through which

same

flask

to

will

hydrate

sorbed
ab-

have

solution.

cyanide

method
test the above
good many
experiments were
and the following will be a good example :
A Winchester
partly filled with a sample of an
quart bottle was
well
shaken
for some
ordinary working solution, the bottle was
made

to

in order

time
The

to

determination
292

c.c.

required

to

unite

Then

400

c.c.

and

the
So

iodine

made

He
under
bottle

liberated

m'grams
In

13*4

that

solution,

with

oxygen

the

as

13*4

with

oxygen.

described, using a pipette

of hyposulphite of soda
c.c.

the

determination

oxygen

interestingexperiments on the
by sands and spitzluten concentrates.
200
I take, say, from
to 500
says :

some

of

amount

and

examination
a

and

oxygen
litre,and so

treatment,
but

cyanide

solution

then

determine

calculate

kilogramme
though oxygen

or

such
more

shake

ton

out

of

the

for
it up
of known
the
amount

sands.

absorbed

some

material

in

or

lost

required by

however,

large

saturated

and

absorbed

of oxygen

would,

hours

quantity

amount

sorbed
ab-

oxygen

of the

grams

has

Crosse

Mr.

"

with

was

liberated.

iodine

the

with

connection

full of

taining
con-

freed from
was
cyanide solution
oxygen
6*0 c.c.
of hyposulphite required was
7*4 c.c. of hyposulphite required for the
6*0 leaves
1*85
in 288
of solution
or
c.c.
by the free oxygen
in 288
6*4 m'grams
or
c.c,
oxygen
per litre.
of

amount

made

was

of

solution

the

saturate

remark

per
each
that

during
by
solved,
also
is
as
sulphides, etc., gold
being disif no
slowly and to a lesser degree than
oxygen

is

being

ferrous

certain

substances

absorbing

matters

present,
then

would

gold
gold
allowing some
is being absorbed.
that
no
gold would
through the sands."
no

almost

dissolved,

to

be

ZINC

OF

the

not

were

the

till several

AND

BASE

IN

oxygen

often

solutions

METALS

slowly,

that

it would

case

oxygen,

act

time

same

hydrate

the

up
substances

certain
at

dissolved

be

DETERMINATION

but

dissolved

If this

take

immediately

be

ferrous

have

we

43

SOLUTIONS.

OF

If

present.

were

would

which

ANALYSIS

AND

TESTING,

CONTROL,

happen
passed

had

CYANIDE

SOLUTION.*
Andrew

(By
The

following
zinc

iron,

Take

and

from

is

nickle

in solutions

500

1000

to

sulphuric acid,
of
sulphate
potassium, and
dish

and

The

metals

then

heat

obtained

are

estimated

in the

usual

the

solutions

than
anything more
is
ingredient
necessarily
often

be

300

Take

of

grams
in

dryness

to

order

in

and

sulphates

be

slight
acid

pure

platinum

melt

to

can

the

mass.

separated

and

ZINC.

OF

Rand,

with

would

copper,

way.

the

on

six

or

redness

ESTIMATION

In

with

solution, acidify

five

evaporate

as

determining

add

dull

to

for

of

c.c.

of

excess

method

accurate

an

Crosse.)

F.

where

trace

and

zinc

copper,

the

usually

not

are

we

of

the

chief
of

estimation

troubled
metallic

this

metal

useful.

solution,

of

c.c.

add

about

gram
caustic

of

cyanide of
potash or soda,
of
slight excess
be quickly precipitated

potassium and the same

quantity of pure
add
then
heat
nearly to boiling point and
a
sodium
will
The
of
in
zinc
solution.
sulphide
be collected
filter paper
a
a
on
as
sulphide, and should
with
Then
and washed
hot water.
place the filter paper in a wide
and
mouthed
300
bottle
250
of known
c.c.
capacity between
This
bottle
be
must
provided with a well fitting india-rubber
which
is inserted
about
tube
8
a
bung through
moderately wide
to 10 inches
long.
Then

fill up

the

sulphate containing
bottle

or

flask

in

to

boiling point.

as

it allows

for the
*Jour.

bottle
5

to

bowl
The

7 per
cent,
of cold
water

reason

expansion
Chem.

with

and

for

the

of the
Met.

weak
of

solution

of

pure

ferric

sulphuric acid, place

and

raise

glass tube

the
will

liquid.

Soc., S.A., May

1902.

the

temperature
be

apparent

44

CYANIDE

THB

PROCESS.

a
decomposed and reduced
portionate
proof ferric sulphate to ferrous
amount
sulphate. When
nearly cold, filter off the solution
through a dry filter paper, and
with
bottle
take
half
titrate
and
the
in the
quantity contained
of potassium.
decinormal
permanganate

The

zinc

c.c.

"00325

weak

soluble

various

experiments,

per
as

in

it

c.c.

the

to

Sulphide

zinc.

zinc

is, however,

having made
that
one
milligram of zinc
be the
add
to
right amount

found

was

of

but

solutions,

cyanide

taken, would

of solution

correction

have

of

grams

slightly
100

will

sulphide

obtained.

results

quantities of
prepared containing known
the double
cyanide of zinc and potassium with ferro-cyanide and
were
sulpho-cyanide of potassium, and the results obtained
very
satisfactory.
Various

solutions

NOTES

ON

were

(By

cyanide

brought
acid.

into

Most

small

of

with

becomes

air, owing

African

ALKALI

Crosse.)

F.

Andrew

potassium

contact

South

PROTECTIVE

SOLUTIONS.*

CYANIDE

IN

Pure

OF

ESTIMATION

THE

if

rapidly decomposed
the

of
presence
slimes
contain

to

tailings and

carbonic
certain

sulphuric acid, or basic ferric salts, which

We
must
decompose cyanide of potassium.
protect or prevent
this decomposition as far as possible. Cyanide of potassium is an
therefore
should
endeavour
to
expensive material; we
prevent
its unnecessary
of some
decomposition, by the use
inexpensive
alkali

accurate

other

such

lime

as

method

for

protective

Protective

acid

of free

percentage

it

becomes
the

determining

alkali

alkali

and

of

caustic

will

unite

amount

is the

alkali

pure
the

or

which

present

with

any

before

alkali, but the results can

caustic
soda, if so desired.
If

an

lime

in solution.

decomposition of the cyanide begins.

It is very
to be able
to
cases
important in many
alkali
this
of
exactly.
percentage
In my
lime
experiments
(calcium oxide) is taken

or

have

to

necessary

an

exact

cyanide
following

calculated

sulphuric acid be
potassium containing the

amount

of

be

reaction

of

added
latter

the

tive
protec-

for caustic

potash

to

solution

in excess,

or

98

pure

parts

we

of
have

Chem.

and

Met.

Soc,

H2S04

liberate

bi-sulphate of potassium,

Trans.

as

K2S04 + 2HCN
H2S04
54 parts of hydrocyanic acid.
Now, if instead of H2S04 we take
takes
the following reaction
place :
2KCN

out

the

determine

S.A.,

1899.

CONTROL,

KHS04
27

or

from

of

an

be

acid

grams

solution
and

neutralized,

proportion

of

cyanide

potassium

alkali

such

to

less

that

protective alkali, I know

of
one
KHS04
gram

no

KCN

of

excess

of

is

"1985
of

excess

an

direct

in

liberate

cyanide

sulphuric

liberated,

is

If there

present.

the

that

liberate

parts KHS04

will

containing

alkali, the

acid

hydrocyanic

136

or

45

SOLUTIONS.

OF

KHS04

gram

however,

free

one

HCN

solution

potassium.
Supposing,
contains

K2S04

HCN

parts

HCN

KCN

ANALYSIS

AND

TESTING,

in presence
'1985
liberates

HCN.

grams
If

less

retained

HCN

by

is liberated

the

alkali, so

2HCN
54

The

500

parts

for

now

nitrate

Let

Let

A-B

add

HCN

the

of KHS04,
gram
flask containing

one

in

through
ordinary way

Liebig's Condenser.
potash solution

vapour

in the

in the

of silver.

of

excess

amount

liberated

HCN

of

amount

of

presence

collect

the

HCN

the

follows

being

Oxide.

parts Calcium

as

its

to

H20.

cyanide solution,

potash, passing

I estimate
with

Ca(CN2)

minutes, and

45

caustic

of

c.c.

practically amounts
the equation

if I take

of HCN=56

proposition is

Take
boil

CaO

it

that

without

cyanide
found

1*037

or

one

alkali.

with

of

amount

in

KHS04

gram

alkali.

any

experiment

in

by

calcium

oxide

present.
I made

series

of

c.c.

various

proportions

cyanide solutions, and

prepared
results
for instance, the following. I
accurate
as
distilled
of pure
water
cyanide
containing two grams
lime

very

with

experiments
and

water

and

which

added

200

contains
as

I had

0*260

described
taken

c.c.

the

I obtained

liberated

by

HCN

liberated

in

2 grams

treating

results

KHS04

experiment

Cx

02461

oxide

Calcium

of

the

300

sium,
potas-

Cent.)
tion
solu-

0*3970

0*1509

1-037

grams.

2461

took

KHS04.

2 grams

case

HCN

following

On

fully
care-

obtained

18

(at

water

oxide.

calcium

grams

in this

lime

saturated

of

of

0-2552

found

0-255

taken

0-260

grams.

grams.

or

in

percentages

per cent,
lime
taken.
a

from
Of

0*051
the
course

and

correct
the

0-052

amount,

respectively
or

within

operation requires

or

only 10100 of

2 per cent,
of the
and
care
practice.

46

THE

CYANIDE

GRAM
Fob

the

Assay

TABLE.
op

GRAIN
Fob

the

Assay

PROCESS.

Cyanide

Solutions.

TABLE.
op

Cyanide

Solutions.

CONTROL,

AND

TESTING,

TABLE

FOR

OZS.

Some

The

cubic

cubic
of

ton

gallon

lb.

avd.

To

converts

lbs.

To

converts

lbs.

of

10

equals
equals

into

avoirdupois

in

vat

feet
=

feet.
62

contains

water

troy

circular

in

water

SOLUTION.

Constants.

depth

foot

of

content

*7854

Useful

OF

LB.

47

SOLUTIONS.

OF

ANALYSIS

lbs.

about

nearly.
36

cubic

feet.

lbs.
7000

grains.

lbs.

avoirdupois
into

lbs.

troy

-82286.
1-2153.

Dia2

in

feet

CHAPTER

THE

APPLIANCES

V.

AND

PLANT

CYANIDE

FOE

EXTEACTION.

The

in

appliances

plants,

but

endless

the

of

the

zinc

by

affected

be

In

advantages

vat,

leaching
and

gravitation,

as

as

all

his

at

disposal

should

be
of

permit

to

shown

cases

the

individual

the

designer
where

and,

the

in

should

possible,
tanks,

three

on

circulation

following

taste

storage

placed

the

separate
tions
solu-

the

of

diagram

to

the

conditions,

vacuum-cylinder,

vats,

sumps

so

and

cyanide

subject

are

local

by

all

at

arrangement

treated,

metallurgist.

platforms,

or

chiefly
to

nature

same

and

material

extractors,

tiers

the

shape,

being

natural

solution

much

of

are

size,

the

of

fancy

utilize
the

their

variations,

character
or

use

LEVEL.

FLOOR

Dissolving

Tank.

Solution

When
it

below
The

to

bottom

receive
the

the

the

solution

sumps,

tank
is
either

Sump.

Extraotob.

is

storage

arrangement
from

Vat.

Leaching

vacuum-cylinder

of

Whatever

pumped

Tank.

used,

when

adopted,
to
48

the
be

must

the

tank

storage

cylinder
above

the

solution

the

placed

becomes

full.

extractor.

solution
tank

be

must

has

B,

or

to

be

directly

50

THE

12.

and

of weak

Lines

with

vats

CYANIDE

PROCESS.

strong solution

pipes connecting leaching

extractors.

washing and drying gold precipitates.

1 4. Melting and
roasting furnace.
15. Assay office and
laboratory.
In the
intermediate
of double
ditional
or
case
treatment,
filling,advats
are
required. They are generally placed over, or at
the leaching vats.
than
higher elevation
Filter

13.

for

vat

Tank.

Dissolving
and

made

When

steel.
when

of iron

2|

from

of

varies

4 ft. in

ft. to

the

wood,

size of the

size

is constructed

steel, the

or

the

according to
hoops. The

This

staves

from

of

are

stiffened
ft.

to

wood,

2 in.

from

plates are

vat, and

of

iron,

or

2|
pine ;
in.
thick,

in.

or

in. to

with

angle-iron

and

ft. in

diameter,

and

depth.
works

a
perforated tray, to hold the solid
large cyanide
the
tank
steel-wire
cyanide salt, is suspended over
by a chain
or
The
end
overhead.
a
pulley fixed to a beam
running over
rope,
chain
of the
second
the
a
over
or
pulley on
same
rope
passes
distance
to permit a balance-weight on
beam, fixed at a sufficient

In

to clear the side

rope
practice the solid salt is taken

end

the
In

of the

of the

tank.
of

out

the

original packing

cleaned, by removing
adhering particlesof sawdust
with
other
It is then
husk-broom.
broken
a
or
packing material
small
is
into
placed in the perforated tray, which
pieces and
into the solution.
The
allowed
to subside
rapid dissolution of the
be
effected
salt
the
to
cyanide
can
by imparting motion
tray by
end
the
the
of
at
weighted
pulling
rope.
should
the
The
from
always be
discharge-hole
dissolving tank
the
above
a
bottom, so as to allow
placed three or four inches
in the cyanide.
settlingspace for the impurities contained
contained
commercial
in
The
cyanide consist
pally
princiimpurities
and

case

all

carbide

of black

filter
of

webs,

and

in the

its presence
a

portion

the

solutions

to

from

ft.

14

depth.

dowelled

placed

to

They

sides
The

the

are

would

are

made

used

are

ft.

in

diameter,

ft.

for

They
and

cause

of
a

constructed

of 5 in.

6 in.

or

of

apart,

and

making
are

open

from

generally

gold ; hence
loss by tating
precipi-

of

the

cyanide

circular

tanks

up

ft. to

14

ft.

well-seasoned

are

in

pine.

3 in. thick.

planks, 2J in. or
planks 12 in. by 3 in., bolted

together independently
about

to

the
up
this,carbide

gold.
These

is constructed

bottom

tend

choke

Besides

solution

cyanide

potassium

which

matters,

pipes,

delays.

working strength.
20

insoluble

solution

the

solutions

other

vexatious

cause

of the

Vats.

Solution

The

thus

decomposes

iron

iron, and

permitted, obstruct

if

would,

of

of
made

the

sides.
of

in.

bolts

The
or

and

in.

are

round

THE

The

iron.
and

APPLIANCES

AND

and

washer

PLANT

nut

CYANIDE

FOR

well

are

51

EXTRACTION.

countersunk

the

into

plank,

being tightened, the whole is plugged up with a block

the bolt.
The
dowels
consist
to prevent leakage around
of
and
round
6
8
in.
in.
in.
are
iron,
or
long. They are placed
|
about
12 in. apart where
the planks come
the circumference.
near
The
bottom
is rebated
into the side planks, which
are
kept tight
iron hoops, f in. to 1^ in. in diameter, having three
by round
or
each
cast-iron
turn-buckles
sometimes
on
One, and
more
hoop.
india-rubber
of
round
round
in.
the
are
two, rings
placed
J
bottom
before
the
rubber
The
staves
are
rings are
put on.
with
steel
in
which
made
tool.
are
a
placed
grooves
side
The
kept in their
places by the
planks, or staves, are
of the hoops alone, which
15
are
generally placed from
pressure
The
extra
in. to 18 in. apart, with
an
hoop at the bottom.
hoops
six
inches
or
seven
are
placed, on very large deep tanks, only
after

of wood

apart

the

at

bottom,

the

where

apart gradually increasing

is

hoop

extra

buckles

will

One

or

size of the

square
these

close

as

solution

more

vats

the

to

20

or

in.

bottom

the

the

at

hoop

distance
The

top.
the

as

turn-

may

be

required according

to

the

plant.

tanks

tight

wood

of
led

Vats.

Percolating

or

shapes, sizes, and

to

the

were

the

Africa

Zealand,

New

of

used,

but

favourite
steel

of

These

kinds

adoption

stronger.
In
Australia,
and

in.

greatest,

permit.

Leaching
different

placed

18

to

is

pressure

material.
the

circular

material

is

made

are

At

of

difficultyof

keeping

vats, which

wood,

many

first, small

but

are

in

also

South

preferred to
wooden
all the
in
recently erected
cyanide plants. In
ones,
America, both steel and iron vats are preferred to wooden
ones.
In
Victoria
and
New
South
made
of
Wales, leaching vats
wooden
with
bottoms
have
been
iron
used
ordinary corrugated
Mr.
used
with
who
them
W. Eddowes,
satisfactoryresults.
very
author
that
in Victoria, informed
the
they were
light, strong,
of large capacity, corrugated iron
For
vats
cheap and durable.
of No.
that
The
is said to be half
is employed.
16 gauge
cost
of
"When
value
steel vats
the
of
of the same
corrugated
capacity.
iron
becomes
better
will
be
doubtless
it
known,
more
largely
where
in
port
transoutlying mining camps
especially
employed, more
costs
are
heavy.
wooden
The
of
the
circular
construction
leaching vats is in
solution
the
that
of
vats
as
same
already
respect the
every
with
in
described, differingonly
discharge-doors.
being provided
The

first

and

Silver

vats

in

use

at

Mining Company

the

vats

cyanide
22 J
were

are

at

present

works

of

ft. in

diameter,

the

Waihi
and

Gold
4 .ft.

52

THte

bound

sides

The

deep.
in

in.

each

Five

ten

are

inches

4 ft.

the

by

for

consisted

Thames,
the

off

in two

three

in.

planks,

iron,

thick,

of which

were

turu-buckles

three

on

false

depth by the
new
Company's
tank
each
being

the

At

cloth.

the

rows,

of wooden

supports

or

author

kauri

in., having
taken

tanks

7 ft. staves, to hold

with

in.

mill,
50

ft.

deep.

foundations

The

is

PROCESS.

of round

two

concrete

ft. and

40

by

and

of

hoops

filter-frame, and

bottom,
there

five

diameter,

hoop.

built

were

with

together

CYANIDE

the

of

of 70

charge

vats, 20

15

mudsills,

in.

by

diameter,

tailings,designed
Mining
Company,

of

tons

Gold

Moanataiari

ft. in

in., laid

which

flat, on

or
pieces, 10 in. by 8 in., supporting the props
laid the bearers
of the
same
uprights, 8 in. by 8 in.,on which
are
the sole pieces. There
five rows
of
dimensions
two
as
are
props
of three, three rows
of five
rows
altogether,
twenty-one in number
with
ft.
The
the
4
bottom
of
centres
vat
rests
both
spaced
ways.

rest

sole

the

on

which

bearers,
their

between
detect

and

of the

vat.

ends

and

solid rock

the

dispensed with.

be

The

advisable

place

to

evenly

more

rests

the

on

At

the

tanks

diameter,

and

At

ft. inside

26

iron

see

steel

or

planks across
weight of the vat,

the

mudsills

can

I.)
it is

vats, but

bearers,

the

sides

the

Plate

to

bottom

so

of

to

as

which

constructed

are

14

Cyanide

Jack

ft.

deep

of

bound

Johannesburg, the
42
ft. in
pine. They are
fifteen
together with
hoops
Works,

The
staves
piers of solid masonry.
made
of 9 in. by 3 in. material.
are
Main
Reef
Works
there
six leaching vats, each
are
and
with
8
ft.
diameter,
staves,
holding 135 tons of

They

rest

on

"

"

the

drawings,
for

the

upon,

wide

in.

is left

space
round

place

3 in.

by
the

and

iron.

bottoms

used

space

planks.

leaching

and

9 in.

take

to build

This

planks.
may

detailed
be

can

distribute

Simmer

of round

that

exposed

is

(For

support

same

side

allow

to

as

so

the

leaks

repair any

Where

cut

are

tailings.
The

staves

wide

in.

by machines, and
edges. They are checked

level

the

6 in. below

chime
The

by

are

on

grooves.

apart

by

from

These

the

afterwards

in. to

in. thick, and

hand-dressed

fit

the

on

on

planed
the

bottom,

to

ting
abutwith

check.
is made

of 9 in.

in.

deals, planed
grooved f in. by \ in. by a saw, and is also handthe edges.
Clear-pine tongues, 1 in. by f in., fill the
The
the
the
tunnel, below
joistsacross
vat, consist of
and
in. deals, bolted
in
laid 2 ft. 3 in.
together
pairs,
vat

by

and

machine

9 in.

of

bottom

dressed

the

and

centre

joistsare

to

centre.

first laid

in

position,then

the

bottom

of the

vat

I
I

PLATE

NN

'

is laid
is

cramped

down,

now

for the
Six

places ; the
lowest
Each

1 in.

top pair

connected

circle

when

three

in

The

out.

all

round

bottom
is

ready

to

with

ends.

screwed

sections,

rolled

required

the

to

turn-buckles.

cast-iron

by

struck

bevelled

up as
used

diameter,

in

53

EXTRACTION.

tightly as possible.
in their
are
keep the staves
in diameter, the middle
pair 1^ in.,and

iron

pair If in.
hoop is made

and

curve,

round

of

hoops

the

driven

are

CYANIDE

FOR

and

up,

which

staves,

PLANT

circle, and

the

to

sawn

the

AND

APPLIANCES

THE

Q
Fig.

1.

Showing

Construction
Scale

The
each

screwed
is

hoop

Two
for

ends

being

drawn

carpenters, practised
it in about

erect

four

while
turn-buckles, and
with
hammered
a
sledgeheavy hammer.

it is

up

the

work,

the

at

and

ft.

=1

through

pass

vat, 28 ft. in diameter

in.

Turn-buckle.

of

in

deep,

ft.

dress

can

material

the

about

and

week,

days.

and
of brick
vation
excacement, in an
large vats, constructed
the
what
age
leakthere
of
in
is no
means
ground,
ascertaining
is going on;
in which
and, in a process
gold solutions are
of the
leak, in the course
being dealt with, an exceedingly small
With

would

year,

represent

construction
for

the

tanks

Langlaagte
round

are

Reef

10

deep.

ft.

constructed

At

the

jV

in.

At

deep.

Works,

Colorado,

in

where

material

and

ft. in diameter
also

16

steel, being
the

Cripple
the

vats

steel

of

10

ft.

brick,

Works,
vats

20

are

Gold

made

are

is

procurable
S.A.,

the

with

40

N.Z.,

hydraulic
deep. At the

ft. square
the
tanks
and

ft. in diameter

Creek

their

reason

Works,

Cyanide

brick, faced

of

are

this

vats.

Waihi-Silverton

mine,
the

For

Company's

tanks

the

Moanataiari

the
ft.

of

is 40

loss.

steel

or

constructed

size

Works

Crown

Estate

and

Their

cement.

At

of wooden

construction

the

At

recommended

be

cannot

considerable

4 ft.

ft. in diameter

and
are

deep.
and

Exploration Company's
iron, being 20 ft. in

of

diameter.
For
are

seldom
with

free

direct

the

from

of

deep, on
greater depth of ore

over
a

treatment

slimes

4 ft.

the

depth

dry-crushed
account
;

varies

of the

the

leaching vats
difficultyof percolation
tailingscomparatively

ore,

but,

with

from

8 ft. to

14

ft.

54

CYANIDE

THE

The

leaching vats,
built

be

must

and

the

they

built

often

are

Australia,

where

Whatever

the

the

bottom

firm

be

sure

of

stone

the

to

; and

tanks,

so

In

able

South

New

in

be

and

wood.

of

free

detect

to

Africa

Zealand

frames

always

be

to

as

to

as

massive

should

foundations, there

so

weight they hold,

prevent settling,

follow.

piers
is plentiful,on

on

timber

of

enormous

foundations,

would

which

leakage

of the

account

on

strong

on

PROCESS.

to

access

and

repair

leaks.

provided with a separate drain-pipe,1 J in. or 2 in.

each
in diameter, with
two
the
stop-cocks near
other, one
over
the
weak
solution
or
pipe, the other over
strong solution launder
tion
filtraWhen
launder, leading to their respective zinc extractors.
is assisted by a vacuum,
a third
stop-cock is provided for the
air-pipe.
with
The
sizes of the pipes for charging the
the solutions
vats
tank

Each

are

as

is

follows

Vats, 20

ft. in diameter,

24

2432

ft.

32

40

for

one

medium

lines

of

with

pipe

and

in.

in.

in.

...

three

or

...

ft.

Two

mains,

two

three

with

the

for

one

the

strong;

for

the

and

running parallelwith
strong respectively)

the

mains,

one

economical, and
leaching vats, afford the simplest, most
solutions
of collectingthe
method
as
they percolate from
This

enables

system
and

the

readily,and

solutions

by

this

each

from

means

vat

to

mishaps

any

and

weak

weak,
line

of

effective
the

be

tested

can

at

vats.

separately
be
once

detected.

having stop-cocks on the end of the drain-pipe,from

each
is sometimes
the
fixed on
vat, a short
length of rubber-hose
be drained
into the
end ; and by moving the hose the solution
can
launder
weak
required.
as
strong or
iron
Steel and
vats
are
now
They
coming into general use.
wooden
ones.
advantages over
They are generally
possess
many
of coal-tar,
coated
with
a
composition consisting of a mixture
(See Plate II.)
pitch, and kauri gum.
is supported on
The
in steel
filter-frame
vats
a
ring of iron
Instead

riveted

of

to

the

side

about

in.

from

the

bottom.

The

filter

and kept in its place by means

of a
webbing is laid on the frame
in four, six or eight pieces,
ring of angle-iron,which is constructed
The
of
lengths, so as to be easily handled.
ordinary method
or
the
ring of iron and the side of the
grouting the cloth between
with

vat

In
is

large

small

rope

steel

vats, the

omitted, and

in this

is the

case

best.

ring
the

for

the

reception

filter-frame

of

the

is constructed

filter-cloth
so

as

to

I V
V

THE

APPLIANCES

leave

AND

FOR

PLANT

CYANIDE

annular

an

the

permit

wide
inch
an
space
filter-cloth
be grouted
to

round

all

55

EXTRACTION.

the

between

the

vat

so

as

and

frame

to

the

vat.

Filter-Frames.

The

old

filter-beds

of

gravel and

sand

been

have

frames, over
entirely superseded by light wooden
are
filter-cloths
of
either
extra
placed
webs, consisting
or
strong
For
the
tion
filtraHessian, loose canvas,
cocoa-matting, or burlap.
of slimes, or dry-crushed ores,
which
a
always contain
large
fine sands, a webbing
of strong
Hessian
or
percentage of very
is
and
for tailings or
of
concentrates
used;
canvas
a
webbing
cocoa-matting or burlap.
In some
filter is laid over
plants a duck-cloth
cocoa-matting.
The
about
duck-cloth
for a 100
ton
vat
costs
2, 10s. ready made.
At the Waihi
the filter-frames,designed by the
Cyanide Works
of narrow
Mr. H. P. Barry, consist
laths placed
general manager,
which

and
parallel,

about

inch

an

On

apart.

these

transversely, narrow

moulding-like laths,

An

or

an

frame-

open
inch square.
At the Main

ends

their

wood,

less

inch

for

support

in

annular

passing

finds

author
that

than

has

the

of

top

the

the
used

in

the

its

the

slats

apart.

in.

apart

place by

about

an

leaves

permits
of

means

an

the

small

vat.

for

advantages

sections.

frame

vat, which

filter-frames

many

in

This

vat.

of the

circumference
such

possess

and

frame

the

of

that

firmly grouted

round

they

on

cocoa-matting.
constructed
for large vats
are
circular
fitted together, form
a

between

The

an

obtained, having openings

is thus

the

diameter

space
filter-cloth to be

rope

nailed

are

sections, when

The

inch

3 in.

filter-frames

The

nailed,

are

Reef

of

1 in. square,

form

to

grating

about

also

the
filter
Cyanide Works,
Johannesburg,
6
1
in.
in.
slats,placed on edge,
by
apart,
the
from
of
the
1
in.
sides
vat.
being kept
Strips of

is made

frame

work

laths

over

over

five

years,

old

the

and

gravel-

filters.
At
vats

plants where
provided
are

automatic

Vacuum-Cylinder
assisted

fillingis adopted,

intermediate
with

and

the

intermediate

distributors.

Air-Pump.

artificial

Filtration
below

is
the

generally
filter-bed.

by creating
and
Australia
Zealand
to promostly adopted in New
duce
with
is an
a
vacuum
air-tightboiler, or cylinder, connected
and
In
air-pumps
an
large cyanide plants two
air-pump.
cylinders and storage tanks should be provided.
of
The
in. boiler-plate,
generally constructed
cylinders are
of different
made
with
sizes, according to
They are
f in. ends.
and
3 ft. 6 in.
from
requirements, from 6 ft. to 13 ft. in length,
to
6 ft. in diameter.
They are provided with a solution-gauge,
The

means

an

vacuum

56

air-cock, and

vacuum-gauge,

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

man-hole,

well

as

the

as

necessary

connections.

pipe

single or double-acting, 7 in. in diameter, with

80 to 120
strokes
8 in. stroke, making
from
an
per minute, and
the
in
of
in. of
26
capable of producing a vacuum
mercury
be
it should
rounded
surcylinder. To prevent heating of the valves
with
of
cold
current
a
water-jacket, through which
a
The
the
is running.
water
continually circulate when
can
pump
cyanide plant is 14 in. in diameter, and
air-pump at the Waihi
The

has

air-pump

in. stroke.

22
the

All

is

and

stop-cocks, valves, pipes

and
cylinder, air, and solution
pumps,
be of black
cyanide solutions, should
When
the
vacuum-cylinder becomes

about

connections

tanks,

which

the

subject

are

to

iron.

charged
full, the solution is diswhich
it slowly drains
into a storage vat, from
through
the
In
when
order
the
zinc
to
extractor.
give timely warning
full, the following simple electrical contrivance
cylinder became
Gold
used
Cassel
at the
Wilson, the manager,
was
by Mr. Arthur
Extracting Company's tailingsplant at Waihi.
Erdmann
A small
float,with a platinum wire fused into the top
and coiled into a flat helix, was
placed in the solution
gauge-tube.
the
wires
also
into
fused
end
of the
Two
were
platinum
upper
tube, opposite to each
other, but
gauge- tube, projecting into the
The
small
with
connected
in contact.
not
platinum wires were
a
the float rose
in the
Leclanche
battery, and when
solution-gauge
metallic
contact
to the platinum
wires,
was
established, and an
bell

electric

in the

of

Discharge
method

sounded

water,

an

alarm.

Residues.

Leached

of

plentiful supply

with

good

Where

head,

there

is

easiest

the

and

the
discharging the residues from
leaching
side-door.
At
the
is to sluice
out
cyanide plant
by a
the
residues
Gold
Waihi
sluiced
out
Mining Company
are
head
150
of
2 in. hose-pipes under
a
ft.,giving a pressure

cheapest

of

them

tanks
of the

by

circuit

two

of 65

lbs. to

the

square

inch.

there
is a scarcity of
Goldfields,where
of fall for the
bottom
charge
dissludge, the
water, and often a want
the
residues
shovelled
is largely practised,
being
through
the
truck
hole
in
the
of
into
bottom
vat
a
a
immediately below.
the tailings are
At the Barret
shovelled
into
a
Company's Works
At

the

Witwatersrand

"

"

launder
At
New
the

below

the

vat, and

Woodstock
Crown,
the ore
Zealand, where

stream

and

the

residues

contains

sluiced

of water
Talisman
a

carries

them

Cyanide

percentage

of

away.

Works

coarse

in

gold,

over
slowly
amalgamated copper
below
the
discharge holes.
plates placed immediately
At the Langlaagte Company's Cyanide Works, near
Johannesare

extensive

PLANT

AND

APPLIANCES

THE

FOR

57

EXTRACTION.

CYANIDE

the
discharged from
large brick leaching
lower
the bodies
of steam
tanks
travellingcranes, which
by means
trucks
into the tanks, where
of the empty
they are filled by Kaffir
trucks
and
filled
raised
the
labour.
When
are
placed on their
to the dump.
carriages,to be wheeled
away
When
Doors.
side-dischargeby sluicing is used,
Discharge
outlets are
two
or
generally provided for each vat ; but in the
one
charge
of bottom-discharge there
are
two, four, six, or eight discase
openings to each vat, according to its size.

burg,

residues

the

are

Fig.

At

2.

Butters'

the

Bottom-Discharge

Witwatersrand

Scale

Door

Goldfields

J in.

=1

ft.

bottom-discharge is
When
wooden
employed
leaching vats.
discharging the round
fillinga deep tank with tailings,a length of wrought-iron pipe or
each
cylinder, three or four feet long, is placed over
dischargeThe
in.
hole, and then the tailings are
dumped
pipe raises the
the

for

outlet

within

few

feet

of

the

surface,

and

facilitates

thus

the

discharge.
On

these

used.

Fig.

The

side

of

fields, Butters'
2 shows

arrangement
the tank,

their

simple and
cast-iron
ring, A,

is very
a

bottom-discharge

doors

are

largely

construction.

effective.
is bolted

On
to

the
the

bottom

cast-iron

58

CYANIDE

THE

cylinder, B, inside

lug, C,

upon

screw,

E.

fastened
whole
and

The

Fig.
of

out

made

would

but

The

be

the

the

ring

good

designed

door,
and

construction

Mr.

by

likely

not

shallow

in

convenient

more

is

firmly
of

make

to

the

luting of clay.

-discharge

in

this

as

of

position,

in

faces

so

even,

projecting

part

placed

by screwing

tight by

bottom

is

forms

which

watertight.

It is simple

order,

G, and

planed perfectly

another

cylinder

when

F,

cover,

is also

joint

shows

Irvine.

F.

hanger,

D,

becomes
be

should

joint.

the

butterfly-nut,

arrangement
The

the

rests

cast-iron

the

by

cover

W.

which

Inside

tank.

the

PROCESS.

to

than

get

deep

vats.

Plate

II*.

handle.

to

in

It

Fig.

3.

Irvine's

construction,

originally designed

was

Recesa

for

R.

G.

Walker,

Door.

S"ale

Packing.

efficient, and

Mr.

by

improved

an

very

Bottom-Discharge

of

drawing

working

door, simple

bottom-discharge
easy

the

represents

in.

4 in.

'

improved

Mr.

by

by the

form
The

the

above

applied by
The

in

patent

door

is

at

an

the

the

iron

both
and

button

door,

is then

left

is

inserted

in

serves

tightening.

The
to

the

the

side

instead

loose

keep

the

the

discharge
hand

right
lugs

and

iron-button

the

door

and

the
turns

in

so

as

in

door

position

with

and

then

door

is

position.

wide
the

ring
door

turning
weight

the

carry

loose

The

of

dog
with

screwed
on

differs

the

swinging

hole,

easily

works.

centre.

faced

to

present

market

close

to

the

its

cyanide
the

in

by lifting, or

approximately

now

placed
of at

in

used

other

pressure

hinge,

the

over

with

which

hands.

that

It is closed

hand

and

recently

in

and

perfected

Moanataiari
door

on

swung

of rubber-insertion.
with

the

tank

only

screw

and

Price,

author

Koppel

from

A.

tightly
up
small
stud-bolt,

preparatory

to

the

final

?5.'

60

CYANIDE

THE

The

lug
the

on

the

on

side is

right

left with

notch

the

PROCESS.

placed with

in the

the

notch

that

upwards,

position.

reverse

The

is kept in
door, which
opening is closed
by a cast-iron
the
of
a
position by
screw
acting through a loose iron
pressure
the
of
which
fit into
the
dog, the ends
lugs so as to obtain
leverage.
necessary
The
of the
door is suspended in front
opening, preparatory to
round
of bent
is supported on
iron, which
fixing up, by a hook
the projecting bar on
It
the frame.
is rendered
watertight by a
of
fixed
rubber
with
insertion,
facing
on
tar, or by a luting of clay.
These
doors seldom
give any trouble.
They are easily opened
closed by a few
of the
The
different
turns
or
screw.
parts are
shown

scale

to

Steel

III.

Plate

on

for

Sumps.

There

bottom-discharge, designed by
Plate
Cyanide Plant, are shown
on

Moanataiari

the

the

with

leaching tanks

author

least

at

are

these

of

two

in

II.

cyanide

every

plant,
cyanide
passing through the
for the weak.
zinc-extractor,one for the strong solution and one
In
acid
is often
ores
an
plants dealing with
or
tailings there
washadditional
tank
these
for
besides
storing the alkaline
the

receive

to

solutions

after

solutions.
The
In

constructed
wood.

In
lower

plants
decked

they
cleaning.
are

of

The

leaching

bricks

faced

material.

The

of the

depth

solution

the

of

with

cement,

construction
vats.

or

level

the

such

in

the

of

for

cases

repairs
by the

indicated

is

plant.
They

vats.

tanks

storage
below

are

of the

size

placed
cyanide building, and
planks, having a man-hole

with

over

or

as

sumps
of the

floor

that

the

on

the

as

favourite

same

the

size

steel,concrete,

is the

is the

extractor

or

are

latter

sumps

many

sumps
the same

either

The

of wooden

depends

storage

plants they

most

are
or

size of the

tell-tale.
In

strong solution

in

up

storage
be

with

so

as

such

pulp

dry

requiring
advantage for

it is necessary

below,
the

from

ore

Zinc

to
as

for

one

works

treating

consist

formation

occur

the

were

of

could

not

in
dry-crushed ores
slowly from
strong solution
in
channels
of lumps and
of

treatment

the

method

This

sump.

construction

turned

solution

the

sands

There

strong
and

at

are

solutions
slimes
the

least
and

of

two

the

to

on

one

it is usual

for
to

these

the

in
weak.

provide

medium

for
namely
strong,
of
constructed
are
respectively. They
number
into
a
oblong boxes, each divided

extractors,

of

the

prevent

Extractors.

solutions

the

apply

to

would

extra

an

is made

solution

above.

plant,
three

working cyanide
thus
saving the

sumps,

vat, but

used

which

the

tailingsplants

some

and

wood,

every
In
of

set

weak

and

of compart-

loose

Dog

tr,

o
o

Q
id
V

Q
I

D
"

CO

!o

1
o

]!
o

V|

MMu\A

YtlW

!--

,j"iiyi"

^i

in

v?r

'

./

:.} i^"

^
^

5
i

\*i
n

ro

"?"

V
"i

Mi

!
.-

V..-,
.

.'
S

i^*.

**,,*

**

*fn*-'

"

****

t**"

-vrt**

*?*

'I

'

1.

T#E

APPLIANCES

AND

PLANT

generally eight, ten,

ments,

baffle-boards

upwards
The

fixed

in such
the

through

as

The
shallow
round

The

enable

the

permits
and

gold

zinc

of the

bottom
Instead

are

with

be

slimes,

they

as

tow

to

the

in

matter

removable

often

when

up

screen

of

of the

solutions,

and

form,

to

circulation

free

wire

way

of slimes.

handles,

easily lifted

bottom,

its

or

provided with

convenient

to

the

at

escape

sometimes

sand

clayey

any
the

finds

compartment.

filled with

remove

partitions and

of

solution

each

61

EXTRACTION.

means

the

are

prevent

them

trays support,

which

to

wood,

of

trays
iron, to

to

one

divisions

remaining

that

way

compartments

filters,the upper
solutions, the lower one

act

twelve, by

zinc-turnings in

last

first and

or

CYANIDE

FOR

fall

of

bent

necessary.

mesh,

in.

enables
into

through

the
the

compartment.

projecting handles, the trays are often provided

with
iron plate on
sides with
holes in it to take
two
the
two
an
end 8 of hooks
their contained
for liftingthe trays and
zinc.
The
extractors
are
cleaned-up from plug-holes on the side, one
the
bottoms
To facilitate the
to each
clean-up
compartment.
of the compartments
sideslope to the side, and also to the lower
where
the discharge-hole is situated.
corner,
launder
of
wood
the
A
iron
is fixed
or
on
discharge-side,
under
the
receive
the
slimes
when
to
immediately
plug-holes,so as
boxes.
The
out
of the
they are washed
top of the extractor, as
well as
lid or
the
side launder, is protected with
a
close-fitting
tents
grating of wood or iron, provided with locks, to prevent the conof the extractor
being tampered with.
wooden
To
facilitate
the
of the
the
withdrawal
plugs from
fixed in the holes.
are
discharge-holes,short lengths of rubber-hose
The
rubber
is yielding, and, while
rendering the holes water-tight,
the
enables
without
which
the
force
is
plugs to be withdrawn
when
generally necessary
they are driven into the bar-holes.
The
should
constructed
be
of well-seasoned
extractor
pine, with
of

"

"

sides of 1 J in.
well

dressed.
and

plant,

3 ft. in

depth,

It is

place

now

in the

to

of

six

extractor

into

or

late

are

shown

of

reduce

simply

compartments,
"

or

volumes

eight, and
is

that

to

without

periodical clean-up

"

each

bulk

box

in. boards,

of

their
or

side

The

the

precipitation takes
in cyanide plants handling
daily, the tendency has

divisions

trough
plugs or

divided

side

the

in

dimensions.

compartment

extractors

IYa.
of

solution

number

increase

long

in. in width.
and

boxes, and

cyanide
the

of

the
capacity of the
upon
20 ft. in length, from
2 ft. to

IV.

the

three

divisions

depend

Plates

on

known

first two

to

will

size

the

from
ft. to
12
vary
15 in. to 45
and from

well

large
been

The

will

used

mostly

in. boards, and

or

this

by

baffle-boards

launder.

is cleaned

extractor

In

case

At

the

the

separately ;

or

62

CYANIDE

THE

sometimes

two

or

communicate
so

the

thus

set

or

that

run

often

all the

each

other

by plugs

the

slimes

construction

of the

design according
bearing in mind

to

solutions

upward

to

the

pass

Plate

the

at

IVa.)
permits
fancy of

extractor

the

object
through

the

zinc

variety of
engineer, always
is to compel the

the

at

tub

endless

an

attained

be

to

of

one

into

out

to

baffle-

of

lower

the

baled

be

made

are

bottom

into

thence

and

individual

that

compartments,

washed

be

can

communicating,
a bucket.
(See

into

The

more,

with

boards

PROCESS.

and

uniform

slow

rate.
the

At

Waihi

Company's
large mill at Waikino, the solutions
collected in a rectangular tank divided into three compartments
are
each
coir-filter
forming a
or
clarifying box, for the strong,
and
weak
medium
solutions
respectively.
Each
is provided with
false-bottom, 9 ins.
a
compartment
with
is kept in place by a
cocoanut
deep, covered
matting which
frame.
light wooden
From
the clarifyingboxes
the
solutions
or
run
compartments,
into the different
made
23
extractor
ft. long by
boxes, which
are
wide
3 ft.
have
flat bottoms
by 2 ft. 6 ins. deep. The extractors
into nine
and are
divided
for precipinamely seven
tation
compartments,
and
for settling,one
filled
with
which
two
each
is
at
end,
tow.

The
The

trays

slimes

holes

to

as

so

The

leading

into

the

end

each
the

over

other

is

with

drainage

The

from

small

this

the

extractors

to

In

Australia

and

of
A

is constructed

floor

shallow

to

well.

small

Zealand

New

cast-iron

funnel-shaped

furnace

with

pipe connecting

cement

consists

over

in.

The

furnace.
the

or

pan

hood

off* the

carry

is

suspended by

upper

and
or

chain

is balanced
end

narrow

the

the

steel-wire

or

of
zinc

to

rope
the

light
oxide

passing

end
weight on
of the hood
telescopes for
condensing flue, and by means

by

pipe leading
lowered
the balance
be
weight the hood can
roasting pan or plate as required.
The
first part of the
condensing flue is
of cold
stream
a
length of iron-pipe,on which
the mercury
allowed
to play, so as to condense
into

screens.

through plugged

compartment

by

Furnace.

placed

pulley overhead,

feet

mesh

in.

fumes.

hood

chain.

box

sumps.

cyanide plants

wrought-iron
The

to

all

convey

plate, built
and

covered

leave

Roasting

in small

and

boards.

baffle

solutions

main

deep

washed

are

in the

The
the

6 in.

are

raised

or

nearly
water

over

the

of

few

of
the

over

horizontal

is sometimes

vapours

and

zinc

fumes.
In

large cyanide works,

built-in

muffle-like

roasting

furnace

Plate

IV

64

CYANIDE

THE

Kalgoorlie, and seems

and sand-pumps
tailingswheels
So

air-lift

the

far

seem

erection,

not

continuous

several

it possesses

recommend

to

both

Australia.

in Western
shown

supersede

to

high efficiency for the

specialadvantages which
it to
mine
namely : cheapness of
owners,
and
operation, and little wear
tear, having

; but

employed

power

has

time

likely in

in

favour

PKOCESS.

The
Associated
Mine
complicated parts to get out of order.
has
in operation ; Kalgoorlie, six ;
Boulder
two
No.
1, four
Westralia
View
Mount
Consols, one ; besides
Morgans, two ; Lake

no

others.

many

deserving
append the

which
of

indebted

am

attended

has

the

the

to

lifts
air-

form

of

elevator

for

that

reason

construction,

Max

Mr.

of

courtesy

of

use

for

Bernewitz

von

Kalgoorlie.
He

which

success

Australia, it is certain that this

of
more
general application, and
following lucid description of their

in Western

the

from

Judging
is

height
the

on

the

the

has

pulp

be

be

start

the

up,

The

always in it a column
lifted,whereby the
to

of lifts to

put

sunk.

lifted.

be

to

number

size and

6 in. lift is to
should

erecting an air-lift the

same
depth, or better

In

"

says
well-hole

why

reason

of

be

erected

with

air meets

hole

is that

is sunk

lift has

the

height

to

be

to

required

resistance

necessary

the

3 ft. in diameter

pulp, equal

the

than

depends
example, if one

for

sinking

of

more

the

of

less than

hole

and

water

size

not
a

ft.

still,2

The

well-hole

is that

first work

in motion.

column

large pipe, say 2 ft. 6 in. in diameter, with a tapered

into the
of the same
depth as. the well-hole, is lowered
The
fitted
latter.
delivery pipe or lift is then
together for the
into the large pipe.
correct
Finally, the airlength, and lowered
down
side of the
the
at
lift-pipe.
pipe is fitted together and run
the
At the bottom
looks
into
of the air-pipe is a bend
which
up
all
the
lift about
2 ins.
It is desirable
to have
flanged joints on
order
in
that
be
pipes,
they may
quickly and easily disconnected
"

Next,

bottom

in

case
"

At

and

of

accident.

an

the

top of the

practice now
of the
pipe.

a
lift-pipe,

is to bolt
this

By

launder

bend

directly on
the

means

air,

as

fitted

be

may

to

on,

flange at

it reaches

the

but

the

the

top

top,

can

once."

at
escape
It has
also

the

better

duplicate
If

loss

in

the

pressure,
a
lift,and
a

is

that

efficiencyattained
case

air
a

found

been

is

of

larger

also,

that

and

air-

the

lift-pipes,

should

air-lifts

be

in

mishap.

taken

from

several

pressure

expanded

of power.

the

But

before
if the

receiver

times

greater than
doing its work, it
air is taken

direct

five

atmospheres
actually required by

at, say,

is found
from

the

that

there

compressor

is

-18

18

APPLIANCES

THE

AND

PLANT

65

EXTRACTION.

