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^' « V
THE JOURNAL
OF THE
OF SOUTH AFRICA.
VOLUME XIII.
Johannesburg :
Published by the Society : 9, South African School of Mines & Technology Building, Eloff Street.
I
u
s&6
'
v.]
CONTENTS OF VOLUME XIII
PAGE
Papers and Notes Read Before the Society ... ... ... v.
,, ,,
3.' —September ,, ... ... ... ... 81
Air Blasts and Roof Pressure, So-Called, by Tom Johnson 37-39 : Discussion 39-40, 109, 155-158
Reply to discussion 306-310
Alkalies, The Action of, on Phenolphtlialein, by D. I. James 189-193: Discussion 194, 305-306
Ambulance Challenge Shields 82, 139, 241, 260-264
Ammonia Bottles, Danger of, by H. A. White ; and discussion 187
Annual Report and Accounts, Council's 597-602
Arsenic in Sheet Zinc, by C. Toombs 406
Atomic Weights and a New Theory of Chemical Vtlinity, by Dr. J. Mom 253 258 ; Discussion
467-471 Reply to Discussion 544549
Caustic Lime, by James Gray and Dr. J. Moir ... 243-244, 407
Cyanide Practice in India, by H. M. Leslie 407-417 ; Discussion 417-418, 541-542
Cyanide Practice, Minor Improvements in, by P. T. Morrisby 45-49 ; Discussion 49-50,
163. Reply to discussion 361-362
Cyanide Solutions, Action of Mineral Sulphates and Arsenates on, by Andrew F. Crosse
Discussion ... ... ... ... 55-57,108-109. Reply to discussion 109
Cyaniding of Concentrate, Notes on the, by Robt. Linton ... 14-16 199
Cyaniding of Cold and Silver Ore at Caveira Mine, Portugal, by J. Hutton ... 312 313
Discussion 313-314, 421, 540541
Dinner, The Annual ... 199-210
Dust Collecting Tube, A New Type of, by James Gray 186-187
Dust Determination by Filtration through Sugar, Note on, by A. McA. Johnston Disensssion 40-42
Reply to discussion 150
Dust, New Apparatus for Sampling Air for, by E. J. Laschincer Discussion 40-42
Reply to discussion 150
Farming with Dynamite, by Wm. Cullen ... 139-148, 189, 354, 422-423 Reply to discussion 526-527
Firing Sticks, Analysis of Fumes from " Chisa " or, by Dr. J. Moir 242243
Gold Ore, A Research upon a Refractory, by M. Green 84-101 Discussion 314-315. Reply to
;
discussion 362
Gold Production in Relation to Humanity A Study of the Question Has Gold Depreciated in
: :
Graphite Deposits of Madagascar and Africa, Some Observations on the, by E. R. Bawden 258-259
Discussion 471-472
Indicators, Air-testing with New, by Dr. J. Moir 462-464
Iridium in Gold 242
Iron from Mill Pulp, Investigation of Magnetically Separated, by A. McA. Johnston 50 54 Dis- ;
cussion ...
'
... ... 54,106-108, 250-253. Reply to discussion 314
Iron and Steel Works, Visit to Union 57-58
Luminator Purification Treatment of Water for Steam Boilers, by Witt. Cullen Reply to dis-
cussion 54-55
Meteorite, The 'Nkandhla, by H. Stanley ...
Prof. (i. 406 407
Mine Samples, Notes on the Assay of, by R. Dures ... 608-610
Mine Trilmting in Rhodesia, by W. ANDERSON Discussion ... ... .. 42-45, 153-155
Mine Workings, Ancient, in the Transvaal, Some observations on, by T. G. TREVOR Reply to
discussion 148-149
Mining Exhibition ... .. ... ... ... 139,241-242,405,461, 5511 561
Nitrous Fumes in Firing ("Clieesa") Sticks, Note on the Quantitative Determination of, by Dr.
L. Heymann 464 Kit; Discussion 466-167
Oxidisers, The Action of, in Cyaniding, by Morris Green 355-359 Discussion 359-360, 422 ; 541
Platinum Metals, Separation of, by Andrew F. Crosse 244245,
Precipitation by Zinc, A Method of, by J. S. MacArthur 310311 Discussion 311 312, 421, 540-541
:
Surface Workers on the Rami, The, and their Technical Education, by F. J. Pooler Discussion
101-106, 159-163, 194-199. Reply to discussion 246250
Thymolphthalein, 'Ihe Use of, as an Indicator in the Determination of CO., in Mine Air, By
Dr. L. Heymann 525-526
Underground Costs and Records, A System of Keeping, by G. Hildick Smith Discussion 12-14,
42, 109-110, 151-153. Reply to discussion 187-189
Vacuum Filtration at the Victoria Mill of the Waihi G. M. Co., Ltd., New Zealand, by W.
MaC'DONALU ... ... ... ... ...527-539; Discussion 539
Visit to" Transvaal Leader '' Works 315-322
Zinc Dust Tests, by Dr. W. J. Sharwood Reply to discussion ... 360-361
: : : : :
1bon. president:
HE. The Right Hon. Viscount Gladstone. P.C., G.C.M.G.
1bon. l>icc=fl>rcsidcnts
Max Elkan (President, Transvaal Chamber of .Mines).
Hon. V S. Mai. .n. Minister of Mines. Sir Lionel Phillips, Bart., M.LA. II O'K. Webber
TJ>ast=|Presidcnts:
Wm. Bettel, the late John R. Williams, John Yates,
Andrew F. Crosse, S. H. Peaece, R. G. Bevington,
W. I!. Feldtmann. W. A. Caldecott, A. McA. Johnston.
Charles Butters, William Cullen, James Moie.
Julius Loevv. Edward H. Johnson. C. B. Saner.
president
Walford R. Dowling.
Wice=|Prcsidents
K. L. Graham. A. Richardson. H. A. White.
1bon. Crcasurer:
James Littlejohn.
Editorial Committee:
W. R. Dowlini;. J. Moir. C. B. Saner. G. H. Stanley.
A. Whitby. H. A. White.
publications Committee:
Robt. Allen, J. Gray, A. Richardson, H. A. White, Chairman
W. R. L)OWLIN( A. McA. Johnston, F. W. Watson,
^finance Committee:
R. G. Bevington, J. Littlejohn, A. Salkinson, J. A. Wilkinson.
Secretary?:
Fred. Rowland, Fellow, Chartered Inst. Secretaries.
THE JOURNAL
OF THE
Ihe Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
The Ordinary General Meeting of the Society Jones, Gifford Ronald, Randfontein South
G. M. Co., Ltd., P. O. Box 47, Randfontein.
was held in the South Afr.ean School of Mines
Reduction Manager.
Building, Johannesburg, on Saturday, July 20th,
Taylor, George Alfred, Ulundi Mine, Eureka.
1912, Mr. W. R. Dowling (President) in the
Cyanider.
chair. There were also present :
20 Visitors; including Mr. H. Warington Midgley, Walter William, Simmer Deep Ltd.,
Smyth (Secre.ary for Mines), and Fred. Rowland P. O. Box 144, Germiston. Reduction Works
(Secretary). Learner.
they would let me kuow in order that letters 10. Sept. September, 1898. "The Estimation
may be forwarded. of Oxygen Working Cyanide Solutions."
in
F. Crosse. Mr. Crosse is so well known to you 12. March, 1903. " The Regeneration of Work-
that it is unnecessary for me to tell you of his ing Cyanide Solutions where Zinc Precipi-
many good qualities. I would, however, like to tation is Used.''
bring to your notice the work he has done for 13. November, 1904. Contribution to Journal
the Society. on "Cobalt Ores the Banket."
in
Mr. Crosse took the chair at the first meeting 14. August, 1907. " Assisting the Solution of
of " metallurgists, chemists and assayers " held Gold in the Cyanide Process by Compressed
at the North-Western Hotel on Saturday, 24th Air."
March, 1894, the business being to consider the 15. November, 1909. "The Treatment of Ore
formation of a Society and business connected Slime.".
therewith as resolved at the supper of the metal- 16. August. 1911. "An Electro-Magnetic
lurgical chemists and assayers held on the 10th Separator." (Note.)
March, 1894. A temporary Committee to draft 17. April, 1912. "The Action of Mineral Sul-
a Constitution end Rules, c insisting of Messrs. phates and Arsenates on Cyanide Solutions."
Crosse, Bettel, Pearce, Feldtmann and Littlejohn,
was elected by ballot from 14 gentlemen present Mr. Crosse was a member of the first Editorial
— including Mr. H. F. Julian whose death in the Committee on the founding of the Journal in
February, 1898, and served on many other Com-
Titantie disaster was reported recently.
Mr. Crosse was elected the first Vice-President mittees, such as Assay Differences Committee
:
;
of the Society on the "21st April, 1894, and Pre- Cyanide Poisoning Committee Mine Ventilation ;
sident of the Society on the 15th June, 1895. Committee and was one of the first originators
;
He was elected the first Hon. Treasurer of the and on the Committee of the .Mining Exhibition
Society on the 29th June, 1 896. which office he held in February last.
held until June, 1903, when he left town, and Any man may be proud of such a record.
Mr. Littlejohn was elected in his stead. Members will realise the amount of real research
The following are some of the papers read work involved in all the papers submitted by
before the Society by Mr. Crosse :
Mr. Crosse, and should note the date, of the first
paper, 1894, and that the last is before you for
1. November, 1894. Notes on Dry Crushing."
"
discussion to-night. I had the privilege of serv-
2. January, 1895. '• Notes on the Action of
ing under Mr. Crosse in 1893 and 1894, and owe
Alkaline Sulphides in Cyanide Solutions."
him a great deal more than ever lean repay, and
3. April, 1895. "The Treatment of Pyritic
so does the Society. I have peculiar pleasure in
Concentrates by the Cyanide Process."
bringing before you the Council's recommenda-
4. July, 1895. Presidential Address, in which
tion, which I am confident is acceptable to you,
the following appears " Some day I hope
because when Mr. Crosse was President I was
. . . . that we shall have a first-rate
one of his junior assistants, and to-night I am
School of Mines here The
presiding at my first meeting. I have pleasure
Cape Colony is making a start, but I hope
in proposing that Mr. Crosse be made a life
when United South Africa has become a
member of the Society.
fact, that the School of Mines will be trans-
planted to a place where it may have the Mr. H. A. White {Vice-President): I have
best chance of permanent success." (Vol. 1, peculiar pleasure in seconding this proposition
pp. 147-9, q.v.) for, like Mr. Dowling, 1 myself in 1895 and 1896
5. December, 1896. "The Solvent Powers of had the pleasure of serving under Mr. Crosse.
Various Cyanide Solutions." The description of the services rendered to this
.Inly 191* 6pi i" ml Business.
Society which the President has just read to you Frank Buckland in revising our Constitution and
sounds like an obituary notice, hut Mr. Crosse is Kules and in 1897-98 he was also a member of
by no means dead yet and we hope that he will
; our Council for the year. I need hardly point
be with us fora long time to come. Mr. Crosse's out that Mr. Aiken puts an immense amount of
activities in 1S95 and 1896 were not entirely con- time into the auditing of the Society's books,
fined to scientific researches and he took quite an and he has readily given us the advantage of his
active political matters relating to the
part in ripe experience whenever it has been sought. As
period. He
has always shown great interest in Secretary of the Society I am much indebted to
the progress of South Africa. I have very much him for his ever ready help and assistance.
pleasure in heartily supporting the proposition The resolution was carried unanimously.
before the meeting.
WELCOME To THE MINISTEE of MIXES.
The President Will you signify, gentlemen,
We welcome to our meeting
The President
:
matter, I might point out that Mr. Aiken in meeting of a Society of specialists such as I see
1897 was very actively engaged with the late Mr. before me this evening and I wish to assure you
;
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minimi Society of Smith Africa. .Inly Hit:
that I have not come here for the purpose of work, there is a wide held before you. There are
instructing, l>ut of being instructed. two subjects on which think we all feel fairly
I
It was a pleasure to me to receive tlie invita- strongly at the present moment. The one is
tion of your Society to lie here this evening and ; more particularly in connection with the disease-
I am glad to know that this is not a meeting of of miners phthisis. We know, to-day, more
directors, or a political meeting. Coming about the creation of dust and the effect, of rock-
from a different part of the Union to dust in the mines on the lungs, than we did a
yourselves, think that 1 am expressing the
I few years ago. The enquiry which was held
popular idea when I say that Johannesburg is best during the last session of Parliament, more par-
known as a place for magnates, directors, gold- ticularly the evidence laid before the Miners'
bugs, and rather stormy political meetings. Phthisis Select Committee, has impressed me verj
I appreciate the privilege of being amongst you strongly with the idea that a gnat deal of inves-
and it will afford me great pleasure to give you tigation and research is still required, before «
what encouragement I can in the scientific work willhave a complete knowledge of this disease.
and enquiries with which you occupy yourselves. The relation of the amount of dust in a mine to
I notice fiom your proceedings here this even the effect it has on the human body, is to a very
ing, that your Society has been in existence for large extent, yet a closed book.
as If your
some 18 years; and you have just done your Society could seriously tackle this question, and,
selves honour in recognising the valuable sei vice with the assistance of men like Mr. A. McA.
of one of your oldest members Mr. Andrew F. — Johnston, who gave very valuable evidence before
Crosse. I may say, judging from the remarks that Select Committee, could bring your collective
he has just made, that Mr. Crosse is a good South thought, your collective effort, your collect m
African. I appreciate what he has said not in — experience, to bear on this problem, believe I
a political but in a social sense in connection that we should not have to wait very long before
with the future of our country. Mr. Crosse has very marked progress and advance towards a
a son in the Mines Department a very promis — satisfactory solution will be made.
ing lad, and if all of us were to follow the In going through the mines and the workings,
example of Mr. Crosse, to create a home in .South another question was brought to my notice. It
Africa, I think that we should do the country a is of quite a different nature to the one 1 have
service in more than one way. I hope that Mr, just dealt with. f ret ir to what is known as the
( !rosse will long live to see the success, the grow white incrustation fin the zinc. I daresay that
ing success and prosperity, of his children, more my mentioning this subject will raise a smile,
particularly that of the man who is serving under because it is a question which, no doubt, has
me in the Mines Department. engaged your attention so often that cannot add I
I have already indicated that I appreciate your anything new- in connect with it. 1 will not,
Society as occupying itself with intellectual lather therefore, attempt to say anything stmt ing about I
than with political or purely money-making pur it. But think thai thai. loo. is a problem which
I
suits. I know that in a Society like yours, ;s of very great importance to the industry, and
constituted of men engaged practically in the thai, your Society could assist in rinding a way out
chemical and metallurgical work of a great gold of that difficulty.
mining industry, your thoughts will largely run A scientific Society like yours, dealing with
in practical and that you will tackle
directions, abstract and general problems of science, might
the problems which come before you from the do a very great deal. There was a time in the
point of view of tin' industry iii which you are history of science, when it was believed that no
engaged. That is altogether as it should be but : organic substance could be produced chemically
I would advise you. if may, at the same time, I or in the laboratory. Well, we have now thrown
not to lose sight of the theoretical side of your that idea far behind us, and we have seen, more
«orl; ; because the seeking after truth for its own particularly in Germany, through the efforts of
sake, and not merely for the sake of the profi her scientists, professors of chemistry, and labora
sion and the facilities for earning a livelihood, tones, vast industries created. It was only the
ought to lie pari and parcel oi tin- national life other day that Professor Ramsay said that a
of a country and its people; and without that determined effort must be made in England by
searching after truth for its own sake, no nation English scientists to get on a footing of equality
has ever attained greatness. If we desire South with Germany. He made that statement, more
Africii to have a great future, we shall have to particularly in connection with the discovery and
cultivate men who take up science not merely foi preparation of synthetic rubber.
the s;ikc making money, but for the sake of
( ,|
Here, in South Africa, we require men and
i; lor it s own Mike. scientists who will tackle the problems of our
Thinking of the more practical side of your industries and our future mineral development.
.
A Society like yours, feeling the throb of practical is any work connection with it that anybody
in
life and being animated at the same time with can suggest, we
shall be only too delighted to
the enthusiasm of science, will produce the men, put our shoulders to the wheel and do all we
mill tli'- atmosphere which will give us the men, possibly can.
wh'' will assist South Africa in realising this While I am speaking, I would like to say to
ideal Sir, it is not only the Gold Mining Mr. Dowling that my experience of the South
Industry that is awaiting development in African youth has not been exactly the same as
South Africa. Take the question
of our Iron his own. I call myself, after 30 years residence
[ndustry. We
have got vast Held-, of iron in this country, a naturalized Africander. When
iin in tin Transvaal and in other [.art-, of the I started 22 years ago on the Langlaagte Estate,
I'm. hi in it is in a form which, up to the pre-
I 1 had a staff of 12 men and, with the exception
sent, lias eluded the attempts that have been of one who died rather suddenly, all of these
mad. to manufacture steel from it on a large men to-day are either mine managers, mill
scale Your Society, in producing men who will managers, or cyanide managers. When I men
investigate these matters, could assist us in tion such names as Pepler, Le lloux, George
solving such problems and if we once arrive at ;
Melvill, on, you will see what
and so am driv- I
a solution of the problem of removing titanium, ing at. They are the right sort of stuff.
we shall create an industry which will be as greal Dr. D. Macaulay, M.L.A. (Member) I think -.
if not greater than the gold mining industry, of T can speak pretty well lor the members of this
the Union at the present day. I feel that I have Society, for I know it is the ..pinion of a good
kept, you too long already. I wish to say that 1 many of you. when I say that we appreciate very
appreciate very much indeed your work and if : much, not only the fact that Mr. Malan has been
there is anything which I can do in an official good enough and gracious enough to come and
way, or in the Department of Mines, to assist you visit us here to-night and so see for himseli the
in your labours, shall be only too pleased.
I
Do work that is being done by a purely voluntary-
not, 1 say again, look at your work from the scientific Society such as this is, but also the fact
industrial point of view only look at it also ; that he has taken a somewhat unprecedented
from the purely scientific point oi view, ause I
course and tried to find out for himself and to
it the enthusiasm that is created in the man
is see what the gold mining industry really is.
that works for truth for its own sake, that makes Knowing something of the mental attitude of
it the more likely that he will (tumble mi to the politicians —
(laughter) —
I am induced to express
practical solutions of the great problem awaiting the hope that he emerging from the Egyptian
is
and Mining Society has, at various times, done a finished his visits, he will have got beyond that
very large amount of work to try and battle with stage and, as a matter of fact, I think it inn-'
;
the scourge of miners' phthisis. very able Some 1... v.iy gratifying to him to see thi reception
papers have been read, and discussions taken which his attitude on this subject has received in
place, at meeting after meeting of this Society ;
Johannesburg from the people who are principally
and I think Dr. Macaulay will agree with me involved. It is recognised by old hands that he
when I say that they have laid the foundation has taken the right course in finding out, first
of a lot of work- that has been done alien. i\ hand, what our conditions are in the first place,
in that direction and, as you will see from the
:
and what our requirements are in the second
papers on the agenda this evening, the members place and that brings me really to what I want
:
speaking on behalf of this Society, that if there have such an advantage as a rule.
—
1% Thr Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. .Inly 1912
promote research in this country. Hitherto, they which, may tell you, is a very bad rice. It was
1
have not done so. As a matter of fact, I might proved that the process of milling removed
be very strong on the subject, because I might from the rice the outer layers of the husk and
refer to the laboratories on the top of the hill a portion of the germinal part of the grain, and
not very far from here and where the time of the this contained some mysterious substance which is
•people there in Government service is occupied, essential to the body. It was discovered, also, that
not with research, but with routine work of all by adding to the diet a certain definite measure
descriptions which allows no time for research or of the removed polishings, the
proportion
work at all. There is no time or encouragement disease Beri Beri could be prevented. It was
dor research work none whatever and I think
; : found by these investigators that they could
it is the duty of the Government of this great express the Beri-Beri producing properties of rice
—
country it is a great country undoubtedly, and in terms of a certain chemical combination, that
it is going to be greater —
to come forward and is, the organic phosphorus compounds of the
promote research. I am waiting for the estab- grain, and they could express the Beri-Beri pro
lishment of the research laboratories which were during properties of certain rice in terms of
promised from the Chamber of Mines and the phosphorus pentoxide. It was at first thought
AV.N.L.A. and I am wondering why these labora- that all the organic phosphorus of the grain was
tories are not yet established and I think 1 am
; important, but they went on and found that S0%
justified in your name, gentlemen, in asking Mr. of the P,0 was inert with regard to preventing
6
Malan to use his influence with the Government, or curing Beri-Beri.
the Chamber of Mines, and the W.N.L.A. to see A lot of scientific men, both in the Ivtst-
that this institution is started at once and that especially in Lampur, the Government Labora
no more time should be wasted. lines ot tin- —
Malay States and in the Liverpool
Mr. Malan referred to certain investigations and London Schools of Tropical .Medicine have
that needed carrying out and he 'referred to such liei-n working on this subject. By the last mail
work as Mr. McArthur Johnston has been doing. I got this interesting information, which want I
.In my opinion also that work is very legitimate to relate to you for your that the
edification,
and laudable work and of very great credit but ; active principle involved has been isolated by Dr.
it is up Government to see that that work-
to the t'nnek. Working at the Lister Institute, he has
can be conducted as Government work, as research been able to isolate this active principle which he
work, and as work appertaining to the mining has very properly named " Vitamine "'; and the
industry. interesting part of it is this: this Vitamine is
Just to whet your appetites and also to spur on contained in the outer layer of the grain and ;
Mr. Malan in the light direction the direction — the rice only contains ten grains to the ton
in which his face is already turned I will tell — so that it is absolutely analogous to radium,
;
It would pay not only from the humanitarian fore, to submit the following resolution :--- "Thai
aspect of the work but, economically, also. I this Society extends a sincere vote of condolence
want to appeal .to Mr. Malan to hurry forward to the widow and relatives of Mr. W. H. Picker-
the time when research in this country will ing (H. M. Chief Inspector of Mines for Yorkshire),
receive Government assistance, when Govern- also to the relatives of the two other Inspectors
ment Laboratories are not merely institutions for and to those of the staff and workers of the
routine work, but where work, analagous to that colliery who lost their lives by the sad series of
which I have taken the liberty of indicating to explosions at Denaby Main on the 9th inst.
you at some length, will be carried on. then Further, that copies of this resolution be for-
will the Transvaal shine, not only as a huge warded by our Secretary to Mrs. Pickering and
industrial country, but as a country increasing to the Acting Manager of the Denaby Main
the amount of truth in the world. Colliery."
unanimously.
what is going on. I need hardly say that your
I have said enough, I hope, to convince yon
kind invitation to come here on future occasions
that Mr. Pickering's mining work has been well
is accepted by me with great pleasure.
done, that he has been a credit to his profession
DENABY. MAIN COXLIERY DISASTER. and that he died, doing his duty, in a noble effort
Mr John Watson {Member) : We read, most to save the lives of his fellow-men.
of us, in our newspapers on the 10th inst., of Mr. A. Richardson ( Vice-President)i: I gladly
a series of about six explosions, which took place second this vote of condolence. This is another
at Denaby Main Colliery, Yorkshire, on the 9th instance of the unselfish devotion to duty shown
inst. by mining officials all the world over. The occu-
The cabled accounts somewhat differ; but we pation of mining is one which has certain inherent
can gather that about 7+ lives were lost. The dangers but those who take part in underground
;
The first two explosions apparently proved fatal gentlemen, your agreement with this resolution,
to about 30 miners : something like 1 70 being by rising from your seats.
—
8 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1912
The motion was agreed to in silence, all mem- fastening of tapes. Clips (I are shown in side
bers standing. elevation and horizontal projection. These clips
are joined to the legs A and I! by > cord, chain
"simplex" stope measuring instrument.
or ball and socket joint .1, in such a way as to
Mr. 0. Tonnesen (Member): I wish to make the produced centre lines of tapes and legs
bring to your notice a new stope-measuring intersect in the pivot point D. The legs A and
instrument, which I have designed. This instru- B are adjustable screws F to
provided with
ment which I have called " Simplex," is for use which pricker points are attached. The pivot
in tape triangulation when it is either impossible point I) is also provided with a similar pricker
or too lengthy and cumbersome t'> establish
point, so that these three [points may be trans-
straight base lines or well conditioned triangles. ferred to a plotting pad or survey book and thus
As this instrument has often served me well, a i'. 'd the angle measured. The instrument is
short description of its construction and use may not provided with a graduated arc. as this would
perhaps prove of some interest to some ol the retard the free movement of the legs and have a
members of this Society. tendency to throw the instrument out of the true
This instrument is so constructed as to measure plane of the angle to be measured. The legs are
angles on the plane of the reef. It, in this respect, bevelled off along their centre line in order to
is like my " Stereometer," It is of far greater allow of a pencil line being drawn along the edge,
simplicity but therefore naturally also inferior in this pencil line serves as a rough guide to pre-
accuracy. It is not, like the Stereometer, in- vent mistaking the [nicker point-. The third
tended for a complete independent traverse from leg C is provided with a handle I! joined to it by
top to bottom of the stope, but restricted to a chord K, similar to the joints J [previously
shorter traverses and is meant to be a simple and described. Further details will !«• easily under-
portable instrument to accompany and complete stood from lie drawing. I
Before proceeding to explain its u^es and When I want to measure the angle between
advantages I shall endeavour to give a short three [joints, in, n and o, send boys to hold the1
•description of its construction. Figure 1 shows zero points ol two metallic tapes .it the 'back
Kio. I.
by a pivot D, which may be clamped rigidly in Deducting for the distance tig. I) from W (see
any desired position of the legs by the clamping pivot to tape say 6 in., L double the tape over at
wi To the lees A and B are fixed clips
1'".. this distance 'say 50"5 ft ) insert it into the clip
G, provided with grips and clamping screws for ' i ami clamp tightly.
..Inlv 191-2 -
Mfi-. nmetit.
Having read the' second distance o- a to must coincide with the plane of the tape line,
43 ft. and deducted 6 in., the second tape is because the joints J and Iv are so made as to
The clamping screw is now loosened, allow of a perfectly free movement in any direc
'•"
clamped.
the handle I! gripped with one hand and held in tion, and because all the material and masse
such a position as to centre the pivot D right the instrument are evenly distributed abo
under the " set-up " peg o. The tapes are now three directions of pull besides >•» ing very light.
tight and the handle should be pulled in such a In tin- position of the instrument the clamp
direction tint the produced centre line of the ing screw E is securely fastened, thus locking
chord K approximately bisects the angle between the leu- A and 1! in a position indicating the
the tapes. The deducted distance (here 6 inches) true angle m
n o.
should be chosen so as to be slightly longer than On a signal the boys simultaneously lei
the distance
actual W
in ordei to allov tapes go. The tapes are now undamped and the
stretch in the tape. If this has not horn don instrument placed Oil a drawing pad or a page o|
and the tapes are n it tightly stretched when the survey book with hard covers, ami pressed
instrument is held in correct position, call to the tnst the paper so as to puncture it with the
boys to stretch the tapes, at the same time hold three pricker points. Pencil lines are drawn
ing the instrument correctly centred. The boys along the bevelled edges, provided with a refei
should be taught to stretch the tapes in the lettei "i' number. Tin- instrument is re-
•true direction of the survey lines, that is. in such moved and the prick points marked with a. pencil
a way that the tape lines intersect the survey to avoid contusing them with other points or
pegs. Once shown, any boy will soon learn to marks which may possibly have pricked through
his correctly. from another page.
In this position the plane of the instrui Fig. i' shows two pages of a field book. In
S/*//
l'io. II
Ill The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. .July 101i
the case shown on these pages C, B and E were point noticeable about the instrument and
old known points. The pillar on the top of the that is, that in order to obtain only a fair degree
stope made it impossible to locate point A by of accuracy, it should only be used in setting off
ordinary tape triangulation, and the loaded stull short lines up to about 50 ft. and in measuri?ig
in the middle of the stope had "cut out "the stopes where the reef is steeply inclined, lines of
r
straight line B E and made it difficult to fix • >0 would be very difficult to set off with it.
ft.
another point D by well conditioned triangula- Its sphere of usefulness is therefore limited, but
tion. The points thus determined (in this eases often occur in stope measuring when much
example A and 1)) need not of course be pegged time would l>e saved by its use.
on the measuring day. A temporary tar mark Mr. H. A. White (Vice-Prenidenl) then took
will be quite sufficient so long as the earliest the chair whilst the President read his address :- —
opportunity is taken to put in permanent pegs
after the worst rush of stope measuring is over. PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS.
The plotting is very simple the traverse being
;
transferred to a transparent paper this is located By Me. Walfobd R, Dow lino, M.Inst. MAI.
on the known points of the stope plan and the
new points pricked through. The position of President of the Society i; one
As both angles and distances are recorded, a which carries with it a large amount of prestige
good and efficient check is obtained, for any and, as Past-Presidents will agree, a great deal
mistake or slip of the instrument would be at of work and responsibility. The Past Presidents
once detected by the disagreement of these have worthily upheld their position and am 1
able cases where this little instrument will come use my best endeavours, with the aid of the
in handy and some cases where recourse must strong and. representative Council which you.
necessarily be had to some angle measuring in- have chosen to assist me, and let me add with, I
strument. In such cases "Simplex" will save trust, a little more than kindly good will from
much time and labour. Past Presidents, to make my year of office a suc-
The " Simplex " is so light and handy that it cessful one from the technical and scientific is
can be carried in a pocket and always be to hand well as the financial standpoint. Whilst thank-
when wanted, thus avoiding delay. It is very ing members for this honour 1 would like also to
simple and rapid to use but these qualities also
; place on record my appreciation of the kindly
necessitate its limitation. It should not, like the reference to myself made by Mr. Saner from the
" Stereometer " (see this Imirnul for May 1909) chair in presenting the Consolidated Gold Fields
be used for long independent traverses, but only medal on behalf of the Institution of Mining and
as a valuable and expeditious aid in difficulties, Metallurgy. naturally was gratified at having
I
working between known points at reasonable dis- won this prize, and would say that 1 hope many
tances apart. When used in this way it is also the more of these prizes will lie won bj members of
means of greater accuracy, as the operator, byits our Society.
use can avoid those sources of errors which should When
as a young man 1 joined the Society at
always l>e carefully shunned by conscientious its formation eighteen years ago and acted as its
mine surveyors, viz.. too long base lines, bad first Secretary. I had no idea of being elected to the
triangle intersections and too long offsets these ; highest position possible in the Society. We have
sources of errors are thoroughly dealt with in my made great strides since those days and it is a [ilea
previous paper on stope measurement. (See this sure to find to-day some of the men who founded
Journal lor May 1909). the Society still taking an active part in the pre.
hope that this little instrument will prove of
I
ceedings. Among these would particularly
1
some use to the mine surveyors of the Rand. mention our esteemed Past- Presidents Messrs. A
Being so simple, light and expeditious, and its P. Crosse and .1. It. Williams. Von have this
I
nice low enough to justify its trial, I believe evening conferred life membership on Mr. Crosse
that once tried it will always lie kept to hand and for- the many services he has so freely given to
prove of some use and value. the Society during the past eighteen years. This
In conclusion wish to thank Mr. J. White-
I
is only a. small recognition of the excellent work
house, Manager, Village Deep, I. til., for valuable he has done for this Society, but shows oui
suggestions and assistance. appreciation of tin- good qualities of the man.
Mr. G. Hildick Smith {Member): In pro Mr. Williams is already a life member. It has
posing a vote of thanks to Mr. Tonnesen lor his sometimes been said that our Past-Presidents
nteresting note, I am rather unprepared to after their term of office take no further interest
make any remarks on the paper. There is one in the Society. This charge is unfair, as I know
.Inly 1912 Presidential Address. II
that whilst Past Presidents are content to allow that the Society has contributed a Challi
the Council i" carry on the routine management Shi. -Id for competitionamongst underground em-
of the Society \s affairs, they are ever ready to ployees on the mines for efficiency in ambulance
when called on. They in
assist fact serve as an work. It has also appointed a committee to
Upper House, confirming the Council's action work in conjunction with the St. John Ambu-
and policy whilst these are good, but very quickly lance Association, in drawing up the necessary
correcting any retrograde movement. details for the competition, which it is hoped will
Turning to the work of the past year, although be held in October or November next. In its
we can claim to have had a successful one, 1 proceedings the Society has often educated public
still number of contributors in pro-
find that the opinion and prepared the way for legislation
portion to the total membership is small. pei I through its many investigations, -such as air
sonally know a number of members who could sampling in mines and testing tor poisonous gases
write interesting if short contributions. To those lust, in measures making for safetj from fall-
members who have not yet contributed I would ing groi nd, blasting accidents, feeding of natives
say that their attitude is not cpuite fair and it is a and so on. The free and open discussions of tin-
one-sided bargain to receive knowledge but not many points connected with mining, by men who
l>e a party to supplying it. The length of a doing the work result in a crystallisation
aily
paper does not necessarily add to its value and of the knowledge of the particular subject dealt
the rust., m of reading short notes in the past has with, and focus the main end in view.
been most successful. It may 1»- that the fear of The Society is represented in several institu-
hostile criticism is largely responsible for many tions and amongst the duties devolving on the
members not contributing matter at our meet- members of Council is that of serving on the
ings. I would point out, however, that a con- the Committee of the Seymour Memorial Library,
tributor always has the privilege of reply to the the Johannesburg Museum, and the S. A. En-
debate, and so has the advantage of the last word. gineering Standards Committee. The work done
Another ictor preventing would-be contributors
I .and the influence of these institutions are so well
from taking part in the proceedings is the acrimon- known that I need not comment on them, but it
ious and personal tone that discussions sometimes may not be out of place to recognize- the efforts
assume. Some con tiibutors appear to forget that of Chemical Sub-Committ -e of the last-
the
we are a technical Society where methods and not named. Coal sampling and analysis have been
men are discussed. Whether the attacks are on in id. the subject of two booklets prepared by
individuals, classes or sections, theyare undesir- this Sub-Committee, and members will appreciate
able and do positive harm to the Society, not only the importance of this when it is remembered
in the eves of its own members but in those of that a large proportion of the coal supplied to
the world. Criticism may be vigorous and the bought on the basis of the calorific
mines is
healthy without being objectionable, and I value. The Sub-Committee is, I understand,
would therefore appeal to all members to sup- still continuing its work in other directions and
port tin- Council in its endeavour to improve our we may hope that definite standard methods ..|
proceedings in this respect. analysis for the ordinary commercial commodities
It has been said by some mining men that in use on our mines may lie evolve. so thai the 1.
there is nothing new to write about. 1 would vexed question of agreement or disagreement
refer these to the list of subjects prepared by Mr. between buyer and seller may be, at any rate,
Tom Johnson for students.* Although this list simplified.
was prepared as suggestions for students there is 1 n the Council elected for the current yi tr
matter there for papers by the best men. I feel you have shown wisdom in selecting a well
quite safe in saying that our Consulting balanced Council, representative of the three
Engineers and financial heads realise the benefits main branches of our work, and we may con-
of full and free discussion of all technical matters fidently look forward to an interesting and
connected with the industry, and it is not their successful year. It has been suggested thai tie-
wish to prevent any employee from taking part Society should not include mining into its
in the proceedings of any technical society. of activities, but should confine its work to
Enlarging in greater detail on the report chemistry and metallurgy only. have taken I
presented by the C
unci! on the work of the the trouble oi going through the past Journals
Society for the past year, we find that its pro- and find that the matter was discussed very
ceedings have their humanitarian aspect. I thoroughly at two special general meetings as well
need scarcely recall the life saving appai as at other general meetings and by the Council.
on view at the exhibition in February Tie- final decision was come to ,it a sj ial
and members will note in this com tion of members held on February
_r
The Journal of Thr Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. .July 191-
date mining subjects were brought forward and in moving a hearty vote of thanks to our Presi
discussed at the monthly general meetings. The dent for his inaugural address.
consensus of opinion then was, and I think am I The vote was carried by acclamation.
light in saying to-day is. that there is a real need
and justification for this action, that an nutlet for A SYSTEM OF KEEPING QNDERGROUND-
mining men was urgently called for ami that this
COSTS AND RECORDS.
Society provided the means. The many ex-
cellent mining apers that have been presented
|
during the past nine years are sufficient proof By <i. Hildick Smith, B.Sc. (Member).
that an nutlet was required. There is another
aspect of tin- question and that is that our Mr. W. J. N. Dunnachie {Associate) There :
Society peculiarly appeals to the younger mining is nothing new in this paper except what
men who have still their position and standing to is unnecessary. For instance, what has the
make, and these we claim are entitled to every underground manager or- mine overseer to do
consideration and must have their field. We with assay costs or, if these costs are to be con-
:
sion have little, if any. access to the unpublished impossible to compare one shiftboss's section
record- of individual companies or corpora with another, and bonuses paid, by such com-
tions. What is common knowledge to peopie parisons are essentially unfair. The author
fortunate enough to have facilities to see what would make each shift bos.- take an interest in the
other people are doing is not available to the cost of running his section, by making cost one
beginner and Lis only resource is published of the items of the bonus system. At the same
matter. Many excellent text books are published time he includes timbering in that cost What !
annually on every known subject, but these are is the result The fewer sticks, or stulls, or
.'
iltering the title of the Society, and 1 think we Mr. A. Richardson (Fie< President): Tt is
may look back on the mining work accomplished very disconcerting to learn, or rather to be told,
as complete jusl ideal ion of the action. that the world's greatest goldiiehl after 24 years
In presenting these few remarks Feel thai I I of .strenuous existence, during which the best
have not done justice to the time honored c\ mining intellects that money can buy have been
of the newly elected president bringing forward ised on its problems, has only succeeded in
his views on some particular technical niattei i
>
1 should like to move a vote of thanks to the results obtained in detail, with regard to costs
July 1912 '.'. ffildicl Smith— A System oj keeping Underground Costs and Records. 13
and efficiencies are unknown." (</) " Work ming efficiencies is common practice, but the
below the surface is being carried on in t lit- dark recording of the daily drilling efficiencies is not
in every way.'' Truly, a gloomy and depressing so usual. The cost could be got out daily if
picture Perhaps, however, the author inten-
! necessary, but as the rate of pay for labour
tionally emphasised the sombre hues on the engaged on this class of work is practically
assumption that " the attention given to criticism uniform, the cost may be considered as varying
is in direct proportion to its indigestibility." directly with the efficiency.
Let us look into some of these underground Undergrofivnd Sanitation, Platelaying, I ipe
accounts in order to see how far they support the
author's statements.
Fitting, and Truck Repairs. — Nearly all mines
record these in monthly statistical form and in
Stopin.i/. — On practically all the mines the much greater detail than shown by the author in
practice has been to record all labour and stores Fig. 3.
against the various working places, and to work
the costs out per fathom many also work out
Pump-Chambers, Stations, etc. — Most mines
;
record these in a sub-head in the development
the cost per ton in elaborate detail, showing tin- account. And not only can the total cost be
cost per ton broken in white labour, coloured accurately given, but the cost to date at any stage
labour, explosives, and so forth. A little over of the work can be readily taken out. As the
two years ago when the square fathom costing making of new ore bins is sometimes done by
system was being tried, several companies started timbermen coming under the " Worshops Distri-
a ledger account for each stope face, and in bution," it is part of the workshops costing
ion to debiting the working face with the system to carry the expenditure on any job for-
ordinary labour and stores items also included a ward from month to month until the job is
figure for compressed air, drilling, sharpening, completed the job sheet thus always shows the
;
rock drill maintenance, and other assignable cost to date. The underground costs relating to
expenses. It was found, however, after a these bins are of course fully recorded also, and
fair trial that the extra data obtained did not tin- total cost is thus readily obtainable.
give any assistance to those chiefly concerned, The above brief notes on certain of the
and the practice was generally, if not entirely, accounts would appear to indicate that the
abandoned. On some mines the shift bosses on author's assertions regarding the lack of data
each section receive daily a typed sheet on which require more convincing proof than that which
are recorded, in the ease of hand drilling: Number he has offered.
of shaft or section, date, name of miner, number
of boss boys, hammer boys, inches drilled, and Graphic Records — The writer admits a fond-
average inches drilled per hammer boy and in ;
ness for pictorial analysis, and
the past in
per machine. The shift bosses can thus gauge to admit that beyond tempering the severe
fairly accurately what the efficiency of each stoper a-stheticism of the office walls and impressing
in his section was for the previous day. The visitors, their utility was incommensurate with
daily breaking efficiency per shift might also be the accurate and painstaking work involved in
got out from the truck tallies, but it would be no tln-ir preparation.
fair criterion, because the measurement of ton-
nage by truck tallies is notoriously unreliable,
General. —
In order that a generally acceptable
system of keeping underground costs may be
and also because broken ore is sometimes allowed devised, it would be necessary to obtain the col-
to accumulate in a stope for days before being laboration of some of our mine secretaries, as it
shovelled and trammed. The drilling efficiencies, is obvious that such a system must be perfectly
supplemented of course by the usual inspection, sound and workable from an accountant's point
are found to give, as a rule, a quite reliable of view. The matter would really require a small
indication of the amount of work being done. i mittee or someone specially deputed by the
{•hovelling and Tramming. — In addition to tin- mining houses to investigate. The subject is not
drilling sheets mentioned, similar daily ones are such an easy one to handle as those who have
distributed showing: Number of shaft orsection, not had an opportunity oi going into it may
date,name of employee, number of shovel boys, think, neither is it one that excites much popular
tramming boys, trucks and average trucks per interest, and the author has, therefore, done very
boy. Other sheets are kept in the mine office useful service in coaxing it into this controversial
which are filled in daily and summarised weekly. arena. Undoubtedly, system is a sound com-
This recording of the daily shovelling and tram- mercial proposition, and it should be encouraged
— . — — —
[4 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa July 1912
A series of tests recently made under the The increasing alkalinity of the first tests is
direction of the writer to determine the advantage shown in the following records :
—
or the reverse of cyaniding certain raw concen-
trate in place shipping to a customs Solution.
of it Lb. Sodium
smelter developed some interesting metallurgical cyanide added per
Agitating.
features. The analysis of the concentrate was as ton concentrate. KCy. P. A.
follows :
idded to the charge after commencing agita or over the increase in alkalinity above noted
— —
July 1912 11. Linton — Xoteson Hie Cyaniding of Conccntratt In
gradually disappeared, but at the same time the solution to concentrate to 3:1 (previous tests
consumption of cyanide greatly increased. The having been at 2"5 : 1). The results of this test
3 23 •15 39
1 None. 056
21 036 4 26
6 •37 44
3 2°/ •205 •025
/o 164
7
4 1 •185 002
8 •27 -55 l.vo 36-8
5 8 •047 000
14 09 :>7 16-8 490
20 mi 58 54-0 68'3
The extraction of gold and silver in each case 22 32-8
was practically the same. 26 45 66 55-2 6S-4
From a study of the preliminary tests an out- 32 19 69 56-4 68-3
line of treatment was formulated and a test run 38 17 7o 58 69-21
31 91 44 792 632
37 •75 17 seemed to indicate
The results of all the tests run
43 ••>!» 48 that the most economical treatment was to grind
r •56 IS 82-6 71 -6
4. ,
the concentrate in a solution of about '2% KCy,
46 626 93-9 ( Fresh Sn'll
then agitate in a '6% KCy solution, raising to
48 117 •30 82-6 80-8
about -8% towards the end ofthe treatment. Main-
54 1-08 •35 873 82-2 taining a high protective alkali proved to be of
57 98 •35 87-3 85-2 little benefit, about TO to "15 being sufficient.
60 92 •39 88-5 87-8
The use to be of no
of lead acetate appeared
62 •88 •39 90-2 87-9 benefit preventing destruction of cyanide,
in
64 •87 •39
although the use of a small amount serves tu
66 •85 •39
keep the solutions clear.
68 •82 •40 90-2 sill
•78 •40 90-2 90-5 Mr. A. McArthur Johnston {Past-Presi-
70
•40 dent) should like to propose a hearty vote of
: I
72 •78 91-1 90 6
thanks to Mr. Linton for this paper. It may be
74 •77 •40 '.lis 92-5
within the recollection of some of you that, about
76 77 •10 92-1 92-7
four or five years ago, Dr. Caldecott wrote a
paper on much the same lines, giving the figures
A test was run, using less cyanide
third obtained in certain experimental work. We are
in solution, but higher protective alkalinity, and greatly indebted to Mr. Linton for giving us these
lead acetate equivalent to 3 5% of the weight of -
experiences tabulated here, and once I have had
the concentrate treated, also raising the ratio of the opportunity of going through the paper
16 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1912
before us, I may be able to make some more C, the moisture expelled being absorbed by anhy-
remarks thereon. In the meantime, however, I
—
drous calcium chloride.'' E. H. Archibald and J.
N. Lawrence, ./. lud. Eng. Chem., 191-2, .;. 258-262,
would ask you to pass a hearty vote of thanks to Journal of the Society i>f Chemical Industry, \ ol 31,
Mr. Linton. p. 422. (J. C.)
This was agreed to and the meeting then
closed. New Mkthod for the Determination of
». — Vanadium (in Iron and Steel).— "The method
depends upon the selective oxidation of ferrous
Review. sulphate in presence of vanadyl sulphate by manga-
nese dioxide. The manganese dioxide should be
"South African Geology/' by E. H. L. sufficiently tine to pass through a 200-mesh sieve,
Schwarz. (Blackie & Son, Ltd.) but 'should settle m a beaker of water in 30 sec'
(see following abstract). Two gm. of the iron or
At the present day most scientists, including steel are dissolved in a mixture of 30 cc. of water
geologists, are tree thinkers in their own parti and 12 cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid, line cc.
other words, their of nitric acid of sp. gr. 1 42 is added to oxidise the
cular branches of study ; in
iron, and the solution is boiled to expel nitrous
opinions are determined not by tradition, but by fumes, diluted with 30 C.c. of water and boiled with
reference to known facts. Heterodoxy in science excess of a strong solution of permanganate to
may now be fairly defined as adherence to beliefs oxidise completely all carbon, etc. Excess of ferrous
that are insufficiently based on known facts, or sulphate is next added, the solution is boiled, diluted
to about 250 cc, a .V 10 solution of permanganate is
are even contradictory to them. If this view is
run in until the solution is just pink, and tic con-
eoiiect, then the inclusion of heterodox opinions taining vessel is cooled under the tap. After a
in an elementary text book may be reasonably further addition of ferrous sulphate solution until all
objected to, on the ground that thereby an reducible compounds, including chromic and vanadic
acids are reduced, about gin. of C. P. manganese
1
experience, reject.
after a few seconds is due to the reaction of fei ic
face recognises the necessity for orthodoxy, but iron with ferrocyanide produced by reduction of the
at the same time lie confesses he has not adhered ferricyanide by vanadyl sulphate.) When the iron
to it andborne out by a perusal of his
this is is completely oxidised (4 U mills.), lie solution is
I
treated with 10 to 15 c.c. of bromine and gently- tation, were found by (he author to produce small
warmed until oxidation is complete. 30 c.c. of con- quantities of alcohol."— A. Klocker, Comples Rend
centrated hydrochloric acid are now added anil it any Trav. Lab. Carlsberg, 1011, it), 99-113, Journal
unattacked metal is seen, a further to lo c c. oi
•">
tin- Society
of
<J Chemical Industry, Vol. ."] n 4111
bromine are added. The excess of bromine having (d. <;.)
been removed by careful heating on an asbestos
:]ilate. 1 to 2 c.c. of concentrated nitric acid and later
Determination ok Formaldehyde. •• I nless
2 I" 3 drops of hydrofluoric are added and the liquid precautions be taken, the method of Eiegler [J. Soc.
evaporated as far as possible. The residue i- boiled Chem. /hi/.. 1901, 510) may give low results, lor on
with 40 c.c. of hydrochloric acid (1 :.".). the separated prolonged contact the compound of formaldehyde and
precipitate filtered off, washed with dilute hydro- hydrazine is decomposed to an appreciable extent by
chloric acid and after treatment with ammonium iodic acid, for example on prolonging the time of
nitrate, dried, ignited, and weighed. The tungstic contact of the reagents from 2 mins. to 39 mins., lie
acid thus obtained is pure yellow in colour, and may percentage of formaldehyde found by Riegler's
be treed from associated silicic acid by treatment
method fell in one experiment from 390 to 2S-4.
with mixed hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids." R The author- propose a simple modification of Rimini's
FlEBER, I 'hem. Ze-t. 1912, 36, 334, Journal of the method Soc. Chem.
(J". /,!•/.. 1900, 1233) of determining
Society tf Chemical Industry, Vol. 31, p. 389. (J. G.) the excess of hydrazine, mercuric chloride being used
instead of potassium iodate in alkaline solution.
Wkt Assay <>f Tin-Be iking Silver Bullion.— 5 c.c. of the formaldehyde solution (about 1-1 co.n-
" The presence of as little as lini of tin was found cenl ration) are mixed with 20 i\.\ of a solution I T
to be sufficient to cause obscuration of the end point ol hydrazine sulphate and with mercuric chloride,
in the ordinary ' Gay
Lussac method of determin-
'
and the volume of nitrogen evolved is measured.
ing silver, while 0*5 rendered the assay impossible. The \olinne of nitrogen produced from 20 c.c. of the
In older to prevent the formation of a precipitate of hydrazine sulphate solution, without the formalde-
metastannic acid the following procedure is recom- hyde, by the action of mercuric chloride is also
—
mended: A quantity of bullion (about gim.i I measured. The reaction i- represented by the equa-
slightly more than sufficient to neutralise Inn c.c of tion N.,H 4 .H.,S0 4 6ICOH 2Hgi'l. Iv.so, 4KCI
:
sodium chloride solution, is placed in the assay 2Hg X.. 011,0." E. Rimini and'T. Jona,
buttle. 2 grams, of tartaric acid and 3 or c.c. iif -t
tin .hi. ,1.Fun
Chini., 1912. <;/. -Ill ."ill, Chem. Zentr.,
water are added, and the bottle is heated till the acid 1912. 1147-8, Journal of the Satiety of Chemical
I,
is dissolved. After cooling 10 e c. of nitric acid Industry, Vol. 31, p. 4ns. (J. G.)
(I 1) are added, and after the silver has dissolved,
:
the solution is titrated as usual. The liquid must Volumetric Method ton tut; Determination
be kept cool during and after the solution of the OF MERCURY. " The mercury, in the form of
silver. If the bullion contain more than .V of tin, merenrous chloride, may he titrated with potassium
a smaller quantity than grin, should be taken for
1 iodate, in the presence of 15-20% of lice hydrochloric
the assay and some pure silver added." -I,. E. acid, using chloroform a- indicator, according to the
Svlas, Trans A mer. Inst. Minimi Eng., March 1912 general method of L. \V. Andrews (J. Amir. Chem.
2H7-8, Journal of the Societi/ of Chemical Industry, Soc., I0n:i. !o, 7501. The titration is carried out in a
'.Vol. 31, p. 389. (J. G,) stoppered bottle, in the presence ol 20 c.c. of water,
30 c.c. of concentrated hydrochloric acid, and li r.<-.
Method foe Detecting Small Quantities ok of chloroform, the standard iodate solution being
Alcohol in Fermenting Liquids, and Some added, with shaking until the colour produced in
Results Obtained Therewith. -" By the follow- the chloroform layer i- just discharged the reaction :
ing modification of a test employed by Hansen and is expressed by the eqnati tllgCI Kill. 6HC1
by Pasteur, it is possible to detect as 'little as unit" =4HgCI„ KC1 + IC1 3H 20. The presence of or-
oi sometimes O'OOl of alcohol in nutrient liquids ganic matter, as in pharmaceutical preparations,
such as yeast-water or wort. Five c.c. of the liquid does not, as a rule, interfere with the titration."'—
ue introduced into a test-tube, Is cm. by 24 cm. G. S.Jamison, Amer. J. Science, 1912, S3, 34P-51,
lifted with a cork through which passes a glass tube Journalofthe Societi/ of Chemical Industry, Vol. 31,
of length 80 cm. and external diameter 3 mm. The p. 411. (J.G.)
lower end of the tube extends only to the hot ton. of
the cork. The test-tube is fixed vertically over a Rapid Method 101: the Determination of
piece of wire gauze and is heated by a small Hi Vanadium in Steels, Ores, etc., Based on its
To promote regular ebullition a small spiral of thin Quantitative Inclusion by the I'hosphomolyb-
copper wire may be placed in the test-tube, and datk Precipitate. — "A precipitate of ammonium
frothing may be diminished by addition of three phosphomolybdate produced in a solution containing
drops of strong nitric acid. The presence of alcohol ten times as much phosphorus as vanadium carries
in the liquid is shown by the formation of drops of a down the w hide of the vanadium, and the latter can
highly characteristic, oily, appearance dears) in the then be determined by a method based on reduction
tube. The higher these dr ips appear in the tithe the with hydrogen peroxide in concentrated sulphuric acid
s nailer is the quantity of alcohol present. This re- solution [J. Soc. Hum. Ind., 1012. 333). For steels
action is not shown byanysubstai except alcohol.
, containing vanadium, chromium, titanium, mangan-
likely to be present in fermenting liquids. By ese, and molybdenum, singly or in combination, an
applying it the author has found that wort or yeast- amount of drillings containing from 2 to 10 mgrms.
vater, when exposed to air which is also in contact of anadium is dissolved in nitric acid of sp. gr.
\ T35, I
with alcoholic liquids, absorbs traces of alcohol. the solution is boiled to expel nitrons fumes,
Veast- water appears to develop minute traces of oxidised with permanganate, the manganese dioxide
alcohol spontaneously on storage lor several weeks. dissolved by addition ol sodium sulphite, and the
A number of organisms, including Oidium lactis and solution boiled till free from funics. After nearly
Hansen's Saccharomyc.es wcmbranicfaciens, which neutralising with ammonia, a quantity of sodium
have been regarded as incapable of alcoholic fermen- phosphate solution representing at least ten times
18 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1912
as much phosphorus as there is vanadium present is globin. When the acid liquid i> diluted with water,
added, the solution is heated to boiling and the a dichroic orange colour is produced. The reaction
requisite quantity of the molybdate reagent added. can be applied to the esters, provided that tie alkyl
The supernatant liquid is decanted through an residue has no action upon the reagent. Sulpho-
asbestos filter, and the precipitate is washed tin ice salicylic acid has no action. As small a quantity of
with a hot acid solution of ammonium sulphate the salicylic acid as '20 mgrms. can be detected. A
(15 c.c. of ammonia solution of sp. gr. 0"9 and 25 e c. small piece of ammonium persulphate the size of a
nfsulplinrieacidofsp.gr. 1'84 to 1 litre of water), pea can be added to 2-3 c.c. of a 1% solution of sali-
and then dissolved in hot concentrated sulphuiic cylic acid, ami the mixture boiled. A yellow
acid, which has been used previously for dissolving colouration appeal's, changing to brown, followed by
the small quantity of precipitate on the filter. The the formation of a black precipitate. When cool the
acid solution should contain 5-8 c.c. of concentrated precipitate subsides leaving a colourless or yel.oui.sh
sulphuiic acid for every 10 mgrms. of phosphorus liquid. If more persulphate is added and the boiling
present. It is heated with a few drops of nitric acid continued, the liquid becomes colourless. One drop
(1 : 25) and when fumes are being strongly evolved, of a dilute solution of salicylic acid treated with
the vanadium is reduced by successive small addi- Mandelin's reagent forms blue striations rapidly
tions of hydrogen peroxide (3%) until the solution changing to olive-green. The reaction becomes more
acquires a deep brown colour changing on heating to sensitive by first warming the salicylic acid solnt ion
the clear green or blue colour of vanadyl vanadium. with sulphuric acid so as to cause sulphonation.
The Mask is then heated for four or five minutes, Aspirin, methyl salicylate, salol. etc., give this
covered, cooled, and the contents diluted to an acid reaction. Schlagdenhaufen's reagent gives a yellow
concentration of 1 :5 by vol., and titrated at 70°-80° colouration with salicylic acid solutions, changing to
C. with iV/100 permanganate. The determination orange-brown on wanning. Further heating pio
only occupies about i hour, and gives very accurate duces a black precipitate and the evolution of
results. In the case of solutions containing hydro- —
hydrogen selenide." E. Barral, Hull. Hoc. CJtim.,
chloric acid and in general when the volume of the 1912, //. 417-420., Journal oj the Society of Chemi nf
solution is very large, it is advantageous to add id Industry, Vol. 31, p. 457. (J. U.)
grms. of ammonium nitrate per 100 c.c. of solution,
before precipitating with the molybdate reagent. It Determination of Lime in Presence of Mag-
is pointed out that in the determination of phos- nesia. - " The author remarks upon the difficulty of
phorus in steels containing vanadium, the use of effecting a quantitative separation of calcium from
dilute solutions of potassium nitrate or nitric acid magnesium by-the usual methods, especially when a
for washing the phosphomolybdate precipitate may large excess of the latter stitnent is present, and
cause considerable errors, owing to the solubility of recommends the following process as being accurate
the precipitate acid: ammonium sulphate and and independent of the relative proportions of the
ammonium nitrate solutions are the best washing- metals. —
The solution of the chlorides which may
agents. ''—.I. R. Cain ami .1. C. Hostetter, ./., contain ammonium chloride and ammonia— is con-
Ind. Eng. Chem., 1912, ;, 250-6, Journal of the centrated to 60 or 80 c.c. and made slightly alkaline.
Society of Chemical Industry, Vol. 31, p. 436-7. After the addition of '20 c.c. of ammonium bisulphite
(J.G.) solution -prepared by saturating aqueous ammonia
(1-1 l!c.) with sulphur dioxide —
the liquid is heated
Direct Determination of Small Amounts of to about 90 C. and, upon the appearance of a cry
Platinum in Ores and Bullion. " Small — stalline precipitate, "20 c.c. of ammonia solution ('22'
quantities of platinum pass into the nitric acid solu- Be are added and the mixture is well stirred. The
)
tion obtained in the regular course of assaying on calcium sulphite, precipitated (in crystalline form) in
parting gold from silveV. To this solution a limited accordance with the equations :
quantity of a very dilute solution of' hydrogen snl- CaCL + SNH .HSO.. + NH..=
phide (1 part of the strong solution diluted with from CaK.,o,-i 2NHjCl (NH 4 aS0 3 +H20,
)
10 to 20 parts of water), sufficient to precipitate the and CaS,0, + 2NH. ll,< )- faSO..
;
(NH ),S(>„4
platinum and three to five times as much silver, is is allowed to settle for an hour and is then filtered
added, and after standing for 3-4 hours, or pre- oil', washed with hot. slightly ammoniacal water,
ferably over-night, the precipitate is collected, dried, calcined in a muffle and weighed as calcium
dried, the paper burnt oil, and the residue wrapped sulphate :before incineration, the filter paper is
in a small piece of bin lead foil ami cupelled.
I The moistened with a saturated solution of ammonium
resulting head is parted in strong sulphuric acid, sulphate containing free sulphuiic acid to prevent the
leaving the platinum usually in the form of sponge, formation of calcium sulphide. After the com-
which is washed, annealed, and weighed. The plete expulsion of the free and combined sulphurous
mi method of concentrating in a precipitate "I acid from the filtrate, the magnesium is determined'
silver sulphide may he used for the determination of by precipitation with sodium phosphate in the usual
minute quantities of gold in high-grade silver."— manner. It is stated that by this method a deter-
F. P. Dewey, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 1912, ;. 257-S, mination of calcium can be made in about three
Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Vol. 31, hours, the presence of zinc, nicked or cobalt being
p. 437. (J. G.)
without influence npon the result. Ammonium in
sulphite may he replaced by the sodium salt, hut the
New Reactions tin: Salicylic Ann. "Two latter frequently contains iron which may be preci-
drops of a 5 solution of sodium salicylate are mixed pitated with the calcium sulphite if the time of
with 2 c.c of pure sulphuric acid and cooled. A 10 settling is prolonged much beyond that stated.''
solution of sodium nitrite is added to the mixture, E. C. Cakron, Am,. Chim. Analyt., 1912, 17, 127-
drop by drop, with stirring. The following colour 120, Journal <</' lh<- Society <>f Chemical Industry,
changes are observed :—yellowish-orange, orange- Vol. 31, p. 460.' (J. 0.)
red, blood red with green dichroism, finally goose-
y-red. The spectrum of the liquid in the latter Determination r Iron and Aluminium.—
<
i- almost identical with thai of reduced luenio- " The separation of iron and aluminium by heating
'
the ignited oxides in a current of hydrochloric acid tin' application of the cupellation is readily sen, are
gas, so as to volatilise the iron as chloride, is found given oelow :
attacked; the gas requires no special purification, lead, in the midst of the furnace they are even the :
and the method is recommended as being both rapid dross of silver. Therefore thus saith the Lord God :
and accurate. In separating iron and aluminium Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I
from other metals by the acetate method, the author will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. s they . I
neutralises the solution by ammonia, in presence of gather silver, mil brass, and iron, and lead, and tin
methyl orange, am! then adds a little strong am into the midst of the furnace, to blow the lire upon it.
monium acetate solution and boils the mixture, when to melt ii; so will [ gather you in mine anger and in
a flocculent precipitate is produced, which i- readily my fury, and will leave i/ou there, and melt yon. Yea,
I
washed."— H. Borck, '/.. angcti: Client. 1912, !.b, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the lire of my
719-720, Journal of the Society oj Chemical Industry, wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst tin rent."
Vol.31, p. 460 (J. G.) I'./ek. xxii, 18-22.
'Thy silver is become dross I will tutu
my upon thee, and
hand purely purge away
METALLURGY. thy dross, and take away all thy tin Isa. i. 22 25. :
'
'
They are brass and iron they are all corrupters.
The Early History of Cufellation.— "The The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the-
;
'
For thou, O God. hast proved us thou hast :
have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.' Isaiah The lire, lie
barley, bran, and salt had been added.
xlviii, in.
says, was kept up during live successive days.
'And I will bring the third part through the lire,
StraboJ refers to cupellation when he says that the
ami will reline them as silver is refined, and will try
silver ore from the mine was washed five times, the
them as gold is tried : Zech. xiii, !•.
dregs were then selected, ami the lead being poured
•
Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place He describes the
oil, the silver was obtained pure.
tor the gold where they line it.' .lob xxviii, 1.
silver furnace as being constructed so that the pesti-
But perhaps the earliest known reference to the lential vapours of the lead were raised and carried
actual cupellation process is made in a poetical
oil'. The use of lead in refining gold is mentioned
passage in the Scriptures in which David implied
by Theognis,§ who lived in the sixth century, B.C.
the common existence of this process :
David is not satisfied with saying that the word of them. In the province of Barcelona great heaps of
the Lord is as pure as silver, tried and purified several
litharge have been discovered near the site of an
times. He wishes to represent the most perfect ancient furnace. In the many ancient camps of
state of purity. Consequently he descends to a par- France, evidences are abundant of this method of
ticular method and says. Tried in a furnace of
'
nace was considered best. Whether, as now, burned of cupellation, and Theophilus, who wrote in the
bones were used in making this earthen cupel, is not eleventh century, describes minutely the method of
indicated, although bone-ash is not essential to the preparing the crucible or cupel for the purification of
operation. Other earths have been used, but it the silver, and with careful detail gives directions
would not la; inconsistent with the common practice for conducting the process. Agricolall describes ;v
of those times to have used hone-ash, since we lind
that this substance was frequently used in the arts
-.-i. '
l.i s Travaux Publics,' 710.
at that time. This s indicated by the passage,
j
I,,
cause he burned the bones of the king of Edom into > Moore, '
Ancient Mineralogy,' p. 44.
Dubree. L'ExpIoitation des Mines'; also Leger, Les Tra
lime.' Amos ii, 1.
'
Other Scripture references cited by Napier (re- Theophilus, Diversarum Vrtum Schedula,' translated b.y
W
- '
ference cited) and by II. Pulsifer ('Notes for a llin-li ia, I. I'm. Is47. )>. -J-7
20 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of Smith Africa. .Inly 1912
smelting-house with the necessary apparatus for the essentials of the operation are the same as the
separation of silver from lead by cupellation, anil ancients used."—R. C. Benner and M. L. Hart-
illustrates his description with wood-cuts, in which MANN, Mining and Scientific Press, April 6, 1912,
the smallest details are treated in the most painstak- p. 50J. (II. A. W. i
the name mruchec, which signifies anything that feeders and the crushing machines.
dissolves.
1
This was the
melting, and was con-
first
If the mill bins are allowed to run empty at cut -oil,
ducted in the mountains the product was taken to;
the tonnage crushed is the tonnage delivered This
heir houses, where it was subjected to a second
I
The natives of India were acquainted with the hius. If the hiiis are not allowed to run empty,
ptocess of cupellation three hundred years ago. errors will he introduced into the calculation, vary-
lagging a hole in the ground, they worked up a com
ing with the grade of the ore and the ability of the
positii f moist ashes with which they plastered
superintendent or foreman to guess the quantity
the cavity, making a sort of a combined cupel and
lying in the bin and for which allowance must be
furnace in which they Bred the mixture of lead and
made.
ore. Tin. operation was repeated until final!} the
Automatic Weighing at Hedley. In cases where
silver was recovered. Little progress was made dur-
the ore has not been passed through a sampling mill,
ing the time of the alchemists in the methods of
the best method of ascertaining tonnage and value of
refining precious metals, but Geber gives a c plete mill feed, in my opinion, is that employed by Prank
description of the process of cupellation, which he
A. Ross ai the mill of the Daly Reduction Co.,
states was hastened by the addition of saltpeter, by
Hedley, P C, and described by him in the Engineer-
which impurities such as copper and tin were re
ing and Mining Journal, of Oct. '2&, IOds. I give -,
any period ot time uesn The s ample so taken cutdown and preparei for assay in the usual mannei 1
fails into a recepta^ le or conveyor belt, and is Though nut pertinent to the subject of this arl icle,
«s 1
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•12 The Journal of 'The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1912
this method of handling mill feed has other advan- : the work of one crushing machine may he checked
tages, as Mr. Ross remarks. In efficiency tests, etc. , |
against another the machines may be more closely
;
Tons, Oz.
Surface ore (6
Ore from old dumps 0*
Mine ore :
level. S. stope
•JIKI (u
Conci Titrating .
The tube mills ran ... .hours, or ,.. ofapossible .... figured on a mill basis
The tube mills delivered to the cyanide department, net tons of finely
ground material, averaging oz., and containing
Cyanidmg :
accounting tor oz
Solutions, pulp, zinc, etc., were on hand at close of month, estimated
as containing OZi
Total indicated.
Total obtained.
July 191J Notices and Abstracts Metallurgy _»:?
Lb, Lb.
Sodium cyanide (125 130 _< consumed Per ton treated
Per ounce recovered
Zinc consumed : Per ton treated
Per ounce recovered
Lime consumed : Per ton treated
Per ounce recovered.
Pebbles added : Per ton ground
Per ounce recovered
( Irushing and grinding parts renewed : Per ton crushed or ground
(Specify battery or tube mill) Per ounce recovered
matched as to their individual performances and at ; (by sampling, measuring, and assaying), with even a
a mill treating custom ores, ores from different reasonable degree of accuracy, the metals existing at
mines, 01 ores the treatment of which calls for cer- any determined moment at cut off in a modern agita-
tain definite mixtures, these mixtures may be readily tion mill in continuous operation, with agitators,
made and varied as wanted, precisely as in smelter thickeners, excess-pulp tanks, solution tanks, zinc
charges. boxes, etc., all more or less charged with materials
Automatic Tailing Samph r Bent. If a determina- — of different character and value. At such a mill.
tion of the tonnages of crushed material distributed moreover, to shut down and clean up monthly is not
to different departments is required, automatic time even to lie thought of. The information required in
samplers, worked by an electric clock or controller, order to form an approximate judgment as to
will give results most closely approximating the whether the plant is really turning out the metals
facts. The sample of the final mill tailings should called tor by the daily records must be sought in
he taken by an automatic time sampler. If the How some other way.
from the plant is intermittent, as from some types of It requires little foresight, and involves no parti-
vacuum and pressure iilters, the pulp should he cular inconvenience, to arrange the treatment so
dumped into a tank of ample capacity to handle the that the tonnage in suspense at cut-off does not vary
-urges at each cycle, equipped with some suitable materially from month to month. If the grade of
device for maintaining a regular ami continuous dis- the ore treated is not subject to wide fluctuations.
charge. Iunderstand that at Santa Gertrudis observation of the balances appearing in the In
'
(Pachuca) the .Merrill press residues are sluiced into Suspense' column will give as close a check on the
a Dorr thickener, the continuous underflow from actual recovery as can be had without a cleanup.
which is sampled. This would appear to he a satis Aft er he first couple of months, these balances will
t
factory procedure, as it furnishes a proper sample reflect closely the state of affairs in the mill, as re-
and at the same time clarities the return water. gards checking of actual recovery with the theoretical
Whatever the sampling, weighing, and assaying figures. If the mill is doing close work the balance
methods may be, the data obtained from them are will be nearly constant from month to month,
part of the general mine accounting, and should he whereas any shortage or overrun of importance will
assembled and compiled in the manager's office from be shown by an increase or decrease of the balance
day to day, for transfer to the metallurgical balance figures. If closer watching is required, the cut oil
tit monthly intervals. In this work las well as in a must he mote frequent but this might involve too
:
variety of metallurgical and engineering calculations) much work except in extraordinary cases, or at mills
the use of a Brunsviga calculating machine will he which ship unmelted precipitate.
found most advantageous, as insuring accurate com- The 'In Suspense' column of such a statement
putations with a minimum of clerical stall'. There should receive the careful attention of the mine
may he other machines of equal speed and accuracy ,
manager, and tiny variations not accountable lor by
but the Brunsviga is a simple, portable device, and difference in made of ore in mill tit cut-off, imperfect
lias the great advantage of substantial construction clean-up as compared with usual practice or other
and comparative freedom from the necessity "i re- causes which will suggest themselves, should receive
pairs. At mines far from repair shops and mechanics prompt investigation. As in every other business,
expert in line machine work, this is a most valuable the only wav in which a correct inventory of stock
feature. on hand can he obtained is to take one. At least
Tabulated Forms Convenient. To illustrate the — once a year, the balance appearing as in suspense
method of accounting suggested, I give herewith a should lie verified by a general clean-up, which may
tabulated form (Fig. I) which was introduced by me be combined advantageously with an overhauling of
several years ago into the metallurgical records of a the mill. Pew plants tire kept in such operating
well known Mexican mine, arranged to suit condi- lition that an occasional overhauling will in il
tions ruling at the time. It will be noted that it improve their work and advantage may be taken of
;
provides for concentration, amalgamation, ami this repairing to check the production definitely,
cyanidatiou and, as trie- residues from the two
;
w il ho, it undue less of running lime.
former operations were ultimately delivered to the Records Based mi Mill Assays Alone. —The metal-
cyanide department, the division showing metals in lurgical bah e-sheet should be prepared from mine
mill at cut-off, headed In Suspense,' appears only
' assays of crude ore and products, no consideration
under Ore Cyanided.' If tonnage were held back
E
being given to assays of smelters or refiners to whom
in the" amalgamation and concentration woi ic, similar tin- products are sold. With reasonable care and
divisions would be introduced into the respective diligence, sampling and assaying can he done as
tabulations, the total metals in suspense in the mill ; u lately .ii ihe mine as at the refinery, and where
being obtained by combining the figures appea there is a conscientious effort to ascertain the exact
in the three divisions. At few mills, however, is id contents of shipping product on the part of li-
1 1
the treatment such that this would be necessary. mine force, I should be inclined to support their
It is practically impossible to estimate in detail ic. ults a- against the average smelter returns. Prom
)
24 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1012
by me, while manager of an isolated Mexican pro- which have appeared in your journal concern-
perty, and served at the same time as part of my ing the transportation of battery pulp through
monthly report to the bead office. It will be noticed iron pipes for great distances, and as data on this
that in addition to data concerning the work of the subject an' rather scarce, probably the enclosed item,
month, the form shows also totals for the year, up to whic h was .very kindly sent to me by T. J. ( Jrier,
the date of report, of smh items as tonnage and con- superintendent of the Homestake Mining Co., at
tents of mill feed, concentrate, precipitate, bullion, Lead, South Dakota, will prove of general interest
tailing, etc. As used, it was typewritten but a :
to your readers.
Lead Sand Line. Central Citj Tallin 'X Line. Load SliiiR- Line.
I>ia. of pipe 12 in. Sin. 12 in.
Thickness of pipe 9 Hi in. 9/16 in. 9/16 in.
Average grade ... Part al 5 IV _•
Part at 2
Bends in line Tin pipes generally follow the contours of the bills: the harpest curve is
22J", a
standard elbow for flanged I. pipe being used. <
'.
1 hi i
.o _ In iut . and new pipi
I. reeentli insl ailed, for use
other month
will (serve to illustrate the desirability of a method the law mints receive gold bullion in any amount.
of checking actual production with indicated re- This bullion is deposited by the owner of it, and a
covers of tals. With the necessary alterations receipt is given for the gioss weight of the deposit.
and additions to fit individual cases, they will be The bullion, whether it is in the form of a bar, retort
found useful (and sometimes very enlightening) at or grain-, is first sent to the deposit melting room,
many mines where the cyanide process i- in use. where it is melted and thoroughly stirred, so that
E. II. Websteb, Engineering anct'Mining Journal, the bar may be homogeneous, and is then poured into
April 20, 1912, p. 791.' (A. R.) a mould and takes the form of a bar of bullion.
July 1912 Notices mill Abstracts: Metallurgy. 25.
Samples are taken from this bar to determine tlie stamped with tbe mint stamp, the number of troy
contents of the bullion deposited. These samples ounces contained, the fineness and the exact value.
are then assayed, and the assayer of the institution They are then stored and form a basis for the issue
reports with respect to the contents of both gold and of gold certificates by the Secretary of the Treasury.
silver. The weight after melting is taken as a basis In performing actual coinage work, the ingot's.
for settling for tbe bullion, and when the value of which have stated are of the standard fineness ate
I
the bar is determined, the depositor is paid for it, less ami blanks are cut therefrom which
rolled into strip-,,
the charges which are imposed upon all bullion for are milled, annealed, cleaned, stamped and weighed,
treatment. This payment is made either by draft and arc then ready for issuing.'' FRANK M. —
upon the assistant treasurer at New York orChicago, Downer, Colorado Electric Clvb, Mining Sciew-e
or in coin, as may be desired by the depositor. The May 10. 1012, p. 126. (A. R.)
bullion at this stage in almost all cases, contains
both gold and silver, and it becomes necessary to Analysis of int. Pachuca Tank ami its
separate the metals, which we do by the electrolytic OpkratioN. " l!i -fore the proof- of these assertions
process. All gold under 900 fine is mixed with silver, an- submitted the principles of airlift pumping
melted and cast into bars, forming an alloy cont ain- should be reviewed. Those who have never had
ing approximately 40 gold, 50 silver and m base occasion to investigate the phenomena oi air-lilt
metal. These bars are suspended in vats containing pumping will find the subject fully dealt with in the
silver nitrate and a small amount of free nitric acid, experiments ami conclusions oi Dr. Pohle, who
and are called anodes, forming the positive poles of obtained a patent from the United Stat,- for the
the cell. For the negative poles of the cell, or use of compressed iii in pumping.
cathodes, strips of pure silver are used. When the From Dr. Pohle'a experiments, and those made by
electric cm rent passes from the anodes to the myself, my understanding is that pumping by com-
cathodes the silver and base metals are dissolved pressed air is effected in the manner described helow,
from the anodes, and pure silver is deposited at the with due reference to the c lit ion- of the air-lifting
cathodes. In from four to live day- the anodes, re- or transfer of pulp in a tank for the pnrpose of effect-
taining their original shape and containing from 90 ing agitation. At the starting of agitation, after
to 94% gold, are removed, washed, melted and cast tin- tank has received its charge, the pulp level is
into anodes, to be treated by what is known as the tbe same within and without the air-lift tube, which
electrolytic gold [process. Here the anodes are sus- extend-, say, or 4 in. above the pulp level.
''<
If the
pended in porcelain vats containing gold chloride pulp has the consistency of' 2 to of solution and
I
and small amounts of hydrochloric acid. Strips of solids, the pulp pressur the bottom of the tank
pure gold are used for the cathodes. The action of will be 0*54 lb. for each fool in height of tank charge.
the electric current liberates chlorine at the anode, The air pressure for the agitation of such a charge
dissolving gold and base metals and forming silver should be 10% greater, or. say, ti tin lb. for each foot
hloiide with the silver contained in the anode. The in height of he charge.
I When the compressed air
action at the cathode is the deposit of gold which is at this pressure is turned on in the air-pipe ter-
practically pure. The silver product from tbe silver minating near the bottom of the lift-tube, it flows
cells will have an average fineness of 999o. and tbe into the pulp there, which has a pressure of only 0"54
gold from the gold cells will have an average line Ih. per foot of height. The compressed air, on enter-
ness of approximately 999 '6, although we have pro- ing the pulp in the lift-pipe, assumes the form of
duced by this process, when the conditions were all hubbies and these, rising through the pulp, imme-
:
extremely favourable, gold which the assayer diately unite to make a large flattened bubble which,
certified was of a fineness of 999 99, which you will extending to the -hies of the pipe, takes the form of
observe is practically pure gold a disk or piston, in which form it rise- to tin: surface,
Formerly before the introduction of the parting [lushing the pulp before ir. Rivalry now begins
ami refining of bullion by the electrolytic process between the pulp and compressed air for the privilege
gold bullion was refined by nitric acid ami by sul- of filling the space \ acated by he ascending air-disk.
t
phuric acid. The process of refining by electrolysis The pulp, endeavouring to restore the hydrostatic
is a German invention, and was first introduced in equilibrium bet ween the contents of the air-lift tube
'
hi- country in a small way at the mint of the United and those of the tank outside, and aided by its greater
States at Philadelphia. When operations were com- volume (due to the disparity of size between the
menced at the Denver mint something over six years compressed-air and air-lift lubes), rushes past the
ago a complete electrolytic plant was established air-nozzle, holding hack for a moment the issue of
here, and all of the work performed in Denver has air. But immediately the air. on account of its
been done by this process. In the actual coining of higher pressure, again succeeds in entering the lift-
money this pure gold or pure silver which we secure tnlic in sufficient quantity to form another air-disk.
from the refinery is alloyed with i sufficient amount with the same result as before. Thus by frequent
.if copper to make an ingot of the standard fineness jet- of compressed air, alternating with rushes of
of 9110 parts (the other 100 part- being copper . From pulp into the bottom of the air lift tu le, the lifting-
this the coin is manufactured with a fineness of 9U0 operation i- effected. The modus operandi of the
gold or silver. an -lilt, a- above briefly described, i- disputed by
Until about a year ago, under the law the Scnc
. si , who bold that the inflow of air is continuous,
tary of the Treasury was permitted to issue gold and that the lifting effect is produced hy tic forma-
certificates against actual coin only, but a law passed tion of a large number oi bubbles in the pulp in the
by Congress in March, 1911, authorized the insnr- lift tube, which makes it lighter, ami, consequently,
iii ( of gold certificates against gold bullion as well subject to displacement hy the heavier pulp in the
is against gold coin, with the result that since that tank outside, rushing in at the botl of the tube and
date but little gold coinage has been execute. at any
I causing the discbarge of the lighter pulp at the top.
of the mints of the United States. The gold bullion, A little study will show that his apparently logical
refined by tbe process that I have briefly outlined, is reasoning cannot account for the operation of the
cast into Lais of about 500 07.. and of a value of air-lift, for individual bubbles rising through the
approximately §10,000 each. These bars are then liquid in the air-lift tube could have no more effect
—
:26 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Afr .hilv 1912
in lessening the hydrostatic pressure at its intake creased oxygen content in the fresh air which permits,
than would so many corks rising through it. On the and facilitates such explosions which seldom reach
contrary, it will be readily seen that, were the corks the working faces where the oxygen is low and the
to unite and form disks or pistons Idling the pipe, CO., high. He tried experiments passing air through
these disks would, on rising through the lift-pipe, coal dust and exploding the mixture by a spark, and
carry the intervening pulp upward with them. obtained an explosion every time. On reducing the
It is not improbable, however, that in certain content to 18%, no ignition or explosion was ob-
kinds of liquids having gieat viscosity, the inflow of tained. Further experiments showed that the
compressed air would be imprisoned as numerous percentage of ash in the dust affected the results
small individual bubbles, and would in this way bom considerably, a high ash requiring a high O content
an emulsion of the liquid within the tube, which to enable it to ignite- -carbon dioxide lias also a
emulsion, being lighter than the pulp outside, would marked influence.
be lifted or shoved upward by the heavier pulp coin- He it is impossible to keep the mine
states that
ing in to displace it. But this condition would not air free from the small quantity of dust (which is all
be probable in the case of an ore slime. that is required for the propagation of an explosion)
The principal defect of the air-nozzle of the and much easier and more satisfactory to reduce the
Pachuca tank in the amount of ineffective work that oxygen content to 174%, thereby obtaining an abso-
must be done by the compressed air in making its lute guarantee of immunity from explosions. He
numerous jet like escapes into the air lift tube. The points out that from a respiration point of view,
superficial area of the exterior of the rubber stocking, IT! oxygen is ample for animals, and that the
that must open and close for each jet of air escaping, lighting of the mine can be achieved by the use of
is 36 sq. in. at least and on each inch of this area
;
electricity or acetylene lamps.
Ihere i- a conl inuous pressure of 0'54 lb. per foot in He suggests that the most feasible way of reduc-
height of the tank charge. As filled in operating, ing the O content of the intake air is by diluting it
there are 43 ft. of pulp in the tank, making an ex- with purified Hue gas, and calls attention to the
ternal pressure of 2:<,"1> lbs. per square inch, or a enormous value of such a plant for putting out a lire
total of s3f> lbs. uii he movable part of the stocking
t :
in the mine.
and this weight must be lifted by each jet of ail- In conclusion, he deals with the other methods id
admitted to the air-lift tube. In view of the great preventing dust ignitions and their attendant dis-
frequency of the air jets, the enormous amount of advantages."— Dr. J. Harger, Journal of the
useless work which this form of valve necessitates Society of Chemical Industry, No. 9. vol. xxxi., p.
will he apparent. Moreover, the numerous alternate 413. (G. F. 'A.)
openings and closings of the rubber stocking soon
destroy its elasticity and wear it out. The difficulties Illogical Precision in Mink Reports.- "In
attending agitation in Pachuca tanks are described drawing attention to the prevalent custom of ex-
by Huntington Adams, in a paper read at the pressing large tonnages to the extreme accuracy of a
Wilkes-barre meeting of the Institute, and need not single ton. and of reporting mine assays to excessive
be repeated here. minuteness, the writer will endeavour to show that
It should also be understood that the efficiency of these practices are, in themselves, inconsistent, and
irpiiinpiiig is affected by dimensions of apparatus, that the results can be expressed with the same
He differently from that of mechanical pumping. degree of accuracy and a much greater degrt t
pOr instance, a mechanical pump designed for a 6 in. mathematical reason by approximations in the shape
scharge pipe will pump as easily the same quantity or simpler round figures.
' '
candle llame ai 17 down to hydrogen al ',' I*. is absolutely impossible to judge from a drive what
He dials with the Commission reports mi the subjeel will he he width of lode when exposed in a stope
i
ami goes on in -how that since ventilation has come above, In the same principle
< he width of lode as
1
in, ignitions developing into detonating explosions exposed in rises or winzes is no certain criterion of
well ventilated main roads are more frequent that dimension at a short distance horizontally in
formerly. This lie explains, is due to the in- either direction.
-
The method of determining the mean apparent indicate a discrepancy. From its specific gravitj
width of a block of ore is to average the widths of the weight of a cubic foot of lode stuff can he detei
hide as taken al regular intervals in the drives above mined and expressed in decimals of a ton. If this
and below, and in the rises or winzes on each side of multiplying factor is not correct it is palpable thai
the block. This is accurate, always supposing that in calculating the tonnage of a block an error, glow
the walls, or payable limits of the lode, are plane ing with the cubic content, is introduced.
surfaces. Some mines have remarkably good walls, In view of the foiegoing statements, which all
hut for i>ne mine which possesses them there are have reference to but one of the integral parts oi the
many which do not. In fad he chances are that in
. I ore reserve of a mine —
viz. a single block of ore- it
:
the heart of a block of ore the lode will have eithei follows thai it is unsound, and, moreover, mat lie
a greater or less width than the average as deter- matically improper, to express a large total tonnage
mined from the exposed edges of the block. In in terms of units. In older fullj to consider the
Western Australia the so-called walls of a stope are accuracy of an ore reserve statement it may lie well
being continually either broken into or allowed to to imagine the case of a mine which has a certain
narrow up, and the resulting inequalities may be tonnage blocked out, no development work having
easily imagined. been done since the date on which the "stimate was
As stoping proceeds ona new block of ore the made. When this ore is completely extracted and
treated, will the mill returns show that a tonnage
iosyncrasies of width are made manifest, and after
time it is possible to make an adjustment of its ore
i
equal to the ore reserve has been crushed, and that
the gold recovered, added to that lost in the residue-,
content by re-estimating from the fresh data avail-
is equivalent to that given in the same estimate '.'
circumstance.
These considerations brine us to the fact that
In dealing with the question of reporting mine
when an estimate is made of the cubic contents of an assays, it must he borne in mind that many mine-
untouched block of ore there must always be a
assay their u inlet ground samples to the nearest penny
doubt regarding that dimension which constitutes w eight only, and that in any case it is not practicable
the width. Into the length and height there does dwt., or,
to assay them to a greater accuracy than !.
hauling costs, they arrive at the conclusion that, metal mining may conveniently be considered under
when due allowance is inacii- for differences in the four beads.
inclines and heights of drives, train weights, number 1. Those sunk to locate a body
of ore in an un-
of cars hauled, etc., the proportion of hauling costs explored vein that
'prospecting -hafts.'
: is
per effective ton kilometre between the different 2. Those sunk for the express purpose fordraining
systems may, with sufficient accuracy, be stated to a given zone, either virgin or comprising old work-
he as follows : Accumulator locomotives, '>"> pf. : ings.
pneumatic, 7'0 pf. overhead direct current, 44 pf.
:
;
3. Those sunk for the economic development and
and single phase alternate current, 42 pf. If, how- extraction of a known or assumed body of ore.
ever, the working conditions in the mine are such 4. Those sunk exclusively for ventilation, or for
that the locomotives are not continuously used, but providing additional mean- of egress from the work-
ili.it pauses occur in the hauling sen ice long enough ings for purposes of safety, etc.
to admit, if required, of changing the accumulators It frequently occurs that nearly all the above
or refilling the compressed air receptacles, the pro- requirements are covered by one -haft, yet the classi-
portion of the costs per ton kilometre would be fication will he found 1 think, convenient for purposes
slightly modified in favour of accumulator and pneu- of reference.
matic locomotives, and stand at 9 S, 7'0, 5 5 and 5'2 -
Dealing with the first division, 'exploration
pf. ie-i x ely.
t All the sj steins named have proved
i shafts." and assuming that the topography and the
safe in working, but in applying the above figures dip of the vein are such that either an inclined or a
the anthiir- expressly state it must he borne in mind vertical shaft could he sunk, believe it is generally
I
that they are computed with special reference to the considered thai the inclined shaft is preferable,
general conditions prevailing in the Ruhr district especially for exploring an undeveloped zone in a
(Germany), where the length of the hauling drives district that has not been proved at depth by other
ire mostly from 1,0(10 to l,o(l0 metres, and their in- mines in the neighbourhood.
clines from in 300 to I in SIX), while the trains as a
I The advantages generally claimed by -inking ,, h
:
rule consist of from 25 to 35 loaded ears.' S A. the vein with an incline arc the following :
Milling Revien; June 1912, p. 122. (A. K.) (1) That the vein can he followed however much it
changes, and no long cross-cuts are needed in reach
the ore for exl tact ion purposes.
Vertical versus Incline Shai rs in Precious (2) That, when the first exploration shaft that is
Metal Mining. "There is still a great diversity sunk on an out-cropping rich ore shoot is inclined
of opinion as to the relative merits of inclined and and follows trie ore, the ore extracted will often paj
vertical shafts hence, the excuse for these notes is
;
expenses; hence, the maximum of exploration i-
not so much to give an account of experience, or my accoinplished with the minimum of expenditure.
to slate my
own opinion regarding the matter, as to (3) That, owing to the fact that quartz forming a
sum up and analyze some of the generally accepted vein is often softer and more uniform than the wall
ideas, so
as to obtain a general discussion of the rock, sinking operations can he accomplished more
whole subject from other members of the profession, rapidly and economically by an inclined shaft on the
thus enabling us to hear the most recent experience vein than by either a vertical or inclined -haft in the
and advanced opinions of engineers in Mexico. country rock.
A three or four compartment inclined shaft sunk While it is true that the last advantage claimed
mi the vein was almost universal practice in Cali- may often exist near the surface in dry ground, the
fornia for a great number of years, and we may still advantages are generally more than offset by other
find sonic notable examples of four compartment disadvantages.
inclined shafts with only two hoisting compartments The disadvantages of sinking on the vein may be
through which from three to live hundred tons of ore enumerated as follow.-.
is handled with self dumping skips every 24 hours, (1) Nearly all veins carry more water than the
from depths of 2,000 to null feet, on the incline and
.'I.
w alls, hence, if sinking is carried on in the vein in a
even over. In South Africa understand the ten- I
wet zone, all the water of the region has to be
dency has been to change from vertical to inclined drained while actually -inking, and this with pumps
-halts, and also to the use of c hi nation shafts
of the sinking type. It is wall-known that a large
;
while here in Mexico the inclined -haft has been volume of water is always more difficult to handle
almost exclusively used for exploration purposes and with sinking pumps than with station pumps.
laihlci ways, the main hoisting and unwatering shafts (2) There is yet to be found on the market, an
being nearly all veitical. ideal -inking pump which will successfully handle
The subject may
be considered from various points gritty water without ceaseless delay from the cutting
of view : first, primary purpose of the shaft
as to the of packing and plungers. In neatly every case thi-
and the relationship of the surface topography to the difficulty is found to be greater with the sharp
dip of the vein and other local conditions secondly, ;
quartz grit from the vein matter than with the wall
as to the cost of sinking, and subsequent cost of rock, hut is often nearly negligible when -inking hi
extraction per ton and. thirdly, as to the intrinsic
:
a -late wall or moderately soft porphyry formation.
i- conveniently and economically through an in (4) If a large amount of valuable ore exists on
lined as through a verl ical shaft. either side of the shaft when -inking on the verb,
The purpose for which shafts are stink in precious and for commercial reasons it is desired to extract
July 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Mining. 29
iwing t" greater facility in suspending tbe pump probable at sight that the best procedure would
first
and in tbe formation of the sump. iica vertical shaft sunk in the banging wall of the
(4) It is also generally conceded that Ibe extrac- vein, and located so as to cul tic \ em just below the
tion of tin' ore can be earned on more e< miically deepest known winkings. But let us suppose a
through a vertical shaft than through an inclined of comparatively llat surface topograph} and where
one. an old mine has been taken under option, and
Personally I do not think that these claims in it is desired to reach the upper part of tbe old
favour of the vertical as against the inclined shaft working- just below water level at the earliest
can readily be substantiated. The choice should be possible date. In this case a vertical shaft would
controlled oy other factors. not be be-t. owing to the fact that verj long cross
Up to a few years ago. when we were dependent cuts would have to be driven before the uppci
upon steam or Cornish pumps for underground work, workings could be reached.
the inclined shafl also presented serious disadvan- If we waited until the full depth of the -hail had
tages on this score, but vviih the introduction of been sunk and a pumping station installed hiving a
•-lectin- station pumps and air or electric sinking capacity sufficient to control the nnwatering of tin-
pumps this, is no longer an obstacle. Ureal facilities whole mine, valuable time would be lost before anj
are offered by the use of electricity underground, and real progress could be made in lowering tbe water
with the establishment of air compressor stations level to make tbe upper workings accessible.
lose to the point of operations, provided the proper Furthermore in case of caved ore bodies in large
equipment is furnished and an intelligent system oi veins, the banging wall is liable to be badly fractured
work is organized, it should be possible to carry on and to .anse considerable trouble « ilh the alignment
work just us quickly and efficiently in an inclined and timbering of any shaft sunk near tin' zone. Tbe
shafl as in a vertical shaft. seepage water in the hanging wall is liable to be
Et isclaimed by some engineers in Mexico that ore excessive and cause trouble with sinking pumps
is most, successfully extracted from tbe mine by prior to the establishment of the larger and per-
wheeling tbe cars directly on to cages and hoisting manent station pumps.
these to the .surface, hence, there is a further pre- Another objection to the vertical shaft incases
judice against tbe inclined shaft owing to the diffi- similar to the above, is that if the ore bodies are
culty of constructing satisfactory incline cages on found to be workable at level- below the point at
which cars can be easilv bandied. Now as a matter which tbe vertical shaft cuts t tie vein, it would have
of fact, in tbe majority of camps outside of Mexico to be extended into the toot wall which i- typical oi
experience has shown that greater economy is ob- standard examples shown in the text k-. When I
tained with tbe use of self dumping skips, which can tbe upper levels of tbe mine are ultimately -toped
be handled just as easily and economically in an out. the resulting partial settle nt of the hanging
inclined as in a vertical shaft. wall often developes a bad fracture zone near the
The factors above enumerated have all to be taken point where tbe vertical shaft intersects tbe vein,
into consideration before final choice is made be- which in some cases has been the cause of endless
tween an inclined or vertical shaft for tbe first trouble and expen-e. A- already explained surface
exploration work. It is certainly as well to combine topography in relation to the dip of the vein must 1«-
tbe advantage of following a vein closely by means a very strong controlling factor in tbe choice between
of an inclined shaft with tbe facilities for the econo- a vertical and an inclined shaft, For instance, if a
mic extraction of waste rock and any ore that may vein dips sharply into a steep hill, an inclined shaft
in the foot, wall' is clearly indicated whereas if a
be encounted during exploration work, if this latter ;
can be done as efficiently through an inclined as vein dips with the surface of a bill, a vertical shaft
through a vertical shaft. I believe this is possible, located in the valley below may offer features ol
and would, therefore, emphatically recommend an accessibility, speed and economy that more than offsel
inclined shaft driven at a constant angle in tbe foot any other disadvantages as enumerated above.
wall and closely following the vein for all exploration Although somewhat cut of place in these notes, I
. work. In this case only short cross cuts will be think it would be apropos in view of tiie difficult)
required to tap the vein at frequent intervals. Less often encountered in nnwatering ground, to draw
water will probably be encountered in tbe foot-wall attention to a new system of nnwatering which lias
than in the banging wall side of the vein, and been recently attempted, and which really consists
of a small vertical shaft excavated by mean.- of
con-
ei tainly a great deal less water than in the body of
tbe vein itself. Sinking operations, therefore can be drills of large diameter. Where local conditions are
arried on with a minimum of difficulty with regard favourable to this class of work, it would no doubt.
compare favourably in speed and ec my with
to water, which greatly faeiltates the rapid advance-
ment of the shaft. shafts, certainly up' to moderate depths: particularly
in the case of veins dipping with the slope of
the hill
Pumping stations, and ore bins can be easily
located between the vein and the inclined shaft, and, where an inclined shaft would have great length, as
,
Si 'Die Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1912
against a vertical tube-we'.l of this nature sunk on hanging wall side which also have to be worked. In
the lowest part of the ground. this caseI would consider the vertical shaft asoutof
The MeKiernan-Terry Drill Company, of New the question, and think that the most simple and
York, have recently put on the market core drills economical way of solving the problem wouli be to
capable of sinking wells of this class of from IS inches drive two incline shafts in the foot wall of either
up to 4(1 inches in diameter, to a depth of 409 to 500 vein, the collars of either shafts being side by side.
feet and the liryon Jackson Iron Works of San
:
l?y this means ore from widely divergent points of
Francisco, California, have for several years success- depth can easily be delivered to the same starting
fully Imilt a special typ^ of centrifugal pump which point for metallurgical treatment. We
also have to
can he lowered to a depth of 250 or 300 feel in a consider the case where one vein is owned by two
tube-well over 20 inches in diameter, and can be companies the first one of which controls the crop-
;
driven by a motor at the surface, and which lias a ping of the vein and can conveniently sink inclined
very large capacity, up to 2,000 or 3,000 gallons pei shafts if required, but where the second company
minute would have to sink a vertical shaft to great depth
This system of unwatering by means of tube -wells before reaching the vein, which is known to ilip at a
lias been tried in Northern Mexico, using air lifts for
comparatively Hat angle.
extracting the water. Iam inlined to think that This has been a common case in South Africa, and
there is a considerable held in the future for this under these conditions the vertical shaft has in
system, as its great advantage consists in the fact nearly every instance been dropped down to a point
thai the well can be drilled without unwatering the
;
where the vein was reached. This has been subse-
pumps being lowered after tin- required depth has quently lol lowed with an incline shaft in the foot
been reached. Its greatest drawback, however, is wall of the vein, driven at a constant angle and
the limited deptli at which pumps suitable lor these although some difficulty has been experienced with.
wells can operate; although I have no doubt that the heavy wear and strain of the cables at the point
before long means will he found to design pumps where the vertical shaft changes to the incline shaft,
which will overcome this difficulty. Core drills are this has been largely overcome.
capable of sinking shafts up to I.OOO feet while the Where, however, the combination shaft can be
maximum head for large capacity pumps suitable for avoided, it is unquestionably belter to put in either
these wells is between 200 feel and 300 feet. 1 an inclined shaft on the same constant grade, or a
believe that as much as 3,1111(1 (I. P. M. have been deep vertical shaft but where the veins change
;
raised through a tube well of this type, 2(1 inches abruptly in dip, or where the dip reverses at great
diameter and 200 feci deep. depth tiiis is almost impossible to accomplish. With
We now come to the economic extraction of ores (he great facilities for underground hoisting stations
from a mine (sec. 3) and the advantages or disadvan- which now exist, as a result of the perfect electrical
tages of vertical versus incline shafts. equipment which can lie installed in mines, the most
If the ore is to he extracted by ans of cars run satisfactory arrangement would seem to be to install
on to a cage, there is no question but that the a separate discharge and blading point underground,
vertical shaft is the best and most convenient; but which, if properly planned and handled, should
as 1 have already indicated, modern practice seems cause but little loss of time or expense per ton of ore
to lie towards the elimination of he cac,e in Mexico
i handled.
and the adoption of large si/..' self dumping skips, Finally we have to consider those cases where
which are charged from the loading station of under- shafts are sunk exclusively for ventilation purposes,
ground bins. One of the great advantages of the or foi providing an additional outlet to the mine.
use of skips as against cages is that they can easily Large diameter core drills are now being used in
be arranged to handle both ore and water, provided the States for sinking holes in the hanging wall of
they are of the self dumping type; and for small the vein for ventilating purposes, and I believe that
mines, not having a great output id' ore, and where Ihe speed and facility with which air connections can
the water can be controlled hy occasional haling with be made with these drills is not generally appreciated
skips, this factor is one demanding consideration. in Mexico. As the holes drilled with these machines
Shafts which ai>' sunk expressly for the extraction are generally of very large diameter up to 20 inches,
id ore must, of course, he located principally witli and even larger, a 'shot type' of core drill is
relation lo the main ore shoots and thebUeral extent generally used for this work, in which case the holes
of the vein on either side of ilie shaft. The mouth
1
can only be sunk vertically, and must virtually
of the shaft must also lie located with regard to the therefore be classified as small diameter vertical
proposed location of be metallurgical plant.
i In the shafts.
case of nearly vertical veins, (lie vertical shaft is Where ventilation alone is to be considered, these
undoubtedly hest. and the only other consideration would certainly be far quicker to put down, and
is its location in relation to the above factors. We cheaper to drive than any form of standard incline or
also have to consider those special cases where there vertical shaft and in any case ventilation can lie
;
are a number of veins, and the ore from all the most satisfactorily obtained with a straight well
various underground workings of these veins bad to driven shaft than with the greater length required
be delivered at a given point. If the veins are more for i he incline shaft.
or less parallel on strike as well as dip and no great Where, however, the vein dips into the hill instead
distance apart, a vertical shaft is probably the hest. of running parallel with its face, an inclined shaft
I have, however, seen some special i-;im-s one of will be shorter and more economical to sink than the
which has recently been brought t
y attention. vertical shall. In the case of ventilation the ideal
Here two principal veins dip in opposite directions, condition is to reduce the frictional resistance to
their cropping* forming very nearly the apex of a the passage of air to a minimum, and to make con-
great triangle, whose base ai a considerable deptli nections in the most rapid manner possible with the
would he so lung as io prohibit all thoughts of cross least outlay for dead work.
cutting from a central vertical shaft; and besides Other conditions being equal, the really controlling
the two main vein-. here are other veins parallel on
I factors between the inclined and vertical shafts for
their strike dipping towards the main veins on the ventilating purposes will be those that have already
I
— —
July 191-' Xotices and Abstracts: Miscellaneous. 31
281/284. '(T.J.)
Whetherthe diamonds be found in alluvial soil or
mines of Kimberlite, it is certain hat hey always
in
MISCELLANEOUS. occur in company with grains of olivine, garnets,
1 t
Diamonds, Their Occurrence Kkcovkry, ilmenite. and mica and this has been proved not
;
TRKATMENT, Salk, AND U L'lLISATION.— " In Brazil, only so far as South Africa is concerned, but also
Georgia, and South Carolina a particular variation ill the diamondiferous glacier-moraines of North
of quart/.ite, called '
Itacolumite forms the matrix
'
America and the Brazilian deposits where diamonds
of the diamonds. In South Africa and at certain are found. It is, however, significant that all these
diamond producing districts in North America the minerals also occur in Bohemia except diamonds —
primary occurrence of the diamonds has been proved and that seems to prove that the occurrence of the
to be bound up with a serpentine like, chrysolitic former has no causal connection with the occurrence
stone to which the special name 'Kimberlite' has of the latter ; nor is the prevalence of diamonds in
been given. This Kimberlite is found near craters, the South African eruptive channels in any way de-
i lths of gorges, pipes, etc. —
The pipes or to give pendent upon the frequency or scarcity of the said
them a technically more —
correct name the eruption minerals. The conclusion seems, therefore, to be
channels have very different diameters, varying as justified tli.it the genesis
(crystallisation) of the
they do from a few meters up to 1 kilometer, as diamonds has been accomplished independently of
for instance in the Colossus mine, oil kilometers N.E. the minerals which generally accompany them.
of Buluwayo, and in some mines of the Transvaal. It h is generally been observed that the richness of
Their depth has been proved in some cases down to the pipes decreases with increasing depth. At the
700 m. and more, and all indications point to the Premier (Transvaal) Diamond mine for instance, the
probability that, thence, they descend further down loads of ground treated in 1903 numbered 76,931,
into the infinite profundity of the earth. The dia- yielding 99,208 carats, averaging about 35s. 6d. pci
meters of these eruption channels have been proved load. In 1910, when the ground was taken from a
to remain constant from the lowest depth up to the much deeper level. 9,331,882 loads were treated, but
beginning of the craters i.e., a few meters below the value of each load decreased to 3s. 2d.
the overburden, where the liquid magma thrown up In German South West Africa, too, diamonds
from the bottom of the pipes lias expanded in lateral h Lve In n found, but, so far, nothing definite is
i
clefts and fissures, so that the form of the craters is known about their origin, no eruption channels hav-
very irregular ; the regular circle or elliptic form of ing as yet been discovered. The region in which
the pipe itself only begins some distance below the i hey are found is situated near Kolmanskop, in Liid-
surface. This regular form of the pipes in conjunc- eritz Hay. The country there consists of gneiss,
tion with the absence of any corrosion or metamor- granite, horneblende-dolorite, chalk sandstone, and
phosis at their contact surfaces admit the assumption conglomerates. The surface is covered by sandhills.
that these round pipes have 1 n thrust from the Some experts have advanced' the opinion that the
interior of the earth through the rock formation by diamonds derive their origin from the sandstone con-
the force of an explosion, and, indeed, Hccording to glomerates, from which they are supposed to have
the unanimous consensus of expert opinion, the I
n lixivated by brakisli water others believe that
; .
South African diamond pipes are "I eruptive origin. they have been Hooded down by the Orange river,
In none of the diamond and Kimberlite-carrying but probably the origin of the diamond occurrences
craters has the magma penetrated through the over- in German South- West Africa is he same as in the I
burden, and it may. therefore, hi- assumed that it Transvaal —that is to say, they come from an erup-
bad not. tie- necessary force to do so. No expert has tion channel or pipe, which has not yet been dis-
idvanceri the theory that a volcanic eruptive cover- co\ ei eil.
ing might have existed at some time and been washed Other regions in Africa where diamonds arc found
32 The Journal of Tin Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. July 1912
are the Congo and Rhodesia. There the stories are sight. Amongthe quality stones we distinguish to
rather small sized, but their quality is first das-. tween ami rosettes, the difference consist
brilliants
The oldest diamond lields known to history are in ing in the number
of the facets the finished stone
India, on the eastern sides of the Decean hills, where possesses. A brilliant usually has .58 facets, while a
they are found embedded in a pegmatitic stone in rosette does not require more than 24. In a brilliant
the midst of crystallinie rocks, which are presumably the upper part occupies one-third and the lower part
the original deposits. From India came the valuable two-thirds of the total height of the stone, the for-
historical diamonds, but at present the recovery of mer beinu surrounded by a double or triple series of
the precious stones there has almost ceased. A pri- facets. If a rough diamond is so formed that to givi
mary deposit does not appear to have been discovered it the shape of a brilliant would entail too much loss
among scientists without having found a satisfactory and one of 111 carat about 13 mm. Stones of very big
solution. At last a conglomerate was discovered size are called solitaires or nonpareils.
which, though highly corroded, contained similar Before a diamond is given to the cutter the rough
volcanic minerals to those of the South African erup- crystal is very carefully inspected, and as far as
tive channels, but no such channel has ever been possible split by small wedges into the correct shape.
found in Brazil. Recently a serpentine area has been The chips, if large enough, are cut into rosettes or
discovered in another region of Brazil, which shows used for other purposes, while the kernel of the
marked resemblance to iliu-i- in South Africa and stone is cut into a brilliant. The roses are, therefore,
Arkansas. much cheaper than brilliants but, on the other
;
In the last-named Stall- the most important dia- hand, they have not the same lire. Their clever
mond occurrences of the United States oi America utilisation, however, enables a skilled jeweller to
arc situated. These lields presumably owe their arrange with them, in conjunction with a brilliant oi
origin to the glacier erosion of a still undiscovered some coloured precious stone, in wonderful constella-
diamondiferous area, which, according to Rolls, is tions which, owing to their exceeding beauty, have
probably situated in the Southern pari oi Hudson's of late gained the favour of the diamond wearing
Kay. In California and Indiana diamonds have public in a higher degree than single brilliants.
been recovered, together with gold, from the ami •
After having been got by the splitter roughly into
ferous alluvials there. In this connection it may be shape, the diamond is subjected to the cutting pro-
mentioned that all diamonds found in such alluvials cess, from which it issues in a roundish form ready
showed very great similarity in their crystallisations for the third and last process, the grinding by mean -
as well as in their average sizes, ami, though re- of which the stones obtain their facets. This is a
covered from river beds and detritus, they were very difficult operation which requires great skill.
accompanied by similar minerals to those in South The diamond is firmly fixed in a pear-shaped holder
Africa. of zinc, ami immersed in a mixture of oil and dia
A fewvery small diamonds are also found in New mond dust. It is then placed, usually together with
South Wales in gold diggings. In similar surround- three others similarly prepared, in a frame, opposite
ings they also occur in Lapland and in be Ural
I the steel grinding disc, which when put into motion,
Mountains, but a primary deposit bjts not been dis- makes about 2000 revolutions per minute. By ufeans
covered in either of these places. of the friction between the diamonds and the dia
\11 these last named diamond occurrences are of mond dust iu the oil with which the stones are
very little importance when compared with those of covered, he four diamonds in theframe are gradually
i
South Africa, which by themselves contribute now-a- polished. Only one side of each diamond can thus
lie ground at one time, and w hen hat side is finished
days about '.IS lo the world's total output. t
the last few decades they have also assumed a very entirely new ground, at least a field somewhat
important pavt in mining by their unique suitability neglected.
for deep-boring in hard rock. Carbons as well as Chapter I. is a short introduction to the theory ol
boarts are inserted into the bore-catch, with the error, followed in the next Chapter ill.) bj a veij
sharp points and edges to the inside, and the larger complete analysis of error, in which the author ex
surface outside, so thai as many contact surfaces po-es to the reader his theorem of the average
with the ror-k as possible are formed. The wear and magnitude of error, which leads us to his criterion ol
tear of well inserted stones, even when used on the negligibility, tin these premises the author proceed-.
very hardest rock, i.- relatively insignificant, the cost in Chapter III., to examine the "best shape of
of it being estimated, according to t lie hardness and triangles " in surveying, and in the following chapter
nniforrnity of the rock, at. from Is. to 5s. per running investigates the propagation of error in traversing,
meter of the borehole. A special kind of diamond how to determinate the average error in traversing.
which is particularly fancied for boring purposes is and, finally, the propagation of error in triangulatiou
the Brazilian Dallas, a species of white diamonds, Here the student as well as the practising mining
whose formation is somewhat different from the surveyor will find plenty to ponder over, if not evt n
others. The pine quality diamond consists of several to learn anew.
layers, crystallinie split-surfaces, but with the Dallas A set of tables, doigned to facilitate the calcula-
the crystal] sation has taken place around a centre. tion of the average error in survey, are put in an
Owing to this reason the ballas are as round as balls, appendix, and will greatly facilitate obtaining tin
and their hardness and consistency are uncommonly average error calculation.
great. For boring in very hard rock it is advisable In a summary of results the author clearly sets
to employ ballas in conjunction with carbons, while forth the conclusions obtained, and differentiates
for medium hard stone (sand-stone, etc.) boarts are between bis new results and those already well
recommended on account of their greater cheapness. known to surveyors. On the whole a great nunibei
The ballas found in South Africa, like the other dia- of the results deduced conform to the general experi
monds of that province, are less hard and slightly ence and confirm and support it. London Mininn
less valuable than the corresponding Brazilian Journal, .May 25, 1912. p. 526. (A. K.)
qualities." London Minimi Journal, May 25, 1912,
p. 527. (A. R.)
Bradley, Fred. A. Pumping and Water Powei
A Guide to the Hydraulic Laws and Conditions [n
CoitAL As A FILTERING Medium. " We draw Huencing Pumping Operations, etc. Svo., pp. 132
attention to an extract in this issue, taken from the Span. Net 4s. (id.
•Straits Times' of 14th March, on the subject of Bragg, \V. H. Studies in Radio-Activity. Svo.,
the Sewage Scheme projected for the town of Singa- pp. 208. Macmillan. Net 5s.
pore. The point of the article is in connection with Briggs, W. andBausor, H. W. Elemental^
the preliminery experiments made to ascertain what Quantitative Analysis. University Tutorial Series.
was the best filtering material to use. It was a Cr. Svo., pp. 130. Olive. 2s.
happy thought to have hit upon coral as one of these, Brooks, E. E. and Poyser, A. W. Magnetism and
as it has come out much superior to both coke and Electricity. A Manual for Students in Advanced
laterite ; and, in a second experiment, also to clinker Classes. 8vo., pp. 642. Lonr/mans. Net 7-. lid.
and granite. One would think, judging from its Brown, S. E. Experimental Science. II. Chemis-
structure, that coral would be an ideal medium for try. C>\ svo., pp. I4s. Cambridgi Univ. Press.
the cultivation of bacteria beds, and we are sure no Nel 2s.
one will be surprised to learn that at the very first Burns, E. E. The Electric Motor and its Practical
trial it has proved to be so. We ourselves have had Operation. Cr: 8vor Span. Net 7s.
some experience with clinker in a percolating filter, Bythell, W. J. S. and Barclay, A. E. X-Raj
and must confess the results were pom- there- We Diagnosis and Treatment. (Oxford Medical Pub-
fore quite agree with our contempory that the dis- 8vo., pp. 160. 11. Frowde. Net 1.5s.
covery of the value of coral as a medium i- an im- Catalogue of Optical and General Scientific Inst rn
portant one." — Indian Enaineering, Vol. LI. — No. 16 inents. (Optical Convention, 1912).
