Improvements in or relating to the Treatment of Ores and Metal-bearing Solutions for the Separation of Metals contained therein.

摘要

17,779. Lavington, W. J., [Brown, F. C.]. Aug. 3. Amalgam, obtaining.-Ore, especially silver and gold bearing ore, in the form of slime is fed into a tank A, Fig. 1, in which is a central circulating- pipe B, the slime being allowed to settle, if necessary, to allow superfluous water or solution to be run off from the top. Cyanide or other solution, water, air, or a mixture of these, is now introduced first through jets d' and then through jets d, and the material is forced up the pipe B. Compressed air is introduced by a pipe C at the bottom of the pipe B. Amalgamated cathodes and corresponding anodes I, F, G, E are provided at the top or bottom of the tank, or at the top and bottom. Air may be supplied through a pipe C' to loosen any material packed around the lower end of the pipe B, and to assist the circulation if necessary. The device consisting of the pipes D, D' and jets d, d' for loosening any settled material in the tank may be replaced or supplemented by an inner or an outer vessel having nozzles for the admission of air or liquid or both to the conical part of the tank. The inner vessel may be arranged to be raised and lowered, or made in one with the tank. In a modified form of apparatus for treating metal bearing solutions, the bottom of the tank slopes towards the lower end of the pipe or pipes B, Fig. 7, a well L being provided below the pipes. The mercury supplied to the cathodes E, G gravitates towards the well and is removed by suitable means. Deflectors K, K1 direct the flow of solution through the tank. The pipe or pipes B discharge into a distributing launder H. The mercury is fed into the tank A from a perforated trough mounted over the openings between plates G, I, so that, when it is tilted, the mercury runs through the perforations and falls on to the plates G, and then on to the plates E. The mercury is removed from the latter, when required, by the pipe R.