CYANIDE

FOR

to the

is obtained, as the rising and

air-lift,
a far greater efficiency
of
the
level
of the pulp acts
the
to
falling
as
a
perfect governor
The
of
is
air
most
the
take
to
mines
practice on
compressor.
from
it to
a receiver
At, say, five atmospheres pressure, and conduct
this is unsatisfactory,and
a lift through a reducing valve
a
; but
separate compressor
giving large quantities of air at a low pressure
is the

economical

more

Again, when
working of the
mill

the

method.

supplies air for

compressor
lift is greatly interfered
with.
a

purposes

many

the

example,
running at a

Take,

for

the

Here
a
Kalgoorlie Mine.
compressor
air
to actuate
solution
two
high speed supplies
; also air to
pumps
agitate slimes ; to force the agitated slimes into filter-presses
; to
three
lifts pulp
of which
air-lifts,
one
dry the presses and work
20
sands
30
clear
feet, one
feet, and one
water, 15 feet high.
at

the

All

with

above

the

air

require

working

the

of

for the

at

different

air-lifts.
would

lifts alone

It

and

pressures,
is

that

certain

interfere
a

small

be

more
satisfactory.
costs
are
fuel, water, and wage
goldfields,where
high, the working of air-lifts is fairly expensive, but in countries
where
be driven
can
by water-power with little or
compressors
attendance, the cost should not be high.
no
Tn the Kalgoorlie Mill a little trouble
was
experienced with a 20
with
elevates
red hot roasted
ft. lift,which
ore
previously mixed
diem
lift elevates
salt water.
This
of
dense
700
tons
pulp per
with
The
raised
air
of
0*7
an
atmosphere.
pulp when
pressure
hard
is almost
at boiling point, and
a
deposit quickly sets around
the
This
them
the bottom.
at
pipes, and gradually chokes
up
the
is due
the
of
lime
from
to
and magnesia
ore.
deposition
In this mill a proportion of six parts of water
to one
part of ore
meter,
8
found
The
above
in. in diawas
lift-pipewas
necessary.
and
air-pipe 1 in.

compressor
On
the

In

W.

the

Hainault

months

with

hung

for

up
the

At
in

At

A.

no

Mill,

stoppages, whereas

latter mill

stamps, crushing

Height
Depth
Total

of

for

over

sand-pump

was

twelve

always

Morgan's mills, lifts are

settlers
the
to
slimes from
agitators.
of
30 head
raises pulp from
lift which

there

120

Mount

Westralia

and

is

tons

diem.

per

Its

dimensions

above
lift-pipe

well, about

20

below

top of well

22

length

Diameter

the

worked

repairs.

Associated

operation elevating thick

the

ft. lift has

25

of

are

feet.

42

lift-pipe

6 inches.

of
,,

air-pipe
Air-pressure

....

0*8

atmosphere.
5

66

CYANIDE

THE

/At

Kalgoorlie,
the

bottom

from

sumps.

lifting

mercury

from
solutions
for

are

the

having

air-lifts

are

the

to

At
in

following

PROCESS.

employed to circulate
cyanide
and
of
to
leaching
vats,
top
Boulder

the

No.

connection

dimensions

the

and
of

capable

condition

air-lifts

two

Reicken

raise

process,

intended

the

capacity per
material
treated.
A
be
to
plant
of freely-percolatingtailings per

of the

2000

treating

would

Mill,

the

with

Air-pressure, 3 to 5 atmospheres.
size of the plant will depend on
The
month

tion
solu-

tons

able
half
that
than
to
treat
more
probably
quantity of dry-crushed ore or slimy tailings.
With
exceeds
dry-crushed ores the depth of the charge seldom
4 ft.,while
with
reaches
10 ft.
sharp tailingsthe depth sometimes
12 ft.
of dry-crushed ore
or
are
Cyanide plants for the treatment
therefore
with
of shallow
those
vats
a
provided
large number
; and
for tailingswith
number
smaller
of
vats.
a
deep
number
of
The
the
following gives
leaching vats required for
the
of
different
and
treatment
quantities of dry-crushed ore
tailings.
month

For

Dry

4 ft.

deep

For

Orb
;

be

not

or

charge

Slimy

30

Tailings.

charge

of vat

22J

ft. diameter,

tons.

Freely-Percolating
100

Size

Tailings.

Depth

of

vat,

10

ft. ;

tons.

1200

2 vats
.

tons

per

month.

2400

3600

6
j"

""

4800

In
case

small
of

plants

temporary

it is advisable

breakdown

to

in

have
one

of the

spare
vats

leaching
in

use.

vat

in

THE

APPLIANCES

PLANT

AND

OF

COST

The

67

EXTRACTION.

CYANIDE

FOR

PLANT.

cyanide plant depends largely on the locality,

the material
used in the construction, and, to a certain
extent, on
For
the condition
material
of the
be
treated.
to
example, a
month
will cost
2000
of
tons
plant to treat
dry-crushed ore per
than
more
a
plant to treat 2000 tons of tailings.
The
approximate cost of plants of different capacitiesin Australia
and

of the

cost

New

Zealand,
of the

For

when

above

Ore

the
all

and

The

of steel

cost

The

steel

and

of

cost

the

ft.

At

about
the

Johannesburg

laboratory,assay,

the

10
cost

the

is about

vats

leaching vats at
deep, with central

foundations

wood

iron

or

struction
con-

below

buildings,is given

for

appliances
melting furnaces,
the
of a
cost
include
but
does
not
cyanide plant,
wheel
or
sand-pump for elevating sands, etc.
and

the

in

include

estimates

used

material

vats, foundations, and

Dry-crushed

The

is the

wood

same

discharge,

that

as

16

56

cost

successful

bucket

Waihi-Silverton,

the

tailings
of

wood.

ft. diameter

each, and

the

each.
of

cyanide plant
month.

treated

Thus

is about

25s.

per

plant to treat
per
about
would
3000
of tailingsper month
cluding
cost
tons
4000, not inand
the
of tailings wheel
cost
or
smelting offices.
assay
smaller
in
the
is
cost
For
Hand
proportion. The
larger plants
be
roofed
should
not
it
noted, are
over
as
they
cyanide plants,
of

ton

are

tailingsto

in many
In

America

be

other

steel

countries.

leaching

vats

cost

about

cents

per

lb.

free

68

THE

board

on

67.

about

cost

Thus

oars.

100

CYANIDE

100

the

vats

9400

weighing

vat

ton

wood

red

For

PROCESS.

is

cost

200

F.O.B.

42

tons

follows

as

would

lbs.

80

500

120

The

American

They
which

(that
bottom.

40
is

red

are

gals.,
the

inside

wood

vats

coated

generally
costing

only),

8,
two

is

stated

are

with
sufficient
coats

to

P.
to

on

the

and

give
B.

coat

sides

every
Paraffin

500

and

tion.
satisfac-

paint,
ton

three

of

twice

vat

on

the

70

THE

In

the
the

to

flow

the

of

case

in

dry-crushed

from

mass

the

over

below,
surface,

solution

strong

but

from

two

to

for

contact

to

meate
perallowed
it
is
tailings

of

case

downwards.

soak

iu

is allowed

solution

iu the

takes

stand

to

the

ore

and

generally

tailingsit is allowed

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

The
four

fillingof
With

hours.

twelve

after

hours,

which

With
slow artificial
percolation is begun.
dry-crushed ores
at once.
percolation is commenced
The
takes
from
leaching with the strong solution
twenty-four
of the
to
forty-eight or more
hours, according to the character
bullion
in the
of ores
case
containing a proportion of fairly
; but
the
make
it
is
the strong solution
to
coarse
gold,
customary to
up
working strength and pass it through the charge till an adequate
extraction
The

is obtained.

cyanide solution, often called the first wash, is then

and
the
from
generally
applied. It is pumped
strong
sump,
varies
in strength from
of
0 1 per cent,
0*25
to
potassium
per cent,
It
is
allowed
tration
to percolate as rapidly as
cyanide.
possible, the filof an
artificial
being facilitated,when
by means
necessary,
which
be
aircreated
exhaust, or an
by a steam
vacuum,
may
connected
with
a
vacuum-cylinder.
pump
The
first weak
three
is succeeded
or
by two
cyanide wash
washes
of solution
from
the weak
0*02
containing from
per
sump,
of KCy.
cent,
to 0*1 per cent,
A
final washing of clean
is then
water
applied, which
serves
the
to displacethe preceding weak
cyanide wash.
By this means
remains
in circulation
much
about
quantity of cyanide solution
the

weak

same.

it is sometimes
advantageous
pyritic ores
solution
the
before
solution.
to apply a weak
cyanide
strong
By
this means
and
a
a
larger extraction
saving of cyanide is effected.
is about
one-third
The
used
of
quantity of the strong solution
the
and
of
the
The
water-washes
each
weight
ore.
cyauide
are
about
one-sixth
of the weight of the ore.
of slimy tailingsit is found
During the treatment
advantageous
the material
to sometimes
and
turn
hand-labour,
over
by
thereby
effect a more
from
complete washing out of the cyanide solutions
the slimes, which
and
retain
always have a tendency to entangle
them
another
and
transfer
it
from
to
to
vat
or
even
one
subject to
second
a
leaching.
In

the

treatment

of

Discrepancies between
are

often

but

source

in most

of much
cases

imperfect sampling or
weighs considerably over
At

the

the

Witwatersrand

theoretical

annoyance
they will

incorrect
2240

and

and
be

actual

extractions

perplexity

found

tonnage.

to

At

be

to

the

due

most

lurgist,
metal-

either

mines

to
ton

lbs.

Goldfields,

in

South

Africa,

the

tailings

ACTUAL

THE

subjected

sometimes

are

cyanide

treatment

the

again

treated

vats, and

white

labour

with

of

difference

would

first

the

other

leaching
will

extraction
the

cover

of

cost

this

extra

Rand

the

on

amounts

where
about

to

is raised

to 85

72

said

high-priced

cent., and
per
With
tailings

cent.

per

is,however,

recovery

only

leave

to

margin

profit.
The

be

the

i.e.,after

cyanide.

treatment

of fair value

treatment

charged into
cyanide. A higher

available,

was

double

71

CYANIDE.

are

if the

extraction

average

BY

double

with

and

handling

extra

The

to

residues

it is doubtful

result, but
the

EXTRACTION

tabulated

follows

as

1.

Filling the

2.

The

3.

Leaching

different

the

which

in

sequence

operations

applied

are

may

leaching

vats.

with

preliminary treatment

water

alkaline

or

washes

if

necessary.

cent,

4.

to

First

5.

per

Second

6. Third
7.

Fourth

8.

Fifth

The

solutions

same

in the

carried

through

the

most
generally carry
the
through
strong

weak

from

sump,

containing

from

KCy.

cent.

dissolved

ore

are

out

by

allowed

the

the

the

by
and

first

tion,
strong solu-

second

washes.

flow

to

box.

the

ors,
through the zinc extractthe
weak
strong box, and

The

first

dissolved

washes,

two

bullion,

which

conducted

are

extractor.

FIRST

of

containing

water.

weak
of

sump,

KCy.

cent.

from

through

solutions

per

last.

clean

are

strong

per

as

same

0*3

second.

as

with

or

from

per

0'1

from

containing

KCy.

cyanide
to

solutions

strong

0'26

to

with

silver

removed

cyanide
the

wash,
wash,

of

cyanide

cent,

wash,

gold
and

cent,

per

and

per

solution

strong
cent,

with

wash,

0*02

The

0*6

wash,

0*1

the

with

STAGE.

with
Dry-Crushed
Filling the Vats
the
charging of the vats
dry-crushed ores,
clouds

Ore.
is

In

the

case

simple operation,

to
be
dust,
seem
only disadvantage being
At
Waihi
inseparable from the handling of dry-pulverized ores.
generally charged by trucks
90-8tamp mill the vats were
running
to a traveller,provided with
hand-traversing gear so as to enable
on
In
order
the sand
to
to be tipped in different
parts of the vat.
the
from
trucks
the
sand
to
discharged
on
was
prevent packing,
below
the
fixed
main
traveller
the platform of a small
traveller.
the pulverized material
was
dispersed in a gentle
By this means

the

the

shower

over

the

whole

vat.

of

which

72
At

by

vats

dry pulp is conveyed from the mill

or
by belt-conveyors, both very

the

plants

some

screw-conveyors

methods

of

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

to

the

efficient

transport.

N.Z., the
Cyanide Works, Kuaotunu,
Kapai- Vermont
the
situated
filled directly from
dust-bin, which
vats
was
were
of a chute, provided
in an
elevated
overhead
position. By means
with
was
evenly spread over
canvas
joint,the material
a universal
At

the

the

vats.

When

the

smooth

method

the

workmen,

Filling the
disadvantages

All

One

of

the

stamp-mill

the

even

ores,

rake

or

advantages

the

it.

over

hand-

over

healthier

serious

most

is the

tion
produc-

silicious,form

most

; and

wet-stamped

when

slimes

made

was

dust.

with

wet-crushing

of fine slimes.

ore

expeditious,and

Tailings.

with

Vats

the

hoe

many

less

it raises

of

wooden

wide, shallow

as

of

surface

fillingpossesses
It is cheaper, more

of

trucks.

fillingby

the

charged

was

by passing

This

for

vat

when

clayey

portion
pro-

earthy
oxides are associated
with
country-rock, iron or manganese
excessive.
the ore, the proportion of slimes
is often
slimes
In many
valuable, sometimes
are
even
places the
very
In
than
the
sands.
they prove
more
so
leaching processes
very
with
interfere
the
percolation and
refractory, as they seriously
both
to be
costly and
washing, thereby causing the extraction
the slimes
are
irregularly distributed
through
imperfect. When
channels
the sands
form
the cyanide solutions
through them, and
result.
the
natural
imperfect leaching is
At
the Witwatersrand
Goldfields, where
wet-crushing, followed
by copper-plate amalgamation, is at present universal, there are
the tailings before
in use
for dealing with
methods
treatment
two
with
the
pulp from
cyanide. The
copper-platesis lifted by a
bucket
wheel, run
through a launder, and then classified by vpitzkasten
or
products, namely:
spitzluteninto two
and
80
Sands
slimes,
(a.)
per cent.
sands, 20 per cent.
containing some
(b.) Concentrates
The
collected in a storage tank, and kept under
concentrates
are
of

or

matter,

to

water

cyanide vats
Filling

the
"

the

extensive
the

Company,
and

then

now
means

off

The
the

by
from

of two

process
works

by

or

sands

and

by

what

either

treatment,

into three

tons.

free

the

"

the

slimes

pass

is known

Intermediate

as

Filling

Estate

to

on

the

"

process.

Gold

Langlaagte
Mining
the
are
concentrated,
leaving
plates,
ing
large settlingdams, each capable of holdof

the

tailings,after

run

7000
carried

for

"

Direct
At

while

prevent oxidation,

sands

overflow,
slimes,

endless

are

settle
and

in the

allowed

hauled

steel-wire

ropes,

dam,
to run

from

and

while

the

away.

the

dams

run

up

slimes

The
in
to

an

are

tailings,
by

trucks

overhead

ACTUAL

THE

tram-line,

ready

for

from

which

mines

32

73

CYANIDE.

the

into

leaching

vats

are

and

shape,
the

of

there

feet

square
these
From

11

mill.
are

ft. in

per

Princess, and

Robinson,

many

tailings,after being subjected

settling-tanks,which
for the
sufficientlylarge and numerous
the
At
Robinson
plant, treating 330
intermediate

into

run

the

the

Johannesburg,

in

requirements
tons
per day,
diameter, and

At

at

circular

are

dumped

are

Filling1.

concentration,

to

they

BY

treatment.

Intermediate
other

EXTRACTION

wooden

circular

six

This

depth.

24

vats, each

gives

ft. in
of

settling surface

stamp.

intermediate

the

buted
distritailings are
When
the
slope of the ground
the
leaching vats,
placed above

settling vats

the

leaching vats.
permits it,the settling vats are
the tailingsbeing discharged from
when
holes in the bottom
; but
level
the
the
of
below
the
they are
leaching vats,
tailings are
actuated
hauled
trucks
wire
endless
in
by
up
ropes.
the
To ensure
of
in
and
distribution
sand
slimes
a
fairly even
the leaching vats, a simple and
distributor,
ingenious automatic
in use
" Mein, is now
in all parts of
invented
by Messrs. Butters
the world.
It consists
of a central casting, with a vertical
spindle
conical
the
in
and
a foot-step,
carrying a
hopper at
revolving
top,
from
radiate
twelve
iron
with
bent
which
sixteen
ends.
or
pipes
To
These
in.
in
size
from
to
1
2 in. in diameter.
pipes vary
their
attached
flattened
in
nozzles
assist
to
discharge ends are
wide
A coarse
is placed
a
area.
screen
spreading the tailingsover
the
to
central hopper, or bowl, so as
over
or
pieces
prevent stones
the
The
of wood, or other
from
distributor
debris,
choking
pipes.
to

is fixed

on

reaction

an

the

of

iron

column

insure

before

water

with

settle
the
the

success,

similar

machine
vat

is

to

the

V.,

the

carry

sand

off the

and

the

until

running,

the

there
fine
takes

be

must

be

of

filled

place

the
water

continual

The

slimes.

the

VI.)

overflow
must

of

vat, and

it to
pipes causes
an
ordinary garden

otherwise

pulp,

the

bent

that

to

Plate

the

of

centre

collectingvat

admitting

the

the

from

pulp escaping

slowly revolve in a manner

sprinkler. (Fig. 4, Plate
To

in

with

slimes

would

began.

While

overflow

discharge, or

all

clean

of

from

overflow,

the

ference,
circumpoints
annular
into an
ring, surrounding the top
it to the
of the
of
slime-pit. The overflow
vat, which
conveys
the
until
is full of sand, therebe
continuous
vat
fore,
slimes
must
should
the
when
battery stops, a regular quantity of water
from

still be
The
water

six

settling vat
being received

supplied to the vat.

vats
are
provided with
is allowed

hours

before

to

drain

at

filters,and

off for

fifteen

discharging, holes

are

when

full of

tailingsthe
or
twenty-four hours, while
the
to
dug down
discharge

74

doors

let

to

discharged into
doors, or

the

"

where

house,
At

the

in

the

through the whole

The
advantages
(a.) By means
collected

claimed

for

leaching vats.
(quicklime ground

that

way

it

intermediate

(The

quantity
and

tanks,
slimes

of
of

size

bulk

the

condition

the

the

are

slimes
of

nature

on

sands

during

thus

being

in

that

little

the

the

for treatment,

pyrites

extraction

fine

contents

(e.)The

sands

is very

slight, so

cyanide

consumed.

be

(d.) A higher
of

battery-box. )

the

of

of

depends

best

will

gets distributed

intermediate

discharging through the bottom,

operation get thoroughly mixed,

(c.)Oxidation

be

can

which

sands, from
be

can

obtained

cost

extracted

owing

85

the

to

of

cent,

per

presence

the

gold

by cyanide,
small.

is very
principal disadvantage is the

The

the

of lime

tank

the

into

run

into

fillingare
distributor, nearly all the

the

of

in the

size of screen,

(6.) When

emptied
amount

such

in

then

are

mass.

escaping.
ore,

vat

are

required

ball-mill)is added

drained, the tailingsare

charge
below, through "bottom-dis-

which

trucks,

contents

time

When

out.

leaching

into

their

same

flow

water

more

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

of treatment

tendency of the distributor to

form
deposits of slime, through irregular distribution, at places
the bottom
of the tank, thereby causing some
trouble
on, or near,
in draining off the water.
Direct

City

Filling.

This

and

Suburban,
and
Witwatersrand,

method

Crown

is

Reef,

in
and

the

at

use

other

works

companies
pulp, as it

of

the

at

the

leaves
conducting the
the copper-plates,into a classifier or spitzlute. In this the pulp is
and
the overflow, carrying slimes
divided
into two
streams
: oue,
fine sands
other, carrying the coarse
sands, together with
; the
sand
and
fine
which
slimes,
some
are
conveyed by an india-rubber
hose
to the
leaching vat, where
they are distributed
by moving
the

hose

carried

over

off

the

area

of

and

the

fitted

The

vat.

inside

of

excess

the

water

vat, taking with

is
it

slimes.

for direct fillingare

advantages claimed
exposed to
pyritic tailings are

The
1.

whole

in

by adjustable gates

fine sand

some

consists

That

the

minimum

of

oxidation.
2.

3.

second

handling of
rough preliminary
the

The
1.

the

tailingsis

classification

avoided.
is

effected,thus

ing
separat-

fine slimes.

principal disadvantages of this method

The
packing of the tailings, which
water.
draining of the contained

are

prevents

complete

'

76

THE

The

generally used
at the Thames,

author

Works

soda,
zinc,

be

must

attended

it is not

as

which

fouls

the

when

extraction

lime

sulphides

not

are

it

On

extractor.

addition

the

that

mental
Experi-

preferable to caustic
production of ferrocyanide of

found

the

in the

Government

the

at

and

with

zinc

remembered

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

in

present

hand,

other

it

only improves the

the material
being

lime

of

the

treated.
When

the

is certain
to
cyanide contains
sulphide, the extraction
the
slow and unsatisfactory. The
on
sprinkling of lead acetate
the
tank
of
will
the
the
sulphide as
precipitate
sulphur of
top
lead sulphide, thus
the
from
free
sulphide.
leaving
cyanide
In the case
of very acid tailings,Feldtmann
strongly condemns
ing
the practice of conducting the
preliminary washing in the leachof the
account
vat, on
possibilityof the acid acting on the
residual
cyanide in the vat, and thereby liberating sufficient
an
hydrocyanic acid to dissolve
appreciable quantity of gold,
which
would
he says
be lost, as
it is not
precipitated by zinc.
He
be effected
in one
vat, and
suggests that the washing should
the
that
the
of
costs
extra
leaching in another; and considers
made
than
handling would be more
up by the higher extraction.
if hydrocyanic acid has any
It is doubtful
action
on
gold ; but
it is probable that the ascending acid
by uniting with any alkali
alkaline
form
would
at once
react
an
cyanide which
present would
on
gold to which it had access.
any
be

STAGE.

THIRD

Solution

Strong

solution,

strong

Leaching.

about

one-third

generally containing from

potassium cyanide, is
When
the

stop-cock is

then

In

After

the

shut,

off, and

drawn

generally
through.

stands

solution

the

takes

case

from

of

the

0*2

per
allowed

and

the

nitration

tailings,the

to

drawn

off to

assist

lying

diffusion

below

The

solution

allow

hours,
standing
of
lumps
slimy material, the
passed through the zinc extractor.
to

solution

the

of

and

to

to

the

ore

filter

the

is

solution

percolate

added

is

on

top.

permeate

drained

slowly
off,
are
sionally
occaquantities
solution
through the
is

Small

of

strong

solution

the

charge,

surface

thirty-sixhours

strong

all the
and

the

commenced.

the

ore,

able
of availcent,
per
the vat from
below.

into

pass
above

solution

twenty-four

twelve

to

0 5

to

the

of

weight

cent,

inches

two

dry-crushed

With

mass.

It is
sump

very

common

practice to apply

containing,say, 0*05
the intention
being

to
to

0*10

before

allow

the

weak

solution

applying
acids

and

the

from

the

strong

tion,
solu-

foreign

matters

THE

destructive

ACTUAL

EXTRACTION

BY

77

CYANIDE.

the weak
solution,
cyanide to expend themselves
on
before applying the strong solution.
the ore
When
contains
from
a
large proportion of silver
say,
five to eight parts to every
found
it will be
sary
necespart of gold
to adopt one
obtain
of two
in order
to
courses
a satisfactory
to

extraction.

Either

used

to

be
that

greater bulk

much
leach

of the

the

taken

ore

ore

say,
else a

solution

potassium cyanide
a
quantity equal

or

of

in

weight

to

must

be

stronger solution

much

must

used.
The
the

these

former, only, of
contained

two

would

courses

be

applicable

if

small

oxide, carbonate,
proportion of copper
the
bility
soluof
of
since
or
sulphide
sulphide, or
antimony,
of cyanide, but
of these
in all solutions
especially in the
render
fair extraction
a
strong, would
impossible, besides causing
a

ore

heavy
The

than
more

loss of cyanogen.

sulphide
gold, and
expensive
On

ores.

even

the

of silver

ores

this

for
than

other

of

hand,

the

silver)is more
readily acted
80
exceeding
per cent.
In the practical treatment
of the
the

first anomalies

fact

that

speak, yet
and

the

does

second

to

carry

cyanide

It is found

on

of

attract

treatment

ores

and

the

notice

strong solution,
not

soluble

in

cyanide
always
ordinary tailings or gold-bearing
of silver
chloride
(kerate or horn
than gold, the extraction
generally
the

reason

that

slowly

more

are

while
this

it away,

of

such

is

tailingsby cyanide, one

of the
metallurgist is
the
it loosens
gold, so to
being effected by the first
'

washes.

portions of the strong solution,draining

from
the charge, contain
only from 0*02 per cent, to 0*1 per cent,
of
the
off stronger and
cyanide ; but
remaining portions come
the
stronger after a lapse of eight or twelve
hours, until, towards
end
of the
the
maximum
is
reached,
strength
strong leaching,
after which
the strength declines
before
the
little
a
application of
the first cyanide wash.
solution
The
first portions of the
during the strong cyanide
in cyanide and
low
in gold, are,
leaching, being weak
therefore,
the
the
weak
while
later portions,
zinc
passed through
extractor,
with
the
first
and
second
conducted
cyanide washes, are
together
the

to

strong

It will
in

that

be

first

extractor.

found

dissolving gold

the

the

in
than

used

become

zinc-extractors

fresh

practice that

solutions

charged

with

solutions
which

the

in
inert

are

more

active

passing through
zinccompound

potassic-cyanide.

Strong
has

Sump-Solution

completely

drained

Wash.

off, the

strong

After

the

strong

sump-solution

is

solution

applied

78

CYANIDE

THE

from

above, being

in

run

strength varies from

the quantity applied
of the

0*1

PROCESS.

the

on

top,

one-third

from

0*25

to

cent,

per

to

the

of

surface,

or

of

cent,

per

of

one-quarter

Its

ore.

KCy, and
the weight

ore.

weak

This

solution

is sometimes

through the charge, but

as
possible, for the more

allowed

it is drawn

often

more

to

slowly percolate
off as
rapidly

solutions
rapidly the wash
off the
effective
is the
The
nitration
more
washing.
the
the
bottom
of
stop-cock connecting
by opening
with
the vacuum-cylinder.
vat
The
percolation of the weak solution generally takes
to twenty
hours, the time depending on the condition
forming the charge.

Weak

Water

and

Cyanide

Washes.

will

of these

is assisted
the

leaching

of

and

sump,

wash

cyanide

and

from

one

quantity of each
strong cyanide solution.
effect

of

the

by assaying

other

; in

of

the

wash

in

is

most

washes

residues

and
ore,

necessary
the
from
whole

followed

by

the

from

weak

washes.

water

different

pulp

the

the

cases

strong

final

The

The

wash

water

cyanide leaching
a cyanide wash
strong sump,

the
two

or

final

of the

consists

treatment

sump,

then

the

number

character

depend entirely on
strength
In some
it is found
cases
or
tailings,being operated on.
three
four
weak
to apply as many
or
as
cyanide washes,
weak

twelve

from

The

the

drawn

are

one-half

cases

should

that

of

be

mined
carefully deterafter
each
washing, and also the
from
the
the
vat.
By this means

they drain
number
of washings will soon
be ascertained.
necessary
The
of the charge
sample should
represent a fair average
assay
in the
is easily and
reliably obtained
vat, and
by taking a large
number
the full depth of the charge, by means
of cores,
of a tube
like
cheese
be
should
a
shaped something
sampler. The
scores
down
dried
for
and then
sampled
assay.
aim
the
of
the
different
solutions
which
Briefly summarized,
have
in
the
been
applied to the material
leaching vat is as
solutions

wash

follows

as

(a.)

Alkaline
of

waste

wash,

with

different

The
and

the

direct

method

and

to

Dry

2.

Cyanide

acidity

solution

effect

prevent

so

to

as

prevent

water

of

washes,

cyanide

from

gold,
to displace cyanide
being thrown
away

residues.

operations

to

of treatment

crushing.

1.

to

and

solutions

solution

neutralize

cyanide.

(6.) Strong solution,

(c.) Weak

to

treatment.

be

undertaken
may

be

in

summarized

the

dry-crushing
as

follows

THE

ACTUAL

3.

Copper-plate

4.

Concentration

5.

Treatment

With

EXTRACTION

of

amalgamation
tailings

of
of

79

CYANIDE.

tailings.

from

plates.

concentrates.

the

wet-crushing

different

1.

Wet-crushing.

2.

Copper-plate

3.

Concentration.

4.

Treatment

of

concentrates,

5.

Treatment

of

tailings

6.

Treatment

of

slimes

operations

are

amalgamation.

When

Remark.

BY

by
by

by

leaching

cyanide

other

or

means.

cyanide.
cyanide.
sands

slimy

the

successive

solutions

and

should

washes

samples

assay

to

subsequent

so

as

of

sand,

its

easy

said

replacement

partially

drained,

If

fine

taken.

very

drained,
Hence

solutions.

leave
the

be

thoroughly

be

slimes,

to

to

be

only

cushion

or

jacket

jacket

preventing
by

the

solution

is

of

sands,
become

they
it

sufficient

just

to

and

allow

ing
contain-

impervious
partially

round

solution

following.

sands

almost

important

packing

or

to

thereby

each

drain

particle
permitting

CHAPTER

TBEATMENT

THE

With
of

all

methods

certain

ore

of

valuable

the

on

of

attention

been

has

much
is

the

thought

and

and

the

at

is

certain

generally

has

engaged

wet-crushing,

of

number

the

slimy
the

years.
culty
diffi-

the

in

consisting

one,

author

the

which

to

for

permit

attempts

many

from

one

from
to

the

are

process,

experiment

as

slimes

resulting

subject

cost

matter,

years.

cyanide

solutions

such

the

treatment

many

when

containing
the

gold,

mechanical

earthy

ores

slimes

and

separating

effectively,

for
the

the

principally

or

successful

of

scale,

problem

low

their

leach

to

economic

of

of

and

metallurgists

made

devoted

The

or

other

formation

and

inevitable,

In
'

float

introduction

the

an

fine

very

clay,

the

pulverizing

seems

large.

very

product,

Since
have

often

is

proportion

oxides,

SLIMES.

and

slimes

of

metallic

production

OF

wet-crushing

of

proportion

contains

VII.

rapidly,

mass,

slimes

of

treatment

value.

Up

the

to

tried,

with

present

force

filtration,

by

an

is

battery

that

be

leached

can

by

ores

slimes

have

these

presses
and

be

may
;

been
tioned
men-

and

agitation

with

agitation

vacuum.

attended

always
of

proportion
material

of

other

decantation

artificial

dry-crushing

The

and

and

agitation

aided

devices

Among

success.

hydraulic

by

compression

different

many

of

degrees

varying

centrifugal

great

the

with

only

Californian

production

shallow

in

the

of

means

depth
direct

the

of
of

stamp

large

so

the

pulverized

method

cyanide

of

treatment.
The
stands
a

battery

stamp

unrivalled

the
no

In

New

mill,

all

dust
better

Zealand
the

best

all

for

unscientific

most

invented

was

classes

machine,
when

reduced

has
and
known

yet

for

been

of

For

ore.

of

account

on

to

the

which

for

dry-crushing
its

requisite

inability

to

fineness.

it
is

it

charge
dis-

theless,
Never-

invented.

Australia
roll

wet-crushing,

every

machines,
80

variety
and

of

pan

pulverizers

and
of

ballmany

TREATMENT

THE

different

designs have

soft and

friable,and

discarded
which

the ore
tried,but, except where
was
is to produce slime, all have

very
been

object

for the

known
at present
stamp, which is the only machine
with
the
hard
to cope successfully
quartzose ores.
depth of dry pulverized material
placed in the leaching

is able

The

seldom

vats

silicious

exceeds
This

ores.

small
for

ton

been
the

81

SLIMES.

OF

feet,

the

favourable

most

a
large plant
correspondingly greater

to

and

of ore,

output

with

even

treat

tively
comparacost

per

treatment.

Author's

Experiments

of

parcel
The

three

necessitates

from

ore

consisted

ore

of

Early

hard

mine,

bluish

treated

the author

in 1893

Monowai

the

and

in

large

district.

Thames

the

grey-coloured splintery

quartz, containing a considerable

proportion of sulphides of iron,
copper, lead, and zinc.
The
dried, dry-crushed, sampled and
ore
was
assayed, showing
in a stamp
value of 5, 5s. per ton.
The
effected
a
crushing was

battery, which
These

slimes

produced
rendered

percolation,even
water,
I

the

forming
The

it

with

the

aid

when

slimes,

only
impervious bed,

an

to

draw

pulp

was

off the

of bullion

of

the

it

slimes.

leaching by
mixed

the

on

which

through

finest

When

vacuum.

thick, settled

4 in.

with

filter-cloth,
found

was

possible
im-

solution.

subjected

then

the

large quantity of
impossible to effect

effected

which

agitation,by

to

in six

the

tion
dissolu-

The

hours.

separation
a
long and tedious
pulp, however, was
over
operation, and extended
eight days. It was effected,but not
satisfactorily,
by agitating the ore, allowing the slimes to
very
The
settle,and then drawing the clear solution off by a syphon.
of the

was

solution

weak

solution

from

and

In

order

wash-

waters

reduced

was

with

and

it

With
A.

C.
With
A.
"'

L.

D.

when

crushed,

found

that

60-Mesh

18%

the

o/0

of

an

fineness

to

on

were,

in each

case,

...

on

100% passed through

...

....

....

which

the

ore

of

remained

the

made
experiments were
ordinary battery-punched screen,

number

results

100% passed through

22%
/o

succession, and

remained

40-Mesh

in

each.

degree

60-mesh, 40-mesh, and

was

added

were

after

the

ascertain

to

seven

the

operation performed

same

or

as

follows

82

With

THE

CYANIDE

Punohed-Sorebn,

equal

the

Taking
that

found

values

the

received

also

dust,

in all

finest

confirmation

The

From

The

nearly

9,

1893

patent
be

gold

the

for

described

in the

material

silver

in

the

from

ton.

per
13

pulp from
platform 1

the
to

dust-bin
thus

12,

was

showing

contents.

author

obtained,

with

agitation and

follows

during

bin.

dust

fine

silver

to

combined
as

dry

follows

platform

in the

and

of the

increase
In

of

1 to

as

elevated

an

the

was

This
the

that

.550

platform,

ratio

than

were

dust-bin,

an

values

relative

on

values.

highest

gave
the
circumstance

from

crushing, assayed higher

products separately,it
the

cases

collected

had

which

30-Mesh-

to

different

the

of

PROCESS.

his

of

two

leaching

assistants,
which

process,

may

the
in
shallow
of a
operation consist
appliances used
The
and
is
circular
vat
an
vat, a vacuum-cylinder,
air-pump.
soft rubber
which
to
brushes
provided with four revolving arms,
The
is provided with
false
bottom
of the
attached.
vat
a
are
with
bottom, consisting of a wooden
wool-packing
grating covered
The
The
follows :
other webbing.
as
or
operation is conducted
is
the
first
leaching solution, made
required strength,
ducted
conup to
The
then
in
into the vat.
set
are
motion,
revolving arms
and
introduced.
The
the dry pulp or fine slimes
tinued
agitation is conA
is complete.
for six hours, or until the extraction
cock,
stopthe
of the
false-bottom
and
in a pipe connecting the
vat
The
vacuum-cylinder, is then opened, and the air-pump started.
clear
solution
is
The
immediate.
effect
at
once
begins to drain
the
the
into
the
brushes
over
vacuum-cylinder,
on
revolving arms
the
and
slimes
from
choking up the filter-cloth.
preventing
settling

The

When

the

first wash
as

slimes

been

down

to

thick

again started, and the

added, the pump
The
are
subsequent washes
applied in the
the washing is completed, a plug or door

and,

when

the

leached
and

slimes

are

sluiced

washing takes
was
adopted
process

leaching

drained

is

before.

This

have

from

by

out.

The

eighteen
the

author

to

paste,

slimes

the

drained

same

is

manner,
opened, and

whole

operation
twenty-four hours.

of

for

of

the

treatment

84

CYANIDE

THE

Acting

on

obtained

author

thrown

suggestion

Mr.

from

Mining Company, the

showing the relative values
These
the pulverized ore.

Wichmann,

of

number

of

the

experiments,

different

degrees

are

instructive.

fineness

of

relative
values
degree of fineness and
reduced
ore
was
by stamping through

to

of

results

very

of

Value

0-36%
2-16%
9*29%

B.
C.

remained

on

74-28% passed

(1600 holes)

60-mesh

(3600 holes)
(6400 holes)

Similar

Experiments

0*3% remained
7-8%
14-7%
85'3% passed

C.

40-mesh

80-mesh

25-72%

D.

(900 holes)

E.

B.

30-mesh

D.

A.

Waihi

30-

Screens.

mesh

A.

the

showing
"Martha"

which

the

C.

metallurgistto

Banks,

results

Mr.

by

out

G.

E.

Gold

Experiments

PROCESS.

on

40-mesh

2
3

18

11

10
2

Screens.

40-mesh

(1600 holes)

60-mesh

(3600 holes)
(6400 holes)

80-mesh

12

11

19

11

showing

Experiments

with

Ton.

per

value

Dust

of

rising from

stamp

Dry -crushing.
Value

obtained

Dust

A.

floor

from

B.
""

"

j"

"

""

""

C.

Average

different

The
be

classified

processes
follows :

as

Decantatiotl,

1.

high

10

ft. to

20

ft.

20

ft. to

30

ft.

30

ft. to

40

ft.

40

ft. to

60

ft.

which

from

ore

10

ft.

high

Ton.

per

16

19

13

11

""

E.
of

to

)"

D.

value

of mill

of slime

this

dust

came

treatment

at

present

in

use

may

practised

as

in

Africa, America

and

New

Zealand.

New

and
3.
4.

Sun-drying.

Rand
the

features

as

practised

in

Western

Australia

Zealand.

Electro-chemical

Central
Robinson
of the

precipitation.
In

Decantation.

at

method,

Filter-press

2.

Ore

1896

Reduction

mine,
treatment

at

Mr.

C. Butters, then

Company,

erected

the

cost

of

are

the

classification

nearly

" 6

manager

large

0,000.
of

the

of

slime
The

the

plant
salient

slimes

into

TREATMENT

THE

three
fine
fine

85

SLIMES.

OF

consist
of
products, which
while
the
treated
in
sands, are
vats;
by ordinary leaching
slimes
with
leached
in
vats
revolvi
are
agitators, by a proug
cess
The
author
1893.
Zealand
the
in
patented in New
early
by

products.

agitators

The

about

are

second

first and

10

ft. in

provided

and

diameter,

nnd

filter-frame

with

is drawn

solution

webbing.
During agitation the
with
an
a
vacuum-cylinder.
by means
air-pump connected
A fuller description of this process
is given further
on.
On
the Rand, the treatment
of slimes
has naturally been
a very
and
serious
much
time
problem, to the solution of which
money
have
been
The
of
devoted.
treating slimes,
following method
off

of

known

the

as

Crown

the

Reef

the

by

Robinson

slimes

from

being
is regulated by
the

ft.

slimes

automatic

an

it

with

carrying

of

the

milk

lime

the

slimes

supply

much

too

the

lime,

The

It

adopted

water,

form.

feeder, as

interferes

into

first two

The

vats

conical

slimes
a

two

of

lime

as

bad

is

precipitation of

efficient

are

More

by allowing
jet of cyanide
0*1

About

filled with

percent,
80

32

per

been

and

solution,

drawn

slimes

are

then

90

the

and

ft.

pumped
of the

cent,

per

10

deep, having a
the
separated from

10

are

transferred

and

40 ft. and

bottom

been

ft.

sluiced
to

strength

into

of which

pump

series

second

is

of

brought

KCy.
of

the

gold is dissolved
agitation is continued

but
through the pumps,
hours
by withdrawing the solution at the
it in oblique jets at the top and
through
The

the

and

settle,they

to

ft.

of them

two

separated.

having

water

40

vats, about

ft. in diameter

solution

of

off at

treatment

having

them

cent,

third

the

drawn

are

in them

large pointed boxes,

and

deep,

eight

each

bottom.

vats
to

in three

slimes

of

contained

water

10 ft.

settled

The

the

settled

are

ft. and

20

deep.

up

flocculent

at

use

gold.

The
20

precipitated in

afterwards

and
the

To

in

satisfactory results.

separator plant, is added

little,since

too

as

Works.*

been

has

process,

1896, with
R. Williams,

J.

Slime

the

thus

Mr.

by

"

settlement

August

since

first devised

was

by

natural

"

allowed

to

in
from

bottom
the

settle, and

and

the
one

passage
to

two

discharging

sides.
the

clear

off

solution

is

through side-cocks (which have been replaced by syphon

pipes at the Robinson
Works) and passed to the precipitationboxes.
The
residual
slimes
then
are
pumped
successively into the
and
fourth
third
series
of two
further
vats, where
they are
with
dilute
solutions
to
of
agitated
cyanide and allowed
very
These
solutions
do
settle.
the
not
to
precipitation boxes,
pass
but
transferred
to the preceding series of vats.
are
*

Chem.

and

Met.

Soc.

of S. Africa, July 1897.

86

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

is run
the
series
of vats
second
"strong" solution from
and
into two
5 ft. deep, where
settling tanks, 15 ft. in diameter
From
it is allowed
to clarify. Electrical
precipitation is used.
of
'5
6643
tons
actual
extraction
cent,
60
was
treated, an
per
of
at
3s.
cost
9d.
ton.
a
obtained,
per
concentration
of the solution
The
as
regards its gold contents
when
first successfully introduced
decanted, was
by Mr. J. R.
Williams
the amount
Reef
at the Crown
plant, in order to reduce
of solution
boxes.
Naturally,
passing through the precipitating
the
when
solution
from
in
obtained
of
is
amount
a
gold
given
be
slimes
of gold can
centrated
conper twenty-four hours, if this amount
volume
into
small
of solution, a small
a
precipitating
Williams
introduced
Mr.
capacity is required. For these reasons
the system
of double
washing ; that is to say, the first solution
clarified and
that
the
is not
is applied to
slimes after decantation
what
is
into
passed through the precipitation boxes, but is run
called
intermediate
tank," and then pumped
an
again
up for use
fresh
second
it
slimes.
this
After
of
decantation,
a
charge
upon
is run
through the clarifyingapparatus to the boxes for precipitation.
The
settled
slimes
then
re-pulped with an equal volume
are
which
of solution
from
the
is, solution
precipitated sump
; that
has passed through
the
Theoretically, the
precipitation boxes.
of the unprecipitated solution
enrichment
could
be carried
on
until it was
equal to the value of the slimes, but in practice it has

The

"

been

found

and

the

that

the

second

wash

make
altogether),

South

the

African

wash

Practice.

1.
2.

Spitzkasten

3.

Collection

Rand

the

1901, is based
the

from
the
A

slimes

of

the

some

of the

Company
best

slimes

in

collecting

vats

vided
pro-

solution.
of

for

solution

tation.
precipi-

agitation is generally effected by

cases
revolving stirrers are used.

the
in

follows

as

slimes.

decantation

Practice.
Waihi

on

separation

the

but

are

tion
decanta-

of the

features

of slimes.

and

slimes

Zealand

adopted by

and

sands

settlement

mines,

centrifugal pump,
New

Africa

decanting syphon.
with
cyanide

of

5. Settlement

the

main

of slimes

Agitation

At

South

not

perfect system.

most

The

been

precipitated,
precipitated (two washes

been

and

concentration
and

with
4.

has

simplest

practised in
Spitzluteseparation of

has

which

which

as

process

at

first

South

The
at

method
their

African

of
mill

new

at

treatment
in

Waikino

practice,differingonly

gold-containingsolutions

instead
by filter-presses

slimes

of

which

repeated

are

in

separated

decantation

as

Rand.

detailed

description of

the

methods

of slime

treatment

at

the

THE

Company's

Waihi

E.

Filter-Press

that
The

application.
the

oxidized

past

scarcity

of

found

be

in

process

has

years,

but

few

received

has

it

will
This

the

during

by the company's
Chapter XII.

stamps, furnished

Banks,

Practice.

Zealand

Australia

G.

87

SLIMES.

OF

of 320

mills

metallurgist, Mr.
New

TREATMENT

widest

its

and

water

successful

most

clayey

in

Western

it is in

and

the

revived

been

character

of

tropical country presented a difficult

the
with
problem to the metallurgist and chemist.
Compared
decantation
extraction
is being obtained,
a
higher average
process,
with
lower
the
value
of the
of
but
water
a
consumption
;
assay
residues
is higher than
in South
it has
been
Africa, where
duced
reA consideration
low as 9 J grains of gold per ton.
of the
as
the higher extractions
that
at
Kalgoorlie are due
practice shows
the
slimes
treated.
to the
higher grade of
of the
The
Details
as
of Process.
following details
process
Australia
instructive
in
Western
from
extracted
are
an
practised
of the
Donald
Mr.
Director
Clark,
recently published by
paper
in Victoria.*
Bavinsdale
Mining School
The
at
ore
Kalgoorlie, as a rule, is dry crushed, Krupp's ball
mills
being mainly used ; after crushing, it is wholly roasted.
the
Several
field, including the shaft
are
on
types of furnaces
Mount
at
furnace
(similar to those
Morgan), Brown's, Ropp,
It is notemechanical
furnace.
worthy
Holthoff-Wethey, and Edwards'
that

of

ores

that
and

the

last

valued,

is most

perfection in roasting.
analysis of typical ore from the
appended :
cost

its

of

account

on

lowness

in

its

Lake

The

View

Consols

mine

is

These

usual

of the

pyrites.
greatest
roasted

flowing

that

the

and

gangue

is not

the

over

sulphides, and
slimes
*

are

Clark,

of this

is
favour
finding most
a
hydraulic separator,

into

ore

top,

the
led
The

while

coarse

into

the

sands

coarse
are

to

ore.