Electrician Printing and Pub. Co.
8vo., pp. 390
\ ].iil 20, 1912, p. 214. (J! E. T.)
Collins, A. E. Plans and Specifications for Wine-
less Telegraph Sets. Part I. Cr. 8vo. ,S'/."/<.
them in a position to make the fullesl use of his Volume Term, (to., sd., pp. 42. Dulau. Net 2s.
methods in underground surveying and practice with Huygens, Christian. Treatise on l.i'.bt, in which
small instruments. He also invites discussion and are explained the causes of that which occurs in
estions from thoseof more purely mathematical Reflection and in Refaction, etc. Rendered into
turn of mind as to the points raised by his methods, English by Silvanus P. Thompson. 4to., pp. 142.
and we hink in his study of la- propagation of error
I t
Macmillan. Net 10s.
in survey he has most sui -fully covered, if not Kock, F. H, The Mathematics of Applied Elec-
I )
34 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. July 1912
New Edition. Longmans. Net 3s. lion, and (C) complete specification. The number
given is that of the specification, the name that of the
applicant, and the date that oj filing.
Abstracts of Patent Applications.
(P.) '232/12. William Arthur Caldecott. Improve
ments in or appertaining to apparatus for classifying
(C.) 398/11. Henry Gilbert Hubbart (1), Charles
crushed ore pulp. 23.4.12.
Craig ('2i. Improvements in apparatus for wash-
(C.) 233/12. George Wray Davies. Improve-
ing and separating or concentrating metallic
ments in explosive compounds. 23.4. 12.
ores, minerals and the like. 13.7.11.
(P.) 234/12. Thomas Henry Chad. An improve
This application relates to improvements in con- ment in the means of igniting detonators for blast
centrating apparatus of the "percussion table" ing and other analagous purposes or so-called fuse.
type. The apparatus described consists of an end 24 4.12.
shaking table, at the head of which, and just below (P.) 235/12. Alexander Gemmell. An acetylene
the point of supply, is provided a groove or riffle hand lamp. 25.4. 12.
across the table, for the purpose of retaining the (P.) Abraham Emil Larsen (l)and Francis
236/12.
concentrate, which is delivered through lateral out- Ernest Duuimelt (2). Improvements in paint.
lets, being assisted by scrapers or worms so disposed •.'(',.4.12.
as to co-operate with the jigging of the table. The 237/12. John Louis Boltt.
(P.) Improvements
tailing flows over the lower end of the table in the in apparatus for recovering precious stones and pre-
usual manner. One of the features of this apparatus
cious and base metals from alluvial matter and the
is the provision of launders for the delivery of the
like. 29.4.12.
concentrate, with a slope opposite to that of the
(0.) 238/12. William Lippiatt (1) and Ernest
table, which allows the forward jigging movement to
Breckle (2). Improvements in catches or fastening
assist the flow of the tailing and the backward move-
devices for sliding doors, partitions and the like.
ment tn assist the flow uf the concentrate.
29.4.12.
(C.) [408/11. George Anderson Robertson. Im- (P.) 239/12. Thomas Grilliths. The improved
provements in mills or machines lor crushing ore miners hand drill sharpener. 2!). 4. 12.
nieiit- in means for cooling ami preserving foodstuffs provements in converting steel or and wrought iron
ami other substances. 3.5.12. into cast iron. 20.5. 12.
(P). 246/12. Rowland Owen Pickin. An im- (C.) 273/12. ErnstTeichmann (1), Hugo
proved tool applicable for use as a wrench, drill, Braun The manufacture and production of pre-
(2).
extractor, pliers and for other purposes. 3.5.12. parations for giving immunity against trypanosonies
(P.) 248/12. Guy Aubrey Chalkley. Improve- and other pathiogenous micro-organisms. 20.5.12.
ments in supporting rock drills. 3.5. 12. (P.) 274 12. Albert Edward Rodgers (1),
(P.) Guy Aubrey Chalkley. Improve- Charles Dickie (2). Improvements in dust collectors
249/12.
for rock drills. 21.5.12.
ments in stietcher bars. 3.5 12.
(P.) 275/12. Frederick Victor William Swanton.
(C.) 250/12. James Noad. Improvements in Improvements in power producing apparatus.
apparatus for distilling shale and other bituminous
21.5.12.
substances. 3.5.12.
(P.) 276/12. Augustus Meyricky Hewett Thorp.
(C.) Charles William Brown.
251/12. Improve- Means for feeding oie, coal, pebbles and like material
ments in pneumatic conveying apparatus. 3.5.12. from storage bins. 22.5.12.
(P.) Tracey William Preece. Improve-
252/12. (P.) 277/12. John Hudson Hughes. An im-
ments in apparatus for lecovering precious and other proved safety catch for use on skip cages, lifts and
metals from alluvial deposits and the like. 4.5.12. the like. 23.5.12.
(P.) 253/12. William Gowan. Improvements in (C.) 279/12. Daniel Shaw Waugh. Improve-
rotary grinding apparatus. 4.5.12. ments in or relating to drilling apparatus. 25.5.12.
(P.) 254/12. Daniel William Fraser.
device A (C.) 280/12. Pascal Marino (1), Qnintini
or apparatus for withdrawing drills, posts, fencing Marino (2). Improvements
in the elt strolytie deposi-
standards and the like from the ground. 6.5. 12. tion of metals, particularly upon iron or steel surfaces.
(P. 255,12.
) George Henry Frederick Brazier. 25 5. 1 2.
(P.) 261/12. Leslie .Stewart Muir. Improve- (C.) 288/12. Ernest Graham Godfree An im-
ments in hose and pipe systems for distributing air proved automatic toll recorder for telephone systems.
to rock drilling machines and the like. 1.5. 12. 1
27 5 12.
(P.) 262 12. Thomas Braoshaw (1), Thomas (P.) 290/12. Johannes Hendrik Erasmus.
Alexander Dryden (2). Safely apparatus for truck Method for automatically producing power. 28.5. 12.
(C.) 302/12. John George Leyner. Fluid con- making of shovels, spades, garden forks and the like.
trolled drill steel forming and drill hit sharpening 26.6.12.
machine. 3.6.12. (C.) 331/12, Ernest Holroyd Martin. Apparatus
(C.) 303/12. John George Leyner. Rock drill- for feeding grinding bodies to tube mills. 26.6.12.
ing engine. 3-6.12. (P.) 332/12. Louis David Mills. Improvements
in precipitating metals from solutions. 26.6.12.
(P.) 301/12. William George. Improvements in
(P.) 333/12. Louis David Mills. Improvements
rock drill bits. 5.6.12.
in precipitating apparatus. 26.6.12.
(C.) 305/12. Albert Mitrani. Improvements in
and relating to metal bars use in ferro-concrete (C.) 334/12. Gogu Constantineseu. Improve-
for
ments in and relating to the automatic regulating of
construction. 7.6. 12.
feed of liquids for supplying carburetters and for like
(C.) 306 12. Max Adolf Bleiehert (1), Max purposes. 2S.6. 12.
Paul Bleiehert (2). Improvements in and relatingto
carriages for ropeways and the like 7.6.12.
(C.) 336/12. James Arthur Little. Improve-
ments in and relating to stem guides. 28.6. 12.
307/12.
( Elliott Quinc'y Adams. Improve-
)
ments in incandescent lamps. 7.0.12. (P.) 33S/12. Herman Clarke (1), James Alex-
Harrison George ander Campbell (2). Improvements relating to fuel.
(P.) 309/12. Robert (1),
28.6.12.
Kohler(2). Anew and improved method or arrange-
ment for opening, shutting, and fastening windows (C.) 339/12. OttoStuhangTonnesen. Improved
stand for rock drills. 28.6.12.
without the use of sash weights and axle pulleys 01
(P.) 340/12. William Gilbert Leigh. Water
window fasteners (to be known as H and K simplex
spray for laying dust underground. 1.7.12.
window gear). 7.6.12.
William James Melhuish (I),
(P.) 341/12. Charles Washington Merrill. Im-
(0.) 310/12.
provements in classifiers. 1.7.12.
Henry Mackeson (2). An improvement in themanu- 1'. 342/12. John Kenneth Addie. Improve-
ure of aerated waters, non-alcoholic beverages and
1
I
facl
in fermented and malt liquors and in the bottling of
ments in detecting misfired blasting cartridges.
1.7.12.
natural waters". 8 6. 12.
(P.) 343/12. William Calder. Improvements in
(C.) 312/12. Alfred Argles. Improvements in or
relating to the recovery of gold, silver, and copper
means for discharging comminuted matter from tube
mills. 1.7.12.
by amalgamation. 10.6.12.
(P.) 313/12. William Worthy. An appliance (P.) 344 12. Henry Simpson. Water and fire-
proof composition paint. 2.7.12,
for collecting the dust made when drilling dry holes
with compressed air rock drills. 10 6.12.
(P.) 345 12. Hugh M. Robb. Spring shaker.
2 7 12.
(P.) 314 Sigismund Rudolph James May-
12.
naid. Improvements in lubricators. 11.6.12. (C.) 346,12. Gustav Jebsen Christian. Process
for separating solid substances from solutions by
1 1'.) 315/12. Robert Wilson. Improvements in
valves. 12.6.12.
evaporation. 2.7.12.
C.) 316/lv. James Edward Anderson. Im- (P.) 347/12. Guy Aubrey Chalkley. Improve-
provements steam superheaters.in 14.6.12.
ments in supporting rock drills. 2 7.12.
(C.) :H7 12. Sidney Richmond Park. Improve- (C.) 350/12. Charles Oscar Anderson. Auto-
ments in o relating to the handles of spades, matic slack adjuster. 6.7.12.
c.i 351/12. Demetrio Maggiora. Improvements
slinxels, forks and like implements. 14.6.12.
(C.) 318 12. Ottokas Serpek Societe in solid tyres for vehicles and the like. 6.7.12.
(1),
Generate Des Nitrures (2). Process for the manufac-
ii >i ammonia by means of aluminium nitride. Changes of Address.
14.6.12.
(P.) 32UI2. Heine Wolf Adler. 'Improvements Members ami Associates are requested I" notify the
in devices for spraying mine workings. 15.6.12. Secretary immediately of any change in address,
(C.) 321 12 Moritz Kahn. Improvements in otherwise it is impossible to gin raniet the delivery oj
and relating i" ferro concrete const ruction. 17.6. 12. Journals nr Polices. Tin- Secretary should be notified
(C.) 322 12. Frederick Walter Baynes (1), of non-receipt of Journals ami Notices at oner.
Malcomess Co., Limited (2). An improved stroke
>\
regulating device suitable for windmills, pumps and BAWDEN, A In German S. W. Africa; Ingel-
I''. .
Harry Sal (2). Improvements in the manufac- Mines. Ltd I'. ). Box 15, Langlaagte. . (
ti f expanded metal and in apparatus tin Saner, C. B l/o Safoie Luipaardsvlei Estate & G.
, ;
(!'.) 329 12. Thomas Henry Chad. A w; Simpson, F. I.., /" Bulawayo; Concession Hill
proof covering or coating for "cheesa" sticks for Mine, Hartley. Rhodesia.
igniting fuses foi blasting and other analogous pur- WaTERHOUSK, L L, i/o New South Wales; Geo-
poses. 24.6 12. Survey Office, Launceston, Tasmania.
logical
(P.)William Vogelgezang Hughes (1),
330/12. WILSON, J. C, /„ Warmbaths; Antelope Cold
Walter Edward Pitt \S\ improvements in the Mine, Ltd., Matopos, Hhodesia.
—
THE JOURNAL
OF THE
2 hr Society, as a body, is not responsible for thr statements and opinions advanced in any of its publication*
R eproduction from tins Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment <;/ the smii
As Associates —
Ordinary General Meeting-.
Godwin, Henri , Village Main Reef G.M. Co., Ltd.,
August 17th, 1912 P. 0. P.ox- 1091, Johannesburg. Shift Boss.
GREEN, Morris, P. 0. Box 556, Johannesburg
Metallurgist. (Transfer from Student Boll).
The Ordinary General Meeting of the Society
was held in the South African School of Mines Phillips, Robert Maldwyn, Nourse Mines, Ltd.,
I'.O. Box 32, Denver. Reduction Works
Building, Johannesburg, on Saturday, August Learner. {Transfer from Student Roll).
17th, 1912, Mr. \Y. R. Dowling (President) in
TivvxA.ii, Cyril Douglas, Simmer Deep, Ltd.. P.
the chair. There were also present :
Johnson, A. McA. Johnston, A. Richardson, C I'ke, Pai'i. K.C.S., 63-65 George Si.,
.1, Brisbane,
Queensland. Metallurgist.
B. Saner, H. A. White, Professor J. A. Wilkinson
(Members of Council), Messrs. W. J. Abel, W. As Students
Beaver, J. Chilton, W. M. Coulter, II. Gascoyne, Herring, James Norman, Consolidated Langlaagte
W. W. Lawrie, G. A. Lawson, H. Lea, J. Lea, L. Mines, Ltd., P. 0. l"i, Langlaagte. Reduction
Marks, I'. T. Morrisby, (). Melvill, E. Pain, C. F.
Works Leai hit.
Parry, F. D. Phillips, .1. M. Phillips. W. S. V. Lamb, George Herbert Martindell, Witwaters
rand G.M., Ltd.. P. 0. Box 1, Knights. Cyanide
Price, K. Roberts, A. Rogers, A. Schwarz, A. L.
I, earner.
Spoor, S. H. Steels. W. A. C. Tayler, -I. A.
Martin, Wesley Hill, Simmer Deep. Ltd.. P. O.
Taylor. \V. E. Thorpe, G. Toombs and .1 . Watson.
Box 17S, Germiston, Cyanide Learner.
12 Associates and Students Messrs. \Y. E.
:
STIRTON, Percy Wilered, Transvaal Gold Mining
Burrows, C. J. Crocker, 0. A. Gerber, .1. Gibson. Estates, Ltd., Pilgrims Best. Assay Learner.
W. .1. R. Hunter, A. King, W. S. New. 1!. M.
Phillips, P. .1. Pooler, H. Stadler. A. M. Thomas
and W. Waters. SO-CALLED AH! BLASTS AND ROOJ
PRESSURE.
15 Visitors, and Fred. Rowland, Secretary.
been elected :
hension. Conclusions of this kind are not and the rock therefrom used for packing,
floor
uncommon amongst our mining men, many of thiswould assist in relieving the pressure in the
ivhom will not accept a simple explanation of working place.
things they do not understand, but look around There are some very hazy ideas prevalent re-
for some weird reason or other it raises their : garding roof pressure in general. Some people
dignity to deal in mysterious causes Person- in speaking of it, talk as if the whole mass of
'
sonally I do not find any mystery about the cover had to be dealt with. To obtain the
cause of these outbursts. Tiny are no doubt weight or pressure per square foot at any inclina-
caused by roof pressure, as I have pointed out tion is quite an easy matter. The following
several times. method may be used : —
Weight of a cubic foot
To understand the subject properly it must of rock in lb., multiplied by depth in feet,
not be forgotten that rock, sand, iron, steel, etc., multiplied by cosine of angle of inclination,
can be made to act like fluids, if there lie sufficient equals the weight or pressure in lb. a column of
pressure. If miners, as practical men, will get rock one square foot in area would exert if it
this fact well into their heads, a better idea of were free to move, which it is not. As a rule
some of the everyday happenings in the mines one only has to deal with the immediate roof.
will be obtained. There must lie some mining It is to hold this that props, sets, pigstyes,
men here who have seen a particular bed or packs, etc., are used, and in proof of this it may
stratum in a shaft, which would always be be pointed out that several severe cavings, from
breaking timber or crushing into the shaft others : 30 to 50 feet thick, have taken pillars, packs,
may have seen what appeared to be hard ground pigstyes, etc., with them. So what could be
that continually shaled off, whilst others agaiu done if the whole roof had to be dealt with ?
have often seen roads filled by "creep." These Our whole system of working would have to be
are all cases of rock being made to flow by roof changed. The amount of roof pressure that may
.
dealt with, and as the stopes get greater in sees success being built on failure. What is re-
area the parting or beam begins to break up. It quired here are some mining men who are ready
is known that a beam simply supported is not as to take risks in this matter. If they fail occasion
strong as a beam with the ends built in and ; alLy let them try with fresh energy to make a
this parting is a beam simply supported under success as has happened at Panama. Until men
the conditions mentioned. On the other hand, embued with enthusiasm are obtained, men who
if the lower reef worked before the top nil,
is will take to mining n it only as a means of liveli-
everything above is continuous and forms the hood, but with a real love for the work, mining
greater beam, leaving a much better roof to be costs will not go down to what they should be,
dealt with. On starting to work the top reef, nor will mining be a profession in which men can
the roof is the same as if this reef had been take a real pride.
worked first. If the parting is thin it is liable to
Mr. C. F. Parry (Member): It gives me
sag or sink a littleleaving a perceptible fissure
great pleasure to move a very hearty vote of
which enables the reef to be broken more
thanks to Mr. Johnson for his paper on a subject
easily.
on which there is some little difference of
In support of my
contention that roof pressure
opinion.
sometimes shows itself in the floor, I have seen
There was a case quoted by Mr. Chilton in a
south reef pillars pushed part way into the floor,
recent paper read before this Society, in which
the floor about the pillars being nearly on end
air-blasts were stated to have occurred in the
and the parting, 70 feet thick, split up so that
driving of tunnels, the assumption being that
water would pass from the top stopes to the
these could hardly be due to roof pressure.
bottom ones. Every mining man has seen the
It certainly seems to me that most of our local
track turned nearly on end in old drives through
occurrences of air blasting can easily be reconciled
the bottom being lifted. To deal with the roof,
with the existence of considerable roof-pressure.
especially in the deeper deeps, will most certainly
In several years' experience on the Rand I have
mean the moving of the faces faster and working
never seen a case af air-blasting in development
without stope pillar-, the incline shifts and the
or sinking work. All the occurrences I have
drives being kept under the reefs, and the lower reef
seen have been in areas in which a good deal of
being worked ahead of the upper reef. Accord-
ground had been worked out and where there
ing to the ability of the men in charge will
was obvious evidence of considerable roof-pres-
depend how muc or how little [lacking, sand-
sure.
filling, and such like, will be necessary. At the
The mine with which I am at present connected
present time there is far too much timber going
is one in which the values run in shoots, and it
into our mines. If any place has a bad roof, work
happens that pillars of rock, sometimes of con-
it out as quickly as possible, if necessary, even
siderable size, are left standing between these
doubling the number of the machines and the
shoots and in the stoped areas packing of waste
shifts. It is very eas}', or it should be, to
is largely done. I have not heard of a single
make arrangements to get the rock out without instance of air-blasting on this mine, although
any delay. It is really wonderful the trouble there
stoning is being done at a vertical depth of
is to get anything fresh tried in underground
some 1,600 ft. Under the circumstances I can-
work. I remember once recommending small
not avoid the conclusion that roof-pressure is the
machines to take the place of hammer boys,
primary cause of these occurrences.
but was smiled at If one looks at the sur-
face and reduction works of our mines, one Mr. E Pam (Member): In seconding the
sees thousands of p mnds spent in experiment- vote of thanks to Mr. Johnson, a few remarks
ing and improving the systems of working, seem desirable.
but this is not practised in underground work. It seems to me that he is discussing the term
To ascertain the correctness of my contention (that air blast ratherthan the action we designate by
moving stope faces faster will increase safety and that name. Most of us use the term, but very-
reduce underground costs) would entail little out- few imagine that air blasts are caused by air
lay. If the roof does break down my argument falls pressure. I disagree with the statement that far
as the rock— to the ground. A great number too much timber goes down our mines; the state-
of our mining men appear to be afraid of their ment is a dangerous one as the reverse is pro-
reputations and will not risk much to im bably the case in some mines, and with the large
pnve matters below ground. In this I con- number of accidents due to falls of hanging, we
sider they are foes to progress, as it is no re- should surely err on the safe side.
commendation not to have made a mistake this ;
The author brings up again his favourite
is just a sign that but little has been chanced. scheme that faces should be worked out more
Take for instance the Panama Canal. There one rapidly, but has he thought of the efficiency
40 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
factor ; most of us find it difficult enough to The aspirator was made from an empty castor
make a man keep benches with three machines oil drum fitted with a discharge cock, a glass
on a face 180 ft. long, and I doubt if there are water gauge graduated in litres, and x ferrule on
many men here who could work the one machine top to take a rubber cork through which a tube
one bench system with suceess. The author is passed for connecting with the wash bottle. The
anyhow to be congratulated on keeping the wash bottle had an attachment which gave the
and again thank him air a double contact with the water. It was
mining section to the fore I
for his paper. thought desirable not to run it too fast, and the
rate of flow was controlled by the discharge cock.
Mr. Chas. B. Saner (Past- President) : Mr.
This apparatus was fairly satisfactory and was
President as this is the first meeting I have
:
probably accurate to within b"/, at all events it
attended since your elevation to the chair, I
served the purpose of a pioneer in dust collecting
seize the opportunity of again heartily congratu-
determinations underground.
lating the Society and you.
Later on, when the amount of dust only was
I have read Mr. Johnson's paper and his re-
required, the wash bottle which was the weak
marks amused me, as once again he introduces
point in the old apparatus was discarded in
his pet subject of want of initiative on the part
favour of a glass wool filter. This consisted of
of miners and has a good old tilt at all of us.
an ordinary calcium chloride tube carefully filled
He a practical man of great repute, and I have
is
with very tine long fibre new glass wool. This
a high opinion of him and yet must join issue
packed in very well without exhibiting that
with him on the question of want of courage of
tendency to crumble which glass wool kept in
our local mining men in trying new schemes.
stock for a considerable time shows, and formed
sinking both the Turf Mines and South
In
an excellent filter through which the air could be
Rand shafts these " air blasts " were very notice-
drawn as fast as desired. Hadf a dozen of these
able when passing through a light coloured fine
were fitted up, dried by heating at 100°C. ami
grained quartzite the ground had to be extra
;
drawing'*, current of dry air through them, and
carefully timbered, and for some time afterwards
weighed till constant. Each was given a dis-
the " swelling ground " had to be taken out to
tinctive mark and packed in a small box made to
relieve the pressure against the shaft sets.
contain six. They were used underground and
Frequently there would be loud sharp reports
then sent back to tin' laboratory, where they
like the crack of a rifle and in one particular case
were dried as before and weighed till constant,
a thin slab burst off and badly cut a native
the increase in weight being the dust collected.
sinker's face.
They were then ready for use again, and could
be used for a very great number of determina-
NOTE ON DUST DETERMINATION BY tions. A doubt was expressed as to their
efficiency, and this was tested by joining up two
FILTRATION THROUGH SUGAR.
tubes and aspirating, the second tube showing no
increase in weight. This method worked admir-
By A. McArtuur Johnston, M.A., M.T.M.M. ably, the rate of flow being simply controlled by
what he considers a reasonable minimum of sus- work. It may be very accurate, and also a con-
pended dust in mine air, and hope that he will siderable time saver underground, but a trained
do so in his reply. I have had no experience man will be required to manipulate it, and any
with sugar as a filtering medium, and would like time saved in the actual catching of the dust will
to know if any difficulty was found in aspirating be lost in the laboratory in working out elaborate
the air through it. I have an idea, probably- calculations.
gained from the association of Mr. Laschinger's It is somewhat surprising that the Chemical
paper with Mr. Johnston's, that filtration is any- Members of the Committee could not design an
thing but free. If a microscopic examination of aspirator for their own use.
the dust be required a sugar filter would he It isan old axiom that one is not a chemist
excellent, but if not I prefer my own method, as till one can design and construct one's own
manipulation in the laboratory is simply confined apparatus, and on the Rand this is doubly true.
to drying and weighing. My old oil drum gave me satisfaction, it cost
The wire gauze attachment I would condemn nothing (a very important point) it weighed only
— if a dust determination is required why differ- a few pounds when empty, and could be used
entiate and only collect fine dust I have found
! by an unskilled man who can be depended on to
very light laminar and elongated particles of dust carry out his instructions. The accuracy is
which would be caught on a 200 mesh per linear within a 5% error, and over a series of determina-
Loch sieve, which to my mind should oe weighed tions I will guarantee as good work with my
with the finer dust. I do notseeany necessity for combination as can be done with the com-
the suggested separator tube, and I fail to per- bined elaborate apparatus described in the two
ceive where it has any advantage in hastening papers.
the determination over an ordinary calcium Mr. F J. Pooler {Associate) In reply to a :
chloride tube. As a Gooch's crucible is used for question of mine, the author stated* that " there
the final filtration why not use it direct, keeping is no correction there for the difference in mois-
the asbestos moist with an occasional drop of ture " in the formula given for the first form of
distilled water —
but perhaps the larger surface his apparatus, as he considered that " matters
area of the filtering medium might give a higher which effect the result to within less than 1%"
result. It seemed, there-
are unnecessary refinements.
Our thanks are due to Mr. Johnston for bring- fore, to be worth while to work out an example
ing forward the subject for discussion, and I hope making the necessary corrections for water vapour
a standard method will be evolved as a result; as in the air of the mine and the saturated air of
to my mind for this particular determination to the tank A. Taking average conditions, as near
be comparable throughout the Rand, a standard as possible to those of the author, from the paper
method and standard apparatus will be neces- on " Mine Ventilation "i we have :
sary.
Barometer = 24 48 in. = 622 cm.
-
—
two standpoints the scientific and the practical.
= 23 05 cm.
Taking the former, he might be congratulated if
B-V
it were not for the fact that he is not quite con- Whence, Q = V ^=-
sistent. He gives a most elaborate formula from
which to calculate the volume of air passed 61-02-23-05 ,.
= 5° X f
htreS -
42 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
The difference is D5 litres or 5*1%, consider- the Rand the tonnage is worked back from the
ably greater than the error for the apparatus cyanide works to the tons mined and from this
claimed by the author. figure to skip and truck tallies, a more accurate
Mr. Win. Cullen (Past- President) am : 1 and much simpler method than the use of mea-
perfectly well aware that have already spoken
I suring boxes.
on this paper, but it occurred to me when Mr. Bonuses for shift bosses would be very desir-
Toombs was reading his remarks that glycerine able if all the sections were similar, but consider-
might be an excellent substitute for the moist ing the large number of details on which a shift
sugar used by the author. One would, < f course, boss is judged and the constantly varying condi-
require to fill the funnel with glass beads on tions it would need a superman to distribute the
which there was a skin of glycerine, and the sub- bonus correctly.
sequent operations to catch the dust would be ex- In the only case in which this system was used
ceedingly simple. The beads would merely require to my knowledge it was found out later that the
to be sprayed by a wash bottle, the dust collected total bonus was always equally divided at the
in the beaker or flask below be ng filtered off and month end between all the shift bosses to whom-
weighed in the usual manner. Sugar nearly soever might actually have been given by the
it
sides they became saturated and started to The largest possible trees within a radius of
crumble away. I immediately tried to get in 400 ft. of the cutting were felled and hauled
some more timber below, but after fixing in one by means of a small stationary hoist on top of
set I was driven out by the danger of the bearer the cutting to its edge, these were then lowered
set hitches above being washed out and the whole into position as shown. The foot of these poles
collar of the shaft collapsing : I therefore aban- rested on the top of the cap pieces of the shaft
doned that shaft and turned my attention to sets. Each shaft set carried a set of these cross
shaft No. 2. Here I found the same state of poles which were lagged as shown. The spaces
affairs, the water pouring in and washing down were tightly packed with brush wood until some
the sides of the shaft and making it extremely 3 or 4 ft. from surface. Then rock and soil
dangerous to attempt any work. was filled in on top and the whole raised con-
When
the Engineer again visited the property vex above the ground level. The surface water
allhe saw of these two shafts was depressions in did not trouble me here as in Fig. I., but it was
the ground about 20 ft. in dia. and 8 ft. deep. the heavy rains washing down the soft schist
Close on 200 ft. of sinking, cross-cuts and drives sides of the cutting that caused the trouble.
at £3 per foot was entirely lost. To avoid a
repetition of this state of affairs I in future sunk
all my shafts 2 ft. larger each way until I had
reached the clayey seam. The shaft was then
brought in to its normal size 5 ft. x 4 ft. A ring
or shelf was formed at this spot. Some 6 or 8
ft. away from the shaft a small pit was sunk
closed and F opened and within 10 min. of blast- off with a short batten or straight edge and the
ing it was possible to resume work at the face. total contents of the measures weighed. Two
In fact I found it expedient to keep both valves moisture samples are taken with the customary
open at all times as a certain amount of exhaust cheese sampler (and duly secured in glass screw
steam would then find its way up the 4 in. pipe top bottles) of which the percentage of moisture
taking all fumes, etc. with it and relieving the is determined, the mean of the two samples being
B. End section of standards with the slat in diameter so as to fit reasonably close under sand
position, the ends lying in slotted grooves of the vat doors.
standard. One of the chief features consists in B. Indicates a plan of the chute.
two strips of " rainbow insertion " 1| in. x J in. C. Shows a chute, set in position, under a
which run the full length of the groove and press discharge door.
tightly up to the face of the slat, thus making D. Shows a cut off door by which the sand
practically a water tight joint at the groove and from the vat is controlled. This is simply a
slat ends. The groove can be made full size so disc of plate iron | in. thick, carried on an arm.
that there is no fear of the slat jamming. f
C. Indicates a slat, which is made out of
ordinary deal, free from shakes and knots (pitch
pine was found to be rather brittle and liable to
crack). These slats are 24 in. x3 in. x 1 \ in.
tongued and grooved.
D. Shows an end section of a series of slats,
the chief feature of these being the half rounded
| in. tongue and grooved joints. The advantage
is that they always fit, and nothing sticks in
inspect the door to see that all is in order, a slat of 3 in. x | in. iron, the latter being tapered off
1) in. broad, which is kept specially for the pur- at one end to serve as a handle, carried on the
pose can be dropped in and the overflow thus sliding end by a piece of angle iron in. x 1 \ in. 1
'
shut oft' entirely. This will allow a free view of E. Shows a plan of door in position with a
the back of the slats from top to bottom. The switch door open and shut.
insertion described above serves another purpose ; F. Springs. There are two springs to each
itpresses sufficiently tightly to the slat so as to door chute these are fitted inside the chute
;
hold it wherever it may be placed. This inser- bolted at the lower end by 3 - in. bolts. The jj
sr£ pass
-C
O k
-•
:
&VCT/C/*
Fig. 6.
anything to do with slime treatment have escaped this is screwed in a piece of flat iron plate say
the trouble of heavy wear and tear of pump 12 in. x 12 in. x ^ in., which rests on the bottom
spindles in the customary centrifugal sludge pump. of the vat about 9 in. from the side, the upper
This figure illustrates the chief feature of the end of the iron rod being supported in a suitable
manner. This rod is for the purpose of acting as
a guide.
I). Shows the float in position, with a length
of pliable steel wire connecting the float to the
indicator board wherever situated. To keep these
float drums in good order, a coat of tar should be
given say twice per annum when they will be
found to give every satisfaction.
Float Plug Cock. —
This is nothing new but
may be of interest as an automatic float plug
cock, suitable for regulating the flow of solution
bearing. into the clarifiers. Many devices have been
A. Spindle. tried in this direction, but usual ) because of the
1
B. Brass bush or glands. float being faulty or the valve seat getting cor-
C. Extended stuffing box and 4 sleeve. roded they become unreliable.
1). Packing. The cock A (see Fig. 7.) is of the simplest con-
E. Recess or water jacket. struction and is a 4 in. cast iron ordinary plug
The principal feature of this bearing is the cock with an iron drum as a float (again ;\ Bitmo
water jacket and extended sleeve over the spindle. drum serves the purpose) -1 in. long x 14 in.
B. Shows a view of the position of drum when level thus giving clear head room. When mov-
open and shut. ing the crawl the rope is thrown out of the
C. Shows a clamp of 1J in. x § in. flat iron hanging pulley D, the sag thus bringing the rope
round the drum with one end projecting 9 in. within easy means of handling. | in. cotton
D. Shows the spanner or handle with fish rope is preferable to manilla as the latter through
wear and tear becomes rough for handling,
Kig. 7.
l;::V::;::i
_T.X. ...~J..
plate, adjustment of this arrangement is
the
easily the man on shift, by slackening
made by Fig. 8.
two in. bolts
-g the arm of the clamp can be
:
whereas the former wears smooth and soft. The-
moved in or out to lengthen or shorten the crawl as described helps to simplify the clean-up-
radius at which the float works, so that the and is a labour saving appliance.
height of solution may be regulated. With a Tongs for Removing Clay Liners from Cru-
reliable float as described there is no need to con-
cibles. — Many members of our Society both here
stantly watch the decanters or clarifiers as any
and elsewhere have no doubt experienced diffi-
fear of an overflow of solution is obviated. The culty in removing clay liners from their pots.
plug cock, unlike the ordinary leather seated float The general practice being to tip the hot liner
valve does not get corroded, and the action of
out on to the smelting room floor or chip it out
the plug in its seating enables it to clear itself.
with hammer and chisel when cold.
With a float of this description the amount of These tongs (see Fig. 9.) are specially constructed:.
solution can be easily regulated.
Zinc Crawl. — Tliere are zinc crawls of various
descriptions in use ; many have been discarded
because cumbersome construction and
of their
awkward arrangement!:, whilst anyone who has
worked a crawl of handy design and easy mani-
pulation will regard it as an indispensable part
of the clean up apparatus. The chief feature
about the crawl here described is the means of
handling by an endless rope, whereby the crawl
is moved from one end of the extractor house to
the other, by one operator.
Fig. 8, illustrates briefly the principle of t lie
crawl.
Shows a side elevation.
A.
End view. The carrier of the crawl ison a
15.
long boxes. the principle "f the grip is that instead of the
C. Shows the general principle on which the jaws of the tongs contracting, they expand.
rope works, it passes round four grooved pulleys ; When pouring a fusion if it is found necessary to
the two lower ones are arranged in such a manner remove a liner the tongs are inserted, the handles
that the lower rope is 5 ft. 6 in. from the floor are firmly held, and by giving a twist the liner
August 191-2 Percy T. Morrisby — Minor Improvements in Cyanide Practice. 4<>
may be withdrawn for inspection. An important " note," but I trust that advantage will now be
feature of these tongs is that the liner may be taken of this excellent opportunity if only in
withdrawn while the pot is standing in a vertical gratitude to Mr. Morrisby for the generous way
position, so that should there be any prills of in which he has let us into his secrets.
gold between the clay liner and pot, the prills Mr. John Watson (Member) I have great :
by wrapping and tying it to the end of the pliment to myself that my friend Mr. Morrisby
suction hose, which generally annoys the operator has at last been prevailed upon to read us a paper.
because of its confined area getting choked. Mr. Morrisby has been cyaniding for a great
With this portable rose (A.) it will be seen number of years and has displayed great ingenuity
in these various devices. It is a pleasure to go
over his plant and see these devices at work. I
hope this will be only the forerunner of other
papers of this nature from other workers on the
Rand.
Mr. G. Andreoli (Member) Mr. Morrisby's
:
__ is
the paper will be to draw descriptions of similar
devices and suggestions from other members, and
Fig. 10.
we may all derive benefit from their experience
that the screen area is comparatively large directly through the author's interesting contri-
and the end of the hose is free, being sup- bution.
ported on a wire frame. The funnel is made of In support of the author's claim as to the
stout galvanised iron large enough for the hose efficiency of his screen measure method of deter-
to slip iu easily, the dimensions of the one des- mining the volume of collected sand, it may be
cribed are 3 ft. long, diameter of pipe 3 in., size of interest tomembers to know that on
the
of rose 9 in. x 2 in. with a screen area of 48 sq. another mine a large number of volume deter-
in. Mill screening may be used, say 600 mesh minations of sand collected from a 1,200 mesh
which is easily soldered on the frame and gives a battery product by means of Butters and Mein's .
It may be sometimes found useful for tonnage never choking or stopping, and is of easy adjust-
use and given complete satisfaction. They con- We have found, in a deep-deep level mine ore,
sist of any required number of lengths of wool, iron in the metallic state amounting to 0013%
which after being soaked in the solution to be of the ore.
sampled, are hung over the edge of the extractor Mine.
box, one end dipping in the solution and the. (b) Iron from wearing of the drills — either
other hanging, of course, lower than the solution fine or in chip form.
level in the box, drips into the sample bottle. (c) Iron from broken drills.
By adjusting the length of the wool hanging out- (d) Iron from bolts, nails or pieces of scrap
side the box, or thenumber of pieces of syphon formed in underground work. Hammer-
wool, a Winchester quart sample can be taken in heads are also a not unknown product in
_ hours, or in a week as required.
1 The dis- the ore sent to the mill.
advantages of the familiar drip cocks are too well Mill.
known to be described, and most of them have (c) Iron from wear of steel bins, chutes and
M dune away with by the use of the capillary feeders.
syphon, which once adjusted presents the advan- (/) Iron from wear of mortar box liners.
tages of always taking the same sized sample, of (</) Iron from wear of shoes and dies.
—
August 1012 A. McA. Johnston—Investigation of Magnetically Separated Iron from. Mill Pulp. 5J
This has been stated to be about half a pound pieces, whilst microscopic examination of even
of iron |>er ton of ore crushed (Dowling, Band the finest particles shows occasional specks of
Metallurgical Practice, p. 132.) mercury.
(h) Iron from screening used in mill. (e) Owing to its retention in the tube-mill
(t) Iron from keys, etc., accidentally forms an additional cost to tube-
circuit, the iron
dropped in rnertar box. mill expenses, due to its weight and the necessary
Tube-mill. addition of water to increase the flow.
(j) Iron from wear of feeders and end (/) As a considerable quantity of this iron is
liners. in pellet form, its inclusion in the tube-mill pro-
(k) lion from iron or steel liners, rails or duct means less efficiency in the crushing process,
pegs used in the tube-mill. for the pebbles, instead of crushing the sand, ex-
Iron from nails and scrap accidentally
(/) pend energy in flattening the iron. An examin-
dropped into the circuit. ation of the product will shows justification for
The iron from these various sources may be this claim.
classed into two kinds, namely, that in a very The fine iron which has overflowed into the
line state of division, due to its formation by cyanide pulp when the cyanide solution is
will,
abrasion, and that in coarser or pellet like form, pumped on the charge, be in one or other of the
clue <•• chipping, breakages or accidental inclu- three states, metallic iron, ferrous oxide or ferric
sion in tlu- pulp. In mills where fine crushing oxide, the two latter being partly present in
is still in vogue, the percentage, per ton of pulp, combination with water as hydrates. Iron in
of iron in a fine state will, naturally, exceed that rusting forms an external covering of ferric oxide,
found in mills where coarse crushing has been with, underneath, a layer of ferrous oxide in con-
adopted, whilst aiain the removal of the larger tact with the metallic iron. Oxidation continues
pieces of iron from the murtar boxes along with until the metallic iron has bsen converted into-
the die sand, owing to their inability to escape ferrous oxide and this eventually into ferric oxide.
therefrom in the pulp, will in the former case It is well known that ferric hydrate or ferric oxide
lower the amount of this class of metallic iron in does not form, with cyanide, ferrocyanide and
the tube-mill circuit. generally speaking this covering over the iron
The specific gravity of the it on, when com- protects it from the action of cyanide. The
pared with that of the major portion of the ore, rubbing of the particles of sand on this, however,
renders it more liable to remain in the tube-mill may break the protective coat so that the cyanide
circuit. may continue there for some time
It gets at part, at least, of the ferrous oxide and
till through some fortuitous circumstance,
at last, metallic iron eventually. Though the action of
the finer portions are carried to the cyanide works cyanide on iron vats or extractor boxes is so
with the pulp, whilst the coarser particles con- small as to be negligible from a practical stand-
tinue their weary round till abrasion has rendered point, we must remember that the iron entering
them in a fit state to follow. tin- plant with the pulp is in a fine state of
This iron in the tube-mill circuit affects the division and therefore the more liable not only
working in various ways. These may be sum- to react with the cyanide, but to be changed
marised as follows : into ferrous hydrate or ferrous sulphate, which
(a) The coarser particles are liable to scour the are easily converted into ferrocyanide.
plates and cause loss of mercury therefrom. The Thus thefine iron entering the cyanide works
mercury may later on be recovered from the may form, in contact with the cyanide solution,
launders, pumps or traps, or it may be lost by sodium ferrocyanide as follows :
—
Homing and consequent escape into the cyanide 6 NaCN + Fe + ELO + O = Na.Fe(OX), +
plant. 1'XaOH.
(It) In conjunction with the pyrite, the finest li XaCNT + FeO.,H., = Na 4 Fe«JN) + il'NaOH.
particles are likely to lie on the plates and so and 6 XaCN + FeSd4 = Na 4
Fe(ON) + Na.„S0 4
(;
.
cover the amalgam that amalgamation will be The sodium ferrocyanide thus formed acts
interfered, with and more frequent dressing of prejudicially on the solution of the gold, since it
the plates necessitated. is a reducer and depletes the solution of oxygen
(c) Again, owing to the heavy nature of these (Mc Fan-en, Cyanide Practice, p. 43).
particles,it may be advisable to supplement the In addition to this effect of line iron and its
flow of the water over the plates or increase the derivatives on cyanide, it is to be remembered
grade of fall of the plates so as to diminish the thai ferrous sulphide is produced when grinding
tendency to interfere with amalgamation. pyrite between iron surfaces, FeS„ + Fe = 2FeS,
(d) The metallic iron is very liable to rob the which latter is detrimental to gold bearing
plates of mercury by adhesion. This can be cyanide solutions (Caldecott, Rand Metallurgical
easily verified by visual inspection of the larger Practice, p. 383). The same reaction would
52 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August J91'2
naturally take place in the tube-mill, when the 4'53% by weight, contains 21*1% of the gold.
sand plus the metallic iron is being crushed by Magnetic Test. —
A portion of the sample was
the pebbles. separated by means of a magnet into magnetic
These influencesmay appear of little impor- and nonmagnetic parts.
tance in ordinary working practice and may
be liable to be overlooked, but if we remem- Percentage. Assay Value. Total Gold in
sample.
ber that in a solution entering the strong ex-
tractor boxes there has been used 326 lb. of
Magnetic 73-5 1-6 dwt. 8-3%
sodium cyanide to hold in combination 0.02%
Na4 Fe(CN) 6 in 1 000 tons, the advantage of re- Non magnetic 265 4S8 „ 91-7%
moving as much iron as possible from contact
100-0 14-1 „ 100-0%
with cyanide solution, when it is in such a state Calculated.
that it will be attacked, is evident.
To eliminate the iron from the tube-mill cir- be seen from this test that were it
It will
A. Grading.
This grading test shows that the minus 3600 + -006 in. (8100 mesh)= 107% (chiefly metal-
mesh (-010 in. aperture) amounting to 18 29 - -006 in. = 98-93% lie iron)
in weight contains 42-1% of the gold, and the
minus 8100 mesh ('006 in. aperture) material, 10000
— —
August 101-2 .1. McA. Johnston -Investigation of Mtgiictically Separated [run from Mill Palp. 53
,, residue =3 -
9 ,, ,,
98-2* Extraction by amalgamation ,, ,,
From this be seen that the bulk of the
it will = 360%
iron present as metallic iron had been converted The residue from amalgamation was then
into iron oxide. cyanided (without previous drying) in a large
A portion of the sample was amalgamated by bottle with occasional agitation. Time of treat-
being shaken in a bottle with mercury for 12 ment 36 hours, plus 24 hours for water washing.
hours. = 1.7
Assay value of washed residue dwt. fine gold
Assay value of original 6-1 dwt. per 2000 lb.
per 2000 lb.
(fine gold) Extraction by cyaniding = 22
„ residue = 3'8 ,, ,,
Tctal extraction by amalga-
,,
54 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
Even with daily handling little nodules form, derivatives. The speed of this reaction, though
the interior of which may consist of metallic iron fairly uniform, was not great, as instanced by the
and ferrous oxide, and may remain thus for some fact that after 508 hours exposure 11% remained
considerable time. The presence of silica of undecomposed. The reaction is probably :
course helps materially in rendering the mass 2K 4 Fe(CN) 6 + 2H,0 + O = K 3 Fe(CN) 6 + 5KCN
more porous and hence the more easily oxidised. + HON + Fe(OE )
...
When large pieces of iron in the form of bolts, nuts In the dark however, little if any reaction
or nails are present, the process would necessarily takes place and after 508 hours fully 97 of the
require a more lengthened period than is shown ferrocyanide remained unaffected.
above With reference to the utilisation of the mag-
It willbe noticed that salt was used to assist in netically separated iron, after thorough oxidation,
the oxidation process. It is a moot point a, trial will be made at the 'o-operative smelting (
whether this is necessary with this class of works. It seem very probable that it will take
material. Personally, I should expect almost as the place of the iron ore we have to buy for the
quick results without its use. smelting of silicious material as the analysis
It is to be noted in conclusion that during the compares favourably. ] have found the use of
initial stages of the running of this separator, Sal-ammonia advantageous in accelerating the
close upon a ton of magnetic iron, with silica, oxidation of such matertal.
pyrite, etc., mechanically removed therewith, Mr. A. King (Associate) I have much plea :
was taken from tin- circuit daily. This has sure in seconding the vote of thanks to Mr.
gradually decreased until after over six months Johnston for this paper. I think the Society as
running the daily yield of magnetic iron from a whole should feel highly gratified that one of
a mill crushing 2,500 tons per day, is about 400 its Past Presidents comes forward so frequently
to 600 pounds or one pound per 5 tons of ore. with papers of such interest.
—
Summary. The main points to be noted in All mill men will admit that a satisfactory
the foregoing may lie summarised thus: method of removing t! is iron from the tube
(••) Iron is chiefly obtained in the tailing from mill circuit will greatly lessen the difficulty
the crushing plant and is mostly present as small of keeping the tube mill plates from banking,
pieces, smaller than a pea, or as lino powder. and so will necessitate less dilution of the
lion in this state interferes with amalga-
I
tube mill outflow and consequently a smaller
mation and with the re-crushing in the tube volume of pulp to be re-elevated and re classified.
mills, whilst it consumes cyanide in the leaching
To the practical man, however, there is one
\.it-.
thing missing in this paper, namely, a description
(c) Whii) removed from the pulp, this product of the magnetic separator which was used for
can be easily oxidised by exposure to the atmos- separating the iron on which the author carried
phere, wetting and turning over. I understand this separator is now
out his tests.
(</) Failing any better means of disposal, this in constant use and from the author's figures is
oxidised product will, if fed into the circuit,
evidently doing good work, 1 am sure, there-
yield an average percentage of its gold to amal- tore, that a description would be of interest to
gamat ii n and cj aniding. many, since 1 am not aware that it has already
IVlr. H. A. White ( Vice-President) I have : appeared in print.
much pleasure in proposing it vote of thanks to
the author for his valuable paper. I think no THE "LUMINATOR" PURIFICATION
exception can lie taken to his statement that the TREATMENT OF WATEE FOE STEAM
presence of finely divided iron is detrimental in
BOILERS.
the treatment of sand. With regard to the
deleterious effecl of the sodium ferrocyanide pin
(
/,'. i,l at March Meeting, 191 .'.)
duced little has been published heretofore except
with reference to the waste of cyanide involved. By William < Iullen Past President
i
I.
had no paper for the March meeting so I volun- THE ACTION OF MINERAL SULPHATES
teered my scanty notes. I am not proud of the AND ARSENATES ON CYANIDE
paper, but it has raised a discussion which is — SOLUTIONS.
something. It was originally my intention to
accumulate more data while the discussion was
By Andrew F. Crosse (Past-President).
progressing, but pressure of other work has pre-
vented my doing so, nor is it possible to carry the
DISCI ssloN.
practical observations any further, for the four
boilers on which these practical observations were
made are now out of commission. Mr. John Watson, F.I.C. (Member): It is
Coining now to details, I entirely disagree somewhat remarkable the valuable and
that
with Mr. Cray's remark that my experiments highly suggestive paper of our senior Past-Presi-
are unsatisfactory. On the contrary, I think the peut has not evoked more discussion. When in
practical experiments eminently satisfactory, but recent years our presidents have given their pre-
I only wish I could explain how they came to be sidential addresses, remarks have been made ,to
so. The programme of experimental work sug- the effect that these should be open to discussion.
gested by Mr. Watson would keep me and others Now, Mr. Crosse has given us a paper, for which
employed for a very long time. In any case it one of our Vice-Presidents ably moved a very
would be difficult work, becau.se the quantities hearty vote of thanks. Our Journal contains no
dealt with would be small. I have no idea whether record of a .seconder and there has been Very little
the luminator has any affect on the dissolved CO,. discussion.
I come next to the communications of Messrs. Mr. Crosse's opening sentence makes one
Alexander, Pooler and Murray, which are in the wonder ifone has been asleep for years, or in a
main a record of some very interesting experi- long trance, like some Gulliver or sleeping beauty
ments. I understand they were suggested by my of fiction.
communication. The very fact that they had to If calcium sulphate really is a cyanicide, it
be done and that they were all on practically behoves reduction officers, cyanide managers and
original lines, show how much has still to be foremen to observe, keenly, the conditions under
learned. I do not intend criticising the results which that salt destroys the precious solvent,
more particularly as I had an opportunity of see- which we import to the value of nearly half a
ing Mr. Murray working his little experimental million pounds sterling, annually, into this coun-
plant at the School of Mines laboratories. I do try. On first scanning Mr. Crosse's paper, I
not think, however, that the individual, or seemed to meet an old friend in the method he
the combined, results carry us very much further. describes for determining soluble sulphates in an
I, at any rate, do not feel much wiser. All which ore. As far back as April, 1888, in the first
lias been proved is that there is an electric dis- paper I ever read to a Chemical Society, I
turbance when water Hows down an aluminium described, at Newcastle-on -Tyne, practically the
launder. This, may or may not have anything to same method for determining soluble sulphur,
do with the phenomenon of removing scale, but I or sulphur existing as sulphates, in burnt pyrite.
personally think that it has, and that Mr. Alex- (See Journal, Soc. C/iem. I ml., Vol. VII. pp.
ander's theoryon pagelGl (March Journal) may be 305-307). This shows how a method, or reaction,
pretty near the mark. Mr. Pooler's work has only may be usefully applied in quite different branches
a bearing on the subject on the assumptii n that of our great chemical industries. In preparing
•colloidal aluminium is formed, which I very that paper, I was very careful as to the calcium
much doubt. sulphate, as Dr. Lunge, of Zurich, perhaps the
I am satisfied in my own mind that under greatest authority and certainly the most volu-
certain undefined conditions the luminator treat- minous writer ou such subjects, had always
ment is effective, but I think that the effective- rejected the use of dry methods for determining
ness depends on the concatenation of a number of sulphur in pyrite. The other method 1 described
small factors. For instance, the running of the for estimating total sulphur was, in the first
water down the bright launder undoubtedly stage, a dry one but, for the two combined we
;
causes aeration, which of itself has probably a good had the satisfaction of receiving Dr. Lunge's
effect. Then the aeration combined with other unstinted praise, after two of his research
light and electrical effects may produce some students had checked our method. (Zeitschrift
small change, sufficient to alter pre-existing fur Angewandte Chemie, Berlin, 1st May, 1889).
conditions and prevent scale forming. According to the Chamber of Mines Report
It seems pretty well established that the for last year, there were consumed by the gold
aluminium does not lose in weight and this is mines of the Transvaal in 1911 the following: —
what makes the problem SO terribly difficult. 48,639 tons of lime equal in value to £120,511
— —— —
56 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
sterling; also 5,805-135 tons of cyanide = and placed in clean dry stoppered Winchester
£482,069 sterling. quart bottles adding to this litre portion, in
:
Let us assume, for the sake of atgument, that each case 2'5 gm. of pure dried calcium sulphate,
,'ith of the above lime goes to neutralise free i.e., rather more than enough to saturate a litre
acid (S0 ) in more or less " weathered " banket.
3
of cold water, agitating well after addition of the
To simplify matters we will keep to round num- sulphate. The originals and the treated solutions
bers and assume that 4,900 tons of lime form were kept side by side in the bottles, unstoppered,
annually 1 1,900 tons of calcium sulphate. For- in our laboratory. They were tested from time
tune is said to favour the brave and, thanks to to time, and each day I put in the stoppers and
the law of chemical solubility, calcium sulphate shook each bottle well for several seconds to-
is only slightly soluble in water, One litre of approximate the effect of a pumping or transfer-
cold water dissolves 2-30 gms, CaS0 4 Part of . ence.
the calcium sulphate formed may get away, as
insoluble, in sand nr slime when we remember,
; Strong Working Cyanide Solu- tine Litre of same
however, that some 7 tons of water are used per tion as used for Sum/ saturated with
ton of ore crushed, the proportion of CaS0 4 dis-
Treatment. SSam. Ca.SOt .
1
•059 CaO •223% 059 CaO %
very considerably, to increase the solvent action 3.', after
Ins. I
African locust in the same way. CaO = 94-00 and S0 3 = 136 00 parts per 100,000.
After reading Mr. Crosse's paper a second time, The late Mr. G. O. Smart, in the chapter on
I decided to try a few experiments with a view- Stamp nulling, p. 71 of Rand Metallurgical
to finding out to what extent calcium sulphate Practice, published last April, says :
August 1912 Andrew F. Crosse— The Action of Mineral Sulphates and Arsenates on Cyanide Solutions. 57
solution as an incrustation on all surfaces with Mr Crosse's suggestion, that some of the older
which it comes in contact including the interior students of the S.A. School of Mines, might
of the water pipes." perhaps carry out investigations into these
reactions, is quite a good one. It will doubtless
Strong Working Cyanide Solu- One Litre of same receive consideration from the professors, who
tion as used for Slime saturated with we are pleased to say are not altogether unre-
Treatment. 2 5 gm. CaSO t .
presented on our Council.
It was, I believe, Huxley who said, with his
Free
KCN. Alkalinity.
Free
KCN. Alkalinity.
characteristic eloquence
—
" The laboratory is the
:
Percentage)
VISIT TO THE UNION IRON AND
loss of KCN| 46 8% 52 8 59 3% 87 6
STEEL WORKS.
and Alkali ...)
There was a large and representative gathering
The free cyanide and alkalinity it will be seen of members of the Society at the Union Iron and
have decreased very considerably, especially in Steel Works of Messrs. Cartwright and Eaton,
the solution saturated by addition of CaS0 4 . Ltd., at Uunswart, near Benoni, on Saturday
A B C
f 'yanide Sol ition as Do ji/us ?",' gm. Sol'np its
)
. .'' 7 gm. Epsom
preparcc CaSOt . Salts [MgSO'i+rHzO).
( h'iginally ... 242% 242 1036% •242 •242 •1036% '242 •242 1036%
3 hrs. after addition |
242 242
of cyanicide ...
Next, I prepared a solution of sodium cyanide afternoon, the 24th August, when by the kind
in pure condensed water making it approximately invitation of the Company a joint visit took
of the strength of the strong solution, as used for place of the S. A. Institute of Electrical Engi-
sand treatment. 1 gm. lime was added to neers, the Coach and Wagon Builders' Association
2.700 cc. solution, agitated and allowed to stand. and this Society.
Next day, this solution was divided into 3 por- The worksare conveniently situated close to-
tions of900 cc. each. To the 1st portion, noth- the railway about a mile beyond Dunswart
ing was added to the 2nd portion, 2 07 gm.
;
Station and occupy altogether several acres
CaS0 4 were added to the 3rd portion, 297 gm.
;
of ground. The Company's operations cover
Epsom Salts,
-j-\yth
P ar ' °^ ^be quantity
i.e., ; the working up of sera]) wrought iron and steel
required to saturate 900 cc. of water at 15° C. (chiefly obtained from the mines, and consisting of
Mr. Crosse in his paper refers to Kieserite, old shoes and dies, cam shafts, horse shoes, etc.,)
H
MgS0 4 + 2 0, which is but slowly dissolved in into iron and steel bars, tram rails, sleepers, fish
cold water. plates,tube mill pegs, concrete re-inforcing bars,
Owing to the fact that this sodium cyanide etc. The iron and steel bais are produced in
( = KCN 125%) had contained as usual some lengths of about 16 ft., and varying in diameter
Na 2 C0 3 the alkalinity in the following trials is
,
from i in. to 2^ in. and in flat, square, angle,
somewhat higher than it should be to approxi- half round, and half oval, of various sizes. Tram
mate working conditions. rails are made, varying in weight from 12 lb. to
58 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
20 lb. per yard. Fish plates are made suitable for industry. Mr. C. W. R Campbell Past President
rails up to 40 lb. while steel sleepers, any guage, of the S.A. Engineers)
Institute of Electrical
for 12 lb. to 16 lb. rails, and iron and steel billets cordially agreed with Mr. Dowling's remarks,
from 4 in. down are also manufactured. and Mr. C. B. Saner moved a hearty vote of
The works, the first of the kind built and thanks to the workmen who had given up their
operating in South Africa, are naturally not very one free afternoon towards making the visit a
•extensive, but the enterprise of the proprietors in success.
establishingthem without any assistance from Mr. J. K. Eaton responded and expressed his
Ahe Government as to be highly commended. pleasure at receiving such a large party, and
The plant includes several piling and billet hoped that their undertaking, turning out iron
reheating furnaces, a steam hammer and com- and steel, which couhl favourably compete with
plete roughing and finishing rolls, shears, the imported article, would receive every possible
punching machines, as well as the necessary local support. The works had meant a large
steam engines and boilers, mostly fired by waste expenditure and expert workmen from
locally,
The President ami Past-President inspecting sunn' of the scrap iron and steel.
heat from the furnaces, which weir all shown in English iron and steel works hail been brought
operation. out lor the purpose of turning out good material.
Employment is given to some 20 white men, The party then returned to town.
and 30 natives.
Notices and Abstracts of Articles and alkali monocarbonates, if the solution of phenolpht ha
lein is too weak, the results obtained will be low.
Papers.
The addition of sodium chloride to the solution does
not rectify the error."— H. Noll, '/.. angew. Chem
CHEMISTRY. ,
{lose helix of platinum strip around a porcelain tube, Determination of Hardness ok Water by
it was found that the strip thinned and ultimately Potassium Palmitatb. "After determining the
melted, and on the porcelain tube at the point of hardness due to bicarbonates by titration with hydro
rupture a deposit always occurred, which was found chloric acid, the carbon dioxide is expelled by blow-
to consist of microscopic hexagonal crystals of plati- ing air through the solution, and the liquid titrated
num. The author was thus led to investigate the with an alcoholic solution of potassium palmitate
volatility of platinum and its congeners at tem- until it is faintly alkaline to phenolphthaleiu. The
peratures below their melting points. The metals palmitic acid used for preparing the potassium pal-
crucibles in the cases of platinum and iridium, mitate is freed from steal ii* ari, I, as far as possible.
polished plates in those of palladium, rhodium, and by re-crystallisation. It is stated that unlike the
ruthenium, were heated in the electric furnace to usual titration with ordinary soap solution, the
1,300°C. for successive periods of two hours. The method is applicable even in presence of limine acids,
toss of weight was found to be approximately pro- only a small correction being needed even in extreme
portional to the time of heating, and amounted in cases." ('. Blacher, Chem.-Zeit,, 1812, 36, 541,
30 hours, with platinum, to 0'245% of the weight of Journal Society at' Chemical Industry, Vol. xxxi.,
the metal, with palladium to 0*745 in 22 hours, with p. 555. (J. C.j
iridium to 7*297, and in 30 bonis with rhodium to
0*131, whilst ruthenium lost 25% of its weight in 8 Preparation of Iodic Acid with a View to
hours. With iridium, the amount of loss for equal the Determination ok Carbon .Monoxide. —
periods of heating, at temperatures between 1,100°C. "Iodic acid is obtained good yield by Sias'
in
and l,4n >*''., increased proportionally with the
rise method (oxidation of iodine with fuming nitric acid),
of temperature, After these exposures at 1,300°C, if nitric acid of sp. gr. 1*515— 1*520 be employed,
t lie platinum bad not sensibly .changed in appearance, and l lie iodic acid thus prepared is specially suitable,
the palladium gradually lost its smoothness and be- after repeated crystallisation from water and heat
1
p'082% l.ut showed no change in appearance beyond is intimately mixed in a capacious porcelain crucible
a slighi darkening. In the ease of ruthenium, theie with a mixture of 4 pails of anhydious sodium car-
is no doubt. that the volatility is due to the forma- bonate and 3 parts of cupric oxide, covered with a
tion of oxide and this is probably so in the case of
; Ibin layer of the mixture, and the crucible (in a hide
iridium, for a quantity heated to 1,300°C. for oil in asbestos board) is heated very gently at hist, then
hours in a quartz tube in vaizuo lost only 0*069 . more and e strongly, till finally it has 2 hours at
>
Platinum and rhodium, however, appear to volatilise the highest temperature of the Bunsen name. The
as metal."— Sir \V. Cr ores, journal Society of mass is stirred from lime to time during the heating,
Chemical Industry, from Proceedings of the Royal and after cooling the residue is extracted with hot
Society, 1012, 461-7, 15 June, 1912, p'. 540. (T. D.') water, afterwards boiled with sodiu u carbonate sola
tion, finally washed with water till free from alkali.
Determination of Fkee Carbonic Acid in* The alkaline liltiate is acidified with hydrochloric
Water bv the Trillich Method.— "The author acid, boiled to expel carbon dioxide, evaporated to
has investigated the effect of using phenolphthaleiu dryness to remove silica if necessary, taken up again
solution of different strengths as the indicator in the with acid and water, and the filtrate from the silica
titration of (1 free carbonic acid in water with so-
) —
precipitated by barium chloride." T. St. Warunis,
dium carbonate, and (2) sodium carbonate with sul- Ber., 101*2, fS, 869-70, Journal Small/ of Chemical
phuric acid. The results show that wiib waters con- Industry, Vol. xxxi., p. 4S8. (J. (I.)
taining no bicarbonates and not much free car-
bonic acid, reliable results are obtainable with any A New* Potassium Hydrate Bulb. — "The
strength, but that in presence of bicarbonates, un- apparatus consists of three parts which are connected
less the phenolphthaleiu solution is of the right by ground glass joints. The outermost vessel lias an
strength for the particular case, the results will be entrance tube which reaches almost to the bottom,
incorrect. Il the indicator is too strong the results and there, expands to a glass sieve box with small
will be low, and vice versa. For waters with a tem- boles in the centre of the under side. Into this
porary hardness up to about 14 (German), the vessel, a second one is ground which also contains an
strength of the phenolphthaleiu solution should be cut ranee tube. The thud is again ground into the
from 1 2,000 to
: 1,000, and
I :5 c.C. should he second in a similar way and serves as a holder for
taken for gnu ,,f the sample.
i- ,.
Where the tem- solid, diving and absorbing sul stances. This vessel
porary hardness is much greater, the correct strength is also connected with a glass tube, open at the
of indicator to use must bo ascertained for the par- bottom, and closed with a ground capsule, which
ticular class of watei. Similarly, in the titration of carries the outlet tube. To prevent the potassium
til) The Journal of The Chemical Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa.
, August 1912'
hydrate from rising back, a small safety valve can and dated."— E. M. Stanton and A. C. Fieldner,
lie placed in front. Tlie advantages claimed are the Technical Paper No. S, U.S. Bureau of Mines;
—
following: (1) symmetrical construction, very use- Mining and Engineering World, May 25th, 1912,
ful when weighing: (2) great stability; (3) simple p. 1,101. (A. R.)
even shape (4) delicate parts all in the inside
; ;
Analyzing Coal and Cokk by U.S. Bureau a few minutes' digestion at a moderate temperature,
of Minks. — " PreliminaryTreatment of Samples. — 20 c.c. of dilute HoSO^ (1 3), and the assays are :
The coal samples are received at the laboratory in rapidly boiled down to white fumes. After cooling
galvanized iron cans that contain when full about 3 and dilution with water to about 100 c.c. to (I 5 c.c. , )
lbs. of coal. Each can has a close fitting screw cap, of HC1 is added, and to (2) 10 c.c. of dilute H„S< 4 >
,
and is made practically moisture-tight by a piece of and both are boiled a few minutes. In (1) insoluble,
electrician's tape wrapped around the joint between SiO.„ Fe, CaO, and Zn are to be estimated. In (2)
the cap and the top of the can Immediately after Pb, Cu, and A1,0 :1
.
a sample is received it is given a laboratory number, (1) Insoluble. — The hot solution
is filtered through
is removed from the can, and is placed in a weighed an ashless paper and washed thoroughly with hot
tin pan about 9i in. in dia. and 14, in. deep. water, the filtrate is removed and the residue washed
The tin pan containing the sample is placed in a with a hot solution of ammonium acetate (if much
large drying oven in which a temperature of 30 to lead is present it is better to wash back into the
35°C is maintained. Through this oven a current beaker, add ammonium acetate and digest, for a few
of warm air is drawn by means of an ordinary desk minutes on the hot plate, finally throwing back on
fan mounted on top of the oven. the same filter) the washings are thrown away and
:
The sample is dried under these conditions until the filter with contents is placed in a roasting dish,
the loss in weight between two successive weighings, dried, ignited in the muffle, and, after coolinp,
made 6 to 12 hr. apart, does not exceed 02%. The weighed as insoluble.
purpose of this drying is to reduce the moisture in The filtrate in a 600 c.c. beaker is diluted with hot
the sample to such a condition that rapid change in water to 300 to 400 c.c. about 10 gin. of pure am-
,
weight will not take place while the sample is being monium chloride added, and if manganese is present
handled in the course of analysis. 10 to 20 c.c. of strong bromine water, then an excess .
The loss of weight by air drying is not regarded as of NH,. HO. The solution is brought to a boil, the
an accurate determination, and the "air-drying" precipitate allowed to settle, and then filtered, wash-
loss reported in an analysis simply means that the ing with hot water, or better, if much zinc is present,
sample lost the stated percentage of moisture before with a hot dilute ammoniacal solution of ammonium
it came to a condition of moisture equilibrium with chloride. The filtrate and washings are received in
the air of the room, at a temperature of 3d to 3.VC. a litre beaker and the hydrate precipitated is redis-
After being air-dried in this oven, the sample is solved in HC1 and re-precipitated as before (not for-
crushed to 10 mesh and liner, and quartered down to getting the bromine water, if necessary) in a rather
about 400 gm. This 400 gm. portion is put in the smaller bulk, combining the two filtrates.
porcelain jar of an Abbe ball mill, sealed air-tight, Iron. —
The hydrate precipitate is either re-dis-
and ground down to 60 mesh. The jar is about one- solved in dilute H..SO,, the iron reduced and titrated
third full of well-rounded Hint pebbles, 1 in. in dia., cold with standard potassium permanganate, or the -
and is rotated about 60 rpm. The 60 mesh sample precipitate is dissolved in HOI, reduced, and titrated
i.s mixed thoroughly, and about 60 gm. is taken for with standard potassium bichromate.
analysis. This 60 gm. sample is kept in a rubber- Lime. —To the combined filtrates 20 to 30 c.c. of a
stoppered, wide-mouthed bottle, which is numbered 2% solution of ammonium oxalate is added, the solu-
K
acidified with H CI, adding 5 c.c. in excess. A cur- (2) When the insoluble is black or red, as in treat-
rent of H..S is passed through it for 5 or 10 min., ing roasted ores and substances not easily attacked
the solution is then boiled for 5 min., filtered if bj acids, the residue is fused as in (1) and the SiO a
necessary (usually this is not the case), cooled to filtered off, ignited, and weighed.
about Slit'., and titrated with standard potassium The filtrate is tested for Cu and I'l> by passing
ferro cyanide. H 2S. If any found, the sulphides should be filtered
is
(2) This portion is allowed to stand until quite off, dissolved in 3 HN0
taken to fumes with H 2 S0 4
, ,.
cold in order that the lead sulphate may separate out diluted, and cooled the PbSU 4 is filtered oft and
; ,
005 gm., the beaker is placed on the hot plate and (If the quantity of iron and alumina is large, the
boiled down to dryness. After cooling, 2 or 3 c.c. of acetates should be dissolved in HCl and re-precipi-
HCl is added, and the copper estimated by the per- tated with NH/IH, boiling off excess before extract-
manganate method. ing with caustic, but usually this can be omitted.)
—
Alumina. A filtrate from the sulphides is boiled Lime.—To the liltiate from the acetates about 10'
to expel H,S, oxidized with 2 or 3 c.c. of HNO.,, a c.c. of NH OH
4
and 20 c.c. of a 2% solution of am-
slight excess of 4 NH OH
is added, and the solution monium oxalate are added, and the calcium oxalate
boiled until it no longer smells of 4 OH. After NH precipitated and filleted ofi This precipitate is dried
standing a minute or two to settle, the hydrates are and ignited, weighing as CaO ; it should be tested
filtered off, washed slightly, washed back into the for iron, and, if any is found, the weight of Fe„0 3 is
beaker, and re-dissolved in a little HC1, pouring the suhstracted from tlie CaO, and the calculated amount
acid first over the filter paper. The solution is just of Fe added to that previously found.
neutralised with 4 OH,24 to 2 NH
c.c. of HCl is added, Zinc..— The filtrate from the lime is acidified,
and the alumina is estimatedby the phosphate method. gassed, boiled, cooled, and titrated with standard
—
Sulphur. On silicious and roasted ores, 1 gm. is potassium ferro-cyanide.
taken, on pyiitic ores one-half gram, moistened with Method "b" /or Slags.— The sample should he
water, and 'about 5 gm. KC10 3 and 111 c.c. 3 HN0 chilled: this is usually done at the furnace, the
added. The assay is taken to near dryness on the molten sample of slag being ponied into a bucket of
hot plate, avoiding baking, taken up with 5 to 10 c.c. water. Or the slag in lump form may be heated to
acetic acid (1 1) and 150 to 200 c.c. of hot water;
:
redness in the muffle and thrown into water before
about 10 gm. of ammonium acetate is added, the grinding, the effect being to make the slug easily
solution is brought to a boil, and titrated, boiling attacked by acids, anything up to 50% Si0 2 giving a
with standard barium chloride. white insoluble containing not more than 1° or 2%
For the analysis,
Examination of Insoluble Silica.— (1) When the of substances other than silica.
insoluble is white, as in treating most raw ores and two one-half-gram portions are weighed into 300 c.c.
others easily attacked by acids, the residue obtained beakers or casseroles. The slag is moistened with 2
in the first part of the analysis is fused in a platinum or 3 c.c. of water, the beaker is held oyer a Bunsen
dish or crucible with 10 times its weight of fusion burner, keeping the contents in motion, anil when
The melt is dissolved near boilinsr, 3 c.c. of strong IK is added and a few '1
mixture 2 C0 3 and Na._,C0
( ).
3
in HO, transferred to a porcelain capsule or casserole, drops of HN( The heating is continued for 2 or 3
>. ;
.
taken to dryness on the hot plate, taken up with 5 min., when gelatinous silica separates out and the
to lllc.c. HCl, diluted, and the silica filtered oil', beaker may he placed on the hot plate and taken to
dried, and ignited. After cooling in a desiccator the complete dryness.
Insoluble. -The two portions are taken up with 5-
SiOa is weighed and an addition made for the Si0 2
— " ) »
Potash .Alum.
SO., 33-75
i,„li P
.,
tat d "
1
Nfl * 0H and 1 A].,0 3 10-77
comltfn ; the two filtrates.
pomoiuing ! hT ,
i,!l
"
lil1 """ 1
°» KjSOj A1,(S0 4 ).. 24 H,0 K..O
h.;o
9 92
4556
diiuteVT^n
dilute
6
H,,S0 4
'';
reduced, and titrated with
is redissolved in
''•I'''''
1
P^P^te Bauxite. A1 2 3 .2H2 A1",0 3 73-9:(
,
standard Antimony- Stibnite. Sb„S.. Sb
penna„,,,„a t e, or HC1 maybe 71-42
after reduction, titrated
used, and e s ,
Arsenic—
with bichromate Mis'pickel. FeS.,.FeAs„ ... As 46 06
° '"", ll i,le nitrates, which should be
< '
' 1 Realgar. As.,S.,~
stron.X
stronglj ammoniacal, 20
c.c. of a 2% solution of
As 60-91
am Orpiment. As„S 3 As 70-04
Barium llarite."BaS0 BaO
1, and allowed to stand 4 65-70
in a warn, place until the Witherite. BaCO
calcium oxalate settles. This
is then Bismuth— BaO 77-71
lilt ere off
«itn standard permanganate Bismuthine. Bi 2S Hi 81 22
Calcium— CaO
6 -* thel ™e 5603
aibwf
HC1i, aoaing o I™' is acidified with
c.c. m excess, a current
Calcite, etc. CaC03 (
'( ).,
43 97
of II S is CaO
Dolomite. CaC6s.MgC03 ..
:io-4l
Copper—
SO Hi 51
U
i ere,
'
HS Pwf i
- •° ,lt
''
1
'
°",-
,'
e liit,a "'
and
shonld
tl,e s "l»tion
'"' gassed"
oxidized
Copper
I
l'y'rite.
opper Glance.
Cu„S.Fe,S.
Cu 2S
Cu 34-63
fo e , , I'll 78-95
Erubescite. 3Cu 2 S,.Fe 2 S 3 Cn 43-45
-Malachite. CuO.U.O CuUO Cu 57 49
Iron— Ke 16-54
Iron Pyrite. FeS 2 S 53-46
Klke ,l; " wl Pyrrhotine. FeS Fe 63-52
"» ll "J hot plate.
«'l 1 „ v 'V S :{il-4s
Chalybite. FeC03 Fe 18-21
Hematite.
Fe< 6202
le.O Fc 6 i-94
:,:
'^
t '"-wi^-u,,,,,,!,
;'!-!-. »ui,i,n i,„, lill „, and
1
';;'' |, -; istli " ,i " s " :ill >- "^d iii Bead Anglesite. PbSO. Pb 68-31
K
PbC0
1
Cerussite
3 l'i, 77-54
'"'-• ' t , Galena. PbS Pb
estimate
Pl«t«drynSr^nrWShHr|
the Conner
mM il(-l, andS ,- « i.
'
'
Magnesium — I'd,
86-59
52-18
—A T V
1
w .
Scheelite. CaW0 4
,
j
C'al
WO,
Fe
10-46
SO 54
9 20
Mineral Factors.-A Wolfram. FeW04 .MnW0
Mollowav was issue, „;u
valuable paper bv R
a „, v "' ' t! 4 | Mn 9 05
1
Zinc—Blende.
WO. 76-47
ZnS ...
Zn 67 09
August 191-2 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy 63
meeting of the Institution being occupied with rough concentration. This proved to be the weak
general business and the presidential address, the link in the system. Different tests which were
paper received no mention on that occasion. Also, made on the filter tailing before discharging to the
owing to the Bulletin containing an unusually lake, showed thai line soncentration was absolutely
bulky paper on another subject, Mr. Holloway's require!. Had the tests been made during those
contribution may run some danger of being times when concentrate also was being oyanided,
overlooked. Mr. Holloway's desire was to pro- or when the filter tailing was abnormally high, the
vide figures which will help the engineer or com- necessity for closer concentration would have been,
mercial man in estimating how much of the metal or more emphasized.
oxide is contained in a given weight of mineral, so The concentrate produced by the Deister No. 2
.is to thereby enable him to ascertain the relative taMes usually is from to 15% by weight and runs
I
value of minerals on the basis of the content of metal about 1,000 oz. in silver. It is first pan-amalgamated,
in- substance desired, and also to check the efficiency the tail reground in a tube mill and cyanided, the
of an extraction process. Wereproduce herewith a solution being precipitated along with the regu ar
portion of his tables. We recommend our readers mill solution, and tl.e agitation tail being tillered
to obtain the complete paper and to assist the and discharged along with the regular slime tailing.
author in extending the scheme." —The Minimi This is the least desirable feature of the whole treat
Magazine, April. 1912. lA. R.) meat scheme.
Quicksilver consumption and cyanide losses are
Cyaniding at Nova Scotia Mill. -"Owing to extremely high, and silver recovery usually less
the recent forced shutdown of the Nova Scotia Mill, than that at the smelteries. Besides this. -is would ,
a brief review of -nine troublesome features of he expected, the cyanidation of the oan tail quickly
cyanidation here, may at this time, be of general fouls the whole mill solution, charging it with
interest tocyanide operators, particularly those in rapidly accumulating reducing agents, which later
the Jobalt district.
( interfere with the extraction on the regular mill ore.
—
Ore Highly Refractory. The conglomerate ore of Whire j ios ue used, followed by close table concen-
this district is especially refractory, and cyanidation tration, from 80 to 875 "' khe silver content of the
involves many interesting problems. Silver occurs ore is removed as concentrate, and with it a high
as native silver, as dyscrasite, Ag6 Sh, as argentite, percentage of troublesome cyanicides and reducing
Ag„S, and as pyrargyiite, Ag3 SbS 3 . The amount agents.
of leaf silver is small, must of the silver occurring as Reducing Agents Troublesome — The quantity of
sulphide compounds. On the diabase ores of the these reducing agents present in the ore and the
Nova Scotia mine, however, by far the greater part rapidity with which they go into solution in cyanide
of the silver is in the leaf form. when the ore is finely ground, are the chief obstacles
Copper also occurs in the conglomerate ores as in the way of the successful, long coin inucd use of
betrahedrite, Cu 8SboS 7 , as bornite, Cu 3 FeS 3 and as
,
cyanide, where air alone is employed as an oxidiser.
copper pyrite, t'uFeS... Nickel and cobalt occur as Once formed in solution these reducing agents re-
the aiseniiles. iiiccnlile. NiAs, and i-maltitc, CoAs2 ,
main almost entirely unaffected by air. an have I I
and as arsenates, nickel bloom and cobalt bloom. forced a large excesjs under 5 lb. pressure through
Native bismuth and graphite are found in small the solution for 40 hours without causing any decom-
quantities. The following is a partial analysis of a position. When fresh pulp, particularly the tube
fairly high-grade conglomerate ore: Iron, li t.V mill feed, was added to this solution, no amount of
sulphur, 1 "15, arsenic, 3-4; antimony, 1; cobalt, air prevented a gradual increase of reducing agents.
102; nickel, 087; bismuth, 0-05 ; copper, 0-14%; In so far as it could be rallied out, the regular mill
silver, '287 oz. per ton. ice confirmed this. Init the Trent agitators did
The policy at the Nova Scotia has always been to not allow the use of as much air as is possible in a
ship nothing but bullion, ever the refractory concen- Pacini'- lank.
i Hut the solution itself was aerated
trate being treated in the mill. Most operators at almost every possible point without lowering the
here have hesitated to adopt this practice, and in the quantity of reducing agents.
ease of those who make use of cyanide, the mainstay A sample of the filter tailing, when agitated with
in their recovery system is concent ration, which, e- I
fresh cyanide solution which was replaced with
gun in the mine, is followed up su closely in the mills fresh solution from time to time, so as io keep the
that, they become essentially concentrators with reducing agents at. a minimum, w.i- educed in silver
i
cyanidation playing quite a minor r6Ie. In my content about 50 showingthat the resi ual silver
,
opinion, the latter plan of treatment is fully was not en' i <dv iusii'ubh'. The mill solution, how-
justified, as I will later attempt to show. ever, was inactive, and longer agitation was not a
Coarst Concentration Used. — Hie 40-stamp mill of w iv out of the difficulty. In fac. it soon became
the Nova Scotia is a custom plant, treating ore evident that pr e'i'ally all the extracti ide in
averaging about 30 oz. in silver. The treatment the 72 h nils agitation in the Trent agitators took
consists of stamping in solution throusrh 16-mesh place in the first vat, and that also lb'- greater put
screens, coarse concentration on Deister No. 2 tables of the total extraction by cyanide in the mill was
and all-sliming of tic table tail by tube mil s. ma le before reaching tin- agitators at all. Repeated
Amalgamation pans, Dorr settlers, Trent agitators, experiments showed that, whereas a f.iesh solution
a Moore filter and Merrill precipitation presses make of KCN would dissolve a piece of leaf silver in six
up the main equipment. minutes, the mill solution always required two or
This treatment, while used on the diabase ore of three times as long under similar conditions.
the Nova Scotia, previous to custom milling, was Using a KMn04 solution and 10 cc. of cyanide
said to he fairly satisfactory, but. when later it «*s
applied to the conglomerate on- from the other mines, solution, the reducing power, as defined by Clennell,
itdid not give the expected recovery. varied from 5 cc. lo07c.c Of thissnlphoeyanides
-
It. will h^ noticed that no slimers are use. I, depen- made up abo-il 70 ferrocyanides ''. and ihe re-
,
dence being placed on the cyanide solnl ions to make mainder was due to organic matter, sulphides and
a sufficient extraction on the tail after the first nitrites. Determinations made at other times
—
the amount of reducing agents present ; also at times cyaniding that oxidisers merely accelerate the dissolv-
there appeared to be re-solution of silver in the press,
giving a higher tail than head. As precipitation Unprecipi-
lowers the reducing power slowly, treatment of more
Effect of Hydrogen Dioxide on
solution daily would have been beneficial,
tated Mill Solution.
Another feature was prominent, the total and free Reducing
Pon er
cyanide were always numerically equal on the mill After
solutions. In other words, the K.,ZnCy 4 formed in Amount
the presses appeared to be almost immediately
Solu- H2 2, Free Total
tion, Per Cyan- Cyan- 3 31 4fi
broken down, possibly by the action of soluble sul- c.c. < '''lit ide ide P.A. hr. hr. hr.
phides. And perhaps, to some extent, by the high 200 rrorre 56 19 53
amount of lime present. The zinc feed was varied 200 50 41 4.1 1-8 0-48 0-27 0-25
from4oz. to as high as 12 oz. at times per ton of
solution. The accumulation of copper in the mill
solution, reaching at times lb. per ton of solution,
I
Effect of Ozone on Unprf.cipitated Mill
was another element interfering with the precipita- Solution.
tion of the silver.
While on the subject of precipitation, I would
suggest that some standardised precipitation method Amount
Solution, KCN. P.A. R.P. Time
might be used to advantage for buying zinc dust. T C.C.
have found in some tests that whereas one good lot 3,000 4-3 1-4 55 start
of zinc would give 16% precipitation, another lot 4 3 1-4 55 2 hr.
would give only 77% upon the same solution under 3 0-8 52 8 hr.
similar conditions. 0'2 2 0-03 30 hr.
To partly offset the effect of some of these reduc-
ing agents, it would seem advisable tociushin water
Effect of Electrolysis on Unprecipitated
rather than in solution, as about 25% of the reducing Mill .Solution.
agents in the finely ground ore is soluble in water,
and by dewatering a large amount may be removed,
giving better precipitation and extraction with pro- Amount
bably only slight increase in Kt'N consumption. Solution, Am-
KCN. Time
—
Experiments with Oxidizers. In order to overcome
c.c.
3,000 4 3
P.A.
1-4
R.P.
54 start
Volts.
41
peres
20
the effect of the reducing agents, I experimented
44 1-4 05> hr. 42 01 95
-with oxidisers, chief of which were hydrogen dioxide,
1
direct current and lead electrodes. in the solution; in" action of the cyanide, and a longer use of air
practically identical results were obtained by using Would accomplish the same results. That has not
a graphite anode and sheet-iron cathodes. I tried been my experience, and I ihittk the statement does
alternating current on the solution, but at 60 cycles not apply to highly reducing ores. I have given an
got no action, due probably to the high rate of alter- ore 150 hours agitation, using mill solution and sam-
nation. All of the oxidisers proved beneficial as re- pling daily. After getting a tad of 14 oz., I failed
gards extraction, but their action on cyanide differed, to reduce it upon adding hydrogen di-
further, but
as the results in the accompaning table show. oxide, a further extraction of 5 oz. took pi ice. Fur-
Cyanide and protective alkalinity (P.A.) are in ther a Idition of dioxide with long agitation failed to
pounds per ton (2000 lb. ) of Ki'N and Cat), respec- lower this tail. Heating of solutions has been tried
tively, and reducing power- (R.P.) is shown according both in the mill and laboratory, but discontinued
to " llennell's definition. from lack of good results-.
Good Results by Electrolysis. The solution after To summarise On he Cobalt conglomerate ores,
:
'
electrolysing with direct current, heea me ipiite active, close concentration should precede any and all sub-
and using it on ore, considerably lower railing was sequent forms of treatment and especial care should
obtained than when using untreated mill solution. be taken in crushing to prevent the formation of the
In miking this test, newly treated solution was rich line slime. Pan-amalgamation of the raw con-
addeil to replace that de-anted. Continuous use of centrates is not satisfactory as carried out at the
this c rrrerrt would greatly enliven the solution and Nova Scotia, and smeltery treatment is better.
should give an extraction approaching that when While cyaniding at present is unsatisfactory, by
using freshly made solutions, results which are quite using electric current as an oxidiser, there is a
satisfactory, especially orr the -200-mesh overflow promising field for ii on ihe untreated overflow
.slime. slime. A number of details should be worked out;
This -200-mesh slime, by the way, leaves the as current is cheap and air oxidisation insirtficient,
concentrating mill running from 7 lo 10 oz. and, as the subject is well worth careful investigation."
it is well washed and ready for agitation, 1 oz. would ('. L. Margrave, Engineering and Mining Journal,
cover the cost of treatment. Tins is the best field JuneS, 1912, p. 1,133. (A. R.I
for cyanide in connection with Cobalt ores at the
present time, and its future nse here ought to depend Hit \ss and Bronze Alloys. — "The follow
largely on whether, by the regular use of the current mixtures are advocated in the United States Gove
August 1912 Notices and Abstracts : Metallurgy. 65
merit specifications issued by the Bureau of Steam molecular groupings, it is quite possible to correlate
'Engineering. The composition must be maile of such the magnetic and mechanical data, to specify what
materials as will give the required chemical analysis. magnetic data correspond to the required mechanical
Scrap will not be used except such as may result data, and to determine what variation in the mag-
from the process of manufacture of articles of netic data corresponds to the allowable variation in
similar composition. the mechanical properties.
Commercial Brass. Copper, 64-68%, Zinc, 32-34%, — Test for Proper Heat Treatment. — To put the
iron, 2% (maximum) lead, 3% (maximum). ; reluctance test itself to a crucial test, a rather exten-
tauntz Metal.*— Copper, 59-62%; zinc, 39-41%; sive series of experiments is in progress to investigate
lead, 6% (maximum).
-
the relation between the mechanical and magnetic
Brazing Metal.— Copper, 84 S6% zinc, 14-16%; ;
properties of a given quality of spring steel after the
iron, (16 (maximum) lead, 3% (maximum). ;
-
tension there is a certain relation between the Very careful testing means more careful design and
change in length anrl the tension applied. At first the reduction of the factor of safety with consequent
the ratio between the load and the change in length increased efficiency
is constant, then it begins to decrease. This point I have used the reluctance as an illustration of
of departure from proportionality occurs at a load the magnetic property which may be used for test
which is sometimes called the elastic limit. Owing purposes. Other magnetic properties may frequently
to the sliglitness of the variation from proportionality be used to even better advantage than the reluc-
and the difficulty in making the measurements, this tance. Among these are the residual induction, the
point cannot be obtained with certainty. coercive force, the maximum permeability, and the
If we compare change in reluctance with load we hysteresis loss.
have a ratio which shows a marked change in the Besides the magnetic properties we may mention
neighbourhood of the elastic limit. .lust how close the electrical resistance. This changes qualitatively
to the elastic limit the magnetic change occurs very much in the same manner as the magnetic re-
is not definitely settled although investigations luctance. However, the changes are much smaller
on this point are in progress at (he present and do not seem so promising in connection with
time. If the clastic limit could be determined mechanical testing.
easily and precisely by magnetic means it might be One does not spend much time in magnetic experi-
a much more important constant than at present. mentation before he is impressed with the extreme
—
Commercial Applications. I have spoken of the sensitiveness in its magnetic behaviour which steel
use of the reluctance test as a detector of any varia- shows only under slight mechanical changes. This
tion from the proper heat treatment. The same sensitiveness has been one of the difficulties in
reluctance measurements may be used as a test of getting constant and consistent results in purely
the completeness of the case-hardening process. As magnetic measurements.
far as know there lias been no work along this line,
I It is the very sensitiveness of the magnetic nature
but the general proposition seems one well worthy of steel to mechanical conditions that makes co-
of investigation. operation of the mechanical with the magnetic labo-
One ingenious application of the fact that the ratory so promising." — CllAKLFs W. BuiiROWS,
reluctance of a strand of steel wire is increased as Pages Weekly, May .11, 1912, Vol. xx., p. 969.
soon as a fibre breaks or suffers stretching, was made (J. E. T.)
some years ago in Australia. Two short «oncentri(
coils were wound on a bobbin through whose hollow Amalgamation Tables.— "The amalgamation
core the cable was free to move. One coil was tables in the Central mill of the Ninth Star Mines
actuated by an alternator and the other coil was Co., at Grass Valley, Calif., differ from those in the
connected in series with an A C. recording voltmeter. North Star mill of the same company and from the
This recording voltmeter would give notice of the tables generally used in stamp mills, in that they
beginning of a. failure of the wire cable are built entirely of metal. The construction of the
Schuckardt and Schntte have presented a device table is shown in the accompanying illustration. It
for he determining of the mechanical hardness in
i
rails might very well he examined magnetically for support, over which the plates are again bent, in a
the presence of inhoinogeneities and other defects. curve of fair'y large radius, so as to lie horizontally
Kven the use of an apparatus which could be attached over the edge in a hand about one or two inches
to a rail head in such a manner as to permit the wide. These bends along the edge- are well rounded
inspection of a rail after it is in place is quite so that the amalgamator experiences no difficulty in
feasible. —
taking off amalgam in tables where there is a sharp
Much labour and money have been wasted on corner at the shies it is almost impossible fur the
iaige gun and rifle barrels, to find out only during attendant to remove the amalgam close up agaimt
the finishing operations that a large blowhole has Ihe sides of he table.
I
rendered the casting useless. If such castings could Al the North Star and Central mills mercury is
be examined carefully, it is probable most of the fed to the battery at hourly intervals, the quantity
defective material would be discovered before any being governed by the conditions of a narrow strip
considerable amount of time had been spent on it. of amalgam that is allowed to remain on the upper
A similar condition is found in car axles. Here, edge of the lip plate from one cleanup day to the
however, the blowholes may or may not be dis- next. The condition of this strip is an index to the
covered during the machining. Nevertheless they condition of the amalgam on the chuck block.
exist in a, large number of axles ami in order to take Theplate- are dressed once per '_'4 In a whisk
,
care of these defective axles whose flaws may not broom being used for the purpose \l.out 12 min. is
be discovered, it has been the custom to design car spent in dressing each table, there bein- one for each
axles with a liberal factor of safety. If a separal ion battery of live stamps. The work is done by the
could lie made between tin- perfect and imperfect amalgamator and by the concentrator attendant,
axles, a. much closer design could be made with a both under the direction of the mill lor. man. After
consequent saving all along the line. the daily clean-up the upper plate of ea h battery is
There are many fields in which perfection of treated with meicury, the qtiantity used depending
material is required at any cost. The automobile upon the judgment of the foreman. In general four
industry is calling for the best and most uniform ounces of mercury is added at the mortar for everj
material obtainable, The aeroplane requires the ounce used on the plates. About - oz. of amalgam
.'.
maximum of strength with the minimum of material. is recovered from the mortars for each ounce cleaned
Aligns! 191-2 Xnticex and Abslranls : Metallurgy. (IT
from the plates. While the plates in front of one plates of the adjoining stamps. — "Engineering and
battery are being cleaned the pulp is run over the Mining Journal, June 29, 1912, p. 1270. (A. R.
~l-\, ^l<o ^
6S The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
Electric Tin Smelting.—" Within the past year Both of these methods, however, involve more or
or so a trial electric smelting plant lias been erected less of an upset of the usual order of doing things,
in Cornwall for the reduction of tin ores on a scale which, in these days of labour unions and labour
not usual for this class of work in England, says the troubles is, to say the least, not appreciated. The
London Times. At first glance it might he supposed usual order is to have the shift coming on muck the
that the electric smelting of tin would have little or rock broken by the preceding shift, then drill and
no chance as compared with the old -established Cor- blast a round of holes, leaving the muck in turn for
nish tin smelting but the results of the trials sug-
; the succeeding shift.
gest that this is not so. Metallic tin and its ores are In a large shaft, sunk under my direction, the
commercially so valuable that every wastage is a device herein described was used to aid in locating
serious loss. The losses in the ordinary coal-fired the holes drilled by the previous shift. A box was
reverberatory furnace are considerable, and this is the made of the same shape as the shaft and built to a
case to an even greater extent in the shaft or blast convenient scale. It was about 4 in. deep, and along
furnace sometimes used in other countries. the edges saw cuts about 1 in. deep were made, the
Most of the disadvantages of the old furnace, it is distance between each representing ft. of length or
claimed, can he overcome by electric smelting me- width of shaft. A substantial cover with hooks to-
thods. The plant erected in Cornwall consisted of a fasten it securely shut was also provided. This box
specially designed electric furnace capable of dealing was filled with moist clay, leveled off even with the
with about two tons of ore a day, a suitable trans- edges and lines scribed across the surface of the clay
former and appliances for the final purification of the by a pocket knife and a straight-edge, using the saw
tin. The power supply was, three-phase current, cuts as guides.
produced by oil engines for mining purposes; and The box of clay thus represented the shaft bottom,
although the costs of the power thus obtained were subdivided into 1 ft. squares. When the miner
by no means as low as they would he for production went down to charge the holes he carried this box
by means of coal in other districts, they were not with him also a pocketful of 20-d. wire nails.
;
prohibitive. The furnace was designed for about Before charging a hole, he would thrust his tamping
200 kilowatts, or about 260 h. p., but only 90 to 110 stick to the bottom, which enabled him to guage the
kilowatts were available, or the daily output would direction of the hole. He would then thrust a wire
have been considerably increased. The working of nail into his clay model as closely as possible to the
the furnace was absolutely steady, so that electric direction and position of the hole in the shaft bottom.
light could be operated oil' the Fame line without
The squares greatly aided properly locating the
showing any flickering. As no combustion fakes holes in the model. Thus, when the miner had com-
place in the electric furnace, only the theoretical
pleted charging and had lighted the round, he
amount of coal necessary for the reduction had to be
returned to the surface with an almost exact repro-
added, or about 14% instead of the 22% oi 25% (with
duction of the lay-out of holes.
Bolivian ore even more) required by the reverberatory
process. The furnace being Dractically closed, the The box, with its record, was turned over to the
losses from volatilization were all but eliminated.
miner in charge of the succeeding shift, with such
In fact, tests made over a week with a temporarily other information as could he gathered from listen-
arranged condensing tube proved that less than ing for, and counting the reports, etc. When the
1% men went down to muck out after the smoke had
escaped in this way.
cleared, they took the box with them, using it as a
Altogether about 20 tons of metallic tin of a purity
guide in directing the mucking and in locating any
of 995% (purer than ordinary tin on the market)
were produced during the trial's. The average power possible misfires after the shaft had been cleaned out
consumption was about 2,000 kilowatt hours per ton and before work was started on the new round of
of tin, but many runs were made with only holes. It was then a simple matter to withdraw the
1,500 nails, smooth over the clay and prepare the box for
kilowatt hours per ton. In a larger plant, running
regularly as a winking concern, the power consump- the next record. Not a single accident due to drill-
tion may be expected to be as low as 1,400 kilowatt ing or mucking into misfired holes occurred in this
hours per ton of tin. The labour cost is also reduced, shaft, although it was about SIxS ft. and was sunk
as three men and a boy can easily handle a furnace to the 1,000 ft. level."— John T. FULLER, Engineer-
turning out 10 tons of fin a day if suitable appliances ing and Mining Journal, June 29, 1912, p. 1267.
for handling the ore and (A. R.)
he metal are provided.
I
ing a mine, not in its rich sections, but throughout more men on the Rand than ever were lost in the
its length and breadth. Anglo-Boer war, is being given the serious attention
The demand for lower working costs first became which it demands. In the past, ventilation of the
real and insistent seven years ago. The noteworthy mines was woefully neglected. To-day one finds
investigations of Ross E. Browne on behalf of fans of approved design running in most of the
Messrs. H. Eckstein & Co. weie carried out about deeper propositions. Mining and developing pro-
this time, and from the moment Mr. Browne's re- grammes are also being arranged on more studied
searches and recommendations were given forth to lines, and the examples of other and more established
the industry at large, the Rand set about reforming fields are being followed, to cite but one instance in
itself. The first remedial measures applied were in this regard the driving of main haulage levels is a
reducing working costs. A higher measure of labour feature of more modern practice, which is of great
efficiency was called for, and rightly so. Nowhere importance.
else in the world are miners called upon to do so At the Crown Mines the 13th level has been driven
little work, earn such large wages and enjoy a good 15 ft. wide by ft. high, for a distance of about
1J
climate, and all the advantages of civilization and miles. This road will be eventually more than '2
comfort that money can buy. The Witw atersrand miles long, and along it almost the whole under-
is in fact a field without parallel in these respects, as ground traffic of this great mine will be concentrated
also is it wholly exceptional in the matter of em- and distributed between the two main shafts. In
ploying '200,1100 manual workers of the most raw and addition to the space for a double track it comprises
unintelligent types procurable. There can be no a barricaded way for travelling in which there is a
doubt that some improvement in labour efficiency large concrete drain ami room overhead for air pipes,
has been obtained during the past few years, but electric wires, etc. Concentration of underground
there can also be no question that there still remains work, gravitation of ore down to main haulage levels
vast room for betterment. and loading stations ; stage winding and rapid
—
Altered Views on Mining. There is, however, electric hoisting in main shafts, together with a
better appreciation of the true principles of breaking
quite as much room for advance in mining methods
—
as for improvements in labour efficiency a fact that "reef" and not waste rock, are the watchwords of
receives lint scanty local recognition. The root and mining in the Transvaal to-day. Mention must also
basis of the greater number of the Rand's troubles
be made of sand tilling. At the majority of large
is that many of the mines are over-stamped. Huge mines this practice has been proceeding for some
mills have been erected where lesser equipments months, and tc mention but one instance it may be
would have done better work, anil of course at much remarked that the quantity of sand sent down into
less initial cost. It is admitted that the Witwaters- the old stopes of the Robinson mine last year
raml is essentially a low-grade field, and is therefore amounted to 133,000 tons.
an industrial area where a large turn-over is neces- —
Improvements at Surface. Not only underground
sary, and a reasonably low rate of mining expenditure but at surface also are evidences or big industrial
is imperative. But the striving for big tonnages changes evident, although as has been very rightly
and small costs easily can be over -done. It may be remarked, the field for betterment below ground is
heresy from a Johannesburg point of view, but the much larger and more important than above it.
statement is here made in all seriousness, that the Taking the whole Witwatersrand it may be esti-
mines of the Witwatersrand would probably be mated that approximately two-thirds of the working
larger dividend payers were 40% of their present expenditure of the mines is incurred in stoping,
equipments sold as scrap iron. developing, tramming and shovelling, pumping and
hoisting and on the majority of the larger and more
The over-large mill and the mania for low-running ;
industry, receive numerous cheeks in its career, is a piece of No. 1 hemlock plant of the same length,
going to occupy a place of first-rale importance in width and thickness of a concrete slab, which had
gold mining for at least another half century. Ac- seasoned for one year, supported them at either end,
cordingly those in control have taken steps to secure and placed them side by side, and then applied an
measures of stahility which have not hitherto pre- equal pressure across the centre of each. Three
vailed in South Africa. The foregoing are some of failure cracks appeared in the concrete slab just
the more important of the conditions, ways and previous to the breakage of the hemlock plant,
means adopted to meet the new aspects of conditions although total collapse of the concrete slab did not
which the Rand has evolved of its own industrial occur until the pressure was considerably increased.
self."— Owen Letchkh, Mining ami Engineering While the method of the test employed was crude,
World, June 8, 1912, p. 1199. (A. R.) it proved to the satisfaction of the writer that the
concrete slab was much superior in strength. Con-
sidering the rapid decay of timber used as shaft lin-
Reinforced Concrete as Applied to Mini: ing, no further comparison of the two is necessary.
Shafts. — "That which follows deals principally In the moulding of the concrete sets, 2 in. No. 1
with the making and installation of concrete. Since wdiite pine was used in the construction of the
the cost of material foi he making of concrete I forms. These were soaked in Delaney's wood
varies widely with the locality of the propeity, and preservative, and repainted with preservative on the
there is also a discrepancy in the wage scales of the interior each time before setting up, thus insuring
different mining companies, any detail of costs them against warping and prolonging their lives
would not only prove tiresome hut would he of little indefinitely, as well as securing a smooth and easy
value, except where conditions w ere exactly similar parting from the concrete when removed. A Smith
to those below described, so that, where cost is barrel-type mixer was employed in preparing the
mentioned, it will he for l lie purpose of comparison charge for the forms. The amount of water used in
in a special case with timber which the concrete has the mix was such that, when the batch was piled, it
iupplanted. settled rapidly without agitation. A dryer mix was
for a number of years solid concrete and rein- attempted by way of experiment, but due to the
forced concrete shaft collars and shafts have been in amount of reinforcement employed, it was found
ogne w here the conditions warranted a shaft of any
* impossible to ram the dryer mix into place.
degree of permanence hut not until 1909 was; The labour involved in the making consisted of
reinforced concrete tried as a substitute to take the two carpenters, setting up forms and keeping them
form and similar methods of installation as the long- in repair one man wheeling forms on to skidways
;
used timber sets for shaft purposes, namely, at the ready for filling, returning used forms to shop and
No. 3 and No. 4 shafts of the Alimeek Mining Co. cleaning the same; one man feeding mixer from
In the beginning, two distinct kinds of material stock piles of rock, sand and cement; one man de-
were used a good grade of gravel and natural sand
; livering mix to forms and shovelling material into
fi a local pit and the trap lock, through which
: place and one mason ramming charge into final
;
tin- shafts were sinking, together with clean con- position. With this combination of men as many as
glomerate sand from the Calumet & Hecla mill. lour complete sets, consisting of u'4 separate pieces,
Sets were moulded from these two classes of material have been moulded in one day oi 9 In. In ordinary
and installed with equal partiality and subsequent weather, the sides of the tonus were allowed to
service has proven both to be equal to the demands remain in position over night, and then removed,
made upon them. Pieces set aside for the purpose while the bottoms were left in place another 24 hr.
were allowed to season sufficiently thai they might The bottoms were removed by turning the pieces on
he given a. lair competitive test, and it was found, on then sides, where they were left to harden one day
comparing the fractures in tin- two combinations of longei before removal to the stock pile. All through
material, that the sand and cement Idling the spaces tlie process of removal, the sets were handled with
bet ween the rounded pebbles broke awaj from them, l he greatest care in order to preserve the appearance
while the fracture in tin- trap conglomerate sand of the set and prevent cracking, which might not
combination continued through the larger elements develop to the eye until weathered. All skidways
of the mixture. The gravel niixt could doubt h ss used in making and storing were brought to a level
have been improved considerably by careful washing, to prevent warping and bending while the sets
but the cost of preparation, compared with the trap were green, to insure a perfect lit underground, for
rock ami conglomerate sand, prohibited its use in unlike timber, the concrete sel cannot be brought to
this particular case. place unless perfectly true. Sets should not have
he materials finally used were as follows
'I
: — been used under (in days alter removing forms,
No.
Portland cement.
1 Conglomerate sand. although we. through the reduction of the slock
Trap inck troinmeled aver in. through screens. , pile-, have "in forced to instal piecesof 4 days' set,
I
1
variety —
two skipways and one Ulan way, dipping at
Reinforced I
|
an angle of 80°. The outside dimensions of the com-
concrete slabs were moukued foi the shaft lining, the
partment are: Skipways, 7 ft. (i in. high, 6ft. 10
material nsi d being tin I from trap rod der in. ,
in. wide; inanway, 7 ft. (i in. high, 3 ft. wide, with
conglomerate sand audi Kahn expanded metal as the end plates and dividings, making the greatest
reinforce t. The mature used Foi slab span of 7 ft. 6 in. Offsets were moulded in all
I
2 4. l!y way of experiment, the writer selected
plates 5 in. from the inside face to accommodate
—
August 191-' Notice* and Abstracts: Mining. 71
lining slabs. Also holes were cored for the use of Crushed rock at 35c per yard, f.o.b. shaft.
hanging bolts and bracket bolts. The wall plates, Conglomerate sand at 60c. per yard, f.o b.
end plates and studdles have a cross-section of 80 sq. shaft.
in. — dividings SI sq. in. The percentages of rein-
No. Portland cement at SI. 15 per bbl. f.o.b.
forcement are approximately as follows: Wall and
1
works.
end plates, 5% dividings, 5% studdles, 3%.
; ;
3 ft. 3 in. studdles 268 The pine strips have been in place 4 years, and none
have been replaced to date, and skip repairs have
Complete set of 16 pieces .. ... 8,104 been reduced to normal. Possibly because of a dif-
ferently constructed skip, Ahmeek repairs were not
Taking the weight of No. 1 western fir, which has abnormally high but the same racking of the skip
been exposed to the weather in stock piles, as 33 11k. bo ly occurred ami the Ahmeek Co. has adopted
per en. ft., the above concrete set weighs almost the Mohawk feature and expects to prolit accord-
three times that of a 12 by 12 in. timber set which ingly.
the concrete set is intended to replace. Because of Concrete plats or stations have been in use at
this additional weight of the concrete set, it was Ahmeek and Mohawk for some time.
liitli tiie They
found necessary to increase the usual live or six men differ in outward design only in
from the timber p at
on the timber gang tc seven. In a vertical shaft, 5o the cr s- aecti m
members, which are 9 by 12
of the
which the concrete sets are especially adapted, the in and are reinforced with old rail and wire rope,
,
number of men per gang might again be reduced. and r-place the 12 by 12 in and 12 by 14 in. timber
The sets are hung or limit as the ordinary timber formerly used. Holes are cored to accommodate
-, only requiring an additional rope and block to
gates for skip and dump doors and tram nils are im-
-
swing t lie pieces into place. After the sets are bed ied in the concrete, making the u-e ot spikes
wedge to line, bottoms are put in between the pi ites
1
unnecessary. When the turntables are used on the
an the surrounding shaft wall, and the set is then
I
back of the plat, the rigidness furnished by the con-
tied t the shaft wall by m-ans of concrete, in the
i
in-ures the trammers against derailed cars, re-
proportion of 1 —3 — 5. The concrete slain are tli-n sulting from a tilted table.
put in place, and loose rock thrown behind them,
tilling up what space still remains between the set At the present time, our company is installing
and the wall of the shaft. reinforced concrete dividings to replace the practice
of putting in 10 in. Hat timber. In cross section
After the set is in place, it is extremely important they arc 9 by 12 in. and are reinforced by old rail.
that it he well protected from the blast, for, unlike On he lailder road, they are placed 6 ft. from
I
the timber set, concrete will not stand the centre to centre anil between the skip com pertinents
For this purpose, the writer used flat timber and are put in as often as the hanging require-. Since
steel plates chained to the under side of the pla es
the ea-ing along the ladder road performs no
an dividings, and even ibis precaution was a' times
i
and again, when the ground was especially refrac- the dividings to facilitate the fastening of ibis
tory, sets 4'l ft. from the blast have been cut out. It casing.
is o ivious that it is well to keep a- far held' d the
mining as the ground will permit. In dangerons Quite often in the placing of concrete and rein-
ground, whii-h required timbering close np to the sink- force concrete, both above and below ground, not
I
ing tiinlier set- were used, but, had not time played gh attenti in is paid to the i-harac er of ilie men
an important part in the sinking, nogrouo wasimt i
employed charge of the mix and actual distribu-
in
tion of the material. I' is not enough, ill c' the work
in which eonciete sets could nor have been installed.