Mining

the

pass

the

drawn

the

Standard,

gold
partly
at

away
50

whole
and

fine

gold,

spitzkasten,where

Australian

'11

complex one, since it consists

small
a
comparatively
percentage of
the
of
rise
telluride
to
gold gave
ore

of
presence
difficulties
in the treatment
The

method

The

The

show

results

(undecomposed)

per

Dec.

the
cent,

5, 1901.

of

the

slimes

roasted
bottom.
of

the

88

CYANIDE

THE

flows

water

dried

cent,

of

with

cyanide

sands

from

then

which

sand

The

treated

concentrates

from

table

the

slimes

; the

sent

plates,

copper

is

are

into

run

vat,

The

solutions.

slimes

in

mating
amalga-

an

agitators,thence

the

to

coarse

concentrates

cyanide
to

per

agitated

it is

over

these

ground

are

are

run

with

way

50

containing

coarser

from

escapes

usual

in the

are

the

where

tables,

mud,

filter-pressed. The

afterwards

hydraulic separator

there

pan

the

agitators,where

into

run

and

solutions

percussion

extracted.

is

slimes,

the

over

and

top clear, and

the

off at

PROCESS.

the

to

filter-presses.
The

Dehne

given great
in the

market

The

slimes

and

Martin

is worked

press

follows

as

has
in use
and
press
has lately been
placed

favourite

the

The

in

forced

and
through the slime valve
passage,
their way
through the ports or side openings of
which
they fill up, the liquor escaping by the

are

frames

open

drain

and

find

thence

the

is
filter-press

satisfaction.

cock.

When

the

these

plates

full

of

fairly
cyaniding
then
forced
in through
the
be, are
or
washing, as the case
may
find their
These
into
the
solution channels.
solution
plate,
way
the
the
and are
forced from
corrugated plate through
perforated
slime
the
the
the
then
cake,
through
through
filter-cloth,
one,
the
of
corrugated surface
perforated plate, and down
air-plate
the
zinc
whence
should
led
It
be
to
boxes.
stated
they are
away
first
air
rid
that
is
of
the
air
imprisoned
by opening
got
any
escape
the
air
the
the
and
solution.
When
displacing
cocks,
by
liquid
starts
to run
through the air-cock, the solution
plate is closed.
When
is clear
cyaniding in presses, the escaping water
enough
the
led
back
the
be
to
to
separators ;
cyanide solutions are forced
90
lb.
of
inch until
the gold is
at
a
through
pressure
per
square
caked

is

on

ready

cocks

It takes

gold, and 90
displace any
to

for

minutes

are

the

solution

to

passage
The
cakes

50-cake

tons.

closed.

press
Messrs.

for

3-inch

the

for

few

Martin

as
agitators, as many
through in twenty-four hours, or, in
tons
day. According to Mr.
per
without
grinding power
pressing
any
1 -95 dwt. per
residues
being
average

of

Co.

other
J.

ton.

are

80

are

words,

Moss,
is

slime

the

air

is

press

usually

cubic

feet,

now

50-cake

12

to

and

to

making
press holding
in conjunction with
be
charges may
put

the

used

are

order

compressed

contains

"

cakes,

In

minutes,

slabs

2 ins. thick

presses
from
10

of

the

extract

to

presses.

current

or

for

minutes

such

are

Solutions

fill,90

empty three
solution, a
or

opening.
a

run,

then

minutes

to

water

in. square
presses
When
nearly six tons.
the

90

wash

and
3 ft. square,
three
about
or
42

to

ceases

The

slime

extracted.

turned

water

10s.
The

the
10'2d.

as

much

cost

per

total cost

as

for

60

filter

ton, the
of treat-

THE

the

from

ment

put down
The

mine

and

in labour

35s.

at

9'4d.

material

tailings dump,

suitable

allowing
repairs and

in

cost

if necessary,
the
channels

all

withstanding

for

first cost

for

is

renewals,

ton.

constructed

be

can,

with

89

SLIMES.

OF

second

per

machines

wood,

or

the

to

supplies and

Dehne

metal

TREATMENT

and

the

corrosive

of gun-

lined

valves

with

of

effects

any

particular material.
Details

of the

Diehl

and

Riecken

of which

slime

both
processes,
found
in Chapter

XIII.
operation at Kalgoorlie, will be
With
to Cyaniding.
trates
previous
Roasting
pyritic concenand
even
high grade pyritic ores, a higher percentage of the
gold contents
always be obtained
can
by roasting previous to
and
the
Colorado
in
of
cyaniding, and
Cripple Creek
camp
this
Australia
is largely adopted
Kalgoorlie in Western
process
for the treatment
of sulpho-tellurideores.
soluble
the
By roasting,
cyanide solutions are kept freer from
salts than
of gold can
when
ore
treating raw
; a higher percentage
in

are

be

extracted

and

at

smaller

is found

it

that

; the

cost

in

the

The

Only

found

author
30

In

90

per

order

should

to

values

cent., with
ensure

them

in

it is

success

roasting

ores,

and

causes

filtration

making
which

yielded
raw
state, yielded, when
consumption of cyanide.
essential
the
that
sulphides
concentrates,

smaller

is shorter

treatment

clayey
porous,

Moanataiari

their

of

cent,

per

roasted,

that

of

case

dehydration, thereby rendering

comparatively easy.

of

time

the

be

roast.
subjected to a "dead"
and
if the
is dead
quick
ore
satisfactorytest to determine
amenable
is described
to
roasted, and
cyanide treatment,
by
*
Wallace
follows
:
Macgregor as
Take
of
the
roasted
at
ore
samples
discharge end of furnace,
200
cool,take from 100 to 250 grams,
place in a beaker with
c.c.
of water
then
filter into
a minute,
; stir this by shaking for about

"

beaker

flask, and

or

the

to

cyanide
used
in the
regular work
cyanide solution
slowly and
quantity

of

cloudiness

solution

all

at

fitted for treatment

cyanide
"

salts

If

will

brown

of iron

consumption
of

be

made

up

the

in

the

to

is dead

is best

by cyanide solution,

and

as

that

add

the
If

least

at

or

the

to

result.

the

roasted,

small

strength

same

the

ore

add

beaker

plant. It
carefully,noting

of

the

appears

filtrate

consumption

no

well
of

normal.
coloration

left in

the

ore,

cyanide, and
ferro-cyanide in
of

Engineering

and

Mining

takes
which

place
will

there
cause

may

lead

to

the

zinc

boxes.

Jowrnal,

and

are

still

soluble

some

somewhat

higher
pounds
precipitation of com-

Mineral

If,

on

Industry

addition

1898.
,

of

90

CYANIDE

THE

cyanide
greenish

the

to

blue

roasted, and
As

from

economy
individual
mills

stamp

cyanide.

for

will

made

be

There
a

pay

of

foul."
that

ores,
are

fair

a
becoming
badly
very
oyanide, and

is

ore

high consumption

roasting

case.

which

soon

profitby

determined

be

must

oxidized

and

ores

direct

tailings
with

treatment

be so low-grade that
ing
roasttailingsmay
be out of the question, although if used
would
it would
increase
the
extraction
of the
with
gold on subsequent treatment
cyanide
There
phuretted
of heavy sulare
cases
by probably 10 per cent, or more.
and
where
concentrates
ores
roasting interferes with the
extraction
of the
a
gold, and causes
heavy consumption of
very
cyanide.
The
advisabilityof roasting ores
previous to cyaniding should
determined
both
in each
be carefully
by laboratory experiments
case,
and
small
where
1
10
roasted
of
dead
to
tons
plant tests,
ore

These

look

of

the

to

each

for

coloration,
the
formed, then

precipitate,is

may
circulating solution

the

blue

filtrate, a

one

PROCESS.

could
The

and

ores

worked.

be

features

main

of the

cyanide

for the

treatment

drying the ore ; dry-crushing

mills ; roasting the
in stamps, Griffin or other
pulverized ore
in furnaces; amalgamation
in pans;
cyaniding sands, if any, in
and
slimes
in
vats
agitators ; filter-press
by percolation
separation
final
of
slimes.
and
of solutions
from
slimes,
washing
of
used
A detailed
at some
description of the plant and process
the leading Kalgoorlie mines
will be found
in Chapter IX.
Goldfields
In the
Ohinemuri
of New
Zealand, the gold occurs
and
fine
hitherto
in
dry-crushing and
an
state,
extremely
cyaniding have been used, the objection to wet-crushing being the
were
always
difficultyexperienced in treating the slimes which
high grade.
mines
with
The
Crown
successful
at the
experiments conducted
this
last
of
the
and
wet-crushing
subsequent adoption
year,
of

the

process

sulpho-tellurideores

used

process

at

the

Company's

The
has

without

on

with

mill,

simultaneous

the

manipulation,
carried

consist

have

shown

that,

with

is delivered

to

The
the

ore
ore

there

is

fed

solution

stock

careful
be

can

cost.

following description of wet-crushing

special interest.*
drying. With

with

slimes

the

of

treatment

little extra

very

in

cyanide
the

into

of

about

solution

rock-breaker

the

mortars

'1

cyanide
per
The
of
the
boxes.
rate
near
strength, regulated by stop-cocks
and
35 cwt.
2 tons
flow is kept between
hour, being gauged
per
As
the stamps, which
lbs. with
at the supply-tanks.
weigh 1000
constant

stream

of

Thorpe,

Auct.

Min.

Standard,

Jan.

19, 1899.

cent,

92

THE

in

the

is

reduced

third

20

the

slimes,
to

to

half.

slimes

of

tons

original

of

amount

so

In

four

reduces

this

it

to

from

or

the

15

vat

quarter,

about

instance

particular

washes,

in

solution

gold

wash

on.

given

are

PROCESS.

second

and

eighth,

an

CYANIDE

20

to

tons

The
of
of water.
extraction
each, and
cyanide solution
one
90
few
to
exceptions being
gold usually amounts
cent., a
per
the
the
the
due
from
of
slimes
to
probably
imperfect decanting
which
sand
material
of the
some
might easily
vat, from
coarser
of

descend

method

The
this

in

three

days

of
a

four

the

of

lime,

(1)

are:

four

crushing

of

be

to

the

stamp

of

duty

The
15

labour

expense
in

economy

off,

tons

per

boxes

is

slimes

vat,

each

and

five

gives

decant

with

the

day.

The

far

very

so

dry-crushing
(2)
ore;

over

drying

of

the

one

This

For

vat.

allows
into

20

to

each

in

put

washes

from

the

(3)

"

days.

six

employed

There
days.
being
during Sunday,
up

This

vats.

the

in

Elimination

in

increase

three

in

-head

ten

"

are

rate

gold
precipitating
chief advantages
of
this
method

The

good.

at

of

extraction

The

being
hung
sand
the
treating

for

half's

the

sand

with

being filled in
washing, etc.

for

follows

as

stamps

there
a

vats

days

half

aid

and

day

the

slimes

is

vat

one

available

are

the

treating

vat.

working

of

fills
process
sand vats, and

seven

from

slime

the

into

the

cyanide

of

consumption

mill
In
the
of dust.
filling; (5) absence
and
the
review
increased
under
from
a
one
stamp duty has been
half
of
tons
to
two
tons
day per stamp ; the consumption
per
formed
decreased
about
The
in
half.
cyanide
"cyanides"
by
used
the strength of the
roasted
in
solution
are
absent, while
ore
is too
weak
the boxes
loss by agitation.
Crude
to suffer much
as
of the appliances used
the results
in this
some
justify
are
process,
be
the
expectation that dry-crushing with
cyanidation will soon
entirely displaced by wet-crushing with cyanide.
mine
At
the
Slime
Process.
at
Sun-drying
Try Fluke

(4) saving

of

Kuaotunu

in

broken

and

in

up,

slimes

of

part

New

the

Zealand,
mixed

then
to

two

but

only

can

in

the

This

sand.

of

dried

were

sands

with

parts

satisfactory results,

slimes

the

sun,
of

proportion
method
gives

carried

be

in

in

on

one

very

dry

very

climate.
This
at

the

dry

running

plant,

is

mixed

solution

of

in

adequate

is in

process

Dexter

slime

0*20%
an

slime

at

the

with

extraction

India,
in

part

one

cyanide
as

in

Tuscarora

at

top

use

fast
has

as

been

it

the

in

sand
to

runs

obtained.

five
out

United

where

Nevada,

of

three

for

and

and

leached

days,
at

one

the

the
bottom

States

part

of

with
solution
until

CHAPTER

TREATMENT

With

low-grade

close

all

In

OF

and

of concentrates

treatment

is

'rather

the

oases

proportion of five to one.

Pyritic concentrates
may
or
simply by percolation,as
give satisfactory results.
Leaching

by agitation

with

cyanide,

ordinary tailings.

Both

methods

At

Watersrand

the

by cyanide

has

been

Goldfields

the

largely adopted

in

chlorination.

preference to
the

From

with

of concentrates

treatment

leached

be

Percolation.

by

CONCENTRATES.

generally more
advantageous to omit
to
ment.
classifyprior to cyanide treatthe
from
best results
obtained
are
cyanide
the pyrites and
exist
sand
in the
when

it

ores,

concentration

VIII.

concentrated

the

storage
leaching tanks, and

vats

solution, containing

from

subjected
0'4

to

per

cent,

twelve

is taken

material
action

the

0*6

to

of
per

the

cyanide
cyanide,

strong
of

cent,

to

In
eighteen days.
practice,
solution
is allowed
to
the
slowly percolate through the concentrates,
it is then
and
passed through the zinc precipitation boxes.
the
It is again made
to
allowed
to
original strength, and
up
This
is
until
continued
factory
satisoperation
percolate as before.
a
the
Crown
is obtained.
Reef
At
extraction
Cyanide

periods varying

for

Works

the

2000

of

per ton
Mr.
C. M.

method

of this

cost

17s.

from

P.

of treatment

is

said

not

to

exceed

lbs.

gives the following

by percolation at

Wright

of concentrates

cyaniding

to

useful
the

details

of

Choukpazat

the

gold

mines.*
"

60
iron

The
to

consist

concentrates

70

cent,

per

pyrites,

copyrite, and
*

coarse

per
very

Wright,

cent,

of

30

sands

Min.

40

of

the

of

consists

little altaite.
Inst.

to

and

Of

cent,

franklinite, galena,

these

Met., London,
93

sulphides and
than
sulphurets, other

per

minerals

Nov.

the

20, 1902.

chal-

franklin-

94

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

by far the richest, assaying from 7 oz.

the
galena holds practically no gold, and
18
about
dwt.
iron
pyrites vary from
per
the
value
of
the
ore.
general
depending on
After
of treatment
is simple.
mode
Our
ite is

ton

ton

to

"

0*10
0*3

follows

wash,

water

per
and

over,

0*3

the

days

comes

solution

strong

wash,
"

vat

the

passes
check
careful

The

and

check

that

and

the

ment
treat-

strength
by

followed

by

final

water

percolation

the

same

is

taken

from

to

tailings

thrown

on

kept

constant

solution

and

exchanged

is

box.

zinc

solutions

of

solution

tonnage

zinc
be

in

days;

24

zinc

cyanide and
charged monthly,
of

box

at

for

made

and

found

to

box

is

carefully packed at the

left absolutely untouched

not

necessary

1,000-ton

eight compartment

is

complete

17

to

20

84

tons

wasteful

of

per

; this

This

zinc.

till the

and

ment
treat-

it is

clean-up:

box,

zinc

the

of

commencement

each

cent.

mid-monthly

up

month

per

zinc

extraction,

was

was

and

the

are

through

passes

strong

consumption

treatment,

the

now

per

special sump

loaded

Usual

of

Formerly

cent.,

washes,

of strong

of the

upon

automatic.

duration

two

solution.

weak

cleaner
"

and

somewhat

the

time

same

0*25

sump

of

kept

is

sump,
the level

that

so

successive

solutions, catch

through
cyanide used,

same

solution

weak

wash

and

solution

Every

per

for

of

turned

carefully

cent., when

per

more

cent,

washes

nine

are

until

0'26

to

or
plain
strength

required.

if

two

or

into

vat

0*07

solution

weak

two

vat

follow

complete. Two
usually
sump,

is considered
of

down

then

ton,

per

oz.

(catch-sump

and
of

contents

solutions

alkaline

an

wash

KCN)

cent.

the

cent,

per

effluent

solution

per

strength

cent,

per

0*12

to

cent,

weak

and

upwards
chalcopyrite and

per
the

an

ment
compart-

is filled."
Mr.

Wright

all the

concentrates,
after

treated

12s.

wooden

the
vats

shaft

derives
and

The

became

into

10d., and

The

the

provided
which

in the
of copper
presence
immediately
with
that
metal

cost

extraction

are

with

the

to

coated

use.

concentrates

its motion

suitable

owing

by Agitation.

Leaching

steel

zinc

being put

was

Zealand,

that

states

At

84

the

in New

mine

fixed

is actuated
from

by bevel-gearing, which,
shaft
intermediate
by means

an

vertical

on

small

in

agitation

stirrers

in
of

turn,
a

belt

pulleys.

concentrates
of the

have
value

value

of

in silver

30

for

40

large
sulphide (argentite). They

being
with
a
thirty-sixhours
agitated
are
of
lime
added
Two
pounds
are
cyanide.
The
The
charge weighs 1 tons.
proportion

by

concentrates

cent.

per

Woodstock

treated

mechanical

of

ton

per

to

4
for

per

per

ton,

cent,

every
actual

ton

solution
of

recovery

of

trates.
concen-

is said

to

and

labour
The
in
where

and

90

from

vary

of

Zealand
the

treatment

94

cent,

per

at

of

cost

18s.

for

ton

per

material.

leaching

New

to

95

CONCENTRATES.

OF

TREATMENT

at

results
will

by

concentrates

were

be

the

Sylvia

mine

satisfactory.

very

found

agitation

in

the

next

by

Dr.

Scheidel

Details

chapter.

introduced

first

was

in
of

the

1891,

plant

CHAPTER

IX.

LEACHING

The

first

scale,

for

by

Zealand

Gold

under

plant,

the

leaching

by

method

of

The

and

At

zinc

of

small

other

pyrites.

was

classified

in

pyramidal

cyanide
slimes

said

is

94*59

classes

by

treatment

have

to

cent,

of

concentrates

for
iron

A.

used,

and

in

Scheidel,
6

necessary

1891,

ft.

solution

cyanide

deep;
tanks,

treatment.

occasionally

and

pyrites,

and

galena,
Calif

10-stamp

Gold-

Thames

and

argentiferous

copper

battery,

ornian

concentrated

subsequently

in

buddies.

grades

were

The

agitation.
amounted

the

of

per

the

with

in

four

of

concentrates

barrels,

or

seldom

diameter

in

appliances

boxes,
and

contained

tubs,

mine,

Dr.

by

with

wet-crushed

slime-tables,

pany,
Com-

Mines

were

Sylvia

ft.

zinc-blende,

of

It

The

years

favourite

tanks,

wooden

the

charged

heavily

was

proportion

jiggers,

and

Crown

the

agitators

erected

was

agitators,

and

sixteen

at

-filters, together

vacuum

ore

first

percolation.

to

plant

of

twenty-four

The

plant

three

extractors,
The

given

agitation

consisting
three

the

later

in

general

more

of

of

paddles.

concentration

an

operations
In

McConnell.

works

plant

consisting

revolving
being

the

the

cyanide

percolation

plant

with

preference

became

New

the

at

The

but

made

was

Glasgow,

feature,

prominent

extensive
a

agitation

field,

formed

J.

ores,

1889.

in

Mr.

of

their

of

working

on

treatment.

new

fitted

from

Karangahake,

percolation

besides
an

silver

process

Company,

supervision

agitation

cyanide

and

gold

mines,

AGITATION.

the

Extracting

Crown

were

of

recovery

Cassel

the

introduce

to

attempt
the

BY

96

to

The

silver.
amounted

to

afterwards

subjected

extraction
'45

of

cent,

per

the

the

extraction

average

82*67

from

per

best

gold,
from

of

cent,

the

to

and

all
assay

value.*
The
to

of

strength
per

cent.,
*

and

The

the
the

Cyanide

solutions

cyanide
time

of

Process,

agitation
by
06

Dr.

A.

varied

from

from

six

Scheidel,

p.

0*5
to

79.

per

cent,

twenty-four

98

the

On
the

the

of

nature
a

causes

excessive

an

few

loss

There

tons.

acid

belief

and

from
cases

that

prevalent
agitation
cyanide by decomposition by

of

; but

gas

exaggerated,

much

is

consumption

carbonic

atmospheric

PROCESS.

hand, agitation requires motive-power, and

the
be small, in no
charges must
process

other

exceeding

of

CYANIDE

THE

the

author

less than

certainly much

is

this

thinks

source

it

was

when
early attempts at cyanide treatment
agitation was
from
hours
to
prolonged
thirty-six forty-eight
continuously.
author
has
that
six to eight
from
The
found, by many
trials,
of the gold in
hours' agitation is sufficient
to effect the
dissolution
the
when
reduced
to
sufficient degree of
most
refractory ores
a
in

the

fineness.

that

shown

The

the

of

rate

the

treatment

will

be

found

From

the

of

the

Director

the

in

it will

gold

was

of

mineralized
Western

of the

different

sulphide

hour-periods,during
is

ore,

given below,

be

that

seen

This

copper,

the

was

portion by Mr.
Australia

School

extraction

complex

zinc, iron,

maximum

and

lead.

sulphide ore,
An
analysis

F. B. Allen, M.A.,
of

Mines,

the

gave

Insoluble

gangue,

.90*15
.

Copper pyrites,
Iron
pyrites,

4-40

Galena,

0-25

Zinc-blende,

0-26

Alumina,

0-13

Water

and

loss,

and

hours.

four

sulphides

the

at

Monowai

the

above

more

results

extraction

instructive

obtained

containing
of

agitation have
dissolved
during

of

progress

first hour.

the

was

the

experiments during
the
greater portion of

Numerous

3-78

1-03

100-00

B.Sc,
ing
follow-

LEACHING

The

bullion

silver

14

for

oz.

leaching

by
with

cent.,

per
of

extraction

The

following
with

"

was

Martha

metallurgist

per

amount

cent,

ore

and,

for

the

"

on

were

of

and

extracted

KCy

consumed.

per

supplied

ore,

by

0'45

to
amount

the

on

zinc,

bullion.

the

of

showing
0*25

experiments

'per

cyanide

cent,

Mr.

by

Mining

"

used

was

large

very

deposited

instructive

0*33

Gold

cyanide

The

cent.

per

and

Martha

and

dwts.,

oz.

amounted

cent.

per

becoming

70

Waihi

of

precipitation

kindly

were

solution

consumption

92

the

interesting

0'25

Experiments
metals

of

below

"

the

gold

were,

cent,

and

dissolved,
in

ore

per

extraction

trouble

much

actual

0*6

agitation,
an

was

copper

caused

ton.

per

this

of

contents

99

AGITATION.

BY

Company

rate

cent,

at

at

which

solution

tion
agita-

solutions

G.

E.

by

on

Banks,
Waihi

the

of

the

precious
KCy,

and

CHAPTER

ZINC

X.

PRECIPITATION

AND

GOLD

The

this

as

bullion

for

zinc

form
be

should

gives

free

advantage,

an

voltaic

gold

Zinc

on

zinc

in

from

the

In

and

it

is

of

zinc

by

turnings

in

has

It

lead

is

forming

therefore

tate
precipi-

hours.

precipitated

advisable

and

is

the

the

moving

adding

more

replace

to

by

compartments,

will

twenty-four

been

compartments

upper

lower

the

85
the

per

The
than

95

to

three

first

fresh

zinc

zinc

to

in

Zinc,

per

of

grains

form

the

that

afford

they
and

dust

the

separate
in

once

good

gold,

fact
as

shown

be

"

that

should

but

flow

found

is
that

precipitated

the

possess

applied

in

in

in

more

for

use

in

zinc

to

advantage

solutions

whereas
collected

extractor-boxes,
little

cipitation,
pre-

likely

seems

precipitation,

charges

very

is

important

of

the

fequire

contain

not

neither

method

order,

working

principle

the

generally

will

zinc-fume,

former,

Furthermore,

vats.

periodical
The

of

rate

drain

ton.

and

which

be

to

the

to

continuous

have

fume

gold

boxes,

zinc-dust

of

turnings,

zinc

the

leaving

particularly
supersede

bullion

the

of

is

slowly

to

The

It

experience.

cent,

after

eight

or

precipitating

actual

allowed

is

boxes.

boxes.

solution,
six

the

by

cent,

solution

cyanide

in

zinc

determined

soon

on

foot

bullion

of

the

the

practice,

through

the

weight.
little

latter.

the

in

turnings,

least

precipitation

solution

of

tons

zinc,

pure

dissolved

forward

cubic

one

film

thread-like
the

although

rapid

more

two

which

than

active

from

for

zinc.

rule,

general

the

in

antimony,

or

causes

the

with

pair

As

it

as

used

is

surface

most

arsenic

from

OF

SLIMES.

precipitation
the

TREATMENT

attention

when
at

except

clean-up."
of

cyanide
by

of

precipitation

the

2AuKCy2

has

stronger

following
+

Zn

gold

equation
ZnK2Cy4

100

by

metallic

affinity
:

2 Au.

zinc
for

zinc

is
than

based
for

ZINC

PRECIPITATION

By the above
precipitate 6 oz.

AND

TREATMENT

it will

reaction

be

OF

GOLD

that

seen

101

SLIMES.

of

oz.

zinc

should

4
gold, but in practice it is found that from
to 12 oz.
of zinc are
oz.
required to precipitate 1 oz. of gold. The
reactions
which
take
at
are
place in the zinc precipitating boxes
times
varied
and
ment
most
perplexing, especially during the treatof pyritic tailingsor acid mineralised
ores.
Part
doubt
due
of the
zinc
excessive
of
is no
to
consumption
be
ascertaineddecomposition by free cyanide, as may
by testing
the solution
ing
leavfor available
after
cyanide before
entering and
the zinc precipitating boxes
the consumption
and
quent
conse; but
loss of cyanide by this cause
is much
less than
generally
and
all
insufficient
in
the
for
to
account
supposed,
cases
great
of

of zinc.

waste

Zinc

soluble

in

solution

of

cyanide
without
In
evolution
of hydrogen.
the
extractors, the cyanide
in contact
that
with
extensive
surface
of zinc
a
comes
a
so
large
that
metal
but
of
into
must
solution,
quantity
curiously
pass
the
of
does
free
the
in
extractor
not
enough
cyanide
consumption
correspond with the consumption of zinc, and we
only concan
clude
that
takes
the
in
of
extractor.
a
regeneration
place
process
It is quite certain
that
the fouling of cyanide solutions
with
that
troublesome
alkaline
takes
inert
substance, zinc-potassium-cyanide,
the
the
solutions
iii
of
place
through the extractors.
passage
It might naturally be expected that
would
accumulate
zinc
in
the cyanide solutions
in
to a detrimental
extent, but this is found
The
zinc
accumulate
does
not
to
practice not to be the case.
all
result
in
of the
probability due to the action
extent, a
any
the
and
in
which
contained
its
sulphides
ore
cyanide
cause
precipitationas a sulphide of zinc.
The
from
electro-chemical
precipitation of the gold, doubtless
is always more
rapid and complete from moderately strong
causes,
than
from
weak
all circumstances
cyanide solutions, but under
very
the solutions
be
alkaline
must
factory
satisto ensure
distinctly
a
precipitation.
It
has
been
chemists
that
this is due
to
suggested by some
the
nascent
hydrogen, liberated by the action of the free KCy
on
zinc, taking the place of the
gold, according to the following
equations :
is

an

aqueous

potassium

KCy

Zn

2H20

ZnK2Cy4

2KHO

H2

and
2

The
any

free

liberated
alkali

AuKCy2

H2

hydrocyanic
present, and

2KCy
acid

thus

2HCy

is

capable

there

would

Au2.
of
be

with

combining
no

loss

of

the

102

CYANIDE

THE

combined

cyanogen

with

following equation

surface

in

the

NaHO

is

of

boxes,

NaCy

evolved

always

action

zinc

is shown

reaction

by

the

the
is

H20.

when

gold

bubbles,

gas

indication

an

is

precipitated,

they rise to the

satisfactory precipitation.

as

of

the
satisfactory
unpyritio tailings at Kuaotunu,
of
time
the
for
a
source
some
precipitation
gold was
trouble
of much
in charge of the
to the chemists
works,
cyanide
this difficulty
but
was
overcome
by making up the strength of the
before
solution
to
something like the
entering the extractor
original working strength.
In
trouble
effected without
extra
by
practice, this was
any
barrel
solution
of
at
a
a
cyanide
simply placing
containing
strong
the
of the
head
allowing a steady drip into the
extractor, and
filled with
which
a
cyanide solution, in the top compartment,
was
and
filter of sand
solution
few
a
gravel. By testing the cyanide
the
of
the
it
rate
to
times,
required strength was
drip
bring
up to
determined.
easily

During

The

the

This

gold.

HCy
Hydrogen
gas
and
the
gentle

the

PROCESS.

author

cupriferous

of

treatment

used

this

the

from

ores

method

with

Monowai

in

success

mine

in

the

the

of

treatment

Gold-

Hauraki

fields,in 1895.
It
more

one.

the

was

found

rapidly
In

order

that

from
to

the
weak

overcome

dissolved

solution

copper
of

this, the

was

cyanide
solutions

precipitatedmuch
than
were

from
made

strong
up

to

been
has now
original working strength. This method
seded
superby the lead acetate
pickling process.
In the
of slimes
and
in filter-press
treatment
by decantation
but
formed
large
especially in the former, there are
processes,
volumes
of excessively weak
solutions
cyanide
containing gold.
It was
zinc precipitation
matter
of early cyanide experience that
a
such
weak
solutions
from
was
imperfect, in fact far inferior
very
electrical
to
precipitation.
The
made
for the
that the lead-couple used
soon
discovery was
precipitationof gold from solutions containing copper was also very
the
effective
for
extremely dilute
precipitation of gold from
and
elsewhere
Africa
cyanide solutions, and the practice in South
in slimes
in
a
plants is to pickle the zinc, before
trough
use,
until
all
10
the
solution
lead
of
cent,
containing a
acetate,
per
black
zinc is covered
with
a
precipitation effected
coating. The
a
by this lead-couple is almost
perfect, only a trace of gold, as
rule, finding its way into the sump.
Bird
At the Camp
in the
following page, a
mines, as described

PRECIPITATION

ZINC

AND

zinc-mercury couple

is used

solutions

copper,

than

containing

TREATMENT

with

GOLD

OF

103

SLIMES.

for
satisfactory results
very
is stated
results
to give better

and

the

lead-couple.
It is the practice at some
plants to allow a dilute solution of
lead acetate
into
the
head
to
of the
zinc
drip slowly
extractors,
the
but
is
be
to
the
of
not
account
commended,
practice
on
difficultyof regulating the rate of flow.
Besides, by this method
excessive

an

lead

of

amount

is certain

find

to

its way

the

into

bullion.
It is

the

now

lead

sprinkle

practice when

the

the

cyanide

of

sulphides

contains

this

tank.

the

on
By
top
the
sulphide is decomposed, and
cyanide
sulphide by the precipitationof lead sulphide.

acetate

alkaline

When
with

and

metallic

bright
gradually
a

coated

with

in the

is present

copper

coating,

encroaches

the

on

it

solution,
which

soon

ones.

upper

from

the

covers

lower

When

the

in

begins

means

freed

the

to

the

zinc

boxes,
zinc

is

the

precipitationof the gold is very slow and

the
imperfect. By increasing the strength of the solution to near
the
be
boxes, the copper
working strength, before it enters
may
in
solution.
largely kept
the ore
the
When
or
supplies of fresh
tailings contain
copper,
the
zinc
should
when
is passing
only be added
strong solution
of the
through the extractor.
By attending to this much
copper
be kept in solution, with
a
can
correspondingly satisfactory precipitation
of the gold.
It should, however,
be forgotten that
when
there
is much
not
the
imperative to allow
present in the ore, it becomes
copper
the gold with
with
the
precipitationof the copper
object of keeping
the

the

keep
becoming

10

turnings be placed in
strength, they will
per cent,
lead.

of

effect

energy,
the
copper,

the

perfect

weak,

very

method
of

in

mercury.

soon

useless

obtained

case

their

in
for

gold

mills, Ouray
value, and

weak
The

this

acetate, of,

with

porous

electro-chemical

gold, and leave

solutions, unprecipitated.
means
is, however, always

solution
mercury

of

contain

which

mercuric

coated

Colorado,

in

much

tried without

mercury-couple

zinc, by

its

precipitationof
by

lead

the

lead.

of poor
was

of

covered

become

weakest

the

from

even

resulting bullion
highly charged with
Bird
At the Camp

zinc

such

result

thus

solution

lead-coated

This

The

favour

and

copper

In

constant.

would

purposes.

will

acetate

with

zinc

coating

are

solutions

solutions

the

overcharged

extraction
If the

in

copper

the

of

contents

copper

to

say,

copper,

zinc

some
success

is obtained

cyanide
is stated

the

solutions

waste

The
copper.
and
abandoned

by immersing
until
to

it is coated

give

very

lead
in
the
with
fair

104

precipitation,while
into

CYANIDE

THE

bullion

the

as

the

PROCESS.

is the

case

does

and

is recovered

mercury

not

pass

lead.

with

not
are
ores
containing much
Experience
copper
undue
of the
firstly,on account
adapted for cyanide treatment,
of the
consumption of the cyanide ; and, secondly, on account
difficultyof precipitating the gold in the presence of the base
solutions
the stock and
metal
by continued
use,
sump
; moreover,
all
useless
for
become
charged with copper, and thus rendered
of
such
as
washing, or forming the basis
practical purposes,
working solutions.
precipitate
Occasionally an inert gritty, greyish-white, porous
The
the zinc in the precipitating boxes.
of zinc cyanide forms
on

shown

has

lead

which

reactions

that

its

to

have

formation

not

factorily
satis-

been

yet

is
be, its presence
explained, but, whatever
they may
always accompanied by loss of cyanide and imperfect precipitation
ment
of the gold. This
excepting in the treatprecipitateis seldom seen
and
of pyritic ores
generally be prevented
tailings. It can
lime
instead
with
by a careful preliminary washing, and treatment

soda.

of caustic

On

the

reduce
thus

hand,

other

acidity,an
prevent

when

free

too

of

incrustation

lime

will

satisfactory precipitation.
there
be, in the
may

of

use

form

lime

is
the

on

made
zinc

to

and

pounds,
organic comand
excessive
of hydrogen.
an
During
injurious evolution
Great
the
of
the
treatment
pyritic tailings at
decomposing
the evolution
of hydrogen gas
Mercury Cyanide Works, Kuaotunu,
was
so
vigorous that it lifted the zinc out of the precipitation
On
this occasion
the
boxes, forming a thick froth.
precipitation
the
bullion
of
was
imperfect and unsatisfactory, and suggested
very
polarization.

In

cases

some

When

forms

scum

the

on

presence

the

of

surface

of

solution

in

the

its cause
should
removed
it and
be
precipitation boxes, both
without
delay. In the case of accumulated
tailingsit will generally
caused
be
of decomposing organic
found
to be
by the presence
the application of an
a
matter, and
oxidizing agent often exerts

beneficial
In

practice

solution
thence

effect.
the

box, and
to

the

zinc

shavings

afterwards

strong.

In

are

first

transferred
the

weak

placed
to

and

the

in

the

medium,

medium

weak
and

solution

precipitating boxes, the gold becomes

plated on the zinc, and less
than
in
the
is destroyed
The
zinc
solution
the
from
strong.
of
extractor
traces
returned
the
to
boxes, containing only
gold, is
if
found
its
solution
is
made
tanks, where,
strength
necessary,
up
addition
of
the
cyanide.
by
weak
The
precipitationof the gold from
solutions, especivery

106

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

60

Borax,
in

lure,

J. /

solutions

same

solutions

would

actual

, ,

precipitation of gold by zinc, results

cyanide of zinc and. potassium, and

double

the

oocia,

11*5

Sand,

The

cent.

per

would

lead

time

become

in
it is

practice

found

the

to

this

the

in

that

belief

with

is not

the

of

formation

continual

the

charged

that

,,

use

of

the. working
to

case

In

salts.

zinc

great

any

extent.

Feldtmann

potassic cyanide
He

ores.

on

the

considers

that

the

where

be

may
To

formed

prevent

suggested
metallic
alkaline
contains
avoid

the

salt

to

the

considerable

its

sulphides
cyanide

of alkaline

quantities
formed

zinc-

from

dissolving gold

of

action

by
precipitatea portion

or

the

conditions,

of

zinc

of the

of

proportions

as

metallic

in

cyanide solution, sufficient alkaline

sulphide
the
dissolved
gold.
precipitatea portion of

loss
any
addition
of

in

this

of

excess

the

possible complications
be determined
required can

direction, Mr.

to

of
form

practiceis

this

In

sulphides.

this

solution

is known

which

solutions, and

an

to

contain

ores

sulphides, soluble

capable

cyanide,

sulphides, serve
insoluble
sulphide.
cases

favourable

small

metallic

In

to

itself

is of

in commercial

present

under

that,

states

in the

case,

lead,

or

insoluble
when

general

however,

extractor.

in the

an

now

lead

soluble

some

other

it

would

salt,
The

so

exact

Mc Arthur

S.

J.

other

sulphide in
the cyanide
advisable

be
as

or

to

amount

prevent
of salt

laboratory.
The
The
or
periodical clean-up takes place once
Clean-up.
twice
The
first operation is to pass
of clean
month.
current
a
a
the
the
water
zinc
to
boxes, so as
cyanide
through
remove
is injurious to the
often
solution, which
workmen,
causing their
covered
with
to become
arms
painful red boils.
and
The
moved
down
then
in
trays holding the zinc are
up
the
fine gold precipitates,and
to allow
their compartments
as
so
fall
the
and
settle
in the
sieve
fine particlesof zinc, to
through
The
of the box.
of the trays are
then
contents
bottom
placed in
false bottom
easily removable
a
large trough, provided with an
The
zinc
is gently teased
and
out
of finely perforated iron.
is partly tilled with
clean
in this trough, which
rubbed
water,
much
this
in
and
as
manner
as
possible of the adhering gold
After
all
the
has
removed.
is
settled, as a slimy mass,
gold
The
in the
is syphoned off,
the
water
remaining
gold slimes
sluiced
extractor
are
through plugholes into the side launder, or
and
collected
The
in a trough.
fine
into the bottom
compartment

ZINC

slimes

PRECIPITATION

powdered alura to the solution.

In
the
large cyanide works
or
filter-press

of

dried

discoloured

The

107

SLIMES.

addition

the

precipitates are

vacuum-filter.

returned

GOLD

OF

rapidly settled by

precipitatesare

or

TREATMENT

AND

zinc

in

the

shavings are
being put in

the

to

small

precipitation boxes, fresh zinc

The
gold still remaining on the
compartments.
recovered
at the next
clean-up.
The
gold slimes are treated in one of three ways, namely

now

lower

By smelting with suitable

By sulphuric acid method.
By lead smelting method.

1.
2.
3

little

zinc

is

fluxes.

adherents.
and still has many
is the oldest
smelting method
loss of bullion.
with
attended
is,however, laborious, slow, and
It is gradually being superseded by the
sulphuric acid method,
lead
which
in its turn
seems
likely to be superseded by the
smelting process.
1. Smelting
Process:
Roasting the Precipitates. The dry
The
of air.
precipitatesare roasted at a low heat, with free access
object of the roasting is to oxidize the zinc in the slimes, and thus
it to combine
with
the
fluxes
in the
smelting,
cause
subsequent
The

It

and

thereby

leave

the

Australia

In
furnace

and

often

edges.
light sheet-iron
zinc
The
must

as

Zealand

of

over

is

possible.
the
roasting
cyanide works
plate, with raised
large flat cast-iron
fine

as

New

consists

It is built

the

bullion

small

placed

grate

the

over

and

furnace,

or

roasting place, so

as

to

hood

of

carry

off

fumes.

roasting

should

rise

above

never

be

conducted
dull

red,

at

and

the

heat, i.e.,it

moderate

be

must

precipitates

action
the
surfaces
fresh
to
continuously so as to expose
of
the
the
early part of the
atmospheric
During
oxygen.
white
zinc
oxide
of
are
given off, but
roasting, dense
vapours
and
diminish
the
observed
to
as
operation advances
they are
is complete.
reaction
the
Time,
finally to cease
entirely when

stirred

from

to

one

Mr.

facilitated
to

hours.

two

Feldtmann

10

per

slimes

by

the

found

addition
He

cent.
a

as

has

strong

of

that
a

solution

little
that

suggests

oxidation

the

the

zinc

drying,

so

as

is

cent,

per
to

the

to

get

applied

be

it should

the
3

from

nitre, say

before

of

with
the
whole
only
mass.
thoroughly mixed
the
oxidize
assist
the
also
said
to
subsequent
zinc, but is
helps to
of
ziucate
the
and
with
zinc
a
oxide,
forming
fluxing by uniting
is not
readily reduced
so
potash, which
by the plumbago of the
The

crucible
dried

as

slimes

the
in

oxide.
a

At

powdered

many
form

works
;

of

the
course

nitre
less

nitre

is added
nitre

not

to
must

the
be

108

CYANIDEf

THE

used

than

any

free

oxidize
is necessary
to
nitre
remaining would

crucible

during

bullion

fine,

hastens

the

When

the

and

fusing

base

metal

present,

as

the

rapidly destroy

the

the

removing
avoid

to

loss

plumbago
rendering the
slag and greatly

Besides
cleaner

on

mixtures

precipitates, care

in the

have

Clean

Much

Precipitates

Little

Zinc.

Zinc

Very
Sandy.

100

100

20

50

50

30

15

Soda,

of

and

Little Sand.

100

Precipitates,

of dust.

form

roasted
Precipitates. The
precipitates
with
iron
mixed
the
a
large, shallow
tray,
fused
in plumbago
The
crucibles.
following
alway given satisfactoryresults :

fluxes, and

Bicarbonate

roasted

of bullion

Oxidized

placed

necessary

the

smelting process.
roasting gives a

nitre

exercised

now

all

fusion.

Smelting
are

the

stirring
be

must

PROCESS.

6
50

Borax,
Sand,

Fluor-spar,
The

essentials

chief

corrosion.
last

by

The

is conferred

that

the

avoid

necessarily
so

dioxide

slag.
that

in

loss due

of

is

now

Messrs.

basic

H.

E.

state

to

the

nitre

of

used

"

and

bulk,
"

fused

of

non-

and

borax

it is

acid

an

the

W.

even

flux

used

the

charge.

slimes

are

be

must

metals

active

more

less available

The

the

slag. Manganese

Caldecott

A.

moisture,

flux

base

carrying

and

much

from

steam

hence

for

although
following is the basis of
proportions being varied, within
required :
it contains

free

non-corrosive

or

Johnson

be

through
Acid-treated
gold

character,

fusion

should

escape

Slimes.

produce a neutral
generally added

to

as

the

by

fluxes

Acid-Treated

Smelting
used

small
fluidity,

are

sand.

the

to

as

slag

first

It is desirable
so

in

into

have

the

shown

oxidizer

than

oxygen.*
by

limits,

as

these

authors,

varying

the

conditions

Slimes,
Fused

100

borax,

Manganese

20
.

soda

unnecessary.
is found
to assist
should

be

made
*

40

15
of

to
Jour.

to

When

the

already

and

the
Met.

few

best
Soc.

40

sulphates
fusion

ascertain
Chem.

an

35

20

addition

to

dioxide,

Sand,
The

parts.

....

are

basic

material

present,

was

preliminary trial
proportions of the

S.A., July

1902.

sidered
con-

little

spar
fluor-

fusions

fluxes.

ZINC

The

PRECIPITATION

quoted

authors

bullion

AND

indicates

above
little

too

dioxide

manganese
much
silver.
in fusion

commercial

as

values

the

for

for
in

this

or

silver,it

must

much

too

containing

one

dioxide

manganese

reason

fusion

in

smelting

be

used

slimes

with

clay-liners are
Crosse

of these

charges.
clay-lined crucibles

of silica aud

source

removable

with

crucibles

Plumbago
used

silver,and

slag
that

known

been

whilst

care,

all.

at

not

yields
long

base-looking

or

dioxide,

109

SLIMES.

matte

manganese
infusible
an

has
off

carries

containing
or

It

that

state

GOLD

OF

TREATMENT

generally

silicate

uses

instead

of

soda

of

removable

clay -liners.
In

works

where

have

slimes

large quantities of
plumbago crucibles

be

to

smelted,

required.
Fusion.
crucible, previously annealed, is
brick
A
flat
placed on a
resting on the bars of the furnace.
this a
placed in the crucible, and over
priming of borax is then
of precipitates are
made
charge of precipitates; fresh additions
When
the crucible
is two-thirds
subsides.
'as the charge fuses and
fresh
off and
full, the slag is skimmed
portions of precipitates
Nos.

50, 60,

70

or

Actual

The

added

until

The

is

removed

now

be

bullion.

full of molten

it is three-fourths

crucible

will

The

from

furnace) and

the

the

contents

have
which
been
poured into ingot moulds
previously well
and
oil.
All
best
olive
the
excess
carefully oiled with
should
before
be wiped out
of the mould
pouring the metal.
hold
constructed
The
be
to
two
or
melting furnace
may
crucibles

the

at

same

It

should

built

be

of

of

oil

three

the

best

is higher
required to melt the slime mixture
than
that for ordinary smelting.
Works
At the Langlaagte Cyanide
with
the slimes, mixed
the
and
50
in
melted
fluxes, are charged into No.
plumbago crucibles,
which
22
crucibles
furnace
holds
the
hearth
at
a
reverberatory
The
and
time.
time
one
required for melting varies from
same
of the
half to three
materials
hours, according to the character
a

materials,

and

the
The

in

as

heat

of the

temperature

furnace.

slag resulting from the smelting of slimes always contains

proportion of gold. It is,therefore, generally pulverized
afterwards
mill, and
mated
amalgasingle stamper, or in a small
In
is
the
it
with
sent
to
cases
some
smelting
mercury.

small
a

works

for

The

alloy

treatment.

ingots

re-melted

the

time.

heated

with

with

zinc, this

temperature

uniform

The

from
bullion, obtained
borax
gold forms
; and, since
of

bar

as

second

melting
possible so as

should
to

the

first

but
be

obtain

smelting, are
very imperfect

conducted
an

at

as

low

approximately

of bullion.

zinc slimes

generallycontain

from

30

per

cent,

to

65

per

110

CYANIDE

THE

varies

fineness

bullion, the

of

cent,

600

from

to

PROCESS.

melting, generally

after

of which,

900.

clipsfor assaying should be taken from different parts of

to obtain
a
so
as
sample for valuation, but
representative
reliable.
the dip sample is always the most
McBride
gives the cost of smeltinggold slimes at 2d. per ounce
of bullion, 817
of fine gold. At a clean-up giving 718
ounces
follows :
fine in gold,the costs were
as
The

the bar

19

Refining by Sulphuric Acid.

2.
used

in

yet

been

The

acid treatment

in America

cyanide works

adopted

to

any

extent

2d. per

method

This

and

South

in

Australia

fine

oz.

is

commonly
has

Africa,but

not

Zealand.

New

or

gold.

of the

is a simple enough operaprecipitates

tion,
and was
u
sed
occasionally
by the author for the refiningof
parcels. The necessary apparatus consists of shallow wooden

small

tubs,

vats.

or

operationis conducted as follows : Clean water is passed

all traces
of
time, to remove
through the zinc extractor, for some
The
then
from
the
boxes
and
removed
are
cyanide.
precipitates
placed in the first vat, with a sufficient quantity of dilute
sulphuricacid. The acid should not be too strong, nor yet too
weak ; a mixture
consistingof ten parts of water and one part of
The

strong acid
The
zinc
six

well.

answers

dilute

quantity of

present

in the

of the

parts

required; and

acid

will

depend

precipitates.With

acid
with

mixture

to

zincy

very

one

the

on

50

per
of the

cent,

proportion of
of

zinc,about

will
precipitates

from
precipitates,

ten

to

be

twelve

parts.
The

allowed

to

hydrogen
When
the

clear

tub,

and

this means

in

mass

the

settle.

should

tub
Heat

is

be

stirred occasionally,
and then
generated, and large quantities of

gas liberated by the action of the acid on the zinc.

the undissolved
have been allowed
to settle,
precipitates

liquidshould
thence

any

be

removed

after
finally,

fine

an

of
particles

by

decantation

interval,into
bullion which

have

into

third

second

tub.

escaped in

By
the

ZINC

decantation

first
which
as

PRECIPITATION

has

will

bullion

water,

to

Then

vacuum-filter.

the

with

mix

of

amount

crucible

As

the

until

added,

be
To

permit

time

to

the

protect
described

The

crucible

in

the

the

is used
from

over

slag

preceding
generally
be

in the

any

free

acid

melted

of

metal.

skimmed

be

can

flux

it will

by

off from

can

be

to

necessary

using a clay-liner
the heading devoted

under

pages

as

to

Slimes."

from

850

900

to

fine, but

with

little

worked

bullion, and, properly conducted,

method

hot

and

up to 950.
suitable
appliances, this process
possesses
It occupies less
the smelting process.

With

When

clean

and

full

parts

corrosion

of acid-treated
is

trouble

finer

with

glass, according to
fuse
in a plumbago
has already been
placed.
should
portions of bullion

is three

done

being

crucible

bullion

extra

tubs

found

be

the
dry on
an
oxidizing roasting on a
oxidize
base
sulphates
any

priming of borax
and
subsides, fresh

dioxide

Smelting

"

to

so,

will

that

time.

If manganese

the

to

and

of borax
cent,
per
still present, and

oxide

the

the

Ill

SLIMES.

tub

slimes

this

of

10

second

sulphates
bullion

or

GOLD

decantation

in

soluble

hour

or

zinc

fuses

charge

washed

the

an

which

in

be

dry, subject

for

pan,

the

second
tub.

remove

When

iron

present.
Next,

the

base

OF

in

third

now

all

remove

remaining.
shallow

in the

should

TREATMENT

secured

be

escaped during

fine sediment

The

AND

quantities of

large
of settlingthe

time, produces

less.

costs

precipitateshave
and

slimes

tages
advan-

many

be

to

is too

dealt
slow

with, the
and

decanting
sive.
expenof
the
slimes
from
the
acid
separation
case,
be effected
in a
solution, as well as the subsequent washings, must
and
South
vacuum-filter, or a filter-press,
as
practised in America
In

the

this

Africa.
The
feet

filter used

for

the

is

purpose
It is provided with

wooden

box,

two

or

three

filter

webbing, or cloth, of fine

twill duck, resting on
and
fixed with
canvas
or
a grating of wood,
for washing.
slipsof wood, so as to be easily detached
false bottom, below
The
the webbing, must
be
15
20
in.
in. or
and
with
solution
the
limb
of
which
a
deep,
provided
gauge,
upper
should
the
be
air-exhaust
2 in. below
connected
with
the
pipe
square.

vacuum

Care

boiler.
must

be

taken

to

draw

off

they rise
by a plug-hole before
which
is
placed immediately
pipe,
When

the

acid

solution

webbing lasts
does the washing
filter-press
filtering,the

the
to

acid

the

before

is diluted
for
well

to

several

and

solution

level
the
half

of

and

the

washings
air-exhaust

filter -frame.
its

strength before
operations. A Johnston

expeditiously.

112

Acid

Treatment

abstract

an

CYANIDE

THE

of

South

in

Africa.

read

paper

PROCESS.

by

E.

The

H.

following descriptionis

Johnson

the

before

and

Chemical

describes

It

the
Africa.
Metallurgical Society of South
the
slimes
Works, where
are
employed at the Princess
process
will
be
submitted
before
and
to acid treatment
especially
smelting,
results
and
for
its
of
costs
:
metallurgical
interesting
figures

At

the

separated

Princess

Works

the

from

vacuum-filter.

the

solution

slimes

drawn

from

off

the

zinc

by

the

until

the

them

with

boxes

are

aid

of

slimes

passed through
are
cyanide.
weight of the slimes, including
gross
slime
of moist
moisture, is then
taken, by weighing the buckets
to a large sheet-iron
during transference
tray placed alongside the
acid tank, to determine
to
the amount
of sulphuric acid necessary
destroy the zinc.
the approximate weight of slimes
treated,
to be
Having found
sufficient
acid vat
addition
is run
the
the
to
water
into
form, on
of the acid, a 10 per cent,
One
solution.
pound of acid for every
This
would
be equivalent
pound of moist slime gives good results.
acid is
1 J lb. of acid to the
to about
pound of slimes, dry. The
then
the
closed
down
vat
added, and
tightly.
The
is
stirring apparatus
kept continually moving during the
fed
time
of feeding in the
in gradually in the
slimes, which
are
taken
It is
in which
from
the filter-vat.
condition
same
they were
beneficial
to keep up
a continual
stirringfor at least half an hour
has apparently ceased.
after the action
into
After
all the slimes
in the acid, a jet of water
is turned
are
down
wash
the hopper
adherent
to
slimes, and
everything
any
that
has
used
the
been
in the
of
boxes, etc., is well
cleaning-up
filled
washed
in the
The
is then
vat
same
jet during removal.
a

free

with

water

The

and

litmus

allowed

with
within

vat

acid,

more

is done

middle

paper

and

vat, and

heating, a perfect settlement

heating with a steam
jet,

difficult.

repeatedly with

not

When

by syphoning

usually
at each
refillingby means
being given to the water.
to

settle.

hour.

an

much

was

to

dilute

washing

fillingthe

is

The

Working
takes
place
settlement

wash

water

from

water,

four
of

or
a

long

This

reduces

five

until

the
the

clear

liquor, and

solution

is neutral

washings. It is well
paddle, a rotary

wooden

causes

the

off

risk

the

slimes

to

stirred
motion

collect in the

of loss

during syphoning
A sample of the washings
at the side.
syphon being let down
taken
continually during syphoning off showed, on careful
assay
of solution.
of a large sample, 13 gr. of gold per ton
The
on
drying of the resultant gold slime is conducted
an
open
enamelled
hearth
cast-iron
dishes.
The
in
cakes
are
large
drying
and
broken
transferred
small
sheet-iron
to
subsequently
trays
up
the

of the

114

allowed

settling is

for
houi*s

twelve

to

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

hour.

one

first

the

remove

washes,

two

from

it takes

Usually

the

as

eight
do

slimes

to

not

readily in the heavy acid liquid.

is
All the washings are
stored in a large settling-tank,which
The
cleaned
at
settling-tank, after a year's
long intervals.
up
20.
yielded bullion worth
run,
settle

so

"

The

"

first two

10

from

20

to

wash

three

or

cents

found

are
assay
washes
subsequent

but

ton,

per

waters

on

yield

to

from

contain

only apparent on assay of large evaporations.

then
and
The
are
gold slimes are partiallydried by filter-press,
The
and
calcined.
hearth
transferred
to
a
calcining furnace
5 cents

to

trace,

"

and

safe

"From

into
mixed

parts:

the

and

The

feet.

square

furnace

purpose

required, and
graphite crucibles, and smelted, having been
viously
preof the following
of a flux composed
50 per cent,
with
slimes

the

furnace

removed

are

as

Soda,

parts.

....

Sand,

1*5

Borax

powder,
Sulphur,

required.

as

....

Thus

require
frequent skimming

with

lbs. of

100

slimes

lbs. of

200

smelted

in from

flux.

ten

The

sixteen

to

charge
hours

is

for

crucible.

each

slimes

The

"

contain

considerable

little zinc,
we

double

the

serves

furnace-doors

calciner.

the

charged

of 36

area

an

securely padlocked,

are

of

has

of furnace

hearth

instead

use

consequently
certain
quantity

the

readily converts
bullion

comparatively

usually

from

found

to

15

to

contain,

on

25

assay

Copper,

Zinc,

...

Gold,

contains

Copper,
Zinc,

flowers

oz.

of

per

ton.

60%
3%

the

from

bullion

melting

is

ruby

red

oz.

Assayed

shots

265

Silver,

sulphur, which
matte
or
regulus, leaving the
is
by the way
regulus, which
the weight of the
bullion, was
of

15
.

no

or

but comof copper,

paratively
is used ; but
nitre

408*0

slag resulting
and

of

little

23*4
.

Silver,

colour,

The

cent,

per

Gold,

"The

to

copper
fine.

quantity

6 to
.

12

8%
16%

without
or

removing
prillsof bullion.

in

800
about
to
averages
with
zinc.
little
a
entirely copper

almost
A

sent

shipment

to

the

made

first

Mines,

netted

850

of

use

Mr.

by

it has

been

P.

fine,

regulus

Method.

S. Tavener

the

impurity

mixed

lately

was

This

process
1899.

in

August
operation at the
and
already the process
The
at Johannesburg.

in continuous

Limited, Johannesburg,

115

SLIMES.

120."

us

Lead-Smelting

1901

August

slag and

lbs. of

and

smelter

Tavener

3.

3000

of

GOLD

OF

bullion

"The

"

TREATMENT

AND

PRECIPITATION

ZINC

was

Since

Bonanza
been

has

adopted by many
leading mines
adoption
notable
in
of the
marks
advance
lead-smelting of gold slimes
a
old
is laborious, and
smelting process
cyanide practice*. The
losses
where
entail
serious
of
gold
large quantities
always likely to
have
the
of slimes
is
to be handled, while
sulphuric acid method
slow, and costly.
cumbersome,
The
obvious
with
the
advantages of lead-smelting compared
be brieflysummarized
follows
as
sulphuric acid process may
:

Saving of cost per oz. of fine gold produced.

b. No
by-products.
Less
liabilityto loss in handling slimes.
c.
d. More
gold actually produced from a given weight
a.

of slimes.

metallurgical process is its cost, and judged

marked
a
advantage. In
by this principle,lead-smelting possesses
where
the
acid
method
South
has, perhaps, its
Africa,
sulphuric
the
to
cost, according
Tavener, is not
greatest application,
average
less than
The
leadshilling per oz. of fine gold produced.
one
smelting process costs threepence per oz. of fine gold, including all
a
means
charges, which
saving of ninepence per oz. compared with
sulphuric acid method.
Thus
the lead method
at threepence per oz., in a mine
producing
month
fine
from
2500
would
effect a
works,
cyanide
oz.
gold per
saving of costs amounting to 93, 15s. per month, equal to about
The

1000

The

of every

essence

year.

lead-smelting process

Tavener

and

other

with

is

cheap, rapid, and

with

some
compared
processes,
be
is
to
universally adopted.
likely
practice
The
following working details of lead-smelting

the

Bonanza

before

the

mine

are

Chemical

extracted
and

from

efficient

modifications

read

paper

Metallurgical Society

in

as

practised

by

Mr.

of South

at

Tavener

Africa

last

October.*
Mr.

comparing
for

the

he
that
says
it to a scorification

Tavener

that

reason

Jour.

the
Chem.

zinc
and

best

can

assay

slimes
Met.

Soc.

describe

lead-smelting by

conducted
are

on

melted

S.A., Oct.

1902.

large scale,
the
gold

and

116

THE

recovered
to

use

in lead
better

"The
way,

with

from

the

side
for

the

cakes

'

the

sufficient

fine

into

the

the

is then

'

zinc

half

to

'

tub

in

trays

into

allowed

to

get

the

holes

the
"

to

to

zinc
the

on

all

When

also to have

of

the

the

with

been
the

slime

and

out

keep

one

ready
the

there

both

oven,

and

minutes
the

for

fine

zinc

should

account

they

in the

slime

in

is first dealt

with.

After

rubbed

through a sieve,
roughly weighed for fluxing,
previously mixed.
fluxes and
passed through a sieve
at

once

then

It is then
mixing.
the filter-press
slime

with

is dealt

top

having

is mixed

thorough

furnace.

inch, and

linear

fluxes

necessary
slime
The

ensure

fine

the

on

up
is then

and

fifteen

to

which

mixed.

furnace, the
charging
warming in the drying oven, it is
four

pumped
zinc

drying

no

ordinary

once

fine

cleaned

through,

warm

the

furnace, and

to the

Care
is taken
tray being sufficient.
slime, and on
separate from the filter-press

"In

cupelled, or

heaped

hour,

an

each

be

is

is
filter-press

put

are

in

precipitateis at

clean-up

condition

moist

conducted

filter-press.The

for about

is allowed

time

bullion

"is

all the

The

room.

in their

and

lead

that

of

drain

to

smelting

taken

slimes

bottom

allowed

and

The

up,'"he continues,

exception
clean-up tub

at

PROCESS.

refined.

the

remains

bullion.

term,

clean

CYANIDE

same

order

way,
to

shovelled

direct

is fluxed
and

put

and
into

loss

prevent

into

charged,
the

the
the

furnace

by dusting, and

litharge present on the top

commercial
residue assay slag and
are
unless
used
for
in
this
manner
nothing,

greater portion

of

of

charge. The fluxes used

costs
litharge. The former
be thrown
it would
away."
1 have
the
found
that
question of fluxes,he says :
Discussing
the
following, with little variation, will give satisfactory fusion
and clean
slag : Slag, 25 to 30 per cent., made
up of 10 per cent,
old
slag and scalings
slag ; the balance, equal quantities of
assay
In the event
the pots of previous smelt.
of the lead-smelting
from
like here
the advantage
method
to point out
being adopted, I should
from
crucible
of storing the slag now
being obtained
smelting,
converted
its gold contents
into bullion
since in the lead process
are
have
If it were
not
free of cost.
to be
treated, clean
slag would
I
have
last
been
able
the
with
deal
several
to
used.
During
year
material
fine per ton, left
this
of
tons
fiftyounces
assaying over
after the Boer
the mine
behind
applies
occupation. The same
on
and
else
termed
liners
to
gold,
now
anything
carrying
product
byclay
the word
With
a
lead-smelting furnace
by-product is
the

"

forgotten,

since

none

is obtained."

quantity of litharge to be used will depend on (a) value

slimes, (b) weight of charge in furnace, and (c)the percentage
gold required in the resultant lead bullion.
The

of
of

ZINC

Mr.

Tavener

slimes

gives the

OF

TREATMENT

AND

PRECIPITATION

following proportions

gold

for

of fluxes

slimes,
Litharge,
Assay slag,
Slag previously used,
.

parts by weight.

100

Gold

60

...

Sand

(Si02),

fine

zinc

Fine

10

to

15

5 to

10

1%

following proportions

of

weight

of

litharge.

parts by weight.

100

zine,

Litharge,
Slag,

15

the

uses

to

he

10

Sawdust,
For

117

SLIMES.

GOLD

150
.

20
....

the
and
will necessarilyvary,
products of different mines
mined
easily be deterslag can
proportions to give a clean, well-oxidized
crucible
tests.
scale with
by experiment on a small
assay
that
Mr. Tavener,
considerably less assay, or
however, mentions
than
other
will
effect
fusion
in
a
a good
slag,
reverberating furnace
The

in

crucible, and

cent,

less

slag

The

should

cent,

the

at

quantity
reduce

success.

is added

litharge

on

has

with

be

to

30

use

than

per
found

was

of

cent,

per

gold,
make

preferable
in gold contents.
to

10

or
a

lead
per

larger

rich

it too
the

the

proportioned that

so

found

was

have

to

is used

safe

reverberatory

than

more

It

maximum.

sufficient

ensure

carry

than

be

trial.

litharge should

not

reducer

No

in the

smelting

of

of lead

it would

that

states

crucible

quantity

bullion

of

when

in the

necessary

he

fine

is relied

which

zinc,

to

on

litharge in the slag to

With
the gold slimes
dust
charge, 1 per cent, of sawthe weight of litharge,but if a larger proportion
lead, leaving

been

used,

an

then

of

excess

from

to

per

cent,

of sawdust

is necessary.
The

furnace

"When
is banked

the

up
possibilityof

work
entire
from

is described

charge
the

follows

as

of zinc

sides

to

and

the

slime
centre

is in the
so

as

to

furnace,
avoid

it

the

slag level
as
charge
litharge is
covering
the surface, and
this again a light covering of easily
spread over
on
fusible
furnace
is charged the
slag is spread. The
day previous
to
of the
fire
smelting, and one
lights a slow
night-shift men
about
3
At
which
5
to
serves
a.m.
dry the charge.
a.m.,
the
half
hour
in
damper is opened and the fire urged, and
an
the furnace
is at a smelting heat.
the
9
10 a.m.
or
By
charge is
reduced, then sweepings from
cyanide works, smelting room,
or
the

particles remaining
reduces

and

settles

on

the

down.

sides
A

above

the
of

118

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

slag requiring re-smelting,is added

any
the

molten

the

slag become

is thrown
is

bath.

When

fluid,it is well

in to reduce

repeated

all this

until

the

has

and
been

stirred

excess

of

with

is

quickly absorbed

fed in and
a

in

melted, and

rabble, and

litharge in slag.

This

sawdust
tion
opera-

the

remains
the rabble
when
slag, which
on
withdrawn
from
the
to be
furnace, is judged by its appearance
olean.
The
is
off
into
the
slag
now
run
pots through
slag-door,
the

level

bath

of

of

which

12,000

is 4 in.

of lead

above

bullion

the
almost

centre

of the

lead

this

bath

occupies
space.
about
slag-door is built
up
12 in.
cast-iron
in fireclay,
plates, in. thick, bedded
of
and
in
front
of
bank
these
of
one
on
another,
top
plates a
In
the
order
to
fire-clayis also made.
run
slag off,all that is
is to break
this bank, plate by plate, and
allow
so
necessary
away
the
into
the
the
slag to flow over
pot. When
pot is full it is
and
wheeled
is put in its place. The
another
filled pot is
away
after
and
minute
is
run
outside,
standing a
or
two,
tapped, and
the molten
the ground to cool ; that
out
slag allowed to run
on
which
remains
the sides and
the bottom
of pot is brought back
on
for further
When
no
use.
more
slag will flow from the furnaces
the
bath
down
level
of the
to the
owing to
being
slag-door,it is
off by rabbling. At first sight it would
waved
difficult to
appear
draw
this remaining slag off without
lead, but
dragging out some
little practice enables
it to be done
a very
closely that there is
so
little but a thin
In the
of a
event
skimming of slag remaining.
little lead being pulled out into the pot, it is recovered
from
slag
It
is
for
this
that
the
about
in.
2
reason
pots.
tapped
pots are
the bottom.
from
By opening the fire door this last skim on the
lead bath
A shovelful
of lime
is thrown
in to
quickly thickens.
This
assist.
skim
is easilypulled off,and
of course
is held
over
until next
clean
smelt.
surface
of lead is exposed,
a
By this means
and
zinc
would
rid
be
of, for at this stage
quickly got
present
any
the lead is at a bright red
of air due
the
free access
to
heat, and
the open
fire door
quickly oxidizes it. So far, lead recovered
by
this method
has always been
and
clean
soft, a proof that no zinc
could
be present, since
of
zinc
cent,
one
gives lead a distinct
per
makes
be rolled.
The
and
it
that
it
hard
cannot
silvery colour,
so
lead bullion
is tapped by driving a \ in. steel bar, tapered to a
is closed with
a
point, into the tap-hole,which
fire-clayplug. The
into
it to the
lead is run
iron
moulds
an
trough, which
conveys
the
floor."
placed together on
the
Before
the
is well
lead-bath
furnace
stirred,and a
tapping
sample is taken out with a ladle and granulated.
The
described,
cupelling or refining of the lead bullion is next
with
the making of the
useful
hints
on
particular details and some
"Before

oz.

fillingthe
by placing flat

furnace,

the

ZINC

PRECIPITATION

bone-ash

details

minor
be

not

and

test

The

AND

regulation

from

the

specializedin
costs

smelting

the

at

for

TREATMENT

this

of

operation

Bonanza,

Limited,

for

loss

12%
1832

20,

estimated

output

in

It is claimed

lbs.,say

were

need

cupelling

as

follows

10

lbs.

ton

at
0

373d.

10

2-837d.

20

period, 12,810

the

than

for

that

in

and

2-463d.

at

151
Gold

only

and
lead-refining,

(June-Sept. 1902)

15,269

on

differs

process

stores

131
Lead

119

SLIMES.

work.

months

four

The

of blast.

usual

GOLD

OF

oz.,

lead-smelting
acid method,

fine.
recovers

and

this

followed

the

of

gold
justified
identical
gold

larger amount

claim

be

sulphuric
seems
large experiments on equal weights of
slimes
In six trials the lead
10*5
by both processes.
gave
process
results
than
the acid treatment.
These
higher recovery
per cent,
much
could
than
be
in
continuous
obtained
are
probably
higher
evident
but
that
it
is
if only one
two
more
working ;
or
per cent,
be
the
recovered, the lead-process has fully established
gold can
by

to

several

claims
In

of

Mr.

Tavener.

reading of Mr. Tavener's

suggested that the probable loss of gold
paper, Mr. D. J. Williams
of such
by volatilization in the cupellation,caused by the presence
volatile metal
zinc, might be avoided
a
as
by first dissolving the
jecting
zinc-gold slimes in sulphuric acid, washing, drying, and then subwith
Tavener
this proposed
Mr.
to lead-smelting.
agreed
rather
stated
that
he
receive
the furnace
would
at
and
modification,
and
easier
the
acid-treated
would
render
work
precipitate,which
the

discussion

less troublesome.

which

He

further

stated

that

with

zinc

present,

120

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

required, while with

experience and skill was
material
needed.*
acid-treated
little or no
experience was
That
lead-smelting recovers
a
higher percentage of gold than
certain

the

of

amount

acid-treatment

it is not

evidence, but

recovered;

thus

quite

that

is, to

established

be

to

seems

to

easy

so

show

pretty conclusive

on

point

the

to

the

loss

method

of

where

of

source

takes

gold

place

in

acid-treatment.

Zinc

Precipitation.

Dust

agitate
cyanide

certain

decant

the

of

in

allow

During the
adopted

be

mentioned

the

Montana

past year
at

of

or

method

this

two

of American

number

Homestake

the

Company,

vats,

application is to
the
with
dust
gold-containing
the
precipitate to settle, and

solution.

clear

been

the

quantity

solution

The

Company,

Nevada

; and

the

precipitation has
which

mills, among

Mining

Mining

of

Company,

Montana

De

; the

Consolidated

may
Dakota
;

South

La

Mercur

Mar

Mining
Company, of

Utah.
At

the

carried

Company's

Homestake

cyanide

works

Precipitation is

dust
of zinc
in five tanks
25 ft. in diameter
by means
and
20
ft. deep, built
of California
The
red-wood.
bottoms
are
inclined
is provided in order
to
to
one
side, where
a small
sump
No
drain the tanks
gold storage solution tanks are used,
perfectly.
the solutions
from
the
leaching vats directly into the
draining
The
out
precipitating vats.
are
pumped
precipitation vats
by
the solution
to filter
made
duplex Prescott
going
pumps,
presses
in the
Homestake
shops. The
pulp treated by the mill is of a
highly siliceous nature, often however
hornblende,
carrying some
the sulphides being mainly pyrite and
The
extraction
pyrrhotite
made
is in the
of 90
cost
neighbourhood
cent., the
being
per
between
and
45
50
of
material
cents
ton
treated,
probably
per
the
latter figure."!
nearer
In America
the
25s. to 29s. per
price of zinc dust varies from
the
of dust
used
amount
for precipitation varies
from
cwt., and
6

on

to

oz.

Charcoal

Precipitation.

charcoal

solutions.

packed
The

use

process
in

handled

is

being

The

with

charcoal

The

of solution.

ton

per

toria
cyanide plants in Victhe
to precipitate
gold from
cyanide
is passed through
series
barrels
of
a
the gold is deposited.
charcoal, on which

solution

finely broken
is afterwards
is too

burnt

and

slow

where

Jour.

Chem.

and

Fulton,

The

Met.

many

to

cumbersome

large plants
in the twenty-four hours.

t C. H.

At

used

hundreds

an

ash,
to

of tons

and

the

recommend
of solution

S.A., Jan. 1903.

Engineering and Mining Journal,

ash

fluxed.

itself
have

to

Soc.

June

4, 1902.

for
be

122

THE

CYANIDE

PROCESS.

Hours.

Filling vats,
wash, if necessary,
Preliminary alkali or water
Strong solution, 0'2% to 0'4% solution, to J
ore

12
12
.

of

In

with

contact

12

tailings,

Percolating,
Dry or air- leaching,

12
4

solution, 0-15%

Weak

of ore,

to

0*2% solution,

\
12

........

air-leaching,
weak
cyanide washes, 0*05%

Dry

about

or

Two

Two

about

each

clean

to

0*1% washes,
12

of ore,
each

washes,

water

about

12

of ore,

Discharging vat,

100

Total,

...

quantity of solution used, including the water washes,

is about
The
equal to the weight of the ore.
quantity of strong
varies
used
solution
according as a preliminary washing with a
it is
dilute
solution
has been
In the former
case
employed or not.
about
25 per cent,
of the weight of the ore, and in the latter case
The

about

total

40

The

cent.

per

percolation vats
top, and

of the

inches

solution
covered.

allowed

then

is

The

the

penetrate

of the

vat

settle

shrinkage depending on the depth of

moisture
in the tailings.
value
of the
The
tailingsvaries from

of
of

the

actual

varying

extraction

from

4s.

amounts

10s.

to

70

to

The

inches,

some

the

and

vat

12s.

20s.

to

75

or

they

the

the

are

amount

ton, and

per

the

to

few

percentage

at

cent.,

per

cyanide

strong

tailings until

ton, according

per

within

tailingsto

is levelled.

surface
to

contents

with

charged

are

their

size

cost

of

the

plant.
The
the

Deep

Jumpers

newest

the

on

Hand,

up-to-date practice.
their

African
in the

next

described

The

works

Mr.

John

the

works

of the

modelled

are

be

Yates

and

as

unnecessary

practice,
in

slime

represent

cyanide

and

and

the

experience ;

it will

African

and

Waikino

and

pages,

by
engineering on
The

at

practice

South

of

mill

new

cyanide plant

his

recent

works

Waihi

they
all

give
of

South

latest

further

which
on

details

lucidly
metallurgical
are

Rand.*

Yates, " Present

Day Metallurgical Engineering
Mining Journal, London.

John

at

fully described

are

work

and

Company

the

on

among

advanced

most

to

are

on

the

Rand/'

1898,

OF

APPLICATION

New
of

gives
2

and

"direct

the
slime

or

deep.

Of

The

and

each

from

battery
the

is

it is

is saved

filled
cent,

per

resulting
The

the

when

the
as

the

are

of
per

the

of

fine
cent,

per

which

pulp

are

viously
pre-

another

vat,

the

that

so

race,

the
200

but

small

days,

of

275

and

of

tons

the

ores.

alkaline,

the

top,

of

of

course

used

cyanide

soon

solution

The

solution.

in

treatment

of
its

during

water,
acid

As

strengths

cyanide

amount

of
free

pyritic

receiving

vat

the

neutralize

Various

each

drained

being

slightly

is

away

the

of

foot

vat.

decomposition

vat,
to

within

to

after
to

is commenced.

length
is

lbs.

tailings.

following

table

works

the

vat,

solution

the

by

is six

treatment

The
in

Each

draining

into

of

from

remaining

contain

vat

another

into

alkaline

formed

from

ton

is diverted

solution

treatment

the

15

filling the
slimes

the

tailings (sand)

with

an

solution

pumped

in

the

the

launder,

quantity

vats,
of

into

with

by cyanide

treatment

treated

be

to

and

solutions

slimes

About

away.

worked

into
The

race.

leaving

after

is

solution,

of

pumps

wheel

whereby

and

slimes

strong

or

ft.

vat

tons

tailings,

course

overflows

Treatment.

of

tailings

the

636

separators.

flow

the

In

each

the

spitz-

capacity,

of

into

and

and

top

tons

top

of

separators,

into

water.

stream

is treated

the

ordinary

200

of

consists

says,

the

at

tailings

second,

tailings

the

medium,

would

of

centrifugal

slime

the

in

slimes

is filled

Method

of

he

of

the

or

Pengilly

slimes.

of

vat

pulp

the

launders

tailings

proportion

The

otherwise

with
of

weak,

into

eliminated

are

the

well

boxes,

of

are

Card

extraction

square

three

means

to

pass

that

through

run

10

conveyed

separator

slimes

by

Institution

the

treatment

capacity

the

vats.

is lifted

plates,

first

sand
of

treatment

which

pumps

F.

overflow

total

with

that

Mr.

are

13

the

away

have

before

Around

each.

connected

motor

ft.

vats,

carries

tanks

is

the

to

style,

capacity

solution

vats,

read

plant,

separators

treatment

which

by

19

tons

launder,

on

the

slime
box

pointed

130

of

The

123

COUNTRIES.

successful

the

of

treatment

The

tanks.

kasten

London,*

details

19

DIFFERENT

paper

filling process."

separators,

solution

In

Metallurgy,

interesting

some

IN

PROCESS

Mine.

Kleinfontein

Mining

by

THE

Trans.

in

Inst.

shows

the

treatment

Min.

and

method

exact

of

Met.

vat

London,

of

of

procedure

tailings
vol.

vi.

p.

113,

1898.

adopted

124

Vat

I.

Amount

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

Charge

of

KCy

I.

Capacity

used,

5*9

207

lbs. per

Tons.

ton.

OF

APPLICATION

PROCESS

THE

125

COUNTRIES.

DIFFERENT

IN

The
in the Extractor
Boxes.
tion
precipitaPrecipitation of Gold
is
the
of gold from
treatment
vats
the solution
coming from
A
certain
of zinc shavings.
effected,he says, by the means
portion
of the ore
the
mine
is
of
rebellious
from
a
nature, containing
coming
sufficient
metals
if
not
to
retard,
foreign
prevent, the precipitation
of gold by zinc.
To counteract
the effects of these
foreign metals,
it has
been
proved efficient in practice on these fields to set up a
lead couple, and
this is effected by dipping the zinc
at these works
weak
solution
of
of lead, preparatory to being
acetate
shavings in a
the
in
boxes.
extractor
placed
In all cases
that
zinc containing from
1 to 2 per cent,
it is found
of lead
gives the most
satisfactoryprecipitation. By the use of
of lead
acetate
a
only
perfect precipitation is brought about;
after passing through the
of gold remaining in the solution
traces

boxes.

extractor

The

actual

working costs amount

general charges and maintenance.
has

It
with

been

shown

classes

certain

of

advantageous

more

treatment.

crushing
White

the

at

has

country

nevertheless

favour,

certain

the

Western

local

Australia

conditions,

never

made

Wei

Estate

be

it may

to

preparatory

Dry-

with
Mr.

by

mine

that

universal.

viewed

been

experiments

Luipaards

ton, including

per

wet-crush
dry-crush than
Africa
wet-crushing is

to

that

in

and

ore

South

In

and

America

in

Is. lid.

to

much

Franklin

interesting and

are

instructive.*

few

days

double

the

in the

placed
and

away,

steel,

close

the

to

and

bottom

Mr.

and

The

ore

in

mine

the

lower,

does

in

treated

was

to

White

and

discharge

mill

transferred

then

obtained.

thus

and

bottoms

diameter

ft. in

25

little below.

tanks

upper

being

treatment

of

filter

usual
were

distance

some

made

were

tanks

Three

doors.

with

deep,

ft.

row

used

tanks

The

not

sider
con-

advantage
dealing
drymixed
the
in
first
instance,
material, as
properly
ore
of air entangled in the
is
He
is abundance
and there
dry sand.
is transferred
the damp
rather
of the opinion that when
to the
ore
is a tendency to pack closer and
of tanks, there
second
to
row
double

treatment

added

was

to

varying
thoroughly mixed
broken

the

in the

at

ore

the

rock-breaker

lbs. per

different

floor,in
this

By

ton.

machines,

and

any

tions
proporit

means

lumps

was
were

up.

actual

procedure,
K.

with

is

1 lb. to

from

W.

of

filtration.

Lime

The

to

the

crushed

retard

be

differed

cyanide treatment
followed

and

lines

first

little from

suggested

to

the

the
author

ordinary
by Mr.

Feldtmann.
*

Trans.

Inst.

Min.

and

Met.

London,

vol. vii. p. 124, 1899.

126

CYANIDE

THE

As

soon

as

solution,

0'25

0*15

being
this

the

tank

per

cent.

cent.,

per

would

treatment

allowed

not

were
was

obtain

to

access

about

27

The

having
short

The
the
the

to

tons
was

lost

about

time.

tank

then

ore

67

followed

but

filled,a

was

by

this

of

sand.

transferred

that

its

the

last

given

to

solutions

The
when

tank

the

fresh

air

to

would

solution

be

tons).

170

second

the

to

of

cent,

per

It is

Each

to

time

allow

to

was

(165

ore

off

strong
the

others,

two

drained

were

object of
of damp

mass

row

The
it.
to
on
pumped
sixty-sixto seventy hours.

stand,

to

filled.

once

KCy,

was

first

the

in

be

PROCESS.

original

value

assay

abundance

tanks,

of

row

this

in

probable
entangled in
what
with
would
held
be
in
tank
of
dry sand, as compared
a
sand
settled with water, materially assisted
the solution
of the gold.
Also
the finer grains of the free gold would
be quickly taken
up.
A solution
of 20 to 25 tons, not
exceeding 0*20 per cent. KCy,
then
sands
and
drained
was
pumped on to the transferred
off,the
allowed
remain
for
about
to
mass
damp
being
ninety-six hours,
solutions
when
weaker
0*10
to
cent,
(0*15 per
cent.) were
per
used in continuous
washes, making up a total of 75 tons
per tank
wash
of 20
30
tons
(second treatment). A water
or
completed
of air

the

this

of the

part

careful

the

total

per

tank.

per

cent.,

be
and

loss

of

The
or,

would

of moisture

the

during

sumps

which

process,

series

liquid in

the

moisture

in the

20

say,

and

tests

of four

treatment

tons

275

some

the

in

form

of

96

was

solutions

dwt.

4 dwt.

to

moisture

from

when

the

0*8

Summary
Trial

Tanks
Clean

and
up

extractor

and

the

tons,

of

fresh
of

ton

from

dwt.

to

that

24

or

tons

house

and

sumps

3 tons

of

from

of

the

tanks

second

the
21

carried

per
mill
tons

row

from

3 dwt.

dwt.

Costs.

per

ton

smelting, etc.,

Discharging residues,
Sundries,
FT*

Total

Actual

water

liquid equals

(Coarse).

work,

tanks

ore.

row

of Cyanide
Crushing

of

delivered

first

; those

per ton
final wash

showed

discharged residues averaged 12*3

tank; the remaining 4 tons would

per

dwt.

32

; and

running

solution

of

(680 tons)

treatment

storage bin, the actual consumption

(25 gallons)per
per tank, or ton
The

hours.

measurements

tanks

surfaces
represented by evaporation from
As
the ore
contained
about
by leakages.

tank,

13

last

extraction

68*91

3*30

5-15

8-36

1-05

5-86

per

cwt.

to

APPLICATION

OF

PROCESS

THE

ZEALAND.*

NEW

principalgold-bearing

The

and

lavas, tuffs, breccias,

everywhere
prolonged leaching
and
accompanied by steam
stages of decomposition or
hard

andesite

blue

gradations
rock,

altered

be

can

into

acid

the

and

by

found

are

in

sible
insenblue

or

been

propylite has

name

all
the

of almost

fairly hard, greyish-yellow

distinctive

in

mines

many

series

doubtless

waters,

They

vapours.

pass

tertiary age.
subjected

been

having

thermal

of

to

seen

lower

of

of

alteration;

soft, or

which

to

evidence
action

the

to

of andesitic

great accumulation

agglomerates
bear

rocks

These

Goldfields

Hauraki

of the

formation

origin, consisting of

is of volcanic

127

COUNTRIES.

DIFFERENT

IN

applied.
It

The

occur.

but

altered

is in this

veins

The

distance.

yet,

adjoining

vary

extension

in linear

is the

andesite

vein

same

from

they

ore
or

that

values

lode

few

can

the

inches

seldom
are

also

worked

veins

be

yielding payable ore

40
ft. in
to
width,

traced

irregular,and

with

able
consider-

for any

payable

in

no

results

case,

in

as

two

mines.

sula,
peninportion of the Hauraki
of whitish-grey chalcedonic
consist
the
or
cryptopay-ores
banded
of
structure
crystallinequartz, often possessing a wavy,
and
blue
paratively
comThey are
flintyquartz.
alternating layers of grey
base
free from
sulphides.
*645
with
The
is
about
silver
fine, and usually associated
gold
tremely
sub-sulphide (Ag2S) in varying proportions. It is generally exvisible to the
finely divided, being seldom
eye, and in the
it is impossible to raise even
colour
ore
a
great bulk of the Waihi
by panning.
of the cyanide process,
these
Prior to the introduction
ores
were
and
hot
with
treated
chemicals,
pan-amalgamation
by dry-crushing
65
of
effected.
which
cent,
a
was
by
recovery
per
When
was
adopted, dry-crushingwas naturally
cyanide treatment
different mills,the dry pulverized material
at the
continued
being
and
treated directlyby cyanide.
From
charged into shallow vats
the
65
bound
at
to
rose
a
recovery
per cent, by pan-amalgamation,
Ores,

Cyaniding

In* the

southern

85
were

per cent., and

considered

few

possessed
*

cases

to

Excerpt

so

years,
many

principalbeing
American

some

satisfactorythat
possible.

considered
In

in

from

Institute

however,

90
no

per

cent., and

further

it became

apparent
with
disadvantages compared

the
paper
of

cost

of

drying

by author read at
Mining Engineers.

the

ore,

California

the

the

results

improvement

was

that

dry-crushing
wet-crushing, the
low

duty

of

the

Meeting, September 1899,

128

CYANIDE

THE

and

stamps,
1897

mine

and

the

large number
began to

owners

PROCESS.

of

their

turn

attention

the

to

different
1898,
beginning
been
have
adopting wet-crushing, until at the present time
two
crushing is the exception and not the rule, as it was

by

one

since

leaching. In
wet-crushing,

for

required

vats

one,

of

mills

the

dryyears

ago.

Practice.

Wet-crushing
"float

or

gold

"

and

with

(a.) Crushing

containing

ores

able

free, easilyamalgam

of
of fine

For

A.

with

gold,
sulphide, the

silver

large proportion
proportion
practice is :
a

small

mill

water.

(b.)Plate

amalgamation,
(c.)Spitzlute separation of
of
(d.) Cyanide treatment
A

typicalexample of an
Estates
at
Opitonui,

Gold

started.
"

The
"

double

has

pay
made

been

worth

it, they

for

the

for the
will

ore,

containing
large proportion

small

but

method

but

of

of treatment

almost

of

the

order

ore

so

the

So

fine

far

slimes.

with

proportion
amalgamable
fine cyanide gold, with
little or
no
the

at

Crown

of

Mines

could

be

is

just
the

provision
If they are
decanting.
above,

gold, and
slimes,

the

solution.
of mixed

free

exceptionally

of treatment

Kauri

no

described

that

colation.
per-

additional

if the

by agitation and

identical

the

of

of free

percolation,
Plate
amalgamation
(c.)
an

involved.

treated

(a.) Crushing with cyanide

(b.) Direct cyanide treatment

With

is that

40-stamp mill has

are
subjected to

new

labour

be

class

by ordinary

it is doubtful

treatment

probably

clean

For

B.

slimes

slimes

heavy

extra

slimes.

and

this

where

cyanide treatment,

will

saving

and

sands

of

ore

and

sands
sands

sands

and

slimes

by

gold^

free

from

reversed

slimes,

it

seems

that

with

advantage, both
as
regards stamp duty
efficiencyof amalgamation on the plates.
The
Crown
Mines
the first to adopt wet-crushing
was
Company
for these
occurred
gold and silver-bearing chalcedonic
ores, which
and

in

1897,

and

much

credit

is due

to

Mr.

F. R. W.

Daw,

the

tendent,
superininauguration of the method.
and
The
is hard
splintery,clear and pure from all impurities,
ore
the
unlike
of
from
the neighbouring mines, contains
most
and,
ores
silver
little or
is alloyed with
the
no
gold. It is
except what
in the Company's
crushed
in
60-stamp mill with cyanide solution
the mortars,
about
2 tons of solution being used to 1 ton of ore.
A 2 5 -mesh
is
2 tons
used, and the duty per stamp is about
screen
in crushing are
formed
The
slimes
said to amount
to
per day.
for the

less than

5 per

successful

cent.

i36

which
copper-plates,

amalgamated
the

87

all

actual

from
recovery
cent., but the costs

per

For

G.

of

proportion

certain

associated

used

is

is said

sources

to

84

from

vary

to

obtainable.

not

are

containing some
with
pyrites

ores

gold

and

sulphides,the

silver

fine

gold, and

easily amalgamable

treatment

(a.) Crushing

with

water.

(b.) Plate amalgamation.

(c.) Spitzluteseparation

(d.) Vanner
(e.)Cyanide
(f.)Cyanide

of fine

concentration

of

treatment

of

treatment

of

practice at

the

if necessary.

slimes,

sulphurets.
by percolation.
slimes by agitation and decanting.
concentrates
by agitation.

of sands

treatment

(g.)Cyanide
The

catch

gold.

free
The

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

mill

Woodstock

is

this

of

typicalexample

treatment.
The
a

and

and
the

1100

the

for

The

ore

the

per

is about

June

tons

mill

the

month,
value

equal

is

the

of

1000

1901,

which

1362,

The

the

of rich

concentrates.

tank,

passed

vanner

led

are

end

spitzlute.
slime

are

over

of which

The

the

slimes

while

the

bullion

tons

of

of

ore

to

varies

2240
were

value

of

from

8s.

from

over

amalgamated

by a wheel
the spitzlute are
ducted
conheavy
carrying some

pulp

sands

is raised

about

collect

which

vanners,

per

cent,

tailings,composed principally of sands and heavy

the
to
leaching vats, which
are
provided with

distributors.

automatic

through

being principallycomposed
ounce,
is crushed
and
with
water
passed

slimes

slimes,

output

colour

of silver.

to
to

The

monthly
duty being slightlyunder

ton.

from
copper-plates,
elevator

It is

pyrites.

presence

of

return

jl, 7s. 6'68d.

12s. per

stamp
For

day.

little

the

Company's 40-stamp

tons,

lbs. per
crushed

and

oxides.

manganese

ing
contain-

finelycrystalline quartz,

proportion of clayey matter

greyish and blackish-brown

of iron

to

chalcedonic

small

stained

At

is

ore

The

of the

construction

is of

distributors

those
to
simplest character, being similar
formerly used at
of a
central
Waihi.
wooden
a
They consist
box, pivoted on
which
the
in
and
from"
wooden
fixed
of the
centre
pillar
vat,
extend
and
wooden
launders
of light make
seven
narrow
or
arms
different
of the
distribution
lengths, so as to effect an even
pulp.
At
of each
zinc
to
there
the end
is fixed a piece of sheet
arm

the

divert
The
stream

the

stream

whole
and

to

of the

diverted

one

pulp
into

side.
from

the

one

vat

ends

vanner

at

time

is collected
until

the

in

one

charge

is

AMPLICATION

filled.

During

the

slime

vats.

the

into

OF

THE

PROCESS

IN

DIFFERENT

overflow

fillingthe

131

COUNTRIES.

the

carries

lighter

slimes

with
treated
are
cyanide by
heavy slimes
ordinary percolation.
those
from
the sand vats, are
The
slimes
the spitzlute,and
from
slowly revolving
provided with
agitated with
cyanide in vats
the
lime
is added, and
slimes
the gold is dissolved
When
arms.