With a gin; of s ven men, one complete set can be shail ok finished and neat on the removal of the
I
installed in a 9 hr. shift This permits a sinking in i'il boards, which any gang of ni-ti ' n iccom-
1
The comparative cost of the concrete set and Men shon be selected who will see ilia ihe line
I
tinili r set. delivered at the shaft collar, is striking. is unit., ml distributed with the coanwr material,
The ciini-rete set was delivered for $22 50, the limber the rock of the mixture is m de to well
set for $37-60. The-e figure- are based on :
ip, congregation of coarse material and tine
Western fir at $28.00 per M-, f.o.h. car. »U1 accumulate which will result in a weakness,
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa, ylugust 1912
'
1093. (A. R.) netting, which is suspended along the walls by hooks
or similar appliances. Numerous experiments and
tests have proved that peat is capable of absorbing
Mining Innovations in Prussia in 1911. "The — and retaining for a comparatively long time water
latest issue of the Prussian Zeitchrift fur das Berg-, to the extent of live times its own weight. The ease
Hiitten-und Salinenwesen contains, in a series of with which these peat sections can be handled and
articles, a compilation of the most important trial the possibility of removing them whenever repairs of
installations and improvements introduced or effected tbe drives or other causes require it, give them a great
in certain Prussian mines during 1911. Tliese advantage over all other wet methods now used, the
abstracts constitute an easily intelligible official more so as their efficiency is undoubtedly very great,
record which is bound to be interesting as well as while the cost of keeping them in a good state of
instructive to English engineers and mining men, repair is relatively small. At the Radhod coal mine,
though it must, of course be borne in mind that where it was found difficult to procure suitable peat
neither the geological and topographical, nor the sections, narrow wire netting has been attached to
general working conditions in England are identical wooden pillars along the walls of the drives chosen
with those in Germany. for wet zones, and the space between the netting and
the walls has been tilled in with peat. By thoroughly
Utilisation of a Borehole in Shaft-sinking. With — soaking the peat from time to time with water, such
the object of facilitating the sinking of an air-shaft quantities of humidity are stored within tliese zones
at the Kdnigsgrube (Konigslmtte district) a borehole
that there is very little risk of any explosion eve
was brought down exactly in the centre of the cross- passing through them. The trials with wet peat
sections of the proposed shaft. Its diameter at the
zones are now being continued.
top was 720 mm. and at the bottom (at a depth of
190 m., where it met the underground works which Hydraulic. Filling. — At the Salzer and Neuack
the shaft is intended to ventilate) 530 mm. The coal mines (South Essen district) the waste foundry
ground removed in sinking the shaft was shot down products, such as boiler ashes, building rubble
tlie borehole and used at the bottom as filling-up ferruginous Martin and Pessemer slags, etc.. have of
material. The total cost of sinking the shaft, in- late been utilised for hydraulic filling. This necessi-
cluding not only the tubing of the borehole and the tated the installation of a special plant for making
lining ut (he shaft with masonry, but also M. 3.750 up the material. It is constructed for a capacity of
extra expenses caused by clearing a temporarily 150 cubic metres per hour, and consists of two sepa-
clogged part of the borehole, amounted to M. 86,595, rate units, each of which is provided with storing
or about M 500 per metre sunk. If the shall had room for about 500 cubic metres. The material to
been sunk without previous boring, the costs would, be treated is first carried by a belt conveyor to an
according to a careful computation based upon the oscillating grate of 40 mm. spacing between the bars.
experience actually made in sinking, have totalled In order to extract all iron contents from the stuff
M. 108,120, or M.620 per metre. The saving in which passes through the grate, it is carried over
money represents, therefore fully 2o of tin- total magnetic rollers of S00 noil, diameter, and then falls
cost ; was also a very considerable saving
bul there as finished product ready for filling into the shaft-
in time, seeing in despite the delay caused by
1 1 I , lie I shaped storing receptacle. The overllow from the
temporary clogging of the borehole, the whole work oscillating grate is reduced to 40 mm. size by a
was finished in twelve months, while without the special stone crusher, and then subjected to the
borehole the sinking of the shaft would have required magnetic' treatment. The iron extracted by the
at least eighteen months. This mode of shaft sink magnetic rollers is conveyed to hauling trucks. Prom
ing, is therefore, recommended especially in wet the storing shafts the finished tilling materia) passes
country and for shafts with lather narrow cross- through slides into two sluicing channels, and,
ions. thence, with an adequate addition of water to the
— —
hydraulic conduits." London Mining Journal, our command a very useful medium, namely, the
June 1, 1912, p. 553. (A. R.) magnetic needle. Unfortunately, however, only a
very few minerals possess magnetic properties
pyrrhotite and magnetite. The great bulk of the
Calculation of Blasting Charges. —" There remaining ore-forming minerals have either very
is no exact method of calculating the charges of little or no effect whatever on the magnetic needle.
explosives in any particular kind of ground, but the It is easy to see, therefore, why the discovery of a
amount used must be judged by the experiences of method and apparatus for locating non-magnetic ores
the miner anil t lie results obtained umlei similar in the crust of the earth has for a long time been
conditions. However, there is a way of calculating the fondest wish of the mining man.
the charge after one trial has been made. For in- Electrical Conductivity oj Certain Minerals. —
Sup-
stance, if a round of holes has been loaded with pose we examine the properties of non magnetic
100 lbs. of 40% gelatin, and has only pulled 4 ft. in minerals, and especially such properties as may im-
the 5 ft. round, the following system could be used press themselves upon physical apparatus now at our
in calculating the proper charge. command. We shall find a very conspicuous char-
The units of strength in a certain weight of acter in the more or less strong conductivity for
explosives can be calculated by multiplying the electricity which is displayed by a large number of
weight by the rated strength, so that 100 lbs. times ore-forming minerals. Between bucIi electric-con-
40% strength gives 4,000 units of strength. If the ductor minerals occurring within an ore body and
4,000 units has only pulled four-fifths of the round it surrounded by the ground waters of the lode and
will require 5.000 units to break bottom. However, country rock, there is bound to be generated an
results could be more economically obtained by sub- electric current in exactly the same way as is the
stituting a higher grade in part of the 40%, so that case with metallic and liquid conductors in contact
if you use 50 lbs. of 40%, which would be 2,000 units with each other. This was shown by R. W. F'ox as
of strength, this would still leave 3,000 units to be early as 1830 in the copper mines of Cornwall, when
supplied by, for instance, 80% gelatin to be placed in he brought two isolated points in an ore body into
the bottom of the holes. Three thousand units electric contact with each. As evidence that there
divided by 80° gives 37^ lbs. of 80% gelatin. The was an electric circuit within the ore body, a gal-
cost of the 80% gelatin in the bottom of the holes vanometer wis inserted in the circuit, and gave
pins the cost of the 50 lbs. of 40% on top of t'lat distinct proof.
would be no greater than of the 100 lbs. of 40%, and Similar tests were made subsequently by F. Reich
would pull at least 1 ft more of ground. This and Th Erhard in the mines at Freiberg in Saxony,
method of calculation can be used whenever one and by Carl Barns in the Eureka district and on the
explosive is substituted for another. 80% gelatin Comstock lode in Nevada. However, this 'electric
dynamite and blasting gelatin are never loaded prospecting method yielded no practical results
'
alone in a round of holes, but are loaded in the whatever tow aid the discovery of new ore deposits.
bottom and some lower grade used on top. This
system produces a maximum of economy and is still Direct Met/mil of Electric 1' inspecting.—The most
safe if the primers are placed in the higher grade
important desideratum quite evidently, to estab-
is,
explosives.'' —
A. E. ANDERSON, Mining Science, lish contact points in the solid rock; but as the
outcrop of the ore bodies is in most cases covered, as
June 20, 1912, p. 532. (A. R.)
for instance in Finland and Scandinavia with a more
or less thick blanket of sands and glacial drift, this
'direct' method can hardly find application in such
Locating Ore Deposits ry Wireless TELE- localities.
GRAPHY. — " A year ago there was published in Zeit- Such a 'direct' method was used by the
schrift fur praktische Geologic a paper by H. Lowy Americans Daft and Williams and was described in
discussing certain researches made by Lowy and G.
the Electrical !!• view and in the Electrician in 1903.
Leiinbach looking toward the use of electric waves
Their equipment comprised a secondary winding of
in exploring the interior of the earth for possible de-
an inductor, connected partly on the surface and
posits of useful ores or minerals. The reflection '
Method for Surface Exploring and Locating of It isplain that all such 'direct' methods of
Buried Non-Magnetic Ores in the Pitkaranta His applying contacts are inseparably bound up with
trict (Sweden), Especially Copper Ores,' dated Feb.
heavy cost-- for sinking and driving and for isolated
21, 1901.' The views there set forth were published conductors and equipment. Besides, fur reasons
that are easily underst the held in which it is
in Swedish in a brief article in Teknikern of Aug. 24,
I,
1904, of which the following is an abstract. possible to at all apply this method isof very limited
scope indeed.
The prospector and student of ore deposits must —
take advantage of every analogy and every reason- Indirect Method using Hertzian Wares. The
able induction, in order that he may be able to author wishes to suggest in the following paragraphs
deduce from observations made on the surface con- a more indirect method. He considers it possible,
clusions as to the occurrence of ores within the crust by means of the reflection of electric, rays (the so-
of the earth. Indeed, it is well known that to called Hertz rays) to determine the presence of
explore magnetic ores from the surface we have at electricity-conducting minerals within the crust of
74 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 191'.>
A.V'.;
itVss5!='T?">s?^^"'=i'?'^<Jt^^
Luit Schuhten
\ 1 jQeraritn.
' \
the electric transverse waves. The 'receiver' or signals through several thousand miles in storm and
so-called 'coherer' is hollow resonator or sonn 'er
.1 rain and through walls and hills.
the body of winch is nil .1 with powdered metal. Behaviour to Water and D
imp Sands —
In apply-
The coherer is likewise insened in the focal centre ing or testing the above outlined reflectometric
'
of a parabolic minor; the metal powder then 01 e-prospecting method,' as we would call it, it is
becomes a conducior should electric waves meet i>, doubtless necessary to otter and explain the follow-
while, under ordinary conditions, it opposes a strong ing queries. First let us assume that the wave len-
resistance to electric current gth and direction of the electric rays used be such
If we place a slider (oscillator) ami a receiver that, taking into consideration the unevennessof the
(coherer) so in adjustment tint the focal rays of bed-rock surface or contact of theore body, reflection
their mirrors arc parallel, then an electric gong would indeed take place through the surface mantle
which is inserted in the power circuit of the receiver of dry sands or d.ift The problem then arises:
is made to ring as soon as elecric rays are generated How would moisture in these loose sands affect the
in the sender (oscillator!. Should however, a electric rays ? Often the bed-rock covering consists
metallic screen he insened in the path from the 01 quite dry sands or glacial drift or residuum, but
seinler, then the bell is not, affec.te since tl Iled ric inure often these are damp or even strongly water
rays are reflected from the conducting surface. On Ir tiring. We
know that damp mineral matter is an
the other hand, a screen made of paper, ebonite, unusually good conductor of electric current. We
wood or similar non-conductor is penetrated In the must therefore assume that the electric waves will
rays. When such rays fill steeply on some reflect- he reflected by the ground warer table, or else
ing surface, as on a m tabic late, ihey are reflected
1 s rongly refracted in the water, since the dielectric
according to the ordinary "I" ic il laws of physics. constant of water is 80 (ether-- 1). Researches with
Application in Prospecting -Let us now imagine non-metallic bodies for the purpose of determining
that the sands and glacial drift covering an ore body their permeability to electric waves have shown
constitute a dielectric 'ind ilia' an ore holy within (see A cud.
d. Sci. I'aris, Complex liendus 1899) that
the bed rock —
for instance, copper pyrites, galena, the degree of absorption of the waves depends upon
August 1912 Notii i s and Abstracts : Mining. 75
the composition, thickness and moisture content of numerous applications in medicine and surgery long
the body investigated. Dry sand for instance, is before their origin and nature were elucidated by the
transparent to the rays to a much greater extent researches of physicists. On the other hand the
than a thinner stratum which is damp. history of the use' of the magnetic needle to discover
Here then lies a field, Utile explored as yet, Imt magnetic ores shows that well investigated physical
which is above all worthy of investigation. The phenomena may often wait for a really late useful
daily progress resulting f mm the spread nf wireless application, for it is. only since 1870 that the laws of
or wave telegraphy shows how fruitful are labours in magnetism have come into general use in prospecting
this field. For instance, in the year 1903 distinct for magnetic ores
signals were telegraphed over the ocean from Poldhu Instrumental equipment for experimenting with
on the British coast to Cape Breton, Canada, that is electrical ether waves and lays it is now customary
to say, a distance of nearly 4.000 kins. (2.5U0 miles). to find only very rarely lacking in physical labora-
Now the antennae of the terminal siations did not tories ; they are just as necessary there as are
attain by a good deal the height demanded by them optical apparatus. It has been the' purpose of this
when we consider the curvature of the earth. One contribution to draw the attention of the experi-
must conclude therefore that either the electric mental physicist to a field which is as yet but
waves have penetrated a mountainous plateau of slightly developed, but which may possibly yield
water several hundred metres in height or else the rich fruits.
waves have been propagated in a curved path parallel Preliminary tests have been made in the reflection
to the curvature of the earth's surface. But when of electric rays from thick plates of chalcopyritic
we consider on the one hand the conductivity of and pyritic ore by Professors Beck and Zimmerman
water for electricity, and on the other hand the fact of the School of Mines at Freiberg, at the writer's sug-
that the electric waves are propagated only in gestion, and these tests have yielded notable results.
straight lines, then it still seems difficult to exp'ain As may be seen by comparing the foregoing work
the phenomenon in a satisfactory manner. Accord- with the labours of Lbwy and Leimbach, these latter
ing to one assumption the electric waves tend to dis- attempt to arrive at the desired end in a way some-
seminate along the earth's planes of equal potential what different than my own. Lowy and Leimbach
(corresponding to the geologist's isogeot herm«, or use a system of towers orantennre inclined obliquely
surfaces of equal temperature, in the eaith). to the surface of the earth, and from which antenna'
—
Methods of Using, Now that 1 have attempted to electric iraves are propagated. My own reflecto- '
show that the suggested 'retlectonietrie prospecting' nietric method concerns the use of electric rays.
'
method need not be consideied in the domain of the In any event we must be grateful to Messrs.
impossible, let us see how to plan the practical in- Lbwy and Leimbach for the systematic prosecution
stallations of tests. The diagrammatic figure shows of their tests with the reflexion method
' for these' ;
at A, the sender, and at B, the receiver or coherer, tests have shown that it is now possible to use the
set up on ordinary metal-free tables. In a and 6 electric waves under certain conditions to indicate
these tables are represented in the sketch on a scale ore deposits or underground water through the
corresponding more nearly with the size of the ore blanket of strata which overly them.
deposits, the depth of loose sands, etc. If with a For the location and closer exploration of new ore
storage battery we excite the sparks in the sender, deposits, and to determine the ground water level as
a pencil of rays will be propagated, for instance, well as the position of subterranean springs, this
from s towards X. Here at x, let us suppose we have new field of research otters the best and widest out-
an aggregate minerals.
of conducting Fiom this look, provided that theory and practice work
-
aggregate of conducting materials, the waves are re- together hand in hand in friendly harmony.
flected back to t, they affect the coherer, and the bell O. Trustedt, Zeitschrift fur Praktis-he Geologie :
rings. The closing of the circuit in the coherer may Mining and Engineering World, June S, 1912.
of course be signalled or indicated in various ways. (A. R.j
Let a represent the angle between the path of the
rays and the horizontal. Then the distance of the
point a; -from the surface of the ground is (distance Small Stope Drills.— Extract from annua!
a) -(H), where H
the report of the Robinson Deep G. M. Co., Ltd., for the
ab -f- 2) x (tangent is
"Small stoping
height of the instrument. If we incline the sender year ended 31st March, 1912.
machines, which account for 70% of the ground now
at an angle somewhat greater than o, then, should
broken in stope faces, continue to give satisfactory
there be a conducting mineral surface at »/, the rays statements,
results, as will be seen from the following
The arrival of the reflected
will be reflected to e.
which 'compare the work done by hammer boys,
rays may then be indicated on the receiver, which :—
small and large machines
latter should have the same plane of incidence as the
sender.
Tl. Shifts Fathoms
In this way the area overlying a suspected ore Total per Ratio.
worked in
deposit might be thoroughly explored. By means of Stope Fathoms. Shift.
the diopter, the sender or receiver may lie adjusted Facets.
in the same plane. A tin plate screen in frontof the
sender blocks the direct part of the rays to the 1911
receiver. Hammer Boys ... 144,775 10,956 •076 10
Recommends by Experimenters.
Investigation It — Small Machines... 23,429 12,884 55 7-24
seems as though we may venture to suggest or Large do. 18,718 11,662 63 8-34
prophesy the practical application of electrical rays, 1912
even before science has had time to disseminate the Hammer Boys 90,872 6,583 072 10
•701 9-7
true light as to the manner of propagation of the Small Machines... 32,320 22,657
rays in various media. Wireless telegraphy shows Large do. 11,969 9,096 760 10 6
indeed that beneficent Jesuits can be attained from
these rays, even without complete understanding of
A number of hammer boys are still employed
their nature, just as the Rontgen rays had found small
76 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 10112
but it is hoped that during the present year their required to resort to a number of expediencies. It is
work will entirely be superseded by small machines.'' very common practice in cases of this kind to place
(A. R.) two samples in a single bag, separating them by
means of a piece of string tied round the centre. If
the samples are afterwards removed, one at each end,
MISCELLANEOUS. allowing the string to remain in place during the
The "Salting" of Samples and Means of operation, 'salting' will not occur; but if, as is
Detection.— "Salting" is a term which of late usually the case, the top sample is removed and the
years has come to have a variety of meanings and string then untied and the second sample dumped
which in consequence is often used very loosely. out, salting' is absolutely certain to take place, the
It Mas originally employed to convey the idea of an degree depending upon the relative value of the two
act committed for the purpose of raising the value samples and the amount of the first sample left cling-
of a 8am pie by some one expecting to profit by the ing to the sides of the sack.
false impression thereby created in the mind of the The use of inferior and porous sacks is another
party taking it. It is now possible to designate a very co union cause of 'salting.' It very frequently
great many other types of 'salting,' some of which happens that the lines' are the most valuable part
'
are of criminal character, while others arise from of the sample, and if the container has a loose tex-
ignorance and carelessness, anil in which a motive is ture, a more or less important loss of the tine
entirely lacking. material from one bag finding its way into another.
Nor do all cases of salting' result in the raising
'
I ascs of this kind have been known to have happened
of the value of the sample. A great many, as we all time and again, and, unfortunately, the fact that
know, produce just the opposite effect, but with such a thing had taken place was not established in
results which are very often as fully disastrous as some instances until after the damage had been done.
those in which the values undergo inflation. 1 be- The nse of canvas for catching samples as they are
lieve that every one will agree with me when I say broken down, has been the cause of a number of
that cases of deliberate 'salting' with criminal in- cases of innocent 'salting.' Canvas has a tendency
tent, are extremely rare now-a-days, and the only to retain metallics' and line sulphides and to yield
'
cases with which we have to concern ourselves are them up at the wrong time and place.
those resulting from acts of ignorance or carelessness Contaminated tools are frequently the cause of
on the part of either those taking the sample, or '
salting.' In picking down a rich gouge or any kind
those through whose hands it subsequently passes. of sticky high grade material, there is a strong ten-
The object of this paper is to call attention to a few dency for some of the ore to cling to the point of
of the cases of this kind which have come under the the pick, and if the tool is afterwards used on low-
writer's observation during a long experience in a grade material without being cleaned, 'salting' will
public assay office. almost invariably occur. 1 recall one case where
Coin bags, such as are commonly used by the titter sampling ore containing a considerable amount
mints, sub-treasuries and banks for the transporta- ot free gold, the end of the pick showed the unmis-
tion of coin, aie very frequent causes of 'salting.' takable presence of gold which had been retained on
Very few other than public assayers, realise to what the rough face of the tool.
extent these bags are used as containers for samples. The innocent salting of samples is not entirely
' '
Just how so many of them happen to come in the confined to those who take them. The laboratory
possession of mining engineers lias always been a in which they are assayed is very often the scene of
puzzle to me, but the fad i- engineers use them, and cases of this kind. A point to which I drew atten-
many an important sample has been salted through
' '
tion in a picviuus paper was that of the addition of
the use of them and without the slightest suspicion iron derived from faces of the grinding machinery.
of the fact having been aroused in the minds of the have known as much as 3°, of iron to lie added to a
1
interested parties. As an example of what might sample in this manner. In the case of samples re-
happen at any time, I can quote a case which came presenting smelter shipments, 'salting' of this kind
under my observation, where 0'5 gin. of gold was is frequently a matter of considerable importance.
recovered from one of these coin bags, all of which The reduction of gold on the face of the grinder is
bail been derived from the abrasion of coin in transit. another point deserving mention. Very few assayers
If any one will take the trouble to examine a freshly seem to have given this matter the attention which
minted coin under a microscope, he will readily it deserves. In certain cases, such as where the
appreciate how it happens that bags used to convey samples contain metallics.' very serious errors may
'
coin ale capable of yielding so much abraded gold. be introduced as a result of contamination arising
The edges are extremely sharp and rough, notwith- from this cause.
standing the fact that before being sent out they are Sample grinders used
in assay offices are generally
given a treatment designed to remedy this very con- designed quick cleaning, hut some are more or
for
dition. The extremely line particles of gold which less susceptible of considerable improvement along
are found in the bags are usually of such shape that this line. It is astonishing sometimes to note how
they become entangled in the cotton fibres of which much pulp some of them are capable of concealing
the bag is composed, anil it is an extremely difficult dining the process of cleaning. I recall one case
matter to dislodge them by shaking. As a rule they where a standard grinder, which otherwise was really
will remain in the bag lor some time, a little, how- a most excellent machine and for a number of years
ever, working loose and finding iis way into each cry popular among assayers, by actual investigation
\
successive sample placed in the bag. retained nearly Jo/, of pulp after the machine had
It is a very difficult matter for an engineer starting been given the customary cleaning. Investigation
out on a sampling trip to determine in advance just showed that the ore was lodged between some of the
how many bags he will require. Not desiring to nnmacnined faces, which for reasons of economy had
overburden himself with a lot of unnecessary equip- not been finished oil'. A machine of this type, how-
ment, he will, as a rule, take a minimum number, ever excellent it might otherwise be, is an exlremly
and the consequence is that very often he will run expensive one to possess.
short of bags, and to supply the deficiency will be As a rule assayers do not give the proper attention
' —
August 1912 Notices and Abstracts. Miscellaneous.
to the matter of drying the samples brought to them practically the same, is a matter requiring more
to be assayed, and to a certain extent they have time and skill, than is usually available for work of
been encouraged in this practice by engineers who this kind.
seem to think that the failure to consider the We often hear of 'low samples.' 'conservative
2 or 3% of water contained in what arc generally samples' and even of 'accurate samples.' A sample
recognised as dry samples, acts as a factoi oi safety is a sample only when it is what it is and what it
when they are making their calculations. From llie
engineer's point of view this may be goo practice in
—
actually purports to be a representative of a certain
I
public assay offices really appreciate the deep-seated ' safety co-efficient.' If a 'safely co-efficient' is to
fear that exists in the minds of engineers regarding
be used at all, it should be used only by the engineer
the matter of 'sailing.' It is a matter of almost making the report. Safely co-efficients are some-
' '
daily occurrence in large laboratories to receive in- thing which cannot be introduced mechanically into
structions to wash samples before assaying them. sampling or assaying and consequently anything
This is because of the commonly accepted belief that tending to destroy the accuracy of the work should
—
both gold chloride and silver nitrate the reagents be denounced as bad practice. " GEORGE A. James, —
generally employed in criminal cases of 'salting' Mining and Engineering World, May 25, 1912
are soluble under all circumstances in water. Asa p. 1099. (A. R.)
matter of fact, if these compounds have been used
for ' doctoring' samples it is very unlikely that wash-
ing with water will remove them or even disclose
their presence, for the reason that afte" drying in Review and New Books.
contact with the ore, they are reduced and rendered
insoluble. Washingis a precaution which allays the
fears hut does not protect. The Design of Mine Structures. By Milo S.
For one reason or anothei the idea generally
is KetCHUM, Dean of the College of Engineering,
prevalent that criminal cases of 'salting' invariably University of Colorado ; 450 pages, profusely
take place if at all. after the sample has been taketi, McGraw-Hill Hook Co., §1, net.
illustrated.
and the precautions taken to guard against it at this " While this work is intended primarly as a text-
particular stage of the work are about as ingenious book, its contents cannot fail to prove of interest and
as they are numerous. I recognise the fact that it is benefit to the practising mining engineer and super-
of course always well to usp every possible means to intendent. The first section of the book deals with
prevent the occurrence of intentional -ailing,' but I
'
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
4th Ed. Revised and Enlarged. 8vo., pp. 620. When power is applied to the rim of the pulley a
Lippincott. Net 21s. self-tightening effect is produced which causes the
Tait, G. W. Gold Mine Accounts and Costing. shaft to rotate.
A Practical Manual for Officials, Accountants, etc. (('.) 494/11. George Chisbolm. Improvements in
8vo., pp. 94. I. Pitman. Net 5s. feeding means for tube mills and similar totary
Warn, W. Physico-Chemieal Determinations at grinding machines. 6.9. 1 1
Hi«h Pressures by Optical Methods. 4to., pp. 32. This application refers to an apparatus comprising
Dulau. Net Is. 6d.
in combination a chute, a tray or pan hinged to the
Wood, H. C. Pharmacology and Therapeutics for
said chute, a further chute or its equivalent for re-
Students. 8vo. Lippincott. Net 18s. ceiving the material from the said tray and deliver-
ing the same into the tube mill or into means where-
by it is transferred into the tube mill, a lever which
operates the tray or pan and is actuated by the tube
Abstracts of Patent Applications. mill, a spring for returning the pan or tray to its
normal position, and an adjustable stop for limiting
(C.) 448/11. James Watson (1), John William the return movement of the tray or pan. This
Petrie (2). Improvements appertaining to depth patent also includes the necessary gear and adjust-
indicators for hoists and the like. 11.8.11. ments required for operating the tray.
This application refers to a pneumatic signalling (C.) 505/11. George Hardy Stanley. Improve-
system worked by means of a bellows so arranged as ments relating to processes and apparatus for
to be compressed when the skip passes the point screening ore and the like. 13.9. 11.
where it is fixed in the shaft. This refers to improvements in the apparatus
The pressure of the expelled air is utilised to work claimed in Transvaal patent No. 305 of 1910. The
an electric contact which may operate either a bell reciprocating screen therein mentioned is provided
or a disc signal and thus warn the driver that the with a chamber on the discharge side, the outlet of
skip or cage has passed a certain point in the shaft. which is so restricted as to secure approximate
(C.) 462/11. George Buchanan. Improvements in equality of the fluid pressure on both sides and thus
the tools and tool rests of lathes used for cutting reduce choking.
zinc. 16.8.11. George Ridgway. An improved filter
(C. ) 37/12.
This specification relates to improvements in tools for slimes 'pulp and the like. 17.1.1*2.
and tool rests for lathes used for cutting up zinc for This application is for an apparatus patent and
use in metallurgical processes and for other purposes. relates to an automatic reciprocating vacuum slime
The invention consists in using a bar which is filter for 'the treatment of ore or pulp by means of
clamped in the ordinary standard, such bar having filtration. The filtration is attained by means of a
a slot at the end in which is clamped the special movable basket of filler leaves which is first im-
cutter or tool. mersed in the pulp tank, then by an ingenious use of
(C.) 463/11.Peter Norman Nisf en. Improvements a rocker arm, the basket is transferred in a semi cir-
cular s«eep to a wash tank, where it is again im-
battery posts for stamp mills.
in 10.8.11.
mersed from the wash tank the basket is again trans-
;
(C.) 474/11. George Hubert Cox. Improvements This is an application in respect of an arrangement
for attaching a. hopper by means of a gland and stuff-
in cam shaft pulleys and the like. 23.8.11.
ing box to a projecting tube fixed on the inlet end of
This application relates to what is claimed to be an
a tube mill, the hopper being lined with an abrasion
improved method of securing cam shaft, or other
resisting material.
similar pulleys, to the shaft. It is also claimed that
pulleys secured by this means can be much more (C.) 142/12. Albert Thomas Harris (1), Charlton
readily detached from the shaft than in the case of Effingham Wollaston (2). An improved spray
existing methods. for liquids. 8.3.12.
The inventor proposes to employ a transverse key This invention relates to nozzles or like devices for
or pin in place of the longitudinal key generally spraying liquids. A nozzle or like device constructed
used to secure pulleys to shafting. The key or pin according to this invention consists essentially of
is provided with shaped surfaces or sleeves which two members, a receiver or receptacle having an in-
engage with inclined lugs formed on the outer face let to which can be attached a pipe or other arrange-
plate of the pulley boss. ment conveying the liquid to be sprayed, and a
August 1912 Abstracts qj Patent Applications. 79
hollow 01 chambered member, preferably attached distillation of coal and ot lier carbonaceous matter.
tn the receiver in such a way as to be easily (C.) 301/1-2. Albeit Verley. Process for the manu-
detachable therefrom. facture of precious metals, na ly gold, silver
This hollow member has one or a plurality of and platinum. 3.6. 12.
passages passing more or less tangentially through a
The inventor claims, that, when iron oi steel is
section of its walls, through which passage or pas-
su jected to the action of either water aim r water
sage: the liquid passes from the receiver into said
mixed with an "electrolyte" such instance
as for
member and in so doing has a circular or rotary salt, acid or alkali, he obtains a solution whicl n
motion imparted to it The aforesaid hollow mem- tains the above mentioned precious metal-.
ber ha* an aperture at the front which forms the
outlet for the spray and a conical or other suitably (C.)306/12 Max Adolf Bleichert (1), Max Paul
shaped internal pari or projection which extends in- Bleichert (2). Improvements in and relating to
wards from behind the ring of tangential passages. carriages for ropeways and the like 7.6.12.
On this projection the liquid flowing through the This invention relates to carriages for ropeway- to
passages impinges and i- deflected in the direction of enable a double carriage, the wheels of which ride
the outlet. upon a cable, to swivel around sharp turns without
The object of tin- invention is to ensure that the disturbing the equilibrium of the carriage and pre
spray, as it issues from the nozzle, is concentrated so venting the flanges of the wheels abrading the rope.
that it doc- in. spread out but can be thrown a long
i
The invention consists essentially in having hori-
distance. zontal pivots fastened to the ends of the supporting
beam and extending transversely t-i the rail, and
(C.) 241/12. James Ernest Horsfield. Improve-
vertical pivots near the central plane of the rail con-
ments to the outlet-; of tube mills and the like-
necting the horizontal pivot- with the bodies of the
2.5.12.
-ingle carriages.
This application refers to an attachment to the
discharge end of a tube mill for regulating the out- (C.) 312/1(1. Alfred Argles. Improvements in or
relating to the recovery of gold, silver and
flow of pulp and to retain the pebbles.
copper by amalgamation. 10.6.12.
(C.) 250/12. James Noad. Improvements in appa- This application refers to a method for recovering
ratus for distilling shale and other bituminous gold, .-ilver and copper by amalgamation, by treat-
substances. 3.5.12. ing first the finely divided metalliferous material in
This application relates to an apparatus for distil- the absence of metallic iron, with solutions of a mer-
ling shale or other bituininons substances, and aims cury salt or salts capable of depositing a light film
at the gradual and uniform heating of the charge. of mercury on the particles of gold, silver ami coppei
It consists of a retort having sides of a stepped contained in the material being treated.
cylindrical formation, so that the inside presents a The solution consists of -alt water and subchloride
seiies of horizontal concentric ledges, each of less of mercury (or nitrate of mercury in water may be
diameter than the next higher one. Inside the re- used) and cyanide of potassium.
tort are arranged rotary arms, which gradually work
the substance under treatment down from ledge to
ledge. The charge is automatically fed in from two
hoppers placed at the top, and a conveyer is arranged Selected Transvaal Patent Applications.
at the bottom to remove the spent portions of the
charge. Relating to Chemistry, Metallurgy and
Wilhelm Mauss. in Improvements Mining.
(C ) 282/12.
power driven swinging chute conveyors. 25 5.12.
This application has reference to the driving of Compiled by C. H. M. Kisch, F..M. Chart. Inst. P.A.
incline chute conveyors, such as are used for trans- (London), Johannesburg (Member).
porting ore in slopes.
Tin- claims aie for a fluid op»iated motor in com- ( N.B. —
In this list (P) means provisional specific.a
bination with such a swinging chut e, the said motor Hon, and (C) complete specification. The number
comprising a c^ Nuder, a piston and an independently given is that of the specification, the name that of the
driwn distributi g valve such as to cause the effec- applicant, and the date that of filing.)
tive force of the piston to rise gradually from lie I
motor with an adjustable governor f"r regulating the proved magnetic concentrator. 11.7. 12.
(P.) 356/12. Albert Holds worth. Improvements
speed ami also for mean- f"t regu'ating thesnpjdy of
in machines for removing scale or inciustation from
fluid io the main chute motor independently of the
valve motor the tubes of water tube boilers and the like. 1.7.12. 1
invention consist" of a specially cbn- and relating to rock drills and the like. 12.7.12.
i- and furnaces for the destructive (C.) 363/12. Otto Renter (1), Ernst Sokolowsld
i
-
80 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. August 1912
(2). Improvements in and relating to explosives. (P.) 395/12. John Edward Stone. Improve
1'2. 7. 1-2. ments in means for securing pulleys upon their
(P.) 369/12. Harold Arthur Liildon Howard. shafts. 25.7.12.
Improvements in the method of recovering the zinc (P.) 396/12. Theodore Keunert. Improvements
used in the recovery of gold, silver, or other metals in mortar boxes. 25.7.12.
by the cyanide process or other processes. 13.7.12. (C.) 398/12. Percy George Tacchi. Improve-
370/12.
(C.) Karl Schley der. Improved appa- ments in or relating to internal combustion engines.
ratus for consuming smoke, ashes and other returned 26.7.12.
products of combustion in the furnace of locomotive (C.) 400/12. Edwin Herbert Broden (1), James
and other steam and other furnaces. 15.7.12.
boilers Goodfellow Mustin (2). Improvements in and relal
(P.) 371/12. .lames Conning. An improved ing to collapsible reels. 26.7.12.
device for trapping vermin in quantities. 15.7.12. (C.) 401/12. Edwin Herbert Broden (1), James
(P.) 372/12. tiny Aubrey Chalkley. Improve- Goodfellow Mustin (2). Improvements in and relat-
ments in rock drill bits. 15.7.12. ing to metallic reels. 26.7.12.
(P.) 373/12. William .lames Abel. Improve- (C.) 402/12. Edwin Herberl Broden (I), James
ments in cone classifiers. 15.7.12. Goodfellow Mustin (2). Improvements in and relat
(<J.) 374/12. .lames Miners dolman (I), .lolm ma to reels. 26.7. 12.
Leonard Holman (2). Improvements in rock drilling (C.) Alexander Schweitzer (I), Fritz
403/12.
machines. 17.7.12. Haul! Improvements in the manufacture of
(2).
(P.) 375/12. Albeit Henry tiny. An improve- nitrogen compounds. 26.7.12.
ment, in bearings for shaft rollers, or other mechanical (C.) 404/12. Hans Goldschmidt (1), Walter
haulages and the like with the necessary fixings Brewitt (2). A method of uniting the ends of rails
thereof. 17.7.12. and other metal bodies by means of heat. 26.7.12.
(C) 376/12. George Kinoes. An improved non- (C.) 405/12. Charles Luther McKesson (1), Ben-
slipping composition for use principally in the manu- jamin Frank llice (2). Method and apparatus for
facture of stair treads. 17.7.12. grading or sizing solid materials. 26.7.12.
(C.) William D'Arcy Lloyd (li, Neil
H77/1). (P.) 406/12. Guy Aubrey
Chalkley. Improve
Kerr Webster (2). An improved machine foi cutting ments percussive rock drilling fools.
in 26.7.12.
up the maize (mealie) plant, the hark of the wattle (P.) 408/12. William Daly. Improv ents in
tree, and other vegetable matter. 17.7.12. stamp stem guides. 26.7.12.
(1-*.) 379/12. James Conning. An improved (P., 409/12. William Daly. Improv enls in
liquid disinfectant spitoon for hospitals and the like. stamps. 26.7. 12.
18.7.12. (P.) 41(1/12. William Daly. Improvements in
(P.) 380/12. .lames Wright. Improved vertical stamp tappets. 26.7.12.
sliding sashes. 18.7.12. 411/12.
(P.) Charles Legvvarcl. Improvements;
(C.) Peregrine Elliott Gloucester Cum-
381/12. in meansfor transferring comminuted solid matter
berland, improved means for preventing corrosion from one liquid to another. 26.7.12.
of metal structures or bodies in contact with water (P. 412/12. Thomas Anderson (1), Francis Ernest,
I
or other liquid such as condensers, boilers, pumps Dunnett (2). Improvements in the recovery of gold
and the like 19.7.12 from refractory ores and sands. 27.7.12.
(C.) 382/12. William Henry Mawdsley. An (P.) 413/12. John Ponntnej tidal. Improve-
improved composition for use with explosives for ments in drill or jumper extractors. 27.7.12.
neutralising noxious funics therefrom after decom-
position. 19.7. 12,
(C.) 384/12. John Thomas Johnson (1), Frederick Changes of Address.
George Mason (2). An improved cover for pneu
matic tyres and method ol manufacturing same. Members and Associates are requested to notijy the
20.7.12.
Secretary immediately of any change in address,
(P.) 385/12. George Gilbert Carter. Improve- otherwise it is impossible I" guarantee the delivery oj
ments in acetylene lamps. 20.7.12.
Journals or Notices. The Secretary should be notified
(P.) 386/12. Stephen Masters. Improved spray-
ing nozzle. 22.7. 12.
of non-receipt of Journals and Notices at once.
(C.) 387/12. George Twemlow. Improvements Kami
relating to the extraction of gold or other metals
Aubourg, U., to 42, Victoria Cottages, Ger-
niiston.
from substances containing same. 22.7.12.
Bawden, E. K., l/o Cornwall ; The Cordoba Copper
(P.) 388/12. dames Arthur Hart (1), Frederick
Co., Ltd., Estacuri de Cerromnirano, Provincia
Arthur Dudley Moseley (2). Improvements in and de Cordoba. Spain.
in connection with devices for burning paraffin wax
DAMANT, C. A., l/o Johannesburg; Aurora West
or the like for illuminating or other purposes.
United G. M. Co., P. (i P.ox 26, Maraisburg.
23.7.12.
MACKAY, A. \ .,//« Surrey. England; Frontinoand
(P.) 390/12. Harry Phillips. Improvements in
Bolivia Mines, La Salada, c/o Empreaa Hanse-
means for stopping runaway skips and the like. atica, Barranquilla, Republic of Colombia, S.
24.7.12.
America.
(P.) 391/12. George Ureen. Improvements in Schwabe, S. II, l/o Bulawayo P. (). Box 115, ;
(P.) 393/12. Arthur Leonard Oldridge. Improve- Mein, 43, Exchange Place. .New York, II. S. A.
ments in atomizers or spraying devices. 24.7.12. WHITE, F.. l/o London; P. Pox 617. Sydney, < >.
THE JOURNAL
OP THE
7 he Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknoicledgment of the source.
A glass flask is taken containing exactly one know, is Chairman of a joint committee which is
thousand cc. of water. The flask being empty made up of representatives of our own Society
and dry is accurately balanced by the poise and the St. John Ambulance Association.
wight on the first bar. It is then filled with
Mr. W. Cullen (Past-President): I think it
water and the poise weight on the second bar
only fair to state that the competition which is
when balanced will indicate 1,000 grammes.
now being arranged turns out to be a much more
If the water is emptied out and the flask filled elaborate affair than was originally contemplated.
up with a fair sample of the pulp which it is You will remember, that as a result of the ex-
wished to test, the poise weight on the third bar hibition which was held at the beginning of the
being moved to indicate the accurate balance, the year, we had a small surplus which it was decided
percentage of water in the pulp can then be read to spend on a floating trophy for ambulance
off. work. Later on the Council expressed the view
This apparatus has been constructed for Rand that this trophy should he confined to under-
slime having a specific gravity of 2 - 7, Slime ground workers, and it seemed at one time as if
from other districts often has a higher specific the St. John Ambulance Association would be
gravity, in which case a factor for correction must able to give the " Rathbone " shield for surface
be introduced. workers. At anj whether they are able to
rate
the competition would be incomplete unless the and in 1905 "Copper Prospects." Mrs. Carter
men engaged in collieries could be brought in, and his relatives have our sincere sympathy, and
as their conditions are so very different to those I take it it is your wish that we convey your
in metalliferous mines. This was pointed out to expressions of sympathy to his wife and his
the Coal Owners' Association, who very gener- brother, Mr. Palmer Carter.
ously promised the necessary funds for a shield We have also to record the death of Mr.
and their subscription was subsequently supple- Claude Bettington, who was formerly an
mented by one from the Breyten Collieries. Now associate of this Society. As you doubtless
all these shields are open for competition to all know, he met his death recently in an aerial
mine workers throughout the entire Union and flight the military manoeuvres in England.
.it
Rhodesia, and although individual mines may be All members r^se from their seats.
rather difficult to reach, we have taken steps to The Secretary read letters of thanks from Mrs.
send full particulars to the Press at every mining Pickering, and the Manager of the Denaby and
centre and we trust that competitors will come Cadeby Main Collieries acknowledging the
forward from outside the Transvaal. Society's votes of condolence in connection with
Then with regard to dates. We had originally the calamity at the Cadeby Main Colliery.
decided upon the month of October, but it was
A METHOD OF SAMPLING HARD GROUND.
pointed out to us that some of the mines would
not have more than completed their courses of Mr. Noel Griffin (Member).— (Contributed
tuition during that month, so the dates were post from Bulawayo) :
poned until as late as possible in order that every Appliances. — One Imperial chipping hammer,
mine and every person might have a fair chance. size I, No. B 1179, weight 10.1 lb.
Clause 21 of the conditions reads as follows :
" Team
entries (on Form A) must be
lodged with the first undersigned on or
before the 9th November, 1912. The names
of the members of each team entered, shall
be lodged with the first undersigned (on
form B) not later than the 23rd September,
1912. Due notices will be sent to the
person in charge of each team of the date
and place of each competition, the provi-
sional dates being :
—
For " A " shield
(underground workers), the
15th December.
For " B " shield (surface workers), the 8th
December.
For " C " shield (colliery workers), the 22nd
December.
OBITUARY.
The President We have to record, with
:
u The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of b'outh Africa. September 191'2
One rose bit, the head having a diameter of tative samples can be taken in a surprisingly
2 in. short time.
A sample catcher, 24 in. x IS in., made with a
\ in. round iron frame, the bag being American Mr. M. T. Murray (Member) I must :
drill with a hole in the centre. apologise for Mr. Green's inability to read the
A sketch of the whole is attached hereto, and following paper this evening. He is suffering
it will be observed that the bag is kept in posi- more or less from the effects of hydrocyanic acid
tion by the hand of the operator. poisoning which he has sustained while carrying
The actual hole in the bag is made the same out certain research work, particulars of which
size as the steel which put through to the
is he will give you at a later date.
hammer from the shank end. Octagonal \ in.
steel is heavy enough. To prevent the edges of A EESEAECH UPON A EEFEACTOEY
the hole fraying a washer cut from moderately GOLD OEE.
thick leather is sewn on each side, a good fit is
necessary as the exhaust is liable to blow the By Morris Gkeen (Associate).
small chips and dust about.
The bag is turned inside out after each sample The following paper embodies the results of
to avoid salting. It is made 18 in. deep, which the a series of researches, connected with
first of
allows the drill and hammer to be moved about the metallurgy of gold, undertaken by the author.
to any point within the frame, which is usually Although the present discussion involves a parti-
held within 2 in. of the back of the drive. cular ore, yet themethods adopted were in many
Drills of different lengths, from 9 in. to 22 in., cases general and applicable to any similar ore ;
are used. A i in. hose 30 ft. in length gives a in these respects, therefore, it is hoped that the
comfortable racge of 50 ft. and is light and investigation may prove of general, and not
pliable. merely local, interest. The ore found at the
This method is the outcome of circumstances, Mount Morgan Mine in the Barberton district is
the rock being unusually hard, frequently pre- typically refractory. It has for long withstood
senting a clean smooth face right across the back all attempts to treat it successfully and the ;
broken face, and on a smooth one a. clean cut (1) A highly pyritic ore. Sections of this
2 in. wide and up to \ in. deep right across the examined under the microscope, were found to
back of the drive. consist largely of iron pyrite in a ground mass
The work requires a good deal of muscular of quartz which it has replaced. The pyrite is
exertion, but in ten minutes a cut 24 in. long can not massive but fairly perfectly crystallized.
be made on the hardest face. Sphalerite, in small quantities, was also visible in
Several different kinds of bits were tried, but these sections, as well as calcite or dolomite.
the rose bits were the only ones that could face The microscope revealed no metallic gold. In
the ground and enable the chips to be caught. hand specimens the appearance is that of a dark
Before taking a sample the face is cleaned chert studded with pyrite. Specimens of this
down with a hammer. The rock cut out by the variety,which were obtained from a rich section of
rose bit varies from powder to the size of peas, the mine (as also were the two following varieties),
so if any larger pieces fall it is easy to put the gave an assay value of 20'5 dwt. gold per ton.
whole sample through a in. or \ in. sieve when
-jj (2) A dark-coloured, friable schist. It has the
dry. appearance of a dull, coaly mass, and in some
Although the hammer strikes from 1,500 to cases stains the hand. It is also highly pyritic.
2,000 blows per minute it is easily regulated by A highly polished specimen, examined under the
the trigger, and by holding the drill well up microscope by reflected light, had the appearance
against the face the chips do not fly as when a shown in the photograph. As in (1), it
hammer and moil are used, consequently a careful showed crystalline pyrite in a ground mass of
observation can be kept on what is being cut for quartz while veins of silica traversed the field
the sample. here and there. A
thin section examined by
Where compressed air is available, the rock transmitted light showed streaks of graphite
hard and the reef widths considerable, represen- surrounded by secondary silica. Small quantities
liter 1912 Morris ' rrti » 1
/.' ft Ujttt,, Refractor!/ Got, -
of iron oxide were visible, but no metallic gold silting out and crushing till all the ore
tioi S "I
was observed. These specimens assayed only passed the screen. It must not he forgotten,
_'
dwt. fine gold per ton. however, that the grinder used has a tendency to
produce much- fine. The following table shows
the figures obtained on grading (diffei
samples of the crushed ore by dry and wet
methods, respectively, and the accompanying
curves are a graphical representation.
Loaioo= rifc-
^"C --—
JS
!« >x
V \
UJ \
N
\ *
tO \ *
CC
u
V
\t
>
O •>-
I
u
^-
(3) A
green cherty ore. with considerably less i
rushing coarsely, removing the - 20 portion, In screen 200, width of mesh= -0(120 in.
Slime — 15-1
'
|
•in-'i '•
material which did not settle with reasonable
rapidity," several seconds, perhaps, being allowed
for settling. Slime thus collected is evidently a.
1000 1000
"Louis' " Dressing of Minerals," pp. 232-220.
—
S6 TIip J-ournal of The Chemical, Metallurgical tind Mining Society of South Africa. Sept sinber 1012
very arbitrary quantity, but since the method rendering quantitative determinations for gold in
was always the same and the persona! factor Ihe various sizes most unreliable.
constant, it was possible to perform a number of The following table gives the assay values, in
tests on a given sample with practically identical dwt. fine gold per short ton, of the material
results, so that different numbers representing separated according to Table 1, H.
quantities of slime may be regarded as relatively
correct. The slime was, in all cases, fine enough Table 111.
Not more than the usual slight pressure was used + 60 11-1
have been expected. The coarser material con Original ore L2-5
sists largely of particles of pyrite and quartz
attached to one another, these components of the By combining Tables I. -B, and 111., Table
individual coarse particle readily separating on IX. follows :
1285-92 10000
Table II.
Original
Meshes pei Thickness of 100 x 12-5=12.50 loo 00
linear inch.
A perl arcs.
wire.
Ore
tLe slime exhibiting the highest silica percentage or other mineral. That gold urs in iron
and the - 200 portion least. oxide (which, as lias already been mentioned,
was observed under the microscope) and other
Tai ii. V. decomposition products of pyrite i- -, than i
1-41
attributable, indirectly, much of the cause of
:
120 20 12T) 58 failure to tieat the ore successfully.
ii
36 25 1 Mill
•Jim 220 150 158 1 ins (1 1 47 It is almost unnecessary to -tat,- that from an
300 38-0 31 1 1
197 156 1 27 examination of Table A", merely, all or any of
Slime] 6 2 5 4 93 6 s I
-5 115 the conditions indicated are perfectly feasible.
1285 9 arithmetic Condition (6) offers considerable resistance to
1030 7
[«']
mean a highlj a,-, -mate investigation. Very tine crush-
1-31
ing necessary to effect a moderately perfect
l-
''
separation of the different constituents but this ;
1247
lition is limited, of com . by the tendency
to slime. Heavy liquids were also made
use of
Ori«j in the endeavour to effect separation of the in-
nal cue 12o 10.5 1250 ii 1 1 151 1 1
119 dividual particles of the crushed ore. All
attempts met with only partial success, due no
The embodied in tlie above table are
results doubt largely to the fact discovered in later work
irkable in one or
two respects. Since a tixed that what appeared to the naked eye to be a single
arithmetical relationship between the gold and anddistinct particle of some definite mineral was,
sulphur does not exist, either :
— in reality, a mixture of two or more different
The pyrite (or other
'
portion of the pyrite rich in gold is more readily quart/, and pyrite, was crushed to pass a 90-sieve,
finely ground than pyrite poorer in gold, although and concentration effected on an experimental
the rich pyrite resists sliming (vide the progres- slime table, the slope of which was adjustable, as
sively increasing sulphur and gold values in the well as the rat,: of flow of the pulp over it. The
tine sizes and the low sulphur and gold content collected tail contained .">'7
% sulphur. Assuming
"f the slime.) This hypothesis, namely, that all a uniform distribution of gold in the +30 sul-
the rich pyrite more readily reducible in size
is phur 1, earing minerals, this would correspond to
than poorer pyrite, was cone proved to 3 '7 x i 04 = 3'8 18 dwt. gold per ton. (The fa,' or i
rroneous, proof of which result will be found I'OI is the ratio (' in Table V.). 'lie actual
in the sequel. gold found, however, in the tail, was ON dwt.
Or (A) Some of the gold is not contained in per ton, i.e., condition ("), is initially true,
the pyrite but may occur in iron oxide, quartz, tit hast, the pyrite or other sulphur-bearing
,
ils not sin i« \n _f unifoim goM value also,
:
,, :
1
The product of numbers in culumi B, Tabli and column
the presence ol a given amount of such mineral
1 .
We \.
—
S8 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical nn/t Mining Society of South Africa. September 19IJ
does not imply the co-existence of a fixed and tailing, which ran to waste, being calculated by
definite amount of gold. difference.
Condition (c), page 87, was, at this stage but
superficially explored, common associates of gold, Table VI.
such as tellurium, and rarer ones such as selenium,
being sought after, but in vain. A more complete Assay ,,
Peree ° fc - Percent-
examination was left till later. value dwt.
Material. i
i age of age of
>'"
It may here be mentioned that although no &f total gold,
e total ore.
t hi.
graphitic material was discernible in, nor separable
from, the coarse material, it appeared in its
typical form —
in this ore —
on recrushing, i.e., it Concentrate ... 310 95-3 28-3
passed off' with the slime and floated persistently, Collected tailing 08 2-7 308
( ) verflowi rig
although the rest of the slime settled in due
course. The graphite formed, in all cases, a film tailing 0-45 20 409
on the surface of the water and only the pres- :
with the consequent deposition of a portion - os jo-9 -43 . ;.o s 40-9) = 0-60
determined the condition of settlement. Stirring t <-.. average value of tailing = 0*6Udwt. gold per ton.
up with lime had no effect in settling the graphite, This possibility of concentration is of great
the phenomenon evidently being one of surface practical importance in whatever form the ^oh!
:
tension, the usual coagulent for colloidal material exists, it follows the pyrite on concentration.
in slime having no effect. For lack of a better Numerous further tests on concentration were-
name this material is called "graphite." Although performed which conclusively demonstrated that
proved to be carbonaceous, it did not behave like concentration of the value into a small bulk
true graphite when subjected to one or two tests, (about one-third of original) may be effected in a
this point being more fully discussed later. moderately perfect manner. Concentrateobtained
Portu lis of the ore and concentrate, in the on the slime table, when concentration was pur-
various sizes, were also examined under the micro- posely brought about in a rapid and careless
scope. The slime being poor was not expected, fashion, contained ovei 75 of the total value,
except by chance, to show visible gold and the ; the original ore recrushed tine enough (— 90)
microscope did not contradict this expectation, being employed. 'areful concentration (which
<
although throwing no fresh light upon the ques- in this case is synonymous with the employment
tion as to whether the gold occurred in the free of the best rate of flow of the water over the
or otherwise. The microscope also failed surface of the table and the use of non-excessive
to reveal gold in the - '200 material and rich charges of ore, a slight change of slope having
concentrate from the latter, as well n~ in no marked effect when the other two variables
the various other sizes. It could only be con- are kept constant) yielded higher grade con-
cluded that either the gold occurs in the
( I ) centrate and poorer tailing. Other methods of
combined state, or (2) the gold, either entirely or concentration will be discussed later.
that portion not combined, is completely enclosed Although up to this point knowledge con-
by another mineral, the gold being either super- cerning the manner of occurrence of the gold
ficially coated by, or deep-seated in, this mineral. in tic ore was far from exact, further investigation
Many extraction and other tests, subsequently into this question was deferred, pending the re-
performed, indicate that much of the gold occurs sults of certain extraction tests, since it was
in the interior of the pyrite crystals, not dis- thought that these might give indications likely
seminated throughout the pyrite, nor limited to to prove valuable in attempting the solution of
the crystal faces, which appears to be the usual the problem. A very important reason, of course,
in. mner of existence of gold in pyrite. On for desiring to discover the precise mode of exist-
treating the pyrite with nitric acid, the residue ence of the gold is that such knowledge will
showed metallic gold under the microscope. This obviously be of great assistance in devising a
does not. of course, elucidate the problem, since treatment process.
many natural compounds of gold, as well as Amalgamation, being facile princeps as a first
minerals containing free gold, behave in this means of recovery when the gold is in a suitable
manner when attacked by nitric acid. condition, was naturally chosen as the first
To separate the pyrite from the rest of the method in an attempted treatment.
ore, concentration wa* effected on a slime table Each size of ore, separated according to Table
i -I'll
'
page 'ST ). The following table embodies the I.-B, as well as the original was separately
ore,
results obtained, the figures for the overflowing passed over an amalgamated shaking copper
September 1912 .l/oi .! fo-grm h upon a Refractory G"'d <>,-,-. S9
plate. The highest resultant extraction was possibility need not be considered further.
about 10% and the lowest nil. Regrinding the unclassified tailing with mer-
A portion of + 90 ore, assaying 16 dwt. gold cury recovered an additional J of the total1
'
per ton, was ground up with mercury for a -hurt gold originally present in the untreati
period in an iron grinding mortar, the action trate :but little additional slime resulted from
being similar in effect t" that of an amalgamating this second grinding. It appeared from this ami
pan. 40% of the gold present yielded to amal- subsequent tests that the presence of much slime
gamation. Tliis appeared hopeful and encouraged almost completely hinders sliming of the still
the performance of further tests on similar lines. unslimed portion the latter must be removed if
:
Concentrate, assaying 27 dwt. gold per ton, it is itself to be readily slimed. Generally, about
was ground up with mercury which colli 75 of the total could be slimed in one con-
of the total gold content, the residue show- tinuous operation, and the continuation of
ing 10 dwt. gold per ton anil sisting of 64
1
grinding, within reasonable periods of time, did
slimed material and 36% sand. The sand still not materially affect this quantity. A number in
contained '2t> dwt. per ton and the slime only the neighbourhood of 75 appears to represent
i dwt. per ton (•'). It is worthy of special the limit of possible sliming when the slii
mention that a rapid and careless classification not removed a.s formed.
'
the amalgamation tailing into sand and slime, In the above trial (63 -I- 14) or 77 of the gold
according to the arbitrary method mentioned was extracted. In other tests upon fresh por-
earlier, yielded 22 sand assaying 15 dwt. per tions of concentrate which were continously
ton and 78 slime, showing S'5 dwt. per ton : ground with mercury for about two hours, 72
ami this is doubtless a closer approximation to a of the gold wa-. amalgamated, on an average.
result that may be expected on the large s-cale in The bulk of the mercury, at the conclusioi
practice than result (t), which was obtained with any of these tests, showed a bright and clean
very careful classification. (Vide Conclusion, appearance, and readily united to form
p. 100.) globule. A small portion was intensely floured,
100 at in dwt. per ton gives a relative pro- as might be expected from the mechanical action
duct=1000. to which the mercury was subjected yet even :
'54% at 0'S dwt. per ton gives a relative pro- and with the aid of
this could be readily collected,
duct = 51-2. a globule of clean mercury made to coalesce,
7s at 8'5 dwt. per ton gives a relative pro some trouble.
duct=6630. Since tl sand" in the amalgamation tailing
14% has been transferred to the sand was still rich, a portion of this sand was re-ground
reclassification of the slime and this 14% corres- with mercury, which became, however, intensely
ponds toa relative product 663 - 51 '2 61 1'8. Soured and sickened. Quantitative determina-
If x = assay value, tions were thus unreliable, since separation of the
then 14j- = 6U - mercury from the pulp was a matter of consider-
and .'=43 -
9. able difficulty, and some amalgam probably still
i.e. a portion of the tailing representing (by contaminated the tailing after separating as
weight) 14 \ of the latter has an assay value of closely as possible. At any rate, due to this
439 dwt. gold per ton and contains 61*18 of extreme sub-division of the mercury, amalgama-
the total value in the tailing This result offers tion of the sand contained in the first amalgama-
interesting information relative to the occurrence tion tailing becomes impracticable. As far as
of the gold in that the pyrite is shown not to be could be gauged. 40 of the value of the tailing
uniform in value and that the rich pyrite is not employed was recovered.
readily truly slimed vide p. "7. ther infor- ,
Relative value of original concentrate =
mation on this mg given later). Again, 27 100 = 2,700.
•
since it is only the finest slime which has been Relative value of "sand" in first amal-
brought down t-> a very low gold value (and there gamation tailing =26 x 36 = 936.
is no reason to suppose that this portion was
the sand contains -,„ . x 100 3 1
00
,
extracted was contained in some of the rich of the total value in the original concentrate.
of this corresponds to '4 x 34"7 = 13 88
-
pyrite), the deduction that the material must be 40
slimed so as to expose the gold seems justified. or 13"88 of the total gold contained in the
Since the presence of a small amount of non- concentrate is recovered by this regrinding and
amalgamated tioat gold in the slime would be amalgamation of the sand contained in the first
sufficient to explain the observed effects, a con- amalgamation tailing. Although this figure is
tinual look-out was maintained, but since there high, a second amalgamation, as already stated,
was never any manifestation of its presence this appears unsatisfactory.
no The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of South Africa. September 1912
quent work yielded results that did not encourage armed agitator was available, so that six agitations
trial of electrolytic amalgamation, since it could be .simultaneously executed.
appeared that that portion of the gold not readily Ore (assay value 17 '5 dwt. per ton) crushed
recoverable would successfully resist the applica- through a 200 sieve yielded 54 3% of its gold to
-
tion of other electrolytic methods. cyanide on agitating for about 24 hours with
Whenever mercury was separated from the com- 0"2% cyanide solution, the residue assaying 8 dwt.
minuted pulp it was observed that in the unslimed per ton. Other tests, in which the time of treat-
material a small portion was larger in size than ment and strength and volume of solution em-
the rest, and that this metallic-looking material ployed were slightly varied, yielded similar
(it was not, of course, hard amalgam in small results.
particles) followed the mercury more persistently The possible presence of gold, too coarse to he
than the remainder of the concentrate. In at- readily attacked by cyanide, immediately" suggests
tempting to crush it, a very small amount behaved which contingency the reason for poor
itself, in
practically like metallics. The colour varied, in extraction becomes apparent. The coarse gold
different fragments, from steel-grey to an almost was removed by grinding a portion of concentrate
dull black. The nature of this material was with mercury. The very poor extraction effected
discovered at a later ttage. by cyaniding the tailing dispels all doubt regard
Extreme sub-division of the ore, ('extreme' ing this supposed possibility. The gold, or most
being here used to denote the practical limit) of it, extracted in the above cyaniding tests,
has been suggested as the condition necessary for could be collected by mercury if treatment with
the complete exposure of a large portion, at mercury were employed ;also, if the ore were in an
least, of the total gold. It is, however, possible equally fine state of division cyanide would
that minute cracks (although none were observed recover as much gold as mercury does, at least,
under the microscope) in the comparatively given sufficient time. The pooro extraction may-
coarse pyrite crystals lead from the surface to the be accounted for by one, or more, of several
interior, and that in the presence of, say, a reasons
cyanide solution, these cracks function as con- (n) Agitation with cyanide was not continued
'
duits in conveying the solution to the inner long enough. This supposition that 'coarse
recesses of the pyrite or to the seat of the gold. gold was responsible tor the poor extraction was
Solution of the latter could thus be effected, if shown to be fallacious by continuing the agita-
the possibility alluded to were a reality, even tion for several days, when only slightly im-
-,i
from the large pyrite crystals. Due to this proved extraction resulted, the normal recovery
uncertainty it was necessary to perform cyanid- being effected in about 8 hours. Decomposition
ing tests ab ono usque ad mala. of the pyrite. alread) referred to, does not, of
Leaching the coarsely ground ore with cyan- course, proceed so rapidly during mechanical 1
ide yielded very little of the total gold content, agitation during leaching, when the -surfaci
as
while l\ie consumption of cyanide was extremely layers of the pyrite are frequently exposed to
high. Concentrate obtained from ore that had the atmosphere, due to the sinking of the level
passed a 'JO sieve was similarly treated. In 15 of the percolating solution. .Much additional
hours, lA dwt. per ton dwt. per ton being
(
•'.!
1 gold will, therefore, not be exposed from this
assay value of concentrate at commencement) cause on continuing the agitation.
was dissolved after 24 hours more an additional
: (//) The ore. although crushed through 200 ,i
l(i Iwt. was extracted, while a third continuous sieve. is not so finely divided as after grinding with
leaching for 24 hours removed but 2'4 dwt. more. mercury, a much larger proportion being slimed:
Fresh cyanide solution was used in each case. in the latter case. finer grinding results in im-
The residue showed ll'l dwt. gold per ton, and proved extraction, as th itcome of the following
from this point, c mtinued percolation, for short test makes obvious. Concentrate, showing oi
periods of time, appeared to have little effect classification about 53 slime and 47% sand,
Upon the still undissolved gold. In the above was mechanically agitated for 20 hours, during
test, therefore, 16"9 dwt. gold per ton, or 54'57 which time C>G of the total gold or (i dwt. per
I
of tic- tie- total, was extracted in (i-"> hours. The ton wis extracted. The slime, present in the
pyrite was observed to d< mpose rapidly during above proportion, was decanted oil': it assayed
treatment which was not, however, prolonged to ol dwt. gold per ton. the original concentrate
a point at which oxidation rendered the pyrite containing 24"25 dwt. per ton. The 'sand' left
entirely pulverulent. showed .'IT
I dwt. per ton and was recrushed,
Whenever mechanical was desired,
agitation about 70 being slimed, the remainder being
a. motor driven agitator was employed. To per again crushed, and so on, till very little was left,
form comparative tests in which it was necessary the final residue being similar to that obtained in
.
September 1912 Morris Green A Research upon u Refractory ',<>/</ t>,-, Ill
previous tests and referred tobeforel vide [niiie 90). residue and the latter then dried and again
Tlic recrushed sand was now agitated with cyanide cyanided by either method, an additional 3
-
solution t'>r '-'0 hours, the residue after removal dwt. per ton could be recovered. This pri
of the solution assaying 5'8dwt. per ton. In all,
81*3 of the original gold content of the con
centrate has been won, the following summary
making this clearer :
Cyanate, too, is usually formed by the electrolysis definite answer, so far as the Mt. Morgan ore is
condition itself is conducive to a slightly in- original was left, consisting chiefly of iron oxide
creased extraction, if the gold were in a suitable ami containing also small quantitiesof manganese,
condition for the cyanide to attack. doubtless as Mu t> p ami silica. When attacked
The above results .show that the ore is not with nitricacid ami potassium chlorate, the carbon
amenable to treatment by the electrolytic method. was readily oxidised, a red powder again remaining.
The possibility of the existence of a compound (True graphite when subjected to prolonged treat-
of gold was next considered. Chemical analysis ment with boiling nitric acid ami potass, chlorate
is but p rtially oxidised, being converted into a
the presence of associates of gold
failed, to reveal
such as tellurium or selenium. Bromo-cyanide grej i.-li crystalline mass — the "graphitic a id " of
attacks such compounds and on account of its Brodie). Examined under the microscope, the
" graphite " was seen to consist almost entirely of
success with otherwise refractory ores was given
a trial.
iron pyrite, portions showing a tarnished surface.
The method adopted was in imitation of that Small quantities of iron oxide were also visible
usually employed in practice. The slime was ami streaks of carbon traversed the field in
mechanically agitated with cyanide in the ordinary irregular lines. The appearance presented was,
manner, bromocyanide added, and agitation then in general, entirely different from that discernible
continued. The usual 2 dwt. was dissolved, the by the naked eye.
residue still showing 33 dwt. per ton. Several cyanide solutions, tree from gold, were
mechanically agitated with this "graphite," in
In the treatment of silver ores by the Patera
quantities varying from one to several pounds
and Russell processes, thiosulphates of gold are
per ton of solution. At the conclusion, the solu-
also formed if gold be present. Both the finely
tions contained no gold, nor did the graphite
divided metallic gold and sulphide of gold are
residues :the graphite, in small quantities, thus
considered to be soluble in thiosulphate (oxygen
containing no measurable amount of gold. Ex-
being present in the solution), the sulphide being
amination of the graphite', for gold, previous to
more soluble in a solution of the double salt
agitation with cyanide would, of course, render
containing the molecular proportions 4Xa.,S.,0 3
these tests unnecessary, regarded from one stand-
'3Cu2 S 2 ( )., than in sodium thiosulphate alone.*
point, but it was desired to observe also the
Since the gold is afterwards precipitated again as
general behaviour, such as consumption of cyanide
the sulphide liy alkaline sulphide, 'mass' must
exert certain
and the appearanceof the graphite aftercyaniding.
a influence*, unless, indeed, the
sulphide is iidI soluble in thiosulphate.
The pyrite in the graphite, or that portion of it
had settled, stirring and settling, alternately, gold remaining in solution and not contaminating
being allowed to proceed a Dumber "I limes. the graphite. The other cyanide solution, free
Portions of the slime remaining were then from graphite, dissolved 55 ". of the gold m the
cyamded both with mechanical and air agitation ;
same interval of lime. This result speaks for
2 dwt. was again the maximum amount ex itself and requires no comment. further tests in
tracted, the residue assaying 3'3 dwt. per ton. which the conditions were varied, as outlined
Removal of the graphite, which was not, however, above, confirmed the ffist impression thegraphite :
perfectly complete, appears t" nave no effect on eelerates solution of the gold and does not
1
graphite was brief or extended over several days. graphite for its failure to improve extraction, or
The state of division of the graphite, which was rather for its neutral attitude, since the foregoing
employed both in the lump form and in the experiments have established that graphite merely
finest powder, was without influence. rates solution but does not :essarily
To discover the effect of the presence of improve extraction of gold from an ore.
graphite in a cyanide solution being used to dis-
In a similar manner, the time of treatment,
solve gold, two gold comets, of the same thick
cyanide strength, and quantity of graphite added
ness and form of surface, anil each weighing
being as in the previous test, the graphite pre
0'0150 were placed into different beakers
gin.,
served ds neutrality, relative to the total extrac-
each containing 175 cc. '23 KCN solution. tion, when added to an ore free from graphite
To beaker Xo. I. was added 01 gm. Mt. Morgan (and, therefore, unlike the Mt. Morgan ore),
graphite, and the solutions mechanically agitated, as was evidenced by mechanically agitating with
under exactly similar conditions, for 10 hours. cyanide Denny Dalton ore (crushed through a
The solution containing the graphite was then I'OO mesh sieve) with and without the addition of
found to have dissolved 96 ol tin- gold added
graphite, a recovery of about 93 icing effected 1
agitation was allowed to proceed for -24 hours [t is interesting teherethal Keith (A'nfl ring, Vol.
I.IX (1S95) p. "7'.n found finely divided 'carbon' to hasten s./lu-
before examining the mixtures. The solution tionofthe Rold hut that "contact hetween gold and carbon
to which graphite was added had, in the mean- could not be attained in practice except to a small extent, and
the method is therefore useless as an aid to cyaniding (Rose's
while, dissolved 100% of the gold present, the Metallurgj of Gold).
. —
94 Th' Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. September 191£
'carbon,' arc in perfect accordance with the laws agitating the solutions for a day.
of elect i" chemical action. Carbon being strongly Small quantities of alkaline sulphides are not
electro-negative to gold in cyanide solution does considered to seriouslj deteriorate the efficiency
~
jj <
50-0 solution in the first treatment,
; 100 of the
total gold remained undissolved, this largo
an electric couple where gold and carbon meet, amount of sulphide, therefore, effectively ob-
the former enters into solution more rapidly than structing the action of the cyanide in the given
in the absence of the electrical effect. The time.
evidence adduced has not only proved graphite The sodium sulphide acts, doubtlessly, by
innocent (it does not cause reprecipitation or appropriating the dissolved oxygen for its oxida
premature precipitation) but has shown that tion. A small amount of thiocyanate is also
under suitable conditions its presence is desirable probably formed, which, however, does not
(it hastens solution of the gold where contact appear to impede solution of gold, or silver if
with the latter is possible). The "premature'' present
precipitation theory (so far as graphite is con- In weak cyanide solutions, small quantities of
cerned) can thus be summarily dismissed from soluble sulphide form, in the presence of silver,
for,not only in the ore under investigation but in .Mt. Morgan ore. Here, strong cyanide solutions
numerous other cases, graphite is the only indica do not improve extraction. Again, the sulphides
tion perceivable by the eye to explain difficulties of silver (as well as native silver and the
in treatment, whereas the real cause of trouble arsenides and antimonides of silver) are soluble
some Stubborn combination or other condition — in the double thiosulphate which failed, in a
is lost sight of in the more conspicious presence former test (page 92), to yield an extraction from
of the graphite. The undoubted efficiency of previously treated slime. (If this is lo be ac-
charcoal as a precipitant for gold has also con cepted as an argument it must be assumed that
tributed to the reputation of the graphite. The the remaining gold is soluble in thiosulphate
difference in effect between charcoal and graphite, where contact between the two is possible).
being in this connection a pertinent subject for Therefore, the formation dining treatment, of an
consideration but one which would render the insoluble silver sulphide by soluble sulphides
discussion on the particular ore too digressional, need not credited with the cause of poor
Vie
cyanide, yet it, is a moot point whether or not tective alkali being present. The proportion of
these sulphides are sometimes responsible for solid to solution was 1 4. After 2, 4, 8, 21,
:
" premature precipitation " effects. Due to this and 70 hours agitation, samples of the pulp were
ambiguity, a few preliminary experiments were withdrawn these were filtered and the filtrates
;
i st ; ^ Morn i
Research upon a Refractory Gold Ore.
solution was increased to 0*25% and agitation in an attempt to synthesize the various
then continued for the period stated. streams of information, derived from extrai
Soluble sulphides were colorimetrically esti and other tests, into something more In
mated by Loevy's well known sodium nitro- coherent interpretation of the mi de of existence of
prusside method. The standard sodium sulphide
solution employed was such that CC. was 1
Tabli VIII.
equivalent to 002422 gm. sulphur. Thecyanide
-
the following method was applied The : — colour, there was no sharp dividing line, so that
ore (or concentrate) was boiled with con- the separation into two portions was a somewhat
centrated sulphuric acid, the solution diluted, arbitrary performance.
and hydrochloric acid treatment then used. Gold In attempting to reduce each lot in size, a
and silver being left in the residue, sulphur di- portion of the mass exhibited considerable tough-
oxide was passed through the filtrate. In either ness, and further comminution became an opera-
•case, not even a trace of tellurium or selenium t ion of much difficulty.
was discovered. (The usual qualitative tests, The and dark portions, separated by
light
performed upon fragments of the ore, also re- hand-picking the mixture as mentioned above,
vealed no tellurium.) were crushed as finely as was easily possible and
In most samples of ore, whether the ore itself, separately attacked with acids. A considerable
or concentrate, or concentration tail was exa- amount remained unattached by the acid. An
mined, small quantities of arsenic were present. analysis of both solutions showed that the soluble
In several analysis however, no arsenic was dis- portions (or the portion visible to the naked ey-e,
closed, which would point to the conclusion that since the residue was quite unlike the original)
arsenic is not a fundamental associate of the gold ol each sample were similar in chemical com-
in the ore. A
quantitative determination, per- position, which corresponded to that of pyrite
formed on a large amount of concentrate (which with small amounts of antimony and zinc, traces
always indicated the presence of more arsenic of nickel and cobalt, and perhaps the faintest
than the original ore), showed 0047% arsenic. trace of arsenic. Antimony, it may be noted,
In small amounts, magnesium, manganese, was the only constituent now detected not for-
nickel, cobalt and zinc were found. The micro- merly revealed in the ordinary concentrate, due,
cope also revealed the presence of the las) named. without doubt, to the minute proportion it forms
Alumina occurs in the ore in much larger quan- ol' the latter. The opinion expressed above
tities ami a trace "f copper was found. as to the possible nature of the mineral appears
The discovery of the presence of arsenic, nickel, now to be entirely erroneous.
etc., combined with the remembrance of a some- Fresh particles of this mineral were examined
what characteristic mineral encountered in earlier under the microscope (by reflected light). The
work led to the formation of certain conjectures. appearance was that of pyrite in different stages
For example, it was thought that the mineral of oxidation. The oxidation in several specimens
referred to might be mispickel, smaltine, chloan- was not uniformover the surface but along roughly
thite or some such other mineral, or possibly a parallel lines which are possibly the traces of
mixture of a number of these. The elucidation planes of oxidation. (The appearance in these
of this question was the immediate object in w us somewhat similar to the striatums of stibnite,
view. with which the mineral need not, of course, be
A considerableamount of ore was concentrated, confounded.) The general appearance, however,
and the concentrate, contained in a large glass was that of ordinary weathered pyrite; and when-
beaker, was further divided into two portions by ever the specimens examined were obtained from
applying a rapid downward current of water freshly crushed ore, this was the view presented,
which was suitably adjusted so that a portion of the other arrangement being absent.
concentrate escaped with the overflowing water. Samples of the light and dark minerals, mois-
The remaining concentrate was similarly treated, tened, and in thin layers, were separately exposed
md the operation was repeated a number of to the atmosphere overnight. In the morning it
times. A residue, very small in bulk compared was found that the dark mineral was disinte-
with the original ore or first concentrate, and grated into a red powder and solid residue, oxida-
similar to the above mentioned mineral, was tion having, evidently, occurred very rapidly.
thus obtained. The individual particles of The lighter coloured mineral showed, to the
this final concentrate were characteristically naked eye, signs of incipient oxidation the micro-
;
bigger than those constituting the rest of the ore, scope showed, further, that oxidation had taken
but the difference in specific gravity between the place to some moderate extent. On exposing the
successive concentrates was small. The colour of light mineral to the momentary influence of an
the mineral or mixture of minerals showed a oxidising flame it darkened in colour and became
gradual transition from steel-gray to almost black. indistinguishable from the darker specimens.
Different portions of a single particle occasionally The last result indicates that the difference in
displayed a variety of shades. The light oloured colour is not a very important characteristic. In
fragments possessed a bright metallic lustre addition, the similarity in chemical composition
which became duller as the colour darkened. and physical properties (except "colour") lead
By hand picking, the dark portion was separated to the conclusion that the only difference between
mm the lighter. Owing to the gradation in the minerals, at the time of examination, lies in
—
the degree of superficial oxidation. The mineral silver being present to form a parting alloy in
is, without <l<ml>t, marcasite, with which is assi ci- nitric acid, while the insoluble coating of silver
ated a number of impurities, as revealed by the chloride formed in the aqua regia prevents further
chemical analyses. An examination of the crys- acth the latter upon the alloy.
I This iinmc
tallographic structure was unnecessary (this, if diately offers a clue as to the nature of the coat-
desired, would necessarily be in sections prepared ing observed under the microscope. An alloy
fr the original ore, since fragments of the such as found in the concentrate and now
mineral large enough to make suitable sections artificially prepared showed a perfectly similar
could not be procured), the light colour being a phenomenon when attacked with aqua regia, the
sufficient distinction from ordinary pyrite. The microscope offering a clear demonstration of the
readiness with which the mineral decomposes, existence of a protective covering.
suggests, too, that it is marcasite rather than The nature of the final concentrate is now per-
pyrite. So much for the portion of the mineral fectly obvious. An individual particle consists
mixture soluble in acid. An examination of the of a nucleus of quartz to which is attached a
insoluble portion, or that part left, also, after fragment of a gold silver alloy, while coating of ;;
oxidation of the remainder through the agency of marcasite envelops the whole. (The significance
the atmosphere was next proceeded with. of earlier remarks becomes more apparent now).
The insoluble residue was spread out in a thin A portion of concentrate, similar to that used
layer upon a glass sheet so that individual par- in a previous extraction test, was finely ground.
ticles could be closely observed. It was obvious Tlie greater part passed through a 200-mesh
that each consisted chiefly of a non-metallic sie'e, the usual small residue showing extreme
material. In most cases, too, theeye, aided with toughness. The concentrate was then attacked
an ordinary lens, could with difficulty distinguish with UNO
Aq., several fresh solutions being
a metallic lustre at an extremity of the non- employed. The residue now left was subjected
metallic particle. The microscope revealed the to prolonged treatment with aqua regia, the solu-
fact that almost every particle consists chiefly of tion filtered off and the dissolved gold precipitated.
silica with a tarnished metallic material, of small Gold and silver were also determined in the
dimensions, attached to it other particles showed
;
residue from the aqua regia treatment.
silica only. The metallic portion exhibited an Gold dissolved byaqua regia 2G"9 dwt.perton
interesting appearance in that, Besides the tar i
lold left in residue ... 3'35 .. ,, ,,
-
iiished surface, a thin whitish layer invested it. Silver left in residue ... 2 43 ,, ,, ,,
final concentrate, not on the residue left with acid cyanide would fail to successfully attack this
treatment. Tic- amounts of gold and silver gold-silver alloy if the latter were exposed to its
reported on the weight of the latter would l>e action. The alloy is evidently similar to the
very considerable compared even with the already '•
Electron! " of Pliny. In these native alloys the
high values given. Assays performed on different proportions of gold and silver are often molecular,
portions of the concentrate, light coloured and as indeed they also are in this particular alloy,
dark samples being separately examined, all which conforms, approximately, to the formula
showed remarkably high figures, 500 dwt. of Au, Ag 4 Modern investigation, of course,
.
gold per ton being an average value. The light recognises no compounds of gold and silver,
coloured portion was somewhat poorer than the which form a continuous si lies of solid solutions
darker, considered weight for weight. only.:
The metallic portion of the material insoluble To discover the action of cyanide on a gold-
iu aqua regia contained gold and silver and only, silver alloj corresponding in composition with the
i e of the single metals (such as rhodium and alloy occurring in the ore, an alloy weighing
iridium which were found absent, also, in previous 3 2 login, was prepared, the weight of gold being
-
insoluble in aqua regia. "Since the gold and J Although ii" compound has been discovered bj fusing
together gold iinilsilver, the existence in nature of a Au-Ag
silver are insoluble in aqua regia they are no) appeal to have been either proved or ilis-
compouna does
evidently alloyed with one another, insufficient oroi '-'I
. h• I
98 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Soutlt Africa. September 1912
cornet was heated in the muffle side by side with uniform corrosion a punctured appearance was
:
the alloy and then a weight of 186 mgm. was presented, the minute pits being of a very shallow
taken. The pure gold and the alloy were flattened depth.
out till of equal thickness and then separately The figures inthe above table show- that the
treated with 250 cc. '23% solution, the KCN gold-silver alloy readily attackable by cyanide.
is
solutions being continuously mechanicallyagitated Mine the ratio gold silver in the solutions,
:
while the gold and the alloy rested at the bottom residue and original is more or less constant, the
of the treatment vessels. .\t certain intervals of alloy uniformly dissolved, the cyanide displaying
is
time the solutions were drawn off and assayed : no partiality for either gold or silver. Silver
fresh solutions (L'oll cc 23 KCN) were then being less easily soluble than gold in KCNAq.
applied and agitation allowed to proceed again. retards solution of the gold, less of the latter
The following table embodies the results ob- being dissolved from thealloj than from the pure
tained :
— metal. Treatment of the Mt. Morgan ore, even
supposing the contained alloy to be freely
-»—
exposed to the action of the cyanide, would
T.
necessarily be of longer duration than in the
'
absence of such an alloy.
[t has been shown that 86 18
-
TO of the total gold
ja
f. 3D O content of the concentrate can be dissolved in
_
aqua regia (page 97) Again, the insoluble port ion
of the gold content has been Found to be com
„
~ i
pletely enveloped by marcasite which conceals it
(the gold) from observation. The conclusion is
that so long as the covering mineral (marcasite)
CI O 1-
OS Sp CO
.
in not penetrated, S6~ 18 of the gold contained in
-f
oo 1-1
4
tin concentrate is tin maximum percentage re-
coverable by cyanide. -'• was extracted in a ;
1
< oo ~ C C r^
An examination, on the same lines, of the
slime encountered at an earlier stage was pro-
)- DO O ceeded with. Tin- assay value was -V;; dwt. gold
O O '.-. 1—
per ton the maximum extraction by any of the
£1
o© ~ 1!
;
o by another mineral.
_=: >
— -3 al -r > A complete interpretation of the mode of exist-
3
iG'£
C
ac
~ 1
o
e*-,
""N SJ
ence of the gold ill the ore may now be ottered
s
0)
,
t
o o
J*
3 o
s
Ph a portion oi the gold occurs in the pyrite in the
:
the mode of existence of the gold in the ore dis cyanide would then be necessarj for the recovery
sipatea the conceptions such as " premature pre of a bigh percentage of the gold. Removal of
cipitation theories— which have, for long, served the coarse gold by amalgamation, an. cyanii I
the gold-silver alloy should render the latter Roasted concentrate was ground Up with
amenable to cyanide. mercury ill the pan. The amalgamation tailing
A quantity of the residue (left alter cyauiding was then mechanically agitated for 2 hours with I
.Mt. Morgan ore for To hours in the tests sum- 0"23 KCNAq, the proportion of solid to solution
marised in Table VIII.) assaying 10 dwt. gold iu I : :;. The table shows the results.
per ton was attacked with Aq. '2 sp. gr. HXO .
| 1 ).
the ore being made into a pulp with the arid and
I'aiu i: V
stirred with a rod for a brief period. The acid
1 :
was then washed out of the pulp and the residue Dwt. gold
per
mechanically agitated with 0"25 KCN Aq. for i
in original
aerate.
about is hours. Seventy-one per cent ,or7Tdwt.
gold per ton, was extracted. Extraction by amalgama
Slime assaying 3 3-dwt. gold per ton, and >\- -
1
matiou ... 20-3 74-8
tbe methods previously tried irreducible in value Extraction by Cyaniding 5-0 18-4
if one continuous treatment be given was Residue 1-8 oil
similarly up with 1'2 sp. gr. HN'o.
stirred Original Concentrate . . 27 2 1(10-11
if slime. After washing out the acid, the residue .'. Total Extraction ... 25 3 93 2
was mechanically agitated with 24% KCN Aq., -
Roasting the ore should also result in the posed to the atmosphere lor several weeks, the
posure of the gold-silver alloy. A quautifr mass being moistened now ami then with tap
•titrate ( -80) was roasted, starting from a water (which was alkaline). Treatment with
low temperature and increasing the heat to bright nitric acid and aqua regia resulted, as liefore, ill
redness. The loss of weight was II (i.e., on reducing the gold content to .">•'! dwt. per loii of
the weight of the original concentrate I. original slime, the usual amount of silver accom-
Roasted concentrate (assay value 27 2 dwt.
-
panying this gold. A portion of the weathered
gold per ton of roasted concentrate), was ground slime, without this acid treatment, was mechani-
up with mercury in an ordinary mortar. About cally agitated, for ^0 hours, with 023 KCN Aq.
! E the gold was amalgam. The residue contained 2 7 dwt. gold, and l'i
Another portion of roasted concentrate was dwt. silver per ton (or, of the gold plus silver in
amalgamated in the pan used in previous tests. the residue, 60 is gold and 10 silver, ap
After grinding for over an hour, 70 of the proximately, the gold silver alio} being, therefore,
was collected by the mercury. In separating the uniformly dissolved). An additional 0"6 dwt.
er from the pulp, no trace of the mineral gold per ton has thus been extracted as a result
observed in amalgamation tests with the nn of the weathering of the sli since the un- ,
roasted concentrate was detected. No metallic- weathered slime was irreducible below 3'3 dwt.
looking material, in general, was present in the g,,ld per ton by any single treatment. The addi-
ted ore. tional recover} resultant upon a second treat
Roasted concentrate, crushed to pass a 200 is very probably due t the cause operating
i
the latter was 1 J, lb. per toil of ore. and water washes showed an alkaline reaction,
During roasting of the ore a portion oi the due very probably to the fact that the slime,
gold is very probably fused, so that large during weathering, was wetted with alkaline
li may be formed : a long treatment with W.lti'l .
li«i The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Sociiity of South Africa September 191"-!'
i bvious necessity. hider the conditions pre- I garded a finished concentrate, one product
as
vailing in the above roasting tests, the roasted rejected, and any intermediate material recon-
ore contained much soluble sulphate. centrated on a different table.
The question of concentration "I the ore was A scheme for a complete treatment of the ore
touched upon before (p. 88). Since it may con- may now be outlined :
-( Irush so that all the ore
stitute a vital part ol complete treatment and a would pass through a '.Mi mesh sieve (i.e., 90
possibly render the latter economically possible, meshes per linear inch), concentrate closely,
different methods of concentration were considered. (weather the tail and ) roast the concentrate, grind
Hydraulic classification of the ore, crushed the roasted material with mercury, separate the
through a 20 mesh sieve, with removal of the latter (plus amalgam) from the pulp and inc-
slime, di.es not efficiently separate the pyrite and chanicallj agitate with cyanide this pulp which
quartz, this result being, of course, expected. should consist almost entirely of slime. '1'he
An application of the principle of " hindered weathered tails, when the gold is sufficiently
settling yielded a similar result so also did the :
exposed, may lie cyanided. Whether so much
Wilfley and slime tables. The same result holds acid w'ill result from weathering as to render
for 20 --.".II material. cyaniding of the tails economically impossible,
With .".n |- 60 material a somewhat better by whatever method used (e.g., neutralization of
concentration than before was obtained, employ- the acid by, alkali, or removal of the acid >\ 1
ing "free falling," or " hindered settling,'' or the water washes is a question that can be answered
,
Wilfley i>r slime tables. only after trial on a fairly large scale. The
Willi (in +90 material the slime and mere possibility of weathering will depend largely
Wilfley tables indicated their superiority over the of course, on circumstances (e.g., available area).
two other methods. moderately good concen- A An alternative, and possibly economically
tration is two former appliances
possible with the superior, scheme is to roast the entire ore, grind
The results of a, concentration test with -90 Inn ly with mercury, anil after the separation of
+ 120 material, performed on the slime table, is the latter, cyanide (< r/., by mechanical agitation)
given in Table VI. The Wilfiej also concen- the pulp. Since, besides other abnormal condi-
trates this material efficiently. "Free falling" tions, coal is expensive at the Mount Morgan
gives a poor concentration. .Mine, the relative merits of mollifications of the
The slime table and Wilttej are efficient < main principles of treatment, namely, roasting,
centrators, too, with the finer sized ore (slime amalgamating and cyaniding, now outlined, are
excepted ). intimately bound up with the question of costs
The best
sieve through which the ore should and need not l.e considered here,
be crushed for concentration ..n the slime table It was pointed out in a previous amalgamation
or WilHej appears to be the standard 90 mesh test, that with careful classification of the amal
used in all these tests. Ore in this state of gi ted pulp it was possible to separate slime
division can be closelj concentrated also, the ;
I
r in gold from rich sand, from this result
crushing of the ore, by suitable means, through a the following treatment might be suggested :
90 mesh sieve does not result in the sliming of ('rush tin- ore as before, concentrate, grind the
xcessive amount of rich material. cent rate with mercury, separate the latter from
i
Throughout these concentration tests the the pulp, classify the pulp into slime and sand,
characteristic mineral often referred to, and reject, the slime, roasi the sand, amalgamate the
explained before, was observed to follow the roasted material by grinding with mercury, separate
|.\ rites. the latter and cyanide the pulp. Such a com-
To test the applicability of the Elmore vacuum plete treatment was carriedout, but owing to the
process to il re, an experimental plant was impossibility in practice was even considerably
(it
employed. With varying amounts of oil and difficult ir, a laboratory test, ami not always suc-
sulphuric acid no concentration could be cessful) of separating only the very poor slime
effected. With nitric acid and oil a selective from the rest of the pulp at the commencement
action was apparent, the pyrite tending to Moat. of the process, the latter becomes of little practical
The method general, however, appeared un-
in value.
ili factory and was not carried further. In conclusion, the author desires to express hie
Of the methods of concentration tried, the best indebtedness to Prof. (I. II. Stanley and Mr. M. 'I'
September 1912 I
is Hreai A /.' learch upon a licfi Mil
Murray for their interest and advice in the carry than 1/400 of an inch a verj high extra
ing out of the investigation; and to the Senate could nearly alwa; ured beca
of the S.A. School of Mines and Technolog crush as small as at without prohibitive exp 1 1
placing the resources of the School at his dis and the deleterious action of any a
posal. mineral cm readily vaded when we have thus 1
privilege this evening, a^your oldest Past Presi- It may be of interest to point out that, the
dent, to accord an extremely hearty vote of red to in A 17 by i
thinks and appreciation for this very interesting Mr. Andrew Crosse* and Mr. J. K. Wil- !•'.
putting the Society 6rst, at any rate it is a credil just like to add my meed of praise to what has
to this School of Mines in everj waj like the I been said. 1 am speaking, not as a member of
way in which its author has so logically worked this but as one of the Council of the
Society,
it up. always deprecate the technical discus
1 School of Mines, and in that capacity I congra-
sion of a paper on the same evening as it is tul ite Mr. (reen m his excellent pa
( i
brought up. When I come at a later sta The President: I am sure there is matter
speak on this paper 1 shall endorse many things enough here for criticism when members have
its author has said. think we ought to be very
I
had an opportunity of digesting the paper it is :
proud of such a paper, because it means that an full of most interesting matter; it represents an
enormous amount of work has been involved in enormous amount of work and a d of
its compilation. There is only one other thing 1
painstaking rid I hope that members will
should like to say, and that is [ am glad that tin- contribute generously to the discussion.
author has brought out the fact that graphite baa
not got quite the bad name it is supposed to
THE SURFACE WORKERS ON THE
have. I have made many experiments myself
with solutions containing fairly high percentages
RAND AND THEIR TECHNICAL
EDUCATION.
of graphite. 1 can endorse thfi statement this
evening that graphite does not precipitate the
Jum J/< ' ting, 191 .').
gold.
are of great value because they save the time of but the time is ripe, 1 think, for a general review
those who may have to go over similar gl id
of the whole question. To a certain extent I
and thus remove stumbling blocks from the path attempted this myself in a paper which is pub-
of progress. lished in the July number of the Journal oj the
South African Institution of Engineers. It is a
As is so frequently the case in dealing with
hal remarkable coincidence that Mr.
-
102 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Soutli Africa. September 1915
have been most disappointing, particularly with of tremendous opposition he is obviously getting
regard to numbers. There are, of course, diffi on. I, personally, do not see in the least why-
culties —
indeed the whole question is bristling lie should not. but if he does, then we can only
—
with difficulties but these will not account for save ourselves by keeping ahead. Such is an
the lamentably disappointing results of so much immutable decree of an all wise Providence. No-
effort— backed by a genuine desire to do the right artificial restriction will prevent the native
thing. What I feel particularly disappointed educating himself. If within the next twenty
about is the absolute inertia of those in authority. years we have black and coloured shiftsmen
I speak in general terms, of course, and naturally it will be entirely our own fault. I sometimes
there are exceptions, but again speaking general- look upon this contingency as almost inevitable,
ly, never in all my life have [ encountered such and witli regard to underground workers I am
inertia as there is to this subject. If I descended heretic enough to think it almost desirable. You
to particulars would offend many who are
I will observe that I make a distinction between
friends of my own and, obviously, I do not wish underground and surface conditions, and even
to do that. What I, and others who take an though my remarks tinder the heading may be
interest in this subject desire, is rather to make outside the scope of the paper, I think it right to
every person realise its importance and co-operate stale them. We are. all of us being made to
with us in bringing about a better state "I realise, through the loss ot friends, and in many
affairs. In another connection 1 have referred other ways, what a terrible scourge phthisis is.
to the uncertainty of tenure on the mines, but Several \ ig friends of mine, mining students
certain figures which Mr. Pooler quotes, on wlm left College with tic bloom of health on
authority, indicate that serous attempts are be their cheeks three or four years ago have all con
ing made to grapple with the problem by tracted that dread disease. Most of them must
one group in so far as learners are concerned a1 go on and die an early death. The native, on
any rate. Incidentally I may remark
that 1 the other hand, works no more than six ortwelve
sympathise with Mr. Toombs, when he says that months at a stretch goes back to his kraal, recuper-
the general system of learnership on the mines is ates there, and returns braced up for another spell
bad. I shall amplify this point presently. The and so it goes on. Now, I think if safety can be
effects of insecurity of tenure are more far assured, the proper policy to follow is to have
reaching than any of us think. Ask any school the minimum number of white men below, change
Principal on the reef if he knows of any parallel them as as possible to surface jobs, and
often
to the constant changes which go on in his classes. select the pick of the trailed natives to do the
There is no such parallel anywhere, I am sure. work which many of them actually do now. This
The children arc always going to new schools is a digression, am aware, but unless read the
I 1
because their parents are constantly being signs wrongly, the time is not far distant when it
"moved on," and in many cases they must start will lie to persuade good men in any
difficult
life without a chance. When
they are 'lucky number work underground. Some are opti-
to
enough to become apprentices the same thing mistic enough to think that in a few year's time
happens, and so it goes on. This is one of the there will be no phthisis, but i
" hae' ma doots."
greatest difficulties— greater even than the Then with regard to facilities, the endeavour
question of shifts to which Mr.Poolerhas referred. has been made to bring the teaching to people's
Then again I have referred to the inertia of those very doors, but the experiment on the whole must
in authority, but insecurity of tenure exercises be pronounced a failure. Of course, it is prac-
a paralysing influence on them also. What tically impossible tohave well equipped labora-
mine manager, resident engineer or foreman of tories at every centre. That one recognises quite
any kind can have a real interest in a subject of frankly, but what one deplores is the fact that
this kind under the circumstances which have so there is no general desire to take advantage of
far prevailed Personally I do not wonder in
.'
what can be done. Mr. Pooler cites the case of
the least at their inertia, but [ do wonder at that certain metallurgical classes which were con-
of the directors. They, at least, are not being ducted by two enthusiasts— with the greatest
constantly ''moved on," but as 1 want to enlist success, and let me add that one of these two
their sympathy also, I shall not condescend enthusiasts is our President and the other is
to particularise —
only they must be made to Mr. McArthur Johnston. All honour to these
realise what is happening under their noses. Now two. I know the circumstances well, and their
I am not in any sense of the word an alarmist, work was a labour of love, but, after all, one can-
but one must face facts, and the one fact not expect busy men who have already enough to
which one cannot get away from is that the do, to take on work of this sort. If along the
native is educating himself — badly on the whole reef we had 50 men like them continuation classes-
— but under tremendous difficulties and in face would not languish.
~>epteiriher UHJ F. J. Pooler, li.Se. The Siirj .
'cat Education.
In the paper to which I have already referred my mind is scarce!) fair. I know, however, that
I state a oast- for the general
establishment of there has l.een a slight iinpn,\ .men t ill this
Trades Schools and 1 do not propose to go ovev respect recently. Ct is difficult to prescribe
the same ground here, lint after weighing every actly what one should learners, butdo with
do I
and adhered to it rigidly. Remember I am only there is little chance of its being adopted, but
speaking for the mines. What n I mmend promotion, at any rate, should go to the tryers.
would be much more difficult to give effect to The subject of Mr. Pooler's paper is a very
outside. important one and I am glad he has written it,
In the first place I say that no lad should be if for no other reason than that it makes us
apprenticed to any trade until he has passed think. suggest that the time is ripe for a full
I
standard VI. For one or two trades where consideration of the matter in all its bearings,
muscle is the principal requirement a standard V. and think our Council might do worse than
I
attainment might suffice. Then, as far as possible, appoint a special committee to investigate and
all lads should enter on their trades via a Trades report.
School in which they should spend either two or Professor G. R. Thompson (Member) I am :
three years, a portion of this tune being credited very pleased that Mr. Pooler has brought for-
to their apprenticeship. Then further, apprentices ward this paper, because it is one which will
.should be compelled to attend suitable continua- appeal to the members of this Society, and if
tion classes, during at least hi.'.' years of their
t this Satiety can help matters on in the direction
apprenticeship period. This of itself, however, indicated in the paper, it will do a great deal of
will not suffice, so it should lie made clear that good for the country and for the industry. Mr.
advancement will depend on (./) regular class Cullen has referred to the underground workers,
attendance, (//) passing the class examinations ami he seems to think that trained natives may
(r) attention to duty. Nothing less than this me the shift bosses of the future; I hope
will be of any use for the South African youth. that will not be so, for I think that the improv-
I may say that this scheme has now been in ing conditions underground will remove all fear
operation for years at the Dynamite Factory and of phthisis. The points I wish to deal with are,
works with perfect success. If a lad does not first of all, to indicate that the education we wish
care to fall in with it, he .simply goes elsewhere. for in regard to surface workers is a scientific
As already said there is no occasion to bring the education Science is knowledge,
: and that
Government into a scheme of this sort. All that is science which they have to learn is the result of
wanted is co-ordinated effort among all employers, experiment; experiment and experience are in
including the State and business houses. Con- reality the same ; so that, after all, one is only
tinuation classes are compulsory for apprentices asking the learner to increase his experience,
throughout the German Empire, in Scotland and The author has shown, according to his
will shortly be so in England. Table A that 50% to 60% are capable, in one
The question of learners is different in a way group at least, of receiving scientific education ;
because the learner is generally a man, and a but the others are not. If this proportion holds
certain amount of muscular effort is expected in the other groups tile fact is clear that many
from him right away, i.e., as a rule. I sup of these have not been taking advantage of
we all know the group which Mr. Pooler refers scientific education, so that, we might ask our-
to in Table C, and I suggest that he gets per- selves what are the causes; to me, it. appears,
mission to name it in his reply, because I think there are two chief causes ; one is the lack of
the remuneration generous. The only comment facilities, chiefly in the distance students have to
I will make on the wages is that they are almost travel to go to classes and the other is the;
as good as those generally given to graduates of failure of learners io appreciate the importance of
the School of Mines, who have to spend a study.
minimum of four years at their studies, which to Mr. S. Newton in the discussion gives a very
.
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Sanely of .South Africa. September
1912
UJ4
effective cure for the latter, that is the cure by centres : they need not be elaborate to provide
promotion students.
of This remedy if only for a two years' course of work at the local
I do not say that promotion should musl 1»- done in Johannesburg where more
be effective.
go by mere attendance- at classes but that it money can be spent on equipment.
they should not get promotion unless they do tion Department of the Provincial Government.
that; their mere attendance should not count. If these people hue, through lack of opportuity,
as indicated by Mr. Cullen, not been able to get
Mr. Toombs also makes a very valuable sugges-
tion in this connection: that is, that an inden- education, they will make good their deficiency.
tured apprenticeship should be mad.- compulsory If, however, they are backward because they
for surface workers. This system is in vogue in vvi unable to take advantage of the opportun-
ie
subjects conducted in connection with the School to educate them further. Personally, am in 1
of Min^s are much more successful than classes favour, from experience in the engineering trades,
of a sort of compulsion it gives a worse type of
in any other subject—that is where there is no ;
compulsion. It must not be forgotten, however, student, but inoii- students. do not ad\ I
that a galley slave can never be compared to the complete compulsion, but compulsion of oppor-
willing worker. Compulsion tends to make a tunity, and when the opportunity given ;
learner or student a galley slave, and if he is an and not accepted, then think that it is useless
1
unwilling one, cannot, get the best work out of to carrj the compulsion further. I should con-
him. We must lie careful not to drive the in- sequently think that the- best method is for the
ipable. Compulsion, if tried, should stop at a employers to provide the facilities locally and
certain point —
that is, when the subject is found compel students to attend at the beginning. The
unsuitable for class training for any reason what- compulsion should not be in science if science is
ever. too high for them, but it should la- in general
The provision of facilities is a very much more education, if general education is needed.
difficult subject lei us to tackle. Xo member of IVlr. J. Moyle Phillips {Member): As re-
this Society would regard a chemistry course gards surface workers, every facility has been
without experiment by the teacher as satisfac- offered them in their technical education, but I
tory, and most would also think laboratory find from practical experience that there is not
raining of students is essential. Here in such facility given them for their practical work.
Johannesburg facilities exist, but. not out- Although on our mines we find young hoys en-
ide on the Reef. A glance at Mr. Pooler's d in the workshops as apprenl here I
'fable " I) " will shew how much we are a very great number of other boys who,
fall slmrt of reaching the ideal, that is in Johan- although they are eager and willing to learn,
nesburg itself, and sugge ts that, we have had cannot obtain the necessary advantages to do so.
little success. This is not so. Our laboratories Our population is growing very fast and as our
were full last year the first chemisty course was
;
workshops only take a limited SUpplj of appren-
subdivided info three sections, besides being tices or learners, it stands to reason that those
duplicated in the day time For afternoon and eight- who are so unfortunate as not to be able to obtain
hour-shift learners. had also to refuse admis
I that practical knowledge in our workshops have
sion to the Assaying Laboratory at the beginning to look elsewhere for other and may be more
of last year because we have not the accommo- uncongenial ways of learning a trade ami very
dation. If, by your efforts, \s.- gain the svj often have to adopt some other trad.- than that
in this Institution that, you would like to see, most suitable for them.
this place will have to In- enlarged. Johannes- has be.-a the practice on some ol our mines
It
burg is nol easy ol access from all parts of the to keep n list of applicants for apprenticeship,
Reef, and we ,-an understand the learner on the but tin- lists have lii-coiue so formidable that in
East or Western Rand, without enthusiasm for some eases th.-y have become practically useless.
learning or without realisation of its value, ob The applications are so numerous and the
jecting to enter our classes. Compulsion, then- vacancies so few, that it lias been a hopeless
fore, means provision of local
tin- facilities, matter to deal with them, and many a. lad who
either by the Government or the Mining House,. has waited months for an opening has been per-
and if compulsion is adopted, facilities must, be force compelled to look elsewhere and perhaps
ivided by the erection of suitable buildings. take up some other trade than that which be
These buildings must be placed at convenient originally intended and had a liking for, for one
—
uncongenial but for learning which a chance ward state in South Africa and in manj ca
Las been offered. after leaving school as earlj as possible, no
It is useless cramming a lad with theory unless further study of any sort is pursued, with the
he liasan opportunity of carrying the same into result that the knowledge possessed by the avei
practice, and the time for the practical work is age youth educated in this countrj is exceedinglj
when he is studying the theoretical so that be limited
ean see and apply the two at the same time. iia-e emancipated from the school room, sport
<
There is not the least doubt but tint if it is and amusement take far too great a share, in
really intended that we should (/row our own fact may safely say, the whole share of his spare
I
mechanics and not import them as at present, time, with the result that he is heavily hand)
some scheme could be evolved whereby a greater ipped in the struggle of life. One factor con
number of our lads could learn the practical part tributing to this unfortunate state of affairs is
nt' their trades than is obtainable at present. the comparatively high wage obtained by lads
We want more lads who will take off their here, which to my mind is anything but beneficial
(oats and work rather than put on a white collar to most of them.
to do so. ( lenerally a living wage is aimed at, and when
Mr. A. Salkinson (Member of Council): the youth has entirely to su .port himself as is
Before reading these short notes, should like to I often the case on mines, this is of course to be
touch on a point which is often mentioned in the commended at other times, however, the lad
;
press and which was also referred to by Mr. stays with his parents and proceeds to spend his
Cullen to-night that is, the insecurity of tenure
; whole wages on his amusement and gratification.
on the mines. This can result only in undesirable tendencies, as
The impression frequently conveyed is that it must be remembered that compared to youths
managers and heads of departments are con- other countries, his income is far larger in pro-
in
tinually engagerl in chasing good men away, portion. Serious reading and study is relegated
apparently lor the pleasure of doing so. to the background and instead, he develops the
The real cause of the numerous changes is to overweening confidence and self-satisfaction
be found to a great extent in the fact that the winch is so typical of his genus locally. In
efficient available material is too small. The other countries it is, or at least was, the rule for
good workmen soon get known and retain their the average youth of this class to contribute, a
positions or get better ones. When a vacancy certain amount towards his maintenance, with
arises, has to be filled in the best waypossible,
it the result that his already very small wage was
and although any number of men apply, it is not considerably diminished and any chance of his
easj to find a good one amongst them. Fre- being led astray through too superabundant a
quently those taken on have again to be got rid supply of pocket-money was thus remote. 1
of, others have to be tried and so ran. Thus think a great deal of good could be done to the
there i.s a large number of men who drift about average lad and to the country as a whole, if
from mine to mine, never holding their posts parents were impressed with the fact, that, a very
long and giving the impression that the whole limited supply of ready cash does not hurt the
mining population is constantly moving. welfare of the young generation.
If it were possible to analyse the number of The youth thus starts in life with only the
changes it. would, think, be found that although
I most limited education and what i.s even worse,,
a considerable proportion are continually shifting, with the conviction that he has nothing to learn.
the efficient workers do not change to anything As he gradually finds himself passed over by
like the same extent. others better equipped, he looks round for an ex-
The author is to be congratulated in bringing planation and generally finds it in the words
"
forward for discussion a subject which merits "luck or "influence.' He does not realise that
more attention than has been paid to it in the reallj good men are -ca in every department
.subordinate positions one must sorrowfully admit and energy have a freer scope than on the Rand,
that, with few exceptions, a previous technical \ct the inefficiencj of our labour is generally
training rare. There are some, who since
is deplored.
obtaining positions in reduction work-, have a well-known saying al
There is the amount I
attended classes, but as the author remarks, their of per square inch on the Kami
brain.- I can ;
Education as a whole has I n in a very back and less impressed by the correctness of this
]il6 Tht Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical ami Minintj Society of South Africa. September 1912
statement. Men, and more particularly youths, commenced attending classes only to find them-
as a rule will nut attempt to'In mure than they selves utterly bewildered by theories ladled out
are compelled to, and am strongly of the opinion
1 in large they had really c me to
doses, whilst
that, attendance at .suitable classes should lie learn a few elementary fact--. Possibly not
made a compulsory
clause in the engagement >>t enough latitude is allowed for he intellectual I
all learners and apprentices whether on mines — capacity of some, whose brain has lain dormant
or elsewhere. Were this dune, a sufficient numbei since leaving school.
of students would soon he obtained to call for That this view of the demand for more elemen-
duplicate and even triplicate lectures and the tary education in direct relation with the work is
difficulty mentioned by the author of securing a well founded, is shown by the satisfactory
regular attendance would quickly disappear. attendance at the Preliminary Metallurg) Cla^s
This brings me to another point, namely, the referred to by the author.
nature of the instruction available. If the heads of the Mining Indu-try Colla-
In the quotation from the syllabus of the local borated with the authorities of our .School of
School of Mines, stress is laid on tin- necessity of .Mines, I feel certain that greal and greatly- i
some sequence in the course of studies pursued needed impetus could be given to the technical
by students. Whilst fully recognising the ad- education of tic workers.
vantage and even necessity of his for highly I < finally, I should like to add a word of en-
trained worker, it appears to me that for the couragement to the employee who is doing his
average individual who ought to In-, hut at pre- best to assimilate knowledge and repair past
sent is not, an eve ling class student, rather loo omissions. Although to the junior, promotion
high an ideal has been set. We can never hope often looks a long way off, yet Studj combined
to educate all of our workers to the point where with steady determination, energy and common
they can be called highly trained, and that the sense— if only a class for the acquirement of that
policy is a failure is shown by the comparatively latter rare quality could also be held will always —
small percentage of students. Would it not be lead on lo success.
better to attempt to gain the interest of the
majority by giving them an opportunity in the INVESTIGATION ON MAGNETICALLY
first place of gaining information, which deals SEPAKATED [HON IdliiM MILL PULP.
directly with their occupation, anil about which
A certain
'
helps to make the pupil realise his own ignorance, by the author passed the 80 mesh (-OOb in.)
which is often of supreme importance. On
the that practically all the finely comminuted iron
the] hand, I know of men who enthusiastically escapes the action of the separator —
be it that
September 191-2 A. McA. Johnston fiiveslit/ation on Mnr/iielicalty -
Will Pulp. 107
the magnetic attraction on such small masses is particles a;-' returi ed bj the underflow o
not sufficient to overcome the surface friction or i
n classifiers,
be it that these small particles are already (b), v), (d). The finer particle
totally or partially oxidised by the effective to
conjunction with the p
interfere in
action of moisture and air. with amalgamation by adhering to the plates and
The only guide for estimating the amount of covering the amalgam. This may ur, but if
entering the mill tailing pulp is the figure the author considers that the iron represents onh
given of > lb. per ton of ore crushed, resulting a small portion of the pyrites which also have
from the wear of shoes and die>. For co been concentrated :ei tain extent he will not
i
battery meshes
with a correspondingly great seriously maintain thai tins comparatively small
output this figure is rather high,* but accepting addition to the pyrite is really the cause thai
it in the following as representing the total iron neci ssitates n ore frequent dressing of the pi
coining from all sources it may be that an error or supplementing the flow of water, or increasing
is made in the opposite direction. A mill with the fall ol the plates.
ily output of 2,500 tons produces therefore i
e i,
i f). Failing definite information ascot tained
1,250 lb. "I iron, of which, according to the by actual experiments, do not admit that the I
author, the magnetic separator eliminates only comparatively small amount >f iron in pellet
400 to 600 lh. " with silica, p\ rite, etc., mechaui form has an appreciable effect either on the costs
calbj removed therewith" — or less than one hall. of tubemilling or on crushing efficiency. >n the <
Owing to the fact that the coarser particles contrary contend, for the sake of argument,
I
are retained in the tube mill circuit until suffi that even a much larger amount would rather
ciently Hue to overflow the classifiers the metallic increase the efficiency. The admixture of speci
iron accumulates in this circuit to an extent fically heavier particles, especially those of
which is difficult to estimate but which could flattened shape, are helpful in keeping the sandy
easily lie by actual measurement.
ascertained porti f the tube mill content loose Accord-
tin no account must we be misled by the state- ing grading the average of these iron
to the
ment made by Mr. W. JR. Dowling in the text pellets about six times a, great and twelve
is
book on "Rand Metallurgical Practice" so — times as heavy as the particles of the plus 60
frequently referred to by the author that "the — grade which are to be 'rushed still finer. Thej
pulp in the tube mill circuit may contain as liny therefore We considered as small scale
much as 2.1 oi metallic iron per ton of solids," pebbles acting in the interstices left between the
(equivalent to oil 11.. iron in one ton of solids, or larger pieces of banket ore.
t ore than 1 cu. ft. solid iron in the content of Whilst from a milling point ol view the quan
a standard tube mill). It is unreasonable to tity of metallic iron,even in its concentration in
cor, t such a figure with the circuit as a whole, the tube mill circuit is unimportant, yet hall the
although a considerable concentration takes place amount of the current iron escaping the action
inside the tube mill where the coarse particles of the separator ami entering the cyanide works
an- retained a longer time in consequence of their ; cerj greal in relation to the quantities of
slow wear by attrition and abrasion. In the dis chemicals contained in the diluted solutions.
rge the percentage of the iron content is not Support ol his contention that fine iron has
Ill
much greater than that determined by the current a prejudical effect on the cyanide working solu
production in the mill pulp. tions, the author shows in three equations the
In the light of these arguments lei us review reactions by which sodium ferrocyanide Na^ IV
the alleged interferences of metallic iron with (CN) S may be formed by metallic iron, ferrous
practical working conditions as summarised by hydrate and ferrous sulphate.
the author. Tlie affinity of metallic iron for cyanide i^
Magnetic separators
being installed be- apparently extremely weak considering thai in
tween the battery and the tube mill inlets d practice only a small portion of iron combines
prevent the scouring of those ilgara plate- i
with cyanide existing in excess in the solution.
which are directly connected with the mortal According to an analysis given bj the lUthoi
boxes. The possible harm done l>\ the carrying (Rand Metallurgical Practice, p. 330), tl nlj
v of a small quantity of mercury bj coarse lerro compound contained in the working cyanide
particles accidentally discharged bj the tube solution entering the strong extractor boxes
mills is reduced to a minimum by
that tic fact is potassium ferrocyanide to the extent of 019 .
the greater part i- caught again in mercury traps At an assumed ratio of 2 tons solution to ton I
at the bottom of the plates or in the tube mill of solids the solution required for the treatment
circuit to which all coarse and specifically heavy oi one ton sand contains, therefore, "76 lb. potas
sand, or -
0068 b) weight. This percentage .'!.
Influence of varying quantities of metallic
is so small compared with the total quantity of iron entering the cyanide works on the
the current iron production, of which probablj treatment solutions.
tlic greater portion lias been directed to the sand By thorough investigation in good time, errors
plant, that a doubt may be allowed whether a and blunders can easily be prevented, whilst
reaction between cyanide and metallic iron ac- hasty conclusions based exclusively on theories,
cording to the given equation really takes place deductions from algebraic equations and labora-
in ordinary working practice. tory chemistry lead to the adoption ol innovations
The author makes out a great point that which like shaking tallies, etc., allow metallurgi-
though the action of cyanide on iron vats or cal progress to be recorded twice : first, at the
extractor boxes is so small as to be negligible time of introduction and secondly a few years
from a practical standpoint, the fine 'state of later when discarded again.
division in which the iron enters the cyanide Mr. Andrew F. Crosse (Past President) : 1
plant makes it more amenable to chemical re- was rather surprised in reading the author's paper
actions. For this same reason it is most pro to find that he mentions in a coldblooded way,
bable that metallic iron in such a fine state of without stating how he arrived at the result, that
comminution does not exist at all as it has before there is (i|:l of metallic iron in our ore from
coming in contact with cyanide become converted the deep levels. 1 do not like to doubt him.
into Ferrous oxide (FeO) and ferric oxide Speaking as an analytical chemist, I would say
(Fe.o or in combination with water into the
).
that a statement like that would require a little
corresponding hydroxides. In fact, an assay of linking up, because know how very difficult it
I
slime, published in "Rand Metallurgical is if one has a highly siliceous material like
Practice" p. 190, shows no iron in metallic form banket, to determine the metallic iron in it. Our
but only it- compounds as ferric oxide and pyrite ordinary mothods of crushing would have to be
In presence of air ferrous oxide (FeO) chai
modified.
readily into ferric oxide (Fe
2 3 ),
which forming
no ferrocyanide is innocuous, a fact admitted also Till-: ACTION' of MINERAL SULPHATES
by the author, who recommends, failing any better ANh ARSENATES ON CYANIDE
means of disposal, the feeding of the oxidised SOLUTIONS.
product of the separator back again to the
circuit. i Read <ii Ayi)-il 3/eetinr/, 1912.)
Ferrocyanide compounds do not necessarily
depend uponthe presence of metallic iron for By Andrkw F. Crosse (Past President).
their formation and it is more likely that they
whenever possible full particulars of costs, the and its dissociating action on Kt'N is a matte)
author, a- customary in our Society, does not that seems likely to prove of practical value.
worry us with such economical trifles which on The elimination oi this destructive factor and
the Band have never been an obstacle to metal at the same time that due to arsenates appeals to
lurgical progress. me as being somewhat similar to the purification
From above discussion it would appear
the of boiler Iced waters of the lime magnesia sul-
that the evidence brought forward by the author phate t\ |ie.
is not sufficient proof to bear out the usefulness The author indicates that Na.,CO. is useful for
claimed for magnetic separators. Such an appa- the MgSOj side and XaOll and lime for the
ratus being now in operation on a mine the arsenates.
Mines Trials Committee should not miss the I do not think that the use of Na ( '( I al
opportunity offered of executing some experi- for MgSOj would be practical!} sufficient owing
ments on a practical working scale with the to the great solubility of MgC0 3 . The procedure
object of obtaining more complete data 01 adopted for the arsenates would also eliminate the
folliiw ing points :
MgSOj but the useofNaOH might he too costly.
1. Percentage and gradings of metallic iron The method left is that of Na.co.. and lime,
contents in the mill pulp at the various this being a cheaper means of obtaining NaOII.
stages, with and without separator in 6 Tl pplication might be thorough agitation of
lion ; tin' ore with lie previously mixed
I XaOO., and
'_'.
Effect of varying quantities of iron pellets lime solutions, the conditions being such that
on tube mill efficieni \ sufficient \'aO|[ has been formed for solution of
ember I91'2 Anrln-ir F. Cr, i
,fM tlSnlithafesanitAm
the arsenates, and the necessar} excess of lime 5 par, line 3, 1 am made to saj " that dip and
for their reprecipitation and securing alkalinity. depth are ..f i i
importance." I;
The point is, will the NaOH regenerated conTert should be, " dip itsell is of relatively small
the MgS0 4 into Mg(( Ml), or is further <STaOH or importance.
lime required! It seems an interesting little Would Saner kindly favour us with a tew
>Ii.
problem. This case of the effect of MgSO. on instances courage shown bj our
of the
cyanide perhaps slightly touches Rand pra mining men in trying new schemes '
is not necessary to make a lengthy reply to my particular house-. Every n is agreed nowadays
paper on the action of sulphati - and arsenal that the underground operations are those which
cyanide solutions. practicallj the only scope for ei my on a
Mr. H. A. White made some verj complimen- considerable scale. On the surfaee it is now a
tary remarks after I had lead my paper. question oi looking for savings of decimals of a
Mi. John Wat-on wrote a very interesting penny underground, shillings are being sought,
:
Council).
i
ol
ordinary how many there are of the lattei kind
Mr. Tom Johnson (.!/ mbtr after all. Nothing i- more costly than had
Then- is a mistake in my paper. Page 38, N organi d nothing so condui i
high
110 The Journal of The ( liemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. September 1912
accident rate indeed the author himself says so mittee. The "Manufacturing" committee is
in other words. I imagine, however, that under- presided over by the under-manager and he has
lying his whole paper there is a plea for greater sociated with him all those who are concerned
'
:o-operation— between the management ami the with actual manufacturing operations. It meets
staffand between the members of the staff them- at thebeginning of every month and sets out the
selves. know of no better method of getting
1 programme of manufacture for that month.
"lies stiff interested in their work and therebj Then the " Engineering Work " committee, which
obtaining greater all round efficiency, than by is perhaps the t important of all is presided
taking them fully into one's confidence- -both over by the manager who has associated with
with regard to policy and tin- economics of their him the engineering staff, ami one or two others.
own departments. A manager "t a minemust of This committee not only sets out the programme
necessity be a very busy man. but In ought by 1
applied to the mines, a- a whole. Here can I have said enough to indicate the -cope of the
only give the briefest outline, but needless tosaj organisation. In addition to all this, however,
I shall l>e glad to amplify it to any anxious each departmental chief is furnished monthly
enquirers. Once a month on the third Monday with a detailed statement of the maintenance
the chiefs of every department, and some of the charges incurred by his department, arid these are
more important juniors, meet in conference in the all brought up for review at the so-called General
evening. General questions are discussed, such Conference, so he make- it his business to see
as those of policy, alterationto rules, mainten- that the charges are conect and that he under.
ance chargi confirmation of punishments, stands them. This is very much on the lines of
changes in manufacturing processes, urgent engi- Mr. Hildick Smith's scheme.
neering work and review of the proceedings of Now all this may appear to involve a terrible
the factory sub-committees, of which there are six. amount of circumlocution and unnecessary work,
There is always a lengthy agenda, which is -cut luit. a- a matter of fact, everything goes smoothly
out several day- in advance by the Secretary, and there is really very little work connected
who keeps careful minutes of the proceed- with it there is also an entire absence of muddle
:
ings. The manager presides and if there is as ami overlapping. True the manager delegates a
frequently happens, a difference "I opinion on lot, but every system must he judged by its
any matter which is not particularly' urgent, i success, and strongly recommend this one ha- a
I
mention three of these committees which are It is now the custom in Elementary Schools to
designated respectively " Engineering Work," give instruction.- in the rudiments of Science to
"Manufacture" and "Indents/' 1 shall take the higher standards, and these Its have been I
tioned tLe author was rigidly nailed down to a -Hi. .ii Explosives," by W. R. Quinan
syllabus and compelled to present his subject in Published by Critchley Parker, the Austin
watertight compartments, so t.. speak. Not- Mining Standard, 376, Flinders Lane, Mel
withstanding tins disadvantage he has home. Introduction by T. .1, Wrampelmeier ol
such a manner that a progressive sequence
in South Africa. Pp. vi. and 208. 21s. nett. 1912.
maintained throughout, although in several
is This work consists of a series ol original
instances previous mention had to be made studies on various phases of the subject,
of subjects, which were not supposed to he which occupied the attention of the author dur-
discussed until a later stage. This is notablj the ing the greater period of his active life. He was
<-use with the use of the metric system, assumed well known in this country owing to his connec
at the beginning of Part I. an. explained in the
I tion with De Beers Dynamite Factory, now
the
second chapter of Pari II. Whilst cm this sub- I he Fx plosi Vis Works at Somerset West
('ape
ject the looseness ..I the definitions given of the "car ape Town, where he served as (lei era!
(
yard anil metre as units of length should he Manage. I'r its inception in 1899 up to the
noted. Also, after explaining the distinctive time ..f his death in August 1010. For the last
meaning of the terms weight and mass, it would twenty nine vers ..I' his lite he had been directly
have been well to have adopted wholly an. not I connected with the explosives industry, and these
partially the idea of placing the word weight in papers show very clearlj and forcibly his devotion
inverted commas in order to emphasise its usually to Ins life's work. In the liist chapter he gives
incorrect signification. One very noteworthy a very brief sketch of the founder and pioneer of
feature of the publications is that the experiments the modern explosives industry, Alfred Sobel, in
given are not pen pictures of the imagination, which he pays his tribute to this wonderful
but actual tests carried out by the author's own genius in the following words "As an humble
pupils. Tlie instructions to teachers arc clear follower in his footsteps take great pleasure in I
and concise ami should be carefully followed ami making simple tribute to his memory."
this He
rigidly enforced, if the maximum benefit is to then gives a short account of s e of the diffi-
accrue. The illustrations on the whole are good, culties, which the eai Iv pioneers encountered in
and in Part 1. those from the State give the the detonation of nitroglycerine and blasting
necessary local colour. Fig. 2 in Part 1. is some- gelantine, thus leading up t.> Dr. Comey's experi-
what misleading and Mocks ..| » do not ..lieu I ments on velocitj of detonation, a summary of
show the geometric regularity of lines of growth this paper forming the subject of Chapter 2,
of those given in Fig. 23. As il is not intended along with a tew general com men ts. In the next
to initiate elementary students, such as those for chapter, which is headed Industrial Explosives,
whom these books are designed, into the mysteries the peculiarities oi kieselguhr (Nobel's original)
of cambial growth, it would be better in these dynamite, ligdyns, in which the nitn. glycerine is
cases togivea uniform shading for mere supports. absorbed by means ol wood pulp, etc., blasting
< page 82 more might have been said about
in gelatine and gelignite to detonation are briefly
the danger of using paraffin vapour stoves, a discussed. At the end of this chapter the loss
subject which the author has ventilated in this of sensitiveness during storage and the discovery
Society. Generally speaking, however, in spite of .Mr. Napier Hake, the late Inspector of
(
'.
of these minor defects the work is accurate and Explosives to the State ••! Victoria, namely that
shows signs of careful painstaking work. In a small quantity of blasting gelatine, which has
elementary books such as these accuracy is the thus suffered, will infect a large mass, is treated.
absolute sine //uti non, the fundamental basis on 'flu- phenomenon he author lets called 1 "the
which judgment must I..- given, and in this Hake effect "
tion of tint author, which is now quoted in all solved in water, acidified and evaporated to dryness,
he residue being taken up with hydrochloric acid
modem treatises. Their are very few references I
to tiie original papers, which the author was as phospiio-niolyhdate. which is either weighed as
compelled to use in his investigations and the such hi' titrated with permanganate.
work of English chemists is practically entirelj 'alorific Value-
i The bomb calorimeters of Mahler,
neglected. The book is well printed, the few At water. Williams and Emerson are employed for
this determination in the laboratory of lie Bureau t
Notices and Abstracts of Articles and Voli hi ii.ii Determination of Chloric Acid
ami Chlorates. "A mixtu 10 c.c. of the
Papers. chlorate solution (about A'/10), grm. of potassium
I
I'n 1 in in n a Treatment.
1 i The coal sample teived iimiiir. ('In hi., 1912,25, 1168, Journal of the Socii
in a moisture-tight, gal vanisetl -iron can oi about
of Chemical Industry, Vol. x\\i., p. 639. (J. <!.)
September 191- Noticet and Abstracts: Chemistry. M.'i
Analysis of Fhrro-Nickel Containing Zinc, 0-2005 grm. of lead, and from 0-0 to 0-2415 grm. of
Aluminium and Manganese. — "Sodium peroxide calcium sulphate, the ai ml of dated li
is added to a solution of the alloy (containing I varied from 100 to Inn It. is concluded :— (I)
: .
grin., as sulphates, in about Km e.e.), until the That calcium sulphate in solution in ammonium
liquid is strongly alkaline, the precipitate formed acetate does not form an insoluble molybdate
becoming almost black; the precipitate is washed when boiled with ammonium molybdate solution.
by means of li"i water, re-dissolved in hot dilute (2) Thai u do r - no trend with lead molybdate.
sulphuric acid J), the solut ion oxidised by adding
( 1 : (3) Thai when present with lead sulphate in an
a few drops of perhydrol (hydrogen peroxide), and iron ammonium acetate solution, then, on boiling with
and manganese precipitated by adding ammonia to the ammonium molybdate solution, the insoluble molyb-
boiling solution, the ammoniacal filtrate is then eva- date contains both lead and lime, and it is impossible
porated in a platinum, or quartz dish m the resi- :i 1 to determine load sulphate directly by solution in
due ignited several times, m
the presence of strong am 'non in in aeeiate when lime oi calcium sulphate is
nitric acid, is weighed as nickel oxide. The pi present, ill In the lead assay ol materials contain
bate consisting of the hydrated oxides of iron and ing lime, il is necessary either to separate the lead
manganese, and possibly s alumina, is ignited
t oi to take special precautions to wash the lead sul-
and weighed, and iron and manganese are deter- phate free from calcium sulphate before proceeding
mined together by dissolving the oxides in the with the solution of he lead sulphate. (5) Barium
I
least possible quantity of hydrochloric acid, and strontium sulphates do nol acl in the same
containing perhydrol, adding 50 c c. of water, manner as calcium sulphate, but lend in give low-
lo c.c. of carbon bisulphide, and in e.c. of rather than high results'."— C. ). Bannister, and (
potassium iodide solution (20' ), allowing the mixture VV. McNamara, Analyst., I9>2, 37, 242-247, Jou
to stand for KI minutes in a closed Mask, and titiat of the Society Industry, Vol. \\\i..
. .,-,'
ing with AT/10 thiosulphate, each c c of which corre- [i. 645. (J. (i.)
sponds to 0-0056 grm. of iron or 0-0055 grin, of man-
ganese; the iron is t hen also determined alone in the i sk oi Methylene Blue \s w Indicator in
original solution by means of permanganate. Alu- Iodom-etric Titrations. "It, has been shown
minium is determined in the alkaline filtrate by add- previously [Journal Society of Chemical Industry,
ing ammonium chloride and heating to 60° C. for 1910, 979) that a solution of pure
15 minutes, and finally, after filtering off the alu- blue in wafer (005 gram, per litre) can be used
minium hydroxide, the solution is neutralised by instead of standi in iodometric determinations.
sulphuric acid, treated with ammonia, and used for li is now shown that he ordinary imercial I <
the determination of zinc by Schaffner's method forms of methylene blue can be used, that it may
(titration with sodium sulphide, using ferric indica- be introduced al the beginning of the titration, and
tor). The method is said to he capable of giving that neutral salts and acetic, nitric, and sulphuric
good results 5-6 hours."
in E C. G'ARKON, Ann. d affect the colour change.
ii The results of
natyt., 1912, 17, 205 906, Journal of the experiments in the presence of alcohol, carbon tetra-
ty of Chemical Industry, Vol. sxxi:, p. Ii44. chloride, and chloroform are tabulated and shown
(J. G.) to be identical with those obtained by the use of
starch." P. S. SlNNATT, Analyst., 1912, 7,252-254,
Assay of Zinc Ores; Separation of Iron ky Journal ths Society
•/ of Chemical Vol.
AMMONIA "The zinc by ferric hy-
retention ol xxxi., p. 663. id. G.
addition io the zinc-iron solution of a metal for '-. ii arsenious oxide, 15 e.c. of sul-
I grm. of
which ferric hydroxide has al least an equal affinity. phuric acid (sp. gr. I -84) and 50 c.c. of methyl alco-
Comparative tests were made in which magnesium hol were mixed in a distilling flask which was
was employed for this purpose, solutions of zinc, iron heated on a water bath, a stream of hydrogen chlo
and magnesium chlorides being used and the zinc rile being passed through the apparatus for some
determined by titration with -odium sulphide. It i before commencing the beating and continued
was found that in the presence of sufficient am- during the distillation. The distillation was repeated
moninni chloride (5 grms.) to prevent the precipita- twice, with 50 c.c, and twice with 20 c.c. of methyl
tion of magnesium hydroxide by ammonia, thereti n- alcohol, when the distillate gave no precipitate with
tion of zinc by ferric hydroxide was completely hydrogen sulphide. The arsenic in he distillate I
obviated by the addition of 5% of magnesium (as was estimated by diluting with an equal volume of
magnesium chloride) to the solution. Similar wale-, passing hydrogen sulphide, washing the preci-
results were obtained by the addition of the same pitated arsenic sulphide with hot water, alcohol, and
proportion of magnesium to a blende containing 45% again hot water, li was then washed from the filter
of zinc mel -ill of iron." — ],. L. UK K0NI\CK, AND paper into a weighed dish, dried over a water bath,
E. von Winiwarter, Bull. Soc. Chim. Belg , 1912, and finally al 105 to I" C, and then weighed. I
18 Journal '•!
243, tht Soi ty oj
it'hemical Indus-
' 0-1002 grm. calculated as arsenious oxide was obtained
try, Vol. xx\L, p. 645. (.J. (i.) and it, was free from antimony. The precipitate was
always tested for antimony by digesting with con-
Effect of Lime hn the Ammonium Molybdate centrated hydrochloric acid, filtering, diluting, and
Method of Lead Assay. — "The results of a num- saturating with hydrogen sulphide. The antimony
ber of experiments on the influence of calcium sul- sulphide was dissolved ill hyd roclihu acid with a ii-
phate on the molybdate method of lead assay are little mi as-iu in chloral e ami
| he antimony obtained l
tabulated. Using 03415 gram, of lead, and from from the solution bj the action oi pure iron wire.
"O
-
to 0-0512 grm of calcium sulphate, the aim. nut When the arsenic was present as arsenic pentoxide,
of lead calculated from he volui ammonium
I
it be completely separated fr
coal antimony and
molybdate used varied from 1U0 to I05'8 Using ,
bismuth oxides, and mercuric chloi ide, il distilled i-i
—
1 14 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical am/ Mining Society of South Africa. September 11)12'
Rapid Method for Detectinc Salicylic Acid with the use of ferric thiocyanate as indicator.
[in Wink etc. "Ten c.c. of wine, or other liquid,
|
The reagent employed is prepared by dissolving
are mixed tesl tube with
in a c.c. of strong hydro- i
2"5 grm. of magnesium hydroxii e in just suffi-
chloric acid, and shaken up gently, so as to avoid cient dilute hydrochloric acid, adding '-'5 grm.
emulsification, with 5 e.c. of dichloroethylene (com- oi crystallised disodium phosphate and 50 grm.
mercial ' dielene '). Separation "ill then occur at of citric acid, then after the addition of a
once. The supernatant acid liquid is siphoned oil' few drops of plienolphtlialein, almost neutralising
and the residual dichloroethylene is washed twice with sodium hydroxide, and finally diluting the
with distilled water, vigorous shaking beingavoided. liquid to 250 c.c. The solution containing ammonia
After the second washing, a layer of water about and pyridine is made neutial to litmus with sul-
1 mm. deep is left on the surface of the dichloroeth- phuric acid, and one-third is distilled over. To the
ylene. This is touched with a glass rod previously distillate, which contains the pyridine and some
moistened in ferric chloride solution. After thorough ammonia liberated by hydrolysis of ammonium sul-
agitation and subsequent rest, the colour of the phate sufficient of the magnesia reagent is added and
aqueous layer is observed. In presence of O'l 5 mgrm. a solution of sodium hydroxide added drop by drop,
of salicylic acid a distinct, violet, tint will appeal.'' with constant agitation, until the liquid remains
I.. Ske'cklin, Ann. Falsif., 1912, 5, 220-223, Jour- alkaline and precipitation is complete, which is
nal Society of Chamical Industry, Vol. xxi., p. 599. effected by agitation for about an hour at the ordi-
(J. G.) nary temperature. With the aid of a filter-pump
the precipitate is transferred to a filter paper, por
Determination of Nitrites in Potable (ions of the filtrate bein<;' used to transfer the last
WATERS.— "In the determination of nitrites by traces, and, without washing, it is transferred to a
means of the starch-iodide reaction, the presence of distillation flask, and after the addition of water
ferric salts influences the results obtained. One part and magnesium oxide the ammonia is distilled oil
of ferric iron per million parts of water gives a colour and determined in the usual way. The pyridine
which corresponds w it li that obtained with "07 part which is all in the filtrate, is distilled oil' and the
ofsodium nitrite one part of iron in all million pails
; distillate made acid with a known volume of A'/IO
ofwater can just he detected by means of the starch- hydrochloric acid and titrated with A'/IO sodium
iodide reaction, whilst part in ten millions gives an
1 hydroxide sol in inn, after adding for indicator, 2 drops
appreciable reaction. The
colouration is obtained of a 2'7% solution of ferric chloride and 8 to 10 drops
when ferric iron and nitrites are present, together. of a 2'4% solution of ammonium thiocyanate, until
Ferrous iron does not itself yield a colouration but it —
the dear liquid is cnlourles." A. BAYER, J. Gasbe-
diminishes the colour produced by nitrites. The leucht, 1912, 513-514, Join-no/ of tin: Society oj
'.''.',
author prefers the Griess- llosvay method f jr the deter- Chemical Industry, Vol. xxxi., p. 607. (.1. ('..)
—
September 1912 Xo/icci mid Abstracts 115
Determination 01 Ash in Coal. " In deter- — the lime. It i- quite certain that dissociation .,t
mining the asli of a coal the mos( correct results are carbon monoxide from the blood slow, and that
is
given by igniting the coal in an open platinum or thus,- « hose blood is partly sal urated will soone
quartz dish over the Bunsen Hame, as the carbonates victims where larger quantities of the gas are
present are thus only slowly decomposed. It the hreat ncd. than those whose Mood is free from It
heating lie continued after the coal is burnt, the .Men who have repeatedly suffered, become very
weight of the ashe is increased by the conversion of car sensitive to the gas, and in mosl cases are compelled
bonates into sulphates by lie sulphur trioxide in the t to tl.andon work in which they must inhali
products of combustion of lie gas Hame. Ignition of
i containing it. The fn-t thai the affinity of carbon
coal in the muffle or in a stream of oxygen gives low monoxide for haemoglobin is over 200 times gre&tet
result^ owing to the decomposition of carbonates. than that of oxygen, will urn- an idea ol he slow nesst
The ash of a carbonate-bearing coal always contains of its dissociation from blood containing it, and the
sulphates The amount of the latin is proporl ional liability to accumulation."— A. S. Mi nroe, School,
primarily to the carbonate eon tent, ami in a secondary of Minca Quarterly, 1912, S3, 340-344, Journal of the
degree to the pyrites content of Ihe coal. The tine Societi/ of Chemical Industry, 1912, Vol. xxxi., p. litis
ash of a coal is given by the formula -Ash on : [.I. i. i
gas. The blood when partly saturated is thereby only in the light of what each has to accomplish.
rendered less able to perform its proper functions, so Considered together under the caption of ' total ex-
that the patient suffers from anainia and all the traction,' it is ordinarily impossible to judge of the
complications resulting from this weakened condi- behaviour of either. The problem before us is one
tion. According to Ed sal I, miners' phthisis has been which involves a consideration of the mechanical
shown to he due chiefly to carbon monoxide poison- side of slime treatment only.
ing. Recent observations have shown that for some Of late years the work of separating the solution
hours aftera blast, under ordinary mining conditions, from the slime has been performed almost entirely
carbon monoxide may be present in the air in by mechanical filters, of which there are a number of
dangerous amounts, and undoubtedly men engaged different types on the market. Involving as they do
in sinking, drifting, and stoping, where the circula- a great many different principle-, it is only to be
tion is deficient, have their blood partially
of air expected that they will show a wide variation in
saturated with carbon monoxide the greater part of their behaviour. In order to bring out these differ-
1
116 The Journal of 'J'/" i 'hemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of .South Africa. September 1912
enees,it. is customary to compare their behaviour be judged independently and in the light of its own
under certain conditions. The percentage of 'dis- particular work. an easy matter to separate
It i-
solved value-' recovered within a given tune is •
the cake washing operations of a filter from its other
of the tests applied in determining the efliciencj of work, and there can he no legitimate objection
this class of machinery. Strange as it may seem, offered, therefore, against considering this particular
considerable doubt exists as to the proper method to operation, a- though it was performed by a separate
he used in calculating the recovery, for a number oi machine.
formulae now exist which purport to give the true The function of the washing apparatus is to remove
(percentage, but which are absolutely incorreel I the 'dissolved values' remaining in the cake after
misleading. Before attempting to develop a formula its formal ion. The same line of reasoning which was
it will be necessary to consider briefly the circum- followed before in the case of ' total recovery of dis-
stances under which the 'dissolved value-' are solved values 'can be applied here. Two things are
recovered. -try in order to determine the percentage of
The separation of the solution from the slime is recovery the total amount of 'dissolved values' in
accomplished ir two stages. The first, witnesses the the cake before and after washing.
removal of the bulk of the solution, and the second From these we deduce tin equation -
:
ai ssary to know the actual ' values' in solution, Equation 6 percentage of recovery of dis-
both before and after treatment. This is shown in
t.he following equations :
-olved values from cake by washing.
M
ll) X=R. If in tl sample already cited, it is assumed that
Where M original value of slime. L isequal to 60 cts., the total recovery will he :
\V 1 1
in the figures required tor the foregoing calculations.
4i = percentage of
'dissolved It ha- been shown by a number of investigators
R
values' by filtering and washing. svorking independently of olie another, thai in the
interval alter the formal ion of a rake and before the
The following example will illustrate the ineih.nl
"ill lie supposed thai acertain application of the watei wash, a certain small per-
of calculation Ii :
the washing operations. Ii is one of the important pioecdiirei- that many of he filters now in use do l
detail- in connection with the operations of mechani- notadapt themselves to such a method of sampling.
cal filters, for to a certain exti nt the removal of the Ii would In. well, however, to a lopt it wherever
residual solution is a measure of the efficiency of the possible. the case of closed libers and others
In
machine where the sampling of the cake in situ is not generally
It has already been said that each operation should practicable, the method of taking samples from the
>
tanks will liave to be followed. In cases of — kind 1 1 1 1 experiments agree with the law to within the
the point comes up as to whether or nol it i- advis reasonable limits of error of experiment on so
able to put a stop to the actii f the cyanide im- vat iable a matei ial as broken rock. The next hing t
mediately after the taking of the sample, or to allow to be done was to compare the efficiency of a single
it to proceed for a length of time equivalent to the ci n -her. say, a dues breakei over different parts of
< .
period intervening before the formation of the cake. iis range: ('.., to determine whether it gave as high
It. would seem to be good practice to do this. The an efficiency when working from say, t in. to in. l
obtaining of samples to determine l\ I. and S pre- as from 4 in. to 'Jin. or from Jin. to in.; and I
sents mi particular difficulties, except in the ease of similarly to study other crushers such as stamps,
closed filters. In such cases it will l>e necessary to rolls, tube mills, etc., with a view to finding the
open th« machines up. most efficient range of each machine and the com
Avery important point in connection with these paraiive efficiencies of the different machines.
determinations, is the matter of putting astopto Obviously the amount of ground to hi' coveted is
the reactions immediately after the taking of the enormous, especially as tl xperiments have to he
samples. In certain cases, one of which has already
carried oul on a large scale yel with the utmost care
been mentioned, it would seem best to lei them j »i-«
to eliminate errors. Therefore, only a small pari of
ceed for a time, but in most cases they should be IIn- work lias as yet ecu completed, but enough has
I,
enunciated by Rittinger and accepted by nearly ail outward evidence of this belief is the elimination of
authorities since his day, and ti show that the more amalgamating [dales and amalgamation general. m
recent theory advanced by Kick is either true or so It is assumed thai gold that should be amalgamated
nearly so that it affords a close working approxima- will be obtained by concent tat ion or subsequent
tion to the truth. leaching. Although this ass ption can seldom be
Kick's 'law' was originally staled in l88o as si
admitted, it is my purpose to show a sm prising loss
general proposition in mechanics, and it is only within in net returns, even though the gold recovery does
the last few years that it has been applied to ore not. vary in quantity. An aigliment advanced
dressing first by Stadler in South Africa, and more against amalgamation is the loss of crushing capacity
recently hy the McCiill stall. But in terms of rock owing to delays foi clean tips and dressing plates.
crushing it may he stated as follows The power
:
It is my belief that amalgamators exisi that oxer
necessary to crush a given quantity of any given cc tilis objection, but if such is not the case, an
rock from any known size to any oilier known size, extra amalgamating unit could be provided to carrj
will he directly proportional to the reduction in the load while clean-ups are made. Admitting thai
—
volume of the particles in other words have a ton of both of thes,. methods are impossible, and 10% is
rock all in pieces, say, 1 in. in diameter, it will take enough to allow for decreased crushing capacity, ibis
almost three limes as much power to crush them to would seldom add 5c. per ton to Ihe cost of ore
pieces i in. in diameter as to pieces in, in diameter; I real incut.
,
or it will take twice .-is much power-to crush from I shall lirsl indicate the advantage of amalgama-
1 in. to ! as from
in. Iin. to 1 in. tion employed and the con
where concentration is
The law as above stated is of coins,, impractical, centrate is shipped purchasers Let us assume
I
first, because it makes no allowance for the imper- ore worth 820 per ton and that ihe in tons have
lections of the crushing machinery, or for the been concentrated into I. The f concentrate t
difference between one kind of crusher and another. would contain $200. The percentages usually de-
and second, because it is not a practical possibility ducted would be 8 '2 (5 of assay value and gold at
to feed a crusher with rock all broken to exactly the $20 per ounce), or $16*10 per ion of concentrate,
same size; but as Stadler has pointed out, if the law equal lo s| lil per ton of original ore. In addition
is theoretically true, it is possible to take any to this, there are various charges not so apparent,
quantity of mixed rock, and by sizing it before but which amount to considerable importance audi ;
settling the question of the truth of the theory and. which, of course, deducts that much from the assay
as stated above, the results ,,t a verj large series ol value. The commercial assay i- usually V below
UN The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining 'Society of Smith Africa. September 1912
corrected assays, and in determining moisture t lie S Iter's price for tin, per 22401b. ..£17325 £166-8
buyer always plays safe.' ' Percentage of London price paid for 88"8 89*2
Considering these details, it will be seen that tlie Value of in in ton of concentrate at
t
ton of concentrate has returned 8175*60, not includ- London price U27.7 £127*8
ingfreighl and treatment charges, or 89*3 per ton Difference between London value
of original ore, equal to a treatment cost of S2T4. and Smelter's price per ton of
Let us assume that 50' of tlie sold could be re concentrate C14T3 -
£13 8
covered by amalgamation and that tlie extra cost oi will he noticed that the value received per lb. of
It
treatment is offset by lac-tors not included in metal sold at both mines is very close, in round
estimating the expense of shipping lire concentrate figures 89% of the Loudon value.
to the reduction works. Under this head might be Indiscussing the prices offered, Mr. Fern has not
mentioned extra control assays, increased freight called attention to the important factoi oi the pres-
charges (which are usually regulated according to ence of impurities in the coneentral es The presence
the value of the ore shipped), interest on money of cupper, for example, has an important influence
locked up in settlements. The expense charge is 011 the price.
about 5c. per ton for refining of gold and expressage. The met hoi Is of sale are antiquated, but hey have, I
Thus showing a profit of SI per ton of original ore silver, 264-2, equivalent to 15-37 oz. base, 217"2, -.
treated. This article is merely intended to attract equivalent to 37 "30 oz. This bullion was now melted.
attention to the principle involved, and to a common keeping the heat, as low as possible, in a, .'111 ' sala-
sou ice of error." <;. A. James, Mining and Scientific mander ' crucible, ami fS% of its weight of sulphur
/'"«. May A. I'lli". p. 629. (A. McA. .1
)
added, stirring with a salamander rod. The large
crucible was used to give plenty of surface and to
avoid loss through spitting. The use of a small clay
CornishTin Ticketing. "1send you some figures lie sulphur, described by Mr.
crucible inverted over 1
gi\ ing the result oi sales of tin concentrate from the von I'.cinewitz had been previously tried and aban-
King Edward mine of the School of Metalliferous
doned, as il was thought the action was loo violent
Mining.
The figures are tlie average of eight small parcels
ami that, some gold was lost bv spitting.
sold during 1911 and 1912 and are placed foi ea The resulting bullion weighed 92 oz.. assaying:
comparison in parallel columns with the figures for
)
gold, 813-9, equivalent to 74\s7s oz. ; silver, 139,
equivalent to I2'7*s oz. base. equivalent to
Wheal Kitty -\ Penhalls. ; -17,
King u lieal 4-324 oz. The resulting matte, weighing 93*8 oz..
Kdward Kitty was smelted in a hot lire with iron, no other addition
Smelter's ton. Wet lb 2300 2300 being made except a little borax. The resulting
Moisture. Percent !C1 till bullion weighed 19*4 oz.. assaying: gold, 301*4,
Dry Weight, lb 2093 -Jl-ll equivalent to silver, 548'2, equivalent to
1 4-s oz. ;
Price paid by Smelter £li:;-.i7 1111 to 5*18 oz. copper, 35%, equivalent to 18*13 oz.
;
London price of tin, per 2240 lb.:] t'l'J."; £ls7 The matte was not treated further, but shipped to
the smelter with the slag. It, will be seen that the
11, is assumed that refining and express costs remain the bullion assays do not, agree exactly, owing to the
same in case "f gold recovered hy both amalgamation and
teaching, although it is usually in favour "f amalgamation. difficulty of getting a fair average sample of the lot
tKing Edward, value on day of ticketing. Wheal Kitty, grade bullion by boring il si oil Id have been sampled : 1
at :; iikimi hs' pi i
'
by dip samples.
September 19]-' Notices and Abstracts Metallurgy 119
The net result of the sulphur rehiring was to Average loss by roasting gold, 1-2-3 silver, !i!i :
-.
reduce the base metal from 37"3 to 12 /. and to lock The apparently -ma lh a loss of silver was probabrj
r
ii|). )!i>z silver and h dwt. gold in the matte. The due to so being dissolved by the sulphuric ai
following is a summary of this and of two other lot*
of bullion treated in a similar manner :
I \ri i: i m i \ i - n\ mm '!
[PITATE
\ n, - ii.
Tins shows that the 'iron' method of treating
4o ."iiiii gin. after roasting yielde 1 ... I.", Ill 13-02
matte is effective in recovering gold, but the re-
4& .. .. acid treatment ... 13-97 1 1 -59
Milting bullion too base, requiring further refining,
is
containing little base metal, and smelting charge Here he loss of gold by roast tng is much reduced,
t
would be reduced. Tins was found to be the case, Inn the silver loss is relatively higher, probably owing
with the additional advantage thai there was no to No. 6fl not being arid treated. In the -ix parcels
foaming, a- no hydrogen was evolved, less acid was treated, live gave higher results without roasting,
required, as put of the zinc was volatilised, and any and in ihe case of the sixth (No. I'M the combined
white precipitate was decomposed by the roast and weight of gold and silver was higher in the mm
rendered more soluble. On the other hand, there roasted portion, and it i- possible that an error
was the possibility of loss of precious metals in occupied in assaying the bullion, parting may have
•J" roasting 777 7'26 carried into the slag, bul that i- locally nodisadvan
2b acid treatment.. 9-69 S-22 tage, a - tie- mint allow- only l-. nd. per ounce for
3a roasting ... <i!>2 5 95 -
line -iher, while Ihe com Willed hank and mint
3b acid treatment.. S-43 7 02 chargi 2d. per ounce a- lie slag
I
1 i
'
—
120 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society »f South Africa. September 1912'
any case to be shipped to the smelter, it is more the flame and steam are cut out. The lid consists of
p roll table that should have a high silver content.
ii an ordinary crucible cover raised to allow for the
MnO., ai'ts more energetically than nitre, and does entrance of the Name and the passage ot the gasses.
tied boil up so much, nor dues it seem so corrosive on Oxidation is effected by the introduction of a jet of
crucibles. Bessemerising by air was first tried and steam which causes a How of air through the aper-
patentcl by Mantoii, of Menzies, but the corrosion ture. Where compressed air is available, it is
both of the air-pipes and of the crucibles was execs recommended in place of the steam. The heat for
sive, ami until Rose published bis classic paper on cupelling is obtained from a Wells Mo. 2 burner.
this method, no really conclusive work bad been At least half an hour is allowed to elapse before
done to prove that there was no appreciable loss of the introduction of the bullion, the temperature in
precious metals.'' H. K. Edmands, Minimi and the meantime being gradually brought up until the
Scientific Press, duly 13, 1912, p. 55. (A. McA J.) interior presents a bright red colour. The lid is then
removed and the bullion placed inside. A charge
consists of about 50 lb. of bullion of which one-half
CufkMjAtion of Gold I'iiecipitate. "The should be lead. As soon as the bullion melts, the
writer gives a description of the method of treating sic, cm is turned on and cupellation started. The
the zinc box precipitate at lian, Borneo, of which first litharge formed is absorbed by the test but it
the following are the salient features : soon starts to collect on top and as soon as this hap-
The precipitate is lust divided into two products pens the back of the cupel holder is raised by means
— —
coarse and line by screening. The coarse material of the levelling screw and this causes the litharge to
consists mainly of short zinc, and this is given the run over into the mould placed in front to catch it.
usual sulphuric acid treatment after which it is As soon as most of the lead has been driven off.
pumped into a filter press. The lines contain a con- the cupel holder is returned to a horizontal position
siderable quantity of calcium carbonate and it is and more bullion added and the fortnei operations
therefore given a preliminary hydrochloric acid repeated until a sufficient quantity of line bullion is
treatment, after which it is washed and treated produced to warrant pouring. The bats ate finally
with sulphuric acid the same as the coarse run down in pots and recast in suitable sizes for
material. The precipitate is ben steamed and dried,
I
shipment. The final bullion runs about 953 line in
after which it is tlnxeil and ran down in a coke-fired gold and sityer." Cecil J. Brooks, Minimi Maga-
Faberdu baur tilting furnace. zine Mmimi and Engineering World, July ii, 1912,
:
possible loss, the slag is again reground and passed is the plant in which is treated the picked ore taken
over a Wil Hey table. A small amount of matter is from a celebrated mine in Cobalt. This ore, con-
produced and this is inn down with the same charge taining native silver and argentite, together with (he
used with slag. arsenides of cobalt and nickel (6% Mi, 7 to 8% Co,
Two Lin. Is of bullion arc- produced, the average of to \s) after being crushed to 70 mesh at the
which is about 800-900 fine. Both kinds atv cupelled sampler is delivered to the plant with an average
content of 2600 OZS. silver per ton. is feci to a
together in a portable cupel furnace of which the Il
the line of travel being an arc of a circle. silver has been exl racted from the ore, which, in the
The test ring has a diameter of 21 in and to sup-,
form of pulp, then passes to a settler, where the
port the filling, four iron strips 2 in. wide arc amalgam is separated by gravity. Then it goes to a
riveted across the bottom. The filling consists of clean tip pan and drainers. These last aie canvas
Portland cement 75 lb., fire clay 10 lb., fire brick 12 bags I'm removing any excess of mercury. Mean-
lb., all of which is ground tec pass a 40 mesh sieve while the pulp and solution, deprived of amalgam,
and then mixed with just sufficient water to make a passes to a vat and is ted to a Butters filter, the
stiff plastic mass. This is tamped into the ring and clarified solution going to boxes in which the dissolved
a cavity 2 in. deep in the centre and rising gradually silver is precipitated on zinc shaving. This shaving
to the sides is then scooped out for the bullion. This is in the form of a coarse wire, necessary on account
ring is allowed to dry foi about a month and it is of the si rengtli of the cyanide solution. The residue,
then ready for use I, .ft on the filter, is stored, being valuable for its
The cover is made of a mixture consisting of arsenic, nickel and cobalt. As yet no method has
asbestos 50%, fireclay 40 powdered Hre brick in
.
,
been devised lor eliminating the arsenic in this
and enough water to tender it plastic. This is residue- with a view to marketing the nickel and
moulded around a wooden form turned to the shape cobalt.
of the bullion cavity. To strengthen the cover, a Meanwhile the amalgam, containing 80% mercury
J in. mesh wire netting is imbedded in it near the and 20' silver, is placed in retorts, each of which
outer surface and a heavy iron ring is placed around holds 4;")ii lb. After the mercury has been distilled,
the outer edge ahout an inch from the top. When the silver, still containing 1% mercury, is taken to a
almost dry the working door and the entrances Jor rev erberatory furnace. Here it is melted in a charge
September 1912 \~olicrx unit Abstracts. Mrtnllt 121
of 25,000 ozs. After 15 hours exposure to a hot \i the (licit Boulder, the mineral gives consider-
oxidising atmosphere, without addition of any flux, able trouble at times, and A. I'rasei has died many
the molten metal is cast in ingots, each weighing schemes lo deal with it. Tin- l.a ncclichl also has to
1100 oz. silver, which is 999 line Two oil-burners ileal with it. These arc all roasting plants, and
afford the necessary heal. The Hue fr the furnace despite D. Foster's contention that at Asbanti in
is provided with a water-jet condenser, whereby West Africa, ii could be roasted out, we cannot do it
1000 to 20001b. mercury is arrested monthly. The in Kalgoorlie, and roasting has reached a high state
gases escape at 100 1". While was collecting these
I of efficiency in these parts.
data, a melt was about to be finished, and I was able gave ft, Brinsden of the Kalgoorlie mine, some
I
in see the bath of molten metal before it was tapped graphite From the Associated Northern, ami his ex
into the lows of ingots During February 550,000 pertinents on gold solution proved hat it precipitated I
ozs. of silver were melted in this small plant. without doubt. The Oroya-Brown Hill mine, now
The richness of the mine product under treat Oroya-Links, was treating ore from the same lode as
inent and the completeness of the metallurgical the Associated Northern, and in this wet-crushing
operations left a vivid impression. Within a small plant the graphite gave so trouble. The last
building it. was possible to watch tie' successive instance shall mention is that of the old tailing at
I
stages by which a complex ore of a refractory type Gympie in Queensland. In these mines there are
yielded its precious content in metal of such purity many graphite II s or seams, and « lien he ore was t
as lo he ready for the mint. The entire process is crushed the graphite went out to the dumps. Many
so expeditious that the silvei is delivered in New cyanide men have tried to treat the sand, but failed.
York within a week of the day when the ore is Since writing the above, Mr. Hull of the. Asso-
received at. the mill and a cheque tor the yield is tried the effect of clean found y graphite on a
l
received concurrently with the shipment. No less gold solution with the following result 50 gm. of :
than 20 tons of mercury is in use at a given time. graphite taken and agitated for lli hr. with 200 gin.
The cyanide has a cleansing action upon it indeed, : KCN sol ion assaying 3 "3 dwt., which after contact
ii i
the use of mercury would he impracticable without assayed is dwt. per ton." -M. YV. VON BERNEWITZ,
the cyanide, for [he mercury would become'siek' American Metallurgical Society, June 1012. pp. 98-99,
or fouled, so as to hinder amalgamation with the Vol. \ii.. April 1912, p. 429. A. Mi A. .1.) I
(Jharles Butters devised the process and thai James inn' our so-called evidence is merely a collection of
t
Johnston devised the plant for the Nipissing Mines coincidences, absolutely lacking in scientific weight.
Company. Probably the most important point is that the
It is planned to erect, a mill, embodying a similar gold which he claims is precipitated by carbon is in-
process, for the treatment of the dumps, which con- soluble in cyanide solution. I have already shown
tain .so, (II lit tons of ore assaying 22 oz-. silvei per ton. that amorphous gold precipitated by zinc is not
The picked stuff will go to the mill uliu\e described insoluble in cyanide solution, although it is not so
and the remainder to 40 slumps, 4 tube-mills, a soluble as the yellow variety. Here is a subject
Butters filter, a Merrill press, with smelting of the desen ing of a more; extended investigation.
precipitate in a small blast, furnace. I am
slill sceptical about caibon precipitating
While at Cobalt 1 also paid a short visit to the gold, and this in the lace of evidence presented by
Northern Customs concentrator. This contains ~i\ Mr. ion Bernewitz, Mr. Holt and the long list of
ordinary and 4 Nissen stamps, crushing <lail\ 270 eminent gentlemen who have contributed to the up-
building of the 'carbon heresy.' If these gentlemen
tons of silver ore through lli mesh screens. There is
no re-grinding. From the battery the pulp passes ic illy believe that carbon will precipitate; gold from
to classifiers. The sand is treated on two sets oi solution in the presence of free cyanide, they must
lie prepared to admit that when the reaction takes
Wilfley tables, the middling passing to classifiers
and corrugated belt van tiers, the slime goes to Callow place, carbon passes into solution. Let me quote
tanks with overflow to huddles and canvas inclines." them a passage from Remsen's '
Inorganic Chemis-
— T. A. Rickard, .Minim/ Magazine, June, 1912, try,' and let the in take particulai note of he passage
I
a considerable quantity of black sc which was June 1912, p. 99-100, Vol xii.. April 1912, p. 429.
(A. Mi A. .It
high in gold. The extraction used to drop at this
time somewhat. He took some clean graphite from
— Method
the mine, this assaying a trace oi gold. Hue hun- or Assaying Zinc-Box Precipitate.
dred grams were mixed and agitated now and again " The occasion for assaying the product from the
for some hours with 2110 gm. of solution assaying 3 4 zinc boxes aiises only when
the material is to be
dwt. per ton. The graphite was then washed and shipped and sold without being refil ed. In some
dried and assayed 6 2 dwt. per ton, the solution re- cases the precipitate is given a preliminary acid
imaining being worth only 0'4 dwt. treatment to remove as much of the zinc as is pos
— "
I--".! Tin- Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. September IfilJ
sible before shipment, but generally t lie only treat : After cooling, the sample is removed from the des-
ment accorded it is the removal of the 'shorts' by sicatorand rapidly rolled on a piece of glazed paper.
screening followed by drying, and in some rare It isthen spread out and three samples of HI AT.
cases, by roasting. each are taken in the same way as before with a,
Twosamples are usually taken, one for the mois- spatula of similar design, but having a blade only
ture, and one foi the gold and sylver determination. one-sixteenth inch wide. Each sample is placed in a
The sample on which the moisture detei initiation is in gm., soft-burned Battersea crucible, which had
to be made requires very careful attention. It is previously dried, and in the bottom of which had
usually taken soon after the precipitate is removed been placed in gm of test lead and 1.'. gm. of a mix -
from the drying pans and while it is still warm. If t ure composed of one part each of potassium carbonate
exposed to the air, it is very apt to absorb moisture, and sodium bicarbonate and two parts of borax-glass.
and for this reason it should be kept in an air-tight .After the in Hod net ion of the sample, the contents of
glass jar until wanted. Considerable difference of the crucible are thoroughly mixed by means of a
opinion exists regarding the proper temperature at spatula, after which the crucible is tapped to settle
which this sample should be dried, but have gener- I the charge and 20 gm. of flux No. 1 are introduced
ally found that to obtain the best results the tem- inside around the edge. The crucible is then tapped
perature should lie kept at, such a poim that there is to settle this last, addition, care being taken to sei
no opportunity given for lie zinc to oxidize.
i that it does lmt. mix with the previous charge. The
To determine the moisture roll the sample out on
1 object of introducing the llux around the sides is to
a rubber cloth and then hurriedly weigh out 100 wash down any of the precipitate which might have
gm. on a chemical balance- baking dip samples with adhered to the walls of the ciucible. After settling
a spatula — and then dry it, in an oven, and after Mux No. 1, 20 gm. of Mux No. 2 are added and levelled
cooling in a dessicator, reweigh and calculate the as before. The general effect of the varions fluxes is to
moisture from the difference in weight before and carry down any gold or silvei which might be carried
after drying. to the top of the charge. he lead in the bottom of the
'1
The sample to be used for the gold and silver crucible melts lirstand takes up practically all of the
determination usually varies in weight from to 3 1 precious metal before Mux No. 1 melts. Any gold
lb. This sample is much ioo large for convenient or silver which may rise from the bottom is pretty
handling, so thai ii is necessary to cut it down to certain to he caught by the lead reduced in flux No.
about, 200 gm. and in older Lo do this it is first I. and for a certainty by that thrown down later by
necessary to grind it to pass a 60 mesh screen. It No. 2. It, will be noted that the charge is of such a
has been my experience that a buck-board and character 'that the lead is reduced in successive stages
muller is much more satisfactory for this work than
the [lower driven laboratory grinder. The coarse
zinc is usually quite brittle and rapidly disintegrates
when the muller is passed over it, so that very lii tie
time is actually lost, in the work of grinding it. The
difference in the time saved in cleaning up a buck-
board and a |iower grinder is such that consider I "<w\\\\
/ / / / / / / y/ /. . '\
..
—
I
60
Potassium cai bonate 41 HI charcoal. The charges should he fused at a fairly
Litharge .SI 10 1-200 5 '. p:u s 1 1
high temperature and poured just as soon as they
Silica 250 Jim gm.
s', become quiet. The buttons will be rather small,
Charcoal 30 l-_", ! gm. but they will cany whatever values were left in the
Borax glass ... 3 gm. slag. As a rule they will seldom yield more than a
milligram of silver and a trace of gold each, and if
September 1912 Xotin d Abstrart.1 ];.,„;,
I J:;
the work has been carefully done, probably not more 1 have ever noted being !"> oz. silver." -Harm R.
than 0'03 mg. sil Layng, .1 meriean '/ June 191
The next step i- to cupel the buttons. The p. 100. V Mi A. J.)
original buttons and those obtained by re-running
the slag should I"- run separately, and lie necessary
i
is always a very important source ol error in work gam \m\.. Pan. • he Parks electro cyanide
I
high temperature for at least 20 to 30 minutes. In id. About !i in. above the copper, or cathode
ordinary work ii i- permissible to cupel as many plate, a cast iron anode plate equal in area to the
as the temperature and
- In- sizeiof the muffle copper plate i- mechanically suspended. The cast
will permit, but in important work, such a- would iron plate i- divided into two annular ring-, the
be the case in this instance, it is not advisable to outer one containing 60 ami tie- inner one 40 ol
,
into the hot part of the muffle, just before they travels down a stamp battery plate. By the centri-
" brighten " ami if this is done it is sometimes diffi- fugal force of the paddles, the pulp on reaching the
cult to "feather" them. As between finishing hot stave- of tin' paii is forced up between them and the
or cold, tie- preference should invariably be given to outer edge of the outer am.de to a height of about
finishing at a high temperature rather than to risk 16 in. above the anode, retaining the rotary motion
retaining some of -the lead in the bead. A- soon as imparted by the paddles and now endeavouring, by
the beads brighten they should he covered and the gravity, to seek he lower level at the centre of tin
t
cupels gradually moved to the front of the muffle and pan; the resultant motion is a downward and in-
finally, when sufficiently cold, removed together. ward spiral until the ore passes over the inner clue
In en pel ling the bnttons obtained from the slag, it of the inner anode near the centre cone, when it
is unnecessary to go to any great trouble, for the again meels the paddles and -tart- to repeat it-
mi usually very small ami the danger of loss ej eln of travel.
espondingly redn At the periphery of the pan, and on a level with
It is very necessary to make a correction for the the cathode plate, 20 jets of compressed air are
cnpid absorption in the case of the lame head- and admitted through needle valves set at regular inter-
this is made by weighing each of the cupels, grinding v al- around the pan. The air pressure- -about I'J' lb
then, to loll nie-h and. after thoroughly mixing, q. in. is sufficient to overcome the centrifugal
weighing out login, and fusing in a 10-gin crucible force of the pulp against the valve exits ami to keep
with 70 gm. of |]n\ No. :: plus gm of charcoal and
i them clear. The amount of air is calculated from
a borax cover. After cupelling, part and weigh up the oxygen di manded by Eisner's formula lor dissolv-
and add the results to the values already found. ing the precious metal by cyanide salt, with an
In very close work it- is well to assay the cupels allowance for unavoidable waste in mixing. The
from each cupellation, hut for the ordinary run of air, on leaving he valve, travels against the outward
t
work the determinal ion of the absorption in he ease t spiral motion of the pulp between the anode and
of the first bead- is sufficient. This should never be cathode plates, and nearly all the excess males its
neglected as the loss i- veiy considerable. In a appearance as a slight effervescence around the centre
number of cases which investigated to see what the
I cone, being thoroughly incorporated with the pulp.
actual loss would he if no collection was made for comparatively little escapes by rising to the surface
Blag and cupel absorption, I found that it sometimes without passing between the plates. At 100 lb.
ran as high as 150 OZ. silver and OZ. gold.I pre-sme it. of ait per mm. is an ample supply
I '. foi
As regards the accuracy of the method, it bas the paii during reatment. t
been my experience that it gives higher results than The writer during tin- pasteighl years has expert
any of the other fusion methods and ii compares very merited with many iodine, bromine and other chemi-
favouiably with the. volumetric methods for silver. cals, seeking ec imy and efficiency, and has found
As a general thing the assays cheek within or .">
nothing so effective and economical a- commercial
In 02. with precipitate running from 20,000 to 22,000 potassium or sodium cyanide, or the commercial
oz. silver per ton. double salt together wil ii common lime and common
.
Ascompaied with wet met hods, the fusion method salt, aided by tin- sodium amalgam and caustic soda
is invariably lower the greatest discrepancy which
: generated by the process.
1'24 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of .South Africa. September 1912
The electrical factor of the process, which con- tion of cyanide, for the writer has frequently found
sumes from 75% to 80% of all the physical power much more free cyanide of potash or soda in a sample
necessary to operate it, and accounts foi the speed of solution taken a half hour or an hour after a pre-
\ ions sample.
efficiency and economy of this as compared with
other processes, is woi thy of considerable attention. Theoretically no mercury can hi- lost by scouring or
From a 10 to 12 volt, 400 amp., D. C. generator, flouring in the charge, as any sub-divided particle of
the positive wire, after leaving the switch and in- this metal too small to seek the cathode by gravity
is sufficiently small to yield to electro cyanide solu-
dicator board, is led to the mechanical portion of the
pan in four branches, each of which terminates in a tion, whereby it is electro-chemically precipitated
suitable brush two play against the copper collect-
:
hack on the plate. Practically a small amount is
ing ring on the solid shaft which drives the outer lost, for in a 2,500 ton run on Ruth ore a loss of
annulus of t"he anode and two against a similar ring about 5 lh. was reported.
on the hollow shaft which drives the inner annulus On samples containing "8575 oz. of gold per ton
of the anode. By this means the electric current the writer has reduced the average tailing sample to
passes up the vertical driving shafts, insulated from 0'0075 OZ. per ton, showing an extra -lion of 99'!' by
i In- eone through which they pass, and pioceeds fi hr. treatment in the electric pan, using lh. KCS I
down the driving arms and supporting rods to the pel ion of ore; the same ore. reduced to the same
.mod.' annuli, \\ here it is uniformly distributed. fineness, yielded but 92 to solution in 4S hi. treat
The negative "ire from the electric generator, ineiit ina Pachuca tank (generally recognised as one
after passing through the switch and indicator board, of the best aero-agitating devices) using thin- tons of
also terminates in four branches, each of which con- solution containing 3 lh. Kt'N per ton, or 9 lb. of
nects willi a cupper tail piece projecting through the c\ anide salt per ton of ore.
pan, eacdi tail being a portion of die of the foul seg Many our western precious metal ores from
of
nients of the copper plate forming the cathode. oxidized /ones are contaminated by carbonates of
Owing to the insulation of the machine all the elec- lead, zinc and copper, which preclude economic
tric current must pass from anode to cathode through treatment by the ordinary cyanide methods, owing
the pulp. to the difficulty in precipitating the precious metals
In treating a charge consisting of 7| ions of oie in the presence of the cyanides of the base metal.-,
(dry weight w ith an equal weight of water, and con-
i a sale from the excessive consumption oi cyanide salt.
taining lis quota of lime previously added dining The electric current, however, precipitates the base
the crushing of the ore. such an amount of strong metals as well as the precious metals on the amal-
cyanide solution is added as to equal one lb. of cyanide gamated 'plate. The writer has produced by the
salt, per I ..re in the pan.
I The correel weight electric pans bars of bullion worth §1,200 lo $1,400
.if cyanide per Ion of ore may lie previously deter- which averaged hut 512 fine in precious metals, the
mined by titrating filtered samples from the pan oilier all of the liars being lead, zinc and copper
charge during a test run for cyanide consumption. alloyed with the precious metals. The refining
After addition of the cyanide, finely crushed c mon charges on such bullion are low.
salt is added until the ammeter registers 300 to 500 As precipitation of precious metals takes place
amperes at 9i to 10 volts, as determined by a test more rapidly from strong than from weak solution
run. The pan is then put in motion, In- air is t
in treating certain ores economy can \»- introduced
turned on and the quicksilver is put into it~ distrib- by discharging the pan at a fixed value of unprecipi-
utor. tated precious metals in solution (50 cents to $1 per
Many complex chemical compounds are formed, ton). After passing the charge through a revolving
some of which are decomposed, in a manner which settlei used as a preliminary amalgam trap it may
halilles the skill of the electro-chemist to explain ; then be sent through a Dorr ihieUner. whereby 50%
hut among il stablished effects of .the electric of the solution from a 1 : 1 charge, and SO of that
current the following may he stated :
from a li : 1 charge, can he returned clear for origi-
The decomposed by the electric current and
salt is
nal charges ; this not only saves time ami increases
metallic sodium is constantly precipitated on the ihe daily capacity of the plant, hut secures a higher
mercury coated copper plate, forming sodium amal- percentage of recovery of the precious metals, while
gam the sodium is converted into caustic soda by
:
preventing undue waste of common salt and unused
its reaction with water, which, uniting with acid cyanide.
radicals in the ore. protects the cyanide from com-
The total horse power required for a single pan is
pounds from which the lime does not so readily pro-
0(i h.p. for mechanical agitation; to J h. p. for I I
tect it, thus saving a much larger portion of cyanide
compressed and 41 to h.p. for electric current.
air, ti
salt than can be saved without the current. Chlorine
Tin; capacity of the pan depends on lie amount 1
an average of seven miles over the copper plate in a none but the very clayey types require the l:U
21 hr. treatment, presenting the cathions rapidly for charge.
discharge and deposition. This is analagons to the A single pan charge of the class is 1\ tons of
i : I
volving a le in a small fraction of the time required hours, generally being •_''.
to 4 hours hence the ;
for precipitation in quiet solutions. capacity of the pan, allowing for charging and dis-
The cyanide anion probably seize> a potash or soda charging, varies between limits of 15 and '.nitons
radical and is reconverted into nascent cyanide sail .
per diem, hut on the average run of ores it varies
unless a particle of precious metal, for which it has from ."li to (ill tons per diem.
a greater affinity, presents itself first. However, The large capacity of the pan, the small tonnage
there can be no question as to the so-called restora- of ore under treatment in the mill at the time, and
September 191*2 Notices and Abstracts: Mining. 125
ihi> small amount of machinery and apparatus re ancient type. should much like to have seen some
!
quired, reduce the total cost of installing mills using ol the tests. In any ca-e. the recoveries being made
this process t" " to 6'J I of he amount necessary to
t with the ancient appliances 01 e of the mosi
install any other process of equal daily capacity." profitable plants amounted to only about 40 of the
John B. Parks, Minimi science, from Columbia original contents of the material treated. Miners on
School of Mines tjuartertg, July 18, liH'2. p. 38. contract earn from 4s. to (is. per day, so that no
(A. McA. J.) labour-saving arrangements are deemed necessary
underground. A trip taken down one of the main
minim;. shafts was a weird experience, which trust shall I I
Minim, —
Practices COMPARED. " Profit being
not have again to undergo. was told that the old
beam-engines, even now so much in use. were econo-
1
the proportion of metals recovered and the market ing to km>w why, w ben hauling trucks of overburden
price of these metals. Cost of production must up an inclined plane from a china-clay pit some 150
necessarily lie affected by the price paid for manual ft. deep, only a single line of tramline was being
and for mechanical labour, the nature nf the ground used ami there was therefore no empty downgoing
to be mined, the amenability of the ore t i ling
truck to assist the engine by way of a counter-
practices, the cost of material, and the magnitude ot balance. However, there may be perfectly good
tl rebodies. Where the cost of mechanical power reasons for all bat appears strange in Cornwall, but
I
i- low ami that of manual labour is high, economy unfortunately left that district with an impression
I
demands the extensive use of mechanical appliances ; ut obsolete machinery, badly paid inefficient labour.
where manual labour is low in cost and power is want of organisation, and bad management. In
high, then man-power may he in the ascendant, but America was struck with the great use to which
I
even so, there is a great tendency lo eliminate the balneal labour saving appliances were put; it
human element as far as possible. indeed seemed that that branch of engineering was
Granted that the costs of manual labour and the somewhat overdone. The work on the Mesabi iron
means of obtaining or producing mechanical power range can hardly he compared with that of the other
are the same at several mining centres, there are districts, as most of the work is done by means of
still many difficulties in the way of making a fair steam-shovels in open-cuts that are operated during
comparison. To demonstrate this fact it is not the wanner months of the year. Only a small
necessary to go outside of one particular district. amount ol ore is gained by underground mining and
Take Broken Hill, for example. There the North, Inn little is submitted to hydraulic concentration.
the South, and the South Blocks mines have ore- Where the overburden is too deep for the ore to lie
bodies that may be easily mined and even more economically won by open-cut methods or i- too thin
easily milled, while the Proprietary, the Central, tor the steain-shoi ei, stoping on the caving system is
Block 10, ami the Junction North have much more adopted. The ground i- generally soft enough to be
difficult problems in concentration and greater diffi- bored by means of an augur. As tar as could I
culties, for the most part, in mining. The figures, judge, the work-effort and skill ot the men under-
published with regard to milling recoveries and ground were no better than those observed in Corn-
costs of operations convey to the stranger but little wall. In the surface great skill is show n in the use
<
men was exceedingly poor. In fact, in all de- The carriage between the mine- and the lake- is
partments the wink being performed in this part done in 50 ton trucks over astandard gauge railway.
of tl Id world was much inferior to that being Each ore train is drawn bj an eight coupled Inn
done in the younger mining districts. The reason liit, carries about 2.500 ton- of material, ami
put forth for some of the conditions was that the travels about 20 to 25 miles an hour. On reaching
mines were too poor to warrant much capital expen (be lake-side he rain- run on to jellies -I a ml ing ,11
I I
penditure in machinery and that manual labour was ft. above water-level. The 50 ton hopper trucks
cheat), 'l'he rate of wages was certainly low. but I
i hen discbarge themselves into pnekets or small bins
consider that the labour on account of the poorness, in the nestle way and hence into specially con
I
was far from being cheap. On the other hand, water -trm-ted -tea is. The time for loading a steamer
is obtained for practically nothing, and coal costs with 8,300 short ton e is 6 br., but over 10,
tons has been loaded into one boat in hi. So ex
Surface bands receive
'
about 20s. per week, but the statement was made cellent are the arrangements fot transport hj land
and sea, that the total cost ol carriage and handling
that 500 of them were required on the surface of one
of the mines that treated, by hydraulic concentra over I liles of railway, 1,000 miles of lake, and
tioii, less than 2,000 tons of ore per week. This unloading into dumps, amounts to only 7- 6d. per
figure seems inordinately extravagant Then again, ton of 2,000 lb. The unloading is done by means of
grabs over 7, mm tons has been unloaded from one
.
parts of the world for treating copper and had ores, -i earner in 4'. br. Surface and underground work is
are still in use in Cornwall for treating ores of tin. ,
carried on for two shift- of 10 hi. each daily.
I was informed that modern appliances bad been Labourers receive 8s. 9d. per shift and men on eon
tried and failed to give recoveries equal to those ol tract earn from in-. Sd. to 16s. I nderground con-
;
1—6 '/'In- Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. September 191-2
tracts are let at about Is. 2d. to Is. 3d. per ton, and intelligence displayed are equal to if not better than,
the total cost for all underground work amounts lo those in any other part of the mining world. I do
about 2s. Dd. per ton. not consider the work of the Cobar district to be of
In t lie underground workings at Butteand Broken such a high standard that of Mount Lyell is pro-
;
Hill the same system of timbering and tilling is bably intermediate. Labour troubles have been so-
insistent on the Australian fields that mechanical
generally used. In Butte the amount of work done
underground per man appeared to he greater than in appliances for saving human labour are much in
the Mesabi ranges or in Cornwall, and the general evidence on the better managed mines. It is, indeed.
system oi underground management appeared to be questionable whether this' department is not in
superior to that of the two places mentioned. One of danger of being overdone. At Broken Hill coal
the most complete metallurgical works \ i-~iteil in costs about .'kis. per ton by the time it is unloaded,
America was the Washoe, at Anaconda, where the water for steam pm poses costs 5s. per thousand
management and organization appeared to be excel- gallons, and stores are proportionately dear. With
lent. The works contain hydraulic concentration these costs and the high rale of wages existing, it is
plain, blast and reverberatory furnaces, roasters, creditable that some of the mines are producing their
briquetting, brick-making, and arsenic plants, etc. own electrical power at less than Id. per unit. The
Electrical power, brought from two different sources lowest wage paid at Broken Hill, on the surface or
several miles distant was being use. nearly every- I
underground, is 9s. per shift of 8 hours, and on some
where except on the local tramways, which we're of the mines the ore-breakers underground average
being operated by compressed-air loc itives. The 15s. per shift. The minimum wage allowable by
current was entering at 60.000 and 22,000 volts law to contract miners is 13s., to contract truckers
lis.
before being stepped down, and about 5,000 E.H.P.
was being consumed. There i- also a complete As the Kalgoorlie mines yield a gold ore. the mill
steam installation, which can be used in case of in" cannot here be compared. Mount Lyell does not
emergency, should the electric supply fail. The concentrate, hut has probably the most complete
smelting arrangements of Anaconda struck me as pyritic smelting plant in the world. lobar does hut (
wires. Each locomotive carried two men and fre- of operations ami excellence of freight arrangements.
quent stoppages were necessary in order to allow the tali: excellence of
1 filtration. Kalgoorlie ami
engine to fill its receive! with supplies from the com- Broken Hill: excellence of work-effort. Broken
pressed-air mains ih.ai reticulated the property.
Hill: pre-eminence in zinc flotation. Mount Lyell
Although the men n charge of each locomotive were
i
pyritic smelting. Cornwall: inefficiency." V. 1-'. —
supplied with a braziei and fuel to keep themselves
Stanley Low. Mining Magazine, July, 1912, p 58
warm—for the winter temperature falls below abso- (A. i: i
ami the si ia lei ll. ill tons of crude cue each 24 hours.
i I
I II
rapidly disintegrate in shafts « acid or salt water.
i 1 1
The crude material averages about -3 copper and Future experiments in this direction may provide a
I
the whole must he reduced to Wilrley-table size remedy. (2) Galvanizing or coating with zinc does
before treatment commences. not appear to have had a really protective efficiency
was much struck I
in wet shafts, the reason beiii" probably that zinc
with the fine design ,,i the mill and the excellent
01 sjanisation of the plant, which indeed appeared to
coating has but little power of resistance to sail
water. It is also suggested that the wires have
"oik almost am atically, so tew were tin- men in
evidence. Tin- larger of the two mills impressed me suffered by the galvanizing process, for, though it
as being the linest has been proved by Winter and others that that pro-
had seen in any of my travels.
I
\\ ages averaged 7s. cess, when properly and carefully executed, does not
Id. per shift for labourers, 10s.
I
lower efficiency figures. (.">) The greater or lesser automatic rheostal in the circuits of tin' indui
strain, as expressed by a higher or lower safety motor
factor, put upon ropes has had no influence upon The torque of the regulating motor varies with the
their efficiency. It may therefore be assui that 1 Mm' (in rent ami when this current tends to exi eed ti
the advantages of a higher safety factor are neutra- predetermined value tin' torque of the regulating
lized by its disadvantages, namely, greater rope motor » ill overcome the weight of the moving pat -
I
thickness combined with reduced flexibility ami ol the rheostat, introducing resistance into the rotor
great ei dead weight."— Minimi and Scientific Press, circuits of he main induction motor, thereby causing
i
June 29, 1912, p. 896. (A. McA. .1 | the tor to slow down ami allowing the fly-wheel
to give up its energy. When the current tends to
fall below the leiei niini'd value the weight of the
i
The Largest Electric Mini: Hoist in Ameru a. moving parts of the rheostat will exceed the torque
— •"
In the mine of the Christopher Coal Mining Co., of the motor and the resistance will he cut out auto
recently organised aD Christopher, Franklin county, matically. The weight of the moving parts of the
[II., will he installed the largest electric mine h ~t >i ilno, tat is counterweigbted for purposes of adjust
in America. The mine is to he operated entirely by tneni. Iii the control tquipmeut are also included
electric power and about halt' the capacity of the protective devices to guard against damage from
plant will lie required for the hoist. overwinding, failure of alternating current supply,
All the electrical apparatus has been designed in loss of exciter voltage, loss of air pressure for the
conformity with the latest practice, and the mine brakes, as well as extreme overloads. Both service
will undoubtedly he one of the most modernly and energy air brakes are provided.'' .1/.
equipped in this country. Tower for the several Science, August I. Mil'.', p. 74. (li. A.)
operations will he generated at the mine by two
"."hik.w.. three-phase, 69-cycle, 2,300-voll Curtis
turbo-generators, for which excitation will be fur- siIof Wire Ropes in Conjunction with
nished by a 15 lew., 125-volt turbo exciter set. Timber as Roof Supports. "In his annual report
Above ground practically all lie' machinery, except on the inspection of mines Scot land, during It'l
in I
the hoist, will he operated by alternating current : .Mr. \V. states that when mak-
Walker (H.M.I.M.)
while all the underground equipment is to he opera led ing an inspection recently of a mine in Lanarkshire,
by 250 to 275- volt direct current, which will he snp- he was much impressed with the manner in which
plie by three -'ion k.w. synchronous motor-generator
I old wire ropes were heiii" utilised in conjunction
sets, each composed of a 430 kv.-a, 2,300-voll syn- with timber as aids to the support, of the roof on a
chronous motor, a Mini k.w. 275-voll compound wound haulage road. The seam in which this was being
direct current generator and a 7 "> k.w. 125-volt done is shallow, varying in depth from 'J 4 to 84 ft.
direct-connected exciter. These units have extra from the suiface, and it is owing to this close
capacity to furnish approximately 700 wattless kilo- proximity to the surface that some difficulty has
volt amperes, ami will he made use of "lien it is heen experienced in its workings. The' general
desired to bring the power factor nearly to unity. nature of the strata above tin- coal seam, at a depth
Tin- hoist operates on the llgner system ami is of of till to 84 ft. is llakey hla.es, hut nearer the surface
the double drum type, having 7 ft. drums designed the roof is composed of irregular blaes, boulder clay,
for an effective load of 9,0001b. in a car and cage, and surface clay, and in wet weather, owing to its
tie' combined weight of which is 11,000 lb. Wire becoming saturated with water, is difficult to sup
hoisting rope 1 ; in. diameter is used.
;
capacities of the hoist motor, generator and induction i~ Matte I. and a small V shaped notch is cut in the
motor progressively contrary to usual practice. end of it the lope i- hen laid in In- groove, and an
: t I
Tin' speed and direction of rotation of the hoist iron staple driven down on to the rope to keep it in
will be controlled hy a controller at the operating position; the lope i- drawn straight and tightened
platform, by means oi which the voltage and along ihe under side ol the crown to within about 12
polarity of tie- generator will he governed. The in. of the small end, and a staple driven down ovei
efficiency of this form of control, called the Leonard the rope to prevent iis moving, The rope being in
control after its inventor. II. Ward Leonard, is very position is fm thei secured hy the addition of staples
high, as there are no rheostatic losses except he I along its length at intervals of a hunt 20 in., the ei i
comparatively small ones in the held circuit ot the of Ihe rope is turned hack over tin' end of the crown
generator. Fluctuations of the hoisting load are and secured on the upper side by means of othei
smoothed out by means of the fly-wheel and an staples. The other end ol the crown is left unfinished
—
128 I'lie Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. September 191:
wires would lie dangerous to the persons ami animals tion, the strands broke at practically t lie same load
i ravelling the road. as the aggregate of their individual wires.
The method is not new, but lie Inspector is pi I 5. Taking the actual breaking-strain of one strand,
opinion that the application of wire ropes to this and the total for the rope should be 102 tons, whereas it
oilier purposes lias not received the attention it de- broke under lest at 90'8 tons, or a difference of 11%.
serves, ami he co nmends it to the consideration of
li. Tests of this sort, although indicating remark-
colliery managers as being worthy of trial and ex-
able accuracy of the machines used and uniformity of
periment. In removing or renewing timber, ropes
the wire, give absolutely no guidance as to the deter-
could lie advantageously used as an aid to support
ioration of the strength of .1 rope for working pur-
the broken and insecure strata during the operation,
poses. This experience may impress a fact which,
and it, is probable, it the question was gone into
although it is fairly well known, may he new tosome
thoroughly and methodically, that a wider sphere
tor their use in connection with mining than has
member! — that steel wire, however much it is
fatigued, will hold its full load up to the moment
hitherto been thought possible would he discovered,
with good results both from a safety and economical
when it parts, the only factors which appear to make
any difference being actual loss of sectional area by
point of view."— Iron and Coal Trades Review, July
friction or corrosion.
19, 1912, p. 91. (A. R.)
The main factor which determines the life of a
winding rope is fatigue. The actual loss of strength
Subsidence-Shocks on the Rand.- "In his caused by wear due to friction is usually compara-
address to the South African Institute of Engineers tively slight, except perhaps in exceptional cases or
in June, R. N. Kotze discussed the question of sub- with badly designed plant. Toss of strength by col-
sidence in mines, recommending the general intro- lusion should not occur at the majority of pits if the
duction of the practice of packing exhausted stupes ropes are properly lubricated from the day thai they
as soon as possible. His remarks on the shocks are put on. fatigue is not caused altogether by the
experienced on the Hand were of interest, 'rinse actual lifting of the weight, and imparting to it the
shocks consist of a single wave or vibration, and are required acceleration, but principally by vibration :
accompanied by a dull thud such as made by a heavy this may be increased by numerous causes, among
body falling upon the ground. These are no doubt which may be mentioned uneven coiling of the rope.
due to undermining and in several cases the shock Hat- on w len lagged drums, variation* in the dia-
lias been known to occur at the time some subsidence meter of conical drums, uneven running of engines,
has taken place. The single vibration differentiates valves hanging or sticking, vibrations of the cage
it from an earthquake, which consists of a series of due to the conductors (particularly where wooden
waves. The origin of a shock is to be sought, not in guides are used), and last, but not least, want of care
the fall of hanging wall, but in a slight and sudden by the engine m en in the ha ml ling of his engines. It
subsidence of an enormous mass of ground weighing should he remembered that vibration set up in a rope
millions of tons either along a fault-plane or over travels in waves, which must act in the same way as
pillars. In the latter case the weight is usually all other waves that is, thai at any point where
unequally distributed and is specially heavy on some they are arrested they are reversed and travel back
of the pillars. These collapse or punch into the lor a certain distance in the opposite direction. In
loot-wall, and tin- release of strain causes the shock. a steel wire M.pe the points where he waves are
I
The phenomenon is similar to the result of crushing a reversed, and where they meet each other when
rock or other solid in a testing machine. Some of travelling in opposite directions, are the points
the occurrences known as air-blasts probably have a where the wire will be most quickly fatigued. This
similar origin, though Mr. Kotze is of opinion that is the reason why a rope generally shows signs of
most of them may be accounted for by a comparison wear in lengths between ilie pulley and the drum at
with the behaviour of rapidly cooled glass known as the start of the wind, and between he .'a pel and the
I
Rupert's drops. The weight at ureal depths and the pulley at ll nd of the wind, particularly in the
tectonic pressure thai has caused the tilting, folding, latter, because the waves of vibration of the tope in
and faulting of the strata have induced a c lition Ihe shaft as the cage is brought to bank are held up in
i
d' si rain in the rock at ceil a in places similar to that
a rapidly decreasing length, which at tin- pi referred
1
iii the chops. Thus when a free surface is exposed in to is reiiu 1 at the end of the wind to 7 ft.
mining, the mass has a tendency to crack and disrupt
It is well known that the best steel wire may he
Suddenly. Small pieces are often projected great
drawn down until it is capable of withstanding a
distances, and even lsrge masses are occasionally
very high tensile strain, but that the higher the
dislodged. " Mining .!/< ,</ :<•«< August, 1912, p. 147 .
figures for t lie last few ropes are interesting, and Chronic bronchial catarrhs are especially liable to
confirm this opinion : follow long ci in tinned in halation ol small quantities
Breaking strain of
of he gas diffused ill the ail.
t From these arc to he
wire in tons
Torsions discriminated the acute conditions of transient ill
Yeai
in S in. ncss Intense irritation of the respiratory organs;
per sq. in. :
Hi'
violent sneezing lachrymation, redness of the eyes, :
1904 .
may he gained by observing the modulus of elasticity dustries manufacture of waterproof mateiials
;
as this decreases with fatigue; or in other words, (application of the rubber mass dissolved in benzine).
fatigued wire will generally give a short fracture, I- used as a spurce of power.
while new wire will show a certain amount of elon- Is absorbed in the form of vapour, through the
gation at the point of fracture. Of the mechanical respiratory organs to a less extent, probably, ;
tests, bending will give some information when the through the skin also.
rope is much fatigued, and is probably more reliable —
Symptoms. Headache, vertigo, nausea, vomiting,
than tlie torsion test, which is often upset by the cough, irregular respiration, weakness of the heart,
wires having lost their uniform section by wear, by drowsiness, and deep sleep with cyanosis of the
corrosion, or by crushing. None of these tests will countenance, coldness of the skin and complete in-
give any really useful information as to the load sensibility on awaking, headache, vertigo and
;
which a fatigued rope is tit to carry. By comparing depression, fibrillar twitching of the muscles, trem
properly-prepared specimens of steel wiie underthe bling, especially of the musculature, as if from chilli-
microscope, a practised observer can detect signs of ness. Benzoic acid is found in the urine.
fatigue by the alteration in the structure of the Chronic Poisoning. Headache, Mashes before the —
steel ; doubtful whether such examination
but it is eyes, ringing in the ears, psychosis with excitement
could be employed by a colliery manager in deter- and a state resembling inebriation, sensory disturb-
mining the safe life for a winding rope. ances and hallucinations (but the prodromata of
As regards capels, the writer maintains that the chronic benzine poisoning will also appear). The
old form of capel, though old-fashioned, if properly occurrence of chronic poisoning by benzine has been
put on, is still the safest and that, in addition to : contested.
recapelling ropes every six months, the rope-endscut The symptoms vary greatly because the benzine
off should lie carefully taken to pieces and examined used technically is a complex mixture and not al-
for corrosion and internal broken wires." -\Y. I). ways of the same composition.
Lloyd, Midland Inst, of Mining, Civil ami Mechani- S]>ecial measurt s of n lief Removal of the patient :
cal Engineers; Tin- Colliery Guardian, August !'. into fresh ail in severe cases, stimulants, like
;
Benzol, Ce Be —
A very unstable, colourless fluid,
.
conjunctiva and the cornea. respiratory organs re-absorption through the skin. ;
—
Symptoms. A proportion of more than O'bl per —
Symptoms. Benzol, its homologues and the rest
cent, of ammonia in the air immediately causes an of the hydrocarbons of coal tar, have a specific
irritable condition of the mucous membranes. affinity for the central nervous system and a general
1 —
1 31 The Journal of The I 'hemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. Septembi 1915
action on the protoplasm of the organic cells (fatty arrangements plants : for the production of industrial
degeneration). Female workers, particularly in gas mining (mine
; gases) coal mines
; blast ;
their developmental years, especially at the time of furnaces (furnace gas) Cowper stoves gas purifi-
; ;
menstruation, are more susceptible than men to the cation; coke ovens; melting furnaces: gas machines :
poisoning, ami in an extraordinary degree to the lime and brick kilns, dolomite calcining kilns iron ;
subacute and chronic forms of it. and metal foundries (drying of the moulds); solder-
Acute Poisoning. I n ) In mild rases: Cerebral — ing in tin shops charcoal burning
; resin distilla- :
disturbances, humming in the ears, giddiness, sum- tion heating with open coal braisers or coke stoves
;
nolence, a condition resembling inebriation, vomit- (drying the plaster and walls of new buildings): dry-
ing and irritant cough, slight Hushing of the face. ing chambers.
There is often euphoria. Is absorbed in the form of Lias, through the re-
( b ) In severe cases Symptoms on the part of the spiratory organs.
central nervous system, muscular tremor, like chilli- Symptoms. —
Acute Poisoning. Increased blood —
ness from exposure to cold trembling of the whole : pressure at first, with slowing of tin- pulse and
extremities; finally, tonic and clonic spasms; pounding heartbeat later, lowering of the pressure,
;
(r) In the most violent rusts: Hallucinations, de- monoxide haemoglobin is demonstrable by the spec-
lirium, protracted unconsciousness, and death in trum.*
Ionic convulsions. {n) Disturbances <;/' the General Health In mild -.
the internal organs (heart, liver, kidneys). toni". and clonic convulsions, more often paralytic
Special measures ff relief Prompt removal of the : symptoms, either with weakness of all the extre-
patient into the fresh air: inhalation of oxygen ; mities or of the lower only, or. indeed, of only single
exclusion of female workers from every employment groups of mliscles, including also the facial muscles.
in which benzol is used. The convulsive stage, which may be altogether
Carbon Dioxide I'D... A specifically dense, odour- — absent, is succeeded by the stage of asphyxia, with
less, colourless gas, collecting near the ground or sensory and motor disturbances, involuntary voiding
Moor. It is generated in mines by the ]> ess of of urine, semen, and faces: subnormal temperature;
breathing, by the burning of miners' lamps, and by weak. sh,\\ and intermittent pulse loss f con- :
sometimes psychic excitement and convulsions. ficial respiration, with inflation of the lungs by
Usually in case of more protracted ettect there is oxygen for hours, if necessary keep head of the :
loss of consciousness and of the power of motion (or injured person slightly elevated subcutaneous in- ;
even death by suffocation), with gradual decline of jection of ether ; camphor; cold effusions; rubbing;
the pulse and respiration, and often with the occur- mustard poultice; electrical treatment insufflation :
rence of delirium. On prompt removal from the of ammonia vapour administration of black coffee;
:
poisonous atmosphere there is a restoration of con alkaline salt infusion: entering where CO may be
sciousness with subsidence of the symptom* of generated only when protected by safety masks ami
illness and recovery in a few days. The occurrence by a constant supply of air.
of chronic poisoning by carbon dioxide is doubtful. Cyanogen ( 'um/iniinils .— Dicynuogen, C,N.,; I'ru.ssic
Special measures of relief: Examination of the acid, a colourless, highly volatile Huid, of penetrat-
air of the suspected places before entering them ;
ing, pungent, and irritating odour.
immediate removal from the poisonous atmosphere; Natrium cyanide potassiumeyanide (NaCN),
o ii lit i;il respiration to be persevered in for a long
i (KCN): A colourless forming crystals which,
salt,
me
t finally inflation of the lungs with oxygen
:
;
after fusion, ecrystallise, hut readily decompose on
l
ings by cyanogen are rare. a severe attack lead colic with most obstinate con-
—
Acute l'liixiniiiirj. Moderate quantities of the gas stipation, retention of urine
:
plumbic arthralgia :
cause vertigo, headache, rush of blood to the head, (lacerating, boring), occurring for the most part
oppression of the chest, palpitation of the heart, a paroxysmally, chiefly in the lower extremities, mine
sensation of constriction at the throat with pharyn- tarelj in the upper, often interpreted as a symp
geal irritation and dryness, nausea and vomiting, of rheumatism of the joint-: frequently, fibrillar
difficult, gasping respiration, with retention of con tiembling of the lingers. Typical are the lead
sciousness. Tothestage of dyspnoea succeeds that paralyse-, of which disturbances of sensation (para --
of spasm with cold, perspiring skin, coin ulsions and thesia and amesthesia) lake the precedence. Para-
involuntary micturition, with loss of conscious! ess. lysis generally affects In- extensor muscles of the i
In the stage of asphyxiation there are temporary arm and hand, with atrophic manifestations; more
suspension of respiration, retardation of the heart's rarely, the Hexor muscles. Sometimes also there are
action, lividity of the skin and mucous membranes, paralyses of the extensors and Hexors of the lower
lowering of the body temperature; with inhalation extremities or muscle- ol tin- shoulder. Krora ex-
of large quantities, the stage of asphyxia supei perience it is known that these group- of muscles are
immediately. Dilation of the pupils; loss of con- especially affected which are most used in the occu-
sciousness; a feyjr gasping respirations ; cyanosis of pational activity. Transient blindness, but also
the skin and mucous membranes ; collapse; death. gradually progressive atrophj of the optic nerve:
Chronic Poisoning (Very doubtful). Headache, temporary loss of the special sense- of smell and
vertigo, unsteadiness of gait; nausea, loss of appetite, la-te: violent, often fatally ending of the i
disturbances of the gastric and intestinal functions brain (saturnine encephalopathy), sometimes pre-
;
give emetics, then immediately rinse oat that viscus the li.-ai and kid/ieys contracted kidney)
t inci ;
with water, with the addition of one-quarter to one- of blood pressure and granular degeneration of the
red blood corpuscles. Disturbances in the sexual
half of of potassium permanganate.
I Kobert re-
sphere in women: abortion, premature birth, low
:
best remedy. To control tin- convulsions give (castor oil or podophyllin) in paralysis, electrical ;
fics.
compounds. Lead sulplmret [galena) is held to be
non-poisonous, and some lead polysilicates are re-
Manganesi Dioxide, MnO<*. Brown mineral (oc- —
curring chiefly as pyrolusite). .Met with in breaking
garded as nearly so. Occur in smelting of lead and
and grinding of manganese ore silling out of the :
Symptoms. —
Mn02 produces umulative el
li is to be observed that materials containing lead After protracted action of the toxin the symptoms
may occasionally be employed ill ei ery industry, and begin with disturbances of the general sensibility,
that lead colours and other lend compounds arc often general debility, langonr, lancinating pains in the
met with in trade under fanciful names. extremities, in the small of the back and nape of he t
Absorption of lead and lead compounds occur? — neck, creeping sensations in the legs and numbness
(1) In isolated cases through the skin: whether in the feel salivation ;
tremor of the head, tongue,;
through the uninjured skin is doubtful; (2) in the and hand- later, locomotor disturbances with un-
:
form of vapour (very finely divided oxideofk certain, stamping gait, and. ultimately, the impos-
and as dust, through the respirati ry org ns (3) by sibility ol -aie aid sine progression. Affections of
;
way of the digestive tract by means of contaminated the voice (low, whispering) and of speech (indistinct
f Iand drinks (foi example, cigar-, cigarettes, scanning) combined with Hatness of tone: forced
chewing tobacco). By inhalation the dust, laden laughter and weeping and lowering of intelligence.
with lead, timls lodgment in the npper respiratory Sometimes dropsical effusion into the cellular tissue
tract, and, mixed with saliva, may reach the of i he owci ext remit ies.
ploms. —
Industrial lead poisoning appears asa — An oily, v a poi able, colon lie- s lluid, without odotll.
132 The Journal of The t 'hemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of South Africa. September L91S
Symptoms. Extraordinary toxicity, somewhat like to ol liquor natrii caustici [solution of caustic
effects of prussic acid just a few drops are deadly,;
soda]).
and even mere contacl with products containing Sulphuretted Hydrogen, or Hydric Sulphide, tf.2 S.
nitroglycerin may cause poisoning severe headache, ; A colourless gas. having the betid odour of rotten
disturbance of the intellect, facile syncope, vertigo : eggs. Occurs at blast-furnace plants, in granulating
burning in the throat and stomach; nausea, vomit- the slag sulphur metals (manufacture and use)
; in ;
ties; bradycardia and retarded respiration, stertorous containing calcium sulphide; wink in sewers, lat-
breathing and dyspnoea cyanosis: coldness of the ;
rines, and dung pits illuminating gas plants, etc.
;
extremities; injection of the conjunctiva reddening ; Is absorbed in the form of gas, through the respira-
of the countenance. tory organs, as pure hydric sulphide gas often found ;
//; the mixing and sifting of dynamite: Obstinate in admixture with other gases (with C'<t.., N.N1I ,,
ulcers under the nails and on m- fingertips, eruption I and carburetted hydrogen) direct action on the ;
and characteristic odour. Its homologates, pyridine pulse tendency to the formation of boils.
;
bases. Occurs in its manufacture out of coal tar Special measurts of relief: Artificial respiration :
Sulphur Dioxide, Sulphurous Acid, (II.,Sli..). Its — (according to Lewin) injury to the teeth through ;
suffocating effect. Uccurs in roasting of sulphur- is severe pain, a whitish discolouration of the skin,
bearing ores brick works, ceramic industry manu-
; ; becoming brownish, with reddening and swelling of
facture of sulphuric acid, of ultramarine extraction ; the surrounding tissues in cases of extensive scalds ;
of hones, manufacture of glue and gelatine from there are, ultimately, decomposition of the blood,
hones heating plants (burning of pyrite-bearing
; formation of ulcers of the duodenum, somnolence,
coal), etc. and even death.
Absorbed in the form of gas, through the inspira- Tar.- A product obtained by dry distillation,
tory organs. particularly of anthracite coal and lignite. Occurs
Symptoms. — In moderate concentration sulphurous in the manufacture of illuminating gas cuke ovens ; ;
0003 lo 0-004% of S()., in the air. Susceptible concrete pavings; painting of metals; as a fuel ;
persons, at the beginning of their employment in an briquette factories.
atmosphere containing sulphurous acid, manifest a It acts on the skin, and, in the form of vapour, on
transient irritation of the mucous membrane of the the respiratory organs.
respiratory organs and of the eyes. In its severe —
Symptoms. Tar itch undei the form of diffuse
action there is spasmodic cough, with secretion of acne, eczema or psoriasis, priinariy on the upper
tenacious, often blood-tinged, mucus. The pro- extremities, later also on the other parts of the body :
— —
not infrequently on the irritated portions of the skin Reviews and New Books.
there appear cancroid ulcers, especially of the scro-
tum (among chimney sweepers, paraffin and soot A Text-book of Inorganic Chemistry. By
workers and briquette makers). Together with the GEORGE SENTER, Ph. D. (London, 1911.
effect on the greater portion of the skin, there are Methuen & Co., Ltd. Price 6s. 6d).
aiso general symptoms: Loss of appetite, nausea,
"Tins book is one of a ser'es of text books on
diarrhoea, headache, numbness, vertigo, besides dis-
turbances of the urinary bladder (ischuria, strangur]
Chemistry which are being brought out under the
|,
able editorship of Dr. J. T. Hewitt. F.R.S. All
also albuminuria and oedema.
«nteis of books on science "ill naturally show their
Measures for the Protection of Industrial Workeri individuality if they have any, and will not copy or
against the Dangers of Poison. —
Under this beading follow by rote what has been written by others.
Dr. Fischer contributes the following recommenda- Some years ago this was not the ease, but each
tions :
writer took some other writer's method, and we got
(1) Properly adapted buildings, thick walls of a stereotyped style. The arrangement was the
separation for dangerous rooms, good lighting, facili- same, most of the diagrams were similar, and the
ties for keeping the workshops clean and for effects e
only difference was that, perhaps, the later book was
ventilation.
a little more up-to-date.
(2) Apparatus adapted to its special purpose, At present, however, this is in general not the
whenever possible, closing tight in every part. case. Most of the new works recently published
(3) Appliances for accomplishing the arrest of gases express the authors' own methods, and there are
and dust at their place of origin, their removal (by almost as many methods as authors. The great fact
exhaust fans) and in a suitable manner rendering is that in most cases where an author shows in-
them innocuous or collecting them, thus preventing dividuality be is a good teacher. He may not be a
them from entering the nose and mouth. brilliant lecturer, but he will be able to embue his
(4) So far as possible, avoidance of direct contact students with enthusiasm, and then all else will
with poisonous materials or substances injurious to follow.
health in working with, transporting, or packing them. Dr. Sentei 'shook is stamped with his individuality.
(.5) The displacement of particularly dangerous He is fond of physical chemistry, and has done
labour methods and materials by the introduction of much useful work ill this domain. As a consequence
less dangerous labour processes and materials, as well
one expects to lind and does find that the newer
as by the employment of materials satisfactorily pure tl lie- and practice are well expressed in every
chemically. page of his book.
(6) Instruction of workmen just entering upon an There is very little to be said in criticism of the
occupation concerning the properties of the poisonous book it is good and it is up-to-date, and the student
:
substances extiacted, manufactured, used, or other- who has carefully studied it will have a good ground,
wise evolved, and, whenever possible, cautionary ing, both theoretical and practical.
leaflets should be put into the hands of the workers.
We would point out that the Acker Process for
(7) The repetition of this instruction at frequent the electrolysis of sodium chloride is no longer in
intervals. use at the Niagara Falls, and that the process as it
(8) Posting of precautionary regulations and warn- was employed is not quite accurately described. It
ing placards containing admonitions for the exercise is to be hoped that in the next edition the
metal-
of special caution, and enjoining the observance of lurgy of iron will be dealt with rather more fully.
measures for insuring safety. Constant supervision It isalso rather strange that the name of Professor
of all dangerous employments by expert and respon- Dunstan is not mentioned in connection with
the
sible persons. rusting of iron. In fact, this very difficult question
(9) Employment of appropriate means for personal might have been gone into rather more fully and Sir
protection, as work clothes, caps, gloves, goggles, William Tilden's experiments also discussed.
and, as necessary adjuncts, mouth and nose shields, The book will, we are sure, lind a ready public,
respiratory masks and the like, in ease the appliances and we have great pleasure in recommending it as
named in Rule 3 are inapplicable. one of the most useful text-books on Inorganic
(10) Practice of bodily cleanliness by the use of Chemistry recently published."— Transactions of tlic
wash, bath, and dressing rooms, the use of special Faraday Socit ty, June 1912, p. 273. (H. A. W.)
rooms for eating, separate wardrobes for street and
work clothes, and frequent, non-hazardous cleansing Principles ok Metallurgy: An Introduc-
of the clothing.
tion to the Metallurgy ok the Metals.
(11) Immediate report of symptoms of indisposition,
By Chas. Herman Fulton, E.M. (MeGra«
attention to wounds of the skin caused by the hand- Book C pany, 1910. Pp. 544. Price 21s.
Hill
ling of corrosive materials, the speediest employment
net.)
of an unexceptionable antidote giving promise of
success at the very first symptoms of poisoning, with This admirable student's book was written by the
the simultaneous summoning of a physician. author to supply a need which he has frequently felt
(12) The installation of a healthy working force owing to there being no book published in the I nited
capable of withstanding exposure to the poison. States covering the subject of general metallurgy
Temporary or permanent exclusion of sick workmen and to the fact that the late Sir William Roberts-
from the dangerous departments of the industry. Austen's rlassic had not recently been revised. For-
Medical examination of the workers in dangerous tunately, this is now no longer the case.
employments at suitable intervals. Under certain The five hundred odd pages include instructive
circumstances there should be a change of work in chapters on Physical Mixtures and Thermal Analysis,
occupations giving rise to chronic poisoning. \llo\s, the Measurement of High Temperature, Fur-
nace's. Slags, and Fuels, and the whole is essentially
(13) The utmost possible reduction of the hours of
practical.' Special mention should be made of
the
labour in dangerous employments." Bulletin of the
United States Bureau of Labour ; Iron and Coal illustrations of plant and apparatus and the numer
Trades Review, August 16, 1912, p. 243. (A. R.) ous useful diagrams, too rarely found in general
— —— — ,
134 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. September 1912
works of this kind, where so many subjects are dealt illustrated. (London : Edward Arnold. Price
with. 8s. 6d.)
The diagrammatic schemes for the production of "The author begins by discussing the various
various metals are very interesting, and enable one
theories a-s to the origin of petroleum, setting forth
to follow iii a very fascinating way, for instance, the arguments pro. and con. in each case, and
hematite through the various processes before appear-
eliminating eacli theory by the production of some
ing as finished steel sections.
fact at variance with it, until none is left but that
Fuels are dealt with very fully, and include wood,
which proffers laud vegetation as to the ultimate
charcoal, peat, coal, coke, oil, and gas, but neces-
source and origin. Having proceeded so far, he
sarily this subject is confined to American practice.
reviews the processes, chemical and physical, that
The section on furnaces includes a description and have erlected the change, showing that pressure,
illustrations of the Girod electric furnace.
temperature, and a small amount of water will
We recommend tbi.s volume to the notice of all account for it also that variation in these three
;
are valuable, one naturally comes to the conclusion with Temperature of the Rate of a Chemical Change.
that the other sections will be equally valuable. (Royal Society), 4to., swd., pp. 18. Dulnu. Net Is.
But we are able to go even further than this: in- Horstmann, II. C. and Fousley, V. II. Modern
formation was required in connection with dyes, Illumination Theory and Practice. 12mo. Ameri-
artificial and natural. We turned to Vol. 11. Pari can Bonk Supply Co. Net Ss. lid.
II. the necessary information was obtained.
: In Hughes, A. L. On the Emission Velocities of
the same volume the section on gas analysis was also Photo-Electrons. (Royal Society). 4to., swd., pp.
found most useful. What more need be said .-—the 22. Dulnu. Net Is. 6d.
book has not failed us when information, and exact Moreton. Herbert W. Electrical Measuring Instru-
and correct information, has been required, and we ments and Supply Meters. Cr. 8vo., pp. '.16. Tech-
can only leave oil' as we began, by saying tli.it tic nical Publishing 'o. Net 2s.
<
book is of the utmost value and no library, public or Price, T. Slatar. Per-Acids and Their Salts. S\ o.
private, can afford to be without it. Below we give pp. 130, swd. Longmans. Net 3s.
a brief epitome of the contents of each volume : Starling, Sydney G. Electricity and Magnetism
'art I. of Vol. II. deals with Iron. Metals other for Advanced Students. With Diagrams. svo.,pp.
1
than Iron. Alloys, Artificial Manures, Feeding Stuffs, 592. Longmans. Net 7s. 6d.
Explosives, Matches and Fireworks, Calcium Car- Story, Alfred J. The Story
of Wireless Tele-
bide and Acetylene. graphy. Revised and Enlarged Edition. Illustrated.
Part II. deals with Illuminating tins and Am- 12mo. pp. 225. Rodder it- S. Net Is.
,
an index. We
hope that if Vol. III., which we (C.) 489/11. William Cowan. Improvements in
understand is shortly to appear, is in two volumes, rotary grinding machines. 2.9.11.
each will have a separate index." —
Transactions <</' This specification relates to impro> ements in rotary
the Faraday Society, June 1912, p. 276. (II. A. W.) grinding machines or tube mills and the essence of
the invention consists in adopting a tube mill in
which the shell is of an oval or elliptical shape in
Oil Finding: An Introduction to the Geo- cross section instead of circular, as is now the p ac-
logical Study of Petroleum. By E. II. tice, and in which the shell tapers longitudinally in
Cunningham Craig. Cloth octavo, 200 pages, the direction of the delivery or outlet end.
September 1912 Abstracts oj Patent Applications. 135
(C.) 3S1/11. William George Manners. An im- inductances, capacities and resistances in combina-
proved centrifugal grinding or sliming machine. tion with a discharger between the electrodes, n
26.10.11. which a suitable liquid is admitted for the purpose oi
This is an application for an apparatus patent for causing rapid changes in the resistance oi the spark
a grinding machine. The apparatus consists of a gap.
rigiil stand nil which is mounted a cylindrical par..
In t lit- side of this [.an, a cylinder, perforated at its
outer periphery by a number of outlet pipes, re-
volves at high speed. The ore pulp to Ik- ground is
Selected Transvaal Patent Applications.
fed to the revolving cylinder and is forced by centri-
fugal force through the above mentioned outlet pipes, Relating to Chemistky, Mrtallukgy and
causing the pulp to strike tangentially against the Minim..
flint lining of the stationary pan. The grinding i- to
be caused by the abrasive action of the ore particles Compiled by C. H. M. Kisch, F.M. Chart. Inst. 1'. A.
striking against each other.
(London), Johannesburg (Member).
(C.) 321/12. Moiilz Kahn. Improvements in and
relating to ferro-concrete construction. 17.(5.1:2.
( N.B. —
In this list (P) means provisional speci/ica
This invention relates to improvements in ferro- Hon, and (C) complete specification. The number
concrete construction and has for its object the pro- given is that of the specification, the name that of the
vision of means whereby the mechanical bonding applicant, anil the date that of filing. )
between the metallic components of tin- structure
ami the concrete component is of a much higher
value than obtains in structures of known construc- (P.)414/12. James Snodgrass. Improvements
tion.
in the manufacture of carbonate of soda, 29.7.12.
The inventor claims for a reinforcing member for (P.) 415/12. James John Preece. Improvements
in apparatus for raising automobiles, 29 7. 12.
reinforced concrete structures in which the shear
members of any tension bar are formed integrally (C.) 416/12. Rodeiick Korneli Biernacki. Im-
from that tension bar; and in which, either the shear provements in axle boxes for railway and tramway
members alone or both the shear and tension mem- rolling stock. 30.7. 12.
bers have a series of bonding projections (P.) 418/12. Anders Lawritz Marthinusen. Im-
and also
:
for the projecting fingers, so that the fingers pick up 2.8 1'-'.
the pebbles in passing. The delivery end of the belt (C. ) 425/12. Kdward Stanislaus Louis. Improve
passes over a crowned pulley of smaller dii iter, the nl s in or relating to power transmission devices.
crowning causes the lingers to spread, thereby re- 2.8 12.
leasing the pebble at a suitable point for entry into (P.) 426/12. Edward Henry Woodman (1), John
the tube-mill. Edward Stone (2). Self-oiling idlers or rollers.
3.8.12.
(C.) 336/12. James Arthur
Little. Improvements
(C-) 427/12. Hermann Schwabacher. Improve-
in and relating
stem guides. 28 6.12.
to
ments in and relating local buret tors mote especially
This application refers to a form of stein guide tin- use in air Lias apparatus. U.S. 12.
for stamp mills. Johan Sundin. Reversible
(P.) 428 12. Niels
The guide consists of a cast frame with openings self-adjustable and self-lubricating bracket ball
to allow the removal of the stem. This opening i~ beai ing. U.S. 12.
bored to receive a cast iron turned bush in halves 429 12. Denis Francis Breslin. Improve-
(P.)
with a flange at the top em\. ments in atometers. 7.8. 12.
A recess is formed in the frame to receive a block, (P.) 430/12. William Bruce Paterson. Improve-
machined to fit the outside of the bush, and a ver- ments in spraj in- de\ ices for (.Haying dust in mine
tical taper key is provided to force the block against workings. 7.8.12.
the bush to secure it in position. ii' i i::i 12. Charles CI rs Wakefield. Im-
(C.) 361/12. Riccardo Moretti. Improvements in provements in or relal Ing to lubricators. 9.8. 12.
electric discharges. 12.7.12. it. I 432/12. Alfred Henry Kidney.
Improve-
This invention refers to the arrangement of elec- ments in dry ore concentrators, 9 8. 12.
trical circuits for the production of high frequency (P.) 136/12. ('barbs Edward Bennington. Im-
unidirectional cm lent impulses with tl bjeel ol proved ambulance dividing sheet, its. 12.
inducing continuous oscillations for wireless signal- (P.) 4:i7/12. Samuel Thomas Tregaskis. Im-
ling and other purposes. provements in furnaces for heating rock drills.
(P.) 438/12. Oliver Harrison (1), John Robert (P.) 472/12. John Sachs. A new and improved
Pratt (2). Improvements in means for controlling chemical preparation for sweetening purposes and
the underflow from classifiers and the like. 14.8.12. mode of manufacturing same. 31. S. 12.
(P.) 439/12. Robert Lloyd Mann. Improve (P.) 473/12. George Newman. Dust and smoke
ments applicable to drills, drill bits, picks, and other allayer. 31.8.12.
edge or pointed tools and the like. 15.8.12. (P.) 474/12. Wilhelm Mauss. Improvements in
(C.) 440/12. Nils Testrup (1), Olof Soderlund (2). mountings for percussive coal cutters and the like.
Improvements in and relating to evaporation, distil- 2.9.12.
lation and similar operations. 16.8.12.
(C.) 475/12. Friedrich Uhde. Improved process
(P.) 441/12. James Gordon (1), John R. Archer
for producing ammonium nitrate. 2.9.12.
(2). Improved scale cleaner for water tube boilers or
like. 16.8.12. (C.) 477/12. Donald Barns Morrison. Improve-
(C.) John George Robinson. Improve-
443/12.
ments in steam regenerative accumulation and water
ments and relating to steam superheaters for
in
heater. 3.9.12.
locomotive and other smoke tube boilers. 17.8. 12. (P.) 47S/12. Alexander Collier (1), William
(P.) 444/12. Edwaid Henry Woodman (1), John Arnott (2). Steel cylinder rock crushing mill.
Edward Stone (2), Self-oiling roller or idler. 12.8.12. 3.9.12.
(P.) 445/12. Daniel Ready. A device for the (P.) 479/12. John Murphy. Apparatus to be
prevention of miners phthisis. 20.8.12. used in conjunction with rock drills for the removal
(C.) 446/12. Vernon Hope. Improvements in of dust caused by this use, and as a prevention of
fusible cut-outs for controlling electric circuits. miners phthisis, also as a means of ventilating.
20.8.12. 4.9.12.
(P.) 447/12.Harold Dunsterville Bam. Im- (C.) 481/12. Wylie Gemmel Wilson. Machine
proved automatic safety coupling for railway and for moving and depositing concrete and other
other vehicles. 21.8.12. material. 5.9.12.
(1'.) 448/12. William Lippiatt. Improvements
in couplings for railway vehicles. 22.8.12.
(C.) 449/12. Andrew Brander (1), Arthur Henry
Maude (2). Magnetic gravity stamp for crushing Changes of Address.
ores. 22.8.12.
(P.) 450/12. Henry Thomas Ball. Improvements Members and Associates are requested to notijy the
in means for sub-soiling with explosives. 23.8. 12. Secretary immediately of any change in addiess,
(C.) 451/12. Oswald Silberrad. Improvements otherwise it is impossible to guarantee the delivery of
in explosives. 24.8.12. Journals or Notices. The Secretary should be noticed
(C.) 452/12. Alexander Frederick Jenkins. at once of non-receipt of Journals and Notices.
Acetylene gas generating systems. 24.8.12.
(1'.') 453/12. Johannes Harden (1), Electric Fur- Ac new, J. A., l/o Australia; c/o Union Bank of
naces and Smelters, Ltd. (2). Improvements in and London E.C.
Ltd.,
relating to the production of metals from ores by Anderson, W., l/o Lomagundi ; Hopelield Claims,
reduction. 24.8.12. c-Dunlops Private Bag, Salisbury, Rhodesia.
ii
454/12.
(('.) Harry Pauling. Improvements in BEECH, S. .1., to St Leonards Avenue, Leederville,
electrodes for effecting gas reactions. 24.8.12. W. Australia.
(P.) 456;12. Louis Robert Vierdag (I), Albert Blewett, E , l/o Salisbury : P.O. Box 101, Gatooma,
Edward Dougherty (2). Extracting oil out of maize Rhodesia.
(mealies). 24.8.12.
457/12. William George. Improvements
Cunningham, W
tn P. O. Box 415, Bnlawayo.
,
26.8.12.
sleepers. Street, Broken Hill, New South Wales.
(P.) 459/12. Alfred George Newkey Burden. Herald, A. J., l/o Scotland; P. O. Box 143, Ger-
Improvements in ore feeders for stamp mills. miston.
26.8.12.
Lees, P. B. l/o Roodepoort Heme Lodge, Oundle,
, ;
(P.) 461/12. Edward Henry Woodman (1), John Street, Ballarat East, Victoria, Australia.
Edward Stone (2). Roller key for pulleys. 27.8.12. MORKEL, A. L. R., to P. O. Box 448, Salisbury
(P.) 462/12. Thomas Stothert McLaren. Electro Rhodesia.
Thermo Incubator. 27.8.12. N'ixoN, C. H., to Post Orlice, Lydenburg.
(P.) 463/12. James Grant Gibson (1), Hans PARSONS, C
E., l/o Bulawayo;P. O. Box 94. Sabs
Gluck (2). Improvements in tube mills. 28.8.12. bury.
(P.) 464/12. Hans Nordrok (1), Gentii Prelle (2). Pur, Krngersdorp Brakpan Mines Ltd.,
C. K., / " ;
THE JOURNAL
Chemical, ^Metallurgical anti JHimng §0aetg
op South Africa.
lh, Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed loith full acknowledgment of the t
was held in the South African School of Mines Otto, Henry Muller, Geldenhuis Deep, Ltd.,
P.O. Box 54, Cleveland. Assayer.
Building, Johannesburg, on Saturday, October
Smith, Patrick Joseph, Village Main Reef G. M.
19th, 1912, Mr. H. A. White (Vice-President) in
Co., Ltd., P. 0. Box 1091, Johannesburg.
the chair. There were also present :
i
\ anide Foreman.
38 Members —
Messrs. K. L. Graham, A.
:
ing the Society at the Eighth International view of the necessarily high chemical qualifica-
Congress of Applied Chemistry in America. We tion required by practising analytical chemists,
are especially glad to observe that his health has it felt by several members of the older
was
so much improved. Society and others (and having regard to the
present state of the profession of analytical and
Mr. K. L Graham (Vice-President) I thank :
gratified. Gentlemen, once again I thank you. To encourage and extend the knowledge and
study of analytical and industrial chemistry, to
Dr. J. I thank you
Moir (Past-President): uphold the status and interests of the profession
very muchyour kind welcome. I have been
for
of technical chemistry, and to take such steps as
back such a short time that I do not, to night, may be considered advisable to ensure legal
intend to give you any account of my doings in sanction and recognition of its aims and mea-
America, although might say now that I got on
1
sures.
very well with the people whom I met there, and To procure a high standard of professional
that the Congress officials did me very well. I
conduct, and to so influence legislation as to
have brought back some very interesting pictures prevent persons guilty of unprofessional conduct
of the skyscrapers, etc. and will exhibit them from practising the profession.
later on.
To encourage and extend the knowledge of
The Chairman We
have this evening not
:
the nature and composition of commercial pro-
only to welcome the coming but have also to ducts generally and of their adulterations, and
speed the parting guest. Mr. Cullen will, this of technical processes depending on chemical
week, be leaving this country for some short time, knowledge.
and I am sure you will all join with me in wish- To promotethe efficiency and administration
ing him a very pleasant holiday, as it is one that of the existing laws dealing with adulteration,
has been, to our knowledge, most thoroughly
and to attempt to improve the same by petition
earned. Mr. Cullen has always been one of the
to Parliament, or by other means.
most indefatigable of our members the number ;
To take such steps as may lie considered
•ofpapers and discussions he has given us, must,
necessary to make provision for the registration
I am sure, constitute a record.
or recognition of persons publicly practising or
SOUTH AFRICAN ASSOCIATION OF ANALYTICAL entitled to practise publicly as analytical
CHEMISTS. chemists in South Africa, with a view to dis-
Prof. G. H. Stanley {Munbir of Council) tinguishing qualified from unqualified persons
In the last annual report of ^Council a sym- and to provide for such qualification hereafter
pathetic reference was made to the formation of for the admission to the register of analytical
the South African Association of Analytical chemists, as may be thought fit.