The

and

sands

allowed

are

The

off.

slimes

and

of water
The

which

settle,after

to

washed

are

with

by agitating

is decanted

solution

clear

the

successive

portions

decanting.
have

concentrates

value

of 30

,40

to

ton,

per

large

silver

sulphide. They are

being
proportion
of cyanide for
treated
by agitation with a 4 per cent, solution
to
Two
of
thirty-sixhours.
pounds of lime are added
every ton
Mr. F. Eich,
The
concentrates.
1J tons.
charge weighs about
the
the superintendent,who
adopted
present treatment, informed
of

the

of 18s. per

cost

The

able

very

gold,
usual

varied

recovery
for

from

vary

For

D.

the

to

ton

in

and

silver

82

and

labour

86

to

per

sulphides,the

of sands

(c.) Treatment
(d.) Treatment
method

94

to

cent.,

per

at

material.
sources

cent.,

at

of

per

ton

cost

of 4s. 9d.

ore

milled

containing very little easily amalgamslimy ores

a
large proportion of extremely fine gold besides
is

treatment

(a.) Crushing with cyanide

(b.)Spitzlute separation of

This

90

from

all

from

by cyanide

recovery

is said

the

that

author

value

the

as

solution.

sands

and

slimes.

by percolation.
by agitation and

of slimes

follows

decanting.

modifications
subject to various
as
of application, but
regards mechanical
appliances and methods
the general principles are
the
everywhere
same.
the
The
Waitekauri
at
40-starap mill is as follows :
procedure
contains
which
The
a
good deal of oxidized
products, is
ore,
is

of treatment

crushed
the

with

cyanide

is conducted

pulp

in the

solution
direct

to

sand

the

distributed
from

of revolving wooden
by means
The
slimes, of
secondary shaft.

cent.,

per

through
movable
in the

are

allowed
fixed

a
pipe
joint,and

to

in

drain

the

is raised

into

inside

by

screw

of

box

as

launders
there

screens

which

vats, into

which

the

the

From

mortars.

are

it is

actuated
about

33

collecting vat, flowing

This
vat.
pipe has a
the
pulp accumulates

vat.

which
collectingvat is provided with revolving arms
keep
this
the fine slimy pulp from
From
the
slimes
vat
are
settling.
with
into
which
the
slime
are
a
leaching vats,
provided
pumped
rakes
double
the lower
set of slowly revolving arms,
ones
having
The

132

CYANIDE

THE

and

them

on

the

the

pulp.
decanting,

through
and

loose

ones

upper
In

these

lime

PROCESS.

the

vats

being

which

pieces of sacking
slimes

added

treated

are

each

with

wash

drag

by agitation
facilitate

to

settlement.
The

sands

solution

cent,

per

treated

are

of

by ordinary percolation with

the
then
weak
cyanide, and

first

and

water

0*5

washes.
There

each

vats

2 2 '5

value
per
The

ft. in

slime

diameter

and

output

is about

cent., at

per
cost

ounce.

of 5s.

vats, and
4

of

tons

than

valued

deep.

ft.

2200

larger

was

of bullion

ozs.

1 8s. 9d.

of

14

vats,

40-stamps

monthly

yielding 7220
90

sand

of the

output
June

12

are

slime

collecting
monthly

The
2240

lbs.

The

usual, being 2543

tons,
0s.
6d.,
6773,
equal to a

at

The

actual

6d. per

ton.

recovery

is said

to

be

exceptionallylarge proportion of slimes in this ore rendered

the adoption of wet-crushing a knotty and difficult problem.
The
increased
lower
costs
are
output, higher extraction, and
proofs
of the change from
dry-crushing which
enough of the success
was
under
the
G.
effected
supervision of Mr.
Davey, the superintendent,
without
in
the
hitch, or decrease
monthly
output, a
in these
of
of no
little moment
matter
days
heavily capitalized
public companies.
the points most
Among
Concluding Remarks.
likely to attract
low
the
the
notice
of cyaniders are
stamp duty and the heavy
consumption of cyanide.
mills has often
Zealand
The
low stamp
been
duty of the New
a
but
been
of
has
discussion,
no
subject
satisfactoryexplanation
yet
In the opinion of the author, it is due
the
to
stance
circumadvanced.
that
the mills having been
designed and erected in the first
and
restricted
too
are
narrow
place for dry-crushing, the mortars
until
results
these
and
to give good
are
replaced
by wet-crushing,
for
it
wet-crushing, seems
mortars, speciallydesigned
by new
less
hopeThe
for better
of
results.
to look
advantages
a
stamp duty of
of 2 tons
obvious
4 or 5 tons
too
to
are
require
per day instead

enumeration.
With
known
effect

reference
that

to

silver

its dissolution

the

in all
than

large consumption
its forms
requires a

gold ;

and

large consumption of cyanide is

sulphide (principally
Ag2S), which
to

the

third

circumstance
its

that
of silver.

the

free

to

stronger

the

is

well
to

Goldfields

presence
worth

generally
gold is alloyed

weight
According to Eisner's equation for
potassium cyanide, 4 lbs. of cyanide
that
gold, but in practice it is found

it is

solution

cyanide,

Hauraki

in the

due

of

with

of

the
silver

saving,
about

aud
one-

^
the

dissolution

should
it takes

dissolve

of
100

gold by
ozs.

of

nearly forty times

OF

APPLICATION

PROCESS

THE

that

quantity. To dissolve
lbs. of cyanide, according to
4Ag
For

the

8KCy

dissolution

sulphide (Ag2S), 7*01

following equation :

IN

100
the

of

100

silver

of

ozs.

would

cyanide

lbs. of

4(AgKCy2)

require 7*5

would

silver

equation

2H20

02

of

ozs.

133

COUNTRIES.

DIFFERENT

4KHO.

existing as the subbe

required by the

Ag2S

4KCy

2(AgKCy2)

K2S.

of silver
potassium sulphide resulting from the dissolution
shown
loss of cyanide.
It has been
a
sulphide also tends to cause
of alkaline
by Crosse and others that a trace
sulphide in cyanide
but
the
solutions
does
not
act
injuriously,
large quantity of K2S
of the silver-bearingores
of the Hauraki
liberated in the treatment
the precipitationof a portion of the dissolved
Goldfields must
cause
of this
Much
precipitated gold is doubtless
gold in the vats.
redissolved
of free cyanide present in the solutions,
by the excess
obtain
but
it always requires this excess
to
adequate extractions,
the
thus
of
comparatively strong solutions.
use
necessitating
with
the
One
connected
ment
treatof the most
perplexing features
is the constantly varying proportion of silver,
of these
ores
solutions
which
the
of varying strength to.
necessitates
of
use
of anxiety
obtain
source
adequate extractions, thus adding another
the
the
which
the use
of cyanide entails on
worries
to
even
many
successful
cyanider.
of the Hauraki
At many
was
mines, cyanide treatment
adopted
but
the author's
recommendation,
by the owners
only after he
on
careful
of the
had
made
a
investigation of the constituents
ore,
lurgical
MetalGovernment
and
repeated trials on a working scale, at the
The

Works

experimental
In

mine.

no

the

at

trials
case

made

were
was

In

Thames.

the

the

by

process

The

ores

of

Te

Aroha

and

Monowai

cases,

author's
until

adopted

doubtless
precaution which
promoting the popularity of cyanide

assured,

other

has

been

treatment
are

the

necessary

assistants
had

success
a

in

potent
this

generally

the

at

been

factor

in

country.
very

tory,
refrac-

fine, associated
containing free milling gold, mostly very
with
lead, zinc, and often
cury.
mersulphides of silver, iron, copper,
them
to treat
Many attempts have been made
by cyanide,
it
but
without
and, so far as our
present knowledge
success,
goes,
doubtful
treated
the
if
in
is
be
raw
they can
ever
successfully
that
state
by
process.
from
For
the
of cupriferous ores
and
treatment
concentrates
be
could
Monowai
the
not
Jubilee, Sylvia, and
mines, which
obtained
treated
successfully by ordinary cyaniding, the author
good results by first subjectingthe ore to a chloridizing roast, and

134

then

leaching

alkaline

and

the

out

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

chlorides

copper

with

After

water.

an

were
tracted
exgold and silver contents
by cyanide by ordinary percolation. Daring the roasting
the
silver
chloridized, the chloride
sulphides present were
being
dissolved
easily
by cyanide.
From
Monowai
of the
cent,
a large parcel of
gold
ore, 92
per
and
85 per cent,
of the
silver
extracted, the composition of
were
the ore
being (F. B. Allen, M.A., B.Sc.) :

wash,

water

Insoluble

the

90-15

gangue,

Copper pyrites,
Iron pyrites,

3-78

Galena,

0-25

4*40

Zinc-blende,

0-26

Alumina,

013
.

and

Water

103

loss,

10000

bullion

The

silver, 14
The

of

Co.'s

construction,

equipment,

consists

of

and

in

were

Gold,

situated
at
Works,
of
point
completeness

the

finest

dwt.

oz.

in

Thames,
and

Zealand.

New

are

modernThe

plant
matic
rock-breakers, grizzlies,autobattery,
Berdan
21
a
complete cyanide
vanners,
pans,
among

60-head
24

feeders,

ore

ton.

Moanataiari

of recent
ness

per

oz.,

this

of

contents

two

9
Cornish
buddies
for
concentrates,
plant for treating vanner
all up-to-date
and
the vanners,
concentrating the tailings from
The
and
for
consist
retorting.
cyanide works
appliances
assaying
steel vats, 20 ft. in diameter
and 7 ft. deep, each
of three
provided
with
each
with
of 200
two
doors,
a
bottom-discharge
capacity
of

tons

concentrates

length ; and
Wet-crushing,

three

works,

supervision.
in

New

concrete

were

The

interesting

designed by
cyaniding of

each

extractors,
sumps,

concentration,
the

are

which

zinc

; two

and

the

features
the

50

1 1

15
x

ft.

ft.

over

cyanidation of
the
practice

of

author

and
is

concentrates

erected

in.

the
at

under

comparatively

in
all.

centrates
con-

these
his
new

Zealand.

Mine.

Talisman

In

the

Ohinemuri

Goldfields,the practice
has been
of dry-crushing
cyanide treatment
superseded
and
of sands,
treatment
cyanide
by wet-crushing, concentration,
and

slimes, and
mill, the ore

being dumped
Blake

Marsden

in
was

some

direct

cases

the

concentrates.

At

the

Talisman

the
mine
conveyed from
by an aerial tramway
stuff
to a grizzly,which
to
on
a
passed the coarse
the
ore
crusher, whence
passed to a revolving
,

APPLICATION

The

drying furnace.

provided

were

PROCESS

THE

OF

and

pulverized ore was

the
carried
to
cyanide
conveyors.

drying

12

about

This

by

vats

tons

of

to
a

was

for

ore

every
dry-crushing mill

place
sands

and

ore-bin, from
line
a

ton

has

the

mortars

which

it

of

very

was

revolving screw^
machine,

efficient

of firewood

consumed.

dismantled, to give
wet-crushing plant. Wire
gamation,
plate-amalconcentration, separation of slimes, cyaniding of
vanner
slimes, the latter by agitation and decantation, has been

company's
a
new
50-stamp

to

an

long

drier

mechanical

The

135

COUNTRIES.

front

elevated

The

DIFFERENT

weighed 1000 lbs., and

discharge.

stamps

back

with

IN

been

introduced.

Waihi

lode

Martha
this

Mine.
at

the
It

district.

The

Waihi

in the

ore

mine

is

upper

levels

typical of

celebrated

the

of

of

most

the

in

ores

principally of hard, splintery, whitishchalcedonic

and
crypto-crystalline quartz, often
possessing
grey
It
is
all base
free
from
and wavy
structure.
perfectly
a banded
of iron
metallic
oxides
sulphides, and the amount
present is so
small

that

when

consists

roasted

and

pulverizedthe

colour

of

the

dust

is

pinkish-grey.
value

"4

"

precious metals
to
oz.
oz.
gold. The
proportion
35
about
free
of
cent,
silver, being
gold is alloyed with
per
The
about
53s.
valued
at
oz.
greater proportion of the
per
silver exists in the form
of the bluish-grey sub-sulphide known
as
In
thin
the
surface
levels,
argentite.
leafy plates of gold were
the
not
surface
of large cuboidal
to
infrequently seen
adhering
lower
levels
of quartz, but
in the
is rarely seen,
colour
masses
a
the gold existing in an
Such
extremely fine state of subdivision.
is theoreticallyperfect for cyanide treatment,
and
actual
an
ore
has
it
be
old
to
the
proved
so.
By
experience
stamp battery, and
amounted
to only some
copper-plate amalgamation, the recovery
4 dwts. per
15
cent,
of the value.
ton, equal to about
By
per
raised to
was
dry-crushing and pan-amalgamation the extraction
actual
60 per cent., but
the
extraction
at present
by the cyanide
The

varies

from

existing in the

process
The

amounts

to

of about

to

over

90

per

per

cent,

ton, the

silver

of the

assay

value.

of
treatment
following particulars of the dry method
the Waihi
mills were
at
formerly in use
supplied by Mr. H. P.
for the
annual
Barry, the general manager,
report of the New
Mines
for
1894
Zealand
:
Department
The
is
Ore.
trucked
the
to the
ore
drying kilns which
Drying

consist

of

open

circular

holes

excavated

in

the

solid

rock,

their

the
at
being 37 ft. in depth and 20 ft. in diameter
the
kiln
is capable
Each
at
bottom.
top, and tapering somewhat
of ore
at
lower
of holding 100
The
tons
a
charge.
part is lined
with
bricks, and finished off with a brick arch, having a door

dimensions

136

CYANIDE

THE

and

iron

an

which

chute

have

dried

discharging the
the kiln by means

for
to

access

PROCESS.

of

into

ore

tunnel

trucks,
in

cut

the

rock.

Charging the Kilns.

and
layers of wood
ore,
When
is all

and

necessary

wood,

of

withdrawn

ore

are
ore

The

are

alternate
charged with
being about 5 ft. apart.
is lighted, and, after
it

layers of wood
the kiln is fully charged, the wood
half the charge, that
burned
up, about

withdrawn

raw

kilns

The

and
method

the

another
are

wood
of

50

the

placed on

third

every
is added.

drying

of

tons

the

ore

ore,

raw

top.

day,

is about

After
while

50

together
this

about

similar

is very
expensive, as
of ore.
The
cost
tons

tons, is
the

with
50

tons

quantity
one

ton

of

of

of firewood
only dry about three
of
the
and
mill
ton
is
2s.
total cost
at
dried,
ore
big
per
of drying, including labour, is 2s. 6cL per ton.
From
the
is
kilns, the dried
ore
Pulverizing.
Crushing and
it passes
trucked
to the
rock-breakers, whence
by gravitation to
of a
The
self ore-feeders.
the
pulverizing machinery consists
Otis
an
ball-mill,having a capacity of
90-stamp battery and
about
The
is passed through a 40-mesh
10 stamps.
screen.
ore
the
Vats.
From
the
the
Leaching
dry
Filling
Cyanide
screens,
dust
falls into
trough running parallel with the
a
long, narrow
the dust-bin
it is conveyed
to
at
one
stamp-motors, along which
From
end
of an
Archimedean
the
of the mill
screw.
by means
elevator
and
the pulverizedore
is lifted by a bucket-belt
dust-bin
provided with rope edges,
discharged on to an 8 in. rubber-belt
and
the
is
dust-hopper, which
by this conveyed to, and across,
110
ft. long, running the entire length of the cyanide-plant house.
The
dust-hopper has twenty doors for discharging the dust into
the
the trucks, which
are
straight out over
leaching vats on
run
travellers
The
to travellers
are
provided with
running on rails.
hand
be
to
tipped at
traversing gearing, thus enabling a truck
This
is an
important feature, as the finely
part of the vat.
any
about
has a tendency to pack if moved
or
pulverized material
the
touched
into
after
vat.
in any
being tipped
way
is a
small
As a further
preventative against packing, there
traveller
fixed below
the main
traveller, provided with a platform
All
the
trucks
has to be filled up
to.
at the height the ore
are
the
breaks
fall of
the
this platform, which
dust, and
tipped over
all
in
it
around.
throws
a light shower
The
The
Treatment.
Cyanide
following particulars of the
cyanide treatment
were
kindly supplied to me by Mr. E. G. Banks,
of the cyanide operations.
the chemist
The
plant consisted of thirty-eight circular leaching vats, each
22 J ft. in diameter
and
the necessary
4 ft. deep, together with

wood

will

the Waihi

OF

APPLICATION

dissolving and
and

solution

PROCESS

THE

solution

vats,

air-pumps,

etc.

IN

extractors, vacuum-cylinders,

sumps,

137

COUNTRIES,

DIFFERENT

Hours.

Filling vat, 30 tons, two men,

Strong solution, 10 tons, 0*35% KCy leaching,
Weak
solution, 7 tons, 0*1% KCy, with vacuum,
First

6 tons, with

wash,

water

2
30
.

15
24

vacuum,

36

Second

Discharging vat, one man

sluicing,
Taking up and cleaning filter-bottom,

...

.114

Total,

of 20

vacuum

The

results.
the

actual

extraction

and

been

at

abandoned

of the

value

average

original value, at
Dry-crushing

in. is maintained

23

in. to

to 92
cent,
per
per cent,
7s. 6d. per ton, not
including

of

direct
all

the

slimes.

and

The

South

of the

treatment

African

subsequent

and

Western

Mr.

G.

slimes

is

of

the

some

of

treatment

effected
essential

the

royalty.

pulverized ore
cyaniding
Waihi
Company's mills in favour

combining
tilter-pressing,

both

of

the

of

wet-crushing, concentration, and

and

above

ton, and

90

from
cost

the

obtain

4 per

about

was

ore

to

has
of

sands

by agitation
features

of

Australian

practice.
Banks,
company's metallurgist, for
am
Waihi
notes
the following clear and succinct
on
cyanide practice
The
is pulverized by
mills.
different
Victoria
mill.
at the
ore
and
wire
steel screens,
200
wove
stamps to pass through 40-mesh
launders
of plunger sand
is then
to
elevated
by means
pumps
the
where
of
which
nests
the
spitzluten
pulp to
tion
separaconvey
slimes
and
takes place.
of the sands
I

indebted

to

the

Treatment

of

Sands.

sands

The

flow

to

the

intermediate

sand

meter
five built of steel, 38 ft. in diathere
are
collectingvats, of which
the outside
launder
on
by 8 ft. deep, fitted with an annular
the
overflow
times
containing a little
water, at
top edge to convey
The
sands are charged
to the slime
slime, away
thickening boxes.
tributor,
automatic
into the percolating vats
of an
revolving disby means
which
as

is moved

on

an

overhead

traveller

from

vat

to

vat

required.

The
bottom-discharge doors.
filter-bed is arranged by a wooden
grating covered with wool-pack.
After
250
of sands.
holds from
vat
Each
to 300
tons
draining to
is given with
get rid of surplus water, a preliminary treatment
weak
cyanide solution, followed
by a strong (0*35 per cent, to
and usual washes,
Q*45 per cent.) solution
The

vats

are

fitted

with

Roche's

138

THE

The
on

side.

Slime

Each

4 lbs. of lime

mixed

are

which

off in

The

slimes

thickened

The

14

by
clear

ft.

In

deep.

from

the

nest

bottom
the

to

collected

slimes

it is stored

to

V-shaped
then

are

the

of

boxes.

stamps.

in six steel vats

the

these

overflows,

water

(about
of 36

a
conveyed
quickly settle, and

is returned

are

lime-water
to

state

with

sliinea

the

fairly thick
overflowing clear water

drawn

rectangular concrete
vats, five
40
ft.
and
ft.
4
by
deep.
from
the spitzluten and the overflow

slime) and

of

in

ft.

slimes

vats

ton

per
boxes

thickening

The

sand

the

ten

is 50

vat

Treatment.

from

the

contains

old vat-house

each

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

meter
ft. in dia-

32

rapidly settle, and

for

the

in

re-use

as

and

mill

spitzluten.
the

When
the

top,

settle
is
1

for

is filled with

vat

inflowing slimes

the

about

hours.

24

syphoned off,and
of water) is ready
The

the
for

slime-pulp

off and

Whatever

clear

treatment

of

the

or

may
1

ft. from

allowed

charge

water

pulp (now about

in the agitators.

thickened

built

within

to

cut

are

be
of

to

top

on

slime

to

ft. in diameter

by 6 ft. deep,
and
25 tons
of slime
hold about
(dry weight),together with about
40 tons
of cyanide solution.
The
strength of the solution is about
The
is
O'l per cent.
pulp
agitated by paddles, secured to a vertical
The
shaft, actuated
by overhead
worm-gearing.
speed is 8
agitators are

revolutions
After
and

24

per minute.
hours'
agitation the
the

where
filter-presses,

The

work,

method

zinc

on

even

Vanners

of

dilute

very

to

can

of 85

extraction
be

recovered

recovery
In
the

crushed
bullion

Waihi
of

The

ore.

or

by

costs

are

month

of

12,968
valued

Union

40-stamps

for

steel vats

cent,

to

90

but

process,

per
no

through

pass

of

cent,

heavily

more

will

vanners

be

the

mixed
course

the

ore

value

of

the

actual

particulars

yet available.

January
of

tons
at

per

this

the

concentrate

the
tailings from
and
with
the lightly mineralized
ore-pulp,
of treatment
just described.
An

to

run

solutions.

erected

being

are

mineralized

tank,
a
pressure
6-ton
by compressed air into Johnson
gold bearing cyanide solution is extracted.
precipitation is used and does very good
is

pulp

is forced

thence

from

steel,20

of

which

ore,

this

year,

the

Waihi

yielded by cyanide

Company
treatment

29,055.
and

This mill consists

Cyanide Plant.
and
wet-crushing
plate-amalgamation ; sixteen

Mill

sand

(each vat having a capacity

of sand) ; three
of 22 tons
slime-collectingvats, 32 ft. in diameter
14
two
ft.
by 6 ft. deep;
deep;
agitators, 20 ft. in diameter
by
of
6
of slimewith
tons
Johnson
and one
a
capacity
filter-press,
dry weight, per charge. In addition there are the usual ore^

circular

for

treatment

i1

/
I.

z\

ELEVATWH

SECTIONAL

\TATOR
J

ARMS

10

Scale

II

.2

T"

by

of Feet

111"1"""1

APPLICATION

OF

breakers,
used

spitzluten,
40-mesh

are

25

ft. and
Sand

by

Treatment
of

means

automatic

an

run

The

on, and
total time

0*07

of treatment

through
away
The
Treatment.

Slime

(about

3 lbs. of lime

vats

and

part

of slime

with

there

are

to

one

The

automatically.
to

boxes.
that

This
even

grain

from
water

6d.

the

used

are

8d.

or

allowed

were

From

drawn

equal
with

to

mills.

to

run

to

25

Mill.

the

off

provided

syphon

one

clear

top
the

water

settling vats

in

the

mortar-

ton

of ore,

of

tons

loss would

the

shillingsper

several

as

be

from

if the

water

waste.

at

slime, and

dry

thickened

the

settling vats,

for

ore

about

to

are

lower

some

years

Washoe

was

; and

slimes
in

level,

agitated

cyanide solution to 1 ton

per cent,
This
Waihi
of the
oldest
is the

the

lime-water

large collecting

the

ton, and

per

it is evident

of ore,
three

of

tons

of 0'1

Here

gold

agitators, situated

the

1 J tons

Waihi

or

to

appears
of

collecting or

to

20

two

to

the
off

ton

per
to

up

water

2 grains

to

strong.

owing to the fact

necessary
be perfectly clear it contains

be

to

0*6

of

the

to

overflowing from
for re-use
pumped
up

is found

course

when

cyanide,

to

addition

water

be

to

sump-

of

The

vats,

drains

weak

cent,

settlement

these

In

joint

clear

reservoir

natural

by

water.

ball-and-socket

is sent

of

days.
tailings
discharge-door.

the

after

distributed

six

ore), flow

of

per ton
thickened

are

per
solution
0*4

central

slimes,

by
and

O'l

to

five to

bottom

vats

screens

passing the
a height of
spitzluten.

to

four

distributor.

cent,

by

slimes

the

to

is from

sluiced

are

and

flow

per
is followed

this

revolving

about

wash, containing
is

sands

after

pulp

wheel-elevator

sands

into

The

by

the

The

etc.

compressors,

steel, and

139

COUNTRIES.

DIFFERENT

air

is elevated

classified

is here

IN

pumps,

wire-wove

tables

amalgamated

PROCESS

THE

for

are

charges

24

hours

dry slime.
Company's
dry-crushed and panafterwards
dry-crushed,
of

amalgamated by
process
and
the dry pulp cyanided by the
direct
in the
manner
process
Of
the
described
Mr.
in
the
Barry
preceding pages.
by
present
Mr.
Banks
in April of 1903
treatment
follows
writes
:
as
old
At
the
stopped at the
90-stamp mill dry-crushing was
end
and
of 1902
for wet- crushing rapidly
alterations
necessary
the
of
middle
1
restarted.
903, the mill was
completed.
By
January
The
ore
(about 220 tons
per day) is stamped through 40-mesh
wire- wove
steel screens
amalgamated tables, of which
; passed over
there
fifteen,each 12 ft. by 6 ft. ; and then over
are
thirty union

"

vanners

After
to

which

passing

series of sand

f"

the

vanners,

to

pulp
boxes.

separating
being taken

separated, care
slime as possible.
Treatment
of the
are

about

extract

the

Sand.

This

to

of concentrates.
4 per
cent,
is elevated
elevators
by wheel
Here

keep

the
the

and

sands

sand

as

is effected in circular

free

vats

slimes
from

4J

ft

140

deep

and

40

tons

of sand

the

sand

is then

dealing with

of

capable

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

is first filled with

and

charge.

per

The

in

through
overflow
The
water
revolving distributor.
(carrying
annular
into
and slime) runs
launder
and
is
an
a little fine sand
wheels
and
joins the pulp flowing
conveyed back to the elevating
When
sufficient
sand
has
been
boxes.
the
into
to
run
separating
the vat a 2 in. draw -off pipe, passing through the side of the
vat,
vat

water

run

automatic

an

is lowered

and
and

little slime
"

wash

After

the

by

charge

washed

then

sluiced

"

Treatment

water

0*08

per
solution
the

five

KCy)

cent.

testing
by

solution

weak

hours,
is

0*5

of the

bottom

days the strong

with

also

water

for several

circulated

solution

contains

on,

weak

sump

and

this

is

KCy
charge, percolation

means

water.

; when

cent.

per

solution

and

run

of

an

is drawn

The

air-lift
off

is

inside

and

the

tailings are

away.

of

pulp (about
and

drained

has

This

off.

elevating wheels.

the

reached

the

After

vat.

slime

to

strong
has

stopped and
the

flows

charge

solution

drawn

water

(testing about

followed
this

the

the Slime.
20

of water

conducted

over

After
to

nest

separation from the sand, the

of slime) is mixed
with
limeof spitzkasten, thickening the
of the water
slime, the balance

slime-pulp
per cent, of
in the mortars.
in a clear state
to be re-used
passing over
of two
The
collected in one
slime-pulp is now
collecting vats,
ft. in diameter, and
which
fitted with
14 ft. deep by 32
are
an
the
The
of the
centre
overflow
and
launder.
to
vat
pulp is run
chute
several
vertical
box
below
feet
extending
discharged through a
little
the top of the vat, so as to cause
disturbance
as
as
possible.
the
show
clear
until
the
the
The
in
slimes
at
water
runs
pulp
top,
The
collectingvats thicken
overflowing to a reservoir for re-use.
the pulp to about
to 1 of slime.
2 J of water
still further
thickened
is
The
slime
pulp
now
separated from
of
of which
the
contained
water
two
filter-presses,
by means
40
are
required for drying the slimes, each dealing with about
tons
(dry weight) of slime per day.
"
The
slime-cakes, now
containing only 25 per cent, to 35 per
the
from
to
cent, of moisture, drop
on
a
presses
screen-conveyor
This
into
which
a
disintegrator.
disintegrator is 7 ft.
discharges
in diameter
by 14 ft. deep and fitted with three sets of revolving
driven
shaft
bolted to a centre
by overhead
arms
gearing at the
revolutions
of 20
minute.
rate
(0*12 per
Cyanide solution
per
the
such
flows
in
the
of
in
bottom
at
disintegrator
proportion
cent.)
that
the overflowing pulp contains
1 of slime
of
solution.
to
1
14 ft. deep
This pulp flows through a series of four agitators each
by 20 ft. in diameter, fitted with
stirring gear
making three
to about

10

"

"

revolutions

per

minute.

'

142

wis

of thd

cost

"The

work

probably

to

out

CTAHIM

MtOCftSS.

siime

treatment

is

about

6s. 6d. per

ton

Waihi

of the

Company

given, but

not

of slimes

it will

treated.

is about

18,000 long tons

of
four
weeks
twenty-four working days, for a return
every
The
to
is pulverized in
50,000
52,000.
ore
varying from
320
the company's mills, comprising
stamps, and then subjected
the
various
above.
described
to
by
cyanide treatment
processes
1000
The
tons
a
capacity of about
cyanide plants have
per
day."
the
From
the foregoing description it will be
that
slime
seen
Waihi
Waihi
and
Union
mills
in use
is practically
at the
process
Western
in
the same
that
in
at
On
Australia.
use
Kalgoorlie
as
the other
mills
hand, the process at the Waihi
Company's Waikino
"

The

output

with

identical

almost

is

that

in

Johannesburg, differingonly in the

of filter-presses
to
separate solutions
decantation

is almost

which

Waihi

Tailings.

final

stages
the

from

universal

The

Glencairn

at

use

of

60-mesh

and

screen,

discharged

were

The
cyanide process.
pan-amalgamated

of the

allowed

from

the

settlers

into

the

adoption
instead

Waihi

ore

was

of

Company's

residues

crushed

charges.
large dams,

ing
result-

before

ore

in

consisted

settle.

the

Reef,

Africa.

The
the
tailingsare
tailingsis very instructive.
the pan-amalgamation of the dry -crushed
from

introduction

in

slimes

in South

treatment

Main

the

through

The

residues

where

they

They mostly
a
contained
base
metallic
no
They
good
impurities,
and
the gold existed
principallyin the form of amalgam.
Some
25,000 tons of these tailingswere
successfully treated by
Gold
whose
works
the Cassel
have
Extracting Company,
recently
Waihi
Gold
and
the
Silver
been
acquired by
Mining Company,
of the
the remainder
who
their
treated
account.
tailings on
own
The
plant consists of eight leaching vats, each 22 ft. in diameter
all the
4 ft. deep, together with
and
appliances.
necessary
The
details of the cyanide treatment
adopted for the treatment
in
tabulated
below
of these
form
:
tailingsare given
were

deal

to

of fine

sands

and

of slimes.

Treatment

Cyanide

Waihi

op

Tailings.
Hours.

Fillingleaching vat,
Preliminary lime or
Leaching

Strong
Weak

30

tons, three

water-

wash,

men,

tons,

8
...

with

vacuum,

solution,
solution,

8 tons,

4 tons,

0*6% KCy,
0*2% KCy

.30
.

(from strong sump),

12

APPLICATION

Washing,
First

OF

Vacuum

using

weak

PROCESS

THB

IK

DIFFERENT

143

COUNTRIES.

(from weak

wash

cyanide

sump),

4 tons,

Second
,,

,,

Third

Fourth,

wash,

water

Discharging

vat,

4 tons,

sluicing,

man

one

Total,
Remarks.

The

lime
solution
four

hours

value

stand

to

the

before

Fluke

75

Mine.

commenced.

percolation was

tailings

about

extraction

generally very clean, and the preliminary

not
was
always applied. The strong
in contact
with
the
tailings about

wash

water

allowed

the

of

tailingswere

or

was

.108
.

per
At

about

was

24s.
the

cent., at
works

the

The

ton,
per
of 8s. per

cost

of this

Company,

and

average

the

actual

ton.

Kuaotunu,
and
through a 40-mesh
passed
screen,
over
amalgamated
copper-plates. The tailings were
run
directly
from
the plates into
the
full, the
settling-pits. When
pits were
from
slimes were
removed
the lower end, and
out
to dry in
spread
the sun.
broken
and
When
then
filled
were
dry, they were
up,
into] the leaching vats
together with sand, in the proportion of
Try

the

ore

one

truck

of slimes
and

solution

author

at

wet-crushed

was

sand

The
the

that

slimes

put

was

the

trucks

two

to

The

mixed

in

the

before

vat

Company's metallurgist informs

of treatment

time

average

sand.

thoroughly

were

on.

of

was

follows

as

the

Hours.

Filling vats, 20

tons,

Strong solution,
in contact

with

Percolating,
Weak

solution,

tons, 0*6%

tailings,
.

containing

five

Totals,
consisted

8 to

12

standing

0*2% KCy,

cyanide washes,
0-1% of KCy,

ore

24
.

5 tons,

Weak

The

KCy,

6 to

of grey

considerable

of

to

5 to
.

each,

tons

30

25

to

30

68

to

86

and

yellowish-brown quartz, sometimes

proportion of iron and
manganese

generally predominating. The

greater part of
float gold."
known
the gold was
excessively fine,being locally
as
about
20s.
value
of the tailingswas
ton ; and
The
per
average
75 per cent., at a cost
of
extraction
the actual
by cyanide about
When
the
of higher value
than
7s. 6d. per ton.
tailings were
in the vat after the last washing and
turned
over
usual, they were

oxides,

the

latter

"

144

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

found
that
it was
the extra extraction
again. In this case
labour.
than paid for the extra
more
At the Kapai- Vermont
mine, which
adjoins the Try Fluke, the
same
ore
was
dry-crushed in a ball-mill, and then
subjected to
direct cyanide treatment
with
the most
satisfactory results, the
actual
85
extraction
of the
generally exceeding
per cent,
assay
value.
In this mine, shoots
have
been
of very
rich ore
frequently
met
with, containing a considerable
proportion of comparatively
the
such
coarse
gold. With
ores
was
strong cyanide solution
circulated
through the leaching vats until an adequate extraction
washed

obtained.

was

Waitekauri

Mine.
Gold

Waitekauri

Golden

the

At

Cross

section

of

the

Waihi,
Company's Special Claim, near
the ore, before
the introduction
of wet-crushing at the
new
mill,
dry-crushed with stamps to pass through a 40-mesh
was
screen,
and treated
directly with cyanide. As a small
proportion of the
the
gold was
tailings were
amalgamated
passed over
coarse,
and
with
fall
30
ft.
ft.
3
of 1 in 12.
set
wide,
a
copper-plates,
long
of this ore
The
details of the
cyanide treatment
may
prove
statement
useful, and are given in the following tabulated
:

Mining

Hours.

Filling vats, three

22

men,

tons,

3^

....

45% KCy,
Strong solution,
Weak
9
solution, tons, 0'2%
First weak
cyanide wash, 5*5 tons, 0*05
9 tons, 0

Fourth,

.18

3*0

wash,

.18

sluicing,

man

one

Total,
value

average
ton; and
at

the
a

of the

actual

cost

Kalgoorlie,
in

occurs

unoxidized
In

all

cases

chief

oxidized

the
ores

in

it exists

during

1894

from

91

per

15s.

4,

was

cent,

to

93

ton.

mining

surface

ores

combination
in

Sulpho-Telluride

of

the

AUSTRALIA.

WESTERN

Treatment

varied

extraction

of 8s. 6d. per

.156
treated

ore

14

The

18

.18

water

Discharging vat,

At

0*15%,

5'5

cent.,

to

Third

per

.18
.

5*5

per

...

"

Second

48

an

in

centre

in
with

extremely

Ores.

the

free

state,

tellurides
fine

State,
and

condition

the

and

in

gold
the

sulphides.
in

talcose

APPLICATION

OF

calcareous

that

ores

successful

The

difficult

possesses

The

climate

and

the

But

these

the

to

tropicaland

was

distance

difficulties

have

supply,
provides an abundance
distance
exceeding 300
telluride

ores

of the

slimes.

and

proportion
The
mines

Diehl

and

with,

it is

will

of them
In

of the

some

be

the

difficulties

ore

slimy

many

often

kind

the

plains.

State

in

in

railway

consequently
into

the

of

the

ore

mills

larger
sands.

led to

the

of

the

treatment
filter-press

the

State

the

world,
pipe-line for a

than

ore.

brackish,

arid

over

capital,and

the

slime

as

high

installed

at

several

is to

possible.

as

have

processes

been

in

Chapter

mills the

slimes

detailed

said, satisfactoryresults.

found

rebellious

and

character

and
of

the

overcome.

water, carried

process

Riecken

of the

early

brittle,and
very
into
the slimes
goes

cyanide
object at

The

respects

the

are

of the

adoption

some

great, and

been

now

of pure
miles.

gold

circumstance

in

scarce

with
mining centres
greatest .undertaking of

the

water

that

of

distant

the

proportion

dry,
seaboard

the

from

water

presented a
repeated failures

after

treatment

mere

slimes.

form

to

first

at

ores

and

metallurgists,
was
developed
process
And
peculiar features.

confined

not

This

these

of

145

COUNTRIES.

great propensity

possess

DIFFERENT

lines, a

were

The

IN

to

some

connects

PROCESS

treatment

problem

old

along

THE

description

XIII.

drained

are

partiallydried in
cyanide solution, and
or

disintegrated and
agitated with
In
in presses.
other
mills, the
pressed and washed
of the
dissolution
gold is effected directlyin the presses.
F. B. Allen, M.A., B.Sc, Director
of the
I am
indebted
to Mr.
Kalgoorlie School of Mines, for the following interestingdetails of
the
of
treatment
adopted at that mining
general methods

presses,
afterwards

centre

General.

essential

The

of

features

the

treatment

dry-

are

fine

circumstances,
according
sliming,
crushing, roasting or
with
and
filter-pressing.
cyanide,
leaching
Brown
The
or
roasting is generally effected in Edwards
The
former
from
14
16
roast
to
tons
straight-linefurnaces.
per
and
6d.
30
of
4s.
4s.
to
ton
at
cost
tons
Brown,
a
day,
;
per
per
for
7s.
0*1
to
9s.
ton.
to
cent,
as
sulphur
sulphide
day
per
per
is dried before
of moisture
3 per cent,
Ore
drycontaining over
ball-mills.
No
5 Krupp,
running at 25 revolutions
crushing in
crushes
with
15
25
minute
tons
H.P.,
through a 40-mesh
per
not

to

for

screen

pass

mesh,
a

Is. 2d.

100-mesh
will form

100-mesh

Great

of this from
65
per ton, and
The
sieve.
Griffin mill, when

of

which

product
an
approximate

sieve, at
Boulder

Proprietary.

75

per

cost

The

cent,

to

75

crushing
will

of 2s. per

will

cent,

per

to

15-

through

pass
ton.

sulphide

ore

is

10

partly

146

CYANIDE

THE

crushed

with

wet

Griffin

partly dry-crushed in

in Wheeler

amalgamated

and

stamps

PROCESS.

fed

mills, roasted,

and

pans,

which

mixers

into

the
with
is further
ground and
pulp, which
supply Wheeler
pans
without
with
of copper-plates.
the use
amalgamated
mercury
the continuous
of the
The pulp from
overflow
Cyanide Process.
of sulphide ore,
is led into settlers, first passing, in the case
pans

tables

canvas

over

the

gold

they

roast

and

2*0

the

per

of

recovered

are

Edwards

are

one-third

About

concentrates.

*
The
furnaces
by amalgamation.
(16 tons per day), fed with producer gas, and
down
0*11
to
cent,
sulphur as sulphide,
per
used
are
sulphur as sulphate. Push
conveyors
taken
is
samples are
automatically as the ore

contents

used

eliminate

to

ore

cent,

throughout, and
discharged from the elevators.
The

slimes

fine

settler

the

from

to

go

and
lifted up
passed through
they are
the
The
to
slimes, 1
particles being returned
pans.
and
to
montejus or pressure-tanks, and
agitated
passed
filter-presses.
The

Dehne

four

hold

presses

3J tons, forming
hydraulic pressure.

presses

solutions

The

three

boxes, and

in.

by

tons

cakes.

each;

the

They

are

Excelsior

presses,
with
treated

the

gold-slimes
tiltingfurnaces.
residues
dumped by a Ledger wood
are

zinc

melted

and

clarified

are

The

whence

settling tank,
spitzluten, the

heavier

1,

to

are

then

to

Martin

five

worked

by

passed through
sulphuric acid

in

hoist

to

on

60

ft.

heap.
Mine.

KalgOOrlie

Part

of the

is dried

ore

in

White-Howell

passing direct to large 200-ton

storage bins.
The
is automatically fed into
5 Krupp
six No.
ball-mills,
ore
half
will pass
about
crushed
that
through a 35-mesh
so
screen,
and
then
whence
led into a 400-ton
bin,
by
through a 120-mesh,
into
feeders
it is fed
nine
roll
Edwards
each
treating
roasters,

drier, the

15

tons

The

drier

ore

24
hours.
per
falls
roasted
ore

bucket-elevator,

separated by
on
through
water

several

removed

copper-plates
100-ton

steel

vats

weeks, and
*

The

mixer.

into

spitzkasten
pyramidal spitzkasten

while

the

sands

and

and

of

pans.
water, and

Ordinary

cyanide
cyanide solutions as they

Three-hearth

Merton

to

pulp

slimes,
have

from

The

are

are

now

off

being

are

used.

is

surplus
over

the

centrates
con-

sent

bottom-discharged
occupies

come

pass

run

which

treatment

furnaces

which

the

sands

to

this

from

concentrates

Halley tables,

Wheeler

vats, drained
the

is carried

and

push-conveyor

lifts it to

long
ground in

below.

of conical

ft.

10

are

three

which

series

to

on

to

into
three

returned

to

APPLICATION

OF

the

PROCESS

THE

IN

DIFFERENT

sands

which
by an air-lift,
constantly circulating.
the spitzkasten thickened
slimes
from
The
the

of

top

tanks
five pressure
compressed air and

5|

of

set

with

13

cyanide

147

COUNTRIES.

keeps
to

up

J ft.,where

they

solution

four

for

the

solutions

1 in

1 flow

to

agitated

are

hours.

One

is being emptied and

the others
being filled while another
the
The
other.
to
one
agitated
working, the air passing from
used for
filter-pressed.Cyclone settling cones
are
pulp is then
well
air-lift for the pulp.
an
as
settlingthe dust, as
The
oxidized
Golden
Horseshoe.
is screened
ore
through
the
2 in. grizzlies,
3 Gates
No.
coarser
lumps passed through

tank

is

crushers,
trucked

and

Challenge

to

1000-lb.

broken

the

wire-screen

woven

the

feeders

ore

The

stamps.

stored

ore

is

ore

the

at

200-ton

supplying

wet-crushed
of

rate

passing

in

or

100-mesh

whence

it

is

50-stamp battery
through a 24-mesh

of

bin,

tons

24

per

hours,

Free

gold is
on
amalgamated both inside the boxes and outside
copper-plates,
followed
which
of the
are
by concentrators
Wilfley type. The
sands
in a series
of
are
ground and amalgamated
coarse
pans
and
fine
sands
thus
followed
by settlers
spitzkasten. The
obtained
42
ft.
lifted
with
fitted
are
by a
tailings-wheel to vats
distributors.

Butters

tables

of

The

fine

The

slimes
nine

washed
Excelsior
then

are

slimes

elimination

concentrates,

etc.,

pumped

are

screen.

30
ft.
over
pass
of fire concentrates.

sands, occupying

the

nine

or

collected

direct,

and

ten

days,

sent

to

of

is
the

canvas

Double

practised.
smelter.

without

agitators or montejus,
carrying fifty 3 in. cakes, pressed,
presses,
and
with
and
cyanide solution
discharged.
water,
for clarifyingthe
used
which
are
solutions,
gold
presses
are

each

Dehne

passed

to

acid

Sulphuric
treatment

The

further

the

for

treatment

to

part

greater

of

four

treatment

zinc

the

zinc

slimes,

boxes.

extractor

with
which

filter- pressing
are

is

finallymelted

adopted for
in a tilting

furnace.

battery is of 50 stamps, each 1250 lbs.

The
crusher, is brought by a Robins
passing the Gates
ore, after
and
crushed
belt
feeders
wet
to
Challenge
through a 30-mesh
and
lifted
by a tailings-wheelto
passed over
copper-plates,
screen,
of grading boxes
slimes
series
The
supplying Wilfley tables.
a
overflow
from
the
which
the
graders, together with that from
the slimes
Wilfleys, are lifted again to three hydraulic classifiers,
tanks
and
the
five
sands
to
flint-mills which
passing to settling
then
and
the
them
elevated
to
crush
to
220-mesh,
are
again
The
thickened
graders and finallypassed to the settling vats.
into
steel agitators,agitated
slime
produced in these vats is run
Stdphide

with

Ore.

cyanide

for

The

24

new

hours, pressed

in

six

5-ton

presses,

and

the

148

THE

Rich

Great

feeder

the

The

ore

with

lower

floors.

it is crushed

is

No.

30

floors,and

eleven

Sulphide

3 Gates

Robins
to

is roasted

ore

for

conveyors

The

removal.

belt,

-mesh,

is treated

ore

crusher, deliveringit

and

then

Krupp
large portion,especially
to

two

100-mesh.

schistose, passing

crushed

high,

on

to

belt

smelters.

Reef.
in

drying by breaking

ball-mills,where
when

Main

Boulder

Challenge

the

to

PROCESS.

Robins

to

on

is sent

sulphide ore

without

by

dropped

material

waste

CYANIDE

in

Richards

shaft-furnace

65

ft.

rabbled

by hand, especiallyon the

In
furnace
35 tons
treated.
There
per day are
also
each
three
Edwards
of
of
12
15
are
furnaces,
a
or
capacity
bricked
tons, which
are
angle.
up to a constant
The
falls into a launder
hot roasted
ore
carrying dilute cyanide
solution, and is raised by a tailings-wheelto a spitzkasten. The
sands
but
are
ground fine in Wheeler
containing mercury,
no
pans
overflow
another
and
continuous
into
with
a
plates,
spitzkasten,
the
the
slimes
from
while
which
the sands
to
again pass
join
pans,
into
These
the first slimes, which
vats
vats.
are
agitation
pumped
21 ft. in diameter
and
The
6 ft. deep.
allowed
vats
to fill
are
are
in 7 hours, the solution
gaining in cyanide during the last foot of
fillingfrom cake cyanide then added.
10 hours' agitation the pulp is discharged or run
off into
After
in 3 in. cakes
(Dehne).
montejus and filter-pressed
The
clarified
solutions
are
by passing through a small press, and
led into zinc boxes.
The
washed, pressed, treated
are
gold slimes
with
in
sulphuric acid, dried in a large iron muffle, and smelted
Cornish

this

furnaces.
Hours.

Dehne

fillingin,
Leaching and washing
Discharging,
.

Four

the

ore

tous

per

ft.

10

Sulphides,
400-ton

There

bin.

65

day,
by

is led

Ore

to

passes

ball-mill

\
2|

in,

tons

View.

Lake

per

are

cent,

conveyors

ft., roasting

30

roasted.

ore-bin,
four

to
tons

and

four

per

thence
mills

Krupp

of which

Gates

From

will
Brown

day

pass

No.

by

with
a

aerial

crusher
tram

capacity

150-

mesh

of

to

0'2

per

130

screen.

straight-linefurnaces
down

to

cent,

180
of

roasted
is elevated
into
50- ton
ore
sulphur as sulphides. The
and
is running,
the
0 15
cent.
KCy
agitators into which
per
transferred
the
while
into
ten
leaching vats,
resulting sands are
slimes
to three
on
agitators for further agitation,before being
pass
Then
follows
zinc
passed through montejus and Dehne
presses.
precipitationand sulphuric acid treatment.

150

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

roasting, analysis shows

cent.
; sulphur as sulphide, 0*32
sulphur, 3*60 per cent.

sulphur as sulphates, 2*82 per

Total
sulphur volatilised,0'46.

After

In

recent

Mr.

mine,

report

R.

the

on

Hamilton

Riecken

gives

at

process

the

costs

the

South

follows

as

d.

8,

2
crushing and transport to mill,
2. Fine
pulverising,including proportion of
.53
general charges and power,
3. Roasting and conveying ore, including proportion
7
of general charges and
power,
4. Agitation with cyanide, and
ejectrical
precipitation

1.

Kalgoorlie

Coarse

per

J"

treatment,
5.

Filter-pressingand

was

average
3, 17s.

of

gold, equal

extraction

of

6d.
to

ton, and

per

value

88 '4

JE1

value

lOJd.

for

10,318

of

ozs.

Diehl

at

an

11-81

per

ton.

43,800.

Mine.
s.

d.

5-6

17
.

development,
Additions
to plant,
46s. per

ton

11

6*3

30

10*9

working

1 3*9

approx.

Mine

Kalgoorlie Mine,

dwt.

....

process,

General,

2*125

1903.

gold, valued

View

Lake

Stoping,

March

ton, representing

per

38
tons

and

residues

of

cent.

per

Costs, February

11-098

7J

the

8s.

of

January, February,

for

ore

5|

""

.63

charges,

of the

value

Of

8
.

washing,

Total
The

ton.

4*9
.

(higher

than

usual).

costs.

application

of

New

process

the

Wales

South

different

in

Filter-Press

The

following interesting details

recently written
by Mr. I. W. Rock.*
details refer is one
capable of dealing
per

1.
are

day.

of the

summary
dry slimes

The

ground

up,

into

discharged
cyanide solution

are

while

storage tank,

of

whence

The

200

into

paper
these

dry

slimes

which

to

of

tons

follows

as

from

plant

with
is

process

Practice.

extracted

are

151

countries.

mixer, in which
added, the mixture

they

is

it is elevated
2.

flowing
out-

into

agitator
agitated for a

Mixture

centrifugal pump.
by means
mechanical
period ascertained
by experiment, by some
means,
thus
between
the metallic
and
chemical
contact
ensuring intimate
iuto montejus, which
consist
of cylinrun
particles. 3. Contents
drical
with
inlet
and
and
vessels
also
outlet
valves,
provided
air compressor.
4. Forcing the
connections
of an
to the receiver
the montejus into filtermixture
of compressed air from
by means
the gold-bearing solution
escaping through the filter-cloths
presses,
vats

of

the

solid

the

while

presses,

material

remains

in

the

frames,

these
further
5.
cakes.
forming large
cakes
by "washing"
or
forcing, at a high pressure, a weaker
of
solution
cyanide through them, and, if found
a
necessary,
second
washing with water
only. 6. Getting rid of the exhausted
and
slimes
discharging the cakes into
by opening the presses
them
7. Clarifying the
to
dump.
a
tracted
extrucks, which
convey
the
from
them
solutions
flowing
by running
gold
presses,
thence
them
sand
into
into
and
tanks, pumping
through
traps
obtain
and
elevated
to
tanks, in order
regular pressure,
passing
in order
them
retain
to
through a finer class of filter-presses,
any
which
would
foul the zinc extractor
boxes.
impalpable solid matter
the
the
into
boxes
8. Passing the outflow
from
extractor
presses
the
outflow
usual
and treating therein
in the
being of
manner,
for strengthening and
returned
to sumps
re-use.
course
article
These
made
standard
Mixers.
are
a
by the
as
meter
engineering trade, and consist of a steel cylinder 6 feet in diainserted
has
which
an
by 5 feet deep, lined with
cone,
outside
the
and
the
in
it
of
the
at
shell,
near
openings
top
vertical
mitre
four-bladed
bottom
a
shaft, with
a
propeller on
The
wheels
and
driving gear.
propeller not only cuts up the
thin

extraction

from

slimes

and

upwards

the

through

overflows

into

Agitators.
diameter, open

the

Rock,

at

solution,

tank,

consist

the

connect
The

the

openings

storage

These

which

openings

with

them

mixes

on

of steel

top, and
with

Australian

and

with

both
Mining

up

it drives

but
to

its way

the
to

the

the

mixture

outlet, whence

it

agitators.

high and 8 feet

the lower
portions tapered to
outlet
and
circulating pipes.

vats

16

Standard,

feet

Dec.

12, 1901.

152
To

THE

sole

whose

With

or

arms

it into

and

the

them

bringing

efficient

the

draw

to

redeliver

particlesand
highly

is

duty

and

bottom

is connected

agitators there

of these

each

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

in

paddles adopted

mixing

time

the

found

been

has

contact

compared
agitators previously

regard

to

horizontal

in

of

the

from

vat

mode

This

intimate*

economical

the

of

contents

top.

into

centrifugalpump,

as

adopted.
Centrifugal Pumps.

These

the
into
elevating the mixture
with
material
for dealing
gritty
usual
as

chambers

water-pressure
would

water

dilute

the

and

cyanide solution under

tank, supplied by a small
pump.

the

have

glands, but
proportion, they
from

pressure

used

ones

the

the

upset

for

one

They

process.
with
in connection

mixture

the

only

the

in

with

fed

are

and

circulatingpumps,
agitators, are the

elevated

an

large enough to receive the contents

of an
after
the style of a compressed-air receiver,
agitator,made
Inlet
and
buried
outlet
valves, of
vertically in the ground.
chemical
and
grit-proofmake, are fitted on them
; compressed-air
fitted on
are
supply and exhaust, test cock and pressure
gauge,
In
each.
addition, there is a small
air-agitationconnection, so
and
that any
mixture
for
time
in one
is kept alive
a
remaining
the deposition of solid matter
prevented.
These
after
the
Filter-Presses.
are
generally made
by or
the
German
size having
engineer, the usual
pattern of Dehne,
frames, the total contents
fifty 40-inch x 40-inch x 2-inch
being
75 cubic
Jn
the
addition
feet.
to
fittingssupplied by makers,
Montejus.

These

each

are

there

such

the

drip trays,

as

minor

others

several

are

Of

trucks

Solution

drive

the

course

have

discharge

of the

here

washthat

contents,
out

any

for

This

with

cast-iron

the

montejus

water

100

at

both

added,
other

several

and

launders,

be

to

for

snoots

delivering
into
in

the
the

them.

Pump.

pressure
pump
the presses
from

the

leak

and

spent slimes, as they fall out of the frames

beneath, form
part of the setting of the presses

Wash

noted

necessary

of

building prepared

that

are

and

slimes

accessories.

cakes

which

be

may

be

air

The

at

up

and

presses

to

inch.

square

admitted

for

pressure

reckoned

lbs. to the

is

descriptionof high-

of any

fittings.

fillingthe

after

compressed

may

for

filling
80

lbs.,

It may

washing

after
short

be

period

to

moisture.

These
also
but
of
are
a
Clarifying Presses.
filter-presses,
much
the frames
of wood.
lighter description,
being usually made
flow
of the
They are supposed to be self-cleansing,by reversal
with
materials, but other slimes
through them, and are so
some
it
is
of
that
found
to
have
set
are
so
gluey
a
spare
necessary

filter-cloth frames,, which

can

be

substituted

for

the

foul

ones

in

APPLICATION

PROCESS

THE

OF

DIFFERENT

IN

153

COUNTRIES.

and scrubbed.
minutes, the latter being taken away
the
delicate, and
are
pulsation of a pump
very

few

presses
their

efficiency.

solution

into

through

the

The

It

tank

of

specified,and

18
thence

hardly be
compressed

power,

whence

high,
the

to

destroys
the
gold
pump
it flows
quietly

to

necessary

feet

boxes.

extractor

etc., need

storage vats, sumps,

it need

steam

therefore

and

presses,

items

is
about

added

These

be

not

particularly
cient
suffi-

the

adjuncts of
supply of water

that

air, and

are

necessary.

Practical

Work.
the

ordinary work,
tipping trucks

If

plant

would

routine

are

delivered

of the

agitators

described

above

as

be

further

as

doing

is

described.

its

Side.

regular intervals
alongside the
mixer, and the contents
dipped bodily out, the fall being broken
to
by a shoot, sufficientlyflat to require the attendant
use
a
shovel
and
in some
the
feed.
He
also, through
degree regulate
knows
much
how
in from
solution
to
run
practice,
a
cyanide
that
flow
of
mixture
into
constant
cock,
so
supply
a fairly
escapes
the

at

storage tank.
When

and

one

the

elevated

storage tank,

is

empty,

centrifugaldoes

this

is

signal

in

minutes

few

the

given

all

refill,

to

the

from

time.
circulating pump
running
the
the
in
of
man
agitation,
charge
machinery room
the
inlet
valve
and
the air
of
the
fills
one
montejus,
opens
escape
the
cock being open.
When
in he closes
the
charge is all run
inlet valve
and
the little agitation cock
until
he
receives
a
opens
be
that
is
When
he
that
he
filled.
to
closes
a press
signal
gets
the above, opens
the
the
outlet
and
then
valve,
compressed air
After

the

sufficient

cock

; the

of the

contents
room
one

pressure

In

the

water

time

into

thereafter
then

at

once

Notice

matter.

open
wash

been

the

room

the

start

outlet
the

stopped,

wash

main

the

on

until

to

gold
sump

in the
press
given when
any
reclosed, ready for

press
valves

taps

are

directed

re-use.

and

open,

the

solution

for

the

the

are

close the

to

pump;
flow therefrom

as

leading

little air blown

and

the

the

was

half

minutes
to

frames

them

given

the

launder

fill

emptied

water

few

transferred

from

is then

opened,

same

into

flows

in

signal to

had
presses
the
cocks
outlet

filling.
gold solution
and

this

has

been

All

solid

montejus

above.
of

rises, and

gauge

ran

the

is full

of

previously
closed,
for

the

little

into,

Pumping

and
is

through to complete the process,

and
the press
unscrewed, the drip trays being previously removed.
One
after another
the dummies,
the
as
are
slimes-bearing frames
the
cakes
either fall or are
called, are pulled forward,
pushed out
into the trucks
each
frame
is
clean
with
below,
a scalpel,
scraped
and the press tightened
for
fresh
a
charge.
up again
The
of the gold solution
treatment
is pretty well automatic
; its
a

154

CYANIDE

THE

through

flow

PROCESS.

the

clarifying presses has been already described,

of the
extractor-house.
delivery into the zinc boxes
It will be understood
in no
that
the diagram
indicates
way
any
of the
plant. Accessibility and ample space
arrangement
are
and
details of the
particularly necessary,
some
plant which
are
from
the makers
purchased as articles ready for use
require con-,
and

its final

siderable

alteration

Other
and

in

States

the

Queensland,
for

the

except
purposes
of the
m

charcoal

the

cyanide
of

has

Victoria,
instead

them

suit

Australia.

treatment

tailings. Nowhere
in

make

to

any

where

This

process
sands

is

above

requirements.

Victoria,
is

and

distinctive

precipitationprocess

chlorination

In

charcoal

of zinc.

the

South

employed
old
feature

Australia,

almost

accumulations

ively
exclusof

been

developed
used
is much
for precipitation
survival
and
really a
adaptation
Victoria
in
formerly employed

process.

UNITED

STATES.

The

in the states
cyanide process has been successfullyintroduced
of California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana,
New
Utah,
Nevada,
and
and
Black
Hills
Dakota.
Mexico,
district, South
Washington,
the
the
of
in
the
has
States
Generally speaking,
adoption
process
been
for this
the
due
to
slow, the primary cause
being doubtless
The
of the ores.
of the
ever,
howcomplex character
process,
progress
during the past year or two has been very marked.
The
is one
difficulties,
presenting many
especiallywith
process
base
and
the
time
to
ores
sulphides,
containing
present
up
American
have
been
feel
their
safe
content
to
metallurgists
on
way
ground.
The
the same
lines as
where,
elsecyaniding of tailingsis conducted
on
while the slimes problem seems
have
been
to
successfully
solved by the adoption of agitation followed
by decantation.
of the
The
treatment
of
sulpho-telluride ores
Cripple Creek
districts by cyanide after roasting has
much
been
with
attended
silccess.
precipitation of
Up to the present time, the electrical
has had
little or
gold from cyanide solutions
application on a
no
For
the treatment
of high-grade slimes, there
working scale.
may
be
for the filter-press
practised in Western
possibly
scope
process

Australia.
The

day,

and

largest in
in the

read

Homestake

new

the
the

States

with

much

tons
a
plant, with
capacity of 1200
per
the
of 600
tons
Smuggler-Union
are
day,
among
per
States.
Actual
working details of cyanide treatment
seldom
will be
available, and the following notes
are

interest.

APPLICATION

OF

Colorado.

Godfrey
cyanide
small

for
of

treatment

155

COUNTRIES.

DIFFERENT

I am
indebted
to
Mills, Ouray,
of
the
instructive
particulars
following
this
The
mill.
at
a
tailings contain
tailings
Bird

Camp

Doveton

IN

PROCESS

THE

the

led to

of copper,
has
which
of the usual
interestingmodifications

percentage

the

adoption

of

some

Doveton

practice. Mr,

says

feature, but as much

tailingspresents no new
the
of the gold is partiallyenclosed
in
coarser
particlesof sand, a
rather
is required.
lengthy treatment
The
tanks
are
charged with Butters distributors, and the slimes
three
slime
from
overflow
gates placed at the sides of the vats,
the

of the

treatment

and

conducted

are

preferred to
is

to

the

circular

effected, a

sizing test
following results

dam

slime

launder,

better
of

as

somewhat

of

ore

wire-wove

On

to

bullion

are

the

showed

99-05

in

batteries

stamper

through

35-mesh

screen.

the

assay,

found

tion
classifica-

crushed

was

gates

better

samples

vat

Total
The

Slime

result.

is the

leaching
large number

settled.

and

and

found

material

button
of the

was

very

much

the

than

considerablyhigher

run

finer

40

the

on

that

than

and

finer

60

meshes

was

material, and
resulting from

the

the

finer

product.
sampled at the distributor nozzles as a check
upon
filled the charge is also
the vanner
tailingsat the stamp mill. When
40 to 50 bores
sampled with a borer, some
being taken from a 500acid is made
An
ton
on
vat.
acidity test for free and combined
and
lime
is
of
the head
the
found,
and
sample,
requisitequantity
the
added
of
the
on
top
charge, and well mixed by shovelling over
top layer of material.
tank
The
Details of Treatment
being partially
Charge.
of 100-ton

assay

The

vats

are

drained

and

lime

added,
0*05

containing

about

contains

considerable

per

20

cent.

KCy.

percentage
also, owing

cyanicides, and
of the
cyanide, dissolves much
in
material
the
thereby leaving
for the

of

tons

This

solution

are

better

on,
also

run

solution, which

of copper
cyanide,acts
of much
to the presence

copper
a

weak

contained
condition

in
for

as

the
the

food

cupro-

charge,
actual

156

weak

It should

saved

gold
of gold

the

as

and

off

on

is amenable

rare

by the first
immediately

available
down

run

liminary
pre-

cyanide
sluice

the

etc.

occasions,

when

from

10

treatment,

to

the

by

rule

of the

sluicing purposes,
that

is removed

as

whole

drain

to

for

mentioned

be

contents

value

and

is allowed

destroyed, it
launders, to be

is dissolved

gold

solution,

is

of the

No

solution.

working

PKOCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

portion

25

to

cents

solution.

of
by a succession
until
10-ton
the outgoing
charges of solution of 0 25 per cent, free KCy,
solution
rises to about
225
0*20-0
cent.
KCy.
Usually
per
and
60
of solution,
the
time
the
tons
run
are
by
outgoing
on,
standard
solution
65
is up
70
of
to
to
cent,
near
strength,
per
the
The
allowed
macerate
to
gold is dissolved.
charge is now
from
8 to 16 hours, and is subsequently rapidly drained, sampled,
and
below
shovelled
for the second
treatment.
to the tank
During
the
the
and
has
been
the
assayed,
gold
shovelling
charge sample
almost
all
the
of
ascertained.
extraction
Usually
yet capable
soluble
compound has been carried out by the charges of
AuKCy2
Should
much
the
show
that
of the
solution.
previously
assay
insoluble
solution
the
is
standard
in
gold still remains
ore,
added
Should
in the lower
the
be
vat.
unusually
gold contents
the
0*4
solution
for
is
used
saturation
cent,
high, 0*3, 0*35, or
per
of the shovelled
has
charge. If, however, a fairlygood extraction
The

weak

solution

is

followed

'

in the

obtained

been
and

when

we

are

immediately
Mr.

from

to

washes

the

surface,

all

ensures

The

added

the

solution,

boxes, and
at

the

40

time

cents

waste

about

usually

thence
of

the
12

of

weak

dissolved
drained

now

values

of

applied

the
from

and

is

mill.
weak

much

of

to

and

waste

zinc

waste

this

is

This

washes

water

The

the

the

out.

passed through
The
gold value
to

below

hours.

two

cent.

per

tank

cent.).

per

disappeared

macerate

0*04

couple of
partially

(O'08-O'l25

gold being carried

dry on surface,

gold
cyanide,

of

out

apply

to

macerate

to

each, drain

tons

has

to

allow

and

solution

fall to

in

10

washes

weak

low

ton,

rapidly,

allowed

is

transfer

per

zinc

"At

tons

the

from

drain

weak

the

used,

practice is, however,

and

solution,

solution

the

usual

Our

cent,

then

charge
of

"

cent,

of

charge is
till cyanide

transferred
and

last

is

saturation.

per

hours,

per
give 25

the

Before

"

0*3

of 0'3
and

with

continues

with
4

dry,

after

Doveton

saturate

the

solution
cent,
per
washes
are
tailings weak

vat, 0*25

upper
crowded

liquor is now
gold tank,
the

waste

of the
boxes

precipitated

zinc

solution
is about
in

the

boxes.
time

per
contains

of

sluicing,the

cent,

about

of

charge

moisture, and

0*02

per

cent,

is

fairlydry, containing
outgoing solution
free
KCy, but only a

the
of

158

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

the
bullion,
along with
promote the precipitation of the copper
solution
the
with
thus
becoming overcharged
preventing
copper.
last
fresh
the
of
after
zinc
in
Occasionally,
placing
compartments
with
in about
the boxes, it will be
eight
perfectly coated
copper

or

the

because

hours,

two, is very

gold

the

will

Should

"

the

of

into

gray

in colour
the

bullion

of

of

is allowed

which
the

the

deposited

will

mercury
continued,
is dis-

solution

black

become

to

becomes

zinc

mercuric

zinc

Winchester

few

When

of

the

Cu,

the

of

partiallyout

usual

boxes

the

boxes

was

from

solution

0*045

as

dollars

per

lift the

to

as

tions
solu-

occasions,

or

bullion

good

the

much

as

great

so
a

should

several

on

contents,

however,

and
carried

bullion

hydrogen

of

increased,

usual,

the

entering

and

is much

than

copper

more

evolution

the

hydrogen

of

solution

the

ton,

hours

few

precipitating bullion,

of

signs

addition

the

zinc,

evolution

cent.

per

the

use
by
cyanide solution,

mercuric

coppery
and
in

contain
when

of 24

course

precipitate.

The

"

compartmetit

entering the boxes,

precipitate being a

is

the

affected.
compartment
the
from
amalgamation

the

drip
with

last
in the

However,

no

aided

readily

strong

show

zinc

coppery

precipitation is
quarts

value.

the

black.

lustrous

very

it reaches

perhaps a higher bullion value

be
the
plated over
copper,

when

hours,

when

solution,
in bullion

low

zinc

precipitation
only 5 grains
recently, when

worth
leaving the boxes
of
noticed
this
ton.
of gold per
was
example
solution
the
of
showed
a
working
a
complete analysis
presence
of
about
small
0*00778
of
cent.,
quantity
a
manganese,
per
the evaporation of 2 litres of solution
estimated
on
by Volhardt's
lime
No
method.
found, but
was
sulphates or magnesia were

obtained, the

was

An

the

present

to

found

little

large

lead,
of

amount
There

cent.

could

be

not

here,

agent

little

The

valuable,

seem

alkaline

no

"

yet

that

when

sulphide
from

is

frequently

of Threshis*

iodimetric

oxygen

as

latter

the

but

present,

has

sulphide

it enables

sufficientlyaerated
presence

iron

of

ferrocyanide,

no

0*1078

about
what

in

was

but

per

combination

determined.

precipitatedas sulphide
"

alumina,

There

Ca.

of

cent,

per

considerable

it would

and

0*01387

sulphocyanide,

was

alkaline

"No

of

extent

of from

or

2 to
and

Experiments
of employing
merit

to

us

7*36

of

the

as

the

solutions

the

zinc

precipitating
being readily

ZnK2Cy4.

estimated

in the

method.
ascertain

mgrms.

numerous

jets

exist,

of

solution

The

our

tests

oxygen

oxygen

estimations

compressed

per
were

air

by

in

the

fication
modi-

solutions
showed

litre of
made

is

estimation

whether

Numerous

not.

in

is used

zinc

can

the

detected

been

to

very
are

the

solution.
test

sumps

the

and

APPLICATION

OF

should

storages,

THE

to

the

during
leaching vats.

of

the

the

little

more

weak

per

solution

noticeable

Here

the
cent,

of

the

that

total

KCy

weak

0 4

only

Bird

Gamp

gives the
treated, including 2*4
of gold slimes.
Doveton

last

erected

year.
precipitation is used.
Pneumatic

Dorcas

charges

cents

per

It

has

and

120

interest,

as

compressed

solutions

and

pulp

is extracted
The
and

rolls

coarse

and

20

the

through
The

air

mgrm."

of

Mill,

tons

Florence.

The
used

is

600

treatment
to

and

aerate

dollars

in

sampling

Engineering

sets

and

of

room,

Journal,

has

plant
is of

some

agitate

the

crushers

through
through

finishing rolls

Mining

was

Zinc

tion
following descrip-

value,

passes
thence

mine

day.

per

here

ore

treatment

this

This

of

ton

acid

at

The
leaching vats.
by Dr. Wells.*
paper

two

dissolved

of

per

sulphuric

the

in

from

to

for

capacity

day.

per

averaging

ore,

dryer

tons

0*11

Mills,

3s.

cyanide plant

The
a

about

as

ton

Cyanide

of

capacity

being
boxes.

71-57

total

Tailings monthly.

tons

Mine.

Union

time.

zinc

KCy
litre

per

contained

at

the

very
that

of

increase

cent.

per

contain

Total,

Smuggler-

majority

to

the

leaves

mgrm.

Treatment

of Cyanide
5000

boxes

zinc

the

in

average,

strong,

0'08

0*64

solution

strong

on

solution

containing

contained

the

the

than

the

solution

Cost

found

we

found,

oxygen

when

the

end

of

was

weak

while

oxygen,

passage

cient
insuffi-

received

solutions

the

from

dissolving but
capable
were
the
aeration, and
greater portion
again on standing for any length of

on

dissolved

more

most

the

that

However,

diffused

was

"The
little

their

159

COUNTRIES.

DIFFERENT

solutions

oxygen

dissolved

IN

found

it be

oxygen

cases

PROCESS

Jan.

which

4, 1902.

ing
revolv-

crush

it to

160

CYANIDE

THE

2 4 -mesh

The

size.

PROCESS.

finelycrushed
the

hoff-Wethey furnace,

is then

ore

roasted

roasted

in

to

the

4*5

ft.

product passing

Holt-

leaching

tanks.
There

fitted

are

with

six of these
air

tanks,
the

in

pipes
leaching.

30

diameter,

ft. in

bottom

the

for

and

deep,

introduction

of

air

The
air
is supplied at
during the
a
pressure
1
cubic
air
about
of
5
foot
minute
to each
lbs.,
exceeding
per
of ore
being sufficient for agitation and oxygenation.
The
treatment
generally lasts five days, and leaves a value
about

treatment

the

40

filled

by

is run
ton
KCy
per
flow
in
to
continuing
turned
on
gradually, and
least

90

through

the

of

at

iron

rods.

then

shut

and

conveyor,

pulp a
gradually,

in

until
is

the

kept
the

charge

ore

sluiced

is then

soon

as

the

until

this

bottom
10

air

then

is

tion
extrac-

an

comes

stirred

be

air

shows

lbs.
time

same

The

pulp
the

to

the

at

full.

the

has

the

as

containing

pulp
is

Whenever

cent.

per

of

tailings after

solution

tank
on

The

ton

ton.

per

with

is covered

tank

tables.

cents

residue

The

ore.

Wilfley

on

about

average
tanks
are

The

ton

per

the

in

concentrated

and

out

of

dollar

not

evenly
un-

up

by

with

men

This

The
air is
30
hours.
generally requires about
the
allowed
settle
for
hour.
to
one
pulp
off as
Percolation
is then
run
begun and the strong solution
of 5 lbs. KCy
one
quickly as possible,followed
by a weaker
per
of the solution
This
until the
tests
ton.
operation is continued
is then
of
added
show
to
gold. Water
displace
only traces
less
than
solution.
The
loss
in
the
is
be
stated
to
KCy
cyanide
dust
the
The
1 lb. per
ton.
dry-crushing is
resulting from
and
treated
with
collected
cyanide, without
previous roasting.
From
dust assaying 51 '20 dollars per ton the tailingsonly contained
It is added
in the leaching
80 cents
roasted
to the
ore
per ton.
each
of
the charge.
tanks, 3 tons to
tank, spread evenly on top
and

off

Cripple

Greek

district

is andesite

On

surface

the

gold

occurs

associated

the

oxide

more

or

the

in

of

calaverite

less with
surface

gold
amalgamation, being coated
easily extracted
by cyanide.
dead
The

roast

reduction

instead
pass

telluride

unoxidized

The

of the

through

ores

used

40-mesh

and

carry
Below

iron

this

of

granite.
peroxide,

water-level,

sylvanite,and

is

the

always

pyrites.
is

free, but

not

with

metallic

oxides.

ores

have

be

to

amenable
It

to

is,however,

subjected

cyanide
is generally effected
ore
at
Kalgoorlie, the ore

before

of the

mills

iron

decomposed

and

tellurium.

rock

country

and

oxidized

are

ores

in the. minerals

The

The

breccia, phonolite,

oxide, and

manganese

Practice.

Telluride

to

liminary
pre-

treatment.

screen.

The

roasted

with

Krom

being
ore

rolls,

crushed

is leached

to

by

APPLICATION

THE

OF

PROCESS

percolation in vats with

0*5
to
containing from
allowed
to percolate for
is added.

The

The
is

effected
of the

treatment

obviously a

0*75

hours,

varies

with

the

stronger,

weak

70 to

from

is

solution

100

hours.

zinc*

sulpho-tellurideores
problem than

difficult

more

The

potassium cyanide,

of

which

after

161

COUNTRIES.

cyanide!

of

cent,

per

of treatment

time

Precipitationis

solutions

two

50

DIFFERENT

IN

Australia

of Western
that

of

Cripple

Creek

At

Kalgoorlie, the ore is talcose and is highly calcareous,

and forms
so
large a proportion of slime that ordinary percolation
is impossible,and
deoantation
slow and
too
ful
successcostly. The
found
in the use
of filter-presses,
solution of the difficulty
was
in which
the dissolution
and
of the gold is effected under
pressure,
of which
the slimes are
the
by means
goldeasilyseparated from
containing solutions and washes.
ores.

As

at

Cripple Creek, the oxidized

the undecomposed ores

state, while
before

cyanide
soon
recognized

was

better, and

to attain

into

come

has
to

20-mesh

1000

of

size and

in diameter
Zinc

that

and

tons

adoption

Mines.

in

The

The

day.

per

treated

then

5 ft.

raw

dead

roast

of

use.

California King

capacity

that

general

California.

to

the

in

it
filter-presses,
the
the greater the proportion of slimes
object, pulverizingmills,instead of rolls,

treatment.

have

subjected

are

the

With

treated

are

ores

ten

deep, provided

with

ore

plant

this

at

is crushed

mine
rolls

by

cyanide vats, each 40 ft.

bottom-discharge doors.

precipitationis used.

There

are

many

State, including
Golden

Cross

the

Mines

the
throughout
cyanide plants scattered
the
of
large 140 -stamp
cyanide mill
these
at
no
Hedges, but
particulars of

available.

are

Montana.

in this

progress
of them
The

of

State.

that

says

Many

In

cases

the

ores,

the

Nevada.

carried

as

process

amalgamation
slimy

Wells

cyaniding

plants

new

have

made

has

been

great

erected,

some

large size.

elsewhere.

other

Dr.

of

many

on

the

this

in

mills,

plates, followed

on

is crushed

ore

State
the

in rolls

sun-drying

method

by cyaniding
and

practice is to agitate and

The

is much

slime

is
of

cyanided

the

same

as

wet-crushing,
tailings. In
direct.

With

decant.
treatment

adopted

Dexter

at

the

referred
has
to in the
plant at Tuscarora
already been
the
other
Of
slime
treatment.
chapter dealing with
plants in
in
this
while
others
State some
are
operation
are
treating tailings,
dealing directly with dry-crushed ore.
has a successful
of Bland
New
The
Mexico.
Cochiti Company

Prof. Furraan.

Mines

and

Minerals, January 1897.

11

162

method
98

CYANIDE

THE

of treatment

used

of the

cent,

per

steam

steam

bottom

Steam

is used

100-mesh

pass

heat

to

cooled

air and

of the

escape

total

values

in

are

The

much.

solution, using

lbs. per
ton, but
only 80 per cent,
solution going to waste
in the
slimes.

in

and

ore

wire

is

Utah.

the

of

There

ore.

recovered,

To

neutralize

the

under

per cent,
of

cyanide
due

the

to

acidity
suspended

is
The

of the

of

cost

has

ore

to silicious

in

the

much

sinter, or
cellular

as

serite,

gey
this

in

is considered
in

capacity

described

been

abundant

district,cinnabar

realgar occur

cyanide process

plants having

is most

as

the

the

tank.

centres

Mercur

similar

is about

in

94
of

that

and

in the

hours

24

-lb.

ton.

incrustations

and

in. holes

by

of air

pipes

solution

different

Cinnabar

in the

Orpiment

gold.

of the

greatest

form

ore.

found

Wherever

per

of the

day.
a

beautiful

forms

dollar

The

mixture

is

of

part

States, the

process

slimes, lime

upper

one

per
Silica in

"

settlingof the

as

is

tons

characterizes
and

the

given

2000

in

United

in the

follows

the

Mercur

over

aid

basket

treatment

of

to

The

iron

In

steam.

of the

Here

agitation being effected

latter
60
being under
found
charge, as it was

the

it too

features.*

screen.

expanding
is admitted
through 1 in. horizontal
of the tank.
The
pipes have 0*0625
on

side for the

of the

will

dust

novel

some

possesses

agitating and settling,the

and
air, the
compressed

is

pressure.
the air

which

PROCESS.

rock,

varieties.
a

sign

sure

in

some
large quantities
is usually found
as

iron

in

and
impure limestone
clay. Barite and gypsum
more
or
occur
also
mineralized
found
of limestone
crystallized:
masses
are
in rings, the outside
from
the
6
dollars
8
to
dollars, and
assaying
No
in gold.
trace
free gold is visible
centre
in the
a
even
ore,
with
feature
absence
of
remarkable
is the
a
microscope. One
The
of the ore
silver.
milled is kept close to 1 2 dollars
average
less

per

ton."

At

40

ore-bin
a

Mercur

the

Dodge

ft.

crushed

is

20

ft.

and

wide,

bottoms.
four

15

The
to

or

They

filter cloth

six weeks.

ft.
to

the

to

less.

tons.

20

it passes

finally trammed

hold

from

is delivered

ore

which

from

1 in. mesh

to

and

lasts

the

long,

crusher,

rolls, and

mill

vats

are

made
the

From

set

are

of

false

the

tanks

railroad

vats,
12

ft. 8

in.

Hunter,

Mining

Engineering
and

and

Mining

Press, May
Scientific

meter,
dia-

wood
red-

burlap,

and

iron,

bottom

is

Journal, Jan.
23, 1896.

in

with

solution

in

corrugated
being

it is pumped
which
collecting tank, from
by
The
the
zinc
to
single-acting pumps
precipitating room.
from
24
12
about
to 36 in. wide, 10
to
in. deep, and
are
long.
to

an

after

tank

the

to

is crushed

of Walls

cyanide

The

on

by the
deep. It

19, 1901.

is

veyed
con-

Blake
boxes
20

ft.

APPLICATION

Fine

is found

crushing
and

porous,

PROCESS

THE

OF

be

to

163

COUNTRIES.

the

as

unnecessary,
mud

disintegratesinto

of it

much

DIFFERENT

IN

is very

ore

when

solutions

are

applied.
in Mercur
It is interesting to note
one
change made
practice.
solution
the
ously,
continuwas
run
ore
Formerly the strong
through
Now
surface
series
of
the
a
being kept always covered.
washes
is run
time
below
being down
through, the solution each
extraction
been
the
has
increased
The
surface.
thereby, and
much

at

was

At

the

has

the

of his

strength
At

the

within

notice

by its alkaline feel.

practised. Still an
operator determining

an

wholly by their odour.

formerly
practice was

solutions
the

end
by adding cyanide to the lower
judgment of the operator determining the

solutions
"

the
The

slimes

zinc

mill.

amalgamating
160

about

taken

C. the

This

table.

present
dollars, giving
as

80

c.

dollars

Mining,
cyaniding the

50

lb. per

Golden

TJie

best

constructed
order

hoisted
420

in
to

on

ft.

in

length

from

which

are

stone

behind

85

per

of

The

ton.

ore

for

cost

refining.
about

and

cost

is at

cyanide

top

ft. wide

50,000

over

1*75

ore
average
itemized
is

hauling
total

complex
finally

sheet-iron

on

of treatment

c. per
; railroad
1 dollar
35
c.
ore,

of

are

assay
The

cent.

ton

milling,
2

ton,

per

present about

and

800

ft.
and

up

the

top

long.
down

bottom

to

is

top, and

States.*

hillside

of

said

are

United

on

the

to

ore

at

built

are

These

the

with

it

is 294

ft.

The

mill

slope.

145

ft.

The

batter

have

has

Excerpt

were

levels.
to

wide,

be
and

difference

The

in

retaining walls,
of

cb.

from

the

be

They
eight

works

the

to

ft. in

The
yards of rubble
masonry.
constructed
were
by blasting out the side hill. The
for the
used
thus obtained
was
retaining walls and
The
mill
is driven
them.
transmitted
by power

required
floors

dollar

consumption

the

incline

elevation

12

Cyanide Works.
equipped in the

1898,

get

an

of

slimes

at

ore.

Gate

and

largest
In

of

ton

The

cents.

from

per

35

fumes
The

the

to

luted, and

not

burning completed
shipped to a smelter

extraction

an

6 dollars

is about

follows

boxes,

amount."

belonging

but

headache.

zinc

and

time

retort

is closed

standardize

to

the

of

the

residues

the

value

and

is then

product

At

old

an

product ignites,producing

retort, and

the

from

in

door

The

salivation

causing

nature,

dried

were

strength.
strength of the

the

are

of

in

per cent,

and

boxes,
methods

our

mill

Mercur

0*3

to

estimate

to

zinc

acute

more

come

cent,

per

practice

in the

time

present

instance

the

its action

by

vat.

O'l

is from

time

one

solution

each

on

used

solution

The
It

saved

time

Bosqui's Cyanide Process,p. 174.

12,

various
broken

filling
electri-

164

THE

cally

distance

of

miles

35

at

of energy
in transmission
At the works
the 40,000
220

of

volts

price
contains

the

third

the
four

which

furnaces,

150

One

attends

furnaces
which

connects

hill

the

on

department,

by
a

floors,the

talcose

the

main

The

level

of

building.
7, is 60 by

the

section

constitutes

top

ft. high,

this

stack

The
294

the

chamber,
85

of

rated

from

dust
and

in

have

minute.

carried

are

into

four

are

each

lift

ing
roast-

to

ores

once

gases

buildings.

the

lowest

which

are

In
of

the

estimated

rabbles

The

ft. flues

with

contain

steel stack, 8 ft. in diameter

above

the

ft. above

275

with

elevators,

for

the

by

furnaces.

two

to

through

located

is stirred

ore

ores

mill

Berthelet

straight-linedesign,
those

tract
con-

consists

36 -in.

sections

for arsenical

tons, while

75

of

The

tons.

man

are

sixth

Brown's

of

six

are

dryers.

which

of

sets

There

sizing.

intended

Those

daily capacity

at

for

three

to

the

of

the

are

crushing machinery,

fourth, fifth,and

The

ft.

fine

at

first section
second

The

5 per cent.
is transformed

delivered

is

The

in the

rolls, and

-in.

used

are

number.
a

is the

26

of

sets

60

crushers, and

coarse

only

current

H.P.

per

be

to

volts.

40,000

3-phase current

The

2-phase.

dollars

section

apparatus
of

of

60

of

volt

of

tension

is said

loss

one

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

is

leaching
It has

ft.

25 by 50
ft. and
supporting ten tanks
and
tanks
three solution
5 ft. deep (presumably rectangular),
20 ft.
and
The
tanks
12 ft. deep.
in diameter
are
supported by masonry
from
hand
cars
run
charged by
on
bridges over
piers. They are
the
which
The
section
of
50
the tanks.
is
mill,
eighth
by 70 ft.
and
stories
in height, is the
It
two
precipitation department.
14
contains
three
and
ft. in diameter
precipitation tanks, each
the
tanks
The
from
8 ft. deep.
are
leaching
tailings
discharged
the
The
which
waste
to
into
run
dump.
are
building is concars
structed
two

floor

main

of steel.

Dakota.

South

extracted

practice are

M.E.,

Fulton,

from

the

to

following details

The

cyanide plants
contributed
by Mr. Chas.

paper

and

Engineering

of

and
H.

Mining

Journal,

January

Tailing

Plant

Lead,

4, 1902.
The

plant
Highland
plant in a 10
and

classifier

eight large

no

upward

at

the

carried

stamp
where

to
cones

The

slimes
the

and

sands

On

of the

but

settle

overflow

as

to

is

Golden

conveyed

the

are

ore

pulp

bottom

the

periphery.
cyanide plant, where
they are
treated

at

as

above

described.

Star, Eighty,
to

the

These

classifiers.

the

at

cyanide
it passes
through the
separated by means

its way

slimes

cone-shaped

rising current,

or

pulp

pipe.

some

sheet-iron

centre, the
the

mills.

the

from

tailings pulp

in. cast-iron

house,

of

while

the

takes

This

1200-ftm

Company's

Homestake

is

and

The
fed
The

cones

have

charged by pipe
are
discharged,
sands
to

are

seven

slimes

then
tional
addi-

overflow-

166

THE

between

spaces
Gates

the

to

go

into

bars.

screen

long,

ft.
the

through

elevated

by

finishing
This
2

The

ore

leaching
deep,
tank

and

of

is

used

has

half

hours,

are

run

then

is

it

drained,

After

it.
short

this

time

The
About

solution

50
of

tons

wash

from

by

85

results

90

to

per
the

of

cent,

amounts

in

presses,

by

the

the
was

difficulty in

about

to

treated

values,

usual

tanks,
tried
the

lb.

and

the

at

the

clean-up.

acid

the

having
made

is

ore.

method.

discarded

The

and

give
before

mixture
on

is

accomplished

and

good

very

value

of
80

from

from
to

dust

are

tion
precipita-

through
account

90

cyanide

the

precipitates

Zinc

to

cyaniding

is

ton.

per

added
of

of

consumption

resultant

mill, but

cost

replace

leaching.

ore

are

barrels,

solution

of

ton

per

the

stand

from

by

precipitation

extraction

sulphuric
pumping

The

is

hours,

cyanide

ton

per

is

solution

to

the

tank

to

top

of

of

and

four

to

lbs.

veyor
con-

two

strong

followed

constructed

tailings

of

ft.

capacity

the

allowed

acidity

solution

at

is

to

bins.

The

The

ton.

lime

of

ton.

the

the

to

balance

used,

are

first

specially

in

cents

lbs.

the

per

obtained,

are

10

to

into

cents

thread

zinc

per

dumped

is

ore

alkalinity,

two

three

it

the
2

neutralize

To

water.

protective

the

solution

weak

of

tons

from

contains

the

added

being

for

mill

strong

stand

four

100-ton

large

after

lbs.

15

replacement

circulated

then

which

in. belt

the

the

About

solution

complete

and

weak

weak

the

of

the

into

16

added

of

to

all

ft. diameter,

16

from

in

being

allowed

usually

and

long

from

bin

minute.

charged

solution.

ing
shakrolls.

ft.

Nearly

purpose

gives

strength

coarse

oversize

is

this

solution
The

of

ton

tank

which

are

the
16

product

ft. per

added,

cyanide

and

finished

For

to

rolls.

finishing

600

Tanks

per

on,

of

the

product
the

mill

screen,

stationary.
screen,

the

the

with

J-mesh

fir; each

been

filled.

one-half

cyanide

to

from

speed

the

lbs.

at

the

capacity.

tons

above.

about

55

being

Oregon

of

6-mesh

level

passes
tions
revolu-

100

at

combined

the
in

2-mesh

which

in., operated

elevator

revolutions

80

from

undersize,

feeders

inclined

stationary

oversize

on

Tulloch

in.,

the

from

ore

by

24

by

24

shaking

passes

recently

mentioned

the

half

charged

tanks

by

situated

lower

14
to

one-bucket

by gravity
is

14

meets

it is fed

the

wide,

inclined

product

is returned

rolls

crushed

the

which

from

rolls

the

an

the

wide,

finished

ft.

screens,

is

screen

ft

and

and

discharge

fiuishing

minute,

per

being

rolls

PROCESS.

undersize

Gates

coarse

The

minute.

per

The

storage bin,

of

set

one

CYANIDE

filterof

the

APPLICATION

OF

THE

PROCESS

BRITISH

Athabasca
of

meeting
Mr.

1901,

the

In

American

Nelson

E.

167

COUNTRIES.

COLUMBIA.

Nelson.

Mine,

DIFFERENT

IN

read

paper

Institute

before

the

can
Mexi-

Mining Engineers
interesting information
on

Fell

of

in

gives some
The
consists
of a
tailingsat this mine.
ore, he says,
containing a little lime and variable
quartz gangue,
quantities of
the sulphides of iron, lead, and
zinc.
The following figures,giving
the analyses of the
before
of the tailings after
ore
milling, and
the material
constituted
based
to be
milling, which
cyanided, are
the daily samples taken
on
during February 1901.
the

of

treatment

Ore

Analyses of

and

Tailings.

Zn,

Fe,
Pb,
CaO,
S,.

A1203,
SiO
2"

Au,

Ag,
analysis shows

The

this

be

to

well

ore

an

adapted

for

cyanide

treatment.

The

plant

mill,

in two

height.

The

rim, and

are

while

the

tanks

filled with

overflow

10

in.

positionby eight iron

raised
entirely above
edge is about
upper
nature

of

the

ore

using

this contrivance

sands

as

possible.

each

in

each

the

brackets

vat, about

level

with

being
is to

as

the

tailings;

of the
The

much

or

iron

of the

is thus

is held

ring

lowered

obvious

of

the staves,

the

staves,

sheet

vat, and

that

tank,

top

treated.

of sheet

ring

arranged

the

retain

of the

1 in. from

of the

the

ft. in

around

vat, consisting of

diameter
so

10

launders.

This

level of

launders

the

from

and

admission

the

round.

way
than

the

annular

before

is fixed

all the

diameter

off in annular

wide, fitted inside

extending

ft. in

14
with

water

is carried

2 in. less in diameter

the

fitted

are

tailings direct

the

receive

to

distributing-tanks,

slimes-arrester

iron,
and

located

was

can

until

in

be
the

according to
intention

slimes

with

of

the

168

CYANIDE

THE

that
and

attached

the

to

amalgamating
New

and

described

slimes-arrester

The

and

staves,

having

which
the

Mr.

and
were

treatment

cyanide
place

such

by

Fraser

takes

overflow

The

for

of the

introduction

J. C.

pans,

Zealand

PROCESS.

Fell

is

Price's

exactly

the

same

as

grinding

continuous

extensively used in Australia

the
of mill
tailings before

process.
in the space

great length

between
of

the

ring

outflow, is

very

and
even

the
and

quiet.
has a capacity of 50 tons
plant, which
day, consists of
per
and
five leaching-vats, each
4 ft. deep, fitted
18 ft. in diameter
with
centre
two
discharge doors, and
vats, each
collectingvided
prowith
latter
The
the ordinary revolving reaction
distributors.
and
the
10 ft. deep, and
situated
14 ft. in diameter
above
are
so
each
be
one
can
discharged by shovelling
leaching-vats, that
three
into
of
side-doors
one
adjacent leaching-vats.
through
any
there
these
is a strong gold tank, a weak
Besides
gold tank, a
waste-water
vacuum
tank, and two series of zinc extractors, each
and
each
have
are
a
consisting of twelve iron boxes, which
square
capacity of one cubic foot of zinc-shavings. The boxes are movable,
The
is independent of the other.
and each
two
gold tanks are 10
meter
the
and 6 ft. deep, and
12
two
ft. in diameter
ft. in diasumps
The

and

the

depth.

same

supplies the following working details :

the actual
This
details of treatment,
and the
description shows
the
from
which
of Lot
treatment
results obtained
59,
gives a fair
of
the
treatment.
example
turned
June
26th, at noon,
on
strong solution (0*24 per cent.)
6 in. deep on
sands
the
stand
stood
4
to
until same
; allowed
and
At 4 p.m.
allowed
hours.
solution
to run
opened outlet-cock
the
the
last of
solution
into gold-tanks ; at 4.30 p.m.,
as
was
ing
passtook
which
in
off,
sample,
assayed "nothing"
cyanide and
dollars
Closed
in gold.
fresh charge of
9*30
outlet-cock, admitted
Fell

Mr,

"

"

solution, and

strong

June

allowed

to

stand

27th, opened outlet-cock,

8
and

At

hours.
1

night),
(mid-

12.30
took

sample,
dollars in gold.
before, which
assayed 0*06 cyanide and 28*94
as
turned
weak
solution
1
At
a.m.
(0*08 cyanide), allowing same
on
without
to drain
through
interruption till 4 a.m.
Sample at 4
dollars in gold.
Shut
off
cyanide and 8*08
a.m.
assayed 0*10
allowed
until
and
solution
to stand
outlet-cock
1.30 p.m.
Opened
admitted

and

outlet-cock
to

12.30

(midnight),June

run

cyanide

allowed
allowed

to

and

stand

fresh

solution

a.m.