Chemists, and with your permission it may not furtherance of these objects certain acts
In
be out of place to give now, for the information and practices have been defined as coming within
of this Society (tin Chemical, Metallurgical and
1
the definition of unprofessional conduct, and
Mining Society) some details regarding the steps have been taken to bring the formation of
formation and present state of this younger but the Association prominently before Government
allied Association. departments and South African public bodies
As was stated at the time, the new Associa- generally.
tion has been formed largely for the furtherance The membership is already 32, members
of certain professional interests which are having enrolled from many different centres, and
outside the scope of the Chemical, Metallurgical in electing officers and in all other possible ways
ami Mining Society, ami it does not contemplate can' has been taken to render the Association
any trespassing on the field so ably occupied by really representative of the profession in South
the latter. Africa. Several members of the Chemical,
However, the Chemical, Metallurgical and Metallurgical and Mining Society, myself in-
Mining Society with its wide aims and objects cluded, are already members of the new Associa
is an " open " Society, that is to say, no very tion, and in the hope that more of them who
high standard of professional qualification is possess the necessary qualifications will join I
lired for admission to membership, and in should like to add that any further particulars
—
may be obtained from Mr. James Gray, one of appliances. Mr. Rowland, our Secretary, will be
our members of council, who is also Secretary very glad to give any intending exhibitors every
of the Association. opportunity ol knowing the scope of the Kxhibi
tlon.
The Chairman I think this is a suitable oppor-
:
tunity for welcoming, on your behalf, this new should like also to remind members of what
i
•Society. Their aims seem to be very high, and I regarding tin- Ambu-
said at the last meeting
Mr. W. Cullen {Past-President): As you cerned that these competitions are not confined
will remember, in the early part of this year we to members of any one particular Ambulance
had an Exhibition in the Hall which is below tin- Association they are open to all mines which
;
room in which we are assembled this evening. can enter a team, the individual member- ol
It was a great success, Mr. Rowland told which belong either to the St. John Ambulance
me only yesterday that something like 17,000 Association, St. Andrew's Ambulance Associa-
people came to see the Exhibition and we know- ; tion, orany other Association doing similar work,
that both directly and indirectly it did a great which is recognised by the Mines Department
deal of good. (Jur Society has determined that according to Chapter XXIV.. Section i!77 (3) of
next year we shall have a similar Exhibition on the Mining Regulations. We hope, and we
very much the same lines, and it is hoped that think, that these Competitions will be successful;
it will be on a somewhat larger scale. The and we should like very much that every mine
difficulty of conducting an Exhibition on a along the Reef which is entering a team should
larger scale, of course, is that of getting enter one not only for the Underground Shield,
suitable accommodation in Johannesburg and, : but for the Surface Competition Shield which —
without committing myself to anything very is also being presented by some prominent persons
definite at the moment, I think 1 may say, interested in the work, and also the one lor the
on behalf of the Committee, that there are Colliery Competition, presented by the Transvaal
good reasons for supposing that a portion of Coal Owners' Association. The entries for the
the Drill Hall will be placed at our disposal for three Competitions which are open to the whole
some two or three weeks during the month of of the Union and Rhodesia, close on the 9th of
next April, when it is proposed to hold the Ex- November.
hibition. As I have already said, the Exhibition
will follow very much the same lines as that of FARMING WITH DYNAMITE
last year ; but it can only be a success on the
original lines set out by the Council, if individual By Wm. Cullex (Past-President).
members will give the scheme their support.
What I mean by individual members is this we :
This subject has aroused an extraordinary
—
had as our ideal our main ideal, at any rate amount of interest throughout South Africa which.
the encouragement of small inventors along the strange to say, is still being maintained. I there-
Reef, men who had fathered little appli: fore, thought that members of our Society would
whether metallurgical, mechanical, or mining, but be interested to know something about the under-
who, at the same time, found it difficult to lying principles —
hence this paper. I must, how-
get the idea taken up, or rather expensive to ever, confess at this stage, that the principle
patent. That was our idea last year, and it not profound, but, at the same time, 1
very
succeeded to a certain extent. I think I would warn
all those who imagine that the
may say on behalf of the Committee and subject is a simple one, that they are vastly
mistaken. Six months ago, " started in " with
the that we wish that idea to be
Council, I
well known; but 1 hope that this early n< and cognate sul my thought thai finality
about six months ahead of the actual date of ched o„ these fields not so many
the Exhibition, will give everyone an oppor-
think
but may safely s.\ tint at,
I I
tunity of using bis individual efforts to no time in their history have so many disturbing
who may be a little backward in irs stepped in to upset our preconceived
iratie those
the form S.i it is with this newer, and probably
Coming forward with ideas, whether in
feel disposed to dogmatise on a single aspect of at the same time by the faulty development of
it. After all, every new utilitarian idea has to the roots.
be submitted to the economic test in the long " Some of the things that are necessary for the
run, and it will be many years before anyone can proper development of the roots are air, mois-
assert that dynamite will supersede the plough ture, foods that will dissolve in the soil water,
At the same time, we can now make certain temperature that is not too cold, and a soil in
general propositions which may be demonstrated. which it is possible to spread out and grow
These I propose to submit to you later on. easily.
" Most of the breathing of the plant is done
Before a Society like this, the members of
by the leaves, yet a small but necessary part is
which are directly and indirectly connected with
carried on by the roots. This renders it neces-
the principles underlying explosives, it will be,
sary that the soil be well ventilated by numerous
of GOurse, quite unnecessary to describe the
small openings between the particles.
simple operations connected with the application
" The water-logged or very wet sub-soils act
of these principles, but it will be necessary to say
just the same as the packed soils in excluding
something about the special appliances required
the air ;
for the air cannot pass down through
for the application of explosives to farming
openings choked up with excessive amounts of
operations. Even here, however, finality has
not yet been reached, but that stage is being
water. Some plants, like cypress trees, overcome
these conditions by root modifications which
rapidly approached. The idea of utilising dyna-
allow breathing, but the crops growing in the
mite in farming operations is, of course, not new.
fields and garden cannot do this, so it is neces
Indeed, it is very old and even in this country
sarv to furnish them air down in the ground.
one is constantly coming across people who years
" The plant root must also take up from the
ago planted their fruit trees in holes made with
soil ;i|| the mineral foods needed for its develop
explosives some have even told me that they
;
work properly and the leave- are held in check appearance, but they are at the same time verj
•October 1912 Win. Cullcn -Farthing with Dynamite 141
different. For what i- called sub-soiling; i.e., method, although only rough and ready, is
cracking up the ground at depth, a very slow - ifficient for most ordiii iry p ti poses. It is
explosive is required, one which fissures or rends based on the use of a special detonating fuse
and which evolves a large volume of gas slowly having a known rate ol detonation. A piece of
on detonation. Quite another kind of explosive the fuse—say 30 inches in length properly —
is required for tree planting holes in certain straightened out, is measured accurately and the
classes of ground. Here a quicker, but not middle point marked. It is then laid on
necessarily a stronger kind of explosive is required, a lead plate, a convenient size of which is .'.in. 1
because labour is saved if a certain amour x ]in. x Gin., to which it is tied securely,
1
the sod is thrown up. For tree stump blasting the middle point coinciding with a line made
a quick explosive will generally be found best the plate, icarcst the primer end of the
ami the same for ditching, but these two opera- cartridge. A detonator is slipped over each end
tions are perhaps the most ticklish which one is of the fuse and securely crimped thereto. The
ever called upon to perforin, and experience is explosive whose rate of detonation is to lie
practically the only guide as to which explosive measured should he in the form of a carti
is best to use. Then again, explosives which measuring say sin. x IHn. and enclosed in a
have to be put into the hands of people un- paper cylinder. wo holes about four inches
'I'
accustomed to handling them, must be as far as apart (the distance must be accurately known)
possible "fool-proof." No explosive quite are made in the same side of the cartridge, and a
answers this description, but a successful attempt detonator with fuse attached secured at one end
has been made considerably to reduce the sensi — called the primer end in the usual way. —
tiveness of Transvaal Farmers' Dynamite, while The charge and detonating fuse on the plate are
at the same time retaining the other qualities then laid down side by side, the ends of the fuse
already referred to. In this country one does with detonator attached being inserted in the
not often see frozen nitroglycerine explosives,
but in Europe and America it is the commonest
occurrence in winter. It is very dangerous to
handle explosives when in this condition or just
when ihey are on the point of thawing. Now
on the mines, supplies are consumed so rapidly
and the magazines are on the whole so well built
that explosives have seldom the chance to freeze.
It is otherwise on a farm. An ordinary galvan-
ised iron outhouse will generally be the magazine
and explosives might lie in one of them for a ...-
kieselguhr dynamite invented by Nobel, or the the rate of detonation of the explosive between
so-called wood pulp dynamites, which are used
" A and " B " were infinite then the two waves
out here in coal and diamond mines. In facl ii of detonation ol the fuse would meet the middle
is a very complicated mixture of bodies which it point at '•('." but as this is not so, the "A
would be very difficult indeed for the cleverest wave passes "C
before being nut by the " B"
wave. Tin- in-.- during detonation ploughs a
chemist to analyse. I have already made use of
the words 'quick' and 'slow' as applied to furrow along the lead plate and at the point of
meeting of the two waves a deep mark is mule
explosives, and even those actively engaged in
on the plate in tact the latter is generally cut
manufacture and experiments, such as I. are only :
the only other data required are the distance cartridge dipped bodily into a bath of molten
is
'
meeting "I waves. Now for a word about the special tools which
E= Rate of detonation of fuse which is are required. They are, of course, only special
6,000 m. per second. in a sense, for they are nearly all modifications
of well-known tools. In mining one always uses
'Flic formula for calculation is :—
the so-called jumper with its special bit, and.
I
I are all also excellent in their way. The best
all-round extractor is possibly a chain 20 24 in. —
long and having the two ends joined. It must,
however, lie made of good material, for it has
'Fir:. TI. Sledge Hammer, Chain Extractor, frequently to stand very heavy strains. It is
Jumper, Cap for Jumper v\n Tamping Bod. simply looped over the jumper (as shown in tin
—
October L912 Wm. Cullen Farming with Dynamite m
illustration), and turn levered up by another
it is in anyone can easily get a blacksmith to mil,
juniper, or old rail,other suitable article.
or them. If time is a consideration, quicker work
Sometimes, however, the jumper becomes so fast can be done by more elaborate tools, of which one
that the chain is of no use, and in cases like these type is illustrated. These cost at present .30s. to
40s. each, but as the demand becomes greater it
will no doubt be possible to reduce this pur,
levered —one from each side— the jumper will is unfathdmed have gradually become less and
not through impoverishment
almost invariably come out, The chain and the less productive,
dip extractors only cost a few shillings to buy, and alone— though this is generally a contributing
144 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
cause — but through the formation of what is was all that was required. The Pretoria land, on
called "hardpan," in other words, an impervious the other hand, required 3 ft. holes and two or
—
stratum impervious alike to water and to air, three cartridges to each —
which brings up the
which are thereby prevented from exercising expense — but, after all, work of this kind must be
their beneficial eti'ects. An ordinary plough judged by results. In the Oudtshorn district of
seldom goes deeper than S in. —9 in. It is the Cape, where lucerne lands change hands at
possible, of course, with large teams and special —
from £200 £500 per acre, a considerable
ploughs to get down
15 in., but the process is
to expenditure on dynamite would be justifiable, if
expensive. The consensus of opinion, however, is commensurate results were obtained, but with
that this original expense is more than repaid. mealie lands yielding anything from 50 - to 100/-
SouthAfrica is essentially a dry land a dry farm — per acre the proposition assumes a somewhat
ing land if you like —
and all are agreed that, for different aspect.
the high veld at any rate, deep ploughing is I have already stated that we have as yet no
essential, but for many years the arable lands of South African results In go on, and that I must
the Transvaal, and I speak only of them for the therefore quote American experience. From a
present, have been turned over year after year to mass of data I select the following typical
a depth of only 8 in. 9 in. —
The result is, of cases -verified in every instance by either
course, that immediately below this a hard cake officials of the Agricultural Department, or
is —
formed hardpan. In many cases, and I competent and, as far as we can judge,
speak from experience, this is as hard as a brick, unbiassed experts.
and the jumper is only forced through with (a). With a consumption of 25 lb. of
difficulty. The object of sub-soiling is to bieak explosives per acre a cotton crop was
up this hardpan, and the drier it is the easier is exactly doubled.
• the operation. Therefore, August and September
ilo. For an expenditure of £3 15s. per acre a
are the best months. When the hardpan is maize crop was exactly doubled in a
broken up the rain gets a chance of soaking in
season of exceptional drought, when
instead of running off, and tremendous water
surrounding crops were almost a failure.
reservoirs are formed. Two examples of the
The narrator of this experience adds :
formation of this hardpan occur to me. All of " Dynamiting costs money, but we are
you know that beautifully fertile strip of land
getting it back, and were never so
hi the right hand side of the railway as one
prosperous."
liters Pretoria.
• I do not know how many years
(c). This is a case which can only be pic-
it has been ploughed, but in any case the
effective soil is only about S in. 9 in. deep. — torially illustrated,
are as follows: "On
but the essential facts
a certain agricul-
Below this it is really as hard as a brick,
tural experimental farm in Tennessee
.md just as difficult to get through with a
there was a large area of worn out land,
jumper. Then again, I was in the. Zeerust
which had yielded nothing for years.
district only a few weeks ago carrying out some
experimental work. Even to-day this district is One section was dynamited at a cost of
famous for its irrigated lands, and there is no £2 10s. per acre, ploughed and harrowed
as usual. Alongside it another section
liner sight in South Africa than these thousands
of acres of waving wheat. Hut 1 am told that
was also ploughed and harrowed, the
only difference between the two being
the yield is falling off, and in consequence many
-of the farmers are going in for lucerne. I
the dynamiting. As already said, the
difference between the two can only be
predict no better results, for lucerne digs its
roots deep down, and everywhere in the district illustrated pictorially lmt whereas on —
one comes across the hardpan, which must have the one side of the dividing line there
been formed in the manner I have just explained. were stunted and unhealthy mealies, on
the other there were fine healthy plants,
[ have actually seen the lucerne roots turned up
the wrong way after they had struck the imper- 10 ft.— 15 ft. high.
vious stratum a few inches down. This last I could go on quoting, but these will suffice.
instance makes me chary of dogmatising about Judging by South African experience, I should
the depth of hole and the size of charge, because say that our American friends are inclined to
•very case must be a special study in itself. In the minimise the cost of dynamiting, but one thing
Zeerust district one generally gets into splendid we must not forget, and thai is that the effect is
soil after the hardpan is gone through at a a lasting one. What I mean this, thatone
depth of about IS in. "-'4
—
in., and experience had to expend £2 to £3 er ]
is
acre on dynamiting
if
that the effect lasts for at least five years, so depth. In consequence of tins, the roots are
that with such increased yields as have been
obtained, an extra 50 - per acre is neither here
nor there when spread over five years.
The only application of dynamite on which I
DUG HOLE
Fig. VIII.— Pot Hole maim. Dyanimtte (look-
\-.\
f^UBSOIL COMPACT »
EASY)
GROWTH
it is best to blast by electricity, for then a simul- ground. Suppose one had to make a furrow or
taneous effect is obtained. An application of drain several hundred yards long through
dynamite which is not obvious is the reclamation swampy ground, or suppose sim .)y that one had
of wet and swampy lands. True, we are not to drain this swampy ground by making a ditch
troubled much with such in South Africa, bnt I through it. Holes of appropriate depth and
have in my mind a good many thousands of distance apart would lie made and into them the
acres of black kindly looking soil, which as soon explosive woull be charged. Only the centre
as the rains come absolutely defies the plough, one requires a detonator, but it also requires to
but which if drained, could be nude very pro- be doubly charged. Th- detonating wave is
ductive. Draining either by tile drains or by sufficient to set off all the other charges, and
—
•October 191. Win. Cullen Farming with Dynamite. I IT
three or four parallel rows can be treated in this date, I may be permitted to supplement these
way, even as far as 4 ft. apart provided these notes by giving more definite figures.
rows are staggered. If the furrow or ditch lias
to be made in dry land, the detonation does not
Cost Table.
communicate, so one reduced to electric blasting.
is
far I can only speak of ants. Whether the (d) 15 „ i'Ji 2 4 9 3 9 14 13 ">
Ihave thus given a brief outline of the uses to am sure we have all listened with very great
interest to Mr. Cullen's paper on " Farming
which dynamite can be put, but so far have not
touched on costs excepting under the heading
;
with Dynamite,'' and I would like to say this
and orchard regenera-
of subsoiling, tree planting, evening that I think the man who can teach his
tion there are really no reliable South African fellow men how to grow two blades of grass
costs available. As in mining, the cost of the where one grew before, deserves the thanks of
explosive with fuse, etc., is frequently a small the community in every way. That is what we
proportion of the total. Every separate case has are all aiming at, and I think, perhaps to jump —
really to be consideied on its merits. give one
I from the subject under discussion that if the —
illustration. A certain South African Institution Turks in Eastern Europe had, during their 600
for higher education was built on a must com years of military occupation, taught people to
manding site, but the surface soil was very grow two blades of grass where one grew before,
shallow and no trees coidd be got to grow. The they would not have been in danger of being
authorities are now using dynamite, and I expect turned out of Europe.
there will be no difficulty about the growth of We are at a very important stage in the historj
the trees in the future. This is, of course, a of this country. We have here, comparatively
special case, but there are many like it. How- speaking, a very large number of young men
ever, I prefer to confine myself to figures which growing up and being technically trained in the
appertain more to everyday practice, and in this various institutions of the country, and those of
connection the following table will be of interest. us who know the country and the mining
It should, however, be explained that the costs industry are, I must say, afraid that the outlook is
given are exclusive of labour. With ordinary rather serious. There is not sufficient occupation
fairly deep soil a couple of boys should make for all the young men who are being trained in
anything from 60-100 holes per day, but I have the country to day with a view to taking up
seen this number exceeded and I have seen the billets and positions on the mines. Therefore any
reverse. Like everything else, much depends on man who can bring forward methods and means
the superintendence. which will provide an outlet for skilled white
labour in the whole of South Africa deserves
The fuse required will depend on the average
every credit from this country. What I mean is
depth and number of holes per acre.
A case of farmers' dynamite contains about
this —
what we in South Africa should do, and
tle.se of us who have been here many years
250 cartridges — 50 lb., in weight. —
adventurers like myself is to try and see how
I regret that impossible to speak with
it is it would be possible to employ more skilled white
more definiteness on this subject at its present 1.1, our. There an' a great many men here with
stage of development, but as time goes on, their families who are fairly well off and who
•experience will be gained and at a subsequent naturally do not want to see their boys and
14S The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
children .sink to a lower level than the position turbans, and who directed operations and took
in life they themselves at present occupy. They most of the output," are of great interest.
accordingly have them well educated. What is With regard to the first of these points, I have
going to happen to these youths! We want carefully read the writings of Dr. Theal who sums
them to be occupied with suitable employment ; up all the available information which can b
and the only way to do this is to encourage found either in the archives at Lisbon, or in the
agriculture in every form. I hope that we shall
Cape, and I find that no mention is ever made of
have a network of roads all over this country Arabs coming south of Cape Corrientes, and that
which can be traversed by motor cars; I hope even in the fifteenth century the most southerly
the soil will be worked up by means of electricity Arab settlement was at Inhambane, nor is any
and dynamite and then, with all chese forms of
;
gold or other metal mentioned as having been
skilled labour that will be required for that sort traded in commercial quantities south of Sofala,
of thing, there willbe a vast outlet and a vast though special mention is made of the fact that
field foremploying these educated young men ;
when the first ships under Yasco de Gama called
and that is what we ought to look forward to in at the mouth of the Limpopo, in January, 1498,
this country as it is one of the most important they found the natives in possession of quantities
things we can possibly look to. I do not know of copper, and therefore, some of them called the
how many youths are being turned out yearly in river the " Copper River," though others named
this country who
are educated up to a certain it i
he " River of Kings."
point, but must be a great number. All these
it
In the account of the trade done either by the
matters should be of extreme importance, and
Arabs or tin- Portuguese no mention is made oi
should be a source of great interest to all of us,
either copper or tin. There was a legend of
Mr. T. G Trevor (Member): I have very certain Silver Mines near the mouth of the
great pleasure in supporting Mr. Crosse's remarks. Zambesi, but no trade seems ever to have been
In 1893 I made a similar trial to those referred done in any "metal but gold. It is also fairly
to by Mr. Cullen, and I found out in doing so certain that from the year 1505, when the Portu-
that I improved the growth of peach trees that
guese took possession of Sofala, no Arab
were practically destroyed. I also got some
trading expeditions of any magnitude could have
other extremely good results for which I was habitually frequented the coast south of that
afterwards laughed at. Nobody believed me. point.
They always talked about " Trevor's dynamite."
My thanks to Mr. Cullen are personal and I The amount of gold actually obtained by the
;
believe every farmer who adopts Mr. Cullen's Portuguese was very small, for example, in 1508
method will, by-and-by, thank him. Durate de Lemos reported that only £\, .'ill
worth of gold had been obtained from Sofala in
the previous year. Later on a commandant of
Mozambique named Soares states that in eight
SOME Ol'.SERYATIONS OX ANCIENT months he had only obtained <£3,128 worth.
MINE WORKINGS IN THE TRANSVAAL.
During 11 months in 1519 the factor named
De Briso only obtained £358 worth.
(Read <ti January Meeting, 1912.) appears therefore as though the quantity
It
of gold traded and exported by the Portuguese
was certainly under 1,000 oz. per annum and
By T. 0. Teevor, A.R.S.M., Inspector of that no other metal was obtained.
Mines, Pretoria (Member).
With regard to Professor Stanley's native tra-
dition, the facts, so far as I can at present gather
REPLY TO DISCI 3SI0N. them, are as follows, though —
as the Native
Affairs Department, at the request of the present
Mr. Tudor G. Trevor (Member): I have to
Minister of Mines, is now investigating the
thank Prof essor Stanley for the information which
he has added and the suggestions which he
legend —
more may soon be known.
The Bapedi better known perhaps as
tribe,
has made.
Secucuni's inhabit the country between
people,
The late Mr. Lane larter's remarks are also
*
Lydenburg and Pietersburg. These people pro-
appropriate and c< incide with the author's. bably t( ok possession of their country late in the
Professor Stanley's remarks on the gold trade eighteenth century and in doing so evicted or
carried on by the Arabs in pre-Portuguese times, absorbed a tribe called the Baroka. The
and on a native tradition relating to "pale-faced Moshette or head place of the Baroka, and after-
men who wore some head covering, probably wards of the Bapedi, was the cavernous hill
"
October 1912 T. G. Trevor— Seme Obscrv rtionsoii Ancient Mine Workings in thi Transvaal. 149
known as D'sjate — the notorious Vecht Kop of under an overhanging cliff. These are so ex-
the Secucuni war. posed that it is very hard to fancy that they can
The Bapedi have a national chant in which be more than a few hundred years old at the
and in which it
this hill D'sjate figures largely, most. Yet it is certain that the Bushmen arid
is said to be recounted how a company of men the Bantu never lived side by side. Therefore
with black beards and clouds on their heads the Bantu occupation of D'sjate can at the most
came out of the east and occupied D'sjate, and have been for a few hundred years, and the tra-
how, eventually, they were all killed by the ditions connected with the spot of an even less
Baroka. These people are called by the Bapedi, age.
Mapalakata, and to them are attributed certain
Now the Bushmen and Hottentot never had
old tracks up hills that look like roads — many of
the metallurgical kn iwledge or requirements of
them ancient workings- and generally anything
the Bantu, and therefore if the Bantu did not
apparently old and artificial that the native does
make the workings, these races certainly did not,
not understand. The royal beads of the Maru
and we are thrown back on an unknown period
teng family, which are perforated angular frag
to a totallyunknown population for their origin,
ments of glass, called l'etha, are certainly not of
not to be supposed that even Arabs or
foi it is
European manufacture, and are attributed by Semitic raiders could force the savage Bushmen
ithe natives to the Mapalakata. No mention is or the nomadic and equally wild Hottentot to
made of the Mapalakata having used firearms, become a mine worker.
but in the early part of the last century a num-
ber of guns are said to have been found in a cave The analysis of slag from Messina given by
in D'sjate. These guns are reported to have Professor Stanley is of great interest, for Messina
had very long barrels and short stocks, and to lies in a country where lime is scarce.
gneissic
have had some sort of lock which the natives Lime if foundthe slag, could not have got
in
there accidentally, but must have been brought
could not make to work. Eventually these guns
there intentionally and with knowledge of its
were broken up and the iron worked up into
effect.
picks for the chief's (Secucuni I.) wives. The
native smith who worked them up was recently The late Mr. Lane Carter's comments are ex-
alive. tremely acceptable, as they show that his
may refer to some raiding party
This legend experience has been at one with the writer's with
of Arabs from Inhambane, but if such a raid regard to the cleanness of extraction of the ore and
occurred alter the yea/ 1500, when the Portu- the total absence of proportionate slag or debris
guese took possession of the coast, it could hard- heaps, and the difficulty of determining the
ly have been of much importance and could not relative value of minerals and their percentages
have had much to do with the working of the to the ancient workers.
copper or tin mines, otherwise we should find The absence and other evidences
of roads, ruins
these commodities figuring in the very detailed
of need cause no surprise.
civilisation The
accounts of the exports which still survive. Phoenicians left no such traces either in Spain or
On the other hand, if the raid occurred be- Cornwall, and if the instigators of the mining
fore 1500 the guns would be hard to account work in Africa were of the same Semitic or —
for. —
Arab stock, they almost certainly have worked
The legend certainly requirea investigation, in the same way, that is, by " raiding-trading
but the probability is that the raid was an ex- parties unaccompanied by their own women,
ceptional one conducted by some Zanzibar! trading where they were not strong enough to
Arabs in the eighteenth century during the total raid, and blackmailing the natives for such com-
decadence of the Portuguese power, and had modities as they needed under pain of exter-
nothing to do with the mines. mination.
Another aspect of the question which consider- By such methods the modern Arabs have ex-
ably complicates matters is that it is generally ploited the whole of Central Africa, but such
agreed by the students of native affairs that the evidences of their civilisation as they have left
Bantu races only occupied the country inside the behind have been of the most corrupt form, and
Drakensberg and south of the Limpopo in quite even the strain of their Semitic blood has been
recent times (say in the last 250 years), and that quickly submerged in that of their negro victims.
previous to that the Bushmen and Hottentots So much so that there are amongst the South
were in possession. Much collateral evidence African Bantu today as many apparent simili-
points in the same direction. For example, on a tudes to the Semitic races as thereare in Centra
[little hill called Svvahilane, some 7 miles from Africa, where the connection is known and
D'sjate, there are numerous Bushmen paintings historic.
—
150 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
NOTE ON DUST DETERMINATION BY be a ve'y good idea, but I should have thought
FILTRATION THROUGH SUGAR. that no tap was needed.
REPLY TO DISCUSSION.
NEW APPARATUS FOR SAMPLING AIR
FOR DUST.
Mr. A. McA. Johnston (Past-President):
I amindebted to Mr. Toombs for his criticism (Read at May Meeting^ 1012).
of the few notes on a sugar filter for dust which
I submitted to you in May last. My one regret By E. J. Laschinger, M.E., B.A.Sc. (Tor.).
is that he did not make his criticism constructive
draw through the sugar over one cubic foot of air sufficient of a dust sample for accurate deter-
per minute. The apparatus I explained must of minations to be made. The whole idea underlying
course be modified according to conditions, the the design of the two apparatus I described was
filtering sugar area being increased in proportion
that of collecting a large air sample in a reasonable
to the amount of air aspirated, and the coarseness length of time, and the few notes were written in
of the sugar regulated in the same relationship. the hope that they might be of interest and use
Dr. J. Moir (Past-President) Why is there a : to the members of this Society or to anyone else
tap on the apparatus The apparatus seems to
.'
studying the dust problem.
— —
October 1912 G, Hildick Smith— .1 System oj keeping Underground Cost* and Ret 15*
control, and by making extravagant claims for the all of which are desirable aims, which can fortun-
significance of his reforms. It was scarcely ately be followed under any circumstances, irre-
discreet to introduce his theme with such spective of the present system. Apart from the
assertions as that elsewhere " practically no
:
timber, it is necessary to check the time of
thought is taken by underground officials of timbermen and boys devoted to individual working
the cost of the material used by them," or that places —
which demands further clerical work for
work on the most economical lines is a which we must see that there is a return of
matter of " accident." If the author wishes to correspondingly useful information.
see his system widely adopted, the personal The value of the detailed records of shaft re-
element is so strong a force in its successful pairs, advocated by the author, cannot well be
application that he must gain whole-hearted and over-estimated. It is unfortunate that his-
sympathetic approval if lie fail in that, he might
;
broader recommendations cannot be accepted
as hopefully address his remarks to the Wemmer with similar approval. In the application of
dump. Going through his system, item by item, the author's figures, the most contentious-
I do not see marked differences from common point appears. The segregation of all results-
practice on many of the big mines of the Hand. and costs to shift bosses' sections does not present
It is chiefly in the systematisation of the various adequate advantages for the clerical work in-
analyses and in their more far-reaching applica- volved. The author would urge that he has proved,
tion, that an advance is made. The ordering of all the scheme to be successful in practice which —
the lesser stores through shift bosses is advantage is better than opinions. But I do not admit
ous and customary, but I do not think duplicate that the old Ferreira mine, with its small tonnage
orders for filing are worth demanding, in spite of and well-known stability of labour conditions,.
obvious benefits. Clerical work for shift bosses is representative of the Rand. My objection to
who are technical men without clerical aptitude, the author's system is that the proposed sub
by training or instinct, should be reduced to an division of costs, for comparative purposes, is too
absolute minimum, so that the minimum can be narrow and too liable to be affected by accidental
well and regularly done. irregularities bej'ond the control of shift bosses.
Under the head of white and native labour The shiftboss does not engage men, nor does he-
costs, there is no indication of important diver direct the mining policy of his section. These
gence from current practices. duties fall mine captain (if not to a higher
to the
The author shows under nine heads the items official whose section, in my opinion, is far better
)
to be determined to give the cost of any particu- suited to a grouping of results ami costs. In the
lar work and gives prominence (1) and (2), to big mines of to-day, where the demand for trained
steel and machine drill costs. Any scheme such supervision is becoming more and more exacting,
as that advanced, that can be kept in unfailing a certificated mine captain to four or five shift-
operation, is of great importance in the organisa bosses is not, or should not be considered, an
tion of what is one of the weakest departments excessive ratio. These men under the proposed
of underground work on the Hand. Although system are working competitively — keeping their
tin need for closer control over the distribution —
own endsup whereas they should lie instinctively
of steel, the maintenance of machines, air con- working together. A monthly differentiation
sumption and the supply of parts is well recog- of the merits of the work done by shift
nised, the further emphasis provided in the paper bosses, emphasised by a bonus, must, under
is welcome. Items 3, 4 and 5 cover air pipes, pipe- ordinary circumstances and with ordinary men,
trucks and truck-repairing.
fitting, track-laying, lead to more ill-feeling than satisfaction. Grant-
These costs are not segregated for each shift- ing that bonuses to shift bosses fiom the under-
152 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
ground manager may form a pleasant means of head office returns aud the compilation of detailed
recognising good work and showing appreciation underground costs, which would be prepared
of a stimulating kind. I would sooner see the under different supervision and serve different
grants made from time to time in respect of ends. If the scheme of head office returns is con-
obviously hard service, rather than in respect of sidered wasteful of time and largely superfluous,
dubiously accurate statistics of vague significance. the author need only demonstrate something
A bonus to the man who has had to put in long better, for a change to lie made. Of course, it
shifts on account of some breakdown or emer- would be advisable in the first instance to inves
gency work, who has originated some useful tigate the purpose for which these returns are
device or system, who has been hard pressed on being compiled. Years of painful selection,
account of an absent colleague and who has had rejection and modification have passed in their
abnormal responsibilities because of tests and evolution.
experiments conducted under his supervision, I am afraid that most of my criticisms of the
would encourage all without engendering ill- author's fruitful paper have been purely destruc-
feeling through invidious comparisons of statis- tive in character. I would plead, however, that
tical efficiencies. The relative merits and even the best of gardens are improved by a little
capabilities of shift bosses may best be judged by weeding.
the observation of their mine captains. These Mr. Hans Meyer {Member <>/ Council): Mr.
merits are enduring qualities, best rewarded by Hildick Smith's paper describing a system of
increased pay, housing, privileges and promotion, keeping detailed records of the cost of various
not by a system of monthly recognition, as underground operations is concise and interesting,
though of spasmodic account. but suffers from an unfortunate]}' worded intro-
I agree with the author that more can be done ductory paragraph. It is evident that Mr.
with benefit to bring to the notice of underground Smith has been so busily engaged on the Ferreira
officials the results of their work, in simple form, that he is unaware that for years past different
but I think the subdivision by mine captains mines have kept such detailed costs as be
sections or shafts the best for all requirements. describes, each mine using a system adapted to
.Small sections are inevitably changing in their its own local conditions. He has therefore no
conditions from month to month, if only through justification in stating that under existing condi-
the process of exhaustion and growth. tions it is practically impossible for an accurate
The author's conclusions, like his prologue, are estimate to be formed of the cost of doing any
ili-chosen. For instance, he should not proclaim piece of work underground. This point has of
so heedlessly to the world that we too commonly course already been brought out by others who
"guess the best and cheapest way of doing under- have taken part in the discussion and rightly so,
ground work," nor declare "at present in respect as it would be unfortunate if the readers of our
of underground work, the results obtained in Journal in other parts of the world should believe
detail, with regard to costs and efficiency, are that we live in darkness as regards elementary
unknown." This is unfair to the Rand with the business knowledge.
•exact meaning of the reservation "in detail" to The author criticises sharply the generalized
perpetuate discussion, the accuracy of the asser- tabulation of costs of underground work, which
tion becomes a matter of opinion. In mine, are conveniently collected and circularized by the
there is probably no mining field in the world rlead Offices of Mining Groups. They cannot be
where underground costs are kept with apter misunderstood, representing as they do compari-
thoroughness, in spite of the peculiar difficulties sons of expenditure of various mines under stan-
inherent to transient white and coloured labour dardized headings To properly appreciate such
conditions, and certainly none where essential figures, an intimate knowledge of the conditions
figures are more readily available for the guidance governing operations on such mines must be
of subordinate underground officials. I do not possessed by a critic, otherwise any comparison
say these data are extensively used, but that is will be odious. I am certain that if Mr. Smith
because it is unusual to find a good underground could prove that the information he criticises is
man with a knack for "using" figures. useless, it would long ago have been abandoned,
finally, the author has a fling at head offices, and a considerable expenditure saved. The fact
and implies that half the clerical work done on that these comparisons do not show the cost in
their returns would be better devoted to under- detail of every underground operation is inten-
ground records. This attack is scarcely justified. tional, the main headings however, serve as a
It was certainly not tactful, since —
through useful starting point for further analysis. Every
the medium of head offices his — schemes underground manager is at perfect liberty to
would be most effectively circulated for group elaborate the main totals to the smallest degree.
adoption. There is nothing antagonistic between provided he can prove that the elaboration does
etobev 1912 G. HildickSmith.—A System of keeping >
<sts and Records. 153
not cost, more than the benefits derived there- information should go a long way to minimising
from, which is in fact done on most mines. the risk of hoisting accidents.
Personally, I <|iiite appreciate and sympathise In the course of the discussion, the paper has
with the author in his desire for detailed know been rather roughly handled, perhaps not so
ledge. After all, mining on these fields is essen- much the subject, but the manner in which it is
tially a business operation, and selling as we do presented. There is no doubt however, of the
a product realising a standard price, which can be author's keenness to get at the root of things, and
absorbed in any quantity, our difficulties are to a he has made some practical suggestions with this
large extent simplified as compared with most object in view.
industrial undertakings. The underground
manager on our gold mines can therefore give his MINK TKIBUTING IN RHODESIA.
closest attention to economical production, and
with this object a close check must be kept on [Head at June Meeting, 1912.)
every operation and on every unit employed.
The chief difficulty encountered, and I am sure By W. Anderson (Associate).
the author will bear me out on this point, is to
enlist the co-operation of the various underground DISCUSSION
officials. To get together anything like accurate Mr. A. Richardson {Vice-President): The
records of costs, practically every white man author's paper, being mainly descriptive, affords
underground acts in a degree as a timekeeper and very little scope for criticism; there are, how-
storekeeper, and unless he troubles to do this ever, some points in it which deserve a little
part of his work accurately and intelligently, the fuller treatment.
results are vitiated. This, I know, is a goo Ideal It must often have seemed strange to many
to ask of men who work in many cases under people why mines are ever let on tribute. Surely
severe physical strain all day, and of others who if a tributer can make a mine pay, the owner can .'
scorn to do anything that savours of clerical In discussing this question, it is first necessary
work. Xo amount of driving will ever force men to point out that there are many small mines
to take the required concern and trouble, but I which come under the category of hopeless pro
venture to think by constantly emphasizing the positions,and that in operating these tributers
importance of the subject a feeling of interest in have failed as signally as owners. The chief
it can be created. To stimulate interest some factors that make for failure are, limitation or
form of bonus is usual, and the most practical poverty of shoot, and refractoriness of ore.
form and manner of award is one that has exer- Other adverse influences not so permanently
cised the minds of industrial leaders for years. objectionable are, insufficient native labour, too
Applied to local underground work the subject is much or too little water, remote or unhealthy
unusually perplexing owing to the difficulty of district, and inexperienced operation. Assuming
making fair comparisons of efficiency under the that these difficulties are not insurmountable, the
variable conditions existing in any one mine. tributer possesses the immense advantage that he
The author gives a comprehensive
rather has not to bear the heavy initial expense of
schedule of the advantages that will accrue from a developing and of partly, or wholly, equipping
detailed system of cost keeping. At first sight the the [property he reaps where others have sown
; ;
benefits seem rather wonderful and almost more and in addition to this his profits may be con-
than can be ever hoped for. The author wishes, siderably smaller than those of a company and
I think, to point out, that by getting held of the \et lie highly satisfactory. This latter point is
business end of the stick, every one must show often overlooked but it is obviously easier when
;
increased interest in his work and more considera- profits are forthcoming at all, to distribute them
tion for his employers' purse, and improved con- to better advantage over a co-partnership of
ditions in every direction will follow as a matter three or four, with a capital of £1,000, than over
of course. a body of shareholders, with a capital of
As the discussion on this paper is closing this £50,000. Again, owing to the fact that a
evening, I do not propose to criticise the tributer is his own board of directors, consulting
methods of keeping under the various
costs engineer, and staff, and also that he usually
headings enumerated. There is one sub-heading works harder and is less wasteful of material
which I think is a novelty and is sound, namely, than an ordinary employee, his working costs are
the method used of keeping "shaft repair re- almost invariably lower than those of a company.
:ords." A large scale plan of the timbering of Where the ipany has the advantage over him
i
vertical and incline shafts with the bends, on is iii capital, and technical knowledge, "v access
which proper notes are kept of the dates when to it and these advantages are very greal when
;
It is interesting to note that the tributers and to gain experience and to increase his powers of
small workers of Rhodesia in 1911 produced 26% resource. It may be mentioned here that in
of the total gold output of that country. The variety of employment the men of the country do
figures being as follows : not enjoy a monopoly. When the writer was in
Rhodesia there were a lady miner, a lady black-
Fine Value smith, and a cyanide shiftswoman.
Class of Tons OZS. of
". of
owner. milled. total.
obtained. output. Perhaps the author will favour us with his
views as to the percentage of success among
Companies tributers and small workers. Anything like
operating own
claims 1,122.341 464,859 1,960,271 74 exact information must of course be nearly
Tributers of impossible to obtain, but a rough estimate would
com p anies' be instructive. The writer by analysing the-
claims 274,734 77,415 325,413 12
returns of one of the earlier months of this year
Small workers 206,403 86,248 362,212 14
arrived at the following figures :
Thus the small workers of Rhodesia are produc- is ver} important to know its boundaries, as
7
ing 0'72K% of the world's gold which is not at : nearly all the big producers are in schist near a
all a bad showing considering the age of the granite contact. Apart from gold, there is,
country. moreover, always the possibility of stumbling on
The author gives a concise account of the a tin deposit close to the granite and with that
:
usual style of plant, and notes the fact that metal at a price of well over £200 a long ton,
they vary considerably. Some of these plants the small man, although he could not well work
are remarkable for their simplicity. The hoist, such a deposit himself, should be able to find a
for instance, may consist of a team of donkeys ready market for any promising discovery.
harnessed to the end of the hauling rope the ; Practically the whole of Southern Rhodesia is
fitting shop may be represented by a vice bolted open to the prospector and the pegging procedure
to a tree and roofed over with heaven and the ; is comparatively simple. The law relating to the
office may be an unassuming pole and mud hut, matter may be given in potted form as follows :
with packing-case furnishings, fulfilling in addi- A prospecting licence costs £1. Each licence
tion to its normal functions those of store and confers the right of pegging either one block
:
be obtained. This costs 5/-. Failure to procure SO-CALLED AIR BLASTS AND ROOF
this is deemed to constitute abandonment. PRESSURE.
Within the G mouths following registration either
{Read at August Meeting.)
30 ft. of development must be done or a fee of
£0 paid. Within the next 6 months 30 ft. of By Tom Johnson (Member of Council).
development must be done or a fee of £15 paid.
In each succeeding 12 months 60 ft. of develop- DISCUSSION.
ment must be done or the block is liable to Mr. J. Chilton (Member) Probably there are
:
forfeiture. A gold claim is 150 Cape ft. along but few mining districts in the world that are en-
the strike by 600 Cape ft. to the dip. A block tirely free from that puzzling phenomenon that has
of claims is any number up to ten contiguous received the somewhat misleading name of " air-
claims ; that is, 1,500 Cape ft. along the strike blast." It occurs in every variety of mine, and
by 600 Cape ft. to the dip. The reef may be in every geological formation, and reports of dis-
followed beyond the dip boundary. This con- astrous accidents attributed to air-blast action
stitutes the extra-lateral right. On working for have been reported from the Kolar goldfielda, the
profit, a total value of output not exceeding £100 Kerosene shale mines of Australia, the copper
in any mie month is exempt from royalty. With mines of Lake Superior, the lead-mining districts
outputs from £100 to £3,000 a month the of Derbyshire, the Mont Cenis Tunnel, the
royalty is 2i% of the gross value and for larger ;
South African goldfields, and the coal mines of
outputs there are other rates When the claims Westphalia. These outbursts are distinguished
are producing the claim licence is 10/- per month from ordinary falls of ground by the fact that they
for each claim worked and 5/- for each claim are sudden discharges of rock from the sides of
unworked, and the compulsory development tunnels, working faces, and pillars that have been
clause becomes void. In the case of tin, cupper, formed or exposed by mining operations. With
and most of the base metals, a mining location a report like the boom of artillery and a violent
may be pegged in any shape and up to an area of gust of wind, the face is torn asunder and frag-
30 claims of 90,000 square Cape ft. each, that is, ment shot in every direction. The floor buckles
up to a total area of 2,700,000 square Cape ft. up, timber is knocked out and every object near
A Discovery Notice confers, for 31 days, the is whirled along or struck by the falling masses
exclusive right of prospecting within a radius of of rock. It invariably means death to any person
3,000 ft. from the discovery point. Registration who may be near when the outburst occurs. At
certificate costs £1. When working for profit the the surface the effects often resemble those pro-
royalty is 3% of the gross value of the output, duced by an earthquake. At the Reckinghausen
and the licence is £5 per month for the location. Colliery, Bruch, Westphalia, on July 14th, 1899,
There are no extra-lateral rights with base metal an air-blast occurred which destroyed many
locations. working places, killed 4 workmen and injured
many others. were felt over a
Its surface effects
The author refers to the lonely life lead by
circle (>> miles in diameter and 156 buildings
most of the small workers. This is apt to
suffered damage. Tin- Ruhr, the Frederick and
become very trying at times because of its
the Steringolt collieries in the same district have
monotony but when health and success mark
reported similar outbursts, in which many lives
;
should before going there provide himself with a mine, and 2,000 ft. vertically from the centre ol
generous supply of introductions and permits, as disturbance. The area affected underground waa
reliable information is not always obtainable 300 ft. long ;m. 100 ft. wide. One large piece
1
without the assistance of one other of these i i of rock that flew from the face struck a miner
annoying documents. But even for the visitor and cut him completely in halves. At the Cin-
with no particular leanings towards mining there derella Consolidated Mines, Transvaal, on May 9th,
is a great deal that is well worth seeing and ; 1910, a large quantity ol roe]; was violently dis-
anyone who can spare a month might spend it in charged from the face of a pillar which was being
many less enjoyable ways than on a visit to this cutaway this rock overwhelmed a gang of native
;
interesting young dependency. shovel boys, and 18 lives were lost. Simultane-
156 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 191 —
ously the footwall was forced up round a pillar a the Transvaal Institute of Mechanical Engineers.
little higher up the stope, the rise in one place He considers that molecular tension similar to that
amounting to as much as 3 ft. shown by the well known Prince Rupert's drops
That roof pressure is primarily the cause of which explode or fly to pieces when dropped,
few will deny, but that they are only
air-blast, may account for some of the smaller outbursts.
produced by pressure, demands further proof. Probably this air-blast action is sometimes set
In mining operations, with some area excavated, up by molecular tension, clue to the cooling of
the pillars when first cut, carry little weight. the outer rocks when exposed to the chilling
As the worked out area increases the hanging effects mine atmosphere, and the com-
of the
walh slowly bend till their weight is supported pressed air from rock drills. When radiation
on the edge of the pillars and face ; these after begins the outer layers of rock cool rapidly and
a time become overloaded, and like any hard rock attempt to contract on the still heated and
under pressure, the walls suddenly fail and large therefore expanded interior. Thus stresses are
masses of rock often fly from the face with a set up that the rock cannot resist and large
velocity almost approaching that of a projectile slabs are often detached with great violence
from a gun. When this outburst occurs near a often accompanied by a sharp report like a gun-
large worked out the result may be put
area, shot.
down but as these often occur in
to pressure, Some time ago a distinguished party consisting
tunnels and drives in virgin ground, it will be of gentlemen standing very high in the mining
apparent that the pressure theory does not quite world decided to visit a Rand deep level mine
meet the case. remarkable for high temperatures, and the astute
Many mining engineers consider that these manager, desiring no doubt to make his guests
outbursts are the result of stresses and strains as comfortable as possible, forbade blasting oper-
set up by rock movement in the upper strata of ations for three days prior to their visit, and
the earth's crust. Arecent writer says :
" The opened all the air-mains in the mine. The air
tcround underneath our feet is in a constant state compressors were kept going at twice their usual
of stress and strain, of yielding and adjusting, of speed, and soon the underground temperatures
timid tremor or violent shake, of quick pulsat- were reduced considerably. The visitors arrived
ing vibration or irresistible age-long movement." on the appointed day, and were shown round the
(Such phenomena as the earth-tide at Kimber- mine. They expressed their satisfaction at find-
ley, South Africa, where the surface of the ing the mining conditions so different to what
ground rises and falls as much as three inches in had been anticipated, but voiced some concern
a single day, and the great earth-movement of the at the evidence of rock-strain that presented
Witwatersrand which is causing the strata south themselves. AA herever the party went the rock
of the reef outcrops to slowly move northwards, on the faces of the tunnels spit, flew, and de-
affords some evidence of the stress and tension, tached itself in all directions, till the alarmed
the contraction, and the expansion that the upper visitors were glad to retreat to the surface. The
beds are undergoing, and it seems not unlikely air blasts in this case were certainly not due to
that these forces may produce very marked effects roof pressure, as no stuping had been done, but
upon mining at great depths. That there is a were produced by molecular strain set up by
strain inherent in all country rock is shown by the cooling the outer layers of rock by compressed
classic example of the granite slab at the Monson air. The idea of molecular strain causing large
Quarry, Missouri, U.S.A. This slab was pegged detachments of rock is as old as the art of
and lay free, fully over a hundred feet in length. mining, for it was by a knowledge of this law
It was noticed that as soon as it was free from that the ancient miner produced his broken ore,
live contact with the mother ledge it stretched a fire being lit close up to the face of the
in length so that it overlapped by several inches mineralised beds, and after they were thoroughly
the cavity from which it had just been removed. heated water was thrown on to the hot surfaces,
There are also proofs of strain in the slickensided which caused large flakes and slabs to detach
rocks, of the lead-mining districts of Derbyshire, themselves. These were then broken up and
which burst on being struck or even scratched gathered together, and carried to the surface to
with a hammer. In the seams of oil shale in the be crushed.
Genowlan and New Hartley Districts, New South Many competent observers seem inclined to
Wales, the rock spits and flies so that miners are the opinion that these disruptions are entirely
obliged to wear wire gauze guards as a protection due to earth movements and that roof pressure
to their eyes. Some of these appearances which only plays a secondary part in their production.
are only air-blasts on a small scale seem not A well known German mining engineer, A.
inconsistent with the theory of molecular tension Dortmunt, writing on gives his paper
air-blasts
spoken of by Mr. R. N. Kotze in his address to the suggestive title " Geberge Stoss or Geberg
October 1912 Tom Johnson — So-called Air Blasts and Hoof Pressure. 157
Schlag (Rockthrusts) in Westphalian Collieries,'' detached themselves with violence from the wall
and contends that these outbursts are due to a or arch of the excavation owing to the immense
sudden release of tension in a rock mass. Wbile pressure being rendered unequal when part of the
n<>t overlooking the fact that gas pressure in the rock was removed. It is needless to quote the
pores of the coal may sometimes detach huge numberless instances where the action of gravity
masses, lie points out that after making search- strains have been a source of trouble and even
ing enquiries he could only learn of one occasion disaster." In his treatise on the Wochun and
when an accumulation of methane was observed. Tauern tunnels, Rzchap says, "As air-blasts
As these rockthrusts occurred chiefly when appear in tunnels from which little rock has
taking out safety pillars and the roof showed no been mined, it is evident that the neighbourhood
signs of weighting, he considers that neither of large empty areas is not a necessary condition
roof nor gas pressure could produce the effects to their appearance.There can be no doubt that
observed. Another writer, dealing with "Air- the phenomena are due to the sudden release of
blasts" in Belgian Collieries, points out that tension in the crust of the earth."
these outbursts seem restricted to certain belts The idea that occluded gases may produce
or /.ones, and that no outburst has occurred in some of these outbursts should by no means be
these mines at a less depth than !>40 ft. Be- overlooked. When it is remembered that gas at
tween this and 2,150 ft. lies the air-blast region ;
a pressure of 900 lbs. has been known
per sq. in.
at a greater depth no outburst has been reported. to exist in many coal mines, not astonishing
it is
In ending his paper this writer concludes that if this enormous pressure sometimes forces out
some connection exists between outbursts on the large masses of coal and exhibits effects very
one hand and faults in the compression of the similar to those shown by so-called "air-blasts."
strata on the other. American engineers also The "Goths" or Bumps of the English coal-fields,
seem to agree with the German and Belgian which are simply air-blasts under another name,
opinion regarding the origin of these outbursts, have been ascribed by some writers to gas pres-
and one of them, writing on " Explosive Rocks sure and by others to roof weight. In collieries
in the Lake Superior district," says, " When air- gas pressure has often produced accidents, a case
blasts occur in the Lake Superior copper mines is recorded at a French colliery where an air blast
the resulting vibration is felt most on the foot- occurred displacing 75 tuns of coal and burying,
wall side. May this not indicate that there is a three miners. That metal mines are entirely free
great horizontal thrust now in action upon the from occluded gases is a common but erroneous
syncline of the copper bearing series of the opinion, and that these may have some influence
locality " ! in producing air-blasts not beyond the bounds-
is
ran parallel to the main one. It was noticed rocks in metal mines, even at great depths, has
that the disruptions took place near a large been proved by outbursts of methane at the
symmetrica] fold, and it seemed evident from Simmer Deep and City Deep, Transvaal, and
their long continuance that the force that pro- about 5 years ago a large outburst of carbonic
duced the fold was still in operation, for these acid gas occurred at the Rand Collieries (Cold
outbursts continued for a period of over two yea rs Section). The writer's attention was called to
The Transvaal Government Mining Engineer, this aspect of the question through being in a
.Mr. ]!. N. Kotze, in his report for 1907, writing stope when a large air-blast took place from the
of air-blasts in the Transvaal mines, says, face of a large block undeveloped ground.
of
"This air-blast action is difficult to explain, but This outburst was accompanied by a pungent
is probably due to local tension or unreleasrd odour that almost caused vomiting. >n making- <
strain existing in the rock and is not directly enquires, the miner in charge said that this dis-
due to roof pressure.'' agreeable smell was noticeable whenever an air-
Another writer, in a well known American blast took place in this locality. Whether the
journal, says, " Duringexcavation of the
the odour was due to gas or to the dust produced by
Mont Cenis Tunnel through the Alps it was the air-blast, the writer is unable to state, but
observed that patches or flakes of rock frequently has wondered if this feature has been noticed at
—
158 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minimi Society of South Africa. October 1912
other mines when air-blasts have occurred. casualties from falls of ground occurred in the
The author in his interesting paper contends Transvaal mines, 95% of which could probably
that air blasts are solely produced by roof pres- have been prevented by a more generous use of
sure, but admits that it is puzzling when timber, one can only come to the conclusion that
outbursts occur in a place of no great area. If this is a case where the mining Homer nods.
the roof and sides of a tunnel had to support
the whole weight of superincumbent strata it
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
might be assumed that pressure did cause these Explosive Rocks. —
Spier, Fm/nmr i,n/ ,{ Mining
outbursts, but in spite of the assertions
Journal. April 13, 1905.
made on the strength of laboratory experi-
ments, mining men know that tunnels even at Earth Movements. —
Roberts, Chambers' Jt ui nal,
stantly experience difficulty in rigging up as the occurred in the Broken Hill raining field, New
tightening up of the machine bars often forced South Wales.
•up the foot-wall of the upper stope even when A large vertical be dy of silver, lead and zinc
this was 6 ft. thick. ore passed from the Block 10 Mine into the
If the drives in a mine are situated in the foot Sulphide Corporation's property. This ore body
wall there should be little difficulty in working was roughly 250 ft. wide and connected both
without leaving pillars, provided some sorting mines for a distance of almost 350 ft. along the
and packing is done underground, any roof pres- boundary. The Government insisted on a ten
sure would be supported on packs, and even if ft. pillar of ore being left on each side of the
the roof collapsed little damage would be done, boundary line. This 20 ft. column of ore had to
as the drives would remain open. One of the mines support colossal weights of ore, packed stopes
on the Central Rand tried the system of working and an ironstone outcrop. It was my duty to
without leaving pillars some years ago, but the go down frequently and see that the pillar was
results were not such as to encourage imitators. not encroached upon. These trips were generally
The faster moving of faces would probably do ma le interesting and exciting by sharp reports
something to prevent collapse from roof pressure, resembling the fire of pistols in the sulphide ore
but would cause great loss in efficiency, and one beside us. Sometimes these reports were followed
could anticipate some grade trouble if a large by sounds resembling those caused by falling
advancing face struck a p zone or chute.
'
stone. As the pillar approached its legal minimum
The author's assertion that too much timber is of 20 ft these reports reached their maximum
used in our mines is somewhat astounding. frequency, and 1 think it therefore reasonable to
When it is remembered that in 1911, £35 Assume that these air blasts were due to pressure.
:
October 191-J F. J. Pooler, B.Sc.—The Surface Worh rs on the Rand and their Technical Education, L59
THE SURFACE WORKERS ON THE a soecies of hard manual labour, the fact that
RAND AND THEIi; TECHNICAL only 10 have retired is distinctly encouraging.
EDUCATION. More especially is this the case if we remember
that one of the axioms of a South African boy's
(Bead at June Meeting, 1912). faith is, that the presence of a black race is a
beneficent disposition on the part of an all-wise
By F. ,7. Pooler, B.Sc. {Associate). Providence for the performance of all kinds of
manual labour. This factor of the situation is
DISCUSSION.
so serious, that it can by no means be ignored.
Prof. J. A. Wilkinson (Member of Council) This Table B would be still more interesting if
The subject, with which Mr. Pooler has dealt in extended by dividing each of the percentages
his paper, is one of great interest, the importance given into the classes given in Table A. If this
nf which lias been hitherto somewhat overlooked were done, the data given might confirm or refute
owing to the attention of the members of this the author's contention as to applications by
Society and also the general public having been matriculants.
focussed on the dangers attendant upon under- The rates of pay shown in Table C are ex-
ground work It is therefore opportune, that the tremely liberal when compared with those given
educational needs of the other large section of in other trades and professions, and I think it
mine workers should engage us, because of its w-ould be a safe statement to make that no other
intrinsic importance. Even if there were no than a gold mine could offer such terms. It
other object than to prevent serious detects in noist be generally conceded, that a learner cannot
our range of vision, the contribution would be be of much assistance during the first months of
•welcome as this is far too common a failing in his pupilage and on the other hand during this
this isolated centre of industry. It is however period he is capable of much harm. Notwith-
unfortunate that one small portion of surface standing this he is paid a wage, which is entirely
workers, namely the learners and their prospects, out of proportion with that obtaining in older
are dealt with, the majority being neglected. countries, and on this score there is no reason
The proportion which thes-e bear to each other is whatever for class fees to be a burden, more
shown in Table E from which we find that for especially as these are low and compare more
December, 1911, the number of surface workers than favourably with the fees of similar institu-
other than learners was approximately rive and a tions in Europe. Dissatisfaction arising from
half times as large as the latter class. The title slight differences on different mines for the same
of the paper is therefore somewhat of a misnomer class of work is a matter which the Chamber of
since it resolves itself into an examination of the Mines could very easily regulate. Again the
learner system introduced a few years ago on learner should bear in mind that routine work
Rand metallurgical works. In this sense the has to be done, and it is unreasonable to expect
paper is welcome but why the needs of the to be put through every branch of surface work
greater majority should not have been considered in a few months and at the same time receive a
it is difficult to understand, unless the author is salary quite incommensurate with the services
of opinion that their requirements are non rendered. There are very few spheres in active
.
existent and their prospects behind them with the industrial life, if any at ail, where a beginner is
inevitable result that all that they can look of much use and surface work apprentices should
forward to in the equity of things in general is keep in mind the fact that they are learning a
what is popularly termed, "the sack." trade, which will provide sustenance in after
With regard to the paper itself it is interesting years. On the other hand employers should
to see the statistics given in Tables A ;uid know that the most deadly foe to efficiency on
1< whence we learn that only 25% of the the part of their workers is insecurity of tenure.
learners are of the matriculation standard, a fact This is a fact which apparently requires to
which shows that the hopes of the promoters of be hammered home before its dread consequences
the scheme have not been realised to the extent, are fully realised, and constant reiteration will,
which was confidently expected. This tact taken it is to be hoped, bring about some improvement.
in conjunction with the data given in the next The facilities for technical training exist in full
paragraph inclines me to a different conclusion to measure and, as far as the School of Mines and
the one there given and I consider it more than Technology is concerned, every effort has been
d mbtful whether an increasing number of applies made to meet the wants of the worker. In the
tionscan lie looked for in this quarter. I hope, Chemical Department classes have been multi-
however, that the author's conclusion will be proved plied and arranged to accommodate the men on
to lie the right one. Table B is instructive and shift. If equal and similar accommodation were
considering that the conditions of service call for provided by the employer there would be no
160 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Octolier 1912
excuse whatever for the employee, who at present trouble to attend, he must inevitably be worsted,
can very often bring forward the legitimate in the struggle.
reason, that a continuous period of twelve hours The other reasons given, namely, distrust of
on shift is not the best immediate preparation for theory and the necessity of sequence in studies
a simultaneous two to three hours class study. are undoubtedly the main stumbling bl< cks.
I have known cases where men have done this In the majority of cases students desi>-e to
and I have often been tempted to send them away take that particular subject which they think
to rest owing to their obvious bodily exhaus- is most applicable to their daily work, no matter
tion. Students for this reason have often suc- whether mentally fitted or not, in other words
cumbed during lectures and although one may they choose, as they think, the path of least
feel that all praise is due when such exertions resistance. This, however, generally leads the
are put forward, yet at the same time it is not average student into difficulties, from which, if.
difficult to realise that, if the student were not left severely alone, he seldom emerges, hence the
compelled, he would take the more human necessity for sequence in study, which after all
course of going straight to bed. As far as is is the least resistant path. This takes time and
humanly possible, facilities have been provided is a real difficulty to many would-be students who
for the education and enlightenment of mine are prepared to give a complete session but no-
workers, but unless employers, provide equal more, partly because of the irksomeness of it all
facilities, it will be impossible for the worker to due to the desire for pleasure, and partly because
be placed in such a position as to receive the they do not understand how the knowledge they
maximum benefit, which stated in other words would gain could have immediate application in
means the maximum benefit to the mine for practice. Should the student however decide to
which he works. commence study, it is a question deserving much
Another tendency to drag the would-be consideration whether mere attendance is a
enthusiast from tin- class room the attitude is sufficient reason for promotion, or if the ceitifi-
of many of the older employees, and I cates gained would not be a surer ground. The
have known cases where the younger employees answer to this must be left to the judgment of
have been practically compelled to cease atten- the individuals concerned.
dance at classes owing to this cause, when, With regard to attendance at classes, I
had they been able to consult their own inclina- would caution heads of departments from
tions and desires they would have continued their accepting implicitly the statements made by
work. Fortunately such cases are not common, their apprentices, as I have known cases where
but in considering this problem it is a factor, students have enrolled in the ordinary way
which cannot be neglected. On the other hand at the School, after which they have been
attendance at classes is not often a voluntary act seen and heard of no more ! When asked by their
on the part of youths, who have just escaped from immediate superiors whether they were attending
the thraldom of school life, and although direct classes or not, they have produced their enrol-
compulsion is to be deprecated, yet indirectly a ment cards without tendering further explanation,
learner should be compelled to see that knowledge these being merely evidence of admission to the
is a desirable asset, when the time for promotion class and payment of class fees.
comes around. Mr. Xewton has shown very The distrust of theory as comnared with
clearly how this method can be worked to advan- practice often arises largely from the environ-
tage. ment of the apprentice It must not be
From the table showing the attendance at forgotten that there are on most of the metallur-
the classes in the subjects most directly connected gical plants here many employees, who have not
with surface work certain deductions are made, had the advantages enjoyed by the youth of the
the most important of which is failure to take present day and who have earned their know-
advantage of the facilities offered for educational ledge in the hard school of practical experience.
advancement. Many reasons are adduced to Such men will doubtless excel often in routine
account for this, two of which merit serious practice, but owing to the obvious deficiencies-
attention. The difficulty concerning shifts has due to their lack of the theoretical knowledge of
for some years been non-existent owing to the the process they are carrying out, they are liable
day classes, which have been held concurrently to make grave mistakes. In fact I am credibly
and in conjunction with evening work, the same informed, that this is of more frequent occurrence
lectures and laboratory work being done in the than is desirable. Many employees of this class,
morning as in the evening. Preliminary classes, although advanced in years wher compared with
as is stated, bridge over the introductory period the learners, have not hesitated to take advan-
of preparation, and if a man
is so inconsiderate tage of present educational opportunities, and
of his own interests that he will not take the many of them, to their honour be it said, have
October I !U J /•'. J. P'onler, B.Sc. -The. Surface Workers on the Rand and their Technical Education. 161'
of mine workers, who have no such provision summed up in the word co-operation, between the
made for them. If a committee of members of mine authorities on the one hand and those
this Society is formed, as has been suggested, I responsible for education on the other. It is use-
would earnestly commend this as a subject de- less toexpect much from a student learner, who,
serving their serious consideration. A miner owing to the exigencies of his work, is compelled
will inform you with pride that he holds a to do twelve hour shifts and then to take classes
blasting certificate, a mine surveyor and engineer immediately afterwards. A man who is beyond
that they hold Government guarantees of com- tin- learner stage can be called upon to perform
— ——
162 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October lfll'2
such special work, but the student learner should 1. Working on the shift system.
have definite hours, which will enable him without 2. The awkward situation of many of the mines.
difficulty to attend to study, regarded as a specific "
3. Cleaning up twice per month, each " clean up
and integral part of his duties. One of the lasting as a rule two days and necessitating
reflections caused by Table C is that the rates of the learners working 12 hour shifts during
pay there given are such that the learner this period.
becomes in this respect a shiftsman too quickly,
4. During accident or sickness of a shiftsman a
m other words the line between the appren- learner is given temporary promotion while
tice and the workman should be drawn
the other two learners work 12 hour shifts.
more clearly. The , natural consequence of
the present state of affairs is that the employer Considering the above, tuition by correspon-
may demand much moie than would be possible dence is a useful method of acquiring a technical
from an apprentice, and this shows the great education.
need for correlation of work and study. In other The supervisor for the Transvaal of the Inter-
words co-operation is vitally necessary for further national Correspondence School furnishes me
progress, and
if -Mr. Cullen's suggestion is with the following particulars of students
adopted, us see that the committee is thor-
let employed on the mines taking courses by
oughly representative of the various interests correspondence :
concerned. The subject is important enough A. Number of students taking Mining, Metal-
unless we desire to waste the efforts so far made, lurgical, Mine Surveying, and Chemistry
and we owe our thanks to the author for the Courses: 264.
opportunity he has afforded us of discussing it.
B. Number of students taking Mechanical,
Mr. G. A. Robertson (Member): According Electrical and Architectural Courses : 887.
to the author's Table C the average pay of over
C. Number of Students taking other Courses,
100 learners ranges from 8s. 8d. per shift for the principally Commercial 158.
:
does not rise so rapidly as Table C shows. to trace the reasons for the children changing so
The following circumstances militate against much and in this respect the figures are unsatis-
reduction workers attending the South African factory, but taking them as they stand they are
School of Mines :
startling enough :
A. B. A. B. A. B. A. B.
580 4.-.7
1 192 171 98 117 167 Ill 399
2 030 175 122 1
2'.) 159 2 1 3 196 517 477
3 3J0 136 142 65 60 53 is 254 250
4 600 135 114 82 73 85 97 302 284
5 420 148 148 86 It).") 58 69 292 222
(i 170 4 3 35 60 51 ss 98 191 184
7 167 171 1 21) iii; 87 61 76 298 292
8 I s.j 45 38 18 31 58 45 121 114
A = Admitted. B = Left.
October 1912 F. J. Pool,;; J1.S-. The Surface Workers on the Hand and their Technical Education. 163
What these figures mean is that there is practi- tilled to a constant level with hot water from the
cally a new school every nine months a truly — condenser.
appalling state of affairs, and although I expected It' the condenser is of ample size and the water
to find the changes high, I had no conception supply suitably regulated the water entering the
that they were nearly so high as they have turned still will be nearly boiling, complete condensation
out to be. will be maintained and very little water run to
Now within a few miles of where we are waste.
sitting,there have been changes even greater
among the mine employees, f readily admit
that many of these were necessary and that many Av Watch level (
device in assay offices. Personally, I have found sponsible for Volume II., which he divides into
it of much service. The only requisites are (1) The Design and Construction <>( Reduction
ordinary piping and fittings, including a cross Plants, and 1 1>) The Transport of Material.
piece. For first, we have
this second volume, like the
The diagram shows the device fitted between a nothing but praise, and the only trouble con-
condenser and a still and serves t" keep the stil fronting us is the difficulty of selecting features
1
KH The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Octolier 191-
for .special notice and comment from among .such more complete dissertation, in view of the
a mass of material of uniform excellence. important position they now hold in Rand metal-
Volume II. is quite up to the standard of lurgical practice. But Mr. Schmitt gives
Volume [., in fact we are not sure that within particulars and sketches which will be greatly
the limits ot its subject it is not even superior, appreciated.
lint be that as it may, it is obvious that Mr. In Chapters IV. and V., Amalgamation and
Schmitt has had exceptional opportunities to Mill Clean Up Plant are reviewed, and the appli-
become familiar with Band Metallurgical En- ances associated with the Clean Up are well
gineering Practice, and he displays a degree of described and shown.
judgment, literary style, and clearness of Cyanide Plant is dealt with in Chapter VI.,
presentment on which he is to be congratulated. and among other points touched on are a com-
The book will undoubtedly become a leading parison between spitzlutte and conical classifiers,
work for reference for the mining profession and the general arrangement and details of design
throughout the world in all things pertaining to of both sand and slime plants. The Usher and the
the Metallurgical Engineering of gold mines. Crosse Slime Treatment, Butters' Vacuum Filter,
One of the most satisfactory features of the and also the plant and appliances associated with
volume, is the profusion of really capital sketches zinc dust precipitation are discussed. Good
and views of plant, etc. There are over 400 of sketches of calcining, smelting, and cupelling
these, and they are well selected and clearly furnaces are here furnished.
produced, and cannot fail to prove of service to The features of the next two chapters are
all concerned with the design and arrangement Power Supply and Estimating, and an excep-
of mining plant. tionally complete set of schedules are given in
It is almost a matter for regret that the book connection with the latter, whilst the final pages
does not go beyond Rand Metallurgical Practice of Section, 1 are brimful of figures relating to
and deal with Metallurgical Engineering cost of Reduction Plants which should prove a
generally, including Ore Dressing, as well as the boon to engineers.
generation and distribution of power, but such The second section of the book is devoted to
an exceptionally large subject as the latter would Transport of Material, and may be summed up
obviously be a great task in itself, and to expect as a useful and comprehensive review of the
its inclusion in such a work as the present would different methods of handling the material, ore,
be unreasonable. coal, etc., on our mines.
Chapter I. deals with General Considerations, The book is equipped with a bibliography,
and in it are briefly discussed the factors references, and good index, and the style, as
influencing the design of reduction plants, the regards binding and printing is uniform with
purchase and generation of power, and the Volume I. (J.Y.)
and some flow and volume dia-
selection of site,
grams and general plans of complete plants are Notices and Abstracts of Articles and
furnished.
Papers.
The next chapter covers (Sorting and Breaking
Plant, and among
other points the following are CHEMISTRY.
dealt with —
Sorting
:
underground and on volumktric method for the determination
surface, location of Sorting and Breaking Plants, of Thorium in the presence of other rare
illustratedby numerous sketches, showing sche- Earths. Analysis of Monazite Sand. — "The
method proposed depends upon the fact that under
matic arrangements, details of grizzlies, washing
suitable conditions of temperature and acidity,
and screening trommels, sorting belts and tables, thorium is quantitatively precipitated as normal
the different varieties of breakers, etc. thorium molybflate (ratio Th : Mo=l 2-017— '2-n:<)
:
Crushing Plant follows, and an admirable by ammonium molybdate, whilst other rare earths
description of such plant, including the design of are not precipitated. Working at the ordinary tem-
perature, tht solution should contain 20 c.c. of glacial
the mill, ore bins, etc., is enhanced by several
acetic acid to 300 c.c. of water, and 1 n<". of sodium
good showing the most up-to-date plants,
plates, acetate should be added to neutralise any mineral
including Simmer Deep, City Deep, etc. Mortar acid present. The end -point of the titration with
boxes and their foundations are well treated, and ammonium molybdate solution (about 20 gin. per
litre) is ascertained by spot tests on a white tile with
some striking photos given, whilst the stamp diphenylcarbazide indicator (05 gm. of diphenyl-
itself is given with a wealth of detail. The carbazide dissolved in 200 c.c. of 95% alcohol and
Nissen stamp is not overlooked, and it is not allowed to stand at least two weeks before using)
altogether irrelevant to remark that this type of (see Journal Society of Chemical Industry, 1904,205).
For the analysis of monazite sand, 1 gm. of the
stamp is to be installed at the Shamva Mill,
powdered material is heated for several hours with
Rhodesia. 10— 15 c.c. of concentrated sulphuric acid in a pores-
Concerning Tube Mills, we would have liked a lain crucible, and after cooling, the mixture is
—
October 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Chemistry.
165
introduced into about TOO c. c of water cooled to near hydroxide, an excess of hydrochloric acid
0° C. After standing for several hours, preferablj is added
the solution boiled and liltered, and the tic
is
overnight, the solution is filtered, the residue washed is determined in the acid filtrate in
the usual way
thoroughly with cold water, and the filtrate nearly by precipitation as oxalate and conversion into
neutralised with dilute ammonia and treated with oxide. -A. Rosenheim, Chem. Zeit.,
1912,36, 821
50 C.C. of a cold saturated solution of oxalic acid. Journal of //,, Society of Chemical Industry, Vol! ;
After standing overnight, the oxalates are filtered xxxi., p. 719 720. (J. G.)
off', washed with dilute oxalic acid solution, the pre-
.
,
second time. Tin- diphenylcarbazide is then washed amount was not augmented when either the gold or
the impurity content of the bullion was increased.
and dried at 105 <'. It is white when first prepared,
but turns brownish yellow on keeping, All apparatus
No definite relation between gold solubility and im-
•must be kept scrupulously clean, as a trace of im- purity content was established, the former being
more dependent upon the rate of cooling than upon
purity causes the indicator to turn pink " F. J. — the quality or quantity of impurity present. In
Metzgek ami F. W. Zons, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., \- 1
Especially in Monazite Sand by Means hfSod- occurs through a narrow range of temperature above
IUM HYPOPHOSPHITE.— "The author has used the freezing point and that at higher temperatures
:
sodium hypophosphite, which Koss recently claimed the gold compounds dissociate, the gold remaining
as a new reagent for thorium {see Journal Society oj in the uncomhincd state (and being therefore in-
Chemical Industry, 1912, 664), for quantitative esti- soluble in nitric acid) when the bullions are quenched
mations for some years. In making an analysis of at these temperatures. The presence of small propoi -
monazite sand, 100 gm. of an average sample aie tions of soluble gold in quenched samples is ascribed
heated with concentrated sulphuric acid to 180° to the impossibility of instantaneously chilling
200 C, the sulphates are dissolved in cold water and the bullion all through by quenching." E. Kli.i.i I;, —
the solution is made up to litre after allowing the in-
:
Bull. Amer. Inst, of Mining Eng., July 1912, No
soluble residue to settle. Hill c.c. of file clear solution 67, 681-684; Journal of the Society if Chi mical
are treated with 50 c c. of concentrated hydrochloric Industry, Vol. xxxi., p. 777. (J. G.)
acid (s.g. 1-12) and 180 c.c. of water, the solution is
boiled, and a cold, saturated solution of sodium hypo- Report or the Committee appointed to Re-
phosphite is added until no further precipitation vise the (fficial Method for Tannin Analysis.
<
takes place. The solution is liltered hot, and the — '• Acommittee of the A.E.C. A. has re\ ised
special
precipitate is washed with hot water containing a the American official method of tannin analysis, both
little hydrochloric acid, until the filtrate gives no in wording and procedure, and has included the
precipitate with ammonia and oxalic- acid, showing results of wotk doneby individual workers as veil as
freedom from other earth metals, especially cerium. by members of the commit tee The most important of
The precipitate, consisting of nearly pure thorium these alterations are now given.
hypophosphite together with the hypophosphitea oi (1) Raw "ml
spent materials. -In the preparation
zirconium and titanium, is partly dried, and together of the sample, and in the determination oi the water,
with the filter paper boiled with 50 c.c. of concen- no departure from the present procedure is 1 11
trated sulphuric acid in a large platinum basin under mended. As to the mil of sample to be extracted,
1
a clock-glass, small crystals of potassium nitrate the present method calls for a solution for analysis
befog added from time to time to oxidise the dial ed I
containing between 0'35 and 45 gm. of tannin per
paper. In I— 2 hours the solution should be complete lull C C, bill the mittee now believe that il is
1
and pale yellow in colour, after which il is evapora perfectly practicable to narrow the limits between
ted nearly to dryness, the damp residue taken up 0375 and -125 gm. without imposing 11111
I > ,
ssary
with water and a trace of ai nia, and the liquid hardship upon the analyst, while bringing the
boiled for several minutes. As soon as the suspended strength of the analysis solutions into greater uni-
powder has been converted into flocculent thorium formity. This, in conjunction with the narrowing
166 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
of the limits of the actual dry hide powder used in reduce the bulk of the sublimed material, about I
detannising, and the narrowing of the limit of the gin. dissolved in 2(1 cc
of alcohol and titrated with
water-content of the wet hide (see below) should barium hydroxide in presence of phenolphthalein.
effect greater concordance in the non-tannin deter- The method is accurate and rapid. Other advan-
mination, since the proportion of hide to tannin tages of benzoic acid are the high molecular weight,
must of necessity be more uniform in various labora- which permits the use of large samples and reduces
tories, the fact being well established that the the error of weighing it is stable, and is not hygro-
;
greater the proportion of hide to tannin, the less non- scopic it can also be easily obtained in a high slate
:
water, instead of 70/J to 7-~> .the limits previously Dissolve the substance to be tested in water that
prescribed. The limits of the dry hide should not be has been 'previously boiled to expel the carbon
less than 12"2 or more than 12"8 gins. per200 cc, in dioxide, and add t'aCk in excess. Allow this to
place of 12 to 13 gms., as at present. The gelatin-salt stand four or five minutes, and filter off the CaC0 3 .
test for the presence of tannin has been eliminated, Then add a few drops of NH 4 OH, and if the suo-
it being of doubtful reliability. stance contained a bicarbonate, a precipitate of
(3) Analysis of liquors, — Under this heading there CaCO» is again obtained. With a large amount of
are no important, changes from the present official bicarbonate the precipitation will take place in about
—
method.'' ./. Amer, Leather Chem. Assoc, 1912, vii., one-half minute, while with a very small amount the
287-294 ; Leather World, t,, .".71: Journal of the time required may be eight to ten minutes. How-
Society <>t Chemical Industry, Vol. xxxi., p. 786. ever, with no bicarbonate a perfect blank is obtained
(J. G.) even after long standing.
This test, will detect, ill of NaHC0 3 in a normal
Construction of a Toximeteb foe Carbon sodium carbonate. The presence of ammonium salts
MONOXIDE. — "The principle of the apparatus is vitiates the results on account of the solubility of
based on the known property of platinum black or ( 'a( '( in such solutions."
I . —
R. T. HASLAM, J. A ,,,< r.
spongy platinum to absorb carbon monoxide and I 'he in. So,-.: ('In in. Engineer, Vol. xv., No. 6: Chem.
become heated. A differential thermometer is con- News, Vol. Kiii, p. 101. (•!. G.)
structed consisting of a U-tube surmounted by two
bulbs, one of which is coated with platinum The Determination or Arsenious Acid with
I'-tnbe remains uncovered and open to view, but the Potassium Permanganate in Presence of
bulbs are hermetically enclosed in a container, so as Hydrochloric Acid. "Arsenious acid can be —
to be isolated from all contact with the atmosphere, accurately determined by dissolving 111 03 grin, —
though the gas itself has access to them by endosmose in a little concentrated sodium hydroxide solution
through a porous septum. The U-tube (outside the (containing about gun. of the hydroxide), diluting
1
envelope) is furnished to about one-third of its height with 100-200 c.c. of Mater, acidifying with concen-
with a coloured liquid, so that the least alteration of trated hydrochloric acid (Bp. gr. 1*19), 10-15 cc. of
level can be read oil. A very small variation in tem- acid being added, and titrating with permanganate
perature is thus rendei ed visible by a difference in le\ el in the cold, the solution being added drop by drop,
in the arms of the U-tube. A
proportion of 1/1000 with continual shaking. An acid solution of arsenious
of carbon monoxide causes a difference of 13 mm. acid is neutralised witli sodium hydroxide, and then
and the apparatus is sensitive to 1/10,000 of carbon 5-10 cc of strong hydrochloric acid are added before
monoxide, ft can be graduated to indicate the pro-
portion of carbon monoxide present, ami if the
—
titrating. " L. Moseb ami F. Perjatel, Monatsh.
Chem., 1912, IS, 751-758; Journal of the Society oj
coloured liquid be replaced by mercury, audible Chemical Industry, Vol, xxxi., p. 7 IS. (J. G.)
warning of adangerous proportion of carbon mon-
oxide can given by means of an electrical device.''
1"'
Rapid Method for the Analysis of Kaolin. —
.A. GUASCO, Comptes rend., 1912, 155, 282-284; " The author has found that if kaolin be calcined to
Journal of tin: Society of Chemical Industry, Vol. expel its combined water, it subsequently becomes
xxxi., p. 792. (J. G.) soluble in hydrochloric acid. In carrying out an
analysis, the dried sample is heated to redness over
Benzoic Acid as ax A< idimetric Standard. — a full Runsen burner flame (without blast) for 25 min.
" Benzoic acid can be titrated with standard alkali The dehydrated kaolin is then digested with concen-
to a high degree of accuracy. The acid is fused to trated hydrochloric acid on the hot plate for two
October 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Cliemisht/.
hours, and the remainder of the analysis is performed in which case its content of nickel is determined pre-
in the usual way."— E. Laud, Mining and Engineer- ferably by the dimethylglyoxime process. The fil-
ing World, June 29. 1912, 13o0 Journal of the
: trate from the copper precipitation is evaporated to
Society of Chemical Industry, Vol. xxxi., p. 723. a small volume, mixed with saturated ammonium
(J. G.) sulphate solution and 5d c.c. of 25° ammonia, and
nickel is separated from it electrolytically. When
Technical Methods of Analysing (Porti and) analysing alloys containing lead as well as silver, the
CEMENT. — "To determine silica, acetic acid is used chlorides of these metals, which are insoluble in
for decomposing the cement instead of hydrochloric alcohol, may be separated from the platinum by con
acid, and the subsequent prolonged heating of the verting the latter into the soluble sodium platini-
residue at Id.") —1111 C. is dispensed with. 1 gnu. of chloride."— H. ARNOLD, '/,. until. Chem., 1012, .;/,
cement isstirred with 20— 3d c.e. of 80% acetic acid 550-554 : Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry,
—
and heated on the water hath for 2:5 3d minutes. Vol. xxxi., p. 727. (J. G.)
The mixture is then boiled, dilute nitric acid added
drop by drop, until the red colouration due to ferric Preservation of Milk Samples for Analysis
salts just disappears, and after allowing to settle,
(with Potassium Bichromate.) " Potassium bieh —
the insoluble residue washed on the filter with hot
romate, as used in France in the Service de la Re- '
water, then with water containing a little dilute pression des Fraudes,' in the proportion of 1 gm per
nitric acid, and finally with hot water again, the litre of milk, is an excellent preservative for keeping
filter and its contents being then ignited and weighed.
samples for analysis. It is important, however, that
The results agree very closely (within 0'02 to 08 -
Society "J 'he mi nil Industry, Vol. xxxi., p. 742. (.1. G.)
'
ash. together with the dried potassium platinichlo- to million parts of water. The number of bacteria
I -5
ride, is heated until the excess of potassium chloride present was very greatly reduced, all /.'. prodigiosvs
melts, when the platinum salt is reduced to metal ami /.'. eoli being removed. Any taste of chlorine
by heating in a current of hydrogen. The mass is eon hi be removed by adding a lit tie of the unsterilised
now heated with dilute hydrochloric acid and then water. With the amount of bleaching powder added
with ammonia to remove the potassium chloride and reduced to one-half, the results were not good, [neon
also any trace of silver. The platinum residue is sequence of an outbreak of typhoid fever, the treat
extracted with hydrofluoric acid to remove any silica ini-iii of the Ruhr water had to be taken up again,
which may have been taken up from the vessels ami this time greater precautions were used to have
use,]. The silver is precipitated from the platinum the bleaching powder solution of constant strength
filtrate as sulphide, converted into chloride, and and ioad.1 ii accurately to the Bowing river water,
weighed as such. The alcoholic solution of the every suitable n hanieal device being employed.
other chlorides is evaporated and the residue dis- About ''<< to 40 thousand cub. m. of water were
solved in dilute hydrochloric acid. The iron is pre- Healed daily by the add it ion of •.">- 2 grin, of bleach-
1
ferably separated by Hot he's ether-extraction method ing powder per cub. m., equal to 0'5- 0'66 vim. !
(see Journal Society of hemical Industry, 1892, '.'in
' / available chlorine. After half an hour's action,
The solution of copper and nickel chlorides is con- sodium thiosulphate was added, corresponding to
verted into sulphides and the copper is either preci- 50 of the weight of bleaching powder used. This
pitated as sulphide, or is separated electrolytic-ally 1
3s was continued for three and a half months.
—
068 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
The coli test in the treated water usually resulted Mercuric-chloride Papers. Circles of smooth white —
in a negative result in 100 c.c, and thermophile bac- filter-paper o\ cm. dia. soaked in a saturated aqueous
teria were reduced to one-fifth. The typhoid epide- solution of mercuric-chloride, and dried. Sote. —
mic rapidly abated after the inauguration of the The mercuric-chloride papers should be stored in a
treatment, and no complaints were made by con- stoppered bottle in the dark. If exposed to sunlight
sumers. Subsequent to this, the treatment was the mercuric compound becomes educed, and when i
applied to other places, of which some notes are utilised in an arsenic test affords a lighter-coloured
given. The cost of the process tor treating daily stain.
1(1,000 cub. in. of water can be stated generally to be Reagents. Hydrochloric Acid. This should not —
from one-tenth to two-tenths of a pfennig per cub. contain more than 0.1 part per million of arsenic
in.'— H. Bruns, J. Gasbeleuchi 1912,55, 049-656 . ; (As 2 0. as shown by the 'Control Test (*ee under),
;
) '
Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Vol. and should be free from iron.
xxxi , p. 743. (J. C.)' —
Sulphuric Acid. Ten grammes tested as described
under Acidum Sulphuricum,' but omitting the
'
Limit Test for Arsenic in Official Sub stannated hydrochloric acid A.T. anil adding 0.2 c.c.
STANCES AND PREPARATIONS. "The Pharmaco-
— of stan nous-chloride solution A.T. should give no
visible stain.
poeia Committee of the General Medical Council has
just issued a Supplementary Report of ihe Committee Nitric Acid. — Ten c.c. treated as described under
of Reference in Pharmacy on the most suitable
'
Acidum Nitricum should give no visible stain.
'
limit-test for arsenic in official substances and pre- Stannous-ChlorideSolution. Prepared from the —
parations and the limits for arsenic that may B. P. solution by adding an equal volume of hydro-
reasonably be adopted. The report has been pie- chloric acid, boiling down to the original bulk and
pared by C. A. Hill, at the request of the Committee filtering. This should respond to the test for arsenic
of Reference. The introduction to the text contains given below.
the annexed sketch of the apparatus to be employed. Bromine Solution.
It is recommended that tlds illustration should be
The report pioceeds Bromine 30 grammes,
given in the Pharmacopoeia.
Potassium bromide. so grammes.
to give the following description also proposed for
insertion :
Water to 100 c.c.
Apparatus. A wide-mouthed buttle This should respond to the te>t for arsenic given
Arseni".
I20c.c. and fitted with a below.
capable of holding about
rubber bung through which passes a glass tube. The Arsenic Solution.
—
latter made from ordinary soft glass tubing has a — Hydrochloric solution of arsenic, P.P. ... 1 c.c.
total length of 200 mm. and an internal dia. of
Water to 1,000 c.c.
5 mm. (external dia. 7 mm.) and is open at both ends. This solution should be freshly prepared.
The upper end is slightly widened to a diameter
of ,S mm., while the lower end is drawn out to about One c.c. of this diluted solution contains 0-0000)
1 mm. diameter and a hole about 2 nun. diameter
gramme — one hundredth of one milligramme)
(
— visible stain.
Citric Acid. — Ten grammes as described under
'
Acidum ( litricum '
should give in. visible stain.
means of a rubber ring. The tube is inserted in the LIMITS 'If AI.'sl.Mi .
rubber bung.
The proceeds to give special directions for
report
The operativesolution of the substance, prepared
applying the lest to determine the amount of arsenic
as ~]>eci1ied, is placed in the wide-mouthed bottle
in each of he following named pharmaceutical
I
of the arsenic solution. Acidum Sulphurosum, 5 parts. Magnesii Carb. Pond,, 5 parts.
Acidum Tartaricum, 2 parts. Magnesii Glycerophosphas, 5
The comparison of the stains should lie made at Alumen. parts. .'.
parts.
the completion of the test, and those used for com- Aurmonii Benzoas, 2 parts. Magnesii Sulphas, 5 parts.
parison should be freshly prepared. The stains fade Amnion ii Bromidmn, 5 parts. Phosphorus, 200 parts.
upon keeping. Anrmonii Carbonas, - parts. Poteessii Acetas, ;> parts.
Ammonii Chloriduin, 5 parts. Potassii Bicarbonas, a parts.
Standard Slu'm. — Prepare a solution by adding to Amnfonii Phosphas, parts. Potassii Bromidum, 5 put -.
.">
50 i\t\ of hot water 10 c c. of stannated hydio- Aiitiiiioiiii Oxidum, 1,000 parts Carbonas, 2 parts.
chloric acid and c.c. of arsenic solution.
1 The Antimonium Nigrum Purifica- Potassii Chloras, 5 parts.
tint., 1,000 parts. Potassii t'itras, 2 part:
resulting solution, when treated as described in the Antimonium sulphv.r-uuin, Potassii Glycerophosphas,
'General Test,' will yield a stain on ihe mercuric- 1,000 pails. pari 3.
Antimonium Tart aralmil, Potassii lodidum, 6 parts.
."
2
parts
puts
Potassii Tartras, - parts.
Potassii lartias ...idtls.
of the hydrochloric acid to be tested add 0.2 c.c. of parts.
Bisinutht Sulinitl'as. 2 parts.
bromine solution, evaporate on a water-bath until Borax, 5 parts. Soda Tartarata. 2 parts.
reduced to 15 c.c add 50 c.c. of hot water and
, Calcii Carbonas Prsecip., Si ..Hi Benzoas, _ parts.
parts. Bodii Bicarbonas, 2 parts.
5 drops of stannous-chloride solution, and with this pan
Calcii Chloridum, 5 parts. Sodii Bromidum, 5 s.
solution carry out the 'General Test' described Calcii Glycerophosphas, 5 parts, Sodii ( bonas, 2 parts.
above. The stain produced on the mercuric-chloride Calc ti Hydras, 5 parts. Sodii ( b. Exsicc, 5 parts
Calcii Hypophosphis, 5 pa tt Sodii Chloridum, -1 pan-.
paper should not be deeper than that given by 10 c c.
'al.ii [odidltm, D parts. Sodii Citras, -' parts.
the same hydrochloric acid with 5 drops of
1
ot Glycerophosphas, 5p rts.
Caicii Lactas, 5 parts. Sodii
stannous-chloride solution, 0.4 c.c. of arsenic solu- (al.ii Phosphas, 5 pal Is. Sodii Hypophosphis, parts. .'.
tion, and 50 c.c. of hot water, showing that the Calx, palls5 Sodii lodidum, 5 parts.
Cerii Oxalas, 5 parts. s.i.lii Nitris, 5 pans.
proportion of arsenic present in the hydrochloric Phosphas, 5 parts.
Ct.-ta Preparata, 5 pan -. s.,dii
acid does not exceed 0.1 part per million. Cupri sulphas, in part". s,.,lii Salicylas, 2 parts.
Test for Stannous-chloride Solution. To 10 c.c of — Ferri (ail
part -.
as Saccharatus, Sodii
sodii
Sulphas,
Sulphis, 5 parts.
2 [.alts.
stain produced on the mercuric-chloride paper should Ferri Sulphas, -' parts. Zinci Chloridum, 5 pai s. '
not be deeper than the Standard stain, showing that F( rri sulphas Exsicc, 5 parts. Zinci Oxidum, 1" puts.
Ferrum, 200 pan a. Zinci Sulphocarbolns, 5 pari
the proportion of arsenic present does not exceed Ferrum Redactum, 200 parts. Zinci sulphas, a pan-.
1 part per million. ei rum Tartaratum, 5 paits.
t
Zinci Valeiianas, a palls.
Test /"/ —
Bromine Subitum. Evaporate 10 c.c. of —Sn/,/,. Report to PI, mm. Hun. "/ Gen. Med.
the bromine solution on a water-bath nearly to June, 1912; Journal of th Society of
Covn-il,
dryness, add c.c. of hot water, 10 C C. of hydro
"ill
Chemical Industry, Vol'. XXXI.. p. 748-9. (J. <-..)
above. The stain produced on the mercuric-chloride The "Clam Shell" Filter.- "Since the Sweei
paper should not lie deeper than the Standard stain, land filter press was first introduced there has been
showing that the proportion of arsenic does not an increasing demand for a modification of the prin-
exceed 1 part per million. ciple thai would lend itself to conditions where dry
—
Control Test fur Zinc. Add in v.r. of stannated
' '
discharge of the residual mailer is required. True,
hydrochloric acid to "ill c.c. of hot water, and with a number of large Sweetland presses of the frame
ibis solution and 10 grammes of zinc proceed as with type have been adapted for dry discharge, and ore
the General Test.' but allow the anion to continue
' doing the work for which they were designed. These
for one hour. No visible stain should be produced have bee nsl ructed w ith a large door in the lowci
on the mercuric-chloride paper limit of arsenic in :
end of the press, and while the cakes are held in
the zinc. placeon the leaves by a paitial vacuum, a tray i-
— -
170 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
inserted through the door and the cakes caused to even greater extent in the cyanide process. In this
fall. The tray with it* load is then removed, the process it is important to have wash water free from
door closed, and the press again charged. In some gold or silver in solution, as otherwise an appre-
cases the use of the tray is dispensed with, and the ciable amount of recoverable values are lost with
residual matter withdrawn with a hoe, like ashes each discharge.
from the door of a furnace. Most of the machines of In addition to this, simplicity and convenience in
this type have betn placed where the bulk of residual operation are promoted by doing away with excess
matte) is comparatively small, that is, where the solutions. Accessory equipment is minimised and
cakes formed were thin and the weight of solid the possibility of an inexperienced operator allowing
matter to be withdrawn moderate. the cakes to fall while withdrawing the excess sludge
For some time the writer has been engaged in the is removed, the time jequired for each cycle is
development of a filter that would accomplish the reduced and the daily capacity of the installation
following important objects, and at the same time per sq. ft. of filter area is increased. When there is
not sacrifice the advantages that have been gained no excess solution to deal with, the end of filling the
in previous types. These objects are :— press and beginning of washing is marked by the
First. — 'Dry' discharge of the cakes without attendant simply turning a three-way valve on the
handling (mechanical or otherwise) and without suction of the teed pump, which cuts off the sludge
moving the niter leaves. and connects the wash water.
Second. -To overcome the objection of having a A comparison of the number of steps required for
quantity of excess or surplus unfiltered liquid to each operation with and without excess solution
handle with each operation. illustrates the point:
It is an important point in many processes to have With Excess. Without Excess.
the filter pic-- cak.- as dry a- possible. For example, Form cakes. Form cakes.
if precipitated carbonate of lime is to he recovered Wash
Withdraw excess. cakes.
from its solutions to he reburned, each unit of Fill with wash water. Dry with compressed ail.
moisture that remains in the cake must be Wash cakes. Discharge,
evaporated. Therefore the drier the cake is dis- Withdraw excess wash
charged from the filter the less fuel will be required. water.
For such a purpose a sluicing type filter would be Dry with compressed air.
useless, for the act of disintegrating the cake with
Discharge.
water in discharging would defeat the purpose for The above shows that by eliminating the excess
which the filter is required. the number of steps is reduced from seven to four.
The excess unfiltered liquid referred to under the Furthermore, it is usually necessary to have a
second head is that liquid which lies in the filter vacuum pump and receiver for use in holding the
chamber between and below the cakes. cakes to the leaves during the transfer of excess
To better illustrate this point, suppose a filter solutions, and this equipment is unnecessary when
chamber to contain a scries of filter leaves located in excess solutions are eliminated.
the upper portion. It a space is left in the bottom
To eliminate excess, or surplus solutions, the
of the chamber to make room for a discharge tray, 'dead' space in the filter chamber must be done
conveyor, or otherwise to facilitate discharging, this away with, that is, when the filter is charged the
unoccupied -pace contains surplus unfiltered liquid cakes and the leaves which support them should fill
after the leaves have been loaded with cake, and
the entire chamber, with the exception of a narrow
before the cakes can he washed this space must be slit between adjacent cakes to permit the wash water
drained. Then when washing has been finished this to distribute itself. There should be no pockets to
space contains surplus water which must -be with- retain unfiltered solution.
drawn before a dry discharge could be attempted.
'
with a strong solution, a certain amount of the void space to such an extent that surplus solutions
strong solution mixes with the wash water, gradually
are reduced to a negligible quantity. The body con-
enriching it until eventually this wash water becomes sists of two semi-cylindrical shells hinged together.
weak solution and the efficiency of the wash is im- The upper member is supported in a stationary
paired. Suppose, for instance, the cakes contain a The lower member
position upon the foundations.
strong solution of caustic soda, and it is desired to is balanced on its hinges by counterweights, so that
displace this solution in the cakes with water. If
it will swing freely and remain in any desired
pure water is available for washing it is possible to position. The filter leaves are held in the upper
completely remove the caustic soda from the cakes ;
member by a lock-nut on the outside of each they ;
but if the wash water contains caustic soda in have no connection whatever with the lower member.
solution, then washing ceases to be effective when
The construction of the filter leaf varies widely,
the etllnent is reduced to the strength of the ingoing
and must be selected to suit the material in hand.
wash water. When thi- point is reached caustic A simple form of leaf is made with a circular
soda is being washed into the cake exactly as fast supporting frame of flattened seamless steel tubing,
as it is being washed out. The same applies to an perforated on the inner periphery. The ends are
united in a easting which receives the outlet nipple.
*The word 'dry' asused hereisnot to be taken in its literal The outlet nipple has a side opening which aligns
but refers to the filter press cake discharged from the
sense,
natural condition, without lieini; disintegrated and
filter in its
with the delivery pipe. This frame carries a web of
fiusheil nut with water, a- is tin- ease with the sluicing type. two layers of screen which provides the necessary
—
drainage for filtrate. The whole is surrounded bj a assisted by admitting air under moderate pressure to
bag of suitable filter cloth or duck through which the interioi of tie- leaves A booster nozzle at one
' '
the outlet nipple passes! A lock-nut on the nipple end sweeps the fallen slime out of the space below
screws down on the cloth, preventing leakage where the leaves and through the discharge valve on the
the nipple passes through. The delivery pipe carries bottom. Thus the body of the filter ami the filtei
a shut-off cock and section of gauge glass, which cloths are quickly cleaned while in normal working
renders the delivery from each leaf visible and con position."— E. J. Sweetland, Metallurgical and
tro'.lable. Any leaf may be cut off without inter- Chemical Engineering, Aug., 1912, p. 493, (A
ference with the rest. The filtrate fioni all leaves is McA. J.)
delivered into a general conduit on the side of the
stationary member. Any leaf may he removed from \, —
the open filter by removing the luck nut at the top.
I'rvrr si from Cyanide Vats.
" Centrifugal pumps when used to pump from vats
Limited space makes it impossible to go into are usually, where possible, arranged to work fullj
details regarding the mechanical closing and locking " Hooded," thereby entirely avoiding suction lift, the
device employed on large units. The moderate-size necessity for priming, and the use ot foot valves, all
units are held closed by swing bolts. In all cases of which area source of delay when endeavouring to
the lower member carries an inserted rubber gasket run full time. Sometimes the Hanged suction con-
which abuts against the smooth surface of the upper nection is made to the bottom of the vat, and at
member, forming a water-tight joint. The operation other times to the side, as near the bottom as
of the filter is as follows: >• >-~i lile.
]
The liquid to be filtered is forced into the filter Unless some device is used by which the pump can
body either by pump or monte-jus through an inlet practically empty the vat before it takes enough ail
in the stationary member, a slight depression in the to prevent further work, it will be found that, in tin-
bottom of the lower member forming a gutter which case where the suction connection is on the side ol
permits the liquid to flow along the bottom and the vat, several inches of water still remain in the
enter freely between the leaves. The entire body of vat niter the pump ceases to draw. Those who have
the filter is filled before the air vent at the tup i- had to clean out a large vat which has no other exit
closed. The pressure of liquid bears equally against for mud, etc. than a pump with the suction con
the sides of all the filter leaves and causes the liquid nection on the side of the vat, will appreciate what
content to pass through the filter cloth while the is meant by this amount which the pump will not
solid matter deposits on the surface, forming cakes. take.
A te-tin^ device enables the attendant to gauge the This water represents, in a vat of any ordinarily
thickness of the cake at any time. When they Inn e used dimensions, such a tonnage that one is some-
arrived at such a thickness that there is but a small times led to wonder why the the suction connection
space between adjacent cakes, the supply of sludge was not made at the bottom of the vat, under which
is shut oft ami wash water turned on simultaneously. conditions the vat itself could have been builtseveral
This change is made so quickly that the pressure in inches less in depth, or, conversely, with the same
the filter chamber is steadily maintained. depth it would have held more available water.
The wash water first displaces the small quantity The accompanying sketch shows a simple ami
of liquid between the cakes, depositing upon the proved arrangement which causes the pump to
cakes the solid matter which it contained. The empty the tank down to the last half-inch or less.
wash water continues to percolate through the cakes This, or some other device, may already be ancient
until the solution in the cakes is almost, or entirely, history, although am not aware of its having been
1
displaced. The washing completed, compressed air illustrated. An obvious modification would make it
is admitted, which drives the small amount of liquid equally applicable in those cases where the suction
remaining out through the cakes, leaving them connection is to the side of the vat.
compact and free from excess moisture. The arrangement consists of a dished steel plate of
The final operation is discharging. This is done about flin. thickness, the over-all diameter of which
by unlocking and swinging the lower portion of the is about four times the diameter of the suction pipe.
shell open and admitting compressed air to the This plate is placed inside the vat with its concave
interior of the leaves. The sudden rush of air from side downwards over the suction hole, and is dis-
the interior of the leaves outward dislodges the tanced off the bottom of the vat about jin. by foni
cakes, causing them to fall into a truck or conveyor
below. If desired a moderate vacuum may he main
tained in the leaves while the lower half of the shell
i- swung open to prevent the possibility of the cake-
falling prematurely.
That class of filtration sometimes designated as
clarification demands different treatment. Under
this head comes the filtration of liquids containing a
very small percentage of solid matte)', and usually
the recovery of the clear filtrate i~ the desired METHOD of All VCHING PUMP SUCTION I'd
object, tlie solid content being refuse to he disposed BOTTOM (it' A \ \ I.
project a stream along the surface of each leaf enough, or otherwise weighted, so that, when the
j'ii through the shell from end to end. In this pump, without first closing the suction or delivery
type the adhering slime is flushed from the leaves valves, is stopped, lie- mi m ;i of water flowing back
ii 1
almost instantly by the streams from the nozzles from the delivery lines will not be able to shift the
sweeping forcibly over the surfaces of the leaves as plate. This dished plate being arranged by wedges
the pipe is rotated. The cleansing action may In- or setscrews to cleai the bottom of the vat by about
—
172 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical arid Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
equal distance is maintained between the shoe and (A. McA. J.)
die, for owing to the thinned air-cushion being at
' '
the bottom of the cylinder, the piston, and conse- Cyaniding of Pyritk Ore.— " Some heavy sul-
quently the shoe, is not raised as high as previously ; phide ores which do not oiler any special difficulty as
a very considerable improvement on the old method. regards excessive consumption of chemicals, ami
The following details are supplied by the manu- which yield a satisfactory extraction to cyaniding,
facturers, and the weights given include steel give much trouble from a mechanical point of view.
framing : I was called upon to operate a plant, situated in a
Size. N . 1. No. 3. remote district, which had been designed and erected
Diameter of cylinder (in.) 94 6 by others to treat an ore of this character, a mixture
Stroke (in.) ... ... 12 10 of arsenopyrite, pyrite, galena, and blende. The
Power for stamp (hp.) ... 25 15 equipment consisted of -tamps, tube mills, cone
Single stamp, weight of battery (tons) I2| 5} classifiers and thickeners. Brown'
type agitator-,
'
Double stamp, weight of battery (tons) 21 Si and vacuum leaf filters. Supplies and renewals took
The pulp from the stamps in the Mountain bieen i
k
from four to six months from date of order to reach
Plant passes to two 5 ft. grinding pans lilted with the mine. The valuable part of the ore was the sul-
Freeman classifiers, in which classification is by phide, and to maintain the ore at a profitable grade
segregation due to centrifugal force. The flow from it was necessary to sort it so that it contained from
the pan- then passes over two copper plates, 12 by 20 to 25% of sulphides. Due to the necessity of
6 ft., and in all, about 70 of the gold is recovered using very soft local pebbles the regrinding was not
by amalgamation. The sand and slime How to as line as is desirable lor the proper agitation of such
ponds, and will be treated later with the current material. On an average 90 passed 2oo mesh.
mill product, by a new process, which is claimed to The supply of air for the tour 27 lo ft. tank- was
'.
be of considerable interest. The plant described is inadequate. Allowing for the altitude, 7,000 ft., it
driven by a 165 h.p. Kynoch suction gas engine, amounted to a total of 32 cub. ft. of free air per
winch is powerful enough to drive the other plant minute at 25 lb. maximum pressure. It was found
being erected. impossible to do more than agitate two tanks at one
At the Yuan mi, the ore, after passing a jaw- time, and continuous agitation was out of the ques-
breaker, is crushed by 20 Fraser & Chalmers 1250 tion until additional capacity in air could be provided.
lb. stamps, dropping 74 in. 103 times per minute, at The design of the central agitation pipe was faulty.
the rate of S tons per stamp daily through 10 x 10 in. It was originally 16 in. in dia. and was far too large,
screens. A larger screen, 10x12, is occasionally and set so low that there was only a 3 in. annular
used, depending on the character of the ore, which, space between the bottom of the pipe and shies of
from some portions of the mine is very bard, the cone of tank. This space would probably be too
('rushing is done in weak cyanide solution, this small to prevent choking while agitating a purely
coming from the treatment plant. The mine-water silicious slime, it was found to be quite inadequate
1
i
)c >l>er 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy.
for the material under discussion. After long and Pachuca, thai it is not necessary to use the
expensive delays and when two or three charges had '
diagonal method of connecting the tanks in series
'
been lost, the centre pipes were replaced hy others tec mended by Mr. Grothe and Mr. Kuryla. The
of 11 in. dia. placed hi that their lower ends were overflow method used by Mr Adams gives excellent
22 in. from the apex of cone, giving a clearance of results, with more simj le construction.
about 7 in. between pipe and side of cone. The foregoing experience shows how necessary it
Bernard MacDonald has drawn attention to the is to carefully design agitation plants to deal with
necessity of using the smallest air lift tube consist -
1 1 material containing more than, say, li or s of
with the amount of liquid to he pumped. His opin- sulphides.
ion- were certainly justified in this case Smaller \V. V. Lass has described and illustrated a
pipes than 11 in. would probably have been advan- valuable device in the shape of an adjustable spidei
tageous, but none were available. pipe, which can he lowered on top of a settled
Further, the suggestion put forward by Lloyd charge, to gradually bring it into a state of agita
Knitrin of reducing the lengtb of ihe central pipe, lion. In agitating this heavy material, it is a great
was carried out, leaving the pipe about two-thirds of advantage to lie able to remove the air pipes at will,
it- original length. These alterations caused a great as, despite all care that can be taken, choke-ups are
improvement in the agitation. To assist in keeping not infrequent. Furthermore, a pipe which is in its
the solid matter in agitation during the time of till- correct position when the tank is in brisk agitation,
ing and emptying, two holes were cut in the lower may be quite unable to make headway against the
part of centre pipe on opposite sides of pipe. The depth of settled pulp which overlies it. when a tank
tendency to settle was much reduced by this simple has settled for more than a few- minutes. It will be
expedient, and ii was decided to cut two more holes noticed in referring to the article by Mr. Lass that
about S or !! ft. higher up, but unfortunately no the central air-lift pipes are III in. in dia. for a In ft.
opportunity was afforded for trying this experiment. dia. tank. Probably a still smaller pipe would be
The effect of these apertures on the circulation of even more effective. " F. I!. Reece, Milling "m/ —
pulp was very noticeable as the level of pulp gra- Scientific Press, July 20, 1912, p. 77. (A. McA. J.)
dually n.se during Idling of a tank. It is question-
able if they are an advantage after the tank is in Influence of Oxidising Agents on the Rate
full agitation, hut this could easily be overcome in of Solution of Gold in Potassium Cyanide. —
the manner suggested by Mr. Adams at the Nativi- " The solution of gold by potassium cyanide solution
dad mill, wheie sliding doors were fitted on the cen- requires the presence of an oxidising agent and is re-
tral air lift tube and opened and closed as the level tarded or entirely prevented by the introduction of
of pulp in tank varied. hydrogen ions into the liquid. Hydroxyl ions do not
Much trouble was experienced from the choking favour the solution and in excess may exert a retard-
of the | in. air agitation pipes which had not been ing influence. In a neutral medium [i.e. one to which ,
provided with non return valves. These pipes were neither acid nor alkali has been added!, the solution
the only means that had been provided for agitation. of he metal is not appreciably affected by the follow
t
-
the usual side and 'spider' pipes not having been ing oxidising agents: quinone, sodium stannate,
supplied, [t was impossible to install these during potassium bromate, iodate. and chlorate, mercurii
the time of running covered by this article. The cyanide, and cuprie chloride, hut is accelerated by
only remedy was to remove, (dean, and replace this potassium perchlorate, permanganate, and periodate,
pipe after every stoppage of the air supply. To ammonium persulphate, sodium peroxide, potas
force this down again inio the mass of settled slime sium persulphate, sodium persulphate, bromine,
the en, ,,f pipe was (dosed and drawn out to a shai p
|
potassium ferricyanide, and potassium percarhonate.
point. Two sets of \ in. holes were then drilled The relative accelerations produced by these sub-
stances in AHIO solutions are as follows potassium :
excess slime to displace The solution of the a large consumption of cyanide naturallj occurs to
difficulty in a case like the foregoing would appear the metallurgist, but work on the field has shown
to he 'the employment of mechanically driven Ihis is not necessarily the case The cyanide used is
classifiers and thickeners, of continuous agitation, never abnormal, even when dealing with the most
pressure-filters, and a plentiful supply of air to the antimonious tailings. The ore. as a matter of fact,
agitation and pulp stock tanks am convinced
I
is fairly high in cyanicides, stibnite, a little copper of the solutions cannot be over-estimated when
and pyrile being present besides the gangue. dealing with antimonial tailings. If the protective
Thechief trouble all the way is the extraction alkali is in any excess, antimony sulphide is taken
and the production of gold of good quality from the into solution and deposited on the zinc as metallic
zinc slime. The stibnite is broken up in the antimony, which generally means trouble in the
chemical action, and the antimony is encountered smelting of the slime.
right to the end of the operation. The acidity is neutralised by lime. This is added
in calculated quantities as the treatment vat is being
It is an interesting problem to determine the actual
filled, and all precautions are taken against the
manner in which the gold is contained in the tailing.