(0*06cyanide) and
solution

admitting
at
Sample taken
dollar in gold.
Closed
a.m.
Opened outlet-cock
to
run
through until

28th.

0*62
until

solution
fresh

through,

same

0'07

fresh

at

allowed

required till
p.m.
assayed

as

10

outlet-cock
at

11

a.m.

a.m.

and
and

Sample

APPLICATION

taken

OF

at

a.m.

sample

taken

At

a.m.

11

12.30

this
to

of the

assay

and

cyanide
0*06

0*42

till

water-wash

dollar

and
2

and

0*21

p.m.

dollar

0*21

cyanide

tailingsbefore

0*21

occupied, 2 days

actual

is

recovery

difference, the

satisfactory, and

treatment

dollars

2*07

Time

If the

and

cyanide

0*6

ran

in

ran

treatment

84-1.

cyanide

in

equal

the

to

obtained

results

with

gold.

wash

drained

was

dollars, and

13*02

of

Percentage

recovery,

"

obtained

extraction
be

must

by

considered
doubtless

could

leaching

prolonged

gold; and
dollar
in gold.
in

at
Sample taken
in gold; and
sample
dollar in gold. At

gave

2 '5 hours.

169

COUNTRIES.

declared
finished ; the
was
process
the tailingswere
discharged.

; and

"Assay
after

p.m.

the

point

waste

a.m.

006

ran

at

11

at

turned

p.m.

taken

0*06

ran

DIFFERENT

IN

PROCESS

THE

the

very
be

increased.

Laurence

PROCESS

CYANIDE

THE

states*

Pitblado

that

IN

in the

INDIA.

Kolar

field there

are

at

cyanide works in operation. The ores of the field are

simple, consisting mainly of pure quartz, with only a small
very
treated
of iron pyrites. The
is tailings from
material
percentage
mills.
first worked
in the Mysore plant averaged
the stamp
Those
4*5 dwt. gold, and
65
an
yielded
average
tion
consumpper cent., with
with
40-mesh
month's
In 1897
of 1 lb. cyanide
test
ton.
a
per
the
batteries
in the
screens
following result : 90*65
per
gave
of the
and on plates ; 74 per cent,
in batteries
cent, amalgamated
value
in the
tailings recovered
by cyanide lixiviation, making a
six

present

total extraction
The

of

cost

cyaniding

is

Company

2,

but

alongside
is

the

believed

Champion

of 97

that

Reefs

of the

cent,

5d.
new

ton,
per
4000-ton

mill,

cost

as

will

where

exclusive

delivered

to

mill.

the

plant of the Mysore

preciatio
deof royalty and

is being erected
plant which
tailingsthat is to be worked, it
At
the
2s.
not
greatly exceed

of accumulated
the

ore

present small

the

at

10s.

in the

heap

per

20-mesh

are

screens

used

in

the

56
cent,
tailings is about
per
with
a
consumption of 1 lb. of cyanide per ton.
In
refining the precipitate in this district it is first passed
drained, dried, roasted with or without
through a 30-mesh
screen,
small
of
fused
nitre, and
a
directly in plumbago
percentage
before
At the Mysore works
the precipitateis retorted
crucibles.
month.
The
100
lbs. of mercury
roasting, yielding about
per
of mercury
in the zinc boxes
generally leads to the production
presence
of much-floured
In fluxing and
and brittle zinc.
smelting

batteries, the

Journal

extraction

from

of the Societyof

the

Chemical

Industry,

Feb.

28, 1898.

170

directly,
gold,
18

good

shots

many
above

4*6
and

at

dried

acid
washed

product

cent,

soda,

metal

and

silver,
zinc,

heat.

(1

2*71
0*12

10

per

bullion
cent,

per

per

fluxed

cent,

at

per

cold

sand,
81

assaying
lead,

the

6*78

*3

per

cent,

per
cent,

gold,

2*10

zinc,
the

free

gold,
copper,

roasted
phuric
suland

dried

The

slag

retorted

dilute

with

cent,

per
a

cent,

and

nitre

copper.

35

giving

The

boiled

are

than

freer

unsatisfactory,

of

cent,

about

per

works.

Mysore

they

'5

copper,

being

per

dissolves

cent,

nickel.

the
10

with

cent,

results

with

which

assayed

38*21

These

When

2),

is

and

lead,

mixed

are

red

slag

49

copper,

contained

slag

nitre

cent,

per

cent,

per

The
with

bullion

56*4

19*6

nickel.

roasting

adopted

was

slimes

bright

and

nickel.

lead,

cent,

per

assayed

bullion

cent,

per

In

4*29

cent,

practice

the

metal.

silver,

per

following

0*1

produced,

cent,

0*22

and

of

was

per

2*4

and

zinc,

cent,

slimes

silver,

cent,

per

per

the

retorted

the

PROCESS.

CYANIDE

THE

borax,

15

from

shots

'9

0*4

per
per

per
of
cent,

cent,

CHAPTER

XII.

PROCESS.

SIEMENS-HALSKE

THE

of extremely
the use
of this process
are
distinguishing features
dilute
of cyanide and the electrical precipitationof the gold.
solutions
the
the
of the cyanide process,
introduction
Since
precipitation
weak
has
been
zinc
of the gold by metallic
a
regarded
as
always
in the endeavour
time
much
point ; and metallurgists have devoted
The

discover

to

efficient

an

substitute

for

it.

of many
precipitation naturally engaged the attention
investigators. In 1893, the author, assisted by Mr. F. B. Allen,
electrical
of
number
M.A., B.Sc., conducted
a
experiments with
method
of
the
precipitation to be
precipitation to determine
different
of Mines
adopted at the School
cyanide plant. Many
modifications
With
the
tried.
precipitation from
were
some,
solutions
of ordinary working strength was
satisfactory; but,
very
with
dilute
solutions, such
all, the precipitation of the gold from
those
always very
as
corresponding to weak
cyanide washes, was
imperfect and accompanied by decomposition of the water.
this
Siemens-Halske
In
the
by
difficultyis overcome
process
in
the
the
of
solutions
slow
artificial
circulation
cyanide
causing a

Electrical

extractor.

The

gold
the

the

are

only

marked

has

difference

Goldfields,
has

little

the

process
A.
Mr.

and

and

its

been
am

Von

Society of
Mining Journal.

to

written

indebted

Zealand

New
about

Gernefc, read
South

gold has been

cyanide plants
Up
extending.

is

to

the

it.

the

papers

before

Africa, and

For

the

the

at
to

Witwaters-

the

the
of

following
Mr.

Chemical

published

in

the

Charles

and
South

it

present

Australia, and

or

with

introduced

of

of

use

introduced

been

very

number

in

the

extractor-house.

being in the
precipitation
a

leaching of the
preceding chapters,

with

connected
described

those

as

at

success

not

operations

same

electrical

The

rand

and

plant

so

far

details

of

Butters

gical
MetallurAfrican

172

CYANIDE

THE

Discovery
electrical
has

the

Dr.

found

Siemens
his

at

works

in

the

cyanide solution,

the

bath.

This,

soluble

was

the

try

in

extracted

Asia
the

that

Berlin

lost

without

Von

Mr.

from
far

as

by

ores

back

gold anodes
weight when

he

built

small

the

cyanide

1888.

as

used

electric current
any
with
the well-known

connection

said

Gernet

in

In

plating
electro-

standing idle in
passing through
fact that gold

in aqueous
solutions
of cyanide, first induced
solvent
of that
for the extraction
of gold from

use

the

In

Process.

precipitation of gold
in use
in Europe
and

been

1887,

of

PROCESS,

him

to

ores.

make

plant
experiments
The
on
produced
Siebenburgen.
gold was
cipitated
preboth
and
zinc
It
found,
electrolysis
by
was
filings.
results
from
however, that the zinc method
good
paratively
comonly
gave
the
electrical
strong solutions, while
precipitationwas
both
effected with
dilute and
and
its efficiency
strong solutions,
affected
the
of
caustic
soda.
not
was
by
presence
Dr. Siemens
therefore
decided
to use
electrolysisonly, and early
in 1888
he
commenced
operations on a large scale.
Engineers
different
sent
to
to
were
countries, two
going to Hungary, one
and
America,
one
(Mr. Von Gernet) to Siberia.
The
generally successful, and in May 1894, a
operations were
of tailings per
tons
plant, capable of treating 3000
month, was
erected at the Worcester
mine, near
Johannesburg.
During 1895
the process
was
adopted by some
panies,
eight or ten large mining comConsolidated, Croesus
including the Metropolitan, May
same

year

in

concentrates

G.M.

Co., No.

4 Central

of Gold.

tion

rival

Electric

of the
The

and

Works,

already it is a formidable
precipitationprocess.
Action

to

electric

Robinson
the

of

Current

Slime

Works

Mc Arthur-Forrest

on

the

Cyanide

; and

zinc-

Solu^

decomposes the auro-potassic

solution, depositing the gold on
negative pole and
liberating
the
the
In
metalloid
fixed
at
time
a
positive pole.
a
given
electric
will deposit a certain
current
of
which
metal,
quantity
will
different
for
metals
direct
in
quantity
proportion to
vary
their
electro-chemical
equivalents. This law holds good only for

current

the

solutions

strong

in

metal

but

with

very

dilute

solutions, as

in

does
current
sufficient
not
of
cyanide process,
the
and
at
electrodes,
compound present
consequently
takes
also
of
this
for
water
to make
decomposition
place ;
reason,
the
diffusion of the
precipitationas efficient as possible,constant
use

in the

the

metallic

solution

The
and

is

the

find

required.

artificial

circulation
obtained

of

the

solution

is most

economically
but
steady flow
highest importance

slow

conveniently
by allowing a
It is of the
boxes.
the
through
precipitation
to give a very
large surface to the electrodes, since

more

efficient

174

CYANIDE

THE

PROCESS.

advantages gained by using such

The

1. The

gold

is

deposited hard

current

are

lead- foil.

the

on

weak

preserved for a long time, as their

In
current
is in proportion to their
waste
strength.
1080
lbs. of iron
tons
a plant treating 3000
per month,
are
destroyed in that period.
Watts
is required.
746
Little
equal 1-horse
power
A
3000- ton
plant requires 2400 Watts, equal,
power.
and
actually requiring
theoretically,to 3|-horse power,

The

2.

3.

anodes

iron

are

5-horse

about

power.

claimed

advantages

Electric

of

Advantages

The

this

for

Precipitation.
are

process

The

follows

as

cipal
prin-

the

precipitation operates independently of the

caustic
of cyanide or
tion.
soda
amount
present in the soludilute
of tailings,
Therefore, in the treatment
very
be used, the
solutions
can
only limit being a sufficient
quantity of cyanide to dissolve the gold satisfactorily.
of cyanide will
A
solution
dissolve
cent,
containing 0*03
per
gold as effectivelyas a solution
containing 0*3 per cent., provided
is allowed
In
the
for treatment.
the
first case,
a
longer time
less than
ing
in the second, resultdecomposition of cyanide is much
in a corresponding economy.
That

1.

acid

2. However

the
it does

as

solution

the

takes

precipitation

when

the

when

be

may

solution

the

entering

place equally

is neutral

tractor,
ex-

well

as

alkaline.

or

of lime, alumina,
complications arise from the formation
sometimes
in the
trouble
or
hydrate of iron, which
cause
zinc process
of precipitation.
4. With
of
ores
or
tailings containing copper, the extraction
the
will
the
be
but
the
of
gold
decomposition
same,
cyanide less than when
using stronger solutions.
No

3.

5. The

The

successful

Actual

place

at

of

this
works

cyanide
Johannesburg,

the

near

of

Working

demonstration

of slimes.

treatment

the
on

process
of the
under

Process.
a

Worcester
the

The

first

commercial
Gold

supervision

cal
practi-

scale

took

Mining

pany,
Com-

of

Mr.

A.

Von

Gernet.
The
stone

of five leaching vats

plant consists
beneath.
a
single tunnel
piers, with
with

in

diameter,

of

tailings.
Between

two

tanks,

intermediate

the
16

10

vats

ft. in

ft. staves, and

and

the

electric

diameter,

reservoirs, which

with
enable

has

placed
Each

on

is

vat

capacity
there

row

of

100

20

of
ft.
tons

placed
6 ft. staves, forming
two
the flow through the pre-

extractors

are

SIEMENS-HALSKE

THE

cipitation boxes
of

matter

method

into

to

secure

be

kept

and

constant

tank

an

flow

even

is

steady, a

and

all the
pump
overflow
into

to

tank, provided with

raised

small

intermediate

the

to

great importance.

better

solution

extractors

or

175

PROCESS.

an

the

delivery pipe
precipitation
full
to
always kept
overflowing, so that
it delivers
under
a constant
hydraulic head.
20 ft. in
Beyond the precipitation boxes there are two
sumps,
which
diameter
6 ft. deep, from
and
the
are
cyanide solutions
returned
to the leaching vats.
Two
8 ft. deep, receive
and
collectingvats, 20 ft. in diameter
the tailingsfrom
the 25-stamp battery.
boxes.

The

The

small

tank

Electric

is

Precipitation

boxes, constructed
and

4 ft.

iron

wires

to

of

Boxes.
each

wood,

There

18

ft.

are

four

cipitation
pre-

long., 7 ft. wide,

box
contains
89
deep. Each
iron-plate anodes, 7 ft. by
3 ft. by in., cased
the
small
in canvas
retain
to
quantity of
blue
and
Prussian
88
stretched
of lead-foil
cathodes
produced ;
on

strips,3

fixed

ft.

by

there

lead-sheet,

on

wooden

ft.,so

Each

frame.

that, counting

the

frame

double

three

contains
surface

of

each

feet of cathode
3000
altogether about
square
foot.
surface, the current
density being 0*05 ampere
per
square
Copper wires are fixed along the top of the sides of the boxes, and
the current
the dynamo
from
to the electrodes.
convey
The
boxes
of
3
in.
material
made
ing
are
throughout, with stiffenthe sides and bottom.
The
divisions are of wood,
pieces across
formed
of the
iron
inch
or
are
by raising some
plates about
an
the
above
level of the solution, while
others
rest
on
right down
the bottom, the joints being made
of wooden
water-tight by means
fillets caulked
with
series
of
hemp
packing.
By this means
a
is
similar
in a zinc
to those
obtained,
compartments
precipitation
the
difference
that
the
solution
box,
being
alternately up
passes
and down
successive
The
of flow is
rate
through
compartments.
about

foot

one

The

are

minute.

per

Clean-up.
month

The

boxes

are

kept locked, being

opened

the

replaced by

fresh

follows:
"clean-up," which is conducted
as
and
lead-foil
the
removed
and
out
is
singly,
lead-foil,the whole
operation taking but a few

minutes

each

frame.

once

The

for

frames

are

for

taken

The

lead,

which

contains

from

2 to

12

and
into bars
gold, is then smelted
cupelled.
The
gold is deposited on the lead sheets as a thin bright yellow
adheres
The
film, which
firmly to the lead.
consumption of lead
the
Worcester
750
Works
is
at
lbs. per month, equal to 1 d. per
of tailings.
ton
The
working expenses for treating3000 tons per month
were
as
per

of

cent,

follows

176

THE

The

cost

The

tailings assayed

residues,

of treatment

after

weak

the

strong

of 2s. 8d.

amounted
use

per
to

of the

amounted

to

of 2*240

lbs. would

dwts.

8 dwts.

to

1 dwt.

to

74

per

1 dwt.

be

of

dwts.

3s. 4*32d.

gold, and
per

cent.

precipitation boxes, still

showing by assay 4 dwts. 8
of

the

The

ton.

the

ton
grs. per
carried
from

solutions

solution.

4 dwts.

grs.,
age,
aver-

the

dwts., and

to

the

On

tained
con-

gold per ton of solution.

pany
1895, the Metropolitan ComMay
for
4845
of
at
of
tons
26,900
ozs.
a cost
gold,
tailings
the working expenses
At the May Consolidated
ton.
about
2s. 4d. per
ton, excluding the royalty for the
to

grs.

1894

over

of

of

to

which

amounts

80

cent,

process,

Details
and

solution
10

PROCESS.

about

was

leaving

November
treated

from

after

solution

10

from

From

strong

solutions,

the

weak

ton

extraction

gold, the
and

per
from

treatment,

actual

average
The

CYANIDE

the

per

Treatment.

washing, together with

following tabulated

in the

the

to

per

The

cent.

of the

extraction

value.

original assay
time
occupied in leaching
quantity of the solutions, are given
The

statement

HOURS.

Alkaline

wash,

10

tons,

Strong cyanide solution, 70 tons,

0*05

to

0*08

per

cent.

65
applied in 14 separate portions of 5 tons each,
Weak
cent.
cyanide solution, 21 tons, 0*01
KCy,
per
18
applied in 3 portions of 7 tons each,
charging,
disWater
washes, total 1 1 tons, pumping
dry and

KCy,

22
........

Total,
The
number

working
of

of

valuable

lead, litharge,and

this

process

commercial

paint.

108

gives

rise

to

the

production

bye-products, including

of

copper,

CHAPTER

OTHER

The

Diehl

Teed

process.
1.
2.

XIII.

CYANIDE

Process.

This

It embraces

Crushing
Treating

and

is

adaptation
following essential

the

in

Sulman-

stages *:

ore.

agitators

cyanide
Filter-pressingthe sludge.
4. Precipitating the gold from
the
character
of
to
According
and
concentration
amalgamation
can
in

the

of

an

the

sliming
slimes

the

PROCESSES.

with

solution

with

combination

of

sium
potas-

bromide.

cyanogen

3.

The
treated
At

in

30-mesh
and

"

raw

dry-crushed

and

added

be

to

its
the

is,

process

and

associates,

process.

that

is

ore

10

elevated,

the

is

ore

15

introduced,

per

provided

mixed

sands

The

to

first

ball-mills

Krupp

slimes.

from

was

process

crushed

which

on

the

No.

two

sands

into

copper-plates

in
The

screens.

classified

the

of zinc.

means

condition.

mill, where

Star

by
gold

this

of

advantage
"

Haunan
is

ore

direct

most

solution

with

with

water,

conducted

are

of

cent

the

to

gold

the

is

by gravitation to the
plates the pulp travels
in a large
it is ground into slimes
fine-millingdepartment, where
is an
18
ft. long steel cylinder, 4
Krupp tube or flint mill, which
ft. in diameter, charged with
4 tons
of flint balls.
The
is fed
sand
saved.

From

into

end

one

whole

the

and

product

issues

will

pass

at

the

other

through

of

sieve

such
with

fineness

200

mesh

that

per

the

lineal

inch.

grinding mill the pulp is led to settling vats, from

which
the surplus water
The
is returned
to the
mixing machine.
thickened
led
where
into
is
treated
with
it
pulp is now
agitators,
and
bromide
solution
of
of
of
a
cyanide
potassium
potassium.
When
the agitator has
its full charge, a strong solution
received
of potassium cyanide is added.
slimes
For
containing 1 to 3 oz.
of gold per ton, we
much
have
it sufficient
to add
found
so
cyanide
that
there
will be 4*4 lbs. KCy
of dry material.
After the
per ton
From

the

Knutsen,

Trans.

Inst.

Mm.

and

London,

Met.

1902.

12

178

has

sludge
bromide

hours
the

case

contain

BrCy, to ensure
hand, if the sludge contains
quantity of KCy and BrCy can
About

before

2 hours

1 lb. to
to

the

is added

lime
filter-press,
4 lbs. per
4 lbs. is used.

ton

good
gold

less

oz.

than

oz.

the

ton,

per

ready to discharge to the

sludge in quantity varying from
is

In

slimes.

cleaner

per ton, it may

agitation,a further
quan
On
the other
extraction.
3

considerablyreduced.

be

the

dry

in,

than

more

agitator

to

of

quantity
agitator is kept going
solution
charged into it.
was

8 hours'

6 to

of

added

the

The

KCy

and

KCy

tity of

flow

solution

the

1 hours,

to
to

the

after

add,

to

material.

time

should

sludge

advisable

be

for

dry

of

the

from

PROCESS.

is allowed

cyanogen
lb. per ton

1*1

24

for

agitated

been

of

being
In

CYANIDE

THE

the

most

cases,

in the

obtained

precipitateis thereby

think,

boxes.

zinc

agitation,the

After
which

dissolved

the

of slime

cakes
The

gold
ordinary

the
cent,
this

the

is

which

doubtless

so

month

of

Hannan's

The
is

scarce.

tends

July

dump.
precipitated with

1901,

Brown

the

an

available

retard

the

zinc

2210

over

per

small

in

goldfield,where

is salt

brackish,

or

concentration.
of the

summary
of

tons

Kalgoorlie, by

at

93

is very

on

in

turnings

of

extraction

water

close

following

when

Hill,

that

consumption
important factor

to

gives

out.

of water

an

All

Feldtmann

Mr.

is

After

the

It is claimed

which

water

on

in
filter-presses,
the
dry
washing,

Dehne's

in

pressed

washed

solutions

way.

process,

is

out

obtained.

be

can

thrown

are

in

pulp
gold is

were

ore

this

for

the

treated

at

costs

process

Summary.

Milling,

Concentration,
Treatment

of

concentrates,

Extraction,
0-88

24

The
of barium

Schilz

inasmuch

under

after
it

the

is based

process

that

the

oxide

normal

the

performs
sulphate of

and

oxide

of

dispenses

further
iron

iron,
with

one-half

with

parts

treatment,

it

the

on

addition

ordinary cyanide solution,

conditions

claimed

decomposes
forming sulphate of barium
removes
sulphocyanides, and
as

the

to

certain

It is further
is left

This

peroxide, Ba02,

it is claimed
oxygeu.
which

Process.

in

of

the

use

its

barium,

functions

solution,

insoluble

both

the

of

which

of lime

; it

and

OTHER

the

answers

addition.
time

CYANIDE

minor

of the same,
with other
purpose
other
On the
hand, the process

effect

satisfactoryextraction than
in
increase
necessitatinga considerable
to

thus

well

Schilz

Herr

sprinkled with
a
good mixture

that

solutiou

than

for

is the

be

at

least

is

washed

should

is

extraction,
with

remain

three

and

six

the

vat

is

rather

allowed

stand

to

the

longer

of

case

being filled,so
stronger cyanide

whole
The

days.

in the

be

must

the

time

it should

concentrates

running off the gold solution the residue

cyanide solutions, the first of which
Then, again, a strong solution should

After
weak

four

peroxide

the

and

in,

advantages in
longer
requires much
in ordinary cyaniding,
vat
capacity.
the

success

obtained.

run

least

at

ensure

be

may

week.

to

tailings whilst

the

usual

undisturbed
better

that

states

179

PROCESSES.

hours.

be

applied, followed
by weak solutions.
quantity of peroxide depends less on the percentage of
gold than on the length of time during which the solution remains
the
in contact
with
charge; and, further, the more
pyrites present
The
the
should
the
of
vat
peroxide.
consumption
greater
filled to the brim
be
the
with
the tailings,
swells up
not
mass
as
The

the

by

evolution

liberated
in

of gas,

oxygen
with

contact

sometimes

should
the

much

as

the

charge,

ton

Delivered

treated.

ore

is "50

peroxide
A working
according to

per

the

of

report

iu extraction
per cent,
rise
from
76
89
to
per

The
1.

BaO

Ba02
and

also

gave

inventor

makes

at

manager,
small

the

3.

contact

the

the

dissolution

the

cold.

basis,

in

exerts

solutions,

thus

peroxide

from

lb. to

the

renders

of which

has

lb. per

of barium

cost

and

Suburban

showed
additional

cost

about

that

the

of

treatment

mine,
of

gain

for his

is, a

pyrites

process

moistened

with

tailings into

cyanide of potassium with oxygen

of
gold. This
decomposition
which
the

is

reduced

required for
pyrites, and

is

the

thus

enclosed

gold.
decomposing supplies BaO, which, being
the
purifying and clearing influence upon
their
increasing
solving power.

Ba02

4.
use

liberating the

Ba02

of

the

treatment.

following claims

Ba02 supplies the

oxygen
decomposition and dissolution of
in

quantity

of

satisfactoryresults.

2.

assists

the

possible

as

action

City

The

cent.

decomposes in
0, and
supplies

required for
performed in

long

as

Rand,

the

at

process

13

concentrates

Thus

ton.

trial of the
the

the

on

foot.

solvent

greatest

cyanide being after a few

days. The
under
required varies with the material
In actual
practice the quantity varies
of

as

undisturbed

remain

superfluous the
in its train

so

many

use

of

lime, the

now

injurious secondary

strong

cyanide
existing
effects.

180

THE

CYANIDE

Park-Whitaker

The
intended

for

which

the

successfully
the

of

Process.

cupriferous

of

treated

account

on

processes,

Cyanide

treatment

be

cannot

PROCESS.

and

ores

the

by

solubility

This

of

concentrates

cyanide

ordinary

cyanide

in

ores

copper

is

process

solutions.
this

In

the

process

after

which

with

water.

soluble

the
An

with

the

During

which

of

results,

and

gold

cyanide.

of

present

dissolved

by

converted

are

The

cyanide.

solutions

the

passing

leaching

the

solved
disiron

through

scrap-iron.

or

Experiments
parcel

by

roasting,

by

and

sulphides

readily

is recovered

copper

turnings

is

removed

applied,

solution

silver

chloridizing

are

is then

dilute
the

roasting

chloride,

into

wash

to

chlorides

copper

alkaline

extracted

silver

subjected

is

ore

Monowai

the

from

ore

and

scale

working

on

preparations

are

were

made

mine,

N.Z.,

with

made

being

now

the

by

author

on

most

successful

more

extensive

for

trials.

The

Pneumatic

dissolution

of

air, which

the

cause

the

partly by

continuous

aeration

air

is conducted

perforated pipe placed

This

provisional

letters

Tests

made

rapid

was

separating

argentiferous

an

amalgamation

amalgam,
promote

many

gold

and

pulp,
of

passage

the

complicated

the

of

slimes

found

was

gold

difficulty
For
to

give

of
so

gave

abandoned.

were

1895.

Kuaotunu

at

the

from

of

which

in

mechanical

This

Central

pulp

of

the

the
factory
satis-

operated
essentially
method

copper

cyanide

doubtful

is

Washoe

alkali,

containing

been
It

America.

caustic

reactions

has

process

closely following

to

Zealand
author

coil

aeration.

of

for

dissolution

the

percolation

in

ores

addition

mercury

but

artificial

process,

The

and

the

through

New
the

The

attempts

Process.

Young

treatment.

compressed

process,

in
and

solutions

ordinary

without

on

Park-Horn

slimes.

further

sands,

the

George
fine

charge

filter-cloth.

complete,

that

results

Gilmour-

of

the

process

of

the

by

the

Horn

gold-containing

the

the

obtained

were

Mr.

almost

and

of

treatment

patent

by

trouble

much

with

excessively

goldfield on

caused

to

of

top

on

is identical

process

were

gentle agitation

solution

the

this

partly by jets

and

of

In

charge.

compressed

The

Process.

is accelerated

gold
a

the

through

air

Cyanide

and

solution

utility.

of
zinc
must

182

THE

The
from

anodes
two

There

are

bars

are

cathodes

PROCESS.

1 in. thick

of iron

curved

girders and
twelve

CYANIDE

so

to

as

in the

by 3 in. wide, suspended

parallel to the cathodes.

be

vat.

The

twelve
is
revolutions
agitator running about
per minute
found
sufficient to keep the pulp from
settling. The salt in the
renders
local water
the conductivity of the pulp excellent, so that
low
of very
current
a
potential is quite sufficient to effect the
current
required for
gold. The
precipitation of the dissolved
each
of 18 tons
is about
250
of a potential of 2-5
vat
amperes
about
to
of
six-sevenths
electrical
volts, equal
an
horse-power, the
of which
is merely nominal.
cost
per ton
The
is first pulverized until all the gold is liberated
its
from
ore
If necessary
the ore
results
it is merely necessary
fine
state
able, or in such
a

matrix.

is roasted.

that

In

order

the

to

should

obtain

good

be

gold
amalgamof
dissolution
as
permit
by
cyanide solutions.
requires a
particular ore
Necessarily each
certain
specificpreliminary preparation, determinable
by experiment,
to

obtain

the

best

will

results.

The

pulp, containing approximately

the
vat
solution, is discharged into
which
the

is called

the

electric current

vat."

electro

"

from

the

maintained

The

equal weights of ore and

previously described, and
agitator is set in motion,

dynamo
by means

is

pumped

back

of

started,

and

the

flow

of

the

air-jet,as already
The
of potassium cyanide to the
described.
solution is made
up
With
of
a
high-grade ore
strength of 0*075 per cent.
average
is
continued
for
about
2 oz. or over
the above-described
operation
while
with
slimes, carrying but 3 dwt.
hours,
low-grade
eighteen
4 dwt., it be
be
six hours.
After
or
a
complete in about
may
time
has elapsed the discharge-valve at the
bottom
of the
proper
dam
is opened and
the pulp is allowed
to flow
vat
to the residues
;
the operation indefinitely
the vat is refilled as before, and
repeated.
If water
the
is scarce,
liquor, after the pulp has
supernatant
quicksilver

settled

pulp

is

in the

dam,

be

may

succeeding charges.
clean-up is effected by
time, and replacing it with
is

this

keep
The
or

the

mill

to

make

for

The
the

into

very

process
it active
Kiecken

decantation

fine, and
sodium

contains
is

added

withdrawing

plate at
The
a
one.
amalgam
spare
duced
proabout
of
fine gold.
In
27 per cent,
the
to
automatically to
mercury
one

copper

and

bright.
dispenses
process

for

the

removal

with

percolation, filter-pressing,
dissolved
the ore,
gold from
and
clean-up, the
zinc-precipitation
of the

with
entirely
away
its mechanical
of the
preparation,
complete treatment
ore, after
of
vat, in the minimum
operation in one
being effected in one
the
recovered
as
time,
gold being
amalgam, requiring only retort-

and

does

OTHER

and

ing

with

The

much

Keith

cyanide

is

process

he

practice,

of

claimed,

operates

the

of

cent,

per

This

mercury.

very

of

the

In
when

obtained

of

than

of

mercury.

and

cyanide

mixture

faster

much

solution

the

are

potassium

covery
re-

improvement

to

results

for

the

second,

cyanide

best

trician.
elec-

process

Keith's

adding
of

finds

the

and

Dr.
in

amount

0*05

be

electro-

American

First,
ore

solution.

Keith

an

parts.

consists

he

will

process

The

Keith,

crushed

the

that

cyanide

Dr.

two

the

certain

contains

cent,

per

of
of

process

states

solvent

the

from

gold

cyanide

potassium

Process.

of

out

this

of

metallurgists.

by

consists

dissolving

the

applications

invention

gold

the

of

the

process

the

dissolving

future

interest

Electro-Cyanide

The

in

The

melting.

watched

183

PROCESSES.

CYANIDE

0*025
it

cyanides,

simple

is

potassium

cyanide.
The

electrolytic

scraped
usual

with

gold

The

be

is

solution

more

and

the

placed
of

an

than

in

The

salt,
electro-motive

volt.

to

so

off

into

dip

and

force

of

the

an

is

deposited

in

mercury
the

cyanide

surrounded
does

cyanide

the

that

the

is

together

deposited

compartment
so

solution

amalgam
distilling

by
not

the

are

allowed

separate

alkaline
The

half

is

from

gold
mercury

recovered

anode

decomposed.

become
not

the

way.
but

solution,

gold

the

copper-plates.

and

off

of

recovery

The

one.

amalgamated

upon

the

the

for

process

current

not

need

CHAPTER

XIV.

ANTIDOTES

cyanides

All
in

practice

are

acid

prussic

Acids

evolved

with

death

it

air,

them

from

inhaled

faintness,

in

and

causes

diluted

When

frontal

depressing

tilated.
ven-

which

gas,

state.

pure

dizziness,

properly

are

acid

prussic

the

from

danger

no

buildings

the

if

or

used

solutions

aqueous

little

is

liberating

when

causes

the

but

there

that

cyanides,

on

instant

poisons

dilute

so

react

almost

deadly

are

POISONING.

CYANIDE

FOR

headache.
Even

dilute

very

and,

internally,
in
the

hands

the

of

they

gloves,

in
of

be

must

arms

Kaffir

whatever

workmen
the

from

into

the

contact

where

with

the

be

venience
incon-

no

with

skin

tion,
solu-

provided

suffer

to

their

produce,

cases

should

said
of

In

contact

elbows,
are

skin,

boils.

red

painful

over

the

with

contact

taken

when

poisonous

are

brought

reaching

workmen.

cyanide

come

eruption

an

and

rubber
for

when

persons,

some

solutions

cyanide

solutions.

Considering
accidents
fatal

have

principal

Up

poisoning

namely

From

hydrocyanic

From

poisonous

i
ia.)
b.)

the

cyanide,
to

number

the

present

be

apprehended

fatal

of

only

time

few

recorded.

plant,

sources,

of

use

small.

been

cyanide

extensive

remarkably

is
cases

In

the

may

from

two

acid

liberated

in

liberated

gases

vat-house.
acid

during

of

treatment

slimes.

In

South

covered
the

Africa,

by

action

roofs,
of

risk

can

be

from

danger
acids

mineral
Even

unknown.
reduced

and

Australia,

to

or

where
a

countries

prussic

minimum

vats

by

are

the

acid,
in

enclosed
free

vats

are

liberated

vapours,
carbonic

atmospherio
the

the

where

acid

circulation

is

shed,
of

not

by
tically
practhe
fresh

air.

The

author

has

observed

that

the

presence

of

HCy

vapours

is

ANTIDOTES

CYANIDE

FOR

185

POISONING.

agitation than in percolation plants, the

obvious
reason
being that agitation is generally adopted for the
and
while
the strength of
of pyritic ores
treatment
concentrates,
the solutions
used
is nearly always high.
In cases
of hydrofumes
of cyanide poisoning by inhaling the
cyanic
recommends
chemist
the
of
acid, a German
gen
hydrouse
with
which
forms
the
harmless
HCy
pound
comperoxide, H202,
reaction
the
the
oxamide,
following
being represented by
equation :

always

in

noticeable

more

2HCN

This

is said

known

the

effect

same

foreman

HGy

reliable

most

poisoning

immediate,

was

gS|-

and

satisfactory remedy

present time.
of

case

gas

The

the

at

In

the

be

to

H202

fell into

was
a

the

of

one

observed

cyanide

at
vat

the

at

Crown

workmen
N.Z.

the

without

Deep, the
falling as
Crown

effect

of

dead.

if

where

mines,

previous warning and

died

immediately.

Danger

during

Acid

of

Treatment
of

small

Slimes.

slimes

The

insoluble

a
cyanide salts,
generally
proportion
acid
when
the
which
acid
is poured
sulphuric
yield hydrocyanic
To
them.
be
on
guard against this danger, repirators should
used
have
the dissolving tubs,
who
to stoop over
by the workmen
In cases
subcutaneous
of poisoning,
said
injectionsof H202 are
mine
Mr.
T.
L
the
Crown
enable
the
Carter
to
of
Deep
by
patient

contain

to

soon

come

to.

of which
less soluble
are
more
or
containing arsenic, most
in cyanide, there is a danger of arsenic
being precipitated with the
the
the
acid treatment
of such slimes,
zinc boxes.
gold in
During
would
be
the deadly poison arseniuretted
liberated
hydrogen
by
the action
the zinc.
of the sulphuric acid on
In

The

while

ores

of the
North
in the
observed
case
symptoms
foreman
the
mill, where
superintendent,and
first nausea,
others
affected, were
were
many

followed

Pole

pany's
Com-

both

died,

then

extreme

of the
langour,
pains
legs,
by
skin in patches assuming the hue
whites
of tan ; the
of the
eyes
became
yellow as in jaundice ; finally,the passing of blood instead
of urine
that the fluid coagulated jn a few hours,
extent
to such
an
the patients apparently dying from
internal
mortification.
arsenic
from
the
The
lungs through the
being inhaled, passes
whole
the
tissues of the body, presystem, and rapidly attacks
cluding
relief
of
antidotes.
means
by
any
the
acid
Where
is used, the
zinc
for
treatment
precipitation
with

purposes

should

in

be

free

the

from

arsenic

; and

discoloration

in all

cases

the

dissolu-

186

CYANIDE

THE

tion

of the

zinc

should

PROCESS.

conducted

be

in

or
special chamber
board
cupa chimney
having a good draught.
In cases
of internal
be
induced
at
poisoning, vomiting should
once
by emetics or physical means.
of iron, obtained
Freshly precipitated carbonate
by mixing equal
of
and
sodium
ferrous
carbonate
quantities
sulphate, is recommended

connected

for internal
It

with

use.

garian
lately reported in the press that Johann
Antal, a Huntoxicologist,had found that a solution of cobalt nitrate was
for prussic acid poisoning.
Eecent
perfect antidote
tions,
investigawas

have

however,
animals

on

and

for

when
this

human

salts

exert

toxic

injected subcutaneously, finallyleading

nitrate

reason

cobalt

of

be

cannot

action

death

to

recommended

for

subjects.
Sores.

Cyanide

the

"clean-up"

sores

in those

parts

cyanide

solutions.

with

afflicted

some

connected

on

in

These

zinc

of

their

hands

Why

workmen

are

affected
which

arms

some

clear,

very

in contact

come

should

men

engaged in
with
painful

be

but

and

exempt

it is

probably

causes.

subject, Mr.

Watt

A.

the

supplies

following

arise

may

hands

the

dipping

which

or

is not

way

painfulaffections

first,from

the

extractors

constitutional
this

of

percentage

the

this

notes*:

instructive

articles

of

with

Writing
"

cobalt

that

shown

or

from

into

arms

them

two

principal causes

cyanide

baths

to

recover

dropped
a
common
practice
very
and
the
accidental
second, from
condemned;
of the fingers or other
contact
recent
parts of the hand, on which
a
scratch
has been
with
In the
cut
inflicted,
or
cyanide solutions.
the
constitutional
former
of
which
mischief
independent
case,
may
the
skin
from
the
of
the
arise
absorption by
cyanide salts,the
caustic
liquid acts very freely upon the delicate tissue of the skin,
the
the parts under
but
We
more
especiallyupon
finger nails.
have
known
instances
in which
has formed
under
purulent matter
both
this
the nails of
from
hands
necessitatingthe use of the
cause,
when
lancet
and
in
cyanide solutions
come
poulticing. Again,
wounds
with
of
contact
recent
even
slight cuts or abrasions
very
and
skin
troublesome
the
is sure
to
exceedingly painful sore
a
and

much

to

into

have

be

result, unless
it is
it

in
rag

or

strip of thin

in

dip

momentary

be

part

good plan,

very

moments

clean

the

after
a

of

rinsing

weak
and

acid

the

in

part

in cold

pickle, then

drop
a
gutta-percha."

olive oil and

Watt,

of

Electro-Deposition,

p.

611.

; indeed

water

warm

wiping the

towel, apply
sheet

soaked

once

after

water,

warm

at

water,

soak

it for

part dry
cover

to

up

give

few

with

with

a
a

ANTIDOTES

Provision

CYANIDE

FOR

Remedies.

of

187

POISONING.

In

order

minimize

to

the

danger

attending

cyanide
in

provided
a

glass

part
The

cyanide

every

the

works,

cabinet

marked

Poisoning

printed

to

should

all

have

instructions

the

be

cabinet

with

accessible

easily

Antidotes
the

near

for
and

top,

remedies

the

apply

to

closed

and

words

letters

how

in

should

workmen.

the

clear

in

kept

conspicuous

some

known

antidotes

necessary
and

plant,

in

placed

front,

of

the

poisoning,

Cyanide
written
inside

pasted

or

the

cabinet.
The

1.

cabinet

solution

of

drawn

to

2.

solution

should

sterilized

hydrogen
fine

the

and

point

flask

glass

hydrogen

sealed

3.

hypodermic

4.

stomach

5.

small

6.

small

triangular

7.

small

pair

and

B,

of

medicine

file.

pinchers.

of

filled

with

glass.

glass.

with
the

with
flame.

per

cent,

should

flask

be

flame.

blow-pipe

funnel.

conical-shaped

of

neck

sealed
made

syringe,
tube

in

marked

peroxide,

filled

A,
The

peroxide.

articles

following

marked

flask

glass

sterilized
of

contain

30

per

cent,

INDEX.

of

Absorption
Acid

cyanide

by
washes

preliminary

ores,

slimes,

smelting

tailings,

vats,

of,

6.

for,

69.

Antimony,

influence

Appliances

used

cyanide

of

Assay

108.

tables,

76.

slimes,

of

treatment

110,

111,

acid

Africa,

slimes

of

treatment

in,

crushing

wet

in,

leaching,

Agitation

81,

at, 167.

10.

121.

97.

91,

97,

96,

138,
Base

peroxide,
metals,

of, 178.

use

estimation

of,

tions,
solu-

in

177.

151,
Air,

of,

96.

94,

by,

86,

practice

Mine,

Barium

82,

Company,

125.

extraction

Agitators,

Westralia

65.

influence

Banket,
actual

48.

31.

46.

at,

Athabasca

Azurite,

113.

111,

leaching,

solutions,

and

Associated
air-lift

113.

of, 13.

for

43.

compressed,

of,

use

180.

Bonanza
compressors,

ner

lifts, 65,

66.

slimes,

practice

in,

practice

Columbia,

167.

63.

Ealgoorlie,

at

Bromo-cyanogen,

of,

use

178.

64.

wheels,

Bucket-

63.

55.

pumps,

Alkali,

115.

at,

process

British
for

Tave-

Johannesburg,

Mine,

83.

65,

doors,

discharging

Butters'

protective,

57.

166.

73,

distributes,
of, in

estimation

165.

155,

solutions,

44.

Alkaline

cyanides,

influence

sulphides,
wash,

of,

Calculating

14.

181.

Pan-amalgamation.
Zn

of

cost

extraction,

percentage

20.

practice

California,
180,

processes,

also

America,

34.

75.

Amalgamation
See

for,

tests

Camp

Bird

in,

161.

acid

Mines,

treatment

at,

113.

precipitation

in,

practice

15,

at,

102,

103,

155.

120.

dry crushing
sulphuric

in,

acid

in,

110,

Analytical

of

solutions,
methods,

41,

Feldtman's,
Green's,

Antimonite,

173,
for

Cathodes,

43.

soda,

influence

poisoning,
of,

11.

185.

in

Channels,

96.

56.

at,

of, 75.

of, 75.
152.

pumps,

Chalcopyrite,

181.

use

use

Centrifugal

33.

the,

173.

lime,

Caustic

36.

cyanide

of

tell-tales

35.

Virgoe's,

Antidotes

of, 7.

Company,

Extraction

practice

22.
33.

Crosse's,

Anodes,

Gold

Cassel
142.

113.

Analysis

influence

oxide,

Carbonic

1 25.

refining

influence

sulphide
formation

ores,

of, 12.
93.

of, 83.

11,

INDEX.

190
methods, 84.
Filter-presses,
practice,N.Z., 87,
vats,

electrical

151.

Tavener

gold, 80.
Fluxes, for lead smelting, 117.
in gold concentrates,
Franklinite
Free milling ores, 17.
sulphur, influence of, 13.
Freely percolating tailings,vats

93.

117.

melting slimes, 109,

gold slimes, 109.
of, 13.

influence

10, 75.

Kauri

Gold

Eeith

electro-chemical

Estates,
ores,

Gold

Eomati

sulphide ores, 93.

GilmourYoung process, 180.
of, with sulphur,
Gold, combination
in

12, 144.

Works,

Eapai Vermont
Earangahake,

Eiln-dried

Galena,

122.

180.

for,

for
of

plant at,

new

Kalooorlie, air-lift at, 64.

practice in, 87, 89, 144, 146,

66.

Fusion

in, 115.

process

Jumpers Deep,

"Float"

Furnace

73.

practicein,

63.

required, 81, 84.

Fineness

plant at, 67.

precipitationat, 174.
of

cost

Johannesburg,

ores

from,

128.

process, 183.
behaviour
of, 7, 12.

Mine,

from,

ores

15.

Eoppel patent tank doors, 58.

Euaotunu,
practice at, 12, 75,
180.
104,

92.

14.

results

precipitationof, by zinc,

100.

smelting of, 109.

Cyanide Works,

plant

Gate

Golden

at, 163.
and

Grain

gram

table, 46.

Proprietary, practice

Boulder

Great

at, 145.

Han

Star

nan

Mine,

Diehl

103.
102.
couple for zinc precipitation,
precipitation,175.
smelting, 115.

at,

process

177.

Goldfields,127, 133.
consumption of cyanide at,

Hauraki

132, 133.

Company,

Homestake

Dakota,

Co.'s

of, 67.
vats
for, 48, 51.
Lead, influence of, 13.
tion,
acetate, use of, in zinc precipita-

75.

Mercury Cyanide Works,

from, 87, 148.

ore

vats, 53.
Langlaagte
109.
72,
57,
practiceat,
Leached
residues, discharge of, 56.
Leaching, 70, 76.
by agitation,81, 82, 94, 96.
Estate

cost

practiceat, 147.

Horseshoe,

Consols,

View

Lake

precipitation of, by zinc,

routine, 17.

Laboratory

of, 106.
slimes, 107.

120,

154, 164.
of, 35.
Hydrocyanic acid, estimation
poisoning by, 184.
ing,
Hydrogen, evolution of, in acid refin-

cost

of, 119.
for, 116.

fluxes

cyanide, 6, 133.
gold, on cupellation,119.
Estate, practice at,
Luipaards Wei
Loss

of

of

125.

Lydenburg, precipitationpractice at,

105.

111.
in
in

leaching, 158.
zinc precipitation,102,

104.

Forrest
process, 1.
frames
filter
Main
at, 55.
Reef,
Malachite, influence of, 10, 13.

McArthur-

dioxide, influence of, 15.

in acid refining, 111.
Marlborough, N.Z., experiments at,

Manganese
India, practicein, 169.
sun-drying in, 92.
Intermediate
Iodine

18.

73.
filling,

solution,

standardising,26.
13.

of, 7,
of, 93.
salts,influence of, 8, 9.
Irvine's discharging doors, 58.
Iron

pyrites,influence
occurrence

Martin

press,

88.

vats, 53.

Masonry
Melting gold slimes,

109.

Mercur, practice at, 162.

Mercuric

chloride

solution,25.

191

INDEX.

Mercury couple, in

zinc

precipitation,

103.
influence

of, 11.

of, 157, 181.

in India, 169.

use

sulphides, influence of, 12.

of filling
vats, 72.
Mineral
acids,influence of, 7.
Moanataiari, discharge doors at, 60.
practiceat, 58, 89, 134.

Metallic
Methods

vats

used

Monowai,

on

from,

ores

Protective

alkali,166.
estimation

of, 44.
of, 9.

blue, formation
of

recovery

practiceat, 102, 133, 134, 180.

of, at, 98.
sulphides, treatment
Montana,
practiceat, 161.
zinc precipitationat, 120.
Montejus, 146, 151, 152.
Malcolm
Mount
Proprietary, air-lift

Prussic

acid, liberation

ores,

7.

cyanide by, 75.

testing for, 19.
of, 70.

treatment

tailings, zinc
Natural

precipitation of,

102.

Pyrolusite,influence
Rand

Central

of, 15.

Reduction

Company's

plant, 84.
Rate

at, 123.

of

extraction,

18.

of solution, 14.

Mexico, practicein, 161.

South
Wales, practice,151.

Reactions

involved, 4, 8,

Zealand,

Remedies

for

treatment

concentrate

94.

loss of

167.

settlement, 85.
Nevada, practicein, 161.
sun-drying in, 92.
zinc precipitationin, 161.
New
Eleinfontein, tailings practice

of, 184.

Pumps for solutions, 63.

Pyrites,influence of, 13,
Pyritic concentrates, 93.

63.

Mysore Works, practiceat,

in,

cyanide from,

173.

81, 83.

at,

process, 180.
for, 184.

Precipitation boxes, 175.

by charcoal, 12, 120.
by zinc, 100, 120.
tanks, 61.
Preliminary wash, 69, 75.
Pressing cakes, 151.

Prussian

at, 52, 53.

experiments

cyanide
Poisoning, antidotes
Pneumatic

9.

poisoning, 186.

Residues, dischargeof, 56.

94.

practicein, 56,

Riecken

127.

Nickel, influence of, 15.

Nitre, use of, in smelting, 107,

170.

process,

Robinson

Ohinemuki,

of

occurrence

gold at,

89, 145, 150, 181.,

Roasting before cyaniding,

gold slimes, 107.
Roche

Works,

89.

85.

dischargingdoors, 59,

137.

90.

practiceat,
Order

Sands,

134.

Schilz

of operations, 71.

Ores, kiln-dried, 7, 12.

testingof, 17.
Oxidising agents, 69.
Oxygen, influence of, 15.
in working solutions, 41.
Pan

amalgamation,

Park-Horn

Settlement,

from

180.

from

by,

Slime

at Crown

Mines,

96.

Phenolphthalein indicator,37.
Plant,

cost

of, 67.

171.

cake

at, 52.

acid

refining,113.
lead smelting, 119.
smelting slimes, 109.
pressing,140.

mixers, 151.
Slimes-arrester, 167.
refiningby sulphuric acid, 110.
smeltingof, 107.
sun-drying of, 92.

vats, 51.

process,

Silver, influence of, 133.

nitrate solution, 22.
Simmer
and Jack, vats used

Slags from

93.

71.

86.

Siemens-Halske

127.

Percentage extraction, 19, 20.

Percolation, leaching concentrates
plant

process,

179.

Separators, 86, 87.

Sequence of operations,

180.

process,
Whitaker
process,

of, 91.

treatment

192

INDEX.

Slimes,

of, 80, 83, 92, 107,

treatment

Tavener

process,

115.

cost

of, 119.

110, 140.
at

Waihi,

by

Tavener

acid

slimes,

gold slimes,
Soda,
Solution

161.

School

108.

acid

smelting

ol

Telluride

cyanide,
acidity,34.

Tests

for

Threshis'

dutyinN.Z.,132.
precipitation,

consumption
method,

Titration

of slimes, 80.

Treatment
of

the

tailings,on

Rand,

leaching, 76.

Strong solution
Sulman-Teed

Sulphide

of, 13.
contrasted, 5.

of solutions

ores,

47.

constants,

Utah,

practicein, 162.
precipitationin,

for solutions, 50.

Vats

construction

of, 52.
iron, 51.
wooden, 51, 67.
72, 81.
filling,

of, by agitation,

extraction

98.

of, 149.
influence
of,
alkaline,
Sulphides,
roasting, 148.
Sulpho-cyanides,action of, 15.
estimation
of, 36.
treatment

Sulpho-telluride
ores,
Sulphur,
Sulphuric

acid

leaching
14.

of,

Victoria,

13.

filter frames

86, 99, 135.

used

vats

Sun-drying, 84, 92,

Waikino,

161.

at, 51, 53, 57.

plant at, 59, 62,

new

practiceat,
solutions, 46.
vats
with, 72.
filling
Tailings,
for, 19.
test solutions
142.
at Waihi,
treatment,
value of, on the Rand, 122.
for assay

vats

Talisman

Ohinemuri,

at, 134.

dissolving, 50.

practice

122.

142.

Waitekauri, practiceat, 15, 131,

Washes, 78.

144.

preliminary, 69.
78.

water,
weak
Washoe

52.

for,
Mine,

62.

at, 55.

general practice at, 11, 56, 84,

of, 113.

Sumps, 60.
washes, 77.

Tables

percolation,51.
precipitation in,

120.

refining,110.

cost

and

charcoal

influence
of, 15.
Wad,
Waihi, extraction
practiceat,

144.

free, influence

120.

cylinders,55.

Vacuum

177.

process,
77.

123.

filtration,83.

Upward

125.

Strength

34.

solutions, 23,

zinc

vats, 54, 67.

Stibnite, influence

18.

cyanide,

158.

standard

of

of

24.

Useful

zinc

for

30.

solutions, 22.
strength of solutions,

124.

of, 22.
weak, use of, 70.
Sores, from cyanide poisoning, 186.
South
Dakota, practicein, 164.
Spitzkasten, 72, 86, 140, 147.
Spitzluten,86, 138, 139.
Stamp batteries, 80.

Tank,

of, 144.
160.
Creek,
Cripple

crude

for

testing,19.

tanks

plant, 97.

treatment

ores,

Testing

63.

of, 4.

titration

Steel

of Mines

practice,at

vats, 50.
Solutions, bulk of, 122,
dilution
of, 29.
for

plant

concentration

Tell-tales, 63.

108.

pumps,

rate

79, 97,

at, 96.

107.

of, in

use

slimes,

133, 170.
Goldfield,

115.

process,

Slimy sands, leaching, 79,

tailings,66, 70.
Smelting

Experimental Works,

Thames

140.

Weak

cyanide,

process,

78.

180.

solutions, precipitation from,

105.

Weights

and

measures,

47.

193

INDEX.

Western

Australia, practicein, 144,

Zinc

100.

consumption of, 101.

161.

sulpho-telluride
ores,

Mining Company,
precipitationat, 174.
crushing, 80, 90, 120, 128.

inN.Z.,128.
the Rand, 120.
on
losses on the,
Witwatersrand,
electrical

influeuce

of, 18.
precipitation, 100, 120, 125.
120.
cost of, in America,
extractor
boxes, 125.
of
influence
copper on, 103,

6.

the,

104.

the, 56, 70, 72, 75,

103.

precipitation on

influence

171.

practiceon

acid, 110,

vats, 51.
cost

lead

on,

102,

113.

slime

of, 67.

Mining Company,
agitationpracticeat, 94,
drying ores at, 75.
Gold

smelting, 107,

Creek, Kirk, plant at,

PRINTED

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165.

NEILL

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Yellow

of

refiningslimes by sulphuric

121, 171.

Woodstock

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electrical

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in

43.

Gold

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Illustrations.

CO.'S

Combustion

Motors

M.Inst.Mech.E.

M.Inst.C.E.,

GsiiaiiAL

CoNTBMTt.
tias
Engine*
Description
History and
Develop*
: General
for Motive
Production
German
Gas
Gas
PowerBritish, French, and
Engine*
of the
Gas
Chemical
in Gaa
of Gai
Theory
Utilisation
of
Engine
Compoeition
Engine*
Heat
Combustion.
and
and
Various
Oil
Explosion
MOtOPS
Development
: History
and
Oil
other
DerekseHot-Alr
TVpea Pneetman's
and
Engines.
Engines
: History
Various
Types:
Ericsson's, etc., "c.
awa*
Stirling's,
taeat

"The
veby

iht

book

orkat

familiar

with

PRACTICAL

and

the

Luminous
.

thoroughly

and

With

of

Experiments

their

and
etc.

Marine
Trials

and

its

Boilers

and

Locomotive

With

Plates

Boilers

"A

Book

07

work

connected

the
at

BxraaxvcB

with

the

CHARLES

Fuel

of

fbzskmt

GRIFFIN

"

Stations

Discussion

of

Testing
Index.
Bibliography

of

the

Land,

during

recent

years,

Practice.
Will

that
and

Stokers

through Boiler Plates,

Pumps,
Superheaters, Feed
in
used
Testing Boilers

made

uhiqus.

iron

Mechanical

Boiler, and

that

of boilers

ruurni

Boilers
Efficiencies

Heat

Appendices

performance

of

Types
their

Heat

Testing

best Modern

the most
"Probably
xxhaustivb
by a thoroughly
practical man."

LONDON

Types

Heaters,

Choice

Boilers.

of

with

of

illustrating Progress
and

question

the

On

of

with

Evaporation,

different

of

Boilers

Instruments

Types

"e.,

M.Inst.C.E.

Various

Water

Prevention

Conclusions

and

of

Transmission

Feed

of

BOILERS

Fuels,

Testing

Foreign

Grates

in Boilers

Locomotive

and

Marine,

Fuel

Fire

Temperature

Smoke

English

on

Fifty Tables
of

and

25s.

different

on

of

Amount

Classification

caveful

LOCOMOTIVE).

the

for

Plates.

OF STEAM

DONKIN,

Contents.

General

Combustion

and

BRYAN

Bv

in

Gases

of

monument

Lighting.
Engineering.

Numerous

Experiments
Value
Heating

Suggestions

and

With

lowo

KNOWLEDGE,

fG+s

AND

the

to

as

Analyses

shown

Cloth.

and

Tests

many

Boilers,

y*wn*l

of

advantage

Engintsr.

Treatise."

exhaustive

MARINE,

(LAND,

Ths

...

EFFICIENCY

HEAT

THE

"

work.

themselves

SXFEKIMBMTAL

Engineers.

of

DonMn's

of

make

to

the

has

AND

SCIENTIFIC

requirements

Handsome

Quarto,

have

comprehensive."

and

ksliablb

HIGH

Mr.

In

425

of the

KBCOMMBND

labour.

Wtth

he

Will

Engines.
who

Donkin

Mr.

day.

Combined

hxabtily

Air
Gsj, Oil, and
practioal engineers

on

numerous

the

of

motor

perception

accurate

an

published

the

to

BXPRBJBNCB,

"We

"

now

imtbkbst

haa

Coal

give

ever

Trade*

CO.. LIMITED,

an

It is possible
been

answer

to

to

aok."*

collected.

almost
any
.sTnoifMer.

pbaoxtoal

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EXETER

STREET, STRAND.

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.

BngMumr.

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numerous

By

JOHN

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A.M.I.C.E.,

the
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Management
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the

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LIVERSIDGE,

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Instructor

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PRACTICES

Mercantile
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ENGINE-ROOM
A

New

arrranged
to

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of Trad*.

have

England."

Information
or
Quantity
supplying information
.

Board

many

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published

0. E.,

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to

Inch

Square

per

Boilers

on

Inst.

Editions

Thibd

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200

to

up

BOILER-MAKERS,

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8urveyor-in-Chief

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Second

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fat

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CONSTRUCTION

SCANTLINGS,

UL;

6d

12*.

Boilers, Marine
THEIR

12*.

29

Mechanics

in

Applied
College, Greenwich.

the

at

Royal

Naval

Oontmts.

General
Conditions
of Service
and
The
of
Marine
Description
Machinery.
of
of the
of Engineers
Conditions
of Service
Royal
Engineers
Navy:
Entry and
S.S.
Watch
the
Duties
of a Steaming
Engines
Raising; Steam
on
Leading
Companies.
Boilers.
and
and
Harbour
Watches
off
Steam.
Duties
Shutting
and
Adjustments
of Engines.
Preservatio
Hull
and
its
Boilers.
The
and
1 epairs
"Tank"
of
Repair*
and
Feed
Fittings.
Painting
Oleaningand
Heaters,
Pumps,
Machinery
Reciprocating
Feed
Automatic
-Water
Electric
Steam
Boats.
Regulators.
Evaporators.
Light
Machines.
Machinery.
Hydraulic
Machinery.
Air-Compressing
Pumps.
Refrigerating
The
of
for
Boilers.
of Water-Tube
Machinery
Regulations
Destroyers.
Management
R.N.
for Promotion
of
in Examinations
Questions
Entry of Assistant
Engineers,
given
R.N.
of Trade
Examinations
for Engineers,
fto,
Engineers,
Regulations
respecting Board
of

Duties

"

The

"

This

contents
vbbt

cannot
useful

wail

to

this kind, and

it is satisfactory
OasetU
respect. "Enginter*'
f

GAS
An

Grown

8vo,

W.

H.

CHARLES

that

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sfsclal

on

the

USE

OF

West

has

been

Illustrations,

Theory,

in

given

work

in this

[Shortly,

of Scotland

Design, Construction,

Engines

without

Boiler.

STUDENTS.

Whit.

WATKINSON,

GRIFFIN

iMPOBTANOz

GKBAT

ENGINES:

Combustion

THE

and

of
attention

Numerous

OIL

Glasgow

10ND0N

find

to

Introductory Text-Book
and Testing of Internal
Prof.

Steamship.

are

AND

FOB

By

Th*

Illubtbations
.

In

appuciatsd."

bk

book.

Technical

Sch., M.Inst.Muoh.E.,
College.

CO., LIMITED, EXETER

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A

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280

MANUAL

Text-Book

OF

ALBERT

By

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Hii

Bnginee.

Continental

B.Sc,

RAVENSHEAR,
Oftec.

Petent

Majesty's

Introduction.

HlstoriosJ

M.Inot.C.E.

and

F.
Of

Railway

PETTIGREW,

American

on

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and

FRANK

Section

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and

Engineers,

WILLIAM

Use

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the

ENGINEERING!

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Illustration!

LOCOMOTIVE
A

PUBLICATIONS.

17U-1SSS.

Modern

Looomoares

Simple.

LoeomovWe
Primary
Design.
Conalderagom
in
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Bode,
ttufsng
Ghetto, and
Pistons, Piston
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end
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Benewale.
Bepsirs, Banning,
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Inspection, and
Loeomotrfos

Modem

Index.

Likely

44

remain

to

for

many

the

years

Work

Standard

those

for

wishing

learn

to

Design.'V~Bfirffefr.
u

44

Interesting

most

ReHtwav

We

recommend

nAORix

am

"Tee
will at

In

the

work

book

as

of

bibliography

the

to

the

Locomotors."

all

that

oast

from

lrabut

bb

woes

ufox

ncronrAirr

ran

Cloth.

Handsome

Svo.

A
its character, and
Msarrnre
Ifmct.
Bngineeriiig."~tf"ejr
It
smoh
book
a subjeot.
a
upon
subjhot."
Rmihsaf
Magaain*.

LooomotiTe

on

stabdahd

tmb

as

in

ibaotkial

thoroughly

works
.

oovtadts

rank

Large

addition

of

ooluotxov

onoe

Tamable

and

QatstU.

OJlcial

With

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Illustration*.

16s.

RAILWAYS

LIGHT
HOME

AT
By

WILLIAM
Late

ABROAD.

AND
HENRY

M.Inbt.O.E.,

OOLE,
North-

Deputy-Manager,

Western

Railway,

India.

Con^to.
Discussion
of the Term
Railways,
Light Railway*. "English
Fanners.
in
Italy, other
France,
Light
Railways
Belgium,
Rates, and
Road
port
Transthe Colonies, India, Ireland.
and
Countries, America
European
of
The
alternatiye.
The
Question
Light Railways
Act, 1896.
ae
an
Construction
and Working.
Locomotives
and Rolling-Stock.
light
Gauge.
Index.
and
Railways in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Appendices
"(

Mr.

W.

H.

Oole

has

hitherto

txon
.

44

Will

remain,

together

for

time

some

yet

to

the

Standard

of yaluarlh

axouvt

labor

...

inaooessible

reader."

ordinary
Work

everything

in

ixtosxa-

Tlmu.

relating

Light

to

J^'Mer.

The

author

well

recommended

with

of the

engineers

LONDON

is
as

practical
"

BR

weloome

CHARLES

mo

experienoe
amsin%string.

bxhacstitrlt

and

nmarsHSAHLB

to

necessities

prime

could

will

done.

subject

cordially
"Tmsui

extended

has

It is RXCRRDnieLT
44 The
whole

one

brought

practically

BaUwarB.''
44

of the

BRTTRR

its appearance."

GRIFFIN

of

"

makes

first

whose
future."
reference

book

the

considered.

raAonoALLT

those

immediate

book

that

moid
The

and

usefmL

workoambe

acquainted
duty it is to become
RaUway
OJkiml QmstU.
of
All olaseet
its subjeot.
on

Scotsman.

CO., LIMITED,

EXETER

STREET,

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0 BIFFIN

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8vo,

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With

Lubrication

ON

OF

LEONARD

By

ON

the

to

1.

LUBRICATION

TESTING

ARCHBUTT,
Chemist

21

THE

AND

PROPERTIES,

"o.

THE

PRACTICE
AND

Tablet,

Lubricants:

TREATISE

AND

NATURE,

Illustrations,

"

THEORY

PUBLICATIONS

CO.'S

Midland

Railway

OF

LUBRICANTS.

F.I.O.,

F.O.S.,

Company,

AND

R.

MOUNTFORD

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Midland
I.

COHTBNT8.
Friction.
their

III.

of

Lubricants.

of

Methods.

of

The
Mechanical

The

to

"

Contains

practically
Engineers."

attention

of

all

Fourth

Chemical

classic

ALL

Defective

Fire-Holes
of

Pressures

be
"

Steel

valuable

carefully
The

book

Boilers
for

vkry

Iron.
the

Deserres

careful

of

64.

U.

Cleaning

lbs. ;

(i) 200

engineers

hand."
to

Joints Specifications

("*)80
and

Inspection

Engins

Management

Kivetted

especially

CONSTRUCTION

Company.

and

Pressures

at

Cloth,

of Plates
(x) by Overheating
(a) By
External
Corrosion, Internal
(4) By
or
Flue
Tubes
Manholes
; Unstrengthened
Factor
of Safety) II. Construction
op
Tubes
Uptake
Msn-Holee,
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Plates

for workmen

useful,

and

(3) By
(Unsupported
Rivetted
Joints;

always

of

MTJNRO,
caused

Valves

Table

and

subject

AND

Insurants

Mountings

Woiking

companion
studied, and
is

BoUsr

Crown

Fireboxes

Boiler

Lancashire

to

Shells

Boilers:

Vertical

D.

Explosions

Safety

Design and Construction

Staying;
Strength of

Defective

"

I.

Overloaded

and

Methods
Examination

of

BOILERS:

Scottish

Contents.

Gbkkkal
fective

and

tks

Plastic

Lubricants,

by Physical and Chemical

Design and Lubrication

IUush-cUsd.

lIANAGrBJlCUNT,

of

The

and

OJleial Quids.

By

De

the

on

VoryfuUy

Edition.

Bnginssr

Methods

Industries

subject."
KVOWN

18

Railway

DXnOTS,

Cats/

the

on

THAT

STEAM
THEIR

and

Properties

Testing of Lubricants
X.
Testing of Lubricants.
of Machinery.
Ihpkx.

Lubrication

Destined

become

The

Systematic

"

F.G.S.,

Derby.

II.

IV.

VII.

The

M.I.M.E.,
Manager,

Works'

Friction
or
Liquid
Viscosity,
of
Lubrication,
v.
Theory
and
VI.
Properties.
Physical
Properties

and

VIII.

XI.

Solids.

Tension.

Lubricants.

IX.

Bearings.

of

Friction

Superficial
Preparation,

Sources,

Examination

Locomotive

Railway

Coll.

steam

lbs. per

engaged

Table

inch

square

about

of

and

Steam

Bursting

of
Drawings
respectively.

Boilers, ought

Guardian.

users,

artisans,

"young

and

Engineers."

Bnginttr.

By

KITCHEN
bated

LONDON

and
on

How
Actual

to

Author,

EXPLOSIONS:

BOILER

they Occur,
Price

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Experiment.

their

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With

Diagram

Why
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HandPlate.

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EMERY
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Machines

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MACHINERY.
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GRINDING

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BY

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Leading

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Multiple

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Ward

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of

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Guest

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of his

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Cone

Grinding

Grinding.

Lathe

Ironmonger.

Folio, strongly half-bound,

Plaees

the

Angle
of

use

Decimals

of

of

100

to

up

21/.

the

for

Minute

every

Distance.

LLOYD

Surveyor

for

and

Surveyors

RICHARD
Authorised

and

TABLES:

of
For

Working.

Cup

Index.

Four

to

Wheels.

Emery

Grinding.

Metals."

Efficient

Ensure

Press.

Sheet

Mounting

|Universal

TRAVERSE
Computed

of

Working

to

Grinder.

Edition.

Fifth

Mech.E.,

Convex

and

Cutter

Polishing.

practically

"Deals

Universal

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Concave

Grinding.

the

Wheels.

Emery

Inst.
in

Employed

Grinding.

Cylinders.

and

Rings

Emery

Tools

and

Tool

A.M.

HODGSON,

B.

Engineers.

GURDEN,
of

Governments

South

New

Wales

and

Victoria.
Published

*#*

with

the

Concurrence
Wales

"These
the

who

the

enable
half

have

experience

amount

enormous

to

user

of

ascertain

labour
the

in

minute

to

assistance

few

user,
knowing

and

as
of

every

to

but

alone

is

Surveyor

General

for

New

how

to

The

computations-

South

Victoria.
will
this

by

for

cosines

and

thbir

Surveyors-

Survby-wo"k

exact

sines

ensure

every

and

represented

this
inch, and
by
rkpbrknck
This
computations
required.

an

the

of

Omb

evidence
in

publication

book.

distance

active

of

the

place

assistance

practice
will

twelve

of
in

Tablb.

know

best

valuable

has

rbmain

of

appreciate

miles
the

which
felt the
without

to

usual
the
want

within*
fifteen
Tables
of

such

thim."

JLnQitifr.

LONDON

CHARLES

GRIFFIN

"

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ANDREW

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STEAM
For
With

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"

The

Papers.

Best

Book

MAGNETISM
Book

AND
For

on).

reader

his

by

recalls

published for the

yet

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"

and

MECHANICS
I.

VoL

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By

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Part
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Fully

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the

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VoL

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lucidly

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For

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JAMIESON.

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Engineers.

Pocket

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GRIFFIN

interested

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ELECTRICAL

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ANDREW

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Nature.

Fifth

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which

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Text-Book

of Electrical
By

clear/'

(Elementary

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300

A
Ute

and

Pbactical

First- Year

for

Electric
the

feature.'*

important

an

are

Text-book.

high

3/6.

Edition.

diagrams

Manual

(Elementary

Fifth

3/6.

A rt.

Preparation.

Modern
For

Revised.
Engineer

MECHANICS

Specially arranged
Revised.
3/6.
clear.

(Elementary

engineering apprentice." Practical

trustworthy

.APPLIED

'

bvbry

The
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Papers,

Edition,

Ninth

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Students.

trxt-book

separately.

MANUALS.

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and

ELECTRICITY

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in itself,and

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M.

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HENRY

MACHINERY

PUMPING
*

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Lands,

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to

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HENRY

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Member

Engineers,

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F.G.8.,

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EnginesPumping
Contents
Early History of Pumping
Engines Steam
General
Valves
Pumping
Principles of Non-Rotative
and
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Pumps
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and
The
Cornish
Types
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THOMAS

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I.

VII.

Ships.
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LONDON

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CHARLES

the

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NAUTICAL

41

NAUTICAL

GRIFFINS
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SERIES.
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NAVIGATION:

DAVID

By

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WILLIAM
FUtST-CLASS

tmttb

Work

Meroator
The
ko.

Definitions

Correction

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Courses

Middle
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Sailing
Sailing Current
Tides
Appendix
Questions

Parallel

Que*t!on0.

^examination

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and

Latitude

DEPARTMENT.

ART

Longitude

Plane

Instrument*

Traverse
Sailing
Sailing Day's
M creator's
Chart
Latitude
Sailing
Circle Sailing
Position
Great
by Bearings
Hints
Error
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Useful
: Compass

AND

SCIENCE

illustration*

Contents.

Navigation

NAVIGATION,

HONOURS,

numerous

General
of

ALLINGHAM,

Index.

Pbecmblt

"

the

kind

Mate

Second

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extra

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invaluable."-

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well-known
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'

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great

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the

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SUMMARY

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Log-

facsimile

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CONTENTS.

OF

Introductory.

Instruments
Used
for Meteorological
logical
Meteoroat Sea
Purposes.
Pressure.
Sea
Air
Atmospheric
Temperatures.
Temperatures.
Winds.
Wind
Force
Scales.
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History of the Law
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Tracks.
Storm
Solution
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Icebergs. -Synchronous
Charts.
and
Haze.
Clouds.
and
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Dew,
Mists, Fogs,
Rain,
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CHARLE8

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Relative

and

dons

The

Lever;
Ship's Capstan
Plane; the Screw
Strength of Rope

Windlass

Inclined

Cargo

Work

Forces

of

Powsrs:

The

Coir

Fir

Stability

Composition

The
Man"

"Old

of

and

Whsel

Hemp,

Strain

Diving-bell

the

Gravity

Manilla,

Gross-breaking

Agents
The

Sailor.

the

F.FLA.3.

Marin*-,

--Resolution

Levers

St. fld.

MACKENZIE,

Living

Bsnt

as

of

Bequirements

THOS.

Contents.

Machines

Price

Illustrations.

Mechanics:

Mmt*r

General

SERIES.

Numerous

With

Practical
Applied

PUBLIOATIONB.

'*

00.

Nature.

"

Will

the

worth

Shipping
"No

Ships'

I must

express

it has

told

from

to

and

frequently
Ac., sec.
spars,

to

(Letter

to

the

Author

With

Diagrams,

is

*#*

Mr.

the

New

would

reason

sate

all

BUCK,

H.M.S.

'

Worcester.1

Exercises.

been

specially

of

Price

8s* 6d.

Corrected.

and

Board

the

Designed

with

prepared

which

in

Trade,

view

Trigonometry

given.
thus
lay

of the

may
for

person
foundation

the

of

Offloers

our

Exercises

and

Examples
"

and

alobbba

on

Any

younger

The

serviceable.
"

the

the

of Sailors

Price

others.

and

tbigonomrtby

written

are

a Teacher.
opportunity of oonsalting
therefore,
have,
simplest
explanations

are

and
contents,
that
to
hoped
Cadets

works

Algebra.
They
are
been
avoided,
study, become
by careful

little

have

but

Exercises

'Schoolmaster.

of

Requirements

elementary

All

belt."

the

to meet

will

who

vomica'

billable

Manual

*,* These
those

and

pbaotical

nmniTTLT

the

and
Revised

has

of

Examinations

without

Trigonometry:

Edition,

Text-Book

Buck's

Mariner).

C.

College,

taken

have

you

obligatory subject.

an

"This

the

RICHARD

Examples,

Second

Master

another

of

care

experience.

Mechanics'

'Practical

Training

Nautical

Thames

Manual

to

!
from

and

life's

by rigging purchases

wasted

BY

WORKS
of the

is

see

labour

the

for

you

It

we

accidents

this."

Mariner).

Mechanics.'

amount

an

much

how

me

Master

What

without
be
complete
Notwithstanding
many
my
there it to acquire."
more

Mechanics.'

Practical

thanks

my

Practical

'

helpful."

henceforth

will

bookcase
'

years' experience at sea,

(Letter to the Publishers
"

be

Officers'

Mackenzie's

Captain

in

will

money

World.

readily,
further

mathematical

Mercantile

Marine

are

taken

from

the

will

speoially

books

for

and

ahswbbs

master

be

of theii
It la

decidedly
Papers set fer

found

Examination

Worcester."
and

arranged,
Clearly
Maganint.

well

got

up.

first-rate

Elementary

Algebca.

...

Ifautieai

%*For

14NDQM:

lot

"seuf

if desired.

course,

they

6d

3s.

complete

CHARLES

List

GRIFFIN

of Grotto's

"

Nautical

Sbbibs,

CO., LIMITED, EXETER

see

p. 89.

STREET,

STRAND

NAUTICAL

OMrrars
Second

Edition,

WORKS.

43

nautical

Thoroughly
Handsome

series.

Revised

and

Cloth.

Price

Extended.

In

Crown

8to.

6d.

4s.

THE LEGAL DUTIES OF SHIPMASTERS.

BY

BENEDICT

WM.
the

Of

Inner

GINSBURG,
and

Temple

LL.D.

M.A.,

Northern

(Cantab.),

; Barriater-at-Law.

Circuit

The
Position
The
of Shipmaster
tract
ConQualification tor the
The
Master's
in respect of the
Grew
: Engagement
:
Shipowner
Duty
Medioal
Gomf
and
orta ; Payment
Apprentices
; Discipline ; Provisions, Aooommodation,
The
and
Master's
of wages
Master's
DischargeThe
Duty in respect of the Passengers
Master's
Financial
The
in
Master's
Sesponsibilities
Duty
respect of the Cargo The
Authorities
The
Public
in
Case
Casualty
Master's
certain
The
of
to
Duty
Duty
The
Master's
Master's
to
Pilots, Signals, Flait, and
Light Dues
Duty
Duty in relation
Arrival
relative
at the
Port
of Discharge
to oertain
:
Legal Matters
Appendioes
upon
Line SegulaBoard
of Trade
of Grain
Cargoes, Load
Certificates, Dietary Scales, Stowage
at Sea, Me., Ac
Copious Index.
Appliances, Carriage of Cattle
ttons, LnVsaving

General

Contents.

with

"

No

Master

Intelligent

ef it may
"

the

says

Ssstsibia,

lall

in

Soerotarf

and

J.

MILLAR,

Marine

Second

and

comprising

A MEDICAL

on

prove

an

and

Plates

and

acquisition

olbajl"

Numerous

Regulations Respecting
Board
Price
6s.
Ship.

AND

the

SURGICAL

Th$

tions,
Illustra-

Carriage

HELP

OFFICERS

AND

NAVY.

MERCHANT

THE

in Scotland.

SEA.

AT

SHIPMASTERS
IN

simple

useful,

Coloured

latest

Stores

of Medical

FOR

and

With
the

but

AID

Revised.

Edition,

2a.

Engineer.

handy

FIRST

Shipbuilders
cannot

studying Navigation."
"
will find it
Seamen
Young
Snfftneer.

ef

C.E.,
and

written

clearly

to those

ftnmd

them.

Inst, of Engineers

tho

be

Longitude:

Find

W.
to

Price

Diagrams.

With

to

wfll

and

lamouao*,

lines

Roviow.

and

By

Concimly

Track

Revised.

How

"

kok-tkohnigal

British

Latitude

A tew
books.
list of necessary
of Common*.
Liverpool Journal

bis

to

woebt."

and

clea*

Edition,

LaU

this

bxdlsss

by the Shipmaster."

Second

add

to

BieiDae

m,

plainly written,

scBYien

iruon

should

lawykb's

BY

WM.

JOHNSON
Principal

%*
useful

The

attention

aad

vbaiioal
"

valuable

all interested

of

work.

\*
LONDON:

judicious,

For

It

amongst

xzpbrtscb

Sou**,

SMITH,
Officer, Seamen'a

Medical

bjeally

Complete
CHARLES

is

in

oar

needless

Navy

Merchant
to

F.R.O.S.,

Hospital,
that

say

it

Greenwich.

is requested
to this exceedingly
of
is the outcome
many
years

Seamen.
"Ths

hblfful

List

GRIFFIN

Lanest.

of Gblffin's

"

Nautical

Series,

CO., LIMITED, EXETER

see

p. 30.

STREET, STRAND

CHARLES

IN

Q RIFF

PUBLICATIONS.

00.'

44

nautical

QBirrnrs
Sixth

Edition.
and

with

Revised,

Crown

KNOW
THOMAS

SPECIALLY

TO

work

subjects

as:

written."
"

"

An

OTHERS.

"

Loading,

Moments,

Shifting Cargoes,

Buoyancy,

Admission

Strain,

Sail

Structure,

ftc, Ac.

will

book

be

We

of its

full

work,

of the
.

have

expressed.
and

in

found

matter

is

simple

and

obtain

his

for

those

and

profession

whom

it has

to

invaluable

heart."

at

been

every

Shipping.

form.*'

that

statement

has,
enough

far

so

to

as

we

could

clearness

understood

be

by diagrams

accompanied
Fairplay.

information,

one

no

The

will

be spared. It will
could well
admirably fulfil its
draughtsship superintendents, ship men,
ship owners,
of Commerce.
shipping."
Liverpool Journal

compact

officer*

to

useful

in

has

most
work

pages

given

for

fitness

solid instruction

who

by

unique

Water,

Area,

Walton's

Mr.
.

of

handy

exceedingly

of

Marine

242

vert

found

shipping.

with

Mercantile

of
is

"

Freeboard,

all interested

mass

important

Ballasting,

useful

such

manner,

Tonnage,

one
.

simple

Rolling,

excellent

and

ENGINEERS,

DRAUGHTSMEN,

Deadweight,

of the

Not

OFFICER*,

Stability,

8UOOBsl because
WorldX
Shipping

purpose

SHIPS*

OF

Displacement,

connected

lasting*

in

Abchitkct.

Httle

The

SHIP.

REQUIREMENTS

THE

SUIT

explains,

7s. 6d.

Naval

AND

This

Buoyancy,

Handsome

OWN

SUPERINTENDENTS,

SHIPOWNERS,

officer

Price

8vo*

WALTON,

ARRANGED

Trim,

on

Illustrations.

YOUR

By

officials

series.

Chapters

Numerous

Calculations.

Cloth,

_MI.

have

allows,

by

every

and

trations,
illus-

wished

been

differently
admirably
densed,
con-

seaman."

Marine

Bngineer.

BY

Steel

THB

SAME

Ships:Their Constructionand Maintenance.

(See

LONDON:

AUTHOR,

CHARLES

GRIFFIN

page

38.)

ft CO., LIMITED, EXETER

STREET,

STRAND.

ENGINEERING

With

Oloth.

8vo,

Revised,

Bdltlon,

Fourteenth

Demy

Numerotu

Working

21a.

reduced

/rem

OF

UAL

THE

MACHINERY.

MARINE

OF

S E A T 0 N,

M.

AND

CONSTRUCTION,

DESIGNING,

WORKING

E.

Prlee

IU%utrcUion$t

ENGINEERING:

COMPRISING

A.

45

Drawings.

MAN

MARINE
By

MECHANICS.

AND

Inst.

C. E.,

Inst.

M.

Meeh.

B..

M.Inst.N.A.

Part
Marine
Contents.
I.
Propulsion.
Principles of
of
Details
III.
Part
Principles of Steam
Engineering.
and
Calculations
for
Marine
Pistons,
Valves,
Cylinders,
Engines : Design
Boilers.
Part
V.
"c.
Part
IV.
Valves,
Propellers.
Expansion
General

Part

II.

Part

IV.

This

"

sad

In

Marine

far the
"

Engineer.
"The

Manual

best

solving,

of

with

Student

GWes
.

possible

with

Bureau

Veritae,

how

iearn

to

Manual

Seaton's
.

the

economy,

Ilhvtr*

Boilers,

of the

Rules

Revised

utmost

and

Draughtsman,

Edition,

on

has

to

design,

conitruov

rital/'

no

Timu

account
complete
before
the
problems
a

will find

Engineer

Marine

the

Engine

of

the

Marin*

Leather.

taluablb

Engineer,

8s. Od.

OIP

RULES

THE

FOR

Engineers,

Pocket-Ska,

POOB3GT-BOOK

ENGINEERING

MARINE

this work
the most
in existence."
Marin*

now

Revised.

Thoroughly
a

Marine

Tubs

Water-

on

the

existence.

in

the

Reference

of

Seventh

and

Athenaeum.

Student,

Handbook

Chapter

Types

oapaeity of enabling
Mr.
Steam-Engine,

three-fold

the

.methods

leading

the

of

work

"By

includes

Edition

tions

Miscellaneous.

USB

AND

TABLES,

07

Naval
Architects,
Designers,
and
Others.
Superintendents

Draughtsmen.

BY

A.

E.

M.I.O.E.,

SEATON,

M.I.Mech.E.,

M.LN.A.

AND

fl.

M.

ROUNTHWAITE,
"Admirably

DOCKS:

its

fulfils

By

B.

purpose."

THEIR CONSTRUCTION

CHARLES

GRIFFIN

Marine

Engmttr.

OUNNINGH'AM.

(See
LONDON

M.LN.A

M.LMech.E.,

page

" MAINTENANCE.

27.)

CO., LIMITED, EXETER

STREET, STRAND.

GRIFFIN

CHARLB3

46

WORKS

ROBERT

PROF.

BT

M.I.M.E.,

H.

HLMinJE.,

M.LE1.E.,

Problems.

Technical

to

WITH

EXTENSIVE

REFERENCE

LIST

PROF.

formerly

of

Fallow

Olark

Glasgow

M.A.,

In

8vo,

Grown

"

with

diagrams,

Intereeting
abundance.
the time
earing

Til

in

of

practical illustration*

want

who

those

classified

integral

an

GRAPHIC

at

Lengths,

the

glance

in

For

Work,

the

Prof.

Smith's

and

labour

diminished.
considered
M

"

Smrm's

The

is

complete
is

work

Ought

be

to

foi

Tabus

bybby
m

The

at

will

8s.

bast

are

proTC

ai

6cL
?bac*i#

ban
to be found
useful
In
rery

Bnimer.

be

Architect*,

on,

Boards.

rery

and

without

them.

bxcillsht

Quantities

Ao.
Contractor*.

**4

6d.

7b.

the
most
unique
profession. By their

form

saved,
that

Measurements

Densities,

Stresses,

Survey

before

where

of

Temperatures,

placed

CeUury

DIAGRAMS.

Units

Weights,

believed

office

Powers,

4to,

ever

btaluablb."

in

Al

occurrence,

Conversion

Conversion-Tables

will

It

road

tablb

OR

Different

of Engineer*,

us*

collection
time

hard

French)

Mutual

Horse

In

*,*

actual

hurry."

and

Volumes,

Areas,
of

of

TABLES

in
Of

Mathematics

CONVERSIONS
(English

Showing

on

Folding-Plate.

bbbbbbvcb

MEASUREMENT

28

and

in rendering
serviceable
and
Athenanm.
Engineer."

complin

tbbt

B.Sa,

Lecturer

College.

Diagrams

will be
Student

book

4BL1

with

extra,

E. H. Smith's
Paof
for the non-mathematical

and

UniYareity,

Maaon

"

SMITH.

BT

MUIRHEAD,

F.

INTEGRALS.

OF

H.

ROBERT
ASSISTED

R.

ENGINEERS

PHYSICISTS,

Applied

By

Assoc.M.I.C.i,
M.Ord.MeiJL

Sch.,

FOR

AND

CLASSIFIED

SMITH,

Whit

CALOULUS

THE

PUBLICATIONS.

OO.'S

the

of

chances

the

henceforth

no

error

Engineer's

in

and

prehensive
com-

much

use

calculation

Office

will

be

Guardian.
even

occasional

chicks

on

conTersions

are

required.

Praf.
.

results."

Electrical

Review.

"

the
but of the Commbbciai.
Prof. Smith
deeerres
hearty thanks, not only of the Eireivnia,
of Mbasubbmbbiy
for the
Syitbm
for haying
smoothed
the way
of the Msrmio
Wobxd,
adoption
in
factor
which
is now
great
hobb
assuming
a
maintaining
importance
a subject
as
our
upon
The
tbabb."
Market.
Mmehinery
fOBUiov

LONOflU

CHARLES

8RIFFIN

ft CO., LIMITED, EXETER

8TREET,

STRANO.

0HARLB8

48

GRIFFIN

With

Tablet,

by

contain

work

persons
will

"All

rrobabiy

"

in

the

Sewage

nssfal

nam

tne

of

the

MtdUal

for

the

in

Text.

tls.

44

"

IV.
VI.

work
to

is

In

THEIR

8vo,

LrvALUABU

Will

bo

to

useful

appeared
of

and

Engineering.
Bleaching
VII.
Fellmongery.

and
IX.

General

England

Trades'

to-day

handbook
Trade

With

Extra,

NATURE,
R.
Secretary
the
to

for

Student,
ah.

III.

Analysts.

C.E.,

Wool

and

Dyeing.
and
Brewery

De-greasing
V. Dyeing
Distillery

Index.

fitted

better

as

Inst.

Waste.

Chemical

serve

and

deal

to

in

the

*ith

rationally
future

for

those

Journal.

Illustration*.

8c.

6d.

CEMENTS:

GILBERT

"

AND

PREPARATION,
REDGRAVE,

Teohnology,

and

Arohitect,

interested

in

the

Assoc.

Board

of

Education,

Engineer.

mamutaoturb,

"-

South

Bttilding
usb,

and

USES.

C.E.,

Inst.
Kensington.
News.
nsruro

of

Cements

Wngmter.

LONDON:

Committee.

Calico

practical, and will

discussed."
problems

the

Crown

Assistant

pronem

Diagrams,

A.M.

Joint

CALCAREOUS

By

has
the

have

Architects,

Chemical

Industries;

Refuse.

thoroughly

encounter

II.

Textile

in
person
Sanitarian.

Eibble

Rivers,

Tanning

Mill

is probably
no
British
subject."

The

of

Inspector

There

have

who

UTILISATION.

F.O.S.,

Introduction.

I.

Grease

Crimp.

net.

Surveyors,

Engineers,

NAYLOR,

Recovery.
and
Calico-Frinting.
VIII.
Waste.
Paper
auch

be

advioeri

which

all who

to

Plates,

AND

Borough

W.

Contents.

Main
will

available.

Mr.

to

subject

die

on

Numerous

with

TREATMENT

Chief

and

been

their

and

the

London

WASTE!

ITS

By

gratitude

of

use
gsaosoet
) *rn*l.

TRADES'
Handbook

nebt

tbsuitisb

smtr

am*

Figures

have

Autmobitib*

of

charge
on

otherwise

not

own

had

chaptor

prove

Beautifully Illustrated,

years,

Samitaby

Edinburgh

moo.--

to

mm

Cost.

and

Limcet

i btb

WW

Woass

Disposal

Metropolis,
would

Scsenoe

to

wsmtvl."

Aim
moot

liaenats
Disposal

our

which

Sanitary

especially

far

of tao

details

important

iimrislsl
be

Sootion

Northern

many

having,

Aether's

the

of

of the

pbacticai.

bbsmobntly

in

feet

Works

to

Jenna

nTU

the

Fran

ntoaenage

Sbwaos

Maintenance,

Conitivction,

Tmeii

F.G.S.,

Council.

County

II.

PART

iNTftODUCTORY.

Operation

London

the

Estuarie*

and

M.Inst.C.E.,

CRIMP,
AMMtaat-BngVMer,

Late

of

Prevention

the

for

Rivers

of

Sewage

SANTO

W.

FART

WORKS:

Works

of

Construction

the

Pollution
By

301.

DISPOSAL

to

Medfam

37 Lithographic Plate*.
Cloth,

Handsome

SEWAGE
Guide

Enlarged.

and

Text, and

in the

Illustrations
8to.

Revised

Edition,

Second

PUBLICATIONS.

(JOSS

CHARLES

GRIFFIN

"

CO., LIMITED, EXETER

STREET,

8TRAND.

"
-

BLBCTRIOAL

BNGWMERINQ.

ELECTRICAL
Second

ENGINEERING.
In Large %vo.
Handsome
Cloth.
Plates, Diagrams, and Figures. 24s.

Revised.

Edition,
Illustrated

with

CENTRAL
Their
CHAS.

By

Late

WORDIN.GHAM,
of Council

Memb.

InstE.E.,

Central

and

Management.
M.Inst.Mech.E.,

A.K.C., M.Inst.C.E.,
Electrical

and

to the

Engineer

City

of Manchester
.

CONTENTS.

ABRIDGED

Introductory.

Projustly
net.

ELECTRICAL STATIONS:

Design, Organisation,
H.

49

Work

Station

Profession.

as

As

Investment.

an

lishment
Estab-

The

Site. Architecture.
Plant.
Boilers
Supply.
Coal Handling, Weighing, and
Heat
Economy.
Storing.
Systems of Draught and Waste
Generators.
The
Transmission
of Steam.
Condensing Appliances.
Switching Gear,
Distributing Mains.
Insulation, Resistance, and Cost.
Instruments, and Connections.
Mains
and
Meters
Feeders.
and
Service
Testing Mains.
Distributing Networks
Street
ingLightSecondary Batteries.
Appliances. Standardising and Testing Laboratory
Mains
Installation
Cost
General
Organisation
Department.
Department.
Clerical
Office
The
Consumer.
Drawing
Department
Standardising Department.
Routine
Index.
and MainLaying.
of

Central Station

of

Systems

"

for

One

of the most
valuable
time."
Electricity.

some

Central

to

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