The author, after many experiments, has come to the solution of the antimony, at the same time allowing
conclusion that it is not in a free state. With the the sulphide to release the gold. The amount of
finest grinding, and viewed under the most powerful solution made up and pumped daily on the vats is
glass there could not be detected a colour of free 100 tons. The solution from the treatment vats is
gold. The question, then, naturally arises as to how
drained away into the gold sumps, and from them
the stibnite and the gold are associated whether ;
Hows to the zinc boxes and is passed through the
the latter is contained by the former as infinitely precipitating room in the ordinary way, and the
—
small particles, or and this seems more probable tail, i.e., the solution deprived of its gold —
is once
whether the gold is thinly coated with the stibnite more made up to required cyanide strength and used
sufficiently to prevent further amalgamation. That again. The solution is occasionally purified by the
the stibnite always contains values of gold can addition of some powerful oxidising agent, as
easily be proved. Assays of practically pure sul- potassium penianganate. Lead acetate is sometimes
phide, even in a crystallised form, will show values used to accelerate precipitation, and also to throw
up to Sdwt. or occasionally I oz. to the ton. down any sulphides there may be in solution.
The problem then resolves itself into attacking Summing up, then, the difficulties of cyaniding
and disintegrating the sulphide of antimony, and antimonial tailing, we may fairly assume the fol-
freeing the contained gold for successful cyaniding. lowing to be the chief points to be watched.
The possibility that at least some of the gold is (a) The strength of the working solutions —being
intimately associated with the stibnite is upheld by of just the strength that the selective action on the
the fact that there appears to be a limit to the value gold will he at a maximum while the solution of the
of the residues, and even the most protracted treat-
sul]. hide of antimony is at a minimum — as also the
ment will not lower these values appreciably. consumption of cyanide.
This brings up another point, about which there (b) The amount of protective alkalinity present
seems to be some difference of opinion among the This must be such that the consumption of cyanide
—
chemists on the field whether tailings fresh from is kept down ;yet it must not be too pronounced,
the battery arc easier to treat than those which have as in that case the solution may dissolve the
been stacked for sufficient length of time to allow of sulphide of antimony and refuse to take up the
partial oxidation by atmospheric agencies. The gold present.
(c) The dealing with the slime, which always
author is of (he opinion that, though the extraction
maybe a little lower on the raw tailing, the con- contains more or less antimony in the metallic
sumption of cyanide is much greater for an equal
form.
extraction on the old sand also the zinc slime from
;
(d) The final production of clean gold." \Y. —
the latter does not seem to yield the same quality Archee LONGBOTTOM, Minimi anil
Engintering
gold as that produced from fresh tailings. There is Review; Minimi urn! Engineering World, July 20,
much, however, to learn about this point. 1912, p. 97. (A. R.)
—
Method of working. The dump has been worked
MINING.
on the open cut system, stalling at the middle and
working to the edges, the sand being brought up by Modern Colliery Equipment.—" Baggeridge
means of an inclined tramway. At the surface level Colliery is interesting as being the pit sunk
first
the trucks are taken and emptied by contract into over the western edge of the visible Coal Measures.
the treatment vats. The residues are tipped round The sinking has proved the thick coal and ils
the outside edge of the dump also by contract. associated seams at an approximate depth of 600 yd.
The time of treatment is 7 days, including time of The principal winding shaft is 17 ft. in dia. in
emptying and filling, and altogether seven washes the clear, and will be fitted with two cages, each
of different si rengf lis are run on the strong solution — with four decks, holding two tubs on each deck.
first, and then the weak washes, and finally a quick The tubs weigh S cwt., and carry 16 cwt. of coal, so
water wash. that the total weight of coal lifted each time will be
The
tailing has been exposed to the atmosphere approximately (is tons but the deadweight on the
;
for many years, the metallic sulphides in their de- engine at the commencement of the lift is 17 tons.
composition have given rise, to the formation of acids The maximum velocity attained in the shaft is (>:J ft.
and this acidity— free and latent must be dealt — per sec. in 7 sec. from rest, retardation also taking
with. On the whole, neutral solution, or a very 7 sec. The total time occupied by the cages ascend
Blight protective alkali, is aimed at to give the most ing the shaft will be 43 sec. .and tubs will be changed
successful results. The author has experimented on all four decks simultaneously by a hydraulic,
with acid solutions, making use of the nascent banking arrangement. Subsidiary cages are lifted
hydiocv anic acid for the dissolving of f he gold, and by hydraulic power, and the tubs are also pushed off
by the addition of caustic soda, giving rise to the and on the principal cages by hydraulic rams.
regeneration of free cyanide according to the The whole of the steam-raising plant is to be of
equation HON + NaOH \a' N + HaO, but the modern description. All the engines are of the com-
method ». s to have
disn d vantages (1) The
two : pound type. The four-cylinder compound winding-
consump'i f cy nide is li.il.h- to be larger with engines have been designed to avoid certain un-
acid so mi ions (2) he presence of caustic soda is
: I
favourable features which sometimes exist in this
troublesome, and fouls the precipitation boxes. type of engine adapted for winding purposes. The
The importance of the alkalinity and the acidity engines are fitted with a steam biake, steam-
—
October 1!H- Xoticcs and Abstracts: Mining. 175
reversing gear, and Whitmore controlling-gear, by along the face, S average time.
in hr., While
which means full steam caii be put against the we watched it operate the machine made a cut of
engines at any time, no matter at what speed they two yards in eight minutes. Ii pulls itself along
may be running. The high -pressure cylinders are the face by a wire rope, and is operated by three
26 in. and the low-pressure
cylinders 4.3 in. in men; one places props afiei the machine e
dia., by 6 ft. stroke. The drum is slightly conical, attends to the hose, and the other works the
commencing at a dia. of 17 ft. ami finishing at machine
is a built-up drum of wrought-steel, and
184
weighs
ft.
4.">
It
tons.
Absena of Room-and- Pillar System. We did not —
anywhere see mines worked on the American room
The head-gear pulleys are carried on springs, so as and -pillar system In some of the English minis
to reduce the strain on the winding-rope at the the I'onl ami-pillar plan is employed, and gives
moment when the load is lifted and Beien kep- are:
satisfaction.
installed, these allowing the cage to be lowered
without lirst having to be lifted. The guides consist Bench Working of Thiol Scotch Seani.—Al amine
of locked-coil wire ropes of special-section steel, and
in Scotland we saw a 24 ft. seam, dipping from 1 3 :
a general proposition, the English and continental discharges into the mine cars. This conveyor has
mine improvements are substantial, and are built averaged 120 tons daily for a year's work, single
to last much longer than ours. The permanent shift.
character of the work necessarily means that the Room-and- Pillar in Steep Iron Ore Bed. Another —
tirst investment is high as compared with ours and very Interesting ore mine was inspected in the west
much more capital is invested in a mining venture. of England. A large deposit of hematite ore, look-
Long-Wall Mining. —
The mine openings are ing somewhat like Alabama brown ore and running
generally brick-lined shafts, round in section and 15 to 55% iron, has been vvorked for many years by
run to depths over half-a-mile. The seams worked shaft, and in, thing is now left but stumps. The
vary in thickness from, say, 14 in., as seen in Scot- vein is somewhat irregular, but runs to 60 ft. in
land, to over 70 ft- in Germany. Most of the mines thickness, and pilches 30 to 4.V. The mine is only a
are worked on the long-wall system, with modifica- few hundred feet from a coal mine. The re was i
tions to suit conditions. With this system a very worked somewhat irregularly, rooms being about
large percentage of the coal is recovered, it being ;;o ft. wide, with pillais 3ii ft square left in to p
I
claimed in some cases that as high as 97 of the up the top. The roof is very good, ami not a stick
em ire seam is saved. or prop of timber was seen in the mine.
Mining machines are used to a large extent. We Hydraulic Stowing with Sand. -Ibis mine is also
saw a compressed-air operated England,
machine in interesting because Hushing, or lil ing the worked -out
I
of the disc-cutter type, undercutting .V. by 5 in. in portions with sand, is now in progress. The sand is
a lire clay bottom, as much as 18 yd. measured brought four miles in li ton railway cars to a trestle
176 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1012
ami dumped on the ground. It is then loaded by headings. The necessary length of these zones, to
hand into steel cars and carried a short distance to be effective, is a question. In some places, as a
a bore-hole, where water is mixed with the sand in measure of safety, the headings are also paved with
the proportion of one of water to one of sand by brick. The headings are often white-washed, to
weight, and 200 to 300 tons of sand pa-sed into the readily show the deposition of dust. In many mines
mine per 8 hr. through a 5 in. pipe placed in a bore- the mine cars automatically turn watersprays on as
hole extending laterally an extreme distance of they pa.ss, and in this way both empty and loaded
1,000 yd., through the mine workings. Flushing cars are thoroughly drenched. At an English mine
has been carried on three years, and it is expected we saw an arrangement for automatically drenching
two years more will be required to fill the whole the cars as soon as dumped. The manager at this
mine. When the filling has been completed the mine is a great advocate of wet zones, but does not
30 by 30 ft. pillars will be taken out in slices, and believe in stone dust for preventing the spread of
more sand brought in to fill the newly made ."-pares explosions, and states that after the explosion an
as the mining progresses. When the ore has all examination showed 00% of the dust was stone.
been mined it is expected that, with the present
plan <>f Hushing, the surface will subside not over
Large Coal in Welsh Long-Wall Mining. — We
visited a Welsh mine in the Cardiff section, where a
one foot. A lot of good ore will be recovered here 6 ft. seam, 1,800 ft. below the surface, was being
at a reasonable cost, and I was told by Mr. Barton, worked long-wall, with stall roads, 13 yd. centres,
formerly superintendent of Ensley furnaces, that and headings cutting faces every 60 yd. The coal is
some of the best ore in the world conies from this of a superior quality, and is supplied largely to
district. The mine has been operated over lOOyears. vessels at Cardiff. Only the round coal is recovered,
Bord-and-Pillar Working, At a mine on the— the slack being kept in the mine and even then 25%
;
west coast of England we inspected the bord-and- passes through the screens as slack. The mines use
pillar plan of working a coal seam 10 to 14 ft. thick, large scoops without handles for loading the coal,
m which there is li to 9 in. of stone. The pillars are into which men scrape the lumps while on their
about 35 yd. square, ami are left in until the knees with their hands.
boundary is reached, when they are taken out ami At another Welsh mine we examined the working
the top allowed to fall. of a 10 ft. seam on the long-wall system, and which
Working Under the Ocean. The workings extend — had been changed from pillar - and stall. -The
out under tin' sea miles and 1 mile to the right,
'-'>l
management stated that under the long-wall system
making -Jmiles from the shaft.
|
Xo water to speak the cost has been cut Is. per ton. Thirty percent,
of comes in from the sea or the measures, even when of the coal was lost with pillar-and-stall, but the
the pillars are robbed, which are taken out without long-wall method Ids cut this to 10%. The long-
regard to the sea. wall system gets 5% more large coal than under the
An interesting proposed for the future
plan is old plan.
working of this under-sea coal.
It is proposed to Long-Wall Working and Flushing, Essen. Xear —
put down two shafts deep enough so that twin brick- Essen, Germany, we examined a mine working a
lined tunnels, driven with a slight up-grade, will seam of coal about 4(1 in. thick, with a good tup and
strike the coal from the under side at a point 4 miles dipping considerably. The long-wall system is used,
from the shafts. One of the tunnels is to be used to the gangways are kept well ahead, and the bottom
haul coal, ami the other will be equipped with some rock is shot up and used in the packs the work is
;
haulage arrangement for quickly taking men in and done in sections of about 8110 ft. The face of the
out the 4 miles In the other coal will be hauled in work is usually kept is to 30 ft. ahead of the pack-
S-ton cars and hoisted up the shaft to be dumped at ing, if the roof will allow il
. As the coal is removed
the screens. Both tunnels will be the air intake, packs are built and sand Hushed in. A coarse sand
and the old workings will he utilised for the outlet or loamy materia! is used, and is derived from
through the present shafts. Xo connection will be - deposits on the surface within 300 yd. of the shaft.
made between the in-take and the outlet short of The Hushing is done to protect the company's steel
the 4-mile point. The estimated cost of this develop- works. Loam and sand is dumped into a mixing
ment is $2,500,000, and the output from the one trough and then passes into the pipes, which go
shaft is expected to be 1,500,000 tons per annum. dow ii the shaft and out horizontally to the workings
The present shaft bottoms are arched with brick, At another mine near Essen there are 12 seams of
and a great deal of brick arching is done in the coal being worked, ranging from 20 to 40 in. in
haulage roads. Some of he roads ale bricked on
I thickness. Coal is worked by long-wall in sections
the sides, with steel beams overhead. 325 ft. in width. In these sections there are swing-
Treating Side Pressure. —
An interesting arrange- ing conveyors, or chutes, 2 ft. wide, half cylindrical
ment was seen here for taking care of pressure in section and 3011 ft. long hung on chains every 20 ft.
the headings. In the brick side-walls two 2 in. The chute is on the pitch of the vein, which is not
planks are built in, with wooden blocks about the sufficient for the coal to slide by gravity, and gets
size of a brick put between at intervals of, say, 12 in., its motion from a small compressed -ail cylinder,
the idea being that when pressure comes on the with a slow forward stroke and quick return. The
planks and blocks crush. In many cases they are coal slides along and falls into the mine car or tub
badly crushed, the planks being pressed almost on the gangway. The chutes are moved up to the
together, and the walls are also twisted out of shape. face every 15 ft. The Bushing is kept as close to the
—
Water Spraying. Water lines are laid along the working face as possible.
main roads, with hose connections every 50 ft., hose With the Hushing system the surface is not
pipes being used to wash down the headings. Xo damaged, as the coal is quickly mined and the
watering is done at the working faces. Sprays are packing done at once. The small amount of sub-
also used. Wet zones are established al a number sidence, about o . is so regular with Bushing that no
of points for the purpose of preventing the spread of damage results to the surface, SOI) to 1,2011 ft. above
an explosion from one part of the mine to another. the veins worked : hut with no Hushing there is 15
They are preferably located where roads are driven of subsidence.
through rock, or in concrete, brick, or stone lined —
Using Collapsible Steel Props. At another mine
October 191:2 A'olicrs timl Abstracts: Mum,,/.
visited, near Essen, a 5 ft. seam i- worked long-wall able to pull out of the gob and recover it more
it
where the tracks are 30 to 40ft. apart, with two easily. The
cost of timber at si English mines
men to each track mining and loading Is to 20 half- was given as running from to 8 cl a. per ton of coal
l
ton cars in 8 hi'., and, in addition, ripping the bottom Wood Preservation by Opi n-Tank Salt Treatnu »t
for track 2 by (i ft. At another German mine we found a plant for
\ steel propis used in this mine which 'gives' treating timber, known as the open-tank salt treal
as the weight comes on, after which it is taken out, incut. A 23 salt solution is heated to about loll
moved ahead, and wooden props substituted. Fahrenheit, with steam coils in a concrete iron lined
Mining Under the Rhine Flushing Granulated
•
tank, and in it the timber is immersed hi. Only 1
Slag in Porcelain Pipes. -At another German mine 15 of the total timber used in the mine is treated.
the workings extended under the river Rhine and a and the treated timber is used only in the return
canal, and to prevent any break to the surface it is air way. as timber in the main inlet' does not decay.
necessary to pack and Hush the workings. Porcelain- The salt system was adopted as against tar on
lined pipes are used for Hushing at a cost of §1.50 account of less danger from lire. The salt solution
|ier lineal toot. The lining is made in sections about is used over and over, and the treatment does not
I long, and is cemented in place at the mines.
ft. weaken the timber. Treating timber increases its
We were shown a piece of porcelain-lined pipe show weight about 25 and tests for strength show no
.
furnaces, is largely used for flushing, and is received cars have closed ends, the rotary dump not requiring
in side-dump cars discharging into a pit, from which an end-gate, such as is generally used in this country.
a bucket conveyor delivers to a hopper. Water, Mine-cars are small as compared w ith this country,
turned in here, mixes with the slag and washes it holding Mm to 1,500 lb., and are made of steel with
into the pipes running into the mine. cast steel wheels. We did, however, see some
I'he cost per ton of flushing is 22^ cts. per ton of w It'll mine-cars in Wales, which held about
• coal removed from the area Hushed. The cost per 2,500 H». Long-wall work generally makes the use
cubic metre —about a 40 in. cube and equivalent to of small cars necessary. One manager in England
I ton— of flushing in place is 22J cts: The filling told us cars should lie made to hold water, so as not
material examined in the 4 ft. vein stands up almost to spill line coal on the roads.
like the original coal, with very little sloughing. —
Shaft Sinking. The sinking of -halts is a well
The coal is worked in sections 250 ft. by 50 ft. on —
developed science some men make a profession of
the pitch. When coal is removed from an area "ill ft. the business and gather around them a very efficient
square, 1 by 8 in. plank brattices, to hold the Riling, corps of sinkers.
are built— the plank being nailed to 4 in. or 5 in. We visited a new mine being sunk in England.
piops on 4 ft. centres— spaces being left between the where the main shaft was down 2.0(i4 ft., and coal
iii. uds, which are covered with burlap, for the water was struck a few days later at a depth of about
to strain through. Sixty-two BUCB places were •2,7Hii ft. The shaft i's '21 \ ft. diameter in the clear,
working in this mine, and 1,200 tons are Hushed into hut at the point where the cages pass it is increased
the mine daily. to 24 ft., to allow for the passage of the ventilating
Slicing a TBft. Seam in Silesia; Sand Stowing. — air current, As illustrating the rapidity with which
In upper Silesia we visited a mine working a 72 ft. shafts are sunk, it may be stated that this one was
seam in live sections or slices, starting from the being sunk at the rate of 22yd. per week. The
bottom up. The ribs are white washed in order that brick lining is put in in sections the depth of —
sloughing may be easily observed, and to prevent section depending upon the character of material
iniiiers taking coal from the pillars. The Hushing passed through. They were just finishing putting
•system is in operation, using sand from the surface in loii ft. of lining, which they would accomplish in
pus near by. The sand is hauled in I2cu. ft. cars, about four days of continuous day and night work.
(Jumping in a mixing pit, and, after screening, Many of
the shafts use steel-rope cage-guides, with
washed into pipes which carry it to the workings. '
slide ropes between, to keep the cages apart when
'
Tne plant handles 2,500 cu. yd. daily in two HI hr. passing. They work very smoothly, and give good
shifts. The mixture is one of water to one of sand satisfaction. The rope-guides an' placed one on
in volume. The cars are steel side dump affairs, each side, or all on the same side.
with hopper bottoms running lengthwise, and grate- When a hoisting rope breaks, and the cage goes to
the bolt ]iOs-lbl\ Carrying with it the rope-
bars beneath, on which a lire is built in cold weather
to keep the sand from freezing. guides, it makes a very ugly wreck and a difficult
Use of Timber in Europe. The use of mine timber one to clear up.
in European practice is generally very systematic. Up-to-Datc Scotch Elliptical Shaft. We went
In some countries the laws compel its use at stated down a new brick lined Scotch -hall 1,602ft. deep,
intervals, regardless of the nature or condition of elliptical, 244 by loft. The shaft was driven up and
I he roof. This has undoubtedly done much to reduce down in sections, connections being made to the old
shaft at intervals of 180ft. It was sunk and bricked
accidents from falls. Most timber is used without
treatment to prevent decay, hut at some mines in 3 years ami month. Two in lb. steel rail guides
I 1 1
treating plants have been installed. At many mines are provided for each cage, both on the same side.
the props are pointed in machines built for the The 100 yd. double decked shaft bottom is magni-
ficent in construction and design. It is lined with
purpose. The object of this pointing is to keep
i hem from breaking when the roof settles, as the brick li ft. thick on side-, reinforced with 12 in.
tapered end of the post being weakest mashes or [-beams 3 ft. centre- on top, sides and Boor of upper
•.'ives way and prevents breaking. A ratchet machine, deck."— Erskin k Ramsai , Minii </ •mil Engint i i mg
known as a Sylvester,' is used al many mines for
'
World, Au-. 24, 1912, p. 349. (A. R.)
recovering the timber, and appears to be a good
thing. It was noticed in many mines that the small Refilling Coal Workings in Germany.
end of the prop is placed on the bottom, so as to be '
Owing to the increase in the number of claims for
—— —
178 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
pensation due to subsidence and other damage stances into consideration, an air blast
'
must
'
over the inert dust.'" Explosions in Mines Com- totally inadequate to withstand the pressure which
mittee, Journal of the Society <*/ Chemical Industry, at some time orothei must inevitably be exerted on
Aug. ir>, 1912, p. 7119. (G. F. A.) them. Several of the mines are moreover attaining
such depths that if the pillars are to be recovered
So-Called Aie Blasts on the Witwaters- later and the mine worked with safety it will almost
RAND.— "In the first place it
is necessary to know require that one-half of the reef be left in the first
why the mysterious name of '
air blast' is given, as working in the shape of pillars unless sand-filling is
the cause of these accidents, although it might be resorted to and the pillars are extracted before any
quite understood that a sudden collapse of the subsidence takes place.
hanging may cause a movement in the air easily In attempting to show that these so-called air
'
noticed, whereas on the Rand the ventilation blasts' are the result rather than the cause of the
currents in most of the deep mines have not a strong rock displacement in the deep mines, their occur-
velocity. It seems far more likely that any move- rence would seem to indicate that some change is
ment of aii' accompanying such happenings may be advisable to be adopted with regard to the met I
rather the etlect than the cause, and to discover the of mining. So far these air blasts have been con-
latter we shall probably have to look in some other fined to the ile-per mines at a depth of about 4,000 ft.
direction. Taking all the surrounding circum- from the surface, and it would almost seem that
October 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Miscellaneous. 1T9"
about this depth the troubles inherent in deep i of fuel is greatly increased Boilers can he eliminated
milling on the Hand are inclined to begin. If from
|
and their sp.n-e utilized for carrying cargo.
that depth onward even larger proportions than one- Tar oil lias become a more or less com n fuel i"i
half the reef wall, for considerations of safety, have Diesel engines of linn or Mill h.p. rating and it i-
to he left as pillars in the first working, it seem-, to underst that tar is used in at least one engin
I
portend the coming necessity for a modification of 4,000 h.p. rating. Recent experiments indicate thai
the system of working. Many managers might both thin gas-retort tar and thick coke-oven tar can
prefer, under these conditions, to chive out to the lie used by injecting into the cylinder a small per
boundary and then extract the reef on the retreating centage i.l 'light oil to assist iii igniting the tar. It
system ; others might show a preference in the is claimed that a wide range of tars can he used in
mines not more than 5,000 ft. deep of adopting a this manner without producing -moke or appreciable
modified system, so as to ensure
pillar-and-wall residue. In tests at the Korting works about 2 oi
earlier returns. Perhaps in tin future, at even
1
may le taken that these so-called 'air blasts' in Bureau of Mines), August 1. 1912, p. 73. ill. A.)
our deepest mines are nature's indication that the
pillars are being called upon to resist rock pressures
in excess of heir capabilities, and they will be wise
I
Leah Poisoning.— "Mr. James >•. Cliffordcon
tributes all extremely valuable anil illuminating
who take tine- by the forelock atul at the same time
take the fullest advantage of the warning," Mining
article to the last issue (duly 6th) of the Mining and
Hcient'Jic Press on plumbism, it- systems, effects and
I eering World, Aug. 10, 1912, p. 236.
I H e \ en ion.i It is a subject that is worthy of greater
(A. ft.)
study than bus been heretofore given to it in this
country, and we would commend Mr. Clifford's con
MISCKLLAXEOI s.
elusions to the attention, in particular, of lead mine
The Expanding Uses of the Diesel Engine.— operators and miners in East and West Kootenay,
'"Although the steam turbine has superseded the where this industry is an important one and the
reciprocating steam engine for the geneiation of disease not uncommon. Of the symptoms of
electricity in central-station work, and will probably plumbism, one of the first is the peculiar ana-mic
hold the field for some time to come, it is interesting appearance of the patient. A disagreeable metallic
to note that the Diesel engine, owing to its great taste in the mouth, a feeling of sickness, a tendency
success in small station work, is looked upon seriously to vomit, disturbed digestion, poor appetite, obstinate
as a proximate possible rival to the steam turbine. constipation, and a sense of fatigue disproportionate
In a paper recently presented before the Municipal to the energy expended are additional symptoms,
Electrical Association at Brighton, England, the while a severe pain develops in the abdomen, accom-
relative cost of a 10,000 k.w. installation for steam panied by vomiting. Swelling of the gums and
turbines, gas producers anil engines, and Diesel severe headaches often accompany these symp-
engines, was discussed at length. The author pro- toms. The effect of lead poisoning varies with
posed the use of seven sets each of 1,450 k.w. the constitutions of the individuals attacked,
capacity. His figures of operating expense, etc. are but common results are : Lead blindness, tem-
decidedly in favour of tin' Diesel engine installation. porary loss of hearing, smell and taste: stimulation
Attention was also called to the very economical into activity of neurosal tendency, loss of teeth,
nse of these engines as a substitute for sub-station accompanied by serious ulceration of the mucous
converting machinery. Such stations are already membranes of the mouth continuous headache, ;
Stated that engines of this type with four cylinders, until after the face and hands have been washed,
developing 1,000 h.p. each, can be made as light as and the mouth and hroat rinsed thoroughly with an t
the corresponding triple-expansion steam engine. alkaline mouthwash such for example as 0'2% solu-
The weight of such engines compares favourably tion of sulphite of sod:.. The use of alcoholic
with that of the corresponding turbines and boilers. liquors and tobacco should he prohibited. Employees
It is understood that a 1,000 h.p. installation of this should never begin the day's work without first par-
type weighed only s7 lb. per horsepower as com-
1 taking of fond. Perfect ventilation should be est ah
pared with 180 lb. for a steam turbine and boiler lished in all places where there is danger of dust ol
installation. fume. Employees should lake care to keep the
Although steam engines probably "ill not he bowels open. Proper foods rich in fata land in this
rapidly displaced in the larger ocean-going craft, yet milk is included), have an unquestionable preventa-
the crude oil engine seems to be especially adapted tive value. The most effective protection against
for such service. The quantity of fuel needed the disease are cleanliness and sobriety. Medical
approximates a third of that needed for the steam examination of employees once .u twice monthly
engine, hence the radius of action for a given weight should be made compulsory. It is stated that some
—
180 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. October 1912
companies provide tabloids containing 5 gr. of hypo- With 08% present, the blood becomes 50% saturated
sulphite of soda tn be taken by employees once within a few hours i( becomes scarcely
; possible to
daily." James O.Clifford, The Canadian mining stand and even slight exertion results in lews of con-
Journal (reprinted from Mining and Scientific Press, sciousness, the senses are confused and the judgment
July 6, 19i2), August 1, 1912, p. 5:25. (R. A.) is impaired. Sometimes the victim either becomes
stupid and drowsy, or much excitement results, not
Paper Pulp from Eucalyptus.— "Samples unlike the effects of alcohol. Another experiment
"i pulp of excellent quality have been prepared by Dr. Haldane proved ihat with 20 CO in the -
planted over large areas in Southern California. 0'25%, the amount present in the Bureau of Mines
The pulp is strong, clean, and slightly eddish, owing i
experiment, this dangerous condition would be
to t he action of the alkali. Experiments with this reached in less than one hour.
wood as a raw material for paper pulp leave no doubt CO Produces Congestion m the Vital Organs. —
as to its suitability for the purpose. A sufficient According to von Jaksch, the absorption of u-s gin.
of carbon monoxide is fatal. According to Haldane,
grow lh of lil ne gum may he obtained in from tour to
if death occurs gradually the haemoglobin is usually
six years the slump yields a further good growth
;
three years after the first cutting. " AXON, Paper — about 80 saturated with carbon monoxide.
mortem examinations of persons w ho have died from
Post-
Making, xxx., .'fTii -/. Franklin Institute, vol.
:
soaked with acetone and then charged with acetylene one to tlie attempt of nature to make good the
uniler pressure (see Journal So iety of Chemical In- diminished efficiency of the blood by supplying larger
dustry, 1903, 288; 1905, llol) form a safe means volumes at needed points.
of storing large quantities of acetylene. This Even when death doe- not occur, serious results
dissolved acetylene lias been irgely used abroad 1
are likely to follow from the absorption of this gas
for railway lighting, and it possesses many advan- by the blood. The after effects are lesions, cysts
tages over oilier illuminauts for lighting motor and local softening of the brain tissue,' inflammation 1
Tunis Km/. Supplement, -Inly S. 1912, Journal of the Le Neve Foster was a victim to carbon monoxide
Society "/ Chemical Industry, Vol. xxxi., No. 14, poisoning which occui red on a visit a- Chief Inspector
].. Ii75, July 31. (J. A. W.) of Mines to a mine in Cornwall a few year- before
his death. From the full record given by him
Physiological Effects of Carbon Monoxide. of his symptoms while exposed to the gas under-
"
An interesting pamphlet on carbon monoxide lias ground it does not appear that there could have been
recently been issued by the Bureau of Mine-, in more than flits ot cation monoxide present, nor
which attention is drawn to the dangerous proper! ies that his blood could have been more than .'n
ot this gas and to (lie use of mice and birds for saturated, although direct evidence mi both these
del ret in- iis presence in mine air. points is lacking. The cxpeii lit made by the
CO makes Hmmoglobin Inert as an Oxygen Carrieu. author of the paper recently issued by the Bureau of
—Carbon monoxide has the property of forming a Mines, in which he exposed himself tor 20 min. to an
compound with the hemoglobin of the blood. The atmosphere containing live times a- much carbon
effect of this is to make the hemoglobin, so com- monoxide as is known to be dangerous, was there-
bined, pracl ically men. and to prevent it from acting fore hazardous and even though the experimenter
as a carrier of oxygen. Whens uch carbon mon- apparently suffered Imt little ill effect a somewhat
oxide is absorbed thai (he greater part of the hemo- longer exposure would certainly have resulted in
globin is inert, death results The affinity of carbon serious injuries, the after effects of which might
monoxide for hemoglobin is more than 200 times have proved fatal.
vie iter than that of oxygen, so that when present in Munis' Phthisisfrom CO Poisoning. One of the —
the air, even in small quantil ies. it is freely absorbed most serious dangers from the presence of carbon
by the blood. Carl monoxide is not displaced by monoxide in the air of mines is be effect upon the
I
oxygen, but is dissociated by natural processes, and health of workmen who ate daily exposed to the
escapes in the expired air. 'Where large quantities breathing of small amounts ot this gas. The blood,
are absorbed, it inaj In- several days before the last when partly saturated, is thereby rendered less able
traces disappear. According to Drs, Edsall, von to perform its proper functions, so that the patient
Jakscll, Haldane, and other authorities, 0"05 suffers from anemia and all the complication- tluu
of
carbon monoxide is dangerous. According to Hal- may result from litis weakened condition. Ac.
dane, severe symptoms were observed from breathing cording to Dr. Edsall, the disease known a s
aii containing 0'02%, or one part in 5,000. With
this small amount present the blood becomes In i
personal letter Prof. Walter It James, "f the College
20% nf Physicians and Surgeons, states tbal peculiar local lesion
i
of the gas keeps pace with its absorption. With in- minor blood vessels are given off to this aren from the arterial
creasing percentages of carbon ixide, the i trunks. According to Dr. James, the remote consequence of
saturation ol the hi becomes greater and the time
I
monoxide poisoning is a serious matter*. Mi- cases have shewn
mental aberration of n peculiar type, with great slowni — to
required to produce the maximum effect shorter. response, going on i>> cerebal degeneration and deal h.
October 1915 Notices and Abstract*: Miscellaneous. LSI''
miners' phthisis has been shown to be due chiefly to wen- given before the wire broke. Steel wire can he
carbon monoxide poisoning. Recent observations drawn to a stress of even 130 tons per sip in.
have show u that for some hours after a blast, under Treatment of Wire Ropes While in Use. Hopes —
the conditions of ordinary mining, carbon monoxide should be uncoiled from a turn-table, and very
may lie present in the air in dangerous amounts, carefully, or kinking will result, which spoils the
ami undoubtedly the blood of men engaged in sinking, rope. This is due to the spring or life in a new rope,
drifting, and stoping where the circulation of air is which, if there is considerable slack rope between
deficient is partially saturated with carbon monoxide the turn-table and the drum, causes it to fly into a
the greater part of the time. coil, which, as a rule, will not right itself unless
of CO is Cumulative
Effect By some authorities personally attended to. Too much slack rope should
it isbelieved that the serious effects above outlined, therefore be avoided on the other hand, the motor
:
due to absorption of carbon monoxide by the blood, should never be allowed to pull the turn-table round.
are supplemented by direct toxic action on the There should always he sufficient assistance to
nervous system, on the muscles, the heart, and other ensure the lope being paid out at the same rale as
organs. It is believed by others that there is a it is pulled in on the drum. When a rope kinks the
cumulative action and that those who have been strength at that point is materially reduced, owing
poisoned by this gas are more likely to become to the short twist that has taken place. Moreover
victims when again exposed to it. [t is quite certain the rope cannot afterwards be expected to coil
that dissociation of carbon monoxide from the blood symmetrically on its drum, and good (oiling is
is slow and that those whose blood is partly saturated essential for smooth, efficient and sale working.
will sooner fall victims where larger quantities of The influence of the size and design of pulleys and
the gas are breathed than those whose blood is free drums on the ropes which work on them should be
from this gas. Men who have repeatedly suffered carefully noted. The life of a rope is materially
from carbon monoxide poisoning become very reduced if made to work round small drums and
sensitive to the gas, and in most instances are com- pulleys. is setup, the rope is Battened,
Buckling
pelled to abandon work in which they have to speaking, becomes elliptical, and when
or, strictly
breathe air containing it."— PROF. II. S. Mini;"]:. not in tension takes the form of a spiral. When
Engineering and Mining Journal ( School of Mines considering the size of pulleys for underground
Quarterly), Aug., 1902, p. 221. (H.A.W.) haulage, convenience of handling is the important
factor, and therefore the ratio usually observed
between the size of a winding rope and its pulleys
onsiimi riox. Use amp Care of Wiki; Ropes.—
or drums is much reduced.
(
For underground
" Construction am/ Use of Ropes. —
It is well known
haulage a satisfactory workable minimum ilia, for
thai a. rope which stands a certain si less at a testing
a sheave or pulley is 60 times the dia. of the rope.
machine before giving way will prove to be equal to Thus a v in. dia. rope would require a pulley
a greater s| lr> , ,f the wires an- taken singly, and 3 ft. 9 in. dia.. on tread. If the pulley is larger
the aggregate strength calculated by ((tailing the
the rope is so much the better for it, but if made
stresses undergone by each of the wires. That is smaller, then, unless the rope is of s| ecial construc-
to say, the rope as a whole is not nearly so A
tion, it is done at the risk of injuring the rope.
-irong a, the joint strength of the individual
high speed of rope means a considerable amount of
wiies. This is accounted tor by the tacts that:
wear, while an increased load is not nearly so
(1) The twisting of the wires and Btrands, SO harmful. That is to say, it. is better to increase Un-
necessary to impart unity to the structure, is
load than the speed. 'These points are wan thy of
done at a of strength: ('.?) it is seldom
sacrifice note when the comparative merits of main and tail
possible lo subject each wire to the same pull and endless rope are under discussion. Jerking is
while the rope is undergoing a test. The result ruinous to ropes, and a careless enginem.in may
is that some of the wires which arc subjected to the easily, by picking up his load rashly, snap even a
maximum tension break before oilier wires have new rope. Consequently the inertia of the load
taken their lair share of the load. This is, of course,
should be very gradually destroyed, and a careful
a problem for rope makers, and great pains are taken engineman will always bring his load from rest up
in ensure each wire being laid in such a way that it
to full speed with perfect si thness,
w ill bear its lair proportion of the load the result
;
Ropes before use should be stored in a dry place,
is to reduce the loss between the aggregate strength
upon timbers, and, it hit a long lime, oiled over
of the wnes and the ultimate st gtb ol a rope to oeea-l illy. Where they aie nol galvanized ample
a minimu ind secure a rope of nearly perfect protection should be afforded by a suitable oil, free
formation. from any ingredient which might set up eonosion.
It is usual to test each w ire lor tension and torsion Hoisting ropes aie usually well served in this respfct,
before it i~ pin ititoarope. This is done while the while haulage ropes are just as much neglected. Ihe
win- is si ill in the bundle, and befoie it is wound on following iisi -bows the importance of greasing
the bobbins. A record of tin- behaviour of every ropes: Two lengths of rope, same size, same make,
w ire under torsional ami tensile stress i- entered by one oiled, tl therunoiled. The latter made 16,000
the tester in a book kept, specially for the purpose, bends, and llie former :;s,7<0 bends over the same
so that in the event oi information being sought, pulley before breaking. A ga in, similar pieces were
perhaps years hence, about a particular tope supplied, tested over a 24 in. pulley. The unoiled stood
all del ails are hi once a ailable.
i 74,i!ini bends and the oiled 386,000 bends before
As an example of the excellent quality ol steel breaking.
wire frequently adopted for rope-, an instance may [t has already been pointed out that symmetrical
be given of a wire 0T13 in. ilia, in a list for foiling on its drum is an essential factor for the
tensile -lie-- breaking w it h a pull of 2,509 lb. This maintenance in good order of a wire rope. Haulage
i- equal to a breaking stress ol 12 tons per sq. in. of
1 drums are usually narrow, and therefore the amount
sectional ana. Another portion of the same wire of side travel for the rope is not excessive. Nevei
was tested for torsion. The distance between the theless, there are manj examples of haulage gears
grips was about 15 in., and 31 complete revolutions where the ropes do not coil symmetrically, i.e., they
— —
182 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical anil Minim/ Society of .South Africa. October 11112
cannot do so without some assistance. One crude The index occupies S pages, and could, with
device is to use a wooden or iron bar (as a lever of advantage, be somewhat extended. The work is of
the second order) in the immediate vicinity of the high practical utility throughout, both as a text-
drum, to push tlie rope into position This is un- book and a work of reference, and cannot fail to be
desirable and dangerous, and there are better useful to those for whom it is intended." London
mechanical devices in use for coiling. Mining Journal, Aug. 31, 1912 (A. K.)
As a rule the difficulty of coiling symmetrically
will (oilier thingsbeing equal) increase as the stress Methods of Air Analysis. By J. S. Haldane,
on the rope This is because the rope,
increases. M.D., L,L.D., F.R.S Fellow' of New College, ,
having a less tendency to sag or swing, will tend to and Reader in Physiology, University of Oxford.
coil in the same plane, until finally the whole mass 24 illustrations. Cr. 8vo., 130 pp. (Charles
of rope topples over, perhaps fracturing the drum Griffin & Co. )
( 'loth, 5s.
cheek, and certainly ensuring a lively time when " In this
comparatively small book the author has
that particular rope is being run out when the set is given methods of analysis of air and the various
travelling in the opposite direction. A travelling gaseous impurities which have ordinarily to be
pulley in front of the drum often assists materially tested for and estimated in connection with experi-
in coiling the rope but the most important point of
;
mental work in physiology, chemistry ami hygiene,
all is to provide for th« rope sufficient sag or swing and iu the investigation of mine air, and the pro-
between the drums and the nearest fixed point, ducts of combustion from engines or furnace-. Most
which may he a earlier pulley or something of the of the original methods here described have been
xiii. The rope is then enabled to accommodate published by the author in Blue Book* and in
itself to the trifling side travel necessary to ensure scientific publications, but their presentation in
symmetrical coiling up against both cheeks of the book form will render them accessible to many who
drum. This point should be kept in mind when niaj noi possess the works in which they previously
fixing the site for an engine room in a recess moie or appeared.
less at right angles to the engine plane. The engine Working details are given which will be of very
house should be built a liberal distance inwards from great assistance to all who have occasion to make
the plane, SO that between the sharp bends of the such estimations.
ropes in passing out, on to the engine plane, and The reactions involved and the correct interpreta-
their drums, there will be such a swing as to ensure tion and calculation of results are clearly .-et out-
no difficulty of working in the future." Science mid Insi ructions ami warnings as to the collection of
Ail of Minimi Mining mill Engineering World,
:
samples are included. The illustrations are g 1.
Aug. 24, 1912, p. 331. (A. R.) and the descriptions of the various form- of
apparatus are clear and definite.
Reviews and New Books. All ordinary gaseous mixtures likely to be found
in mine air are explained, and methods given for
Text Book of Cyanide Peactice. By H. W. their analysis. In addition to the gaseous impuri-
MacFarren, Author of "Practical Stamp ties likely to be found in air. the methods for the
Milling and Amalgamation," " Mining Law for detection and estimation of stone dust, organic dust,
the Prospector, .Miner and Engineer." Pp. 2111. and lead dust are included." London Mining —
32 illustrations. (New York: McGraw-Hill Journal. Aug. 31, 1012. (A. R.)
Book Co. London: 6, Bouverie Street. ) Price
12s. 6d. Blair, A.Andrew
The Chemical Analysis of Iron.
"This work valuable to students and
will be 7th Ed. 8vo., pp 34s. Lippincott. Net ISs.
to those in charge of plants, because the rationale of British Standard Specification for last Iron Spigot (
the methods described is clearly set out, ami and Socket Soil Pipes. ( Engineering Standards Com-
adequate warnings of the difficulties likely to be mittee.) Folio, sd. C. LockiBOod. Net 5s.
encountered are included in simple language and Bulman, II. F., and Redmaype, 11. A. S. Colliery
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The reader is duly warned of the differences he Burnham M. Howard. Modem Mine Valuation.
must be prepared to expect when translating svo., pp. 172, C. Griffin. Net ln>. 6d,
laboratory experiments into the practical treatment Clemesha, W. W. The Bacteriology of Surface
ol many tons of sands and slimes daily. The book Waters in the Tropics, soi. Thacker. Net 10s. 6d.
is quite free from padding,' and will be a welcome
' Collins, A. K. Plans and Specifications lor Wire-
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cyaniding. For those who require to make a I- 6d,
specially detailed study of particular details, there li.ivis. Cyril S. Lane. Telephotography. With
is a very full ami well-arranged bibliography. The lo full page Plates and 7 diagrams. Cr. 8vo.,pp. xi.-
work i- divided into Is chapters, an! carries the 130. Routledoe. Net 2s.
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,
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XX, will he found a useful collection of tables and M'Kemliick, Archibald. Malingering and its De-
nhe. n under the Workmen- Compensation and
•October 1912 /:,, „,/< and A'eie Books; Abstracts of Patent Applications. isr>
Other Acts. Cr. Svo», pp. 94. Liriia/stone. Net (C.) 387/12. George Twemlow. Improvements re-
is.. 6a. lating to the extraction of gold or other metals
Motinari, E- Treatise on General and Industrial from substances containing same. 22.7.12.
•Chemistry. Svo. Churchill. Net 21s. This application is for an apparatus for the dee
Norris, A. H. E. Experimental Mechanics and trolytic precipitation of gold and precious metal
Physics. Cr. 8.o., pp. 1S4. Mills & Boon. U. 6d. values out of ores. The apparatus consists of h
Pope, E. G. Modern Research in Organic Cheni- shallow trough: the trough bottom is lined with
istry. Cr. 8vo., pp. 336. Methuen. 7s. 6d. copper or zinc plates which form the positive pole.
Quinan, W. K. High Explosives. 8vo. /. Pitman. Suspended in the trough at regular distances are
Net 21s. baffle bars these form the negative pole.
;
Richards, 1'. A. Ellis. Practical Chemistry, in- In operating this device the ore pulp, moistened
cluding Simple Volumetric Analysis and Toxicology. with a solution of nitrate of mercury Hows down the ,
2nd Ed. Cr. 8vo., pp. 160. Bailliere. Xet .Ss. inclined trough the How is arrested by the various
;
Saunders, Benjamin. Forging, Stamping ami swinging bailie hats, and an electrical circuit is
General Smithing. 8vo., pp. 438. Sjhui. Net 21s. formed, with the assistance of a shunt wound
Schwarz, E. II. L. South African Geology. Cr. generator, which according to the inventor precip-
8 vo., pp. 200. Blackie. Net 3s. 6d. itates precious metal amalgam.
Science. Chemistry Papers, University of Lon-
don Intermediate, Science Examination, from 1896 (C.) 424 12. Nicolas Henri Marie Dekker. Im-
M 1912. (University Tutorial Series.) Cr. Svo., sd., provements
ore,. 2.8.12.
in or relating to the treatment of
Compounds. Cr. Svo., pp. 194. Methuen. 2s. 6d. Relating to Chemistry, Metallurgy and
Whitman, R. 15. Gas-Engine Principles. Cr. 8vo. Mining.
Appleton. Xet, 6s.
Wilson, F. .1.. and Heilbron, Isidor, M.
Chemical
An Elementary Text- Compiled by C. H. M. Kisch, F.M.Chart.Inst.P.A.
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Book. Cr. 8vo., pp. 146. Constable. Net 2s. 6d.
Process for separating solid substances from (P.) 492/12 .lames Eason Hi. John Hawthorne
solut ioi s by e\ apora i ion. 2.7. 12. Wilson (2). Improvements in conical plug cocks
Tli is application relates to a p is "i separating U.o 12.
solid tances from solutions hy evaporation, which
•, i
(P.) 493 12 Henrj Cecil Helliei B An
consists spraying he
inliquid into drying chamber
t :i improved method and ns for purifying and
I
by an apparatus similar to a scenl spray bottle, cleansing air forced into mines ami the like. 1.0. 12. 1
nsing heated compressed :iit as an eje (P i 195/12. Unpen Ronald Uexandei '
I
I,
ait heated to 450 C , without detriment to the pro- :;.. Charles Henrj Hilditeh !4) Improve
duct, and the process is hastened and perfo men is in safety appliances foi mine cages, skip
mot i
illy by t his ans. the like. 12.0.12.
184 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical rm</ Mining Society of South Africa. October L912
(P.) 4Pti 1-2. Donald Hubbard. Improvements (C.) 524 12. Johannes Ludowicus Steyn. A
in valves or devices for supplying air in t lie tieat- new and improved vinegar and process for manu-
nient of slimes and the like. 12.9.12. facture. 27.9-12.
(P.) 497/12. Alexander McNamara. Improve- (P.) 528 12. Ernest Lawrence Smith. Improved
ments in bits for rotary drills. 12.9.12. bolt and lock nuts. 2.10 12.
il'.i 498 12 Albert Thomas Harris (1), Charlton
(P.) 529/12. James Watson (1), lliitish Westing-
Improvements in spray house Electric and Manufacturing Co. Ltd., (2).
Effingham Wollarton (2|.
Improvements in and relating to liquid controllers
nozzles and atomizers for liquids. 13.9.12.
for electric motors. 2.10.12.
(.! 199/12. Albeit William Smith. Improve-
ments in methods of extracting gold. 13.9.12.
(P.) 130/12. William '1 hennas. Improvements in.
(P.) .Tin 12. Lancelot L'ssher. Improvements and Metallurgy, Salisbury House. London, E.C.
in the method of lighting m~r- used in blasting I'll i. C. K.. l/o Brakpan Princess Estate and G. ;
(C.) 521/1 Neil Deistei (1 William Frederick i, Robertson, G. A., to P. O. New Primn
Deister (2). Improvements in concentrating tables. Steels, S. II.. to P. 0. Box 3652, Johannesburg.
27.9.12. Stuart, A. N., to Glencairn Main ReefG. M. Co.,
i( '.i 522 12. Neil Deister (11, William Frederick P. 0. Box 191, Germiston.
Deister (2). Improvements in head motion of con Taylor, <i. A., l/o Eureka; Sub Nigel, Ltd., P.
cent i.i i ing tables. 27.9. 12. O. Box 50, Nigel
(C.) 523/12. Ernest Rorive. A pneumatic tool- Thorburn, a .. u Potgietererust c o C. F. Coxen,
I ;
THE JOURNAL
OF THF.
Ihe Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
The Ordinary General Meeting of the Society Gkorce, Harry Lamont, Nundydroog Co., Ltd.,
was held in the South African School of Mines P.O. Oorgaum, Kolar Gold Fields, S. India.
iyanide OtHeer.
Building, Johannesburg, on Saturday, November
I
Beaver, J. Chilton,' J. M. Dixon, L. L. Ellis, W- be noticed that the date has been altered so as
not to clash with other functions usually occur-
E. John, A. J. Johnson, G. A. Lawson, H. Lea,
J. Lea, G. D. MacCarthy, G. Melvill, P. T-
i ing in March or April.
Phillips, W. S. V. Price, J. F. Pyles, S. C. photos of the many [daces he has seen during his
recent visit to America and Canada. These will
Quin, E. Roberts, A. Schwarz, D. F. Sett, G.
be '>pen to inspection of members during the
H. Smith, W. A. C. Tayler, A. Thomas, W. E.
Thorpe, C. Toombs, J. T. Triggs, J. Watson and recess.
formation. This lump, for instance, is a piece of bacteria, somewhat in the same way as nitric
practically unaltered rock the pyrite is quite
; acid generated in soils, though probably at a
is
clean and fresh and the rock very heavy and higher temperature. This explanation was put
solid, as can be seen if it is examined. forward to account for a large portion of the
This next one contains a good deal of almost sulphur generally supposed to be due to the
unaltered pyrite at one end, and although it is reaction of H.,S and S0 2 as in the fourth equa-
,
not converted, yet it is rather brittle, and at the tion. I have mislaid the reference, so am un-
other end of the specimen sulphur may be able to say whether the explanation is applicable
detected. in this case. That certain bacteria are able to
This next one shows only a little sulphide left adapt themselves to changed conditions is well
undecomposed, and the last one shows no pyrite known. For example, the British vinegar
at all ; but quite a considerable amount of brewers have found it possible to raise the tem-
sulphur is scattered all over the specimens. perature of acetification gradually until an
These specimens do not occur quite at the sur- optimum effect is obtained at 110° F, which is
face, but under some considerable cover, and the popularly regarded as 10° above the death point
oxidation therefore has probably been quite slow. of these organisms.
Of course various equations have been put for-
ward in explanation of the changes which occur Dr J. Moir (Past-President) I do not know :
changes. It is, of course, well known that ferrous With regard to the sulphur required for this
sulphate forms by atmospheric oxidation of equation, we have no direct evidence of its
pyrite, and I have often found it in the form of presence in old dumps but it is quite possible
efflorescent crystals on the roofs or walls in mine that it is or was a resultant product and has
workings in iron-stone mines in the North of passed away by oxidation.
England and also in coal mines. In the latter
A NEW TYPE OF DUST COLLECTING TUBE.
case, in one instance, a peculiar slimy deposit
was found in a water standage, which I found, Mr. J as. Gray (Member of Council): The
after drying, to contain about 90% of sulphur.* which has been designed by Mr.
collecting tube
It will be noticed that the sulphide is very light in Eugene Lauf, Scientific Instrument Maker, of
colour, but analysis shows it to contain only iron this town, at the suggestion of Dr. Moir, consists
other end of the cylinder is closed by a rubber wrapped up in a wet towel and left over night
cork through which passes a glass tube. The before opening the towel should not be removed
;
sugar is prevented from falling out by means of until the stopper has been withdrawn for a
a plug of cotton wool. After the dust has been moment. It would be advisable to have con-
collected by filtration through the sugar the venient a weak solution of acetic acid (10 drops
estimation is carried out by removing the cork per 100 cc. of water) to use in the case of alkalies
at the bottom (also the cotton wool) and washing getting in the eyes, the usual eye bath should be
also provided for the purpose. For acids in the
eyes, a1
J£
bicarbonate of soda solution in distilled
water should be used.
very likely to happen. The bottle should be obtaining the tonnage mined would be to run all
— —
188 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
trucks over a weigh bridge, as is generally done I wish Laschinger could have told us
Mr.
any given period with the
in collieries, but over something more of the system which is in vogue
same class of trucks, the law of averages will at the De Beers Mine, and also more of Mr.
give a result sufficiently accurate for all practical Leslie's system on the Simmer and Jack.
purposes. Mr. Phillips has missed my point in Mr. Pam misses the essential point altogether.
regard to the bonus scheme, the idea of which My paper was not written from the point of view
is not to compare any cue section with another, <if a consulting engineer or general manager, to
which in mam
cases is impossible. For example either of whom to know what the
it is .sufficient
the following are the costs for stores and timber cost of any work is over the whole mine;
class of
only on seven different sections of a mine : but suppose for example that the cost of pipe
fitting over the whole mine increases, it is suffi-
Cost per ton Mined. cient for the general manager to point this out to
Tonnage. the underground manager, but it would be unfair
Stores. Timber. Total.
for the latter to assume that every section of the
8197 9 73 217 11-90 mine was using pipes wastefully. One section
1
11-40 1-31 12-71 might be doing the very best work, whereas in
2 6976
15-85 4-55 20-40 another very little thought of economy in this
3 6513
6055 24-30 0-85 25 15 ct have been taken.
might As Mr. Pam
4
5 58-11 13-50 211 15-61 says, it may
easy to arrive at the cost of such
lie
23-74 0-75 24-49 items with the help of the clerical staff, but such
6 5162
386 2C.-9S information should be ready to hand. Unless the
7 4017 23 12
underground officials can see at the end of each
The which correspond with one another
sections month the result of their work in the various
in so far as the class ofwork going on is con- sections.of the mine
which they are in charge,
of
cerned, are numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7, numbers 4 they will not be so careful in marking time
and 6 are those in which most of the develop- tickets and requisitions as they otherwise
ment is being done. w ould be.
r
Referring to the case mentioned
Mr. Phillips in his remarks on the Bonus by Mr. Pam where shift-bosses pooled their
System loses sight of the fact that figures relat- bonuses, Mr. Pam must admit that " monfty
ing to screen values are carefully watched by the talks," and if shift-bosses earned more money for
management of any mine, which, combined with better work and pooled the money, it would still
careful underground inspection, helps to ensure be to their advantage to do the best work and
as far as possible a maximum profit combined increase their pay all round. In any case it is
with a maximum of safety. As Mr. Dunnachie admitted by most people that better work is
is evidently a very firm believer in rule of thumb obtained from men on a contract or day's pay,
methods, his remarks need no comment, plus bonus system, than by men on a purely d
Mr. Richardson states that my assertions re-' pay rate, no matter how conscientious the men
garding the lack of data require more convincing may be. All the figures ni cessary for some such
proof than that which I have offered. 1 would system as described in my paper can be kept by
ask Mr. Richardson if, with all the data referring one competent clerk, even for quite a large mine.
to underground costs which he has available With Mr. Cullen's remarks I quite agree. I am
in his office, he can tell me which of the in favour of some such system, as he has intro-
two following methods of taking out pillars duced at Modderfoutein, being adopted on the
where the reef is dipping at 30* for example mines. I am sorry that I did not make it quite
above a drive, is the cheapest and most satis- clear to Mr. Stckes that the cost of such items as
factory. Should the pillars, behind which the air and water pipe fitting and track-laying are
hanging is caved, be taken out by hand drilling, segregated, but such is the case. Mr. Stokes is
or would it pay to put in say 800 ft. of \h in. apparently under the impression that an enor-
air pipes and the same length of water pipes and mous amount of clerical work is involved in
take out the pillars by drilling with hammer drills, keeping sectional costs; as I have already men-
giving the cost per ton broken in each case, cost of tioned this is not the case with the aid of figures
air, machine maintenance, etc., the question of usually kept by the clerical staffs on the mines of
scarcity of labour not to be taken into considera- the Piand. I fail to see how any system, which
tion. I certainly do not admit that the utility makes it possible for a shift-boss' work to be
of graphic records is incommensurate with the judged purely by results obtained from his sec-
work involved in their preparation. A graphic tion month by month, a new standard being set
record conveys more both to a trained and un- from time to time as the conditions require, will
trained mind, at a glance, than does a list of induce shift-bosses to work competitively, espei i
figures studied for some considerable time. ally if, as Mr. Pam suggests, any bonuses are
"
Nov. 1912 Ihm Ivor James— The Action of Alkalies on Phenolphthalein. 189
pooled. In reply to Mr. Hans Meyer, I am system of levelling and laying out in beds admits
sorry that the manner in presented my
which I of thorough saturation with water obtained from
subject of underground costs has led him to the Sundays River. Such a watering is probably
misunderstandmy meaning. I will try to make equivalent to four or more inches of rain, which
my meaning more clear. To do this I must ask all soaks into the ground. When there is
Mr. Meyer to look at the underground cost enough water, either from rain direct or water-
question from the point of view of an under- ing from the river, the growth is good and quite
ground manager. From Mr. Meyer's point of even, but during the dry season or such a drought
view I quite agree that the generalised tabulation as is now being experienced all over the Union,
of costs underground work, which are con-
of the patchy growth of the lucerne, more particu-
veniently collected and circularised bj* the head larly in those beds which required much levell-
offices of the mining groups, arc excellent, but I ing and exposure of hard subsoil, is very notice-
think Mr. Meyer will agree with me that with able. The poor growth is on those places which
the introduction of the position of underground were originally high ground or hillocks and the
managers consequent on the amalgamation of good growth in those places which were ori-
mines in the last few years, it is important that ginally low, and on which loose earth from the
underground costs should be more carefully high parts has been deposited.
segregated than they are at present, so that the It appears that the hardness of the ground and
work on all sections of a large mine can be its incapacity to absorb sufficient moisture to-
closely followed by the official who is responsible withstand a dry season, as well as preventing the
for the work done underground. If all under- roots of the plants penetrating deep enough, are
ground officials from shift-bosses upwards are the main factors in poor growth. The lucerne
circularised ever}" month with the cost figures does not die out but simply ceases growing, or at
relating to the work each
is doing, the chief worst may wither, but as soon as water is applied
difficulty of the co-operation of the
enlisting goes on as well as ever.
various officialsjis at once greatly minimised, and Mr. William Hume, Managing Director of the
a greater feeling of interest in the work going on Selborne Estate of The Addo Land and Irriga-
is created. tion Company, now proposes to drill holes six or
In conclusion I must thank all those who eight feet apart in the hard ground, and to blast
have contributed to the discussion on my with dynamite. The holes will be drilled be-
paper for their remarks, and despite the fact, as tween the plants of lucerne and need not disturb
Mr. Stokes says that such remarks were purely them if the blasting is carefully done. Certainly
destructive in character, yet they further convince itshould have the effect of making the ground
me that there is much more room for improve- more porous and capable of absorbing moisture.
ment in respect to underground work and
Mr. E. Thomas (Member of Council)
J. :
the Uitenhage district, where I did some blast- The President Mr. James is unfortunately
:
ing for trees. Lucerne is largely grown there, illand cannot attend to read his paper. Mr. H.
and my attention was drawn to the uneven A. White has kindly consented to do so for him.
growth in patches immediately adjoining most
luxurious growth. It might be explained that
an elaborate system of levelling of the ground is THE ACTION OF ALKALIES ON
practised, and where the ground slopes terrace PHENOLPHTHALEIN.
beds are made. A bed is usually about 10
yards wide and up to 400 yards long, with a By Dan Ivor James (Member).
bank of earth on either side six to twelve inches
high. The fall in the length of the bed is small, The work described in the following pages deals
only a few inches per 100 ft., and in a short bed with a part of the more general question of the
the ground might be practically level. This colour changes of the phthaleins. Circumstances,
190 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
however, will necessitate an interruption of the solution were treated with known varying
experiments for some time, and so it has been amounts of freshly made iV/ 10 KOH as free as
thought advisable to communicate the results possible from K„C0 3 and , then made up to 1 litre
already obtained. It is well known that the with freshly boiled distilled water. Solutions A
colour of alkaline phenolphthalein gradually and B were compared directly with an arbitrary
fades in presence of an excess of alkali, but
apparently no quantitative results of this
V.
/'
The method 90
phenomenon have been published.
of experiment is simple, and consists in directly H bo /
comparing the relative intensities of colour of
the solutions in a colorimeter, the form due to 7° /
Donnan being found very satisfactory. After
O
>5
bo /
considerable practice has been acquired, the eye
becomes more sensitive and fairly consistent So /
results can be obtained. In the case of the more 3
to
faintly coloured solutions, it is very much easier
lo
to detect differences in intensity than in the O
stronger ones. 10
For each of the values obtained from ten to
fifteen different sets of readings were taken and the
<
(J
/
mean value determined, the depth of the colour r- / £ « *
of the solutions being inversely proportional to §
the height of liquid required for equal intensity
of colour in the two tubes. '
Relative intensity of Colour.
Fig. I.
It was first found that using an excess of
standard solution and then compared with each
alkali the colour intensity is directly propor-
other as a check. Solution C was compared with
tional to the amount of alkaline phenolphthalein
present. Such a relationship was only to be B, D with C, etc. The intensity of solution A
expected. Table I. shows the results obtained was finally taken as unity. This method is open
to the objection of accumulated errors for
and Tig. I. the same relationship expressed
graphically. The standard solution contained solutions such as K
or O, but it is preferable to
0-10 gm. phenolphthalein dissolved in 100 cc. of direct comparison with an arbitrary standard, as
10 cc. of the various solutions were in the latter case the readings of the small layer
alcohol ;
of solution K involve such a large percentage
treated with 100 cc. iT/10 KOH, made up to a
error as to vitiate entirely the result. Table II.
litre with freshly boiled distilled water, and the
solutions thus obtained compared in the expresses the results obtained, and figure II. the
colorimeter. relationship graphically.
Table I.
Table II.
JNov. 1912 Dan Ivor Jam, s -lite Action of Alkalies on Phenolphthalein. 191
Molar ratio :
PHENOLPHTHALEIN.
FIG. II.
It will be seen that the maximum colour is got benzene nucleus into a quinonoid structure
by using two molecules of alkali to one of phenol- becomes impossible. The simultaneous neutrali-
phthalein and thereafter an excess of alkali does sation of two molecules of alkali by one molecule
not increase the colour. Such a result would of the phthalein in this manner is improbable as
appear to have a direct bearing on the structure the curve shows no discontinuity, and given an
of the red compound produced. According to insufficient amount of alkali, the carboxyl group
Green and Perk in*, it should be the mono- should be neutralised before the much less
potassium quinonoid salt electro-negative phenolic hydroxy!. In addition
to this, if an alkaline solution of phenolphthalein
C0 K 2
be decolorized with CO., and this decolorized
solution be treated with KOH
either at once, or
C6 H 4 after standing for a fortnight, the colour is im-
mediately restored to its original intensity, thus
showing that none of the phthalein has been
decomposed. It would certainly seem to be
unusual that a quinonoid salt of the type above
OH indicated should be immediately transformed in
very dilute solution into the lactone structure
and a maximum colour should be obtained when usually ascribed to phenolphthalein, on the addi-
all the phenolphthalein has been converted into tion of such a weak acid as CO.,.
this compound, i.e., by using one molecule of
In conformity with this view, a disodium salt
alkali for onp molecule of the phthalein. (if phenolphthalein has been obtained by Meyer
Any further addition of alkali should only and Spenglerf who find it to be strongly coloured.
substitute the phenolic hydrogen and not affect It is stated that the dimethyl ether of phenol-
J:
phthalein is insoluble in cold alkalies and gives no It was thought that a study of the monomethyl
red colour with them, the lactone ring being split ormonoethyl ether of phenolphthalein would throw-
up on heating with aqueous potash. This is the light on the problem, but so far it has not been
general behaviour of lactones, and it would found possible to isolate the ether in a sufficient
follow that this ring in phenolphthalein should state of purity, free from the accompanying
not be opened with the extreme facility that is phenolphthalein for colorimetric determinations,
required by the quinonoid structure. On the although the monoethyl ether is said to have
other hand Ostwald's explanation based on ionic been prepared.*
principles* is in accordance with the above facts, The behaviour of diaeetyl-phenolphthalein is
as a maximum intensity of colour would here be interesting, inasmuch as its alcoholic solution gives
obtained from a dipotassium salt. In support of an immediate intense red with baryta water ;.
this it has been found that using a known weight but if to the alcoholic solution water be added
of the phthalein and of different alkalies (0 25 gm. ;
until a milky mixture be obtained, and then
phenolphthalein in 100 cc. alcohol, 5 cc. of this baryta water, the red colour only develops slowly
solution treated with the equivalent of 50 cc. and it is some time before the full intensity is
iVVlO NaOH, KOH, 4
NH
OH, Ca(OH) 2 (Sr(OH)„, , obtained. The phenomenon appears to be due
Ba(OH).,, and then made up to 250 cc. with to the progressive hydrolysis of the acetyl
freshly boiled distilled water) equal intensities derivative which is readily hydrolysed, just as
were observed in all cases. The visible absorp- phenolphthalein is readily acetylated.
tion spectra of these solutions were plotted It is proposed to investigate the ultraviolet
agaiD.st thicknesses of the solutions examined, absorption of these compounds with a view to
and as is evident from Fig. III. the curves elucidating the above-mentioned colour changes.
obtained are identical, the absorption band being The rate at which the colour is destroyed by
sharp towards its red end and becoming diffuse excess of 'alkali was then studied, and as the in-
at the blue end. tensity of the colour is proportional to the
*" Scientific foundations of Analytical Chemistry." •E. Grande, Chem. Centr., 1892, 1 380.
f
\
V \ i
Ba. H\
/ s
y
> /
y 'J
5" S5
)
Sx K o
/ in Zr
// /
/
_y
f
y
S5
S
(k lYa.
I /
/ //
fY
/
'
__y -v. 10
V) I
Wav f. Lengths.
Fig. HI.
Nov. 1912 Ii.m Ivor James -The Action o/Alialieson Phenolphthalein 193
amount of phenolphthalein present, the amount In view of the large excess of alkali employed,
decomposed could be readily calculated. Table one would expect the reaction to conform to the
III. indicates the results thus obtained and Fig. monomolecular law, but attempts to calculate any
IV. the amount of decomposition with time The constants on this basis proved a failure neither :
solutions were prepared by taking 5 cc. of a does the amount of phenolphthalein decomposed
solution of 3975 gm. phenolphthalein in 250 cc. appear to bear a direct proportionality to the
alcohol, transferring to a litre flask, adding the amount of free alkali present. In the case of
requisite amount of freshly made iV/10 KOH solution G, the colour had not disappeared even
and making up to a litre with freshly boiled after 3 months standing.
1
distilled water.
It was not found possible to determine the
All the solutions were allowed to stand at the
ordinary temperature of the laboratory in glass order of the reaction as, when using only small
stoppered flasks (to avoid contamination with amounts of free alkali, the colour change pro-
C02 ). ceeded too slowly to be measured.
Table III.
Time in
1 3 5 7 11 13 16
Days :
6 7 £ "9 10 13 i+ Itr ib
Time in Days.
Fig. IV.
—
194 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912'
combined. I see from the author's figures that The President I met Mr. James to-day and
:
he has worked with exceedingly low concentra- unfortunately his health and his duties recently
1
tions, viz. 40 00 This has enormously increased
.
interfered with the greater amount of work on
the error due to hydrolysis, and I find that in the this paper which he was proposing to do. He
half stage the error is 28%. This is really a has promised us a further contribution later
serious fault in his theory, and perhaps the when he returns from his holiday and we hope
author will consider that when he comes to reply. that the change will restore his health.
The following is the exact calculation. From
the concentration-equations :
obtaining employment in reduction works will be appointments such as assistant sampling and
able ti> get first hand information of the views surveying, which brin>; him more into touch
and opinions held with respect to it. with the direction of the various operations of
Apart from the clerical staff nearly all surface the mine, in short with management.
workers fall into two classes, mechanics and re- In reduction works the old state of affairs con-
duction works employees, and at the outset I tinues, every untrained learner feels, or should
should like to say that my remarks deal only feel that he may reach the top of the tree,
with the latter. though he has many years of drudgery, with
I take it we all believe ourselves to be little opportunity for using his brains, before him
" workers" of sorts, but I think I am correct in first.
supposing that in the title of the paper the term The trained man on the other hand is taken on
is applied in the sense in which it is us:d by on scarcely better terms and the same oppor-
" labour " men to distinguish the men who carry tunities to do exactly the same work, and while
out with their hands, rather than those who it may be urged that if his training is of any use
merely supervise, the various operations, and that at all it will enable him to rise more quickly, the
it is to them that the paper more particularly usual nature of the employment gives him no
applies. opportunity at all to make u e of his training,
At the same time many of them aspire to reach and it is simply certain traits of character, inborn,
the higher positions, even as others have done in which enables one or the other to be differentiated
the past, and doubtless some will succeed. from his fellows, and consequently trained men
Still, the plaint of the technical staffs is that nearly always turn to underground work.
there are not enough capable men to promote, and The employment of trained men in reduction
I venture to think that this position is the fault works in this way constitutes, in my
opinion, a
of the present organisation, which results in em- misuse and waste of material metallurgical^
:
ployment in Hand
reduction works being trained men, at least I think so, could, after being
singularly unattractive to trained men. put through the work of the various departments
In considering the position it appears to me (a good deal of which they will have done during
that the present state of affairs in reduction the vacations of their College course) be better
works is analagous to that which obtained under- utilised in junior appointments on the technical
ground in past years, i.e. a man, not necessarily staff analogous to those mentioned in connection
with any previous mining experience or training, with underground service, samplers and surveyors
was employed at some very subordinate and per- of the one case becoming samplers and assay^rs
haps purely manual job, showing aptitude he was in the other, though of course very many fewer
put on to something better, and soon till ultimately are required, and assaying should not, as at
he may have risen to be manager or consulting present, be to all intents and purposes a " blind
engineer. alley " occupation.
This however a possibility now long passed,
is on this field, that we are
It is our boast too,
and at the present time only the trained man can always trying fresh "dodges," and surely in con-
hope to receive this recognition and advancement, nection with this we can keep trained men busy.
and whin all is said and done the reason is I sometimes think it is partly owing to mis-
obvious, because he is most worth it to his
i.e. conception of the capabilities of the tiained man
employers. He may have shortcomings, chiefly that he is not more suitably employed how :
due to lack of practical experience at first, as has many of our surface workers, however long they
been repeatedly pointed out in recent discussions may have carried out certain tests or worked a
in this Society, but the remedy is also obvious, certain process, possess the ability to devise a
and he is able, owing to his training, to acquire new test or a new process based on experimental
practical underground knowledge at a much work .'
And how many years of practical work
greater ra f e than the untrained, simply practical, alone would enable one of them to make an
man. whom, however, I do not wish to decry in examination of a refractory gold ore like that
embodied in Mr. Green's recent paper
'
carrying out or direction of actual underground The days are long past when a grounding in
operations, under the ultimate general control of chemistry and a course in assaying represented a
the trained man with his wider outlook. metallurgical training now mathematics, chem-
:
The trained man is not put, and expected to istry, physics, engineering, electrotechnics are all
earn his living for years at pipe fitting, running required, instruction in metallurgy itself being
hammer boys or rock drills, etc., though admit- merely the coping stone.
tedly he should have spent some time at all these In the present state of Rand metallurgy, prac-
things to familiarise himself with them but his : tice is so nearly standardised, and, in broad
road to promotion lies through junior staff outlines, varies so little, that at first sight a high
'196 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
degree of metallurgical qualification seems to be trusted to do so, but who, at the same time, have
uncalled for on the part of anyone on the plant, sufficient intelligence to know what action
to take
but in my opinion it is this very perfection of independently under temporarily changed cireum
present practice, which apparently leaves small stances, i.e., when "things go wrong." There
room for improvement, which needs very capable is, of course, the further requirement of absolute
and highly trained men with the necessary exper- honesty in connection with the handling of gold.
ience to improve upon it at all. From this point of view the unsuitability of
Surely therefore as no one admits that perfection the kafir for this class of work is at once appa-
has actually been reached, it must be adi.iitted rent, and inasmuch as the present position arises
that there is a field for the highly trained man, largely out of the attempt to use only white
who has spent years undergoing a scientific train- labour for this purpose in the same manner as it
ing in metallurgy and its allied subjects but of
; would be used in an all-white country, the prob-
such only very few enter Rand reduction works to- lem to be faced is quite different from that in the
day, the reason undoubtedly being their rating on case of underground employees, the bulk of whom
the same footing as untrained men at first, and the are necessarily natives.
long time to be spent at almost unskilled labour In the great majority of industries, under the
before any position requiring skill or giving a fair technical staffs both skilled and unskilled labour
field for their capabilities can be reached under isemployed, and though the relative skill of the
present conditions. two classes and the ratios of the numbers falling
The cure for this state of affairs is fairly under each head naturally vary widely in differ-
obvious, but, and there is a big but, it would cut off ent cases, in an all-white country in most cases a
the others from hope of reaching the top and so very large proportion of the unskilled labourers
destroy in most cases their incentive to joining haye very little hope of rising to be skilled
the labour force of a reduction plant at all. This workers because they are, for one reason or
however involves a question of policy which is another, unfitted to do so, and further, there is
scarcely before us to-night, but as a result the no room. Still less do they rise to join the
industry has to depend on the partly trained technical staffs.
man, which is all that present day workers on the In the underground work of mining on the
Rand with the present facilities can become in Rand the unskilled labour force is composed of
the time available, unless their previous education kafirs, and in this case the fact that they are
has been out of the ordinary. kafirs is a sufficient bar, at present at any rate,
From the foregoing it will be apparent that I to their overstepping the border line and joining
think the surface organisation should be brought the skilled men —
the miners.
more into line with the undergrouud as soon as On the other hand, in the reduction works
may be and the educational system arranged which adopt the all-white ideal (except, for in-
accordingly. This would of course involve a stance, in discharging vats) both skilled and
thorough day course of metallurgical training for unskilled workers are white, and the majority, in
the men destined for the technical staff and the my opinion, are only doing unskilled work, al-
ordinary learner routine, with attendance a', though admittedly intelligence is necessary.
evening or similar classes, or something equiva- The distinction I wish to make can perhaps be
lent to the Government Miners' Training School brought out by comparing the nature of the
at the Wolhuter, for the labour force. work performed by, say, a fitter or carpenter with
This however may be purely Utopian, though that of an amalgamator or ordinary shiftsman
I hope not, and for the present we have to deal on a cyanide plant the latter are more nearly
;
Nov. 191-2 F. J. Pooler, B.Sc—Tke Surface Workers on the Rand and their Technical Educatio 197
work, unless in disgust they seek some other such a one turn out satisfactorily in the long,
employment. run. He has, in short, to be instructed and not
The routine shift work merely requires ordi- educated. On the other hand, the keen voluntary
nary intelligence and obedience to instructions, student, the man who pays his fees and wants his
and calls for no particular metallurgical know- money's worth, is a source of real pleasure to his
ledge. What I have in mind may be illustrated, instructor.
perhaps, by quoting a saying of that famous In my opinion, therefore, every inducement
metallurgist Dr. Percy, to the effect that he did and encouragement should be offered to those
not see that a tile-cutter would cut
any better a who evince any desire for training, but that
file knowing the composition of the blank on
for training should be made as efficient as it is
which he was working and it is only to enable
;
possible to get under the existing circumstances,,
the worker to take an intelligent interest in his and I do not think it is possible to teach effi-
work, and more particularly to enable him to ciently such subjects as chemistry and metallurgy
rise higher, that scientific instruction is required :
in isolated centres along the Reef, although this
whether it would enable him to discharge his isan admirable plan in subjects which lend them-
duties measurably better I should not like to selves to such treatment. Rather should em-
say. ployers grant special facilities to willing and
A little knowledge, in this as in other cases, deserving students to attend classes at this well-
may be merely dangerous, and lead to carrying equipped central institution.*
out instructions in a manner which is thought
I make no definite suggestion now, but on the
will do just as well or even better, while the re-
Northumberland and Durham coal fields and ever.
sult may be to the contrary.
from the Cleveland ironstone districts in England,
Looking at the matter from the employers' employers give their employees leave, and in some
standpoint still, how does it benefit that the
cases pay their fees and train fares to enable-
shiftsman, while a shiftsman, knows the metal-
them to attend special courses held on Saturday
lurgy of gold from A toZI Not at all. Rut afternoons at the Armstrong College, Newcastle-
when a man is required for promotion, the man upon-Tyne a complete course lasting three years.
;
who knows should be the one selected, though it Here such encouragement is lacking, and it is
is not always so.
a student to attend, but I think it
difficult for
The matter then narrows down to this, that would be only fair for employers who complain
while metallurgical training is not really neces- of the dearth of trained men to fall in with some
sary for the ordinary routine work, a man must such scheme, and I am certain that its adoption
receive some in order to rise. would constitute a great advance in this country,
This brings us to the point of view of the and enable many more students to attend than at
employee, many of whom frankly state their present.
opinion that no training is necessary, and an}' A course of preliminary lectures in which a
time devoted to such is lost time, and might be brief survey of the whole subject is attempted
more profitably devoted to recreation. may serve to awaken
interest, but too many,
The correctness of this can only be admitted in incredible as it may
seem, rest satisfied with
where no ambition to rise exists or, indeed,
-
— attendance at these, thinking either that there is
actual incapacity to do so those who want to
; nothing more to learn or else doubting their
rise must harbour no such delusion. Whether own capacity for acquiring anything more.
those in the first class should be protected against
How much better it is to take a properly
themselves and made to take classes is, in my
organised course extending over at least two and
opinion, a matter of doubtful wisdom in view of
preferably three or four years but in many cases
;
per week has been organised as the best that can The President : I would like to congratulate
be done under the circumstances. The subjects Prof. Stanley on his very excellent contribution
dealt with are elementary chemistry, elementary to this discussion.
general metallurgy, metallurgy of gold, and
assaying, and a few keen students have passed Mr. W. S. V. Price {Member) It has been :
through this with credit in spite of the difficul- pointed out very clearly, that this is not merely
ties of attendance many more, of course, have
:
a question for the Reduction Staffs of the Mines,
taken and passed some only of these classec. but it concerns the whole of the population,
If I may be permitted, before concluding, some especially those of us who have made our homes
remarks on the contributions to the discussion, I out here. Some of us have young rising families,
should like to say that that of Mr. Toombs some have grown up children but to all it is of
;
stands out, and 1 entirely agree with what he vital importance to know what is the best thing
says. to do for our children.
Mr. Cullen also sympathises, and when he says It has been mentioned that the youth of South
that " cyaniding " and " milling " are trades of Africa are fonder of sport than of work they do ;
be appointed to consider the whole matter. " bookish," we think there is something wrong
Professor Thompson deals with compulsory with him and that he is going into a decline.
attendance, and 1 merely add that compulsory However we all have to grow out of the sport
attendance at classes on the reef might be a good stage, and settle down to hard work, and if a
method for ascertaining which students should young fellow does not take a living interest in
be assisted to attend further classes here. his work, he had better change it for something
Professor Wilkinson's remarks relative to the more congenial, for after all we cannot expect
institution of a Government certificate of com- the young man who has been to college and
petency, give much food for thought, and here I worked hard to get, say, a B.A. degree, to take
think in conjunction with what I have already kindly to working with a pick and shovel, with
advocated, a possible solution, or at least an very prospect of rising above it, for as
little
alleviation, of the difficulty may be found it
: Professor Stanley remarked " The chances of
:
certainly merits careful consideration from the getting to the top of the tree, or even very near
suggested committee, which once again I hope it, are necessarily remote. At home we have a
—
may be formed, if not from this Society it may be saying "Kissing goes by favour,'' and 1 am
considered outside our province —
then by the afraid there is a lot of the kissing out here
Chamber of Mines or other body competent to going to the favoured few. I know quite a
deal with the matter. number of young men, up and down the reef,
In conclusion I will deal very briefly with the who have the same drudgery day in and day out,
remaining point of view, that of the onlooker, with prospect of change or advancement.
little
who may after all have growing sons. Many Still, ifsuch a man takes a living interest in his
opinions are possible. Some look upon the " all work, he desires to know more about it he :
white " reduction employees idea as another wants to know the "Why?" of it. He will
instance of the creation of " blind alley " occupa- attend all the classes, lectures, etc., that he can.
tions others are glad to see an additional field of
;
But supposing such a man should happen to be
employment for white youths, and providing no working under a man who calls himself ^.practical
illusions are held as to the possibilities held out, man, meaning that he has not studied theory.
this is the saner view ; but it must be remem- (Mind you, I do not call a man, who has not
bered that only a comparative few can rise to studied the theory of his trade, a practical man :
responsible positions ;the rest, if they have to a certain extent, it is a misnomer, for practice
ambition, must meet with disappointment, for without theory is something like a man with a
the pay, although exceptionally generous for wooden leg, although, to my mind, theory with-
untrained men at the start, is not high after years out practice is like a man with no legs at all, he
of drudgery, and certainly not what an educated has to be carried). I say if the youngster who
white youth should expect to attain to from a is trying to advance his knowledge of his work
logical following up of his education and scarcely by study, should be under such a man, he has
•even equivalent to that of an artisan. often to put up with sneers and often obstacles
—
Nov. 191'J /.'. Linton— Notes on the Cyaniding of Concentrate. 1!>9
do not agree with those who would elevate the His Excellency the Governor-General, the
kafir to the office stool, and elevate the white Right Hon. the Viscount Gladstone, P.O.,
clerk already there, to digging drains. In the G.C.M.G. (Hon. President), Hon. F. S. Malan,
old country they do not usually send to Oxford M.L.A. (Minister of Mines and Education), Messrs.
en- Cambridge for M.A's. to carry bricks up a W. R. Boustred (Mayor of Johannesburg), J.
ladder, anil we have the same bed rock principle Frank Brown, M.P.C., W. Calder (Vice-President,
out here. A few years ago I had the pleasure of S. A. Institution of Engineers), Captain
attending classes under Professor Yates, for a Carruthers, A.D.C., F. D. P. Chaplin, M.L.A.,
mining course, and as I was engaged at the Dr. G. S. Corstorphine (Chairman, S. A. School
actual work underground at the same time, the of Mines), J. Cowie, Dr. H. B. Currie (Vice-Presi-
one part acted as the complement to the other ;
dent, British Medical Association, Transvaal),
each making the other more interesting, as each W. II. Dawe, M. Elkan (President, Transvaal
helped the other. After the examination I went Chamber of Mines), E. Esselen, K.C., H. S.
home for a holiday, and on my return Professor Harger (President, Geological Society of South
Yates wrote asking me my opinion as to the Africa), .1. W. Kirkknd (S. A. Institute of
value and interest of the lectures. My reply Electrical Engineers), R. N. Kotze (Government
was "The value is in exactly the same ratio as
: Mining Engineer), M. K. McLea (President,
the interest taken." This is my contribution to Rand Pioneers), J. Munro, H. Neuhaus, S. K.
this discussion,and my word to the students, so Potter, E. L. Hailing (President, Pharmaceutical
that and when the time comes, they may be
if, Society), H. Warington Smyth (Secretary, Mines
tit to understand and do their work thoroughly. Department), E. A. Wallers, Hon. Justice 0. Ward,
I quite agree that the mining housi S should pro K.C., R. C. Warriner (President, Association of
vide students' technical education,
all facilities for Mine Managers), W. T. Anderson, J. Arthur, E.
for it primarily to their benefit that they
is G. Baskett, E. L. Bateman, R. G
Bevington(I'ast
should be able to draw on their own learners President), W. H. Bodilly, E. J. Bolitho, H.
when they want to, and I do not think anyone Brazier, H. Radcliffe Brown, W. O. Brunton, J.
expects the mines to be run as Benevolent W. Buckley, Dr. W. A. Caldecott (Past President),
Institutions (excepting perhaps Labour M.P's.) W. McC. Cameron, H. S. Candy, J. Chilton, F.
so that they are only helping themselves W. Cindel, W. J. I'larkson, J. Andrew Cohen, A.
when they put these facilities within the reach S. Cotterell, W. M. Coulter, G. A. Darling, A. von
of every lad who has sense enough to use Dessauer, J. M. Dixon, W. N. Dnnnachie, Prof.
.1.
W. Forster, A. French, E. A. Furner, J. Gibson, C. There is every reason why Lord Gladstone-
Glyn, G. H. Gocli, K. L. Graham (Vice-Presi- should be welcome and should feel at home
dent), J. Gray, H. L. Harland, B. J. Hastings, among the company assembled here to-night,
A. J. Herald, F. Herring, R. L. Hewitt, C. B. consisting as it does of men directly interested in
Hilliard, E. Hollis, C. E. Hutton, W. Ingham, mining, both financially and technically. One
W. H. Jane, E. A. Jarman, E. H. Johnson (Past- reason is that I believe he is interested in mines-
President), T. Johnson, A. McA. Johnston (Past- in England, and another, whilst he held the office
President), A. M. Kratz, H. L Krause, K. B. of Home Secretary in the Imperial Parliament
Lamont, E. J. Laschinger, G. A. Lawson, H. the care of the coal and metalliferous mines came
Lea, J. Lea, Q. J. Leitch, L. T. Leyson, R. among his duties.
Lindsay, J. Littlejohn (Hon. Treasurer), J. T. Lord GladstDne's presence here this evening is-
Locker, H. S. Macgregor, G. J. Mackay, C. E. an indication of his sense of duty to all sections
Manners, Dr. J. McCrae, J. McCracken, D. M. of the people and there must necessarily be many
McLeod, J. McNeil, G. Melvill, H. Meyer, Dr. J. calls on his time. In his mauy duties he is ably
Moir (Past-President), J. Moore, P. T. Morrisby, supported by Lady Gladstone. We have only to
S. Newton, W. Nieklin, E. A. Osterloh, E. Paiii, recall the recent successful inauguration of the
S. H. Pearce (Past-President), F. D. Phillips, R. King Edward VII. Memorial which was initiated
Pill, F. J. Pooler, R. A. Porter, O. P. Powell, by Lad} Gladstone.
-
Senator the Hon. E. Powell, J F. Pyles, Band I find that Lord Gladstone is a sportsman of
Daily Mail, M. H. Reid, A. Richardson (Vice- no mean order and used to find time to indulge
President), F. C. Rigby, W. Rockey, M.L.A., in .sport, including cricket, football, golf, cycling,
Fred. Rowland (Secretary), A. Salkinson C. B. shooting, fishing and yachting. I understand he
Saner (Past-President), H. E. Saner, CO. Schinitt, indulges in golf, but I am afraid has had to-
"still
Ashton Smith, G. H. Smith, H. Stadler, Star, give up his yachting here on the high veld. 1 be-
C. Stockdale, W. A. C. Tayler, H. Taylo/, J. A. lieve that his Excellency was the main stay of the
Taylor, A. Thomas, A. M. Thomas, D. M. tug-of war team on board ship and pulled for the
Thomas, J. E. Thomas, W. E. Thorpe, M. winning team in both the home and return jour-
Torrente, Transvaal Leader, F. J. Trump, J. F. neys. We very much regret that the official resi-
Walker, A. J. Walton, F. Wartenweiler. F. W. dence at Johannesburg as such, no longer exists
Watson, J. Watson, J. Watt, J. J. Wessels, F. A. and this is no doubt the reason why we do not see
Westfield, W. S. Whaley, A. Whitby, H. A. so much of the representative of his Majesty the
White (Vice-President), A. Wilkinson, A. H. King as we would wish.
Winterton and L. A. Womble. Gentlemen, I ask you to join me in drinking
the toast of his Excellency the Governor General.
Apologies for inability to atterd the dinner
Lord Gladstone.
were received from :
—
Sir Reginald Hart, V.C.,
Admiral Bush, Baron de Villiers, General Botha, -
board ship. I heard some ironical laughter when porate capacity but 1 hive been acquainted
;
it was said that the team in which I pulled had with you and your work for a considerable time.
—
won some reflection, I suppose, on my personal I receive your Journal. —
(" What do you do with
vigour. That does nut comprise all of my per- it ;") read some of it
I (Laughter) — I try to —
formances on board ship because, I must confess, read some of it —
(Laughter) but as regards a —
not only have I been twice in the winning tug-of- good deal of it, I confess that my well-inten-
war, but I also won a long and exciting contest tioned efforts are confined to a humble but very
in what is known as "Chalking the Pig's Eye/' sincere admiration. —
(Laughter.) I do not know
— (Laughter.) Gentlemen, I could talk to what those varied signs and symbols mean. I
you for a long time on this and kindred know that I ought to have been educated better ;
themes; but I must get on to more serious but these tugs-of-war and things of that sort have
'business. interrupted the progress in my education, and I
Sir, you have been kind enough to regret that humbly confess that I stand in these matters an
the Governor-General's residence in Johannesburg ignoramus, but an ignoramus, at any rate, cap-
>no longer exists. That, indeed, would have con- able of appreciating the great work which is
cerned me very greatly had it not been for the constantly taking place all along the Reef.
fact that the Government very kindly, to me, at (Hear, hear.) You, gentlemen, represent the
any rate, if not as regards Johannesburg, hive brains of the Industry you are working day by
;
undertaken to provide a house in which the day you are not altogether forgotten I do not
;
:
Governor-General can reside for a certain period forget you. I confess, I have not profited by
of time in the year. —
(Hear, hear.) It is difficult you myself, because for one reason or another I
very often to accept the many kind invitations I have never had any shares in any gold mine in
get from friends in Johannesburg to take part in the Transvaal —
(Laughter) but I know a great —
social functions in the City and on the Reef, and —
many who have (Renewed laughter) -and under
—
itbecomes more difficult, of course, if there is no the glitter of your finished product the output
period of residence for the Governor-General in — and under the glitter of all these brilliant trans-
the course of the year. However, I am glad to actions which the commercial and financial world
arise now, and I
"think that difficulty does not indulge in in consequence of your work and,
hope ro have many occasions on which I shall so to speak, because of your labours and through
ihave the pleasure of meeting Johannesburg your labours, I, as a humble outsider, recognise
friends in the near future. —
(Hear, hear). that it is to you, that it is upon you, that this
Sir, I another of your remarks
also noticed great industry depends for its position, as one of
with reference to the splendid answer which the best known and most famous industries in
Johannesburg and the whole Reef have made to the world —
(Hear, hear) and I only hope that —
the appeal for support of the King Edward you will get in this world's recognition all that
Memorial Fund for the establishment of an Order you deserve for your labours (Laughter) —
of Nurses. —
(Hear, hear.) I take this very first though I sometimes suspect, gentlemen, that
opportunity of expressing my gratitude for the other people, rather than you, get the greater
splendid effort that has been made — an effort share of the profits, so much of which is due to
shared in by hundreds of enthusiastic workers what you do. Well, now, that is a subject on
ml for the exhilarating answer to the efforts
;t which I must stop talking. It is not the busi-
which have been so made. All I need say now ness of a Governor-General to make speeches ;
is this, that the scheme we have been working at that is perhaps one of the least parts of the
is now on its legs and it is only a question of a functions which he has to discharge. The
few weeks before practical effect is given to the Governor-General should make as few speeches
organisation which the Executive Committee have and as short as possible and I see on each side :
had before them for the past year or two years. of me distinguished representatives of political
(Applause.) 1 am quite certain, gentlemen, that parties who have all been putting their heads
everyone who has responded to the appeal, before together as how best they may outwit each other
many months have passed, will see that the — (Laughter) — and I have no doubt you are
money which has been subscribed will be a great looking forward to hearing speeches from them
boon to people in general who inhabit the Union as to the result of their cogitations and their
of South Africa. —
(Hear, hear). efforts during the past week in different camps
my
Now, gentlemen, coining immediately to your and schools of thought ; so that, I recognise
Society, I thank yon most heartily, not only for own and 1 thank you, gentlemen,
limitations,
your hospitality to me to-night, but for your most warmly for your kindness to-night and I :
response DO the toast so kindly proposed by the most heartily wish collectively all prosperity to
Chair. This is the first occasion on which 1 have your Society, and individually to every member
had the pleasure of meeting you in your cor- of that Society. —
(Loud applause).
— —
2H-2 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 191j
Tiik Society and the Industry. grand total of 317,000 individuals having direct
Mr. F. S. Malan (The Minister of Mines): connection with and livelihood out of the big
Mr. Chairman, your Excellency, Mr. Mayor and mining industry of the Union of South Africa.
gentlemen, during the past week we have had The State depends to a very large extent on that
several showers in Johannesburg. Whether they Industry — —
(Loud applause) in every sense.
were very refreshing or not I am not prepared to Directly, the State draws a revenue from the
say. You, Mr. Mayor, need not be afraid I ; Mining Industry of the Union of South Africa of
am not going to talk " Water " I am referring ; £2,333,000, and then, besides that, it supplies a
to the showers of speech-making, and I think it
must be quite refreshing to you, gentlemen, after
—
market for the other big perhaps the biggest
industry of the country, the Agricultural Indus-
listening to these speeches or reading them in try. Hut, gentlemen, however important these
the papers. —
(A voice " I have not done either.")
: figures may be, it seems to me that the Mining
— Well, you are a wise man (Laughter) —
to — Industry in South Africa means something more.
come here this evening and to feel that we are I have noticed with very great satisfaction that
not here on a political errand. I dare say you the men who have made money in connection
have noticed, as I have, that one morning you with the Mining Industry of South Africa are
read of a split in the Unionist Camp, in one recognising more and more their obligations
paper —
well, of course, it has to be very promptly to South Africa.— (Hear, hear.) I refer to
followed two days later by the announcement in th» munificent gifts of the late Sir Julius
another paper of a split in t he Nationalist Party. Wernher and Mr. Beit for the University
1 do not know whether you feel much interested of South Africa (Hear, • hear) —and, sir, if
in that. I do not know much about the Unionist that University comes to be established, I be-
Party ;but I can tell you that, as regards the lieve it Will be a University for Research, for
split in the Nationalist Party, it is a mere mare's Science, and indirectly for the Mining Industry
nest. — (Hear, Mr. President and
hear.) Well, of the country and you gentlemen here will
;
gentlemen, as I have said, we are not here for a benefit by the establishment of such a University.
political purpose but we are here for the pur-
; I have also noticed with satisfaction the splendid
pose of doing honour to science (hear, hear)
science and to the men who are
— gift of valuable paintings which a man who has
to applied made his money in connection with the Mining
engaged that science. I think that it is very
in Industry of South Africa —
Mr. Michaelis— has
appropriate that the toast of the Society of ottered to the Union of South Africa, which offer
Chemists, Metallurgists and Mining Engineers has been accepted by the Government on behalf
should be coupled with that of the Industry, the of South Africa. I have heard the remark :
big mining industry of the Union of South Africa. " Why not tax the Industry and get the money
What that Industry owes to Science, it would be in that way, rather than feel proud that men
very difficult for me to summarise in a short who have made their money come forward volun-
speech and I do not intend to keep you very
; tarily and give large sums of money '" Well,
long. I believe myself, and I think you know Sir, I do not agree with that, because I believe
it as well as I do, that without Science as applied there is a sentiment in the matter also and we :
to the Gold Mining Industry on the Witwaters- welcome the fact that men of that stamp are
rand, the Industry would have been impossible : coming forward, recognising as they do that they
and it is the practical work which you men owe a duty to South Africa and that they give
sitting round this table here this evening have these things which will tend to broaden and to
put into that work which has made it possible deepen the national life of South Africa. (Hear, —
for us to speak of the big gold mining industry hear.) Mr. Chairman, and gentlemen, I wish
of the Union of South Africa. I am not going your Society and the Industry every success and
to weary you with many figures but just to ; prosperity. ()n a former occasion, when I had
picture to ourselves what that industry means, an opportunity of addressing the members of
and, gentlemen, what the mining industry means your Society, I expressed the hope that while en-
to the Union of South Africa and perhaps to — gaged in the practical part, in the application, of
remind others who do not know as we do what their Science, they would not lose sight of the
it really amounts to —
I have looked up the ideal of working for Science not only for its
figures, and I find that the Mining Industry of practical value, but also with a view to extending
the Union of South Africa produces, or stands the store of information and knowledge of the
for, an annual value of very nearly £48,000,000, human race. I have noticed, with very great
or, to be exact, £47,G79,2!U. The number of satisfaction indeed, that some seven or eight of
people employed in that Industry is a very large your most prominent members have, during the
one indeed I think we have got an army of
; last 12 months, produced a book which is a credit
38,000, and 279,000 other than Europeans a ; to your Society, a credit to the men who have
Nov. 191-J Annual Dinner of the Society. 203=
or method making for increased recovery tending that he will put up a million of money to equip
to lengthen the lives of the mines by bringing a mine on what appears slender evidence, and yet
.into the profitable region those bodies of ore pre- without this capital our mines could not be
viously unprofitable, are questions of prime im- worked. The evidence may consist of the assays
portance. Questions of this nature are among of cores of ore, the result of boring hundreds of
those dealt with by our Society because we feet, or on the probability of the ore being profit-
recognise our responsibilities. able because the mine is in the neighbourhood of
At the same time whilst handling those sternly a profitable mine, or on geological evidence.
practical questions we try not to lose sight of the Again, he is prepared on the advice of his
theoretical side of our work, and as Mr. Malan engineers to spend hundreds of thousands of
in addressing the members at a meeting in July pounds on plant and machinery. I must say
last and also to-night advised us to do, we search that I admire the courage with which he parts
for truth for truth's sake, as our records will with his money, before an ounce of gold is pro-
show. duced other than the assay beads.
Further than this the humane aspect has a large The industry, as the result of the willingness
share, and we find the mines spending and pre- of the capitalist to find the money to hack the
pared to spend large sums of money in ventilation technical men in his schemes, has made great
apparatus, dust allaying and dust preventive strides. When we remember the early days of
devices. It is very interesting and gratifying to open cuttings, erection of mills at the nearest
see the results of tests on underground air before water, probably several miles from the mine, the
a,nd after the introduction of the measures for mill usually sunk in an excavation, transport of
dust removal or allaying. I must say that I, for ore by Scotch cart, supply of coal by bullock
one, am confident that with the mines prepared wagon augmented by wood when the roads were
to supply the money, and with the large body of bad, and many other difficulties, and compare
technical people bringing all their knowledge and these with the position to-day, it may be readily
skill bear on the problem, miners' phthisis
to realised what has been done, and very largely
is on a fair way to complete elimination. In any due to the work of our members.
case there appears to be every hope for that Mr. Malan, I thank you for your kind expres-
desirable result. sions in proposing the toast of the Society and
When I leave the ltand for other parts of the Industry and you, gentlemen, for receiving it so
Union, I feel that coming from the Gold Fields kindly.
.my fellow- colonists are liable to regard me with
some reserve as coming from that hotbed of crime South Africa.
— Johannesburg. These people lose sight of the Mr. F. P. Chaplin, M.L.A.
D. Your Ex-
:
fact that the mining industry contributes so cellency, Mr. Mayor, Mr. President and gentle-
largely to the prosperity of the country and that men, I could almost wish that the honour of
they benefit by the existence of the industry. I -proposing this toast and the honour of replying
think myself that we should all be very proud of to it had been conferred upon some people other
the mines. Certainly members of the Chemical, than two party politicians such as myself and my
Metallurgical and Mining Society should be, since friend Mr. Esselen —
(Laughter) —
more especially
the continuation of successful working means so as we have both been busily occupied, in the inter-
much to the country. vals of earning our living, in attending two Con-
A great deal has been written and said about gresses which have taken place in Johannesburg
the insecurity of tenure of office on the mines and and Pretoria during the past few days. Now, as
the hardships that the wage-earner undergoes. regards one Congress, I know, and I think most
In spite of all this volume of talk, we find that of you know, all that happened there as regards :
the rate of pay on the Witwatersrand is high, the other Congress, Mr. Malan has told us some-
probably higher than any other part of the world thing that did not happen but, in order that
:
and that the district is really a wage-earner's you, gentlemen, should not be disappointed, I
paradise. The mine owners have not taken have made a bargain with my friend Mr. Esselen
advantage of the law of supply and demand to when he responds to this toast that he will tell
reduce the rates of wages, since the white man us all that did happen. —
(Laughter.) Now,
here is artifically protected against native com- really, I think, these Congresses, quite apart from
petition, which is not the case elsewhere in South party politics, are very good institutions. (Hear, —
Africa. I would like to sound a note of warning hear.) We have had collected here in Johan-
to the agitators on these fields that it would be nesburg some 300 delegates from all parts of the
wiser to leave well alone. country and I believe they have had collected in
;
Further we must admire the courage of the Pretoria a large number of delegates —
I do not
capitalist in risking his money, when we consider —
know exactly how many also from all parts of
) —
Nov 19;_' Annual IJhuit «/' the Society 205
the country, and I believe that, in spite of what and then you let loose a flood of eloquence, and
His Excellency has said, namely, that the chief everybody who has got nothing whatever to do
object of the delegates of both Congresses was to with it will tell you exactly how the Mining
see how they could get the better of each other, Industry ought to be run. I am always immensely
all the same there has been a lot of very useful interested when
hear people with the best
I
discussion, and these discussions in the long run intentions us how we are to get our
telling
are for the benefit of South Africa —
Hear, hear.( labour, where we are to get our labour, what
Now, when you go to a Congress —
dare say a
I we ought to pay our labour, how we ought
good many of you gentlemen here have been to to use it : and I sometimes wish that those
—
Congresses when you go to a Political Congress, gentlemen who are so very sure of their
one of the things that generally strikes you at — propositions had had the trouble and the
[a) Pots in Furnace. (6) Parting Mask on tripod, (c), (d) and (e)
Distilling with Alembics. (/) Tripod to hold vessel lor parting gold
from silver, [a) .Sample '• tin " On the right may be seen the
('.').
least it generally strikes me — is that if you are experience that some of us have had in the
only a politician, if you are only even a delegate matter and that does not apply only to labour,
:
particular thing connected with the Mining of those discussions, people get to know each
Industry has anything to do with party politics other better ; they get to see each others point
—
206 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 191-
and we know that in time it will be recog- the least inclination to do that now, or at any
nised and, therefore, as I said, I think these
; other time when I have got my friend Mr.
—
Congresses which take place and especially these Esselen to reply to my " case." Mr. Esselen is a
Political Congresses— do a great deal of good, much more practised orator than I am, and I am
because they show people that you cannot get at quite sure that if I were always followed by Mr.
the very thing that you want —
you cannot get at Esselen I should make a pretty poor case but I ;
recognise is that, whatever the merits and perhaps with equal justice, complain that we
demerits may be, of the people who look after want to be in too much of a hurry, that we want
this industry, the industry itself is a means for to rush things and that we, or some sections of
the expansion of the whole of South Africa. us, want to take short-cuts such as those which I
(Hear, hear.) We have got the same thing in have hinted at, and which can only end in
another form in other countries. In the Argen- disaster. We want a little more tolerance on
tine, for example, you have got a vast railway both sides. If weget that, if we on our side
system built almost entirely, I believe, of British make a little more allowance for the peculiarities
capital —
(Hear, hear) —
and I feel perfectly cer- of people who have seen a new civilization grow
tain that when people go to Congresses in the up around them and they on their side are
Argentine and when they make political speeches, prepared to admit that, after all, we though we —
more especially at election time, they say what a nyay have been strangers at the beginning, but
monstrous thing it is that all the dividends —
not now have brought a great deal of prosperity
should go out of the country. —
(Laughter). into the country, well, then, there is room for the
Well, if you have not got the capital yourself in fullest co-operation. —
(Hear, hear.) I think,
the country, of course you have to go to someone that in that co-operation will be found the
else to give it to you. If you do not get any, well, best omen for the future prosperity of South
it is a bad day for you and therefore we have
; Africa.
got, I think, to try and make it known that this In giving you this toast it is my pleasing duty
industry is the means of expansion of the whole to couple with it the name of my friend, Mr.
of the country. —
(Hear, hear.) I believe that, as Esselen. —
(Hear, hear.) Mr. Esselen is, as I
the result of tin greater connection that has
1
arisen between the different parts of the hope he is none the worse for that. He is well
country in the different interests of the country known to all of us here. We are all, or at least
as the result of Union, the interdependence of many of us are, glad occasionally to avail our-
the two great Industries of the country is more selves of his skill in the Courts, and I am sure
and more recognised. I find that I am talking — we shall all be glad to avail ourselves of the
about our Congress, and Mr. Esselen will tell opportunity of hearing him reply to this toast.
you whether it is not the same with his you
get the most progressive farmers in the Cape
— (Hear, hear.) Gentlemen, I give you the toast
of the prosperity of South Africa coupled with
Colony coming up and saying quite openly that
they recognise that their interests are the .same
the name of Mr. Esselen. —
(Applause).
we want to encourage ; it all leads to good feel- Mr. Mayor, Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I
—
Nov. I'll Animal Dinner of the Society. -•07
do not know whether you have considered the I have already told you that I cannot place
task that has been placed before me this evening. myself in the country. May I ask you this :
If you have, I am sure that, without considering, does not the country itself return to you its best
or having considered it before you heard my thanks in the results which you achieve by your
friend Mr. DrummondChaplin, yon would have labours, by your experiments, and by your en-
thought it an impossible one. Am
I to put croachments, if I may so call it, upon Nature.
myself in the place of the country am I to put : Surely though perhaps the emoluments that you
;
myself in the place of you, or all of us who occupy get for the services, which you render to those
this country —
it may be even temporarily who employ you, are disproportionate to what
(Laughter) —
am I to put myself in the place of the people who employ you get in the bounteous
a particular portion of South Africa or the whole return which Nature and this country gives to
of South Africa; and how can you possibly them for the capital they put into it. I am not
imagine that it is to the least extent possible for prepared to express an opinion on that. If, as
a man to adequately return thanks to a learned far as my own profession is concerned, I had to
assembly like this for the honour they do the venture an opinion, I might perhaps say that I
country by being there and assisting in making do not, and the most of my profession do not
it as prosperous as possible. I confess, Mr. think the return that we get adequate but let
;
Chairman and gentlemen, that the task is beyond me remind you if you have cause for making a
my power, and if, in addition to that, I had been similar complaint that you must not put that
tempted to express some political sentiments by down to the country, because I think that nobody
the example set to me to night both by Mr. can say that, where you have a return such as I
( lhaplin and Mr. Malan —
two active politicians saw only last month, when I think the return
I think my task would become perfectly impos- out of the Gold Industry, which you so largely
sible :but I am glad to say that I am not in help to u-od nee, totalled up to £3,700,000 in
]
that position because — and I want to at once one month, and where again I saw a little while
relieve your minds — am I not going to talk ago that the shipment for diamonds for one
politics, nor am I going to talk Congresses month's produce from the Premier Mine was to
(Laughter) —
for the simple reason that I have the value of another £200,000. I think that you
not taken part in any of them. I have not been, might say that the trouble the Metallurgists and
as my friend Mr. Malan and my friend Mr. Chemists have taken to coax away the glittering
Chaplin have been, " Congres.sing " and I am ; gold and the scintillating diamonds from this
sure that, not only am I grateful that I have not despised old South Africa is a plenteous return
been, but you are. I am not a member of any and a bounteous thanks to you for what you have
of the Congresses. I admit, at once, that I am done. It is a pity that you cannot do more : it
a party politician. What would this world be is a pity, for instance, as I have already said,
without party politicians There would be no
.'
that you cannot mix up all these politicians
interest. What, for instance, would the news- in some crucible and get some good out of
papers do without them ? But, I am going to them.
dismiss this question of Congresses with the Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, I say this, that
expression of one wish —
and that is, gentlemen, South Africa is grateful to you for what you have
1 wish that not only were it in your power, but done, especially for what you have done in the area
I wish it were within youi calling that you could comprising the Witvvatersrand, because, to those
have merged all these Congressional gentlemen who have seen it yr ears ago, before it came under
in one crucible, melt them together, put them the skilful hands of you gentlemen, a more bleak,
through some chemical process, and get some disheartening and. discouraging country did not
—
good out of them. (Loud laughter.) You might exist and, if I may say so, I think also that the
:
have succeeded in a task which is impossible for rest of South Africa compared with this was not
me even to attempt you might have got some-
: so promising, was not so enticing, was not so
where near the truth of what transpired in the alluring, as it is to-day to the seeker of his
Congress at Pretoria that was held with closed fortunes in this country and therefore I admit,
;
doors. —
(Laughter.) Mr. Malan, as Mr. Chaplin and I will admit with pleasure and thanks to ycu
has said, has just opened the door he has told ; — I will admit at once that you, gentlemen, the
you what has net happened there. Well, I must members of the Society of which we have the
say, as far as that is concerned, if the doors were honour of being the guests to-night have done an
closed, just as these doors here are at the present enormous amount to make Sonth Africa not only
moment, there is a good reason we have nothing
: habitable, but attractive and also productive.
to do with it. And, leaving them there for the For all the services jvu have rendered in this
present, I return to my subject of addressing respect, allow me, on behalf of the country, to
thanks to you. thank you most sincerely. —(Loud applause).
—
'JOS The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912"
Our Guests and Kindred Societies. therefore receive loyal attention to duty and
efficient woi'k."
Mr. Chas. B. Saner (Past-President): Mr.
Why do not the same conditions obtain on the
President, your Excellency, Mr. Mayor and
Hand i
make bold to especially welcome Mr. Malan with closed doors and in the end leaves every-
because I think he is the first responsible thing to the Head Committee but nothing really
;
minister who has taken this position seriously tangible is done by either except to help their
and come amongst us to study our numerous own followers.
problems on the spot not only accepting the
:
Gentlemen, rise and drink to the health of Our
billet, draw the salary and look on the Rand as a
Guests and Kindred Societies.
place to be taxed —
this curse of South Africa
which when visited is not such a terrible place Mr. M. Elkan (President, Transvaal Chamber
after all Mr. President, ycur Excellency and
of Mines)
! !
:
As one who has grown up with the Hand from gentlemen, when Mr. Rowland, your Secretary,
the very earliest days, who has an intimate called upon me a few days ago and asked me to
knowledge of the Pilgrims Rest and Barberton respond this evening to the toast of " Our
mining fields, who will lie dubbed a " foreign
'
During a recent holiday trip to the "Old therefore, this opportunity for thanking you for
Country," after the excitement of the Coronation the honour you have done me, which honour
when I gloried in being present at the great I fully appreciate. Your Annual Dinner, sir,,
Naval Review and proudly saw our South African has become a regular institution and one that
contributions, the Good Hope, Natal and Africa we, who are non-scientific mortals, look forward
floating as equals amongst that wonderful collec- to with great pleasure, and when the time ap-
tion of British warships, I seized the opportunity proaches —
it is always about this time of the
of visiting leading mines in Wales, the Midlands year —we always wonder whether we will be
and in the North, and thence across the North Sea considered worthy of breaking bread with you
to that hive of strenuous industry, Westphalia ;
and of drinking wine with you but, above all, ;
and from there to the State mines of Holland. whether we will be considered worty of listening
Everywhere, to my oft-repeated questions " Hew to the always very instructive discourses to which
long have you been on this property V " Do you we are treated at these assemblies. That food v
have many changes?" I received the same mono- sir, has become quite a speciality of your fare ;
tonous reply " We believe in long service and we and it is not only at these Dinners that we are-
—
Nov. 191-2 An, timl Dinner of the Society. •2' 19
treated to this particular kind of fond, for you is the old French saying " ce sont les petits
generally treat us to it from the 1st of January cadeaux qui entretiennent l'amitie " and that is
to the 31st December only to begin afresh again as true to-day as it ever has been.
on the January: and you generally couple
1st of Gentlemen, on behalf of my fellow guests and
with it a little request for money. —
("Never.') myself, I thank you very heartily for the kind
We always enjoy your fare, but the sauce is no1 invitation you have given us and to you, sir, I
;
always very nice. I know that you gentlemen do am particularly thankful for having asked Mr.
not think that we are always sufficiently sym- Kirk] and to help me in thanking you. Mr.
pathetic to your fare you, like all scientists,
: Kirkland is, more or less, a fellow artist of yours ;
only look to your end of the stick we have ; he is also something of a scientist, I believe, at
got to look the stick all over. There are many any rate, he is very scientific in selling us
knotty points on that stick: the one spells _£, machinery. — (Laughter.) —
I therefore ask Mr.
the next one s, and the third one a d — 1 will Kirkland kindly to support me. I thank you,
leave the decimals. But, after all, I was very
glad to heal from you, Mr. President, that you
gentlemen. — (Applause).
admit that we are not so very hide-bound Mr. J. W Kirkland (S. A. Instituh of
pocket bound, if you like —
as we are generally Electrical Engineers): Mr. Chairman, your Ex-
made out to be. I know, for instance, that one cellency, and Gentlemen, on behalf of the
of you recently approached the financial head of Kindred Societies of the Witwatersrand I take
the House to which he is attached suggesting to great pleasure in responding to the toast which
him that he should make certain trials and, has been proposed by Col. Saner. I am not quite
naturally, dangling in front of him " millions." sure how many there are of us for whom I have
For that little trial he only asked for £6,000 ;
the honour to be spokesman —
engineers, archi-
it is a mere trifle. Well, the amount asked for tects, accountants, geologists, surveyors very —
has been granted and 1 am quite satisfied that likely more. But I am sure that it has been a
before he lias finished his trial .£7,500 will have pleasure to us to put ourselves at your hospitable
been spent and, if he is at all worthy of being a table and to practice that art which is at least as
member of your Society, it will probably spell old as the Father of all sciences-astronomy, I
£10,000 at least before it is finished with ; if not refer to gastronomy —
the art and science of good
I am afraid you'll consider him unworthy to be a eating.
member your Society and sack him.
of Your Society, Mr. Chairman, under whose
Only morning, sir, at a meeting of a con-
this wing we are to-night concerns itself with those
cern which is affiliated to the Chamber of Mines processes which are most closely connected with
it was suggested and readily agreed to there — the gold mining industry, and it would not In-
was, in fact, no discussion whatever about it going too far to say that the hidden treasures of
that we, or rather our Chamber of Mines, should the Band became payable in the laboratories of
offer a prize to get us out of some of our Nobel and I forget the name of the gentlemen
troubles; and we are going to approach your who invented the cyanide process. The rest of
Society, sir, and ask you to work it for us. us who are also concerned with the development
There is a metal called " Iridium " I believe it: of the industry —mechanical and electrical engi-
interests our friends here of the Press more than neers for instance —
don't seem to get into quite
anybody else for I believe it is used in connec- such intimate contact with the metal sought for.
tion with the manufacture of fountain pen nibs, I think I am not giving anything away when I say
well, this metal " Iridium " bothers us very much that this is a cause of real grief to some of us
in connection with gold and we want to find out ami that we could stand just now a little more
the best means for eliminating it. We are going frequent and intimate association with the "out-
to ask you to work out for us a solut on of the put."
difficulty and for which solution we are going to Ever since the gentlemen of your Society — or
offer a prize. I have already said we don't mind their predecessors — invented the cyanide process
your asking us for anything, your requests always for the benefit of the Deep Deep Levels and the
give us food for reflection and thought and some- share market, you gentlemen have deservedly
times your requests get granted, so don't get occupied a oozy niche nearest the cave of the
tired lint gentlemen, and say that not only for
I Oracle. Well, we don't much mind that so long
myself but for every one of your guests don't get as you don't get to,, proud to play with us and
tired of asking us to your dinners, remember invite us to your dinners once or twice a year.
such functions are admirably suited to enable us As have sat here in this beautiful dining
I
to get to know each other better, understand room and enjoyed this excellent dinner I have
each other better and in consequence to work thought of the similar functions in the years of
together much more smoothly. Moreover there long ago. We didn't have such a tine spread,
210 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 191-2
but I hope, Mr. Chairman, you will not take it If that is so, in those days they must also have
amiss that I should say we had something which
We
talked through their noses." —
(Laughter.) I
is lacking at these more sedate functions. think, on that particular occasion our brother
used to expect at those dinners that the Oracle Scot scored.
—
would talk for us it was usually but not neces- Now, my duty this evening is of an excep-
sarily that same oracle which I have spoken of as tionally pleasing nature, and that is to propose
.so well disposed to your Society. We who were the toast —
to propose long life and prosperity to
in the crowd in the Temple used to see the veil —
your President. (Hear, hear.) He is fortunate
in being the President of a Society such as-
of mystery twitched aside and for one night at
least felt ourselves admitted to the financial or yours and you, gentlemen, are fortunate in
political holy of holies It mattered not a
;
Anyway, we seem to miss that sauce piquante mind and that is a boon which I think we all
:
which went with the dinners of our youth. might desire to have. The scientific mind to-
Then even if there were no political secrets to be day is doing marvellous things for South Africa ;
hinted at, we of the back benches felt fairly and it is through the scientific mind that South
confident of a little market tip (which we were at Africa will prosper and progress in the future.
liberty to copper) at the very least. We have been told in the past that agriculture
Your Society has been a leader in many direc- is the backbone of our national anatomy it may :
tions. I think your initiative and enterprise in be the backbone, but, at times, I fear, it is
connection with this year's Exhibition of mining rather spasmodic. In place of the backbone sup-
appliances —
an exhibition which I hear is to be porting our body politic I am afraid that the
repeated next year —
was especially praiseworthy. bodj- politic often has to support the backbone ;,
To use the language of the advertisement, it but, I can say this, without the slightest hesita-
filled a long felt want, and I wonder whether the tion, that if agriculture is the backbone of South
idea will not bear further development even to — Africa, mining is the backbone of the Rand ;
the point of making the display room a per- and most satisfactory backbone it is. I, per-
a
manent adjunct of the Witwatersrand Engineer- sonally, never wish for one more satisfactory. I
ing Societies or of the Chamber of Mines. have great pleasure in asking you, one and all,
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, allow me on to drink to the long life and prosperity of your
behalf of the Kindred Societies to wish long life President. — (Applause).
and prosperity to the Chemical, Metallurgical' The Chairman Your Excellency. Mr. Mayor
:
and Mining Society. and gentlemen, I thank you very much for the
The President. kind way you have accepted the toast of my
health proposed by the Mayor. It is a great
Mr. W. R. Boustred (Mayor): Your honour to be elected President of this Society ;.
American saw him wrapped in attention while President and gentlemen, I wish to thank you
gazing at this statue, and the Yankee came up very much for the way in which you have drunk
to the Scotchman and said " There is the Sta-
:
my health and I think that is all I need say
:
tue of a man through whose lips a lie never now. —^Hear, hear).
passed." The Scotchman said "Is that so?" "God Save the King."
I!)]'-' Review. 211
Notices and Abstracts of Articles and the greater solubility of sodium sulphate this salt
was added until the solution contained approxi-
Papers. mately 10%. After standing 24 hours the lanthanum
sodium sulphate was filtered off and washed with a
CHEMISTRY. 10% sodium sulphate solution. The yttrium in the
This Quantitative Separation
— w
Lanthanum liltrate
as follows
was determined as before. The results were
I'liiiM YTTRIUM. " Hitherto the only method em- :
treatment. This separation is based upon the fact taken taken. found.
that lanthanum forms a double sulphate with potas-
sium which is insoluble in saturated potassium sul-
phate solution, while the corresponding yttrium com- 0-1741 0-2646
1 1785
pound is fairly soluble. •2 01741 01785 0-2613
In addition to the above, Urbain has shown that
3 01741 0-1785 0-2600
by fractionally crystallising the rare earth magne-
sium nitrates in the presence of bismuth magnesium
nitrate, the latter inserts itself between The conclusions, drawn from these
results, appear
samarium magnesium nitrate and europium magne- to indicate that an excess of sodium sulphate should
sium nitrate, dividing these elements quantitatively have been used. However, even under these condi-
at this point. tions, the whole of the lanthanum was not
He also states that by treating yttrium earth precipitated as the figures below show:
nitrates containing some cerium earth nitrates with
magnesium nitrate and bismuth magnesium nitrate Ya 2 U, La.,0 Y,o
No. :;
the separation of the two groups was effected. taken. taken. found.
Among other compounds which show diverging
solubilities for these two groups are the sodium
double sulphates, the formates, and the cacodylates.
For the quantitative study it was considered that
'
01741 01785 0-2570
J 0-1741 0-1785 0-2583
the completeness of the separation could be better
shown by employing lanthanum and yttrium which
approach the extremes of the series. —
Formates. The next compounds possessing favour-
Solutions of the pure nitrates of lanthanum and able properties were the formates. According to
yttrium were prepared and standardised by precipi- previous workers lanthanum formate dissolves in
tation with oxalic acid in hot neutral solution. One 420 parts of water while the corresponding yttrium
cubic centimeter of lanthanum nitrate solution con- salt dissolves in less than half its weight. By work-
tained "003570 gm. of La,(.)... The yttrium nitrate ing with alcoholic solutions it was thought that the
solution contained 0003482 gm. of Y 2 per cc.
:i difference in solubilities might be considerably
Fifty cubic centimetre portions of each solution increased.
were placed in a 250 cc. beaker and crystals of The mixture of standard nitrate solutions was
'potassium sulphate added in excess. The solution precipitated with a slight excess of hot dilute sodium
was well stirred and allowed to stand twelve hours, hydroxide. The hydroxides obtained in this way
again stirred and set aside for a like period. were washed with hot water and dissolved in diluted
The precipitate of lanthanum potassium sulphate formic arid. The solution was evaporated until
was filtered ami washed with saturated potassium nearly all the water was removed. The residue was
sulphate solution. The yttrium was precipitated tr6ated with 95% alcohol, filtered and washed with
from the cold filtrate by pouring it into a dilute the same reagent. The formate was ignited to the
solution of boiling sodium hydroxide. After oxide and weighed.
filtering and washing the yttrium hydroxide with While lanthanum formate is practically insoluble
boiling water, it was dissolved in hydrochloric acid, in 95% alcohol and yttrium formate fairly soluble,
an excess being avoided, and the resulting chloride the analytical results show that yttrium is inclined
solution precipitated with oxalic acid. The oxalate to accompany the lanthanum.
was washed, dried, ignited and weighed as Y„0 3 . Cacodylates. —
The cacodylates were examined and,
The results were as follows :
although their solubilities differ widely, were found
unsatisfactory, owing to the following facts: lan-
thanum cacodylate has a tendency to become colloidal
and yttrium cacodylate is not ipiite insoluble in
water. The use of alcohol does not improve the
conditions.
—
Bismuth Magnesium Nitrate. Urbain has stated,
as previously mentioned, that lanthanum magne-
sium nitrate is insoluble in bismuth magnesium
nitrate, and since yttrium forms no double nitrate it
These figures show that yttrium potassium sul- was assumed that a quantitative method might be
phate is carried down along with lanthanum obtained.
potassium sulphate. In the absence of lanthanum First of all, a qualitative test was made with
aii'i under similar conditions no yttrium would lie regard to the solubility of the lanthanum double
precipitated. salt in concentrated nitric acid (sp. gr. l-42i contain-
—
Sodium Double Sulphates. Usually the sodium ing an excess of bismuth magnesium nitrate. It was
double sulphates are more soluble than the double found that the lanthanum was entirely insoluble.
sulphates of potassium. This fact seemed to present After this point had been proved a mixture of .">0 cc.
an advantage in this case. The solutions were mea- of each standard solution was taken, evaporated to
sured out as in the previous instance, and because of dryness, treated with 2.") cc. of concentrated nitric
, ,
acid saturated with bismuth magnesium nitrate, to agreement with the observations relating to the
which was added 10 gm. of bismuth magnesium influence of temperature on the nature of the crj -1 1
acid saturated with bismuth magnesium nitrate. to lie 0-04608 gm. per litre at 2:1 and n2"-_'o at "0 .
The filtrate containing yttrium nitrate, together Measurements of the electrical conductivity of
with some bismuth magnesium nitrate, «as eva- solutions of soil inn and calcium hydrogen carbonates
porated to dryness to remove all free acid. The
1
found.
:
and if the blue colour appears, ferrous sulphate solu- acid and the gold precipitated by the addition of
tion is added a little at a time, until upon test the blue 1 gm. of hydrazine hydrochloride. After standing
colour no longer appears. This converts all the for about an hour with occasional stiring, the solu-
cyanogen into an insoluble form. The mud now tion is filtered and the filter carefully dried, ignited
consists of insoluble double ferrocyanide of ammonia and weighed. The gold obtained at this stage
and iron, and a solution of ammonium sulphate, with usually contains a small amount of platinum, so it
a little ferrous sulphate, and very little free acid. is advisable to alloy it with 5 to 8 paits of silver and
This is pumped into filter-presses, which, when full, repart it in nitric acid. This removes the silver and
have hot water pumped through in order to wash as the remaining platinum, leaving the gold in the
much as possible of the ammonium sulphate. The proper condition to be weighed after drying and
best results are obtained by finishing the pressing annealing. To determine the platinum it is necess-
with mud made by stirring up some of the finished ary to add an excess of ammonia or potassium hydr-
press-rake with water, until it disintegrates. The oxide to the combined filtrates from the ttijua rcyia
presses are about two thirds filled with the neutral- and nitric acid parting and after allowing sufficient
ised mud from the washers, and then finished with time for the precipitation to take place, filter oft' the
the mud made from final cake. The solution of platinum, ignite and weigh. The silver is determined
ammonium sulphate from the piesses is neutralised by difference. With a little care this method will
with ammonia, settled, and the clear solution —
give extremely accurate results." M. TRENKNER,
evaporated in lead-lined pans. It contains about one Metallurgie Minimi mid Engineering Woild, Aug.
;
pound of ammonium sulphate per gallon. 24th, 1912, p. 342. (A. R.)
The cyanogen cake from the filter-presses contains
approximately 40 to 50 water, 22% to 28% Phosphorus in Coking .Coal.— " A short note
cyanogen, and 5 3 to 7% of ammonia, about b' lb. of
-
on the above subject was recently contributed by
press-cake being produced per ton of coal carbonised. Mr. Charles Catiett, Staunton, to the American
About 2'5 to 3 lb. of ammonium sulphate is produced Institute of Mining Engineers. He says — While : '
per ton also. The press-cake is sold to chemical the occurrence of phosphorus in coking coal has
works to e converted into sodium or potassium
i
assumed less importance with the development of
ferrocyanide. This is done by first distilling with the open-hearth method of steel making, it may not
lime, which drives off' ammonia, and forms calcium be without interest to note the form in which phos-
ferrocyanide. This solution is filtered from the phorus exists in one particular coal seam. In the ex-
residue of iron hydrate, and is then treated with amination of what is known as the Big seam, which
sodium or potassium carbonate, forming the corres- outcrops a few miles west of Columbiana, Ala., my
ponding ferrocyanide, and calcium carbonate, which attention was called to the distribution through the
settles out. The clear solution is concentrated and coal, in the form of minute veins and particles, of a
the ferrocyanide crystallised."— C. E. Mukkoe, resinous-looking substance. A .small amount of this
Mining anil Scientific Press (from 'Byproducts in was selected, and was provisionally identified as
Gas Manufacture August 31, 1012, p. 27: evansite (A1 6 P2 I4 18 Aq.)
. Subsequently, through
(A. Mi A. J. the courtesy of Dr. Sharshall Grasty, of the Geologi-
cal Department of the University of Virginia, 1 was
Determination of Gold, Silver ash Platin- able to secure an additional amount of material
um in BULLION. —
" The following is a description which was purified down to about 0"3 grammes. This
of the process employed at the Royal mint, Berlin. was examined by Prof. John J. Porter, of the
The bullion is first rolled out into strips which are University of Cincinnati, and gave the following
afterwards cut up into very small pieces for the partial analysis :
quantity of lead already present. The dore bead is to the eye the occurrence of a light-coloured resinous-
then weighed and the actual amount of gold, silver looking material should be looked on with suspicion
and platinum determined by deducting the amount as being high in phosphorus.' "—CHARLES CaTLETT,
id silver added and making tie- necessary corrections The Colliery Guardian, Sept. 20th, 1912. p. 599.
for the cupellation losses —
determined by running a (K. A.)
control. The bead is then placed without being
Battened in 25 cc. of concentrated sulphuric acid New Volumetric Method fur Determination
and kept just below the boiling point for 30 mi n. —
OF Tin. Numerous methods for the determination
The solution which contains most of the silver is of tin have been tried in this laboratory with various
then poured oil, and the bead after being washed is degrees of success. Gravimetric methods giving
dissolved in a small quantity of aqua reqia. This results of the required accuracy are too lengthy and
solution is then evaporated almost to dryness to tedious for ordinary use in laboratories where it is
drive off' the excess acid, after which it is diluted required to complete a large number of determina-
witli water and the small amount of silver chloride tions in a short time. Shorter schemes, such as
present removed by filtration. The solution is then weighing the combined oxides of antimony and tin,
made acid by the addition of 15 cc. of hydrochloric determining antimony in a separate sample and
Nov. 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Chemiitry.
calculating tin by difference cannot be useil for short tube opposite to a 100 cc. pipette which
alloys containing lead, copper or numerous other dips into a reservoir of water. This automatically
metals which are to be found in some commercial prevents any air from entering the system when a
alloy*, unless the amount of these impurities con- partial vacuum is formed in the flask during the
taminating the oxides be determined and taken into determination, which cannot be taken care of by the
consideration. entering carbon dioxide gas. Having attached the
The volumetric methods proved to be rather un- iron to the platinum wire, the rubber stopper is
satisfactory, especially if the titrating solution was firmly placed in position in the neck of the flask and
standardised against a standard reducing solution in the rod lowered so that the spiral of wire rests on
preference to c. p. tin. The authors found that the bottom of the flask. The generator and water
determination on qualities as small as 5% were un- seal are attached, as previously describod, a cap is
reliable, and that on high percentages it was almost placed over the opening of the large delivery tube
impossible to obtain consistently accurate results and a rapid stream of carbon dioxide gas passed
even if the oxidising solution was standardised through the system After a few minutes it may
again-t an equivalent amount of metal treated in an safely be assumed that all of the air is expelled from
exactly similar manner. the flask, whereupon heat is applied and the contents
Endeavouring to overcome these difficulties, the permitted to boil for -25 minutes. The solution when
following method was finally adopted. The results first placed in the flask appears a deep yellow or
obtained are consistent and correct to within 0"2 orange, depending, of course, on the constituents
on amounts of 50 \ or over and considerably more present, but shortly before commencing to boil it
accurate on smaller percentages. As large percent- becomes colourless and finally black, due to the
ages of copper, lead, nickel and perhaps other metals liberated metallic antimony. After the reduction is
not experimented with interfere, it has been found
expedient to modify the method somewhat in the
presence of these elements. Both determinations
will be described.
—
Regular Method. The following scheme of analy-
available where no more than 5% of either lead
sis is
or copper is present in the alloy. Where the per-
centages of these elements exceed this limit a modi-
fication of the method is necessary.
Place an amount of sample corresponding to 05
gm. or less of tin in a 500 cc. Jena Erlenmeyer
flask and add 0T5 gm. c. p. metallic antimony if as
much or more is not already present in the alloy. If
the sample contains less than this amount it is
necessary to make up the deficiency. Add lo cc.
of concentrated sulphuric acid and heat to effect
solution. Remove from the hot plate and cool. Di-
lute the cold sulphuric acid solution with 10 cc. C A»« r<.i # aa
of water, add 60 cc. of concentrated hydrochloric
acid and then 40 cc. more of water. Prepare a £tu.^B.,,„. l r,ix ,
stream of water to free the iron from adhering tin in contact with it. Freshly prepared starch is added
solution after it has been withdrawn from the liquid. ami, without interrupting the passage of gas,
This delivery tube should also be provided with a standard iodine solution introduced into the flask as
} in. hole about f
i'i. above the lower opening to fast as the burette will permit. When near the end
afford a mean- of escape for the carbon dioxide gas point, is indicated by the reluctant disappear-
which
which i- being rapidly introduced during the titration. ance if the blue, the titration can be carried on
<
A carbon-dioxide generator i- connected to the long very slowly until completed. The blue of the starch
bnbe, while a piece of rubber tubing connects the iodide is' not permanent, disappearing after a
—
216 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of .South Africa. Nov. 1912
minute or two, which fact tloes not, however, detract this operation should not be changed to any great
from the accuracy of the determination. extent, the additional acid introduced offsetting in a
It is not to be understood that the tin is completely large measure the water used for washing. Antimony
reduced by the direct action of the iron alone, present up to 25% will not obscure the end point,
neither will the addition of pulverised metallic provided a good light and white background are
antimony bring about the desired result. However, available." Wilbuk C. Patrick and, C. C Wil-
this metal as deposited is in a state where its SNACK, Journal of Industrial and Engim ering fit m- <
chemical activity is at a maximum, thus enabling it istry: Mining and Engineering World, .September
to fully complete the reduction. 21, 1912. (A. R.)
.Standardise the sodium thiosulphate, which serves
to determine the strength of the iodine solution, very
carefully against a bichromate or permanganate —
Soluhilitv of Gold in Nitric Alio. " Up to a
solution of knownstrength. It is essential that the very recent date gold has been held to be insoluble
utmost accuracy be employed in the above standar- in pure nitric acid. Attention has been called, how-
disation, since 0"1 ec.m. more or less of a N/10 ever, to the discrepancies existing between the
oxidising solution makes a considerable difference in all-lire and the acid-lire, or combination method
the ultimate tin value of the iodine. It has been of assaying gold in copper bullion. More recently,
found advisable in rinding the normality of a freshly F. P. Dewey has demonstrated that pure gold dis-
prepared iodine solution to check the theoretical solves in small quantity, on long continued boiling,
standardisation against c. p. tin. in pure nitric acid. In the Bulletin of the American
Modified Method. —A modified method is used Institute of Mining Engineers, .Inly, 1912, Dr.
when 5% or more of copper or lead, or any other Edward Keller takes up the subject and gives results
interfering element, is present in the specimen to be of his observations on the solubility in nitric acid of
analysed. gold contained in certain copper bullions
Place O'o to 1 giu. of sample in a small casserole Copper bullion usually is cast in comparatively
and add if necessary (Wo gin. of antimony as in the thick pigs, or ingots, and thin slabs, or plates.
regular method. Covei the sample with 8 to 10 cc. .Sampling is done by drilling according to templates.
of concentrated nitric acid and evaporate to dryness. The drillings are ground to pass a Hi or 20 mesh
It is advisable in order to facilitate the subsequent screen, and. in the author's practice, the final sample
filtration to bake strongly for about 15 minutes. is further divided into fine and coarse portions by
Cool and add 20 cc. of 1:1 nitric acid and, after passing through a 40 mesh screen. The line part will
breaking up the lumps with a stirring rod, filter and contain foreign matter, oxides, slags and mold-wash,
wash several times with hot water. If the baking while the coarse will be clean metallic particles.
has been conducted properly no traces of oxides will Assays of the fine and coarse parts show the neces-
be discernable in the filtrate. The precipitate with sity of separate assays of the two. and the averaging
the filter paper is then placed in a 500 cc. Jena of results according to their ratio.
Erlenmeyer flask and treated with 20 cc. of con- Experience shows that the all-fire assay is the
centrated sulphuric acid and 2 gm. of potassium most accurate attainable, when slag and absorption
sulphate. Place the flask on a piece of asbestos over losses are accounted for. In the nitric acid combina-
a medium hot burner and heat carefully till the first tion method, the conditions are variable, and vary-
violent reaction is over, after which the heat can be ing quantities of gold are dissolved and lost. In the
increased. Towards the end of the oxidising opera- tests made by the author, the wet combination
tion, while the liquid is still black, however, from method was carried out af follows
: One A. T. of
the free carbon present, the flask and contents copper was dissolved in 100 cc. distilled water anil
should be cooled and the sides of the container 90 cc. nitric acid (I '42 sp. gr.). The reaction was
washed down with a stream of water. The particles completed at a temperature of about Kin' F., after
adhering so firmly to the wall of the Mask that the the first violent reaction was over. When all red
water does not lousen them should he brought back fumes had disappeared, the solution was filtered on
into the main solution with the aid of a "policeman." a triple S. cc S., No. 597, 12'5 cm filter covered with
The removal of the carbon should by no means be 2 gm. test-lead After incineration of the filter, and
hastened by the addition of an oxidising agent, since the addition of 20 gin. test-lead, a sufficient quantity
this will cause the antimony to assume the pentava- of silver, in the form of nitrate crystals, was added.
lenl form which must be avoided. The addition of From this point the assay was conducted according
the water will now have a tendency to again cause to the well-known lire method.
frothing when the heat is applied, "making it neces- Inasmuch as the deficiences of the lire treatment
sary to conduct this operation very carefully. From apply to both the all-lire and the combination
2 to 2 hours is usually required, depending upon
A- methods, if we now determine the gold by the all-lire
the intensity of the heat employed, to rid the solu- method and by the combination method, the differ-
tion completely of the carbon. ence should be equal to the loss by solution in the
'
Cool, introduce the
required amount of water, but add only 4."> cc of combination method.
hydrochloric acid instead of 60 cc, as in the The author's serious attention was first attra id
regular method. In the solubility of gold in nitric acid by peculiar
If very huge percentages of antimony are present, facts connected with the assay of two samples of
enough to obscure the end point obtained with the bullion which were, the same in origin, composition
starch solution, it is well to treat in the usual and metallurgical treatment; Samples representing
n, a oner up to the point « here he metallic antimony
I many million pounds of copper were assayed for
separates out. The solution should then be rapidly gold by the all-fire and combination methods, with
cooled, filtered with Miction and washed with hot the result that, for bullion No. 1, the gold yield by
water. About ii In gm. of metallic antimony, which the combination method showed a deficit of 13 "71 ,
has previously been dissolved in a few cubic centi- as compared with the all-tire method, while for
metres of sulphuric acid, is then added, the solution bullion No. 2 the corresponding figure was 26 62 .
returned to the original container, ami the reduction The figures may be regarded as denoting the solu-
continued. The concentration of the solution after bility losses in the two bullions, but it is to be noted
— —
that 't lie loss in one is nearly twice that in the of the gas to he analysed. The vacuum is found to
other. remain the same for 14 days. The gas is admitted
The only
difference between these two bullions was to the pipette by opening the stop-cock. In the
that No. was cast in 300 lb. nieces ami No. 2 in
1 laboratory the pipette is opened under mercury.
Son lb. This fact implied a difference in the rate of Herr Wilhelmi has also devised a set of apparatus
cooling, and led to the conclusion that gold in for use along with this pipette, by way of absorption
slowly-cooled copper bullion is more soluble in nitric and explosion. He notes that pyrogallol solution
acid than that contained in rapidly chilled copper. comes to liberate carbonic oxide, which tends to
There was ample evidence that the gold solubility vitiate the results, and that an alkali hydrosulphite
was not influenced by any mechanical differences in solution is better ; that absorption of heavy hydro
the samples. The conclusion was confirmed by carbons by anhydrous sulphuric acid dissolved in
noting that the solubility of the gold could be
reduced to a minimum by instantaneously chilling a
sample of bullion.
Synthetic experiments were made to determine the
influence of increasing either the gold content or the
impurity content of the bullion, but neither appeared
to augment the quantity of soluble gold. In conclu-
sion the author finds that Gold contained in copper :
one button of 30 to 35 gm., and this button is then that ammoniacal solution of cuprous chloride some-
cupelled in the regular manner. This method is times gives erroneous results, and tends to make the
claimed to be more accurate and cheaper than the residue non-explosive with oxygen, and that a high
regular crucible or scoritjeafcion, or combined wet and specilic gravity solution of cuprous chloride with
dry assay methods." Loevy, Chem. Zeit., 35, 278 ;
sodium chloride, preserved under paraffin oil (Wink-
Mining n>,i/ Etigmet ring Review, September 5, p. 451. ler), has some advantages ;hut for appreciable per-
(H. A.' W.) centages of carbonic oxide, direct explosion is better
than absorption."' The Colliery Guardian, Sept. '20,
Gas Sampling and Analysis. — "Having in view 1912, p. 699. (R.A.)
the difficulty of taking adequate samples of gases
without these having to be exposed twice to the Oxidation and Deterioration of Coal. —
solvent action of water, Herr Arthur Wilhelmi, "Samples of coal from mines in the Philippine
chemist to the Upper Silesian Mining Research Islands were examined before and after storage in
Station, Heathen, has devised a vacuum pipette glass bottles containing air and oxygen respectively.
(shown in ligure below). With this a sample can The coals contained 6% to 12% of moisture, 37 to 40
readily be taken and further, a determinate quan-
:
of volatile combustible matter, 40 to 47 of fixed
tity gas can be drawn through an absorbent
-if carbon, and 4% to 8% of ash, the calorific value be-
medium. The pipette has two stop-cocks, bored ing about 0,000 Gals, per kilo. The samples were
obliquely, and these are closed in at one end. The passed through a sieve of 5 meshes to the inch and
hand-pieces stand parallel to the axis of the pipette over a sieve of 4 meshes to the inch, and 250 grin,
when the pipette is closed, and have a wire connected of each sample were stored in a 7 litre bottle for
with them to be tied down to the neck during trans- 9 moid lis at a temperature of about 30 C. The
port. The pipette is exhausted by a mercury pump calorific value calculated on coal free from moisture
(5 .in.), and is then closed and carried to the source
i
and ash, was reduced as follows :
— .
218 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
sured by noting the reduction of pressure, with the temperature and draught control are important
samples ground to different sizes the rate varies
; factors. The following table gives examples of re-
with the previous exposure of the samples to air, sults obtained by independent assayers :
(F. W. \Y.)
done with a piece which has been folded and rubbed.
In each case the fabric should be impermeable.
Pieces are tested by soaking for two days in 5
Sampling and Assaying of Silver Ores Con- acetic acid, and 5% ammonia. The weight pel sq.
taining Cobalt, Nickel and Arsenic— " The in. and the thickness are determined at three point-.
following details are given of the sampling and A si|iiare decimetre (16 sq. in.) is heated for 3 hours
assaying of an ore containing the arsenides of cobalt, with 100 cc. of chloroform under a reflux condenser,
nickel, and silver, and also metallic silver. Having washed with chloroform and then with alcohol.
been first sampled while being unloaded and a deter- It is then spread on a smooth glass and scraped with
mination made of the moisture, the low grade ore is a knife. This shows the nature of the impregnation ;
parsed through a jaw crusher to reduce it to 1{, in. if a compact layer easily comes off, there is at least
or smaller, and is then divided by shovelling two 50 of rubber. It can be seen whether the rubber
parts tci tin- storage bin and one to the sampling swells and can he easily detached, swells and comes
.floor, from which it is again divided, one shovel to off in small fragments, does not swell and comes off
bin and one to sample. It is then reduced to A in. The rubber is
in bits, or does not swell or come off'.
size and quartered to not less than 1,700 lb. The' then examined chemically in the usual way. Details
ore is then crushed again to pass a J in. screen, are given of the results obtained with samples belong-
turned oxer twice, quartered to not less than
ing to each of the above groups
"
M. B. SEELIK —
300 lb., crushed to pass a 10 mesh screen, mixed AND J. ZoFKA, Journal of the Society "t Chemical
and quartered to not less than 60 lb., when it is
Industry {/'cum Eight Int. Cong Appl. Chem., 1912,
:
ground to pass a 20 mesh screen and cut down Sect. Vb. Orig. Comm., 9, 89-93,) Sept. 30, 1912,
by a .'ones sampler to about 4 kilos., which is p. 888. (F, W. W.)
ground in a pebble mill to pass a 120 mesh screen.
The high grade ore containing over 500 oz. of silver
per ton is crushed to 1 in. size and alternately
—
Moisture in Coal. "Experiments on the dry-
shovelled to the storage bin and to the rolls which ing of bituminous and anthracite coal under different
reduce it to \ in. size. The '
metallics on the conditions are described which show that the Tj. S. A.
—
'
screen are collected, weighed, melted, and cast into official method (heating for 1 hr. at 104° 107° C.)
bars which are assayed. The A in. ore is coned and gives figures for moisture, which are much below the
quarted to about 2,400 lb., crushed to pass a { in. true value the error in the case of some bituminous
;
screen, again coned three times, and quartered coals amounting to 40% of the true content of mois-
to about 400 lb. It is then crushed in rolls to ture. The errors, probably mainly due to ilie
pass a 1/10 in. screen, and cut down by a Jones oxidation of iron, or sulphur, or both, and to the
sampler to about 75 lb., again ground to pass a incomplete expulsion of moisture, are much greater
1/20 in. screen and reduced to about 5 lb. It is then for bituminous coal than for anthracite. F'or deter-
finely ground, and screened on a 120 mesh screen to mining moisture in bituminous coal, it is recom-
give 'metallics' ami 'pulp.' The samples are mended that the coal be heated in a current of dry
assayed in a gas fired inutile furnace by the crucible air at a temperature not below 110° C. and the mois-
tire assay method, using the following fluxes. 1. ture expelled he absorbed by anhydrous calcium
Silver flux containing 40 each of sodium and pot- chloride "— E. H. Archibald and J. N. Lawrence,
assium carbonates and 20% of borax glass. -2. Li- Journal of the Franklin Institute (reprinted from
tharge. 3. Borax glass for cover. The charge for J. Ind. Eng. Chan., iv., 258), Sept. 19 2, p. 3 5.
the crucible contains '2 assay ton of pulp, 30 grm. (F. W. W.)
Nov. 191-2 Notices and Abstracts: Mrt,Ulu vy- 219
dumped. The lime from this bin is slacked in cement also by the experiments of E. M. Hamilton
on con-
buggies for the purpose of breaking down the large centrates, recently described in the Engineering and
lumps, and dumped into two 4-ft. grinding pans. A Mining Journal. He states that at one proper: \ lie
stream of mill-service water is kept running into the was aide to extract a high percentage of the precious
pans (they have no mullers, acting as mixers or metals from a rich silver gold concentrate, after a
emulsifiers only), which overflow a lime emulsion. preliminary treatment with lime.
This product is conveyed in sheet-iron launders On this ore with the same period of agitation, the
to the different departments of the mill and cyanide difference in extraction when crushing in solution
plants. Wooden launders were not serviceable is 2 .We have demonstrated this, not only in
for this product and required constant repairs. the laboratory, but by actual tests in the mill, last-
This system requires no extra labour and little power, ing three weeks. Further, we have shown that
and has the advantage of absolute control at all longer time is required to reach the point, after
times. The only disadvantage is a slight loss of lime which no gold dissolves, when the ore has been
from undissolved particles when the accumulations crushed in weak solution that more lead is required
;
;
in the pans are cleaned out. and though the total cyanide consumption in the
The helper in the cyanide plants attends to the plant is lowered, the chemical consumption of cyanide
lime and regulates the amount to be used by taking is markedly increased. In the laboratory tests the
a sample of the over-How from the dewatering vats stock solution was checked with a new solution, in
every two hours. This is one of the most important order to determine whether or not the lower extract-
departments in the mill and has a great effect on the ion in a given time was due to decreased efficiency
tonnage, since the maximum settlement takes place of the stock solution. However, the two solution's
within exceedingly narrow limits of lime in solution. cheeked repeatedly and in all instances showed that
Ordinarily this overflow is held at 0"3 to 0o lb. CaO when crushing this ore in a weak solution, nearly
per ton of water, and a variation of 0'2 lb. either 30% more time is required for dissolution of the gold
way from these figures results in decreased tonnage. than when the ore is crushed in water and given a
By adding the lime in an emulsified condition, this preliminary alkaline treatment before any cyanide
regulation is possible. The overflow sample with comes in contact with it. The reason for this' is not
this method is also an indication that the charge known definitely, but may be accounted for by the
will contain approximately the same amount of pro- •
Physical Effect of Weak' Solutions.'*
tective alkalinity when transferred to the agitators. Crushing hi Solution Now.— In the past the ore
At some plants where tine grinding is not required has been of such grade that it has been more econom-
and the sand is leached, a stamp is successfully used ical to stand the mechanical loss of cyanide (and
for pulverizing the lime, since the coarse particles higher costs), due to crushing in water, and take the
will be classified out of the sand and maintain a higher extraction. At present we are crushing in
uniform protsctive alkalinity during leaching. solution, and by lengthening the time of treatment
Similarly the overflowing slime will contain no from 28 to 36 hours, are obtaining a saving within
undissolved lime and the slime charge will have the 1% of what can be done with the other method and
same alkalinity as the overflow from the classifiers. are avoiding the mechanical loss of cyanide. There
The inadaptability of this method to an all-slime is one marked advantage in crushing this ore in
plant is obvious. Occasionally at this plant, when water, followed by the alkaline treatment, which
the helpers have been negligent in slacking the lime has never been appreciated before, viz. The neutra- :
before dumping into the pans, the over-flow sample lization of the soluble potassium aluminum sulphates,
is no index of what the slime charge will contain, which are abundant. Never since the mill started
the latter containing OS to 08 lb. more CaO than had the solutions shown any tendency to throw down
the over-How sample would indicate. the gelatinous aluminium precipitate, which is so
Approximately 12 sip ft. of settling area is required detrimental to filter cloths and precipitation, until
per ton of ore, in order to dewater to 40% H.,<> with we changed the process.
no mechanical or continuous device for drawing oil' This was especially noticeable in the solutions
the thickened sludge. The manufacturers of the coming from the roasted concentrate. This product
best known continuous thickener recommended 8 sq. had always been neutralized with lime slacked in
ft. with their device, which does not operate well water. The first charge which was neutralized with
when delivering a product containing less than 50% lime slacked in weak solution threw out s,, much
HjO. When it is necessary to crush in water, it aluminous precipitate in the gold tanks, that it was
seems there is nothing in favor of continuous thicken- impossible to force the solution through tin- clarify-
ing, provided it is possible to regulate closely the ing presses. This was overcome in the subsequent
alkalinity of the water in which the charge is col- charges by running a fresh-water line to the lime
lected. It was inadvertently demonstrated here house and slacking the lime for the roasted product
recently in trying to crush this ore in solution, that • "Cyaniding Gold ami Silver Ores,' Julian and Smart,
bj p. s.-,
220 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
in fresh water. In some of the experimental work Grinding in water has some disadvantages which
on the roasted concentrate, caustic soda was used must always be taken into account when such prac-
instead of lime. Its use, however, would he preclud- tice isunder consideration. Where the whole pro-
ed by the cost, and the additional disadvantage that duct is so reduced to such a point that it may be
it is not a good coagulating agent, hut lends itself treated as slime, that is, making a total slime pro-
to the formation of colloidal suspensions, which can- duct, the whole reducing system of operation must
not he settled even with the addition of lime, and be carried out in water. This is likely to introduce
that tends to bring soluble sulphides into the
it mechanical complications requiring extra vats,
W. Hutchinson, The Engineering
solution. "—J. pumps, etc., and in addition reduces greatly the
andMining Journal, July, 1912, p. 170. (H. A. \V.) time of contact of the ore and cyaniding solutions.
The latter is an important consideration, for it has
been clearly proved that the intimate contact and
Cyaniding Troubles ami Remedies.—" In the agitation induced by the grinding machinery, stamps,
regular course of operation of all metallurgical
Chilean mills, etc., and particularly tube mills,
works there appear from time to time conditions
results in a better extraction, in proportion to the
which result in erratic and unsatisfactory results.
time of contact, than in any other subsequent opera-
The cyanide plant is no exception to this rule. tions. The loss of this efficiency is an item worthy
Being, as it is, a process depending upon both
of the most .serious consideration.
mechanical and chemical principles, error in either
of which will result in failure to secure a satisfactory
Preliminary Wash fur Accumulated Tailing. In —
such cases as the treatment of accumulated sands
ending of the operation, it may he said to he t
tents of the ores. Such compounds as lime, caustic silver, were exceedingly small. The water washes
soda or potash, bleaching powder, etc., may be used were run to waste, as it was found economical to do
with guild elicit. so. Of course these washes had little effect on the
I had occasion, at one time, when considering the
mercury or copper, which had to be handled along
treatment of a large accumulation of slime resulting with the silver and gold extracted. It did, however,
from ancient patio treatment, to recommend the destroy the ill eflect of the organic matter, and
pulping of the slime in an alkaline oxidising solution, removed an appreciable portion of the soluble
giving an appreciable time for the agitation of the copper.
pulp, and then separating the water closely and In this connection an interesting case is that of
carefully by means of pulp thickeners, delivering tii the cyaniding of the dump of the Lady Gladys Co.,
the cyanide plant a product containing less than 50% Mulline, Western Australia, cited by H. It. Ed-
moisture. The objectionable content of this slime inands. According to the description this dump
consisted of decayed organic matter, sewage, etc., contained marcasite, blende, arsenical pyrite and the
and the direct pulping of the material in cyanide decomposition products of these minerals. It was
solution would have entailed a consumption of exposed to the weather for three oi four years and
cyanide so great that there would have been no was, naturally, exceedingly acid. The average
profit in the treatment. By pulping in solution as 1 acidity was 12"2 lb. CaO and the total acidity was
have above stated, the consuming tendency of the 35 -2 lb. per ton. The treatment as described by Mr.
slime was so reduced that cyaniding proceeded in a Eilmaiids, was as follows :
perfectly normal manner. In this particular case, The main features in the successful treatment con-
the alkaline water was contained in a circuit separ- sist in first adding about 50 lb. of slaked lime per
ate from the cyanide solutions and used repeatedly ton, which had to be thoroughly mixed, and then
until it became too foul to be of further use. The passing the mixture through a tin. screen, all th.-
consumption of water was not exceedingly great. slime lumps being broken up. After charging the
Nov. 191-2 Notices and Abstracts : Mttnlhtrny. ::\
vat with this mixture, the next step was to wash bottom had become porous and a gradually increas-
with water or barren solution. The first wash ing quantity of solution was being Inst by percolation
always came oti' slightly alkaline. The original sand into the ground. A thorough waterproofing of the
contained about 33 lb. FeSOj per ton, which was vat bottom remedied the difficulty and avoided the
now converted into ferrous hydrate. It was neces- loss of solution and cyanide.
sary to thoroughly oxidize this to ferric state, other- In the realm of classification there is little that
wise the destruction of SI lb. KCX would result, can be said of troubles. It is only necessary to call
i'nidation was accomplished by giving a succession attention to the adjustment of the machinery used
of washes and draining between each wash. All for the purpose, when, provided the original design
wash water was well aerated, air being admitted into of the system is efficient, there is not likely to be
the suction of the centrifugal pump used, but the any serious difficulty with results. Classification
greater part of the oxygen supplied was contained in machinery needs constant attention in order that
the drained sand, which was for the most part, any change in the quantity or quality of the pulp
forced downward through the charge by each suc- may he taken care of by a corresponding change in
ceeding wash. It was estimated that a wash of 31 the adjustment of the classifying machine, for
tons would contain about 0*4 lb. oxygen in solution, reasons which have already been mentioned it i- not
but the drained sand would contain about 14 lb. gooil practice to permit a change of the sizing of the
oxygen, most of which would be forced downward material delivered from or to classifying machinery,
through the charge. The washing occupied four to whether it consists of cones, screens or mechanical
five days, about J ton of solution per ton sand being types, and these must he watched carefully in order
used. In some cases. 1 lb. of lead acetate was added to make sure that adjustment is always maintained.
to the wash water, but without marked benefit. When this is attended to there is not likely to he
After describing the subsequent cyanide treatment. any trouble in this department.
Mr. Edmunds notes the importance of this pre- The solutions used in cyaniding are perhaps the
liminary washing. most important single factor in the whole operation.
Another instance along the same line is the The preparation and use of these solutions i~ an
problem of treating dumps of tailing in the mining application of purely chemical laws, ami any in-
district of Santa Rosa de Osos, department of Antio- fringement of them will be penalized by a loss of
quia, Columbia, explained by R. W. Perry. The efficiency. This fact is not generally given sufficient
tailings were the accumulation of the last TO years attention in plant operation. The control of a
and were in great part derived from sulphide ores. chemical process as delicate as the solution of gold
Mr. Perry says :
and silver in alkaline cyanides, with all the compli-
The charges first received several water washes and cations which result from the presence of a great
as a rule no cyanide was added until the solutions number of elements foreign to the desired result,
showed an alkaline reaction, when a weak solution should lie always under the control of one familiar
from the sump was run on. The treatment of this with the basic chemistry of the process and mentally
deposit was entirely by leaching, as is usually the equipped to meet the emergencies which are sure to
case when only a comparatively small quantity of arise as the result of conditions which may he tem-
the material is available for treatment. porary and extraordinary.
Crushing in cyanide solution is now generally As a primary step, the water which i~ used in
cyaniding, and from which solutions are made.
practised. It took some time to convince metal-
should he examined to be sure thai there are no
lurgists generally that cyanides were compounds of
factors which might disturb the balance of future
sufficient stability to resist the agitation and long
exposure to air that had to be undergone in crushing
operation*. A great many cases of undue consump-
tion of cyanide may be traced to the use of bad
operations without decomposition, hut it is now
water. Mine water which contains acid is of fre-
•quite evident that if the strength of the solution is
|
quent occurrence and when solutions are made from
kept within reasonable limits, there is no danger on '
results winch have been obtained from fresh and ganate solution. After allowing this to stand for
first class solutions. There are a good many reasons some time, add an excess of potassium iodide to the
for this action, as it is readily seen that accumula- pink solution, until the colour changes to brownish
tions of various elements prejudical to good results, yellow. Iodine is liberated in proportion to the
will result from the use of solutions over extended excess of permanganate present. This iodine is then
lengths of time. When it is seen that solutions are to be determined by means of standard tbiosulphate
no longer efficient, it is best to dispose of them and using a starch indicator. Deducting the equivalent
use new solutions, or adopt some one of the methods of the iodine found, in terms of standard perman-
of rejuvenating them. Perhaps the simple discard- ganate, from the total quantity of permanganate
ing of an old solution is the best and most satis- used in the solution originally, the quantity of
factory recourse, especially when the contained permanganate equal to the reducing agents in solu-
cyanide can be recovered by one of the methods of tion is found. Clennell notes that instead of using
regeneration. potassium iodide and the tbiosulphate, the excess of
A satisfactory method of regeneration has been pro- permanganate may be determined directly by means
posed by Mr. Andrew F. Crosse. In this method the of standard oxalic acid.
zinc-potassium cyanide, resulting from the action of Mineral sulphates in solutions have been found to
cyanide solutions on the zinc used in precipitation is act as cyanicides and while the recognition of the
acted upon by sodium sulphide at about 65 (
'. fact is not altogether general, most operators recog-
The zinc sulphide is coagulated by the addition of nize it to a certain extent. It has been brought to
a little lime, causing it to settle rapidly. To my notice several times that a sensible consumption
prevent accumulation of caustic alkali in solution, of cyanide was taking place in the operation of
Mr. Crosse collects the ZnS and uses it to generate certain plants ; much more than the condition';
H..S, which ha passes through the solution after would seem to justify. After investigation of all
treatment w ith Nn.X possible sources of error, and making sure that the
Acid regeneration of solutions, as described by solutions contained sufficient protective alkali there
R. V. Wheelock, oilers good methods for recovering was no other conclusion possible but that there was
cyanide from solutions partially exhausted, and this a loss from some cause not yet determined. In such
method can readily be applied so as to save eonsidei- cases I have, always gradually lessened the amount
able money in operation. of lime in use and have generally found that it
A satisfactory way to deal with foul solutions is makes a difference.
not to make them. This end may be arrived at by Lately A. F. Crosse, in a paper read before the
using a form of electrical precipitation, partially or Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South
wholly, which tends to remove from the solution all Africa, showed that the sulphates of lime, magnesium
elements combined with the cyanide and to liberate and aluminium are sources of cyanide consumption.
the latter. As long as there is available alkali in Mr. Crosse suggests that the use of sodium carbonate
solution, the cyanide liberated will combine with it might act beneficially in such cases, but does not
tc, Imi hi alkaline cyanides, which are ready for recommend any decided or known remedy. It would
further use. It has been suggested, and the method be good practice to make sure that the water used
is quite feasible, that the addition of one or two contains no sulphuric acid when it goes to the
electrical precipitation boxes to follow the use of cyanide plant. If an acid water is the only thing
zinc, either as shavings or dust, will remove trouble- available, the correction should he made before the
some elements from solution, act to regenerate the water is used in the plant and the calcium sulphate
cyanide which was in combination with those removed by decantation or filtration. For the treat-
elements, and also lend to aerate and enliven the ment of acids developed in the ores during the
solutions, putting them in liist class condition for process of beneficiation, however, the remedy is not
further wot k. so simple and it seems that it would be wise to
Electrolytic regeneration presents a simple and experiment with the sodium carbonate, as recom-
efficient method of accomplishing good work. A mended by Mr. Crosse, or with some other alkali
good method was presented by T. II. Aldrich. dr., which would a. oid the formation of salts which
but as this method was devised principally as an aid might act as cyanicides.
to extraction, I will refer to it under that bead. in the same paper, Mr. Crosse calls attention to
Foul solutions are a source of much trouble in the fact that arsenates also act as cyanicides.
cyaniding operations, a great deal of deficient ex- In order that best results should be had and to
tinction being traceable to their account. Any avoid a great deal of trouble that might occur,
solution which has been used, wholly or in part, for solutions should be the subject of frequent tests, and
any length of time, may justly be placed under any lowering of efficiency should be followed up
suspicion, ami at the first hint of trouble in extrac- immediately by its proper remedy. Thus the solu-
tion, it is wise policy to investigate these solutions. tions arc kept at all times at a point of maximum
In order to detect the presence of reducing com- efficiency.
pounds, in which is included organic matter, a Limethe Universal Neutralizer. — The use of lime
simple expedient is to acidulate a measured quantity in connection with cyaniding is universal. The
of the solution under test, with sulphuric acid. lime is used primarily to protect solutions against
Add from a burette a standard solution of potassium acids present in ores or those which may he deve-
permanganate as long as the colour disappears. As loped during treatment. The action of the lime
soon as ;ipermanent pink or reddish colour remains here is pci feetly clear, in that it forms with sulphuric
in the solution, the reducing elements have been acid, which is the acid most generally present or
satisfied and the amount of oxygen required to developed in silver or gold ores, the insoluble
accomplish the result is readily calculated from the sulphate of calcium, thus removing the acid radical
permanganate used. Clennell suggests a better from solution. In connection with this action,
method, which although more complicated, is more attention is called to the preceding article on solu-
accurate. This is as follows
:
tions in which the ill effect of calcium sulphate on
Acidulate the solution under test with sulphuric cyanide solutions is called to light. As has been
acid and adil a slight excess of standard perman- noted, this action and the remedy for it have not
ior. AW. "it Abs roots: Mrtallurqy. 223
been thoroughly worked out so that definite infor- The method of adding powdered lime in the dry
mation can not be given at this time, tint it is well state i" the cold treatment solution is faulty in that
to bear the matter in mind and institute special only a sin til percentage of the CaO contained is put
experiments at any plant where such trouble is into solution. It has the advantage, though, that
experienced. the solution of the contained CaO is not rapid, but
The second use of lime is as a coagulant to induce proceeds slowly, so that the acidity as developed dur-
the settling of slime. Many slime-- will not settle ing treatment is more or less automatically counter-
satisfactorily without the use of a coagulant, and acted by the continued entrance into solution of the
lime required to counteract it. It i- undoubtedly
lime has been generally used for that put pose. It is,
however, true that the precise action of the lime true that in this procedure an appreciable portion of
used to assist in settling has not been accurately the lime goes through the treatment without being
determined. In most cyanide plants the lime is dissolved at all and is discharged with the residues,
used as a matter of course, its action i any particu-
1 1
therefore wasted.
lar circumstance being assumed and not determined Some time ago a series of experiments was made
through experiment. It i- a certain fact that many by W. J. Sharward with the object of determining
slimes settle better without any lime at all, and what was he best condition of the lime for general
t
equally certain that some slimes will settle better in all round results. The conclusion was that the most
acid or neutral solution. This is one of the points desirable condition in which to have the lime was in
which need- to be decided for every particular ore. particles of about 30 mesh size. Particles coatsei
It might be -aid here that, contrary to tlte general
than 20 mesh will go through the treatment without
idea, trace of acidity in treatment solutions will
i
being dissolved, while the extremely line powder
of lime gives up it- available alkalinity too rapidly
not necessarily tend toward decomposition of cyanide
to be of maximum efficiency.
to any great extent and in many cases such condition
of solution tends toward bettei settlement as well as
Another significant and highly important result of
improved extraction. I am aware that this opinion Dr. Shaiuood s experiments was to demonstrate that
has not been voiced to any great extent, but personal a protective lime alkali higher than -
3 lb. per ton of
solution was actually detrimental to the extraction
experience has shown it to be a fact and its recogni-
of gold. This is also true, to a less extent, of silver.
tion may aid in many cases in improving working
I have personally tested this statement in practice
results.
many times and it has always been demonstrated
There are other substances than lime which are that a highly alkaline solution is detrimental to
useful for coagulating purposes, but there are likely
extraction.
to be other reasons which make objections to their
use. Some of these agents have chemical properties Agitation is applied to slime and exceedingly tin ? 1
which make them objectionable, or it may be that sand for the purpose of ensuring a thorough mixture
of the solids in the solution. It is desired that every
tic :ost i- the limiting feature. Some of these
'
It has the disadvantage, however, that the hydrate each particle is not obtained. The idea is that the
is used up immediately and no provision is made for solution and the solid particles move in harmony so
taking care of acidity which might be developed later that at the end of the treatment, the solution in
in the treatment. The only way of taking care of contact with any particular particle of (he solid, is
this item would be to provide for the introduction of about the same which began in contact with it and
other streams of alkaline solution at points where it has followed through the treatment in contact with
mi^'lit be necessary. U would not be satisfactory to it.
add a large excess at the original point of introduc- This condition is really the existing one, to a cer-
tion, for, as has been noted, a large excess of alkali tain extent, hut the objection i- mainly academic,
i- to in- avoided as detrimental to treatment. at least for charge treatment, because the solution
224 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical nncl Mining Society of South Africa Nov. 1912
in one vat is not so different in different places that this is a precaution particularly important because
it would do any particular good to change it around. the settling can not be seen from the top of the vat,
In addition, desired to remedy this difficulty
if it is but must be felt for with a stick or a weight
it to arrange the speed of the arms
would be simple attached to a cord.
to such an extent that the greater part of the solids Contrary to general opinion, the Pachuca vat
would not remain entirely suspended, but would offers no great advantages in extraction. The in-
*ink at a calculated rate, thus passing through all ventor of the vat, Mr. Brown, never claimed a great
t lie solution in the vat. Also the introduction of a increase in extraction, but based his claim of superi-
^centrifugal pump into the vat agitation would go a ority upon the more effectual agitation given and
long way toward making a change of solution. upon the idea of the low cost of this agitation. I
The mechanical stirrers may also be arranged in have always maintained that air not under pressure
continuous circuit so that in their passage from one had little or no chemical effect upon treatment solu-
vat to another the solids would come into contact tions beyond the small amount of actual air which
with a constantly changing solution. However, this is dissolved or carried mechanically in the water.
involves one of the greatest difficulties with the con- The air assists but little in furnishing oxygen for
tinuous piocess, namely, that the same solution is dissolving reaction, and all the experiments that I
.-usually used throughout the treatment, and this is have been able to carry out have lent strength to
not conducive to best results in extraction. Un- that view of the matter. In order that the oxygen
doubtedly the charge method here presents an advan- of the air be given up to solutions it must be under
tage, for by this system a charge receives a number of pressure, a condition which does not obtain in air
definite changes of solution. It is undoubtedly true agitation.
that the most effective solution for treatment is one Hydraulic agitation is accomplished by substituting
which is quite, or nearly barren, and contains a pro- the compressed air of the Pachuca vat by a stream
portion ot new or freshly regenerated cyanide. By of solution introduced under more or less pressure
the charge system this solution is constantly added, from pumps in practically the same way that the
whereas by the continuous system it is difficult to compressed air acts in the Pachuca vat. The system
obtain such a result. has some advantages in that a change in solution is
One disadvantage of the mechanical stirrers is facilitated. It may be arranged so that a continu-
that the coatser sand and slime is likely to move ous decantation is made from the top of the vat ami
toward the centre of the vat where the agitation is a fresh solution introduced for the agitation. The
less and there pile up, or cone, on the bottom, disadvantage of the system is that the power
resulting finally in such a mass as to choke for agitating in a tall vat is increased and also the
up the agitatois. This condition may be maintenance cost, due to the use of pumps which
avoided by using a circulating pump in connection need continual attention and repair.
with the vat, and arranging the intake of the pump For an all round simple and efficient system of
near the centre of the vat, instead of near the peri- agitation, Mr. MacDonald's Parral vat idea seems
phery generally the custom, by this means the to be a highly satisfactory one. The ordinary Mat-
settling out may be avoided and an improved result bottomed vat may be used and the air pressure
•obtained. necessary to secure satisfactory agitation is
The well known Pachuca, or Brown vat is one of much less than that requited in the Pachuca vat and
the innovations which have come into use during the may even in some cases be secured from positive
last few years. It was at first supposed that by the blowers in place of compressors. Mr. MacDonald
use of this system a large economy of power neces- claims that the settling or coning of the material
sary for agitation would result. Careful experiment, does not occur, due to the rotary motion given to the
however, has shown that it has practically no advan- pulp, but while this is true to a certain extent it is a
tages in this way. At the Dos Estrellas mill at El little difficult to understand just why all settling
Oro, Mexico, flat-bottomed agitation vats are used, should be avoided. However, even if the cone does
.36 ft. in diameter and 10 ft. deep. The agitating form, it is more than likely to remain constant and
device is moved by the usual crown and pinion gear- if this is allowed for in the original design of the vat
ing and has the usual arrangement of arms. The there should be no trouble. It seems that the system
capacity of the vats is 70 tons dry slime and the has great advantages for economy of installation and
specific gravity of the dry slime 2-5. Three of these operation.
vats are agitated with 30 h. p., and this is a con- The different modes of agitation are so many that
sumption per ton dry slime that cannot be improved it seems as if most of them must have been devised
upon by the use of the Pachuca vat. with the idea of trying to get the effect of some
The Pachuca vats may have some advantages in already worked out sytem without paying for the
•ease of operation, simplicity, etc., but the actual use of the patent. It is so easy to modify any system
money advantage, it seems to me, does not justify in some way that will not seriously hurt it, and then
the greatly increased capital expense for installa- get a patent on the modification. Apparently the
tion. If the charge system is used the advantage time is not far away when all the possible combina-
"1 the Pachuca is still further reduced, as it is not tions and permutations will have become used up
well adapted for decantation. The Pachuca vat is and all covered by patents, anil then the man who
also subject to the settling out of the coarser particles wants to agitate anything will have to pay for the
of the ore. I have seen >ats in a continuous series right to do so. As an ameliorating fact, there will
of Pachucas SO Stopped up with settled sand that be so many competing processes that none of them
there was only a narrow channel left for the moving will be able to make much of a charge for the use of
pulp bo pass through. Of course this is decidedly its patents
objectionable as far as extraction is concerned for it difficulty with agitation processes at
The general
materially reduces the capacity of the vats, and so the present time is that they do not effectively pre-
reduces tlie time of contact with the solution. In vent the settling out of the solids, that they do not
using Pachuca vats continuously, constant caie offer enough opportunity for change of solution, that
should be taken to see that the vats are open and they consume more power than is generally supposed
clear, and not clogged up with settled matter, and ami that they do not offer sufficient opportunity for
,
the use of air under pressure. The remedies for most some parts of the charge are more porous than others.
of these difficulties are simple, the main trouble This causes the treatment solution to pass along lines
be 1; that they are not generally recognised as diffi-
i 1 1 of least resistance leaving parts of the charge partly
culties, and the remedies are not sought. The or wholly untreated. Technically this condition is
remedy for any difficulty, especially a mechanical called 'channeling' and is responsible for a great
one, is not difficult, but of course varies in each deal of the poor extraction in leaching operations.
plant. After recognizing a particular mode ol doing The plain remedy is in careful tilling of the vats, to
things as the wrong way, an ordinary use of natural avoid the existence of lumps of slime or lumps of sand
ingenuity will !« sufficient to put the operator on the covered with slime, which work to exclude solution
right road. It can not he too strongly urged upon from working upon the included portions. All lumps
all operators that the search for troubles is important should be avoided as far as possible, and the
and, as one operator rays :The trouble is always in
'
sliinc,if there is an appreciable portion mixed with
the last place you look for it, so look there first.' the product to be leached, should be so thoroughly
The desired result in any agitation "process is a con- mixed in with the sand that it will not collect in
tinuous suspension of the particles in solution, a noticeable lumps.
method of introducing fresh solution into circulation Often an increased extraction in leaching may be
and the removal of used or exhausted solution for obtained by using a vacuum pump between baths to
precipitation and regeneration. draw air through the charge. By this means air is
Leaching is still used in a great many of the older delivered to all parts of the charge and has an oppor-
and smaller plantsand even some of the newer plants tunity to act upon the portions which require oxygen,
arc returning to a system of partial leaching, believ- for the completion of the dissolving reactions.
ing that in some cases the additional extraction from In carrying out leaching operations care should be
line grinding and agitation does not give any more taken that the solution coming from a vat should not
profit than plain leaching, due to the cost of the be permitted to enter any other vat under treatment
grinding and agitation of the ground material. In before going to the precipitation department. In the
many cases this conclusion is logical and has been small plant, where economy is sought, leaching is
arrived at after careful study. Leaching is a simple. often attempted from a number of vats all connected
inexpensive method of treatment, and by careful to one large main pipe line which delivers to the pre-
manipulation may be made (ogive splendid results. cipitation department. Sometimes this is feasible,
The inst caie in leaching should be that the material but to be so, the main pipe line must have a heavy
has been ground to the pioper fineness to give maxi- grade and the precipitation department must be
mum results and the material alwajs maintained at much below the vat level. Otherwise the solutions
the same grade. Deviation from this rule will give from a vat under treatment are likely to enter
erratic results. another vat under treatment, and in such eases pre-
is generally found that the top lawyer of material
It cipitation is almost a certainty and trouble ensues.
in a leaching vat will give the best result, while the It is much better to have a separate line for each vat
material lower down in the vat will give less ami less directly to the precipitation boxes, and this resource
extraction, the lower layer in the bottom of the vat is strongly recommended as the entrance of pregnant
giving the poorest result. This is undoubtedly due solution into a charge partly treated will almost
t" lack of aeration in the lower partof the vat. The always result in precipitation of dissolved metals
solution which is applied at the surface of the vat which are then doubly difficult to recover and makes
gives up its dissolved oxygen rather quickly and an extra consumption of cyanide necessary.
most of it is used by the first layers of sand with While leaching is a simple and efficient process, it
which the solution conies in contact. The amount of requires the exercise of vigilance to avoid unneces-
oxygen carried in solution is not great and its effect sary losses. Care and the exercise of good sense are
is confined to the first material which the solution as necessary in this department as in any other, but
meets. given this care, the leaching method of treatment
There are two standard remedies for this difficulty offers a simple, cheap and effective method for the
in leaching. The first, one that has been used for recovery of the precious metals.
years and is efficient, is the transferring of the sand Difficulties with extraction result from many
charge from one vat to another, or the turning over causes and these are so varied that it would be
ot the charge in the same vat. Whether this opera- almost hopeless to attempt to catalogue even a
tion be performed in one vat or whether the charge majority of them. Experience has shown that the
is transferred to another vat, the object is the same most general cause of faulty extraction is carelessness
and is to invert the charge so that the former bottom in operation. In speaking of faulty extraction refer-
layer will be the top of the transferred charge. This ence is made only to those ores which have been proved
exposes new portions to atmospheric influence and susceptible to cya nidation and which have already
results in an additional extraction of the precious yielded good extraction, but which for some local or
metals which were locked up *in portions of the temporary reason are not giving the usual results.
charge removed from atmospheric influence. The In such cases the first thing to do is to revise the
only objection to this method of procedure is its cost, treatment from one end to the other and see that
but the objection is serious, because the cost of such conditions are what they should be. It often happens
an operation is high. The second method of over- that through some oversight an important detail is
coming the effect of lack of oxidation is by introduc- being omitted, with results which are disastrous to
ing the baths of solution alternately on the top of the treatment.
charge and at the bottom. By the latter method the A careful examination of the water used and the
fresh solution with its portion of dissolved oxygen is resulting solutions should be carried out as men-
carried directly to that part of the charge most need- tioned heretofore, so that if any disturbing element
ing it, and the result is always good. The method is is being introduced through this medium, steps can
simple and easy to apply and is productive of good be taken to exclude it. The chemicals used should be
results. submitted to a thorough examination, for these may
In leaching processes poor extraction is often due be faulty and may be the means by which disturbing
to an unsatisfactory method of vat filling, whereby factors enter. Even the cyanide may be wrong, par-
:
226 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Not . 1912
ticularly if it is not new and of standard make. I trouble at once, and its use had to be continued in
had the experience of faulty cyanide at onetime in a order to assure the proper extraction. This opera-
mill far removed from commercial centres. The tion was on a silver ore, of course. An excess of
supply had run short and in order to keep the mill lead acetate is about as bad as not enough, as it uses
in operation, a supply was purchased from a local up an appreciable amount of cyanide without any
dealer. The material was old and not of a standard corresponding gain in extraction.
make, but showed about 90 of availahle KCN under Some years ago I conceived the idea that an addi-
the usual test. Its use was accompanied by curious tion of oxygen to pulp during treatment would im-
actions all through the plant. The extraction fell prove extraction by giving the oxygen necessary for
off remarkably, in fact, went to pieces. A thorough the completion of the reactions in the dissolution of
analysis of the material showed that almost all the metals in cyanide solutions. I thought that by electro-
contained cyanide was in the form of NaCN and con- lysing water I might obtain oxygen in available form
tained a large percentage of impurities. A great for use in the treatment solutions, and simply allow
factor was the the NaOH content, which was large the hydrogen formed at the same time to go to waste.
enough to make the solution a solvent for many I tried a large nninber of experiments utilising free
elements which tended towards consumption of oxygen and found that almost invariably I obtained
cyanide and seemed to oppose extraction of the silver an increased extraction, and that the improvement
and gold content. The material also contained a was most noticeable on solutions that had been in
small percentage of carbon, which, no doubt, induced use for a long time. The apparatus necessary for
a precipitation of some of the metal which had the generation of oxygen in the above mentioned
already been dissolved. It is a good plan to always way were not available at that time, and have never
examine a sample of every shipment of cyanide, for been since, I might add, but I made my oxygen
it is possible that there might be something wrong chemically and used it on treatment solutions.
with it and it always pays to be on the safe side. I have always had the idea that the system on a
The lime used should also be subjected to exam- practical scale would be most beneficial, out have
ination, for it may contain undesirable elements. never had the opportunity to demonstrate it. Re-
In Mexico many cases of lime contaminated with cently, however, T. H. Aldrich, Jr.. published an
charcoal, the result of burning with wood, have been article, already referred to, on the use of electrolytic
known and should be guarded against. The char- oxygen in- .solution, and has shown that beneficial
coal causes a precipitation of dissolved metals and results have been obtained on a practical scale. Mr.
also causes a loss of cyanide. Methods of analysing Aldrich obtained his oxygen by electrolysis, as I
the lime have already been given and every ship- suggested, hut by a different arrangement, although
ment should be thoroughly tested to make sure chat the effect is about the same. He forms his ox\ gen
the material is light. directly in the treatment solutions by electrolysing
Premature precipitation is, in general, a prolific them, the available oxygen being used in the reac-
source of trouble, hut, unless one is on the lookout tions and the hydrogen allowed to bubble away.
for it, it is not usually recognised except by the man The work carried out by Mr. Aldrich, was
who may have had the experience before. It may systematic and thorough, and the results were quite
be stated with certainty that having bad the ex- sufficient to attract serious consideration. However,
perience once, the operator will not forget about it, the most significant paragraph, in my opinion, is the
and will be more than likely to look for that trouble following
at the hist hint of discordant results. A careful, Since the installation of this process it has treated
systematic assaying of the pulp in its course through successfully at this plant 25,000 tons of ore of all
the mill is moie likely than any other way to bring sons, oxidized, partly oxidized and sulphides. Pre-
this matter to light, and often where it is least ex- vious to the use of the batteries, in treating sulphide
pected. Assaying the charge in the vat at frequent ores the average cyanide consumption was 1 lb. per
intervals will keep track of how the work is going ton, in some months running as high as 1-1 lb.
on and will be likely to show if precipitation is tak- After the use of the batteries the average was 0"45
ing place. lb., running for some months as low as 23 lb. pef
Lead acetate is usually used in silver treatment ton of ore treated.
plants for the purpose of precipitating soluble sul It seems to me that Mr. Aldiich's experiments go
phides. These soluble sulphides interfere with a long way toward proving that the supplying of
treatment as silver will not remain in solution in oxygen to solutions aids materially in extraction,
their presence, but precipitates as sulphide and is and the method described has the additional advan-
lost, in the tailing. Some authorities have main- tage of regenerating an appreciable amount of
tained that the use of the lead salt is superfluous, cyanide and thus reducing current consumption.
believing that the zinc taken in solution in the pre- The experimental application of this idea as de-
cipitation department should be sufficient to precipi- scribed, or in some modified form, might he of
tate any sulphides formed. This idea may be true assistance in some plants and a trial of it cannot be
in some cases, hut in others it is not true. too strongly recommended.
I remember ase in which 1 tried to dispense In many cases there will he encountered a form
with the use of lead acetate. After cutting out its of ore which will give a high tailing no matter what
use for some time, I found that my solutions were the form of treatment used. One of the most skilled
becoming turbid, there being a line, whitish sub- of our cyanide operators once informed me that he
stance suspended all through the solutions. This had encountered an ore near hide in the stale, if
matter would not settle and would largely go Durango, Mexico, in which the gold content of the
through any filter cloth. This turbidity was accom- tailing could not he reduced below one gram by any
panied by poor extraction. Analysis showed that possible means of treatment. The matter arrested
the suspended matter was nearly pure sulphur, anil his attention and he went thoroughly into experi-
by following up the course of treatment I could find ments on the ore, even trying to dissolve the residual
a point where precipitation was taking place. Also gold with aqua r&gia. Kveii this failed to dissolve
an inordinate amount of cyanide was being con- it, and the only means by which it could he recovered
sumed. Addition of the lead acetate corrected the was hy the lire assay. The ore was too low grade
Nov, 1912 Notices and Abstracts Metallurgy.
to smelt, and consequently a tailing of this value Mercury is often encountered in old tailings, and
had to be countenanced. His opinion was that the cause- trouble by making the zinc brittle and break-
gold was in some combination, possibly some silicate ing it up into line pieces. This line zinc is -till
which had not previously been encountered. In efficient for precipitation if care is taken to avoid
this case the rebellious gold was found in the lower breaking it too much and packing it closely in the
levels of a mine, the upper levels of which yielded an compartments, so that the passage of the -'hit ion is
easily treatable ore. Circumstances of this sort may hindered. A good method to handle tin- product is
be encountered occasionally, and of course there is to place it iu shallow trays made of screen wire,
no remedy but for the operator to do the best lie using a shallow layer of the line zinc, and placing a
can. number of trays of this kind, one above the other in
In Mexico, and possibly elsewhere, there exist a the head compartments of the zinc box. Mercurj is
number of deposits of manganese-silver ores which naturally a cause for high zinc consumption, but
have generally proved difficult to treat by cyanid- wheie the mercury-bearing material ha- to be
ing. In some cases the difficulty may be overcome treated, as in the case of old amalgamation tailing-.
by careful and systematic experiment, but in others there is no way of avoiding this expense without
there seems to be no general way to make such ores incurring a greater one.
profitable, particularly if they are not of high grade. Extremely weak solutions are difficult to precipi-
To those troubled with this class of material I tate, and where they are in use it is often necessary
should recommend the exhaustive study made by to raise the cyanide content of the solution a- it
Will H. Coghill. It is possible that the Clancy pro- enters the precipitation boxes in order to get good
cess, or some modification of it, might prove avail- precipitation. No attention need be given to this
able on ores of this class, and it would certainly be point where silver ores are being treated, as the
the part of wisdom to make the experiment. Mr. solutions used in treating silver are of ample
Clancy's process has proved of real value on the st length for satisfactory precipitation.
low-grade telluride ores of Colorado and experiments In the use of zinc dust, which is a method that is
on a small scale have shown that it assist- on certain becoming more and more popular as its advantages
Mexican ores. It is quite possible that further beaome known, one avoids many of the difficulties
experiment with it in different districts will show inherent in the zinc box. The method is cleaner and
that of assistance in general.
it is easier ana results in the total recovery of all precipi-
The difficulties in precipitation are not so tated metal at each cleanup. On extremely low-
numerous nor serious as they may be in other parts grade solutions zinc dust makes the poorest showing,
of the plant, but they are troublesome, ami if one is because it requires an excess of zinc to produce
aware of the proper way to avoid or remedy such anything like a barren solution. On solutions,
difficulties, a good deal of worry may be spared the how ever, which contain a fair amount of metal, zinc
operator. dust precipitation will recover the highest possible
One of the principal troubles in zinc-box precipita- percentage of the metal and will use equal weights
tion in the formation of the famous and widely of zinc and metal precipitated, and in especially
heralded 'white precipitate.' This often tonus in favourable circumstances the consumption of zinc
small amounts, one might say always, but rarely will be even less. The troubles accompanying the
causes any serious trouble. It may, if not given use of zinc dust are few and not serious, although if
attention, occur in large enough amount to stop pre- a method of rapid estimation of the metal content of
cipitation by covering up the zinc, but by giving the solution were devised, it would assist materially in
matter a little attention this can je easily avoided. the saving of zinc dust, and thereby give aided
The white precipitate is of varying formation, and impetus to he met hod.
t
always results from one or two causes, that is, too Filtration has come to be one of the most impor-
much, or too little lime in solution. tant operations in cyaniding and the number of
Where there is too much lime, the remedy of filters presented on the market at the present time
course is to reduce the amount in use, and this, as I would give the idea that they are a necessary part of
have stated before, is likely to improve treatment in every plant. This is true in its application to the
other parts of the plant as well. Where there is too huge plants, but there are many small ones opera-
little lime,the natural remedy would be to increase ting quite successfully without a lilter. The most
the amount in use, but here some attention must be satisfactory filters, for the plant large enough to
given to the treatment, and the amount of lime afford them, are the standard leaf filters and the
used lnu^t not he sufficient to interfere with the i lifted lilter press. To my mind, the movable unit
extraction process. In case a higher alkalinity is type of leaf vacuum filter is the most satisfactory in
needed and there is already all the lime in solution the majority of cases, although there are, of course,
that the treatment will bear, he remedy would be
i local conditions which might make some other type
to try some other alkali. In silver treat ment plants equally adaptable.
where lead acetate is used. "'there is rarely any diffi- Filter troubles are usually those attendant on
culty from white precipitate, as the lead in solution manipulation of the cake and are mainly mechanical.
keeps the zinc active and avoids its formation. The foi mation of cake in any lilter is an operation
Therein lies a hint, namely, that treatment of the that should be most carefully watched, as upon the
zinc with lead salts may in many cases eliminate successful formation of a whole, homogeneous cake
trouble of the kind. depends the success of the later wash which should
recover all dissolved precious metal-. In the vacuum
Copper in solution causes trouble byplatingon the
zmic, and the remedy for this is to treat the zinc lilter, which employ- a leaf, the formation of the
bea\ily with lead and' to change the zinc mently. cake should be begun with a low vacuum, much
Copper often precipitates in the last part of the lower than that at which the cake is finished, la-
zinc box, and when this happens, if the zinc is taken this means the fust layers of slime which adhere to
up as soon as the plating appeal-, and transferred to the leaf porous, 'lightly laid and even, much
ale
lit ion induced by starting with a high
the head compartments where it can be acted upon unlike the eon
by fiesb, strong solution--, the trouble will be largely vacuum, in which case the initial layers of slime
avoided. form a close, tightly adhering cake adjacenl '•> the
—
22S The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
filter cloth,and the cake becomes more and more against the dip. No particular "cut" drilling was
loose as it builds up inducing a condition quite necessary, the holes being inclined against the dip.
opposed to homogenitj'. A cake of this sort is more Sinking was done without benching, to allow the
than likely to crack, and portions of it will drop off, four skips to be easily loaded, and there was no
especially from the lower part of the leaf, thus leav- water on the shaft bottom. Water, amounting to
ing bare spots through which the wash solution can 30 skips per shift, was caught up at rings above and
pass, in a short circuit, leaving portions of the cake baled at intervals from tanks. Skips were 45 cub.
unwashed. ft. capacity, and had long shoes to engage the guides
The same facts are true, to a certain extent, with at the timbers, which were about 20 ft. above the
the modified filter press, which acts like other shaft bottom when lowered to the shaft bottom.
pressure filters. In these machines extremely high Each shift cleaned up, drilled, loaded and blasted.
pressures can he obtained, higher than those operated Forty to 45 holes 3J to 5 ft. deep were drilled in
on the vacuum system, and in that lies their greatest rows of four across shaft. Seven-eighths inch blasting
danger. High pressures tend to make the cake more gelatine, with Bickford's special 27 fuse and Edgar
solid and impermeable, and the operator is likely to Allan J in. green label steel were employed 223 ;
use his pressure carefully because it attains speed tons per hole were broken, and "456 lb. blasting
for him and gives greater capacity. gelatine per ton broken was consumed. A per-
By using a fresh or regenerated cyanide solution manent steel headgear 110 ft. in length was erected
for the solution wash of trie filter cake, an additional over the shaft, and two geared winding engines
extraction can be gained. It is always well to make
one 101 in. x 33 in. cylinders and other 22 in. x 48 in.
the most of opportunities of this sort, for they are cylinders— with 8 ft. drums with 1J in. steel wire-
exponents of the kind of thing that makes the rope, hoisted rock and men in four compartments
difference between prolit and loss. out of seven. The two end and the centre compart-
In all filtration the desideratum is the formation of
ments were vacant. Four timhermen were employed
a cake that is even, porous and homogenous, so that, in each shaft. Two men, with six natives, worked
the washing may be attended to easily and reach on bottom sets ; one man and four natives put in
highest efficiency. If the operator will keep in guides and hearers and cut bitches for bearers.
mind the condition of his cake, even a poor filter can One carpenter and one native worked on the brattice,
be made to do good work. The condition of the cake which was constructed of J in. T. and G. pine,
means a good or bad wash, according as the cake is between pump and winding compartments, the sides
well made or poorly built up. Form a good cake to of brattice being scribed to lit the irregular sides of
start off with, and the rest of the operation will give the shaft. The brattice was taken up as a chimney
—
no trouble." H. A. MEGRAW, Engineering and over the pump compartment 100 ft., and caused a
Mining Journal, August 17 and 24, 1912, p.p. 311 circulation of 20,000 to 25,000 cub. ft. per minute at
and 360. (H. A. W.) the shaft bottom, at once clearing the smoke. In
sinking with brattices, if the circulation is sluggish
.MINING. a small live steam pipe from the boilers can easily
Rectangular Circular Shafts.— "The
v. be carried about 200 ft. down the shaft, and a jet of
ground of the State Mines is situated between steam be turned on after blasting for a few minutes
the well-known producing mines — the New Modder- to heat the upcast column, thus producing a splendid
fontein G.M. Co., Brakpan Mines Ltd., and Geduld circulation. Little lagging was required, and this
Mines Ltd. The Union Government of South Africa was 9 in. x 3 in. pitch pine. The timbernian and
are largely interested in the mine, the company natives, with staging and tools, go down immediately
working it having to pay a certain extra percentage after the drilling crew, and start blocking per-
of profits, on a sliding scale, to the State. The manently a set of timber lowered and partially
property consists of over two thousand acres, and is blocked on the preceding shift. They are not allowed
being developed by four vertical seven-compartment the use of skips until the bottom crew have cleaned
shafts. In one of these record sinking footage has up, got tools down and started drilling. Then a
been attained. The previous record for 31 days' complete set of timber is lowered, shackled beneath
sinking was held by the Brakpan Mines, 203 ft. theskips, the wall plates being in two pieces. From
having been sunk, mostly in Kimberley shales. the time the first wall plate is attached to skip it
This was a seven-compartment shaft. The three- takes H hours to lower, till in and temporarily block
compartment shaft on the Modder Deep mine was a set of timber. The engine is then employed to
recently sunk 213 ft. and still more recently 234 ft. lower guides and hearers to the timherer looking
has been reported for a month. The shaft on the after this work, so that in eight hours about 57 skips
State mines was sunk 233 ft. in one month, working of rock are hoisted, one set permanently blocked and
seven daj's a week, 80 ft. of this being in Kimberley another being filled and secured, and four 30 ft.
reef shales and the remainder in qnartzite :583 ft. guides put in or hearers placed. There are double
were sunk months.
in three pent houses in the unused compartments. The sets
The shaft excavation is 45, 10 ft., giving 37 '5 contain 132 cub. of pitch pine, wall plates and
ft.
tons per foot sunk. The total tally during the end plates being 9 in.9 in., corner studdles 8 in.
month of skips hoisted was 8,155 tons, or 35 tons by 8 in., studdles over joint of wall plates 10 in. x 7 in.,
measurement of broken rock per foot sunk. The other studdles 10 in. 4 in., dividers 9 in. x 4 in.,
.
shaft was sunk from 1738 to 1971 feet vertical depth. and guides 8 in. x 4 in. The joint on wall plate is
The sinking in the four shafts averaged 173! ft. for secured by bolts and straps. Bearers are put in
the month. Eighty-two natives, one white miner every 120 ft., those under end pieces consisting of
and assistant constituted a crew, and three crews three 9;<9 pitch pine beams, and under dividers
worked eight-hour shifts. Most of the drilling was three 9x7 beams. Hitches are cut a minimum
done double jack, two natives to a hole, one striking of 4 inches into solid rock. The shaft is tested every
with 7 lb. hammer. Back benches only were drilled month from surface by wires and plumb bobs.
single-handed. The bedding planes of the quartzites Sixty-four sets were put in and blocked in 61 days.
were well defined, dipping at a low angle to the Sets' are 7 ft. centres apart, or 6 ft. 3 in. between
south, and the shaft was sunk with its long axis timbers. This is about the maximum to allow men
—
appears no doubt as to the advantage held by the lined, such a shaft is practically everlasting, as com-
rectangular shaft. The adjoining circular shaft is pared with constant repair and frequent renewals in
sinking at a rate of about 100 ft. per month. The its timbered prototype. Second immunity from tire:
rectangular shaft can, as shown, be sunk at a much this can be made absolute if the internal fittings of
greater speed, reducing interest losses and lessening the shaft are constructed of steel and iron, which, in
the time of reaching the ore body. Durability is a dry mine, becomes a very important consideration.
amply supplied for the 15 or '20 years the shaft will Third, a greater area of opening for the enclosing
be employed, and, if necessary, steel sets, as in use perimeter: thus a 20 ft. dia., shaft, with a circum-
on the Van Ryn Deep, could have been installed. ference of 63 ft. (approximately) has an area of 314
The question the advocates of circular shafts have sq. ft., as compared with 153 sq. ft. area of a rectan-
not dealt with is that of relative haulage capacity gular shaft 25 ft. 6 in. x6ft., with a 63 ft. perimeter.
compared with size of shaft, cost of shaft, rate of The former shaft is, therefore, twice as effectual for
sinking, and ventilation capacity. Advocates of ventilating purposes, and, in deep shafts where rapid
circular shafts have dwelt much on the impediments winding is employed, the difference in air-resistance
to air circulation caused by dividers, etc.; but they is also a factor for consideration.
have failed to show that any circular shaft equipped In the accompanying diagram, the rectangular
only with steel wire guides and cages can haul any- shaft is divided into four compartments, each 6 ft.
thing like the same quantity of rock for a given area B ft., permitting the use of four vehicles, each 5 ft. x
as a modern rectangular shaft equipped with ten ton 5 ft., in cross section. The circular shaft show- four
skips, as at Kiniberley and the Crown mines. It similar vehicles working on opposite sides of a
appears to me obvious that, to compete in hauling central divider, anil the drawings being on the same
capacity, the circular shaft must impede its air way scale, it will be apparent bow great is the additional
as much, if not more, than the rectangular shaft by space available, which coulil be used for air, water,
installing dividers and permanent guides for skips, electric mains, pump rods, or ladder way.
and the provision of loading bins would be more There are minor advantages in favour of the cir-
difficult. On the Witwatersrand I am convinced cular shaft, but, omitting these, we pass on to a
that it would pay to sink a rectangular shaft with consideration of the chief arguments in favour of the
an extra ventilation compartment rather than sink a rectangular form. First and foremost, there is
circular shaft. This aspect of the question deserves —
economy economy in construction and economy of
discussion, and an excellent thesis might be written material. But this economy is calculated on the
on the comparison of haulage capacity between a proportion of actual utilisable space within the shaft
rectangular and circular shaft of equal area." and not on the basis of the total ventilating area;
E. M. Weston, Mining and Engineering Review, consequently, on a rectangular shaft of the same
September 5, 191-2, p. 443. (H. A. W.) sectional area, such an advantage would probably
disappear. It is outside the object of this article to
Circular versus Rectangular Shafts.— "A compare the actual cost in particular examples, or to
questionwe are frequently asked says the Mining attempt a formula on the respective disparity of
World, is. What are the advantages of a circular as such, but it may be taken as an established fact that
compared with a rectangular shaft Which, it is '.'
the few circular shafts now in use at metalliferous
asked, is the cheaper and which the better type'.' mines have cost very considerably more than tim-
On few such debatable questions are the opinions of bered rectangular shafts would have cost, designed
mining engineers so widely .divided engineers, we for the same output. Secondly, the rectangular
;
230 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining •Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
I In- .li tii-iisi'iI debris resulting from the smaller area lithic cylinder when placed in position. A hole was
broken, would appeal that the circular shaft
it left in each slab — about in diameter on the con-
1 in.
would afford compensating advantages in permitting cave face, and slightly larger on the convex face to —
of deeper holes and more convenient work. The allow of their being slung and lowered into position,
retarding factors as regards the circular shaft are the as well as to serve as an inlet for cement grout to be
increased haulage and the tedious work of brick- injected into the concrete filling behind them after
laying but with better hoisting facilities and the
; the slabs had been fixed in position.
substitution of concrete blocks for bricks, it is pro The lining of the shafts was completed through
liable that the present disparity in speed could be water-bearing strata which had been previously
greatly reduced. Third, the most common argument treated by the Francois method of cementation, and
in favour of the rectangular shaft, is the more com- the cavity between the reinforced concrete lining and
plete utilisation of space. Except as it effects the the face of the strata, left in the process of sinking
rust, df sinking, however, this advantage is non- the shafts, was tilled with ordinary concrete to a
existent—in fact, it becomes a real disadvantage thickness of 9 in. behind the lining during the course
when viewed from the standpoint of ventilation ; of the fixing of the lining this concrete being finally
;
and, as metal mines becomes deeper, and the points filled up solid by injection through the lining with
of entry fewer in number, more and more attention cement grout, thus making it watertight.
will need to be given to this important requirement, It is said that the new lining possesses certain
which, among metal miners, has been so much over- advantages over the ordinary brick lining, as being
looked in the [last. more watertight, and as not requiring any outlay in
To summarise, we hold the view that, for a ver- upkeep once the work is completed."' Journal of
tical shaft sunk oil' the vein, the circular brick-lined Ihr Royal Society oj Arts, Sept, 27, 1912, p. 1026-27.
shaft is incomparably the better type from almost (J. G.)
every point of view. Given the same initial COS t and
speed of construction, we think few engineers would Effect of Stemming on the Efficiency of
choose a timbered shaft, with its attendant anxieties Explosives.— "Technical Paper No. 17, The Effect '
and repairs. The one great drawback of the circular of Stemming on the Efficiency of Explosives," is a
shaft, however, is increased first cost, and, before
late publication issued by the United States Bureau
deciding on recommending the type, the cautious of Mines. The authors, Walter 0. Snelling and
engineer will ask himself, Is it, worth while'.'"
'
In Clarence Hall, in their introduction say :
a new and unproven mine, it is not in a deeper but ;
All commercial explosives owe their power of
doubtful proposition with an uncertain future, the doing work to the expansive force of the great
additional outlay may be scarcely justified but as :
volume of gas evolved from them at the moment of
;i permanent shaft to a second horizon, or a shaft explosion. The pressure exerted by this gas in the
designed to form one of the main thoroughfares— per- drill hole or other confined space in which the
haps tin only thoroughfare to adeep level develop-
1
— explosion is brought about is what makes explosive
ment, we think there can be no doubt that the
substances of value in mining or other industries,
circular shaft lined with masonry is notonly the best
and is the primary cause of all those manifestations
and most reliable, but will prove the cheaper in the of energy that follow the tiring of a charge.
end. Indeed, we think the day is not far distant
Common black blasting powder, on explosion,
when the use of timber shafts for such a purpose will produces about 390 times its own volume of per-
be considered as retrogressive, just as would he a
manent gases; 4ii dynamite produces about Soil
Hal topped railway tunnel timbered with 'cap and
times its own volume of permanent gases and ;
has a cross sectional area of '25 of a square inch per earth or clay should be used as a stemming for all
foot of width short-way of mesh. The slabs are shots, and that the careful lamping of these
tongued and grooved on edges to allow of their lit ling materials into place increases the effect of a Idas
and keying into each other, the joints being filled The structure of rocks and the direction of cracks
with cement grout to make the segments a mono- and partings are so variable that it is quite im-
— — — —
possible to drill in a face of coal or rock two shot miners' phthisis is included) was a disease, in con-
holes absolutely alike and representing exactly the tracting which a miner was entitled to compensation
same conditions. Hence it is impossible to make in under the Workers.' Compensation Act, not a single
a mine or quarry a test that would settle definitely claim was made for compensation in respect of the
bhe question of just what advantages are gained by disease.
the use of stemming with high explosives.
'
By '
than those in which no stemming is employed." 1. The compulsory use of dust-preventing ap-
Mining and Engineering World, Aug. 24, 11112, p. 363. pliances, such as sprays, water blasts, and atomizers.
(A. R.) 2. Improved ventilation of mines.
3. Use of bath and change houses at the mine-.
Hand Drilling v. Machine Drilling.— "A 4. Prevention of indiscriminate spitting, anil the
unique drilling contest took place at Calumet, destruction of tuberculous sputum.
Michigan, August 24, when one man with a Butter- ' 5. Delinite treatment of those affected with
fly rock drill defeated a three-man team of hand-
'
tuberculosis of the lungs in an advanced form.
drillers. Each party was allowed 15 minutes of (i. Improved housing conditions and disinfection
actual drilling at the end of that time the hammer
;
of work places and living quarters.
and diill team had drilled 49 in., breaking their 7. The exclusion from work underground of all
record set a few weeks previously at the miners' persons infected with tuberculosis of toe lungs.
picnic, by a quarter of an inch. The man with the The use of dust -preventing appliances is provided
machine-drill holed through the rock, (ill in., with for under Section 19 {m) of the Mining Act Amend-
one minute to spare, winning the prize of $50. The ment Act, ltlln, viz. :—
rock drill used was an Ingersoll-Rand, Butterfly '
There shall at all times be used in and about the
valve, one-man machine. Two other contests were battery or place where such crushing or drilling is
held at the same time, which were essentially trials done an adequate jet or spray of water, or such
of speed in rigging-up
'
one-man and two man
'
other appliances as in the opinion of the inspector
machines. Each team was required to 'rig-up' its will effectually keep the air pure and prevent dust
machine, drill for two minutes (to show that the job circulating in the place where such operations are
was a satisfactory one), and then put in a new drill being carried out, and for this purpose an adequate
steel. supply of water shall be provided,'
In the two-man contest there were 2(1 teams In addition to which it would be advisable that an
entered, practically every mine in the copper country approved water blast be used immediately after
being represented. The Ahmeek team, won the blasting in mines, a provision made compulsory in
first prize of $100, and did the work in 3 min. 42 sec, the Transvaal, for the purpose of allaying the
taking only 1 min. 42 sec. to rig-up and put in the
'
'
noxious gases, smoke, and dust, caused by blasting
drill. in close ends. The use of a water blast of the James
In the one-man drill contest there were 17 teams type is recommended by the Transvaal Royal Com-
entered. The Calumet & Hecla Amygdaloid team mission, and is thus described in Doctor Haldane's
won the first prize in 4 min. 333 sec. The two-man ' Report on the Health of Cornish Miners' :
' At the
drill used was of Ingersoll-Rand make the one-man ;
mouth of the level a piece of in. iron
drill was an Ingersoll-Kand Butterfly machine. The pipe c, Fig. I, or a small cylinder, provided with a
contests in rigging-up drill machines are in line with side tap d is let into the ordinary 2 in. iron pipe a
the recent policy of the Calumet & Hecla M. Co., for carrying the compressed air for the drill. Before
which conducting a thorough campaign in effi-
is the blast this is tilled with water through the side
ciency engineering in underground work. '1
he tap from a cistern after the compressed air has been
company has cooperated with rock drill manufac-
turers to secure the construction of a light one-man
machine to be used in drifts which will equal or ex-
ceed the speed of a two-man machine. It is reported
1
that the expense of changing from the two-man
to one-man machines will aggregate a quarter of a
million dollars, but such astounding reductions are FIG. 1.— JAMES WATER BLAST.
being attained in cost of driving and stoping that turned off. Immediately after the blast the com-
chis sum will be made up in the saving of the first pressed air is suddenly turned full on. The water
year or two. The innovations were first tried out in is thus driven alorg the pipe e with great velocity,
the Superior mine and were so successful there that and a mixture of finely divided water and air is dis-
they are now being introduced in the other mines of charged from the open end, which is directed toward
tie- company." Mining and Scientific Press, .Sept. the face which has just been blasted. By this means
14th. 1912, 'p. 343. (A. McA. .1.) the dust is entirely cleared from the last 30 ft. oi
40 ft. back from the blast, the air leaving quite cleai
Prevention ok Miners' Phthisis.—" The Royal immediately after. If a ventilating pipe as shown
Commission of Xew Zealand, in its report, states in Fig. 2 is carried forward about as far as the com-
that, from the evidence taken by it, it is apparent pressed air pipe, any dust which has been driven out
that tubeiculosis has not in New Zealand assumed beyond the reach of the jet can be rapidly carried
auch proportions as indicated by the returns from off. This plan has the great merit that it implies
Cornwall, Bendigo, Queensland, West Australia, and scarcely any trouble, and no extra apparatus except
the Transvaal. In proof to the same effect it should the piece of li in. pipe and tap for tilling it. The
be stated that during the period between October 111, rock blasted is also thoroughly wetted, so that no
Mil is, and December 24, 1909, when pneumoconiosis dust is produced in shovelling it. The water partly
(a term which formerly was used to classify a group washes out from the air any nitrous fumes which
of diseases all similar in character, amongst which may be present, but, of course, no carbonic oxide.
' — —
2:;2 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
and for this reason, if no other, a ventilating pipe is The object of the design of these crossheads is to
desirable in cases were the level or rise has been prevent them from falling when they stick in the
driven more than a few fathoms beyoud the air shaft. In the Sargeson crosshead, which is shown in
current.' the accompanying illustration, the attachment A is
The ventilating apparatus shown in Fig. 2 consists fastened to the crosshead at C. If the crosshead
of a pipe b, in which is inserted a reversible nozzle
a connected at the valve c to the compressed air
piped. By adjusting the nozzle a ami admitting
compressed air, a current mav be in Ineed in either
direction through the ventilating pipe b.
y\ It ^7
2E
FIG, 2.— VENTILATING APPARATUS.
The more adequate ventilation of all mines to a
standard of quality, quantity, and lixed tempera-
ture, is dealt with muter the heading of Ventila- '
tion.
The use of bath and change houses is also recom-
mended.
The prevention of indiscriminate spitting appears
to be a matter requiring urgent attention by local
bodies and by the Government, The dissemination
of directions regarding the destruction of tuber-
culous sputum is very necessary.
Improved housing conditions for the miners and
the definite treatment of tuberculous persons are
matters which are being strongly advocated by
many medical practitioners of New Zealand.
The exclusion from work underground of persons
infected with tuberculosis of the lungs is a matter
insisted upon by all authorities.
The Commission therefore makes the following
SAFETY crosshead used at a cobalt mine.
recommendations :
Preventive Measures.— Every working place where arm automatically engages the clip B,
sticks, this
rock drills are in use shall be furnished with an attached to the cable, and so stops the bucket. In
approved water blast or suitable appliancefor laying sinking operations the arm A is automatically
the dust, smoke, and gases after a blast; and no tripped by the stop block E, allowing the bucket to
man shall return to an end, rise, winze, or other descend to the bottom of the shaft.
dose place, until the air is free from dust, smoke, In the accompanying illustration, A shows the
and fumes, caused by blasting. attachment in normal position I, the attachment
;
—
Measures of Belief. That miners suffering, or tripped by the crosshead stop B, the clip in normal
position
;
imposed tuberculosis of the lungs shall have free attachment; C, the draw pin I), the cable E, the
; ;
medical advice from the Government, such advice crosshead stops F, the guides; and H, the cross-
;
with a shell-like fracture, and, when in a line state Training ok Mine Employees.— "Mr. Bromley,
of division, temls to become splintery, must be dan- in his paper read before the Society of Civil Engi-
gerous. The dust from the mines of the Golden neers, contended that for the proper training of
Mile is made up of a number of minerals, whose tradesmen, operators, skilled labourers, overseers,
hardness range from 2 to 7, and in specific gravity and unskilled labourers, it is essential to have (1) :
-
from 2 65 to 5*1. compulsory education up to the sixth standard grade
J. An analysis of collected dust shows it to con- in the case of tradesmen, and up to the fourth in the
tain silica, carbonates of lime and magnesia, sericite, case of others (2) the indenturing of apprentices to,
;
pyrite, and apatite. The constituents, besides the various trades (3) the providing of local night
;
quartz and pyrite, are relatively soft. Excepting classes or trades schools (4) the providing of practi-
;
the carbonates and apatite, the remainder are in- cal instruction from first-class tradesmen (5) the ;
granular particles from 1/2500 in. long and wide, and of the scale of wages to attraot the class of men
same thickness, to particles 1/8000 and 1/10,000 of required.
an inch. The medium-grained dust ranged from In Germany every facility is afforded mine em-
1/500 to 1/2500 in. long by 1/1500 in. thick. The ployees to study and better themselves, many com-
coarse dust is as big as 1/33 in. wide, 1/16 in. long, panies insisting on men being technically trained to
and 1LOO in. thick. When boring dry holes under- sonic degree before employing them. It has been
ground, in a drift 7 by 5 ft., 3,000,000 particles of said that every foreman at the Mansfield copper
dust per square inch collected near the face, but mines and plant has had a good scientific training.
when buiing wet, only 194,500 particles were found While indirectly connected with mining, the prac-
at the same place. tice of the Brunner Mond Chemical Co. is of interest.
Some interesting diagrams and microphotos are This is probably the most skilfully managed chemical
reproduced, showing the relative amounts of dust industry in Great Britain, and perhaps there is no
collected under these conditions. Mr. Larcombe industrial undertaking, even in Germany, more
concludes by saying that the dust in the mine scientifically administered. Since its foundation
atmosphere at Kalgoorlie compares most favourably there has been no resting on oars,* but an ever
'
with the dust from any other centres, and is less striving forward policy seems to dominate the
dangerous than that at Bendigo or on the Kami. officials, and even the workmen. The employees
The whole report is a valuable addition to the exist- have every facility afforded them to study and im-
—
ing literature on the subject." C. O. G. LARCOMBE, prove their position. It is compulsory for appren-
Minimi and Scientific Press, Sept. 7th, 1912, p. SOS. tices, not only to attend evening technical classes,
(A. McA. J.) but those held during certain days as well. The
company contributes to a sickness and maintenance
fund, to enable men to retire in comfort. Sir John
.MISCELLANEOUS. Brunner once said, the men who make the profits
'
Luminator PROCESS. — " The author, after enum- should participate in them.'
eration of the literature on the luminator process, In most of the important mining centres of Aus-
considers that the process is only of incidental value. tralia and New Zealand there are good public primary
There are plenty of waters which, if allowed to trickle and private secondary schools, continuation classes,
OTer any material, show the same result as if allowed technical schools, and schools of mines, especially
to How over the aluminium sheet of the luminator. catering to men working at mines and mills. The
An actual case of this kind is appended in confirma- most important are at Ballarat, Bendigo, Chattels
tion of this statement. Finally, the influence of Towers, Kalgoorlie, Thames, and Zeehan, while there
such materials in forming a slime instead of a crust are several others in smaller centres. The Mt.
in the boiler is held to be undesirable." E. E. — Morgan company has been liberal in its help to the
Basch, Chemiker Zeitung (from Zeitschrift Dampfk. local school in the town mainly suppoited by its
w. Maschinerbetr., 1912, Bd. 35, s. 190),' 15th June, operations. Besides these, Adelaide has a large
191-2, p. 343. (T. D.) school of mines, while Auckland, Brisbane, Dunedin,
Melbourne, and Sydney have universities where
Dust Particles Air.
in —
"There are various
the mining in all its branches may
be studied. To what
methods of measuring the dust in the air. known A extent are these schools of mines used in the mining
volume of air may he drawn through a filter of centres ? On the whole, they are attended to a fair
cotton wool, or bubbled through distilled water, and degree, but not nearly what they should be. At
the dust detained by the cotton or deposited in the Kalgoorlie there are about 5,800 mine employees,
water may be weighed. Most forms of apparatus and under '200 attend the local school of mines, which
used in studying dust serve only to show the total is large, well equipped for every class of student,
weight per unit volume of air, or provide means of caters to men working shifts, and offers, along with
securing specimens for microscopic examination. the Chamber of Mines, valuable scholarships and
Methods have been devised for the counting or close prizes. A large number of young people in the town,
approximation of the number of particles in a given apart from mine employees, attend night classes.
volume, and innumerable tests have been made in The wages paid and general conditions at Kalgoorlie
all parts of the world. The number of dust particles have attracted a good class of workers, and their
has been found to vary from a few thousand per general efficiency is high, as is proved by the low-
cubic ineh over the oceans and in mountain regions costs prevailing in the district lower comparatively
;
to 50,000,000 and upward in dusty towns. A room, than on the Kand with coloured labour. From several
near the ceiling, has been found to contain years' observations, I must say that there seems to
'
88,000,000 to the cubic inch. It is said that a be a feeling of don't care or cannot be bothered
' ' '
cigarette smoker sends some 4,000,000,000 particles among the majority of mine employees. They do
into the air at every puff'." Mining Science, Aug. 1, their work in good style, but after it is finished there
1912, p. 67. (A. McA. J.) is little desire to read or to try to improve them-
234 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
selves. There are numbers of men wlio rarely read containing ammonium salts [e.g., 5% chloride, 8% phos-
the daily newspaper and many who do, only study
; phate and 2% sulphate], wringing, and drying, will
the sporting page. Throughout Australian mining render such articles (stage properties, &c.) almost
districts the sporting element is too prevalent alto- incapable of burning with flame. A single-solution
gether. Apart from these men, there are others, bath for the same purpose consists of sodium tung-
especially in mills, who take great interest in their state. —
The author's experiments over 10,000 in
work, read at work if there is spare time, and study —
number to find a solution capable of rendering
at some technical school. Such men get on. Man- flannelette safe whilst still permitting it to be
agers at Kalgoorlie are not slow in recognising merit. washed as usual have been crowned with success.
There are two splendid libraries in the district, yet The Hist good results were obtained by dissolving
out of, say, 20,000 adults only about 1,500 are mem- aluminium tungstate (obtained by double decom-
bers, and the majority of these are business people. position) in dilute acetic acid, impregnating the
Miners and millmen are comfortably provided. Each material with this solution, and steaming off the
company has first-class change houses, and men can acetic acid but the fabric was only lireproof for the
;
go to work in good clothes and after work can be first three or four washings. Similar results were
thoroughly clean. Conditions of work are also obtained with zinc and tin tungstates, and in the
decent on the whole. Of course, the summer heat end the generalisation was made that the compounds
partly accounts for the careless attitude toward in which metal oxides act as weak acids (plumbates,
study. Nearly all the large mines generally make stannites, &c. stuck to the fibre much better than
)
room for a few learners or cadets, and they are given other precipitates, and for several years fabrics im-
as much assistance as possible. Cadets at some pregnated with zinc stannate have been commercially
mining camps complain that they are kept in one successful, though the cost of the treatment was
department too long, and there may be room for about 2d. per yard.
objecting to being so placed. The trouble with some The latest process consists in dipping the material
students is that they think they should take it easy, in dilute solution of sodium stannate anil then pass-
having been given employment under some influence ing it through a bath of stannic chloride, whereby
or other. There have been cases where they got the fabric becomes impregnated with hydrated tin
through the day's work and then gave themselves up oxide (gelatinous stannic acid). In technical prac-
to all sorts of enjoyments till late hours, further tice this has been improved by substituting am-
study being seldom thought of. This class of learner moniuni sulphate for the lin chloride. The flannel-
will never get on. On the other hand, there have ette, lace or muslin is run through sodium stannate
been cases of hard and determined work, and such solution of sp. gr. 1"22, squeezed and dried by hot
men are sure to advance. Every encouragement is copper drums, then run through ammonium sulphate
given to employees of the Mt. Lyell and Broken Hill of sj). gr. r08, and again squeezed and dried finally
;
companies, and suggested improvements to plant are the sodium sulphate is removed by washing. Hot
always carefully considered, and, if valuable, credit soap and water do not affect the tire-proofing sub-
is given the man making the suggestion. Men in stance (tin oxide) when produced in this way, it
the Zeehan district of Tasmania have good oppor- being practically in combination with the cellulose
tunity to study at the local school of mines. In New of the fabric. Colours in the fabric are not affected,
Zealand, at the Keefton, Thames, and Waihi mining and its texture is actually improved by the process,
camps, many men have done well at the school, but the cost of which is about Id. per yard (tin at £200
many miners are too busy with labour troubles to per ton). The trade name of the article is 'Non-
bother about study. Ham,' and the manufacturers are Whipp & Tod,
In the United States there are many technical Manchester."— Prof. W. H. Perkin, F.R.S.,
schools, and much has been written on sociological General lecture at International Congress of Applied
conditions at certain centres, and how large com- Chemistry, New York. (J. M.)
panies try to help their men to advance their position
or make them more contented, but in many cases Utilisation of the Sun's Energy— "The
few bother themselves. In summing up, it might be —
Photochemistry of the Future. "This lecture
said that although everybody cannot be in charge of is a plea for immediate action in the direction of
mines and mills, yet a little effort on the part of utilising sunshine in the arid areas of the earth, in
mine employees would make work more interesting view of the rapid exhaustion of coal supplies. It is
andlife more satisfactory." — M. W. von BERNEWITZ, pointed out that the desert of Sahara receives daily
Mining and Scientific Press, September 14, 1912, pp. solar energy equivalent to 6,000,000,000 tons of coal
336-7 (A. McA. J.). — equal to the present world's output of coal for five
years, so that an area of 3,000 square kilometres
"Fireproof" Cotton Clothing. — " After a could supply energy for the whole world if it could
showing that tire proofing of cotton
historical review be utilised. No suggestions as to plant are given,
was attempted almost 200 years ago with the sub- except a hint at a forest of cylindrical glass lenses in
stances then known, such as alum, boric acid and the style of thick glass rods."— Prof. G. ClAMICIAN,
ferrous sulphate, the author mentions the use of a popular lecture before Int. Congr. App. Chem., New
paint of chalk in water-glass for tire-proofing wood Yoik. (J. M.)
on a large scale ninety years ago. The more modern
methods of impregnating the wood with mineral INNOVATIONS in Paints.— "This deals chiefly
salts, such as copper sulphate, ammonium phosphate, with paints for battleships, but has application in
or, best of all, zinc chloride, are mentioned in [pass- other directions where steel is rapidly corroded. The
ing. The subject proper of the lecture is a descrip- first is the use of zinc oxide and blanc fixe as the
tion of the progress made in treating dangerously constituents of the outside layer the second the use
:
inflammable cotton materials such as flannelette, so of a new hydrocarbon spirit for thinning, much
as to render them insensitive to flame even after they cheaper than turpentine. The third is a special
—
have been repeatedly washed an enquiry of great bottom paint for resisting salt solution, invented by
public importance. Fire-proofing articles which are not —
the chemists of the l.S. Navy." H. Williams,
to be washed is an easy matter: immersion in a bath Int. Congr. App. Chem., New York. (J. M.)
— ——
Nov. 1012 Notices and Abstracts .'
.\fiscellfivctrus
the Royal Institution. The following tables of tem- Temperature and colour of'a fire.
peratures are given : c.
" Grey," lowest discernible temperature. about 450
Table I. Very dull red ... ,, 500
'arious temperatures.
Dull red 71 10
Temperatures attainable in :
The good effects of open-air treatment, sea and
°C. mountain air, are no less generally ascribed to the
Bunsen burner flame ... ...1,100 — 1,350 chemical purity of the air. In reality the health-
Meker burner flame ... ... ... 1,450 — 1,500 giving properties are those of temperature, light,
Petrol blowlamp Hame ... ...1,500—1,600 movement, and relative moisture of the surrounding
< xy hydrogen Hame ...
» .. ... about 2,000 atmosphere, and leaving on one side those gross
Oxy-acetylene flame.. ... .. abont2,400 chemical impurities which arise in mines and in some
Thermit ... ... ... ... about 2,500 manufacturing processes, and the question of bac-
Electric arc ... ... ... ... about 3,500 terial infection, the alterations in chemical com-
Electric arc (under pressure) ... ... about 3,600 position of the air in buildings where people crowd
Sun ... ... ... ... about 5,500 together and suffer from the effects of ill-ventilation
have nothing to do with the causation of these
Table 3.
effects.
Some indication of the present range of temperature- The ventilating and heating engineer hitherto has
measuring instruments. followed a great illusion in thinking that the main
objects to be attained in our dwellings and places of
Practical. Extreme.
business are chemical purity of the air and a uniform
•c. c.
draughtless summer temperature.
Expansion thermometers :
sufficient to change the haemoglobin of the venous cal evidence of the existence of such. Fliigge
blood into oxyhemoglobin, there can arise no lack of points out, with justice, that while we naturally
oxygen. avoid any smell that excites disgust and puts
At sea-level the pressure of oxygen in the pulmon- us ofl our appetite, yet the offensive quality
ary alveolar air is about 100 mm. Hg. Exposed to of the smell does not prove its poisonous nature.
only half this pressure the haemoglobin is more than For the smell of the trade or food of one man may
80 saturated with oxygen. be horrible and loathsome to another not used to
In noted health-resorts of the Swiss mountains the such.
barometer stands at such a height that the concen- To study the relative effect of the temperature
tration of oxygen is far less than in the worst ventil- and chemical purity of the atmosphere, I constructed
ated room. On the high plateau of the Andes there a small experimental chamber of wood fitted with
are great cities : Potosi with a hundred thousand large glass observation windows and rendered air-
inhabitants is at 4, 165 metres, and the partial pres- tight.
sure of oxygen theie is about 13% of an atmosphere On one side of the chamber were fixed two small
in place of 71% at sea-level ; railways ami mines electric beaters, and a tin containing water was
have been worked up to altitudes of 14,000 to placed ou these in order to saturate the air with
15,000 ft. At Potosi girls dance half the night, and water vapour. On another side of the chamber was
toreadors display their skill in the ring. On the placed a large radiator through which cold water
slopes of the Himalayas shepherds take their Hocks could be circulated when required, so as to cool the
to altitudes of 18,000 ft. No disturbance is felt chamber. In the loof were fixed three electric fans,
by the inhabitants or those who reach great one big and two small, by means of which the air of
altitudes slowly and by easy stages. The only the chamber could be stirred. The chamber held
disability to a normal man is diminished power fur approximately 3 cub. metres of air. In one class of
severe exertion, but a greater risk arises from want experiments we shut within the chamber seven or
of oxygen to cases of heart disease, pneumonia, and eight students for about half an hour, and observed
in chloroform anaesthesia at these high altitudes. the effect of the confined atmosphere upon them.
Acclimatisation is brought about in a few days' time. We kept them until the CO., reached 3% to 4%, and
The pulmonary ventilation increases, the bronchial the oxygen bad fallen to 17% to 16%. The wet-bulb
tubes dilate, the circulation becomes more rapid. temperature rose meanwhile to ahout 80° to 85° F.,
The increased pulmonary ventilation lowers the and the 'dry bulb a degree or two higher. The
partial pressure ot carbon dioxide in the blood and students went in chatting and laughing, but by-and-
pulmonary air, and this contributes to the mainten- by, as the temperature rose, they ceased to talk and
ance of an adequate partial pressure of oxygen. their faces became flushed and moist. To relieve
Haldane and Douglas say that the percentage of red the monotony of the experiment we have watched
corpuscles anil total quantity of the haemoglobin in- them trying to light a cigarette, and, puzzled by
crease, and maintain that the oxygen is actively their matches going out, borrowing others, only in
secreted by the lung into the blood, but the method vain. They had not sensed the diminution of
by which their determinations have been made has oxygen, which fell below 17%. Their breathing was
not met with unqualified acceptance. If waste pro- deepened by the high percentage of C0 2 but no
.
duct.-, which arise from oxygen want, alter the com- headache occurred in any of them from the short
bining power of haemoglobin, this alteration may not exposure. Their discomfort was relieved to an
persist in shed blood ; for these products may dis- astonishing extent by putting on the electric fans
appear when the blood is exposed to air. Owing to placed in the roof Whilst the air was kept stirred
the combining power of haemoglobin, the respiratory the students were not affected by the oppressive
exchange and metabolism of an animal within wide atmosphere. They begged for the fans to be put on
limits is independent of the partial pressure of when they were cut off. The same old stale air con-
oxygen. On the other hand, the process of combus- taining 3% to 4% COo and 16% to 17% 2 was whirled,
tion is dependent, not on the pressure, but on the but the movement of the air gave relief, because the
percentage of oxygen. air was 80° to 85° F. (wet bulb), while the air en-
The percentage of CO.. in the worst ventilated meshed in their clothes in contact with their skin
room does not rise above 0"5%, or at the outside 1%. to 99° F. wet bulb.
was ;i8" If we outside breathed
It is impossible that any excess of CO., should enter through a tube the air in the chamber we felt none
into our bodies when we breathe such air, for what- of the discomfort which was being experienced by
ever the percentage of C0 2 in the atmosphere may those shut up inside. Similarity, if one of those in
be, that in the pulmonary air is kept constant at the chamber breathed through a tube the pure air
—
about '5% to '6% of an atmosphere by the action of outside he was not relieved.
the respiratory centre. It is the concentration of I have made observations on men dressed in the
CO., which rules the respiratory centre, and to such Fleuss rescue apparatus for use in mines, and exposed
purpose as to keep the concentration both in the in a chamber to 120° F. dry bulb and 95 wet bulb.
lungs and in the blood uniform ; the only result The skin temperature rises to the rectal temperature,
from breathing air containing 0'5% to 1% of CO., is and the pulse is grealy accelerated e.g., to 150
an inappreciable increase in the ventilation of the and there arises danger of heat stroke. The con-
luii.us. The very same thing happens when we take ditions are greatly relieved by interposing on the
gentle exercise and produce more CO., in our bodies. inspiratory tube ot the apparatas a cooler filled with
At each breath we rebreathe into our lungs the air carbonic-acid snow. The cool inspired air lowers the
in the nose and large air-tubes (the dead-space air), frequency of the heart, and it makes it possible for
ami about one-third of be air which is breathed in
i
the men to do some work at 95° F. wet bulb, and to
by a man at rest in dead-space air. Thus, no man endure this temperature for two hours.
breathes in pure outside air into his lungs. I conclude, then, that all the efforts of the heating
The sanitarian says it is necessary to keep the and ventilating engineer should be directed towards
CO., below 0'10%, so that the organic poisons may cooling the air in crowded places and cooling the
not collect to a harmful extent The evil snieil bodies of the people by setting the air in motion by
of crowded rooms is accepted as unequivo- means of fans.
Nov. 1912 /,'. vii ws "in/ Ni w Bool s: 237
The increased percentage of carbonic acid and Barnett, E. de Barry. The Preparation of Organic
diminution of oxygen which has been found to exist ('
pounds. [Ilnst. 8vo., pp. 326. Churchill.
in badly ventilated churches, schools, theatres, bar- Nei 8s. (id.
racks, i- such that it can have no effecl upon the Bigelow, Theoretical and Physical Chemis-
S. I..
inciden t respiratory disease and higher death- try. Svo. Net 7s. 6d.
Duckworth.
rate, which statistical evidence lias shown to exisl Bloch, L. The Science of Illumination. An
among persons living in crowded and nnventilated Outline of the Principles of Artificial Lighting.
rooms. The conditions of temperature, moisture, Svo pp. ISO. ./. Murray
,
Net lis.
and windless sphere in such places primarily
al Bohle, Hermann. Electrical Photometry and
diminishes the heat loss, and secondarily the heat Illumination. Bv.o. pp. 234. C. Griffin. Net 10s. 6d.
,
production, i.e., the activity of the occupants, to- Hi ate. H. R. Farm (las Engines. Cr. 8vo. C.
gether with total volume of air breathed, oxygen Lockwood. Nel Is 6d.
taken in and food eaten. The whole metabolism of Burns, Daniel. Safety in Coal Mines. 12mo.,
the bo ly is thus run at a lower plane, and the nervous pp 158. Blackie. Net 2s. 6d.
system and the f the body is
t unstimulated by Byrom, T. II. The Physics and Chemistry of
the monotonous, warm and motionless air. It hard Mining. 2nd Ed. Revised. Cr. 8vo., pp. 208. C.
work lias to be done it is done under conditions of ood. Net 3s. (id.
strain. The number of pathogenic organisms is ('alien, Edward and Wootton, William Old. The
increased in such places, and these two conditions Mineralogy of the Rarer Metals. A handbook for
—
inn together diminished immunity and increased prospectors.
mass influence of infecting bacteria."— LEONARD Ca ton, A. T Radium and Radioactivity. (The
Hill, M.B., F.R.S., Presidential Address to the Romance ol "science). 12mo., pp. 185. S.P.C.K.
Physiological Secuon of the British Association, 2s. lid.
Abs. in Journal Royal Society of Art Septembei . Cantell, M. T. Reinforced Concrete Construction.
30, 1912, pp. 998-1,001. (J. G.) Advanced Course. Roy. 8vo pp, 258. Spon. Net .
12s. (id.
l hauvenei, R. Chemical Arithmetic and Calcu-
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Review and New Books. ISs.
Crane, W. R. Index of Mining Engineering
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byCHARLEsOF. 1912. (New York: McGran
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another volume of the Mineral Industry,' in many
'
Dugeon, E. C. Growing Crops by Electricity.
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lished in the English language. There can be no Ennis, W. I). Vapours for Heat Engines. Svo.
doubt that the value of this unique publication for I 'unstable. Net 6s.
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,
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238 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
by " A General Manager." Svo., pp. 3S6. Emmott. Townsend, John S. Theory of Ionization of
Net 7s. 6d. Gases.
Lougheed, V. and Hall, M, A. The Gasoline Wood, R. W. Physical Optics.
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C. Wright, Lewis. Optical Projection.
Lowry, T. M. Optical Rotatoiy Dispersion. Part ELECTRICITY.
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Spectrum. 4to., sd., pp. 38. Dulau. Net 2s. graphy.
Macfarlane, Walter. The Principles and Practice Heaviside, O. Electro-Magnetic Theory (Vol.
PHYSICS. METALLURGY.
Burgess and Chatelier. Measurement of High Carne, J. E. Antimony Mining Industry in N. S.
Temperatures. Wales.
Clay, Reg. S. Treatise on Practical Light. Harbord and Hall. Metallurgy of Steel (2 Vols.!
Coste, J. H. The Calorific Power of Gases. Levy, D. M. Modern Copper Smelting.
Haber, F, Thermodynamics of Gas Reactions. Rand Metallurgical Practice (2 Vols.)
Nov. 191-2 Abstracts oj Patent Applications. 239
annular seating rings are renewable from the outside made is that the gases need not be previously dried
of the valve and held in place by the Hanges of the or cooled and only require separation from the tar.
pipe to which the valve is bolted.
(C.) 499/12. Albert William Smith. Improve
(C. ) 629/11. Edward Dollar. Improvements in ments in methods of extracting gold. 13.9.12.
means for lifting and supporting, and thereby
This application is for the use of an oxidising agent
throwing out of action the stamp of stamp mills, with cyanide solution, the particular
in conjunction
18.11.11.
oxidising agents claimed being alkaline bromate and
This application relates to means for lifting and other alkaline oxyhalogen salts.
supporting the stamps of a stamp'mill. The descrip-
tion indicates the ordinary finger mounted on its (C.) 513/12. William Henry Thomas (1), Arthur
jack bar, but this finger is shorter than usual and is Wilfred Jones(2). Improvements in or relating
to mine cages, lifts and the like. 20.9.12.
fitted with a lever actuating a cam. This cam may
iai.se a rod sliding in the finger itself or the cam may This application relates to a safety catch for mine
be attached directly to the end of the linger. By cages, lifts and the like.
depressing the lever the tappet of the stamp is raised It consists of two pairs of brake blocks provided
above the line of throw of the main cam actuating with toothed and tangential surfaces adapted to
the stamp. engage the shaft guides and mounted on two cross
shafts. The centre lines of these shafts are not fixed
(C.) 225/12. Whitman Sjnimes (1), Walter Edwin in position relatively to the cage, but are capable of
Trent (2). Method and apparatus for precipita-
a vertical movement, the shafts passing through slots
ting cyanide solutions. 19.4.12.
in the cage and being connected by means of cross-
This application describes a process and apparatus heads to die pistons of dash pots which control the
to be used for the precipitation of metal frcm cyanide said vertical movement, relative to the cage.
.
240 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Nov. 1912
Selected Transvaal Patent Applications. (C.) 557 1_'. John Joseph] Atmore (1), Joseph
;
catcher I'm catching dust from machine and other Mining Co., Ltd., P. <>. Sterkwater, Potgieters-
drills. 17 10.12. 1 list.
(P.) 551/12. William Frost. A new and im- Hall, T. D., l/o Germistou ; Sidney Sussex College,
proved substitute for coffee, chicory and the like ( lain bridge, England.
manufactured i prickly pears. 17.10.12. HoviG, P., to c/o Hoi, id Currenn Mijnwesen,
(P.) William Frost. Improved food for
552/12. Latin ia', -lava.
cattle and the like and process oi producing same Impey, 1!. 1... l/o Germiston ; The Union, The I'ni-
from pricklj pears. 17. 10 12. versity, Edinburgh. Scotland.
(P.) 553 12. Joseph Stamp. Improved safetj L Mil is L.' II.. to Susanna Mine. Cwanda. Rhodesia.
catch for mining cages and the like. 17.10.12. James, J. H. D., l/o Knights P.O. Box 15, Riet- ;
THE JOURNAL
Chemical, ^Metallurgical anb JHining §ocietg
of South Africa.
Hit Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
of the ballot papers, the President announced the circular on the Mining Exhibition, which has-
that all the candidates for membership had been been circulated to members, and I hope that we
elected, as follows :
shall receive the same amount of support and
attain as great success as we did with our last
DickCleland, Archibald F., El Favor, Hostoti-
paquillo Jalisco, Mexico. Mining Engineer. exhibition. The Secretary has something to say
Frankel, Daryl, Metallurgical Department, Rand under this head.
Mines, Ltd., P. O. Box 1056, Johannesburg.
Metallurgist.
The Secretary : The following further infor-
Mac Donald, Alexander, corner Hunter Street mation is notified for the information of intending
and Grafton Road, Yeoville, Johannesburg. exhibitors :
Chemist.
Richardson, Charles Daniel, Princess Estate and
Customs. — It is notified that exhibits arriving
G. M. Co., Ltd., P. O. Box 114, Roodepoort. from oversea, must be declared as being imported
Cyanide Foreman. for exhibition purposes and the ordinary customs
242 'flic Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society uf South Africa. Dec. 1912
rates must be deposited on entry. Should the 1. The object of the competition for which the
exhibits be returned to the exhibitor abroad, a prize is offered is to obtain a reliable method of
refund of the amount thus deposited will be determining the correct f/oA/ contents of material
obtainable on presentation at the port customs (such as "black sand"), in which iridium or
office of the receipt for the amount deposited, other metals of the same group are present.
together with satisfactory proof of the goods 2. The merits of treatises submitted will be
being re-shipped. judged entirely upon the accuracy, reliability and
—
Railway Bates. The ordinary railway rates simplicity of the methods of determining tie gold
to Johannesburg must be paid upon all exhibits disclosed, but as it is of some importance to
arriving from oversea. Should the exhibits be know the relative quantities of the other rare
returned to the exhibitor, they will, upon metals, if the method proposed throws light on
presentation of a certificate from the Secretary to this, such method will, other things being equal,
that effect, be returned to the port free of charge, be preferred.
and a rebate made of 50% of the amount pre- 3. Suitable representative samples will be
viously paid for the inward journey.
provided for those desiring to carry out experi-
Insurance. —
A schedule of all exhibits must be mental work, upon application to the Secretary.
sent to the Secretary at least 21 days before the
opening of the Exhibition. This schedule must -1. The competition is open to all residents of
publish in
or a certain number of tables will be available
received.
for the purpose, if required.
S. The decision of the judges shall be final.
IRIDIUM IN GOLD.
ANALYSIS 01' FUMES FROM FIRING-STICKS
The President : A prize of £21 has been (" CHISA "STICKS.)
offered by the Witwatersrand Co-operative Smelt-
Dr, J. Moir (Past-President) I should like :
Appointed a committee, which has drafted the The difficulty in doing this analysis by titra-
conditions under which the competition will take tion has been the fact that all indicators of the
place. The rules under which the competition methylorange type which work in presence of
will be held, which have already been published C0 2 are destroyed by nitrous acid. The solution
in the daily press, are as follows :
— obtained by shaking the gas with (say) 50 cc. of
The Witwatersrand Co-operative Smelting X5 caustic soda consists of NatlCO NaN0 8
Works Ltd., has offered through the Council of and XaNO„ with acid using
and when titrated
the Society, a prize of twenty guineas, for a the proper" indicator (see below) the end-point
method of determining gold in the presence of ought to be at the point where all C0 2 is given
iridium and allied metals. The following are off and the 2
HN0
begins to be liberated. Ex-
the conditions for the competition :— periments with IV/10 NaHC0 3 alone were tir.-t
— —
Dec. 1912 r ;> m ral !' •-'43
slow titrati in, and indicated merely the alkali- of the Chemical Sub-Committee of the S.A.
impurity, not the potassium of the salt. Engineering Standards Committee, we have been
Required for lo cc cc.
investigating the behaviour of the solution of
Alizarine lime in sugar-solution which is obtained in the
... ... ... Od-l
Lacmoid ... ... 0'18 standard method for the valuation of lime for
...
Metbylorange and dimethylaminoazobenzene were Lime Sample Mark 35 (2 gm. in 1,000 cc. 2
destroyed. Sugar Solution). 50 cc. Titrated.
Lacmoid thus seems the best compromise, then Tropaeoline OO about 36 (no definite acid
phenacetoline or methylred. The process con point)
sists in shaking the gas with 50 cc. iV75 sodium
Congo red .. ... 27 '40 to brown stage and
hydrate for 20 min., washing out the bottle into further excess
to blue
a porcelain basin, and titrating with 5 acid N
and lacmoid until a definite reddish (but not pure Dimethylaminoazo-
red) colour* is obtained. The difference between benzene ... .. 27-20 to salmon, + -20 to
the acid and 50 represents soda converted into acid
nitrate and nitrite (2XO + 1'XaOH = XaX< Metbylorange ... 27 07 to salmon,
_
+ '30 to
+ ., ).,
in aeid = 4'472 cc. N0 at N.T.P. = 5 88 cc. under - Methyl red ... ... 26 72 (end point not
-
2
laboratory conditions here. instantaneous)
P- nitrophenol 26"70
..
have checked the process on an artificial gas,
I
Litmus ... about 2(5 05 (not sharp)
and it seems fairly accurate and not nearly so
tedious as the nitronj method.
Lacmoid ... ... 2060 (not very sharp)
The fumes from
Phenacetoline about 26'50 (not sharp)
01 gin. blasting gelatine burnt in 10 litres
air gave 0'33% NO., by titration
Alizarine 262 to 268 (very indefinite)
by gravimetric
4 - oxyazobenzene ...
:
HN0 3
and collecting over mercury.
azobenzene ... 26"30 ,,
L comparison tint must be used, as the red must nol be 4' - acetamino - 4 -
that ..i full acidity.
I This Journal, 1906, p. 307, and 1909, p. 210. oxyazobenzene ... 26 28 „
—
244 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Deo. 1012
cal Sub-Committee of the Engineering Standards I am firmly convinced that the failure to
Committee I have carried out a few tests and obtain the gold called for in treating battery —
the results lead to a confirmation of the recom- sands containing iridium is not owing to the —
mendation given. The indicator is extremely presence of iridium only, but is chiefly caused
sensitive and the following quotations* show by the presence of platinum. I made a careful
that in this instance extreme
its utility is of test of a small sample of concentrate from
value. "liosolic acid yields very sharp end battery sands.
reactions in the presence of notable quantities of This sample contained :
normal calcium sulphide is practically on the bead in the cupel and, having removed
tions
neutral but is distinctly alkaline in boiling the silver in the usual way by parting with —
solutions." It is use by dissolving
made up foi
nitric acid —
he would then proceed to anneal
and weigh what he considered to be iridium and
1 gram of commercial rosolic acid in 100 parts "t
gold. Having weighed this, he would then
60% alcohol. The above work on indicators
-carefully dissolve the gold portion in cold aqua
was the outcome of a co-operative assay -of
regia and, after carefully washing, he would col-
a number of lime samples undertaken by
lect the iridium (or more correctly "Iridosmine")
nearly all the members of the Committee and
and deduct that from the weight originally
the results showed the necessity of obtaining a
obtained, and he would call that difference-
suitable indicator. This is as far as I am aware
the co-operative assay carried out here, but
first
"Gold": but, if he had used a small quantity
of silver, any platinum present being left in the
their value has been abundantly proved in other
gold would have been dissolved by the <oy»"
countries, more especially in America. It is
regia and be counted as gold.
sometimes the case that analysts, each working
on the same material and with every possible
The cyanide process, however, only dissolves
the gold, and the platinum is left with the
care to arrive at a true result, reach different
conclusions and this is most especially true in the
iridium — and si. me undissolved gold in the —
residue and the same error in estimating the
case of those, who are required to work against
;
the cyanide solution, and carried out three sub- In agitation with air, I used 5 litres of solu-
sequent agitations, with cyanide, in a model air tion and agitated ahout 7 hours in the second
Agitation vessel. and third agitation, and 3k hours in the fourth
or last agitation. think this is a good method
I
I give the extraction of gold in dwt. per ton
checking working results,
to use occasionally for
of concentrate and also in percentage of amount
when rich battery sands containing metals of the
won. (See Table top of next column.)
platinum group have to be treated by cyanide.
There is no difficulty in carrying out an experi-
ment of this kind
and, with care, practically
: The President On your behalf I will accord
:
all the gold soluble in cyanide can be determined. a very hearty vote of thanks to Mr. Crosse for
The amount of the solution is estimated by his able contribution.
SAMPLE OF (YAM 1)1' BULLION. discussion in the Press, especially in the Trans-
vaal /.I,/',', and the amount of discussion it has
Mr. A. Salkinson (Member of This (
consideration.
for purpose of exhibition, contains some very
beautiful gold crystals constituting a most un-
The Government National Advisory Board for
Technical Education is now considering the ques-
usual feature. The specimen was obtained
tion from a Union point of view, and if .Mr.
accidentally during the cyanide smelt on the Con-
ted Langlaagte Mines, Ltd., a crucible of
Cullen's excellent suggesti f a committee to
consider the whole question in its local aspect lie
acid treated gold slime having been drawn after
adopted, it is to be hoped that some report will
fusion from the reverbatory furnace and alio
he made, to this Board, of the conclusions arrived
to stand until cold on breaking it these crystals
;
i B.
,
e 1. £] 10s. :
C. T. Creed
tices, Mr. Cullen finds he can maintain a Standard
II.. Gold £3 : I). F. Scot;
VI. minimum and Prof. Snipe of the S. A.
Assaying — 'College sets this as a minimum with a "higher
Stage 1. £1 10s. : R. M. Phillips standard of entrance always being kept in view."
£3 Joseph C lien \ et the President of the erof Mines stated
Staee
tage II
11. _.o .
I I
l>e<-. 191*2 /•'. J. Pooler, B.Sc. — Tin Svrfari Workers on the Hand and their Technical Education. 247
and Robertson dealt with the awkward situation pies. -nt in attendance at the central Institution
nt many mines and the difficulties of the bi would probably lie better at such schools estab-
lilj "clean-up." It scarcely seems reasonable lished, say, at Germiston and Krugersdorp
to keep learners on 12 hour shifts, and it is to be srh. >,. Is conceived on broad lines of a genera!
hoped that managers will see some way out of instruction in Elementary Science, with a feu
this difficulty. classes for those students, wdio are. as Mr. Sal-
At the Vittoria St. Technical School which kinson would say "taken so far as to attempt to
is run in connection with the Birmingham the interest of tin' majority by giving them
Jewellers' Association, classes are held in the an opportunity in the first place of gaining infor-
day and evening, masters granting apprentices mation which deals directly with their occupation,
time during working hours to attend the for and about which their ignorance is often so
mer, while the lads undertake to atti one i
t
astounding." The point raised by the Principal
in their own time. Thus, the in this connection seems to be, that we have to
apprenticeship system is being re-organised in a decide whether more students, some of whom are
modified form, and the Association has established on a lower plane of attainment, is not better than
a fund to reimburse students, who, under old students, on a higher plane.
i This seems
deducted whilst attending sound, for the better men can siill go ahead at
the Central School of Mines. Mr. Cullen thinks
Prof. Thompson's name of " Gallej thai the results so far obtained are not satisfac-
for those who
compelled to attend is not
are tory, whlist Professors Thompson ami Wilkinson
universally applicable, since many do not attend di ict agree. The point of view is naturally
because they have failed to see the necessitj to different, the former viewing things as an en-
but will, as Prof. Wilkinson shows, become
, thusiast who has not to arrange "shift classes"
of the work for its own sake when once in already crowded laboratory.
an Candidly,
has begun. Otherwise, as Prof. Mr Salkinson's view goes against the grain, but,
Stanley in his thoughtful contribution shows, if necessary, and the necessity appears proved, it
they must be content to remain permanently lias to be faced, and faced as soon as funds
in the lower ranks. Mr. Salkinson throws a allow. Where the funds are to come from may
new light on the compulsion question by insisting well be a question for the suggested Committee.
on " suitable classes." In this connection, it is How far the Government will help is doubtful,
worth noting that a leading English educational then we must see if aid can be obtained from the
journal recently said " the Evening School must Alines and the Municipalities of the Rand. One
eet the real needs even if . . has good precedents to go on both in Europe and
it has to lose many of the arts and accomplish- in the Cape Province.
- in the process.'' Mr. Chas. Harrop, Professor Stanley and Messrs. Laschinger and
Instructor in Science and Technology, at various Thomas, on the whole, take a hopeful view of
Technical Institutes in London and elsewhere, the case, ami one is thankful for optimism in
"tic intense elaboration of scientific and these days. The scheme sketched out by the
other courses for artisan students is not needed Professor is worthy of careful consideration, and
instrtic >rs who actually deal with the 'raw one can only express the hope that it has been
material know that not only is the ideal to carefully read by all the members. If this paper
the students but that it is not had brought out no other points than those he
Prof. Snape states that "nothing raised the time would not have been ill spent.
can be done without the sympathy of the em- It is certainly to l>e deprecated that trained men
ployer ol labour and certainly, tech-
. . . should be kept at hard manual work when they
nical education must be looked at from their are so peculiarly fitted for " brainy " work but
Its object is to train up good it must not be forgotten that it is difficult in any
workmen for his specialised work and he must be large scheme for individual cases to have special
allowi '1 to state what he wants." Perhaps then, treatment, without considerable modification of
we have set our ideals too high in the case of the scheme. It seems a pity that such should
some of our prospective students, although to come under the head of "learners " and yet how
" hitch your wagon to a star " never does much otherwise can they gain the necessary practical
i. unless it prevents rapid progress while expel ?
striving for the un-attainable. This point will be The other large question that requires reference
referred to again later. is that of security of tenure on the mines. The
This brings us to the qu stion oi Branch Tech- figures originally given in Table I; showed that
raise by the Principal of tic
I security can lie obtained under given conditions.
Scl of Mines. 1 The need for them seems to Those appended also illustrate this point. On
have been shown, and many of the students at this head, one wonders what more can be done.
248 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
We, here, have thrashed out the thing almost advantage which has resulted to them by regular
ad nauseam, the press has given great attention attendance at the School of Mines. Such men
to it in articles and letters galore, and yet Mr. are to be found all along the Reef.
Cullen is able to present the appalling figures Mr. Moyle Phillips believes that there are not
from local schools. As a member of the Execu- enough positions to go round amongst all the lads
tive of the Transvaal Teachers' Association, I awaiting billets. This seems to be becoming
have referred the table to a number of local general, and will apparently get worse, so that it
head masters, and am assured that conditions are, behoves those who would rise, to be up and
if anything, even worse than is there shown. It doing, at once. Mr. Andrew Crosse in his
is, however, not easy to see how the case refers remarks on Mr. Cullcn's last paper shows one
to " learners " since they need not continually way out of this difficulty (October Journal,
lie " moved on " as long as they comply with pp. 147-8). On the other hand, others think
certain conditions of service. Their rates of pay, the supply of really capable men is t'«>
as several have remarked, are not by any means small, and it was the feeling that this is the case
bad, and I am pleased to state that those in that prompted the writing of this paper. It does
Table C apply to the Consolidated Gold Fields not appear to be proved, howevei, that financial
Ltd. scheme. (See Table C appended also.) This aid is needed by learners,' but if such is the
'
point should, however, form one of the items for case then a modification of the scheme of the
consideration by the suggested committee. Mr. Birmingham jewellers may be useful.
Chilton dealt with it fully in his reply lately, our Some of the points raised by Prof. Wilkinson
President touched upon it at the Annual Dinner, have been dealt with above, but I would like to
and showed that there is another side to the say that his contribution is of value, as he qualified
question, but the writer does not feel competent and amplified most of the main points of the
to deal with it as he has little first-hand know- original paper in a manner the scope of it did not
ledge of mining life, and it is too important to be permit at the time. As regards Engineering
airily dismissed by one not thoroughly conver- Students and their interest in the work, the
sant with mining conditions. figures from Salt River Technical School are of
Turning to individual contributions, I have to interest. The Individual Enrolment has increased
thank all who discussed the paper, and to from 270 to 405, i.e. by 50%, and the Class En-
acknowledge that I learnt more than I was able rolment from 650 to over 900, during the last
to teach. Any diffidence felt in writing the Session. The average attendance, a sure mark of
paper has given place to a feeling of humility at interest, has gone up from 65% to 75%. The
my ignorance of a subject that I fondly imagined East London, litenhage and Durban Technical
I knew something about. But had Professor Schools also report satisfactory progress amongst
Wilkinson's suggestion of a paper dealing with the Engineers. I am not sure that considering
all the surface workers been carried to a logical the size of the Rand, Table D of the original
conclusion, a paper already too long would have paper is equally encouraging. In speaking of
assumed gigantic and inordinate proportions. the possibility of more youths coming forward as
Mr. Laschinger and several others raised the 'learners,' perhaps my prophecy was rather san-
question of our too easy life here and the tendency guine, but the material is to hand, if the source
to rely on kafir labour. (See appendix from the can be tapped. Thus, the number of Matricu-
1911 Report of the White Labour Department.) lants in 1911 was more than 200 above the
Dr. Caldecott and others wisely insist on the average for the last few years, and about 450
•necessity for broader outlook, and real productive above the number in 1910, whilst the successful
labour, and we shall not get much further till candidates at the Cape Junior Certificate reached
this is more generally appreciated. 1,376, a large proportion of whom were boys.
Mr. J. E. Thomas dealt with 24 hours' notice. On the question of Class Fees my experience of
This has an important bearing on the security of four large Technical Institutions in the Midlands
tenure, and if a suggestion is allowable, it is this: and North-East of England does not bear out
place "learners" on '24 hours notice for a month, Prof. Wilkinson's remarks I have before me the
say, then on a weeks notice for 3 months, and prospectus of one big institution in the Midlands,
afterwards on a month's notice for salaries are,
; in which a complete course in Inter. Science or
I believe, paid monthly. Surely after 3 months' Engineering and B.Sc. for London or Birming-
successful work some such scheme would be a ham can be taken for 10s. per session while :
Dec. 19P2 F. -I . Pooler, B.Sc. — The Surface Workers on the Rand and their Technical Education. 249
regret that they are not available. facilities for classes along the reef of a somewhat
Mr. G. A. Robertson summarises the difficul- different type from the present ones. Such can
ties and draws the conclusion that tuition by never replace the excellent work at the School of
correspondence is useful in this case. As a Mines, for those really in earnest. That students-
former student of one of the largest Corres- have not always come up to fill the Reef classes
pondent Colleges in England, and as, for some is true, but the added interest aroused by this
little time, a teacher by correspondence, I have discussion may aid towards an improvement in
no hesitation in stating that such tuition is of this respect,
little value except to the student with a sound Appendix I.
Competition of Colour.
something better are compelled to sit tight lower
down the ladder waiting for the chance that is so Unpopularity of Skilled Trades. In the- —
long coming. The mere wishing for the higher report, issued recently, of the White Labour
thing must, I fancy, mean that the work in hand Branch of the Mines Department, Mr. H,
gets better clone. The special short course men- Warington Smyth, the Secretary for Mines re-
tioned by Prof. Stanley is, to my mind, the grets the supineness of employers, specially in.
corollary to and the exemplification of Mr. Salkin- the North, in making use of the White Labour
son's contention. Thebetween comparison Bureau, which he hopes will come to be looked
underground and surface conditions is so good upon as the most reliable source of supply.
that it needs no elaboration here. I hope we " There is still," he says, " a great diversity in
shall all take it to heart. the conditions of both skilled and unskilled
Mr. Price, as usual, brings a fierce light to beat labour throughout the Union, the outstanding
upon the question. His definition of the practical difference being the rate of wages paid at the
250 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec 191
to artisans, etc., inthe Orange Free State and Before you propose a vote of thanks to Mr.
Transvaal naturally act as an alluring bait to Pooler for his reply, I should like it to be brought
draw workmen to the large towns in these two to a head whether a committee of this Society
Provinces, the result often being that the labour should be formed to consider the question ? I
market becomes glutted and many highly.skilled would move that a committee be formed to con-
men find that that they have either to take in- ider this question and that the terms of refer-
ferior work or leave the country. Another factor ence be left to the Council.
which beginning to be felt is the increasing
is
number of skilled coloured artisans who are
Dr. J. Moir {Past-President) I second that
:
ever, rest assured that so far as the dust danger Johnston's interesting paper on the action of iron
is concerned the greatest precautions are being particles on amalgamation, and also on cyanide
used, and the Wolhuter is in many respects a solutions, I was only surprised that the subject
model mine. The school has also furnished a has hitherto attracted so little attention.
curious example of the persistence of the South Within the writer's experience the subject has
African prejudice against manual labour, it hav- cropped up in connection with cyaniding both
ing been necessary to get rid of a certain number sand and slime on several treatment plants, more
of apprentices who could not bring themselves to especially on those where grinding pans were in
do such work as hand stoping, which they re- use for reducing the coarse battery product. It
garded as Kafir labour. Naturally, the influence is pretty generally recognised that where a mill
of such views was extremely harmful to the is crushing in an alkaline water, the subsequent
objects of the foundation of the school, and treatment of the tailing by cyanide is much
their continuance could not be tolerated." simplified, and one theory advanced to explain
—
Dec 1912 .-1. McA. Johnston - Investigation on Magnetically Separated Iron from Mill I'n//>. 251
this is that the partial oxidation of the iron par- iron, rather than the magnetic mineral which was
a ferrous compound is chiefly brought
ticles to the principal factor.
about by the agency of carbonic acid. As this The water used in making these tests was that
compound exists in most mine waters, in the from the mine, and contained 45° of temporary
form of bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium, hardness (grains per gallon). Where CO., was
the addition of sufficient alkali to take up the introduced it was got from an ordinary sparklet
temporary hardness would certainly prevent this soda water fountain.
Traction. The large amount of ferrocyanide in (3) indi-
It was my fortune some time ago to have cates that CO., does take an active part in the
charge of a treatment plant which was crushing reaction, but the presence of either lime or
a mixture of several different classes of ore, rang- natural oxides in the ore prevented its formation.
ing from well oxidized ferruginous lode matter to Tests on the make up water going to the bat-
heavy pyritic i|uartz. The relative proportions tery tank and on that returning after completing
of each varied considerably from time to time, the circuit of the plant, showed that while the
and the extraction varied likewise. The most temporary hardness in the make up water re-
noticeable feature in connection with the treat- mained constant at 45°, that of the return water
ment was that when the proportion of sulphide varied considerably, but always below this figure.
was largest the solutions showed a sudden drop Apparently the oxides in the ore are able to
in cyanide strength and a large quantity of ferro- absorb the extra molecule of CO., in the bicar-
cyanide made its appearance. Likewise when bonates, and precipitate them, much in the same
the proportion of oxidized ore reached its maxi- way as a soluble alkali does.
mum, although there was still a considerable In reference to the effect of ferrocyanide on
quantity of sulphide present in the ore, the ferro- the solution of the gold, I cannot attribute the
cyanide entirely disappeared and improved bad extraction directly to its presence, as I have
extraction was the rule. On this plant no lime seen a fair extraction got from slime, experi-
at all was used in the mill, and the reason for the mentally, with no other solvents than water,
occasional disappearance of the ferrocyanide lime and chemically pure K 4 FeCy 6 Its presence
.
puzzled me a good deal. To endeavour to certainly indicates that a strong reducing action
account for this, a quantity of magnetic substance has taken place, which would have prevented the
was collected from the mill tailing, and the gold dissolving for two reasons, firstly, owing to
following series of experiments were made :
its having absorbed the necessary oxygen, and
secondly, that most of the available cyanide has
been destroyed.
Experiment. Result. Although this is the first time, to my know-
ledge, that this subject has been brought forward
by a member of this, or any other metallurgical
(1) About \ gm. of Tested.for K„FeCy6 .
magnetics put into a test (lave dark blue colour society, has been regarded as a point of some
it
tube half filled with ation. importance in this country, and has sometimes
water, then 1 oc. of 10% been a deciding factor when the relative merits
NaCy solution added, and of grindirg pans and tube mills have been under
shaken for 5 minutes.
Same as (1), but No colour.
discussion.
(2)
with the addition of ex- The large amount of abraded iron from the
cess of lime before adding pan shoes and dies sent into circulation is recog-
NaCy. nized as most undesirable and several types of
(3) Water charged with Heavy dark blue pre-
appliance, both mechanical and magnetic, have
CO.; before adding NaCy. cipitate.
(4) Same as (3) but ex- No colour. been proposed for its removal.
cess of lime added before The description of a method or machine which
NaQy. is actually working satisfactorily should be
(5) Magnetics mixed No colour.
awaited with much interest.
with excess of powdered
oxidized ore and (1) re-
peated. Mr. G. A. Robertson (Member) Ihavehad :
with a limited amount of sand. This iron is not magnetic separators are worth their salt this is
reduced before finding its way into the circuit, however for all magnetic separators to be in con-
the author states under / that the pebbles ex- tact with a pulp of low moisture. The first
pend energy in flattening the iron instead of magnetic separator I saw \v,ts placed near a tube
crushing the sand. This is not exactly correct. mill erected on Driefontein hill (E.R.P.M. mines)
The iron is flat before it gets into the tube mill in the early days of tube mill practice on the
circuit, and an examination of the iron found in Rand. This separator was on the principle of
traps and quiet cornersof the stamp mill a magnetised belt and no doubt consisted of mag
launders will prove this. A
comparison of this netised steel wire or thin steel covered with
iron and that found in the circuit below the canvas. The lower pulley was partly immersed
tube outlet flow shows the latter to be finer and in a box through which flowed the liquid pulp,
polished, but the shape of both products is the the pulp having a dip of about 6 in. into the
same. box The iron adhering to the belt which was
The iron enumerated by the author extending overdriven came into contact with a scraper. By
from a to i all comes through or from the stamp the quantity of freshly caught iron lying there I
mill mortar box and I wi'.l call this mortar box should imagine this separator was fairly efficient.
iron. This is where iron in pellec fcrm is pro- The screening used in the stamp mill was fine,
duced and of the total iron caught by the probably between 500 and 700 mesh. The only
magnetic separator I should say that over 90% power used for this separator as far as I could
was mortar box iron. see was that supplied from the countershaft ot
Iron in pulp which is not mortar box iron is the tube mill to a 2 in. belt to drive the separator.
that which is produced in the tube mill circuit So far no one has contributed to the discussion
and I will call this circuit iron. These sources to show what they have done with magnetic
the author enumerates under " Tube mill," separators to extract iron from pulp, the idea
namely, 1KL It we are to accept L however, being an old one. It will be remembered that a
which is " iron from nails and scrap accidentally Coppin magnetic separator was shown in the ex-
dropped into the circuit," it will not do to over- hibition held in this building.
look other sources from which iron is produced, Iron in the tube mill circuit is a nuisance, and
an important one being iron from pumps and if it could all be got rid of cheaply I should
all events observation on the tube outlet flow piece of cast iron in a beaker containing a 0"25
from a tube mill containing about 2 tons of scrap solution of KCX. The second was similarly
iron in the shape of "pegs" present with the placed on a piece of wrought iron and the ;
pebbles showed that a much filler pulp was dis- third, in the beaker of cyanide alone. After
charged from this tube mill compared with that one hour a decided change was noted in the
discharged from the tube mills carrying pebbles piece of gold having contact with cast iron ; it
"f the total iron caught, while iron in pellet form (oil, I Percent-
ive will say ranging from +0 276 in. (9 mesh) to Gold Undis- age
+ 2-033 in. (400 mesh) is only 29T1%. Where Taken, solved. Dissolved.
Cast iron contact ... 2 IS 5 88"5
i
is caught in traps and is then put through an
ii
The surface of this iron is smooth and is easily theirpresence in the pulp going to the cyanide
attacked by an abrasive action. This being so I am works hasten? solution of the gold contents It '.
not satisfied that the tedious weathering process of is such a comparatively small quantity that
in
treatment described by the author is the simplest, any effect on cyanide consumption may be
cheapest or best. The amalgam being extremely neglected. Any gold held by the iron will
soft in comparison with the hammered steel par- readily dissolve this I have proved by direct
;
ticles to which it adheres is a good reason for cyanide treatment of rich battery chips.
believing that the amalgam can be rubbed oft' The
old metallurgical question, "does it pay"
and means then provided for its release from the arises, or in other words, " does the increase in
dron. The design of small tube mill previously extraction and benefit gained justify the installa-
suggested by me* I think would serve the purpose tion and upkeep of magnetic separators, with the
at least for treating the iron caught in traps separate handling and treatment of the material
"
which is mostly in pellet form. Very little fine recovered !
iron is caught in traps and what is caught is have wandered outside the domain of the
If I
slimed before what is called "magnets'' is col- author's paper, the above interesting experiment
lected. There is therefore a contrast between and the possibilities arising therefrom must be
" magnets " obtained from traps and the iron my apology.
discharged from the magnetic separator.
Mr. H. A. White (Vice-President): The
answer to the question is that one would not get
Mr. C. Toombs (Member) In Julian and
:
254 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec 191-2'
used was 0'009, so that oxygen became 16 + 2^- (2b) Carbon in organic compounds. A. Scott —
or 16-018 and consequently my 'natural atomic {Trans. C. S. 1909, 1203) found the ratio of tetr-
weights were larger than those in the Inter-
' ethyl-animonium bromide to silver as 1 94870 and
national tables by about 1 part in 900, e.g. that of ammonium bromide to silver as 0'90795,
p TT
hydrogen was 1/0090 and silver 108 exactly.
On going into the subject more deeply I find
whence by subtraction the ratioof—§ —L0= 1 04075.
Ag
that the fraction 0-009 must be doubled if it is Now NEt 4 Br has 29 bonds and
4
Br has 5,. NH
to represent the affinity-element, and the new therefore on my theory
molecule itsis-
conception which I propose to follow out in this (?x 12 +16 + 24.--) =112-432, which divided by
paper is that every bund in the current chemical 108 gives 1-04103, which is only a moderately-
fmmulae represents a definite quantity of an good agreement with experiment but sufficient to
actual substance and possesses weight, this weight show that carbon in such organic compounds has
being roughly 0018 of the weight of the an atomic weight of about 12'03 instead of 12-01
hydrogen-atom. Whether this affinity-element is as in diamond, a very important result, exempli-
made of matter or of an aggregate of electrons fying the fact that atomic weights are not
makes no difference to the conception. The evi- absolutely constant in reality they consist of an :
dence for the conception lies in the fact that most integer (in some cases apparently a decimal)
of the existing accurate experimental work on together with such of their affinity-elements as
atomic weights can be re-interpreted in a simpler may happen to be combined with them in the
form in the light of this theory and this paper ; particular case.
will discuss the existing analytical ratios from
this point of view.
In the same way from Scott's ratio of XMe 4
In all the calculations the
atoms are taken as whole numbers (or whole Br to Ag (1-42824) the value of
C HS4
is found
numbers and simple fractions), and the affinity-
Ag
to be 0-52029 and by subtraction of NEt, Br
elements are added in separately.*
and NMe
4
Br it is 52046, whereas from my
1. The analytical ratio of hydrogen to orygen. theory (giving NMe 4 Br 17 bonds) the ratio-
— The average value of the good recent deter- 56 + 12,»-
1-0078 should be - which is 0-52051, The
initiations is = ato-O'--
0-12o9iO. AT
Now, on my
J '
108
8 agreement is much better if ll.e be taken in-
theory (hydrogen gas being H - H), the natural
'
'
stead of 12,1- in NMe 4
Br, and instead of
22.*'
molecular weight of H., is 2 '01 8 and the natural '
24j- in NEt 4 Br, the ratios then being -52035-
molecular weight of oxygen is 32036. The ratio and 1-04070 respectively, but this
is an unlikely
—
-
? is therefore theoretically
J , which i3
explanation possibly the true cause of the dis-
:
* A similar idea seems ti> have occurred to t;. 1>. Hinrichs should be which is 0'54183, an excellent
(see Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering for March and 108
April. 191U.
Dr. Hinrichs unfortunatel' made an arithmetical blunder in agreement.
ii ing the value of the valence (line 22, whereO'050
should be
0*059, which affects the subsequent calculations). I wrote him
(d) KCl/Ag- 09107 (Richards, 1907). For
=
pointing this out at the time, but jrot no reply. Nevertheless, it my theory it is necessary to assume K = either
will be seen by those who read his paper, how much we are in
is ir, ii,,. deductions from the idea.
i
391 or 391 in the former case the theoretical
.
Dec. 1912 James Moir Atomic Weights and a Neic Theory of Chemical Affinity. 25S
V
s
O-I
very badly with
being ^ 36 =1 -7 1380,
Mn = 55, the theoretical ratio
O 130036
X-O-Ag, = 1-66108.
when the ratio (with N=14)
(s) 2Ag/CdBr2 = 0-79251 (I.e.) The ratio.
2 6
becomes
170 + 5.> = 1-57491.
with Cd = 112£, is
1
= 0-79255.
108 272 530
(h) I'Br, 3Ag = 0-83665 (Baxter, Moore and Determinations depending on AgCl or
4.
Boylston, 1912). Taking P = 31 andBr = 80, —
AgBr. On my theory the 'natural' molecular
27 1-05 4 weights of AgCl and AgBr are 143 5 18 and
with ."
bonds, the ratio should be which
324 188-018 respectively. The following are some of
is 0. -83658. the results obtained :
was n '45830
ico „ n whereas
,"
N=
Hoenigschmid). Theoretical ratio with Ca -
requires
NOC1 N = O - CI
40*1, is
2(188-018)
- = 0'53223, an exact agree-
5 30 + 2x
= 0-45819. Their ratio for
N was
65 + 3-e
>
2 NO
ment.
= 0.57421 N=N 28-054
(m) FeBr 2 /2AgBr
valdson). Theoretical ratio
(Baxter and Thor-
with Fe = 55j is
0-46677,
= 0-46701.
whereas
Theory = .
1Q01K
1-13210. loo-las
J -4
-
332-144 069953.
2AgBr/Ag.,Cr.,0 ; = 0-86986 (I.e.)
(q) Theory (</) KC10S/£CI =1-64382 (Staehler and
with 14 bonds in Ag 2 Cr s 7 = 0-86995. Meyer). If KC10 3 is formulated with 5 bonds,
(r) KBr/AgBr = 0"-63373 (Richards, 1907).
AgN0
122-715
like the ratio with K 39|
With K = 39 L,
:
the theory is ^^ =
188'018
063368
or 1
3,
foimula given for the more probable, KC10 3 is (/<) 4NaCl/Na 4 As.,0-
"
= 0-66098 (Smith, 1896)
tin mgh considered very old-
it is nowadays 518 2 ( 58
-
u 0-660 10.
The theory for )
N,0. valencies.
IV <>
4
is O Fe-O-Fe
: O - Fe : () with 8 79-286
0-71222. If the element is Se.," + 6^
bonds.', the gain is 4
+ 8.<- =64-144. X.O.has 111-322
probably 9 bonds. or Se 8 + 24'-, the agreement becomes exact.
O O (/,•) Tellurium Te/TeBr 4 =0-28520 (Harcourt
/ \N _ N ^ and Baker). Take Te=127| acd without free
127-75
valencies and the ratio is or 0-2852
447-822
\o
so that the ratio with N=14'000, would be Note that Te + Se = I + Br = 207.
(/) Nitrogen sulphide. N 4 S 4 /2X., = 3-2890
-——-— =0 69599. The nitrogen formed should (Burt and Usher). With N=14 and S=3205,
the theory requires 18 or 20 valencies in X 4 S 4
.have been determined. ,
and Smitli). On my
with Ta=182 ex- theory,
propose a very hearty vote of thanks to Dr.
actly, and with 10 bonds above and below, the
Moir for this interesting paper, which, following
ratios are
444-18
1916
n ,.,„
or 0-61 n
62, and
444-18
1 io4-lo
or 1
,
—— — up other researches by the author and others,
/
breaks entirely new ground in the endeavour to
0-38154 respectively. The high atomic weight solve the ever-living problem of the mysterious
makes any decision doubtful. relations between the atomic weights of the
Iridium. Ir/(NH 4 )„IrCl 6 = 0-43631 (Hoy-
(e) elements. The base upon which so maDy fine
ermann). On the ordinary formulation the salt spun theories have been, are being, and still will
has 16 bonds (8 round Ir and 4 each in be built is the mathematical fact that a far
XH 4)
and the theory, with Ir=193 exactly, is greater number of the elements have atomic
! ' 3 weights almost exactly integers than would be
- -!. =0-43637.
442-288 the case upon a mere chance distribution. This
(f) Platinum. Pt/(NH4 )2 PtCl 6 = 0'43910 gives a special zest to such researches as this we
(Seubert, 1881), Calculated as above, the theo- are considering, though in itself the relationship
retical ratio, with Pt=l95 exactly, is 043891. between closely connected properties is not in-
(g) 2NaCl/Na 2 B4 O 7 = 0-57930 (Ramsay, 1893). compatible with absolute incommensurability, as
2'58vj18) is now definitely proved to be the case with the
The theory
' for is 0-57867,
46 + 44 + 112 + 14- older and somewhat similar problems of the dupli-
which is very poor. cation of the cube and the squaring of the circle.
—
258 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
I certainly share the view of the author, ex- SOME OBSERVATIONS ON THE
pressed in his last paragraph, and quote the GRAPHITE DEPOSITS OF MADAGASCAR
opinion of Sir G. G. Stokes that a very different AND AFRICA.
estimate will be placed upon the importance of
such speculations according as to whether or not
By E. R. Bawden, M.I.M.E. (Member).
they are supposed to have a foundation in nature Up to the present time very little is generally
or to be merely playing with numbers and known in regard to the extensive deposits of
getting out of a formula what has first been graphite known o exist in Madagascar and
placed in it. Africa, and still less done to exploit or investigate
Yet I do not think it is absolutely necessary them.
to get outside South Africa to put the theory to Having personally studied the occurrence of
test —
to an even much more rigid test than the this mineral inCeylon, Madagascar,
India,
solution of the suggested problem of varying Xyassaland and Portuguese Angoniland, I
atomic weight would supply. The author has thought it would be interesting to place on record
bound his theory up closely with the accepted such observations as I have made, hoping that
and well supported hypothesis of the monatomic they may be ot interest and guidance to those
nature of the molecules of the metallic elements who have or are about to exploit this mineral.
and accordingly assumes no bonds in the metallic Brenton Symons in his Genesis of Rocks and
state. Now without delaying to consider the Ores, states that " graphite occurs in the
case of triad and pentad nitrogen, or of saturated Laurentian period." Both Stevey Hunt and
and unsaturated carbon compounds where a Bischotf are of opinion that nearly all carbon jet
little juggling with the facts might evade the known to occur in a free state, must be considered
difficulty, we may turn with more confidence to as the product of the decomposition of CO.,
ths very numerous class of reactions which derived from the vegetable kingdom. Whether
involve an element in the metallic state where or not graphite is derived from the decomposition
the total number of bonds is increased. In such of living matter and is consequently proof of the
cases in accordance with Dr. Moir's theory an existence of life as early as the Laurentian period
increase in weight is involved and the test can I am not prepared to assert or discuss. It cer-
best be made with an element of small atomic tainly occurs in the most ancient types of
weight and high valency. The easiest and most gneiss and crystalline schists, and also in lime-
suitable test would be the burning of magnesium stone, gneissic rocks being most favourable to the
in oxygen in a closed and weighed receptacle :
occurrence of graphite deposits, the graphitic
2Mg + O O = 2Mg O. : : gneisses of India, Ceylon, Madagascar and Africa
This reaction shows the creation of two bonds being remarkably uniform in character and
or an increase in weight of 0036 gm. on 80636 mineral constitution. One observation in parti-
gm. (using weights given by the author). The cular interested me, and that was, that where
burning of aluminium would give a greater graphite deposits occurred, precious ores and
percentage increase of weight but is more difficult metalliferous ores in general (excepting iron) were
experimentally and the difference shown by the conspicuous by their absence in anything like pay-
above re-action is well within the limit of accuracy ing quantities further, no permanent system ot
;
of any chemical balance even in South Africa. veins existed in graphitic areas.
Of course it is well known that experiments —
Madagascar. The interior of Madagascar is
undertaken to show difference in weight caused an elevated region composed mainly of gneissic
by chemical reaction have always shown negative rocks, while the lowlands around the coast are
results but 1 cannot recall any where the number composed of various sedimentary rocks, lime-
of bonds involved has necessarily been changed : stones, etc. In the centre of the island lies the
personally I find that pressure of work drives my province of Imernia, which is now producing
activities in more hopeful directions and content good graphite on a commercial scale ; during the
myself with suggesting that a well-chosen suit- year 1911 some 500 tons of picked ore were
able experiment will yield a decisive verdict. exported. Taking Tanarivo the capital as the
It will then be time enough to consider the centre, and making a radius of 30 kilometres, the
question of what substance the materialised bond graphitic area is encompassed and beyond this,
consists, what becomes of it when an electrolyte so far as is known at present, no other deposits
is dissolved in water, what causes the tremendous of graphite exist, excepting two isolated parts far
variations in force it exerts in different com- removed from the centre of the island. At the
pounds, what relation it bears to the electron foot of Ampanotakana the rock is a perfect type
(one thirtieth its weight) and generally why we of garnetiferous gneiss. The gneisses have been
must give this airy nothing not only a local affected considerably by natural agencies, and
habitation and a name but also a weight. over the greatest part of the province they have
Dec. 1912 E. /.'. Bawden—Somi Observations of the Graphite Deposits of Madagascar and Africa. 239
weathered into laterite to a depth often amount- Ceylon, precious stones occur in the same forma-
ing to between 150 ft. and 200 ft. Pegmatite tion, so in the district of Imernia aquamarines,
veins are common, and often have large flexible topazes, sapphires, corundums and garnets occur.
and silvery Hakes of graphite attached to the
crystals of feldspar.
Africa. — In Nyassaland, graphite
widely dis- is
tributed and occurs in various forms, yet under
In the gullies, bluish or ferruginous streaks
the same conditions as in Madagascar, India, etc.
varying from a few inches to several feet may be
observed, and sinking on these stains often leads
At a point near Mkoma mountain in the Angoni-
land district a lenticular deposit of high class
to the discovery of graphitic deposits underneath ;
quality occurs, whilst parallel to it, a disseminated
these are often the only indications upon
in fa't
which prospecting operations can be commenced.
form is found. A
few miles to the north in the
bed of a tributary of the Lilongwe river, graphite
Pegmatites are often found in conjunction with
occurs as an accidental enrichment of the gneiss
or near graphite deposits. The sketch represents
along the planes of foliation, but though the
a graphite vein of the lenticular type being in-
quality is very good, the matrix is hard, making
fluenced by a pegmatite vein.
satisfactory treatment extremely difficult. At
Ngara along the sides of the Bi i river, graphitic
deposits occur in a micaceous schist, but the
mode of occurrence defies successful treatment at
present. To the north of Ngara and near the
lake shore, large well defined deposits of graphite
occur, but their value is, however, problematical at
present. In che Mhew district graphite occurs
in small patches, especially near Mjovelema's
village. Crossing over the boundary into Portu-
S
guese Angoniland and in the neighbourhood of
When the mineral occurs as a vein, it is in- Mtemblami and the Mawe or Hevugwe river,
variably of the lenticular type, very erratic and there a a highly graphitic zone.
is One mine is
difficult to follow. These veins have neither a at work controlled by Portuguese capitalists.
great length nor depth, and in the majority of The ore occurs in a white kaolin and is of good
cases seldom require more than £10,000 to bring quality and quantity the gneissic rocks are
;
the ends being bent as though the deposit had a hard quartzitic matrix as though it had replaced
undergone great lateral pressure. This same the mica 5. Earthy variety and 6. as a dissemi-
; ;
characteristic is seen in the Indian and African nated ore, the flakes following or lying on the planes
graphites. The fibrous variety consists of 85% of foliation. Three miles to the south is a huge
carbon, the remaining 15% being mainly iron. graphitic schist, plainly visible and outcropping
Though graphite is found in almost every cutting all along the road from Mtembalami to Mtenga
or gully in Imernia, the payable deposits are of Modzi a distance of at least 30 kilometres. The
rare occurrence, this being also the case in India great difficulty of obtaining transport and its
and Africa. The earthy variety is also extremely consequent cost at present prevents the commer-
common in Madagascar, but is of no commercial cial exploitation of these deposits on a large
value owing to cost of freight, etc. The finest
scale. When the network of railways spreads
Ceylon variety is conspicuous by its absence both over North-Eastern Rhodesia, Nyassaland and
in Madagascar and Africa. In the neighbour- Portuguese Angoniland, then such exploitation
hood of the Madagascar veins, the gneiss is de- may be possible in fact it is a practical certainty
;
composed into a white kaolin, and the whiter this that these countries will in time enter the field
kaolin is, the richer in quality the graphite
as graphite producers. The ore exists in large
appears to be this is the case also in India,
:
quantity and of good quality, and given cheap
Ceylon and Africa. Often the gneiss contains transport there is no doubt that these deposits
flakes of graphite which seem to replace the will become highly important.
mica, whilst the veins often gradate almost in-
sensibly from graphite to a dark mixture of iron After the President had wished members the com-
liornblendic and micaceous matter. As in pliments of the season, the meeting terminated.
— — —
260 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dee. 1912
Dr. T. G. Burnett.
that a General Ambulance Competition should
Thirteen entries were received for the Surface
be held, confined entirely to mine workers, with
Competition and 11 competed, 14 entries were re-
a view to increasing the interest in, and improv-
ceived for the Underground Competition and 7
ing the efficiency of, ambulance work generally.
The Committee recommended to the Council, competed, while 5 entered for the Colliery
which unanimously agreed to the proposal, that Competition, of which 4 competed.
a Shield be offered for competition for ambulance The Council of the Society wishes to convey
its congratulations to the Committee for the
work among underground workers on the metal-
excellent manner in which the competitions were
liferous mines which should be open to the whole
By arrangement arranged and carried out and expresses its
of the mines of South Africa.
;
|
a similar Shield for the surface workers on hearty thanks to the members of the Committee,
metalliferous mines was provided, while by the Judges, to the Chairman and Directors of
the kindly co-operation of the Transvaal Coal the Ferreira Deep, Ltd., and the Apex Colliery,
Owners' Association and the Breyten Collieries, Ltd., for kindly placing their mines ;it the
Ltd, a Shield was offered for competition among disposal of the Committee for the competitions ;
to Mr. F. J. Trump (the Manager of the Ferreira
the workers on and in the Coal Mines of South
Africa. Owing to the fact that the Mining Re- Deep, Ltd.), to Mr. J. R. Thorn (the Manager of
gulations stipulated that by Jan. 1st, 1913, a theApex Colliery) and their respective staff's for
large number of the officials and workers on the
much kindly help and assistance. Reference
mines should be in possession of a first aid certi- must also be made to the great hospitality
ficate granted by a recognised Ambulance Asso-
extended by the two mines mentioned by so
ciation, a great deal of activity and interest was kindly providing lunch to all the officials and
evinced in ambulance work during the year 1912, competitors after each competition. It was
and as a result much interest in the competitions highly appreciated by everyone.
was aroused. The rules and conditions were The successful teams were as follows :
A- .i-; the Shields ami Medals are ready City Deep, Lid. — Manipulation too I
The Reports
the Judges upon the three of
Knight Central, Ltd., "A" Team.— There
competitions are appended hereto :
Fracture of tibia and fibula on both sides on — Knight Central, Ltd., "B" Team —The
the right side the fracture is compound. dressing was not applied promptly to the
The patient is conscious and states he cannot compound Manipulation was too
fracture.
move his lower limbs and can feel no pain in the free, and the bandages were applied in
fractures. wrong sequence. There was too much
The following is the report of the Judges fumbling, tending to convert the simple
upon this Competition : fracture into something worse. The patient
SI, :ii|i-
I .. iii-iiil in.-*-- in
Remarks :
was lifted without any support to pelvis or
1. Langlaagte Estate &G. M. Co., Ltd., "A " Team. back although the team attributed loss of
—
Not quite smart enough getting to work. sensation to the right cause.
The patient was not handled with sufficient 6. Crown Mines, Ltd. —
The team was not smart
dexterity in rendering first aid, nor was the enough, did not apply dressing to the wound
moving of the patient carried out with suffi- promptly, did not steady the simple fracture
cient care considering the seriousness of the whilst dealing with the compound fracture,
injury. The knowledge of the text-book was and did not support the pelvis or back while
fair. lifting. No support was given to head and
_'.
Modderfonteim " B" G.M. Co., Ltd.— One of the team did not realise the injuries to the
the smartest teams, but in their practical spine.
they did not show a sufficient appreciation 7. Geldenhuis Beep Ltd. — The limb was parti-
of the serious nature of the injuries. The cularly well steadied during application of
oral examination was satisfactory. splints, but no support was given to head.
— — ——
262 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
S. Luipaardsvlei Em, it: & G.M. Co., Ltd. The — When found he is suffering from the following
personnel of the team was good, and the word evident injuries :
and what
What are the common corrosive poisons,
are the popular names for these
smart team, but two men were standing
inactive too long at the stretcher. The
poisons. How would you treat a case i
if
protection provided for injuries to spine. 2. How would you render first aid to a man
10. Van Ryn G.M. Co., Ltd. — The splint was who is in contact with a live electric wire ?
applied over the wound in the compound frac- 3. How would you render first aid to a person
ture. There was no adjustment of splints, a aj parently drowned '.
very bad practice. The splint was also 4 How do you distinguish between uncon-
applied over the front of the tibia, which sciousness due to :
M. M.
was in the handling and lifting of the patient. Ltd.
Ltd. Central,
Mines,
to cover. JS
Ltd.
Randfontein
Mines,
Ltd.
A workman proceeding to work on a Monday 1. Ferreira Deep, Ltd. This team treated the —
morning has fallen down an incline winze 40 the wrong leg. The command was not good,
(forty) feet deep, and is lying apparently uncon- and the patient was taken up the stope head
scious at the bottom. first.
—
(Dec. 1912 Amliii/i mcc ' 'ompetitions. 263
General Remarks. — All teams were very in getting appliances on and in working order.
weak in their knowledge of poisons, but their Made serious mistakes in FirstAid work did —
knowledge of the first aid treatment for a patient not apply digital pressure, left stretcher pressing
suffering from contact with a live electric wire on foot of injured leg, did not put early tension
and of a patient apparently drowned was good. on foot and used too short splints not fixing
The discrimination shown in the different causes ankle joint. Put bandage over broken ribs and
of unconsciousness was fair, and the teams were did not apply dressing and splint bandages in
good in their knowledge of the signs of a proper sequence. Orders were not decisively
dislocated joint. It is hoped that the teams given, and in carrying, the patient's feet were
may be kept together and will continue to projecting over the end of the stretcher.
practice regularly in the future, as so much —
No. 2 Team Apex Colliery. Rescue work —
depends on men keeping their knowledge fresh was very fair, but marks were lost through one of
and their practical work thorough and smart. the straps of the apparatus breaking and causing
—
•264 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical an, I Mining Society of South Africa. D.c. 1912
delay. Artificial respiration was too quick. In .m ordinary Bunsen burner. He finds that a capil-
lary tube of transparent quartz, through which
First Aid did not at once apply pressure to
passes a platinum wire which almost fills it. is an
femoral artery. No pull was put by bearer hold- advantageous substitute for the platinum capillary.
ing feet. The wrung leg was put up in splints, It possesses the advantage that explosive mixtures
but the limb was very cafefully handled, well can lie heated in it to very high temperatures with
out tear of propagation of an explosion. An arrange-
splinted and bandaged. The lifting was very
ment is figured, showing the quartz capillary con-
carefully carried out, and the stretcher borne necting the measuring burette and a mercury pipette,
along very steadily and in good step. Excellent and surrounded bj < small furnace of non-conducting
oral. material, within which is a small gasblowpipe blown
systematically. The First Aid was also excellently platinum spiral made from a wire about IS em. long
Everything was done in proper se- ainl iil' mm. in diameter, which is connected with two
performed.
platinum wires sealed- into anil passing through
quence save that the splints were applied before
quartz capillaries, of the same original outer
the wound in the calf was dressed. The tourniquet diameter as the quartz tube, hut drawn out. at their
was well applied, but not tightened and fixed ends so as tci pas., into it as tar as either end of the
properly. A bandage was applied round chest, spiral. Short rubber tubes make the joints tight,
holding the capillary tubes against the wider tube.
but the team explained it had been put on loosely.
The ends of the platinum wires, passing through the
The orders were clearly given and well carried sides of the capillary tubes, are connected to binding
out. The lifting was careful and carrying good. screws so that a suitable current may be sent through
Oral excellent. the spiral: and the gas is passed back and forth
Xo. Team— South /.'".»/ Colliery.
'/ The — between measuring burette and mercury pipette ovei
the hot spiral. With either of these arrangements,
Rescue work was well carried out if somewhat as much, as so re. of the gas to he tested roaj I"
slow, but Sylvester's artificial respiration was used, and there is no dangei of oxidation of any
carried through without tongue being seen to. nitrogen present, provided the gases travel only
slowly through the hot part, of the apparatus.
Turned patient on side before applying digital For the determination of hydrogen, the author
pressure. Pressure applied to upper part of finds differential combustion over palladium asbestos
thigh instead of groin. Splints applied before quite accurate, if the temperature does not exceed
dressing over wound and no bandage applied to 4oo ('. To secure this, the capillary containing the
asbestos i~ surrounded by a small lua^s sheath (sup-
keep dressing in place. The broken clavicle was ported by the Bunsen burner), which also contains a
mishandled and there was no treatment for little bulb of mercury, and the burner flame is
shock. The orders were not given very clearly adjusted so as just to keep the mercury boiling. If
and the fractured clavicle was not eared for suffi- S minutes be taken to pass 100 ec. of gas, the
hydrogen is completely burnt, usually in one passage,
ciently during the lifting. Stretcher might have
always in three. Absorption of the hydrogen by
been brought nearer to scene of accident. Oral colloidal palladium was not found quite so satisfac-
fair. tory. The palladium solution should be freshh
General Remarks. —
On the whole the teams prepared, ami it is best to use half the quantity first,
allowing it to absorb all it will, then to return the
were better in their oral, than in their practical gas to the burette, empty the pipette, introduce the
work. The rescue work was better than the other portion of the solution, then complete the
First Aid, where the importance of the injuries absorption. The froth which forms may be destroyed
and their order of treatment were not considered by adding a little alcohol hut the solution to which
;
methane and but little hydrogen, neither the Dreh- 15, 1912, p. '911. (F. \Y. W.)
schmidt platinum capillary nor the Winkler-Dennis
combustion pipette gives concordant results. The Determination of Nitrogen in Ferrocyanides,
author finds the reason to be that the necessary tem- Thiocyanatks, and Spent Oxide.— "It is econo-
perature for complete combustion of the methane is mically wrong to work the purifiers in gas-works in
not reached by the usual means of beating, namely, such a way as to obtain spent oxide with more than;
— —
Dec. 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Chemistry. 265
4'75 c of nitrogen, as this results in a dimished yield ing in a little potassium chlorate both with the coal
of Prussian blue and of ammonium sulphate, the ami the soda-lime in the hinder part of the tube."
nitrogen being bound up as comparatively valueless Knoblauch, J. Gasbeleucht, 1912, 55, 713-718, 864-
thiocyanate. Hence the valuation of spent oxide on 868, 883-890. Journal of the Sm-irti/ of Chemical
the basis of total nitrogen is only permissible » hen
' '
Industry, Oct. 15, 1912, pp. 911-912. '(!•'.' W. W.)
the spent oxide is 'bad,'/.'., unworkable for Prus-
sian blue. The total nitrogen of spent oxide, ferro- Determination of Sulphur in Pyrite.—" Be-
eyanides, thiocyanates, and ammonium salts may be fore precipitating witli .sulphate, the heavy
barium
very accurately estimated by heating with soda-lime, metal- are removed from the solution of the pyrite
receiving tlie evolved ammonia in standard arid. electrolytically, The sample is pounded to pass an
Before sampling for analysis, 'bad' spent oxide 80-mesh sieve, "5 gm. (or 06S6S gm. for convenience
should be dried at 50°-60° (J. for 5-6 hours, the loss of of calculation) is weighed off, and treated in a250cc.
nitrogen being nil from cyanides, ferroeyanides, and beaker with 12 cc. of a mixture of 3 parts of nitric
Prussian blue, and less than 0'009 from ammonium acid (sp. gr. 1 42) and 1 part of hydrochloric acid
salts. The best agents for decomposing mercury- I-p. gr. 1"20), to which four or live drops of bromine
ammonium compounds formed in Kjeldahl's method have been added. The covered beaker is allowed to
of determining nitrogen, so as to allow the liberation stand at the ordinary temperature for half an hour,
of total ammonia by alkali, was found to be Urcr of '
then heated in a steam or water hath till action has
sulphur,' obtained by fusing potassium carbonate ceased, when the cover is removed and the liquid
with sulphur. Since spent oxide contains both evaporated to dryness. Then 5 cc. of hydrochloric
sulphur and sulphides, it is not necessary to add acid ate added, the cover is replaced till effervescence
alkali sulphide before distilling for ammonia, pro- has ceased, and then removed, rinsed, and the evapo-
—
vided that less than 005 0"07 em. of mercury is ration to dryness repeated. The residue is treated
added for every gram of spent oxide. It is necessary with 25 cc of hot water, and rinsed into the electro-
in the case of spent oxide, to add the mercury only lytic cell, a -onical lipped beaker of about 150 cc.
after the substance has been heated for some time capacity with a tubulure near the bottom for the
with sulphuric acid until all the ferrocyanide and platinum wire leading into the mercury cathode.
—
thiocyanate have been destroyed which occurs after The liquid is made up to about 75 cc, a Hat platinum
—
a few minutes' heating since ferroeyanides and spiral is introduced as anode, an inverted funnel is
thiocyanates do not give accurate results in the made to rest on the wall of the beaker above the
piesence of mercury. Kjeldahl's method compares liquid, and a current of 0"8 to TO ampere is passed
very unfavourably with the soda lime method when for five or six hours (or a weaker current overnight).
the substance to be analysed contains only 1-1 .V The funnel and the beakei -ides are now washed
of nitrogen and is difficult to decompose, owing to down, the liquid decanted into a 300 cc. beaker as
the small mount of ammonia to he isolated from a closely a- possible, and the beaker and mercury are
large volume of liquid. This difliculty may le got washed with four successive quantities of 25 cc. of
over by using the smallest possible quantity of sul- water. The mercury is then poured out of the side
phuric acid and mercury, so that only a little caustic away from the lip. and the empty beaker, especially
soda or sodium sulphide are required and the liquid the iip, is rinsed clean. The liquid is now filtered
for distillation is thus reduced to small bulk. The from the 300 cc. beaker into an 800 cc. beaker, the
analysis of spent oxide is best carried out thus : filter washed, and the liquid diluted to450cc (600 cc.
1 gin. of spent oxide dried at 5C° —
60" C. is added to if 06868 gm. has been used heated to boiling, and
),
7— 10 CC. of sulphuric acid (sp. gr. I "84) in a special whilst boiling 25 cc. (34 cc. of lo solution of barium
)
250 cc. Bask, and after standing for 5 minutes and chloride added slowly. The author uses for this a
cooling if necessary, the mixture is warmed gently 'precipitation pipette,' consisting of a large thistle-
for 15—20 minutes, boiled for 10 minutes, ami (a) funnel, with the stem bent so as to pass under the
0"05— 0"10 gm. of copper oxide or (b) not more than cover glass at the lip of the beaker, whilst the funnel
005—0-10 gm. of mercury (=0004—0-005 cc), or is supported by a wire stand on the cover glass. The
(c) 0-25 gm. of mercury = 0'02 cc.) or mercury oxide
( end of the stem is so drawn out that 25 cc. of liquid
added. The whole is heated for -in 75 minutes and will be delivered in five minutes. The precipitate is
then, in ease of (a) anil (b) above, 42—43 cc. of filtered and washed as usual, and the filter burnt oft
caustic soda solution (330 gm. per litre) are added, with the precipitate. The resulting error due to the
whilst in the case of (c), after making alkaline, excess of occluded barium chloride over the solubility
-odium sulphide or zinc dust is added. The mixture of barium sulphate amounts to f r 0'01 to 0-043 ',
.
is now distilled until two-fifths of the liquid have A number of determinations gave results averaging
pa-sed over, the ammonia being received in standard (I IS higher than those obtained with the Lunge
acid. A blank experiment is made with the same me I. Lead to the extent of 004 gm. in 05 gm.
quantities of reagents and under the same conditions. does not interfere with the accuracy of tin- results."
To ascertain if correction is necessary for loss of —A. M. Smoot, Enq. and Mtn. /., 1012, .".,412 41*.
nitrogen in drying the sample, 5—10 gm. of the Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Oct. 15,
original undried spent oxide are placed in the distill- 1012, il 918. (F. W, W.)
ing Bask, 100 cc. of water are added and the mixture
distil led. If the distillate requires more than 5 6 cc. — Exact Method for the Determination of
of .V 10 acid for neutralisation, it will be necessary
Sulphtjk ix I'i rite Ores. — " Theessential features
to make corrections by sucking air over the spent
of the process are the complete oxidation of a com-
—
oxide drying at 50° 60° in a closed vessel, passing paratively large sample of the ore by means of a
the air through standard acid ami estimating the solution of la omine in carbon tetrachloride, followed
loss of acidity caused thereby. by nitric acid the reduction of the iron by means of
;
the whole warmed. Rapid reduction takes place, find, in mean of three series, P = 31027 when
and on allowing to stand for a few seconds precipita- Ag=107'88. This agrees fairly well with the former
tion of liiiely divided arsenic or antimony occurs. work of Baxter and Jones on silver phosphate.
The precipitate varies in colour from light to dark Furtliei work on phosphorus trichloride is promised.
brown in proportion to the amount of arsenic or anti- —
Mercury. Easley and Brann (./. Amer. Chem.
mony in the original substance. Soc, 1912, 34, 137), by analyses of mercuric bromide,
A solution of sodium hypochlorite dissolves the find Hg = 20t)li4. This confirms the previous work
precipitate due to arsenic, the antimony remaining of Easley on the chloride.
suspended. Selenium. —
Kuzma and Krehlik (Trans. Bohemian
Acids ami acid salts are, of necessity, neutralised Ac, I. of Emperor Francis Joseph, 19, No. 13, 1910.
—
with arsenic and antimony free alkali — before the Data, furnished to the committee by Professor B.
application of the above test. Owing to its sim- Brainier) have redetermined the atomic weight of
plicity, in addition to its delicacy, for qualitative selenium by reduction of SeO„ with B0 2 The mean
.
work the method might well lie adopted as a sub- of ten determinations is Se = 79"26.
stitute for the more tedious Marsh's test Tellurium. — Harcourt and Baker (Trans., lull,
As part sodium arsenite (containing 57'692%
1 On, 1311, have thrown doubt upon the work of Flint,
arsenic) dissolved in 50,000 parts of water may be who claimed to have split up the supposed element
readily detected by the above method, the extreme iuto two fractions of different atomic weight. They
sensitiveness of the reaction is evident." Donald repeated bis method of fractionation, and from the
II. Staddon, Chemical News, Oct. 25, 1912. p. 199. fourth fraction, found Te=127'54. This agrees with
(F. W. W.) the figure found by Baker and Bennett in 1907.
Similar fractionations have been carried out also by
A srnsTiTUTioN for Rubber Connections in I'ellini (Atti J,'. Accad. Lincei, 1912, [v], SI, i, 218),
Chemical Apparatus. — " In setting up apparatus who likewise failed to find any indication of a
occasions often arise where rubber tubing is objec- tellurium of low atomic weight.
tionable, and fusion of the tubes inconvenient. The —
Radium. Honigschmid (Monatsh., 1912, ;?.;. 253),
following will be found a convenient method of sur- by careful analyses of relatively large quantities oi
mounting the difficulty :
radium chloride, finds Ra=225 95. On the other
Take a short piece of glass tube of wider bore than hand, Whytlaw-Gray and Ramsay [Proc. Roy. S,,e.,
the tubes to be joined ami lill it with wax. Bore a 1912, 86, A, 27H), using very small quantities of
material, and converting the bromide into the
tube through the wax, and slip the piece over the
tubes to be joined. To mould the tubes place an chloride, find Ra=226'36, in agreement with previous
iron rod in the middle of the short glass piece and lill work by Madame Curie and Thorpe, Until the dis-
up with wax If the iron rod is long its end may be cordance between Honigschmid's low value and the
warmed, and the heat travelling by conduction it higher is explained, it is undesirable to change the
may easily he withdrawn, leaving the mould com- figure given in the table.
plete. A supply of these tubes can be quickly made Tantalum. -The determinations of this atomic
—
and kept ready for use." W. R. Forbes, Chemical weighl by Chapin and Smith (J. Amer. Chem. Soc,
News, Nov. 1, 1912, p. 212. (F. \Y. W.) 1911, 33, 1497) were made by the hydrolysis of,
Tal!t,. The mean of eight determinations gave
Annual Report of the International Com- Ta = isr8(l, a figure somewhat higher than that
mittee on Atomic Weights, 1913. "Since the — found by Balke from similar analyses of the penta-
annual report for 1912 was prepared, a number of chloride.
important memoirs on atomic weights have appeared. Iridium. —
Hoyermann [Sitzungsber. phys. med.
There are also one or two earlier researches which Soz. Erlangen, ',.', 278), by live reductions of
were received too late to be noticed at the proper (Ml.V.liCI./in hydrogen, finds Ir= 192613.
time. These investigations may be summarised as Hohnium. —
Six determinations of the atomic
follows : weighl of holmium by Holmherg (Zeitsch. anorg.
Nitrogen. —
Wonrtzel ICompt. rend., 1912, /." ;, Chem., 1911, 7/, 226), gave Ho=16345. The well
115), by oxidising NO
to N a 4 has redetermined the
, known sulphate method was employed.
ratio between nitrogen and oxygen. Five concordant There are also approximate determinations of tl e
measurements give, in mean, N= 14'0068. atomic weights of lead, zinc, and copper by Pechciix
Dec. 1912 Notices and Abstracts: Chemistry. 267
(Compt. rend., 1912, /".', 1410), ami of calcium by quantity as would render the analysis worthless.
Oechsnerde Coninck [Compt. rend., 1911, 15S, 1579). Dr. Hillebiand, in Hull. 422, U.S. Geol. Survey, p.
The figures obtained are not conclusive enough to •"'0. lays stress mi tins point. Too much emphasis
justify their use in the table, for the methods cannot be laid on the choice of grinding apparatus
employed were not of great accuracy. used in the preparation of samples for analysis.
(Inly one change is recommended in the table for Kecently a series of samples of quartzite were
1913, namely, the insertion of holmium, for which, collected by the writer for analysis. Inasmuch as-
hitherto, no good atomic-weight determination has the quartzite beds, from which the samples were
been available. Two or three other alterations of taken, were being valued for the purpose of being-
small importance might be made, but it seems un- used in the manufacture of silica brick, it was
desirable to make changes too frequently. desirable to obtain an accurate determination of the
(Signed) F. W. Clarke, content of silica and particularly of iron.
T. E. Thorpe, Metallic iron introduced Iron content of
W. Ostwald. Sample. from crusher (per cent), quartzite (per cent).
G. Urbain. 1. ... 2-92 0-49
1913. 2. ... 2-74 49
International Atomic Weights. 3. ... 2-73 0-23
0=16. = 16. 4. ... 2-61 0-63
Aluminium ... Al 27 1 Molybdenum Mo 96'0 5. ... 2-82 0-25
Antimony ...8b 120*2 Neodymium ... Nd 1443 (i. .. 2-59 29
Argon A 3P-SS Neon Ne 20-2 7. ... l-8ti 055
Arsenic ...As 7491) Nickel ... Ni 5868 8. ... 2'46 0-16
Barium ... Ba 137 '37 Niton (radium 9. ... 265 075
Bismuth ... Bi 208-0 emanation) Nt 222 4 10. ... 2-67 012
Boron B 110 Nitrogen ... N 1401 11. ... 2-81 016
Bromine .. Br 7992 Osmium ... Os 1909 12. ... 1-87 0-06
Cadmium ... Cd 11240 Oxygen ... O Kino ',3. ... 1-98 20
Caesium ... Cr 132-81 Palladium ... Pd 1067 14. ... 201 0-68
Calcium ... Ca 40 07 Phosphorus ... P 31 04 15. ... 2-62 011
Carbon ... C 1200 Platinum Pt 1952
.
The samples on being biougbt to the laboratory
Cerium Ce 140-2.5 Potassium ... K 3910
...
consisted of chips of the rocks, approximating in
Chlorine ... CI 35 46 Prasedymium Pr 140-6 size sip by thick. After being broken
in. J in.
Chromium ... Cr 52-0 Radium .. Ra 226-4 'l
of the dimethylaniline solution. Nitrates do not allowed to stand in its water bath for 15 minutes
—
interfere with the reaction." E. H. MILLER, Jour-
after ignition of the charge. In case the sulphur
nal of tin bociihi ul Chemical Industry (reprinted content is as high as 5%, oxygen under 40 atmo-
from 'the Analyst, L912, S7, 345), Sept. 16, 1912, p. spheres pressure is used. With these high pressures
814. (F. W. W.) in a Berthelot bomb of 500 cc. to 600 cc. capacity
repeated trials have failed to show even traces of
Assay of 1'i.atinum.—" About 250 mg. of the carbon monoxide or sulphur dioxide. If a smaller
platinum alloy are mixed with silver (at least five bomb of about 175 cc. capacity, such as the Peters or
times the quantity of platinum present), copper (a Kroker, is used, incomplete combustion from a lack
quantity equal to that of the platinum) and lead, of oxygen may lestilt, if too large a sample be
cupelled at a comparatively high temperature, and taken.
the residue fused for from 3 to 5 minutes. The —
After cooling 15 minutes is usually enough the —
resulting button if rolled to a thickness of 0'2 nun., bomb is opened, and its contents are washed into a
an<l heated for 15 minutes with dilated sulphuric acid beaker. If the bomb has a lead washer, 5 cc. of a
(100 volumes of concentrated acid with 22 volumes saturated solution of sodium carbonate is added, the
of water) at a temperature not exceeding 240° C. contents are heated to the boiling point, boiled for
The treatment with acid is repeated twice, and the 10 minutes, and are then filtered. This operation is
residual platinum is washed, dried and weighed." necessary to decompose any lead sulphate from the
—
A. Steinmann. Mexican Mining Journal, Oct., washer. The united washings are then filtered,
1912, p. 37. (R. A.) acidified with hydrochloric acid, boiled to expel all
—
carbonic acid, and the sulphuric acid content is Brittels. Cold Storage and Ice Trade J., 15, No. 6,
determined in the usual way with barium chloride. p. 22. 1906.
Gravimetric determination is preferred to volu- E. M. Eckard. Chicago Clinic. 20, 1. 1907.
metric, because the nitrogen contained in the air A. D. Enimett and H. S. Grindley. J. Ind. Eng.
originally in the bomb is oxidised in part to nitro- ('hem., 7, 413-436 580-597. 1909.
;
acids, which cause a small error if the volumetric P. Grassman. Landw. Jahr., .'1. Heft 3 und 4,
determination alone is used. The sulphur content pp. 467-512. 1S92.
of any combustible material, from light gasolines A. Oautier. Rev. Hyg., 19, 289-303: 394-415.
weighed in a tared gelatine capsule to solid bitumens 1897.
and cokes, can be readily determined by this method. Glage. Z. Fleischu. Milch-hygiene, p. 131. 1900-1.
This method of burning in a bomb is accurate, H. S. Grindley. Ice and Refrigeration, 31. 1906.
practicable, ami rapid, and is recommended in pre- C. Harrington. New York Review and American
ference to all of the other methods described. The Creamery, pp. 23 25. 1907.
calorimetric determination, if desired, can be made H. A. Higlev. The National Provisioned SG, 13,
at the same time." —
ALLEN and ROBERTSON, Bureau 1907.
i,f Mines.—Mining Science, Oct. 2-1, 1912, p. 265. H. W. Houghton. J. Ind. Eng. Chem., .;, pp.
(A. McA. J.) 497-506. 1911.
Konig. Chemie des Mensehlichen Nahrungs und
Sampling Steel.— Genussmittel. 1903.
Standard Methods, fop.
C. Mai. Z. u. Nahr. Genusm., 4. 1901.
" Sampling of Material
Points to be Observed in the
fin- Check Analysis. — («)
Each heat in a lot shall he M. M idler. Z. Fleiseh u. Milch hygiene, p. 217.
1903 4.
considered separately, and pieces for sampling shall
M. E. Pennigton. J. Biol. Chem., 353. .',. 1908.
he taken to represent the heat as fairly as possible.
- Premier Congres Intern, du Froid, p. 216,
i/.i Samples must be drillings or chips cut by some
1908.
machine tool without the application of water, oil or
other lubricant, ami shall he free from scale, grease,
W. D. Richardson. Science, 27, 687. 1908.
Premier Congres Intern, du Froid, .',
p. 261.
dirt or other foreign substance. If samples are taken
PUIS.
by drilling, the size of the drill shall be not less than
and E. Scherubel. J. Amer. Chem. Soc, .,'".
and mutton were placed in flasks with water and being examined at the end of 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days.
inoculated with infusions from putrefying meat. The results are shown in Table III.
The contents of the Basks were examined at the end It will he seen that certain progressive changes
of 2, 4, 7, and 14 days. Table I. shows the proxi- took place up till the third day, and then, owing to
the increase of bacteria, incipient decomposition set
Tablk I.
in, this being evidenced by the marked increase of
Original Meat. ammoniacal nitrogen, and the decrease of meat-base
nitrogen.
(3) Changes due to Ripening in the Absence of
Lamb. Mutton.
Bacterial Interference. —
To permit of ripening taking
Per cent. Per cent.
place without bacterial growth, portions of minced
Moisture 73-68 7149 meats were mixed with thymol and chloroform and
Ash 1-08 1-04 kept in tiasks. The results, which are detailed in
Tat 5-29 T-iio Table IV., shuw that under these conditions changes
Other solids 19 95 •20-47 involving the increase of organic extractives, total
soluble nitrogen, meat-base nitrogen, proteose and
100 00 10000 peptone nitrogen, took place up to between the third
and fifth days, and then further changes either
Total nitrogen 3-27 3-20 ceased or proceeded extremely slowly. It is probable
Acidity as lactic acid 0-54 0-61 that these changes were due to enzyme action.
1
(4) Changes During Cold Storage (2° to 19 F.).—
These were only slight and of the same general
mate analyses of the original meats and Table li- nature as those taking place during ripening in
the results of the putrefactive changes. The initial absence of bacterial interference, and like them were
changes of putrefaction are characterised by the probably due to enzyme action, for not only was the
transformation of the insoluble into soluble proteids interior of the meat found to be sterile, but any
and the conversion of coagulable proteids into pro- bacteria lodged on the surface were also found to be
teoses, peptones, meat-bases, and ammonia, while unable to grow at the temperature of storage. In
the later stages of the process are marked by the the case of lamb the maximum change was reached
formation of simpler compounds such as ammonia, in about 60 days, while with mutton it was not
carbonic acid, and water. attained until between the 90th and 120th days. The
There was found to be a progressive increase in results are set out in Table V.
the amount of soluble matter, the total soluble
nitrogen rising from 2 17 per 100 of that in the fresh
Acidity. —
The figures for acidity, in Table V.,
which are in terms of lactic acid, show that no
lamb, to ,5-.V after 14 days, the results for mutton change occurred during the term of cold storage.
being similar. The changes in the proportions of
the various constituent bodies, as indicated by their
Moisture. —
In both lamb and mutton there was a
progressive decrease in the moisture contents, in the
nitrogen, can be readily seen. former of 3G C and in the latter of 2*4%, which is
The most striking evidence of putrefactive change contrary to the results with beef recorded by
is given by the figures for ammoniacal nitrogen, Richardson and Scherubel, who found neither gain
which, in the lamb rose from 0-8 to 53-4% of "the or loss of moisture. Emmett and Grindley, on the
total nitrogen present, the results obtained with other hand, reported losses up to 13% during a 37-
mutton being in close agreement. day experiment on beef. In this connection, how-
Table II.
Lamb. Mutton.
After days. 2 4 7 14 2 4 7 14
Table III.
Lamb.
After days 1 2 3
Coagnlable nitrogen 109 10-5 0-3 8 6 9/9 120 12 11-9 10-5 s-s 1 1
•.->
13
Proteose do. 1-3 1-5 1-7 17 2 2-6 1-8 1-7 1-9 1-9 1 7
•>
Table IV.
Lamb. Mutton.
After days. 1 2 3 5 7 1 2 3 5 7
Coagulable nitrogen 10 9 104 9-8 8-9 8-8 8-9 120 12-2 101 8-6 s s
Proteose do. 1-3 1-6 1-8 1-7 1-8 l-'.i 1-8 1-6 is 2 — 1-8
Organic extractives ... 214 21 7 22-3 23-4 231 23-5 21-3 21-7 22 1 23 9 — 23-s
Table V.
Lamb. Mutton.
10-9 9-5 9 8 6 8-4 8-5 85 12-0 101 9-5 93 8'7 8-4 9-2
Coagulable nitrogen
Proteose do. 13 1-6 1-7 1-7 1-7 17 1-7 1-8 1-9 19 21 2-2 2 "2 21
Peptone do. 4 s 1-4 1-3 14 1-3 1-5 4 8 10 11 1-4 7-4 13
Meat base do. 8-3 9-2 10-2 111 11-2 11 -4 11-1 8-1 93 9 8 106 11-5 IIS 1
1-7
ever, it should be noted that the change in moisture tests to have been due to accidental contamina-
must largely depend upon the humidity of the air of tion.
the chamber in which the meats are stored. General Conclusions as to Frozen Meat. — Considera-
Histological. — It is a matter of general observation tion of the data given above, shows that in the case
that, when meats are frozen and thawed out rapidly, of lamb and mutton held in cold storage for a period
a certain amount of distortion and rupture of the of 160 days at 2 to 19° F.:—
tissues takes place, but where the freezing and sub- 1. There was a loss of moisture amounting to from
sequent thawing are slowly conducted, little or no -" fco3J%.
alteration of the structure of the tissues will be There was an increase in the amounts of pro-
2.
found. This fact has been overlooked by some teose, peptone, and meat-base nitrogen, and a
observers, and the distortion and rupture noticed decrease in coagulable nitrogen, while ammoniacal
have in some cases been wrongly attributed to putre- nitrogen remains unchanged. These changes weie
factive causes. similar to those occurring during the ripening of
Free Fatty Acidity. — The' development of acidity meat in absence of bacterial interference, the maxi-
in fat. is a delicate indication of decomposition, but mum change taking place in the lamb about the
601 h day and in the mutton between the 90th ami
as will be seen from the figures in Table V., no
material change occurred during the period of cold 120th .lays.
3. The free acidity of the fat remained practically
storage.
—
Separation "ml Detection of Enzymes. Dr. Rideal, unchanged.
4. The changes in chemical composition v ere
in a paper read before the First Refrigeration Con
gress, suggests that the tenderness and maturing of probably due to enzyme action.
cold storage meats are due to the gradual and limited 5. The meats remained in the same condition
work of natural enzymes such as pepsin and trypsin bacterially as when freshly killed.
present in Hesh, which cause a certain amount of 6. When
the freezing and subsequent thawing
predigestion similar to that occurring when fresh were carried out slowly there was no rupture or
meats are kept or 'hung.' In the present case the alteration of the structure of the tissues.
7. The nutritive values of lamb and mutton were
enzymes detected were peroxydase, catalase, and an
enzyme similar to trypsin (a protease), which were unaltered." —
A. M. Wright. Journal of the —
found in both lamb and mutton throughout the Society of Chemical Industry, Oct. 31, 1912, p. 965.
whole period of cold storage, and were also present (F. W. W.)
in the material preserved for seven days with thymol
and chloroform. Negative results were obtained in Report ok the Committee on Standard
testing for invertase, lipase, and diastase. The Methods fob Determining the Constituents
methods used for the separation and detection of the of Foundry Cokk. — " Sampling. The sample is
enzymes were those described by Houghton (./. Lid. obtained by taking full-length pieces of about equal
Eng. I'hiin.. 1911,3, 504). Importance is attached intervals while the car is being unloaded, and then a
to these results, for while enzyme activity goes on piece about the size of an egg from each end and
slowly at low temperatures, yet the action is not from the middle of each piece until 25-40 lb. are
stopped, and the changes found in cold storage meats obtained. In the case of a stock pile, 2.5-30 lb. are
are evidently due in a large measure to these bodies, taken in a similar manner from every 50 tons. After
especially to the trypsin-like protease. crushing between hardened manganese or chrome-
Bacteriolooical Ea imination. — In health, the Hesh steel surfaces, until the coke passes a J in. mesh
of animals is free from bacteria, but when death sieve, it is quartered and one portion reserved for the
ensues it becomes a suitable medium for bacterial moisture determination, whilst the other is crushed
growth. until it passes a J in. mesh sieveand again quartered
In carrying out the following observations, the down until about 2 lb. remain. This is crushed till
method of procedure was to remove portions of meat it will pass a 20 mesh seive and quartered down to
from the surface and from the interior, with neces- about 20 gm., which is ground till it will pass a 100
sary aseptic precautions. The samples were placed mesh sieve. Moisture. 1 kilo, of the I in. mesh
in flasks of sterilised bouillon and incubated at 70 sample is dried at 104° 107°C. —
Volatile matter.
F. for fourteen days. In the event of no growth The crucible containing the dried sample is covered
occurring, the contents of the Masks were then inocu- with another crucible so that its bottom is not more
lated, to prove theif suitability for bacterial growth, than in. from the bottom of the outer crucible, and
)j
and in no case did this fail. the coke is ignited over a bunsen for %\ min. and
Experiments were made to determine the time then over a blow-pipe for 3>, min. Ash and fixed
necessary for the penetration of the surface bacteria carbon. The inclined and heated until
crucible is
to the interior of the meat. It was found that in all the carbon is burnt off. The difference between
five days for lamb, and seven days for mutton, the weight of the ash and the residue from the vola-
bacteria could invade the interior, the meat being tile matter is fixed carbon. Sulphur. 12 gm. of
kept at 60°— 70 F. Further experiments were sodium peroxide, 5 gin. of powdered potassium
cained out tor the purpose of verifying the sterility chlorate, and exactly 0"7 gm of coke (80 mesh) are
of the meat which bad been treated with thymol anil thoroughly mixed with a small spatula in a nickel
chloroform and used for the experiments recorded in crucible ot 40 cc. capacity, the lid of which has a small
Table IV. In no case was there any evidence of the hole. The covered crucible is placed on a stand in a
presence of living bacteria. 20 oz. beaker containing enough water to immerse-
Finally experiments were carried out to ascertain the lower half of the crucible. The mixture is ignited
whether bacterial growth and invasion of the interior by means of a hot wire, allowed to cool, and then
of the meat could proceed during cold storage. In dissolved in the water. After removing the stand
every case it was found that the surface of the meat and empty crucible, hydrochloric acid is added, then
even after 160 days, was infected with bacteria, just ammonia in slight excess, and the solution is filtered,.
as in the case of fresh meat, but that the interior was and the residue washed. To the filtrate one drop of
sterile. Certainly in two cases bacteria developed in methyl orange isadded, and O'occ. of hydrochloricacid)
the culture flasks, but this was shown by the other in excess. The solution is heated to boiling and 10/
1 — — —I
ee. of barium chloride added drop by drop, then after cub on dioxide were found almost as noxious. It is
boiling for 15 min., and allowed to stand for 2 hr., concluded that the destructive action of acids is due
the precipitate is filtered off and washed ; the weigh) to two causes, viz. j— (1) The formation of certain
oi barium sulphate xl9 6=J of sulphur.
-
Phosphor- calcium and aluminium compounds, especially
us. 5 gm. are ignited in a platinum dish and 10 ee. calcium sulphate, which is accompanied by a large
of hydrochloric acid (1 to 1) and20cc. of hydrofluoric increase in volume (2) the formation of soluble com-
;
acid are added to the ash. The mixture is evaporated pounds, especially calcium bicarbonate, which
to dryness and the residue heated to dull redness, dissolve and cause the concrete to collapse. The
fused with lf>gtn. of sodium carbonate and 2 gm. of chief remedies proposed are:— To provide adequate
potassium nitrate, cooled and dissolved in water. ventilation inside the drains; to use dense, non-
The solution is boiled, acidified with hydrochloric acid porous .linker, poor in lime, as basis for the concrete ;
precipitated with ammonia, boiled and filtered. The and to cover the exposed surfaces of the concrete
precipitate is washed and dissolved in dilute with a coat of tar, or best of all to protect the foun-
nitric aeid. If it will not dissolve in nitric acid, dations of the drains with tar-felt or asphalt."
hydrochloric acid is used, and the solution is E. Neumann, Journal of the Franklin Institute
evaporated to 5 ee., treated with 30 ce. of nitric (reprinted from Tonind. Zed., xxxvi. 601), Sept. 1912,
aeid (sp. gr. 1 '20), again evaporated to 5 cc. p. 352. (F. W. W.)
and 30 ee. of nitric aeid added. After heating to 70°
— 90°C, 50 ce. of molybdate solution are added, the Detection and Determination of Cyanogen
precipitate is filtered off, washed live times with 3 and Hydrogen Cyanide.—" Wallis (this J., 1906,
nitrie aeid, and five times with 0-p. solution of 427) has .shown that a solution of silver nitrate,
potassium nitrate, transferred to the flask in which slightly acidified with nitric aeid, rapidly and quan-
the precipitation was made, and 30 cc. of water and titatively absorbs hydrogen cyanide, whereas cyano-
a measured excess of N/5 sodium hydroxide added. gen is not absorbed. The author confirms this and
When all the yellow precipitate is dissolved, 0'1 cc. shows that any small quantity of cyanogen dissolved
of phenolphthalein is added and the solution titrated by the acid silver solution can be expelled by a,
with N/5 sulphuric acid. The ec. of N/5 sodium current of air. A quantitative method for the
hydroxide used 0054=-% of phosphorus.
-
Molyb- separation and determination of cyanogen and hydro-
date solution. 100 gm. of molybdic aeid are added gen cyanide in gaseous mixtures, even when as little
to 250 cc. of water followed by 150 cc. of ammonia. as 0*3 cc. of cyanogen is present and in presence of
After stirring well until solution is complete, 65 cc. large volumes of air, has been based on these facts.
of nitric acid (sp. gr. 1'42) are added. When cold, The gaseous mixture is passed iiist through an
the solution is poured, with constant stirring, into a acidified standard solution of silver nitrate and then
cold mixture of 400 ce. of nitric aeid (1'42) and 1,100 through potassium hydroxide solution, which latter
cc. of water, and a couple of drops of ammonium absorbs the cyanogen with formation of equimole-
phosphate solution are added." Journal oj the cular proportions of cyanide and eyanate. From the
Society of Chemical Industry (from Trans. Amer. excess of unconsumed silver solution the amount of
Foundry-men's Assoc, 1912, 143146), Oct. 31, 1912, hydrogen cyanide is calculated, whilst in the potas-
p. 974.
'
(F. W. W.) sium hydroxide solution the cyanide is determined
and the amount of cyanogen calculated therefrom."
Detection of Chlorides in Presence of — F. H. Rhodes, j. Ind. Eng. Chem., 1912, 4, 652-
Alkali Thiocvanatks — "The method depends on 655. Totimal of the Society of Chemical Industry,
the fact that on adding a cupric salt, in the presence Oct. 15, 1912, p.' 920. (F. W. \V.)
of excess of a reducing agent and in the absence of a
free mineral acid, to a solution containing an alkali Sulphuric Anhydride Content of Portland
thiocyanate and chloride, the former is completely Cement, --"tin the island of Sylt in the North Sea
precipitated, leaving the chloride in solution. It is two cements, the one containing 1'19% and the other
carried out as follows: —
5 gm. of the thiocyanate
-
0'57% of sulphuric anhydride, were subjected, first in
—
to be examined are dissolved in 20 25 ec. cf water, their original state and secondly after increasing
30 cc. of sodium acetate solution (250 gm. of the their SO content to 2'5% by the addition of raw
:;
crystallised salt per litre) are added and, after shak- gypsum, to the following tests: (1) Cement-sand
ing, 30 cc. of a solution containing 200 gm. each of mortars, 1 2 am! 1 4, were exposed to the action of
: :
crystallised copper sulphate and iron sulphate per salt water, fresh water, and air, and their crushing
litre ; is then filtered, and the blood-red
the mixture strengths tested after 28 'lays, 1 year, 5 years, and
filtrate,which becomes preen on adding com entrated 10 years. (2) Blocks of about fcb.m. volume were
nitric acid, is tested with silver nitrate in the usual made from a mixture of 1 cement: 2 sand 3 stone :
way.' II. CORMIMBOEUF, Ami. Chvm. Analyt., 1912, rubble, and sunk in the sand in a place where they
17, 329-330 Journal of the Society of Chemical were subjected to the full force of the waves. (3)
Industry, Oct. 15, 1912, p. 920. (F. \Y. W.) Plates, 50x50x8 cm., of cement-sand mixtures,
1 2 and 1 4, were fixed on to a breakwater, where
—
: :
Action of Acids on Concrete. "Concrete they were exposed to the tidal action twice daily an.
drains have suffered more or less damage, some of to weathering in the interim. The following conclu-
them in comparatively short periods from the time of sions were arrived at: (I) The crushing strengths
their construction. In every case the destructive showed that a SO content of 2'5% was perfectly
:i
action was traced to the presence of acid in the water harmless in Portland cement hardened under sea
which reached the drains either internally or exter- water (2) the state of the concrete blocks showed
;
nally. In one case the swampy soil surrounding the that cement containing 119% of sulphuric anhydride,
drain contained iron pyrit.e, and the water became and the same cement enriched up to 25% of sulphuric
charged with sulphuric acid in the other cases the
:
anhydride, withstood the action of sea water better
air in the drains was heavily laden with hydro- than cement containing only 0'57% of sulphuric.
gen sulphide, which slowly oxidized to sulphur anhydride, whereas the last-named cement, enriched
and sulphuric aeid. Other mineral and organic up to 2"5% of sulphuric anhydride actually stood
acids, such as hydrochloric, oleic, acetic acids and better than the original cement: (3) the analysis of
— — : —— —
274 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
the plates showed that the cement with lower S0 3 easilyremoved by calcination, the test being then
content suffered greater chemical decomposition than applied to the aqueous extract of the ash, as in the
the cement with the higher proportion of sulphuric case of milk and other organic substances.'" L. —
anhydride. The increase of the S0 3 content up to ROBIN, Eighth Int. Cong. Appl. Cheni., 1912; Sect.
2'5% in the case of the SO poorer cement, as in the
:1
I., Orig. Comm., 1, 429-432. Journal of the Society
previous instance, improved the resisting qualities of of Chemical Industry, Oct. 15, 1912, p. 956.
the cement. It is therefore suggested that the (F. W. W.)
maximum allowable sulphuric anhydride content be
fixed at 2*5%. " —
Verein deutscher Portlandzement- Action of Boiling Sulphuric Acid on Plati-
Fabrikanten in Kalkberge (Mark), Tonind.-Zeit., num. — ''An investigation made in connection with
1912, S6, 1485-1487. —
Journal of the Society of the analysis of tin-antimony alloys by a method in-
Chemical Industry, Oct. 15, 1912, p. 924. (F. W. W.) volving the use of hydrofluoric and sulphuric acids.
It was found that, as previously noted by other
Sampling of Gold Bullion.— " The investiga- workers, platinum is dissolved to a considerable
tion was made to ascertain the effect upon the asssy extent by boiling concentrated sulphuric acid, 0'0038
results of variations in the sampling oi gold bullion gm. of the metal being dissolved in one hour by
of different grades dip (granulated), chip and drill
; 10 cc. of the acid. Solution of the metal was not
samples were taken from bars varying in weight from retarded when the boiling was conducted in an
300 oz. to 1,200 oz. and in composition from almost atmosphere of nitrogen or carbon dioxide but the ;
pure gold to bullions containing upwards of 411 of solvent action of the acid was practically inhibited
base metals. In the case of the simpler bullions (< .g., by sulphur dioxide when the latter was introduced
standard gold) of fineness 900 and upwards, the through a tube into the boiling acid or generated
method of sampling was found to be practically with- within the vessel by the introduction of sulphur or
out effect upon the assay results, but serious discre- carbon into the acid. The metal was not appreciably
ppneies in the latter occurred with the more complex attacked when the acid contained sufficient arsenious
alloys. Referring generally to the sampling of mis- oxide, and antimonions oxide was also found to
cellaneous gold bullion when in bars weighing over exert a decidedly protective action. The theory is
300 oz. each, it is stated that although in cases where advanced tjiat at the temperature of attack an appre-
the metal is known to be of suitable composition a ciable dissociation of sulphur trioxide into the
chip or drill sample may be regarded as satisfactory, dioxide and oxygen occurs, the latter being respon-
none but a properly prepared dip sample should be sible for the solution of the platinum that the ;
accepted in the case of an unknown bullion in : function of the added sulphur dioxide consists in
many instances -particularly with cyanide bullion repressing, by its high concentration, the dissociation
the composition of the metal is such that actual of the sulphur trioxide: and that arsenious and
assay process is interferred with, a preliminary refin- antimonius oxides act by absorbing the liberated
ing of the bullion being necessary before the gold can oxygen as fast as the latter is set free." Le R. W.
be determined with accuracy." —
F. P. Dewey, McCAY, Eighth Int. Cong. Appl. Chem., 1912; Sect.
Eighth Int. Cong. Appl. Chen'i., 1912 .Sect, I., Orig.
; I., Orig. Comm., /, 351-359. Journal of the Society
Comm., 1, 155-181. (See also this ,/., 215;
1910, of Chemical Industry, Oct, 15, 1912, p. 928.
1912, 437.) Journal of the Societi/ of Chemical (F. W. W.)
Industry, Oct. 15, 1912, p. 928. (F W. W.)
METALLURGY.
Detection of Infinitesimal Traces of Boron
by Means of Tincture of Mimosa Flowers. — Abrasion and Dust Losses in Ore Drying. —
" In the preparation of the tincture, 5gm. of mimosa " That an appreciable tonnage of the ore fed to the
flowers are heated on a water bath for 10 min. with usual form of drier, either rotary or stack, is lost, is
50 cc. of pure ethyl alcohol (95%) when cold, the solu-
;
fairly well appreciated, but we believe that only a
tion is filtered, the residue is washed with a further few mill managers know just what their drier losses
40 cc. of alcohol, and finally pressed with a spatula ; amount to.
the filtrate and washings are mixed and stored prefer- To dry an ore quickly and effectively, it must be
ably in the dark. The test is applied in the follow- brought into actual contact with hot gases or air.
—
ing manner: To a few drops of the aqueous solution The rapid drying is effected by the fact that the
hotter the gas the hungrier it is for moisture. A
under examination (slightly acidified with hydro-
chloric acid), 2 drops of the tincture are added and the consideration of the following data indicates the
mixture is evaporated just to dryness upon a water- rapidly increasing moisture-carrying capacity of air
bath. The residue (which is lemon yellow or yellow or gas, at atmospheric pressure, as the temperature
'brown in colour according as boric acid is absent or increases
present) is treated with dilute ammonia, when a
colouration varying from rose pink to blood red, Weight of Water Vapour Mixed
Temperature. with Hi. of Air.
according to the quantity of boric acid present, is Degrees F.
1
Pounds.
developed in the liquid. The test is stated to be so
sensitive as to render a blank experiment necessary ;
working with solutions containing only boric acid, 32 (111(13744
the author has detected as little as 0000071 nigin. 82 023526
of boron by the above means, and 000048 ingm. by 132 0-118548
allowing the solution to evaporate spontaneously in 182 728012
a desiccator instead of employing the water bath. 192 1-253190
The colour produced by 00012 mgm. of boron was 202 2-855070
found not to be affected by the presence of potassium 212 Infinite.
nitrate, chloride, bromide or iodide, or calcium sul-
phate, but was less pronounced when sodium phos- The types of driers usually employed are: (1)
phate was present, and was not formed at all in the stacks of brick or iron in which the ore falls over
presence of organic acids. The latter, however, are baffle-plates, against the ascending current of hot
.
In the rotary driers, it is usual to have lifting (barge ... 96-2 977 9 34 90-7 95-40
angles on the inner wall of the shell for picking up Set t led in
the ore and carrying it to a varying height, allowing chamber 177 35-30 1030 GUI 1-94
drier. That the abrasion in the drying of sulphide and 2tl4 of the total silver, or a money value of
ores is a large factor, and that as a rule the mineral 1 So of the total values in the ore.
values abrade the more readily, is generally ad- Had it not been for the precautions employed in
mitted ;but few engineers realise the extent to operating the drier and crushing no finer than 1'5 in.,
which driers act as a gravity impact crusher or the final losses would have been much heavier and
tumbling mill. If the feed to a rotary drier is care- would have necessitated treating the drier gases for
fully examined and compared to the discharge, the a recovery of the dust. The slow movements
shape of the pieces of ore will he found to he quite accounts for the reduction in lead tenor as the pro-
different, the feed being sharp-edged and rough, as ducts grow finer, while the silver values manifest
against the discharge showing many smooth sur- their finely divided form by their presence to the
faces, while at the same time the rough and sharp greatest value in the dust of the discharge gases.
edges have almost wholly disappeared. Abrasion In the case of a cyanide plant in southern Utah,
is the cause, and of course the heavier the rock the crushing gold ores dry, prior to cyanidation, the ore
greater will be the impact, and consequently the came from the mine in a very wet state. Conse-
greater the abrasion. There is, therefore, an quently four rotary driers werednven hard to effect the
economic limit to the size of the material to be drying of the tonnage necessary. The ore was crushed
dried, entirely aside from the factors of damage to to but 2 in. in size before going to the drier plant.
plates or shelves, or the danger or not thoroughly The smoke issuing from the stack was light gray in
drying through to the core, in the case of porous colour, due to the quartz, and on quiet days settled
material. On the other hand, a tine feed has the its burden over the immediately surrounding coun-
decided disadvantage that the operation produces try.
much dust, resulting in a great loss. From 5 to 6 of the tonnage was lost regularly
Such drier losses first made themselves uncomfort- in this operation and assays of the dust contained
;
ably noticeable to us in the operation of a dry milling in the gases as issuing into the atmosphere ran
plant in Utah handling lead-silver ore in which two- 0-48 oz. of gold and 348 oz. of silver, derived from an
thirds of the lead was in carbonate form, while fully ore carrying '31 oz. of gold and 015 oz. of silver.
10% of the silver values occurred as halogen com- This dtist was all liner than 150 mesh, but could
pounds. readily have been recovered and treated. The loss
The ore was crushed to about la in. in size before suffered by this drying method amounted to approxi-
entering the drier. This consisted principally of a mately 7'8l of the values in the ore.
conical shell 24 ft. long and about 45 ft. in diameter, In such operations where the drying of ores be-
rotating at S revolutions per minute. The draft was comes a necessary step, precautionary measures
just sufficient to take care of a light fire, all that, was should be taken to recover the values that would
necessary, since the ore carried hut from 5% to 8% of otherwise be lost in this operation.
moisture. Even under such conditions and alter In a more recent case where a complex zinc-
baking out the alternate lifting angles, the gases iron ore (sulphides and oxides mixed) was to be
issuing from the top of the stack showed, by their treated by a dry method, it became necessary
colour, that an appreciable quantity of tine dust was to dry the material after it had been crushed to about
.being lost. The hack connection of the drier con- 1 5 inch size, driving off a relatively small percentage
sisted of a large chamber, the Hue for which to the of moisture contained therein. This moisture would
stack was very liberal in cross section. Hence the vary from 2 to as high as 10%, although more
flow of the gases was so very slow that most of the generally it was in the neighbourhood of from 3 to
dust was permitted to settle in the chamber and in 4%.
the bottom of the smokestack. A fairly close The type of drier used was a rotary cylinder 30 ft.
approximation of the distribution of the ore after it long, 4 ft. in diameter, set at a pitch of 025 in. to
was dried is found in the following table: the foot. The inside wall of the shell was equipped
From the above it will be seen that of the total with numerous lifting angles which effected a fre-
feed to the drier, 3-8% by weight was withdrawn by quent dropping of the ore through the current of hot
the draft, corresponding to a loss of 9"3% of the lead gases, but which with a relatively dry mateiial had
276 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dee. 1912 -
the disadvantage of causing more abrasion and piled up in the back connection could not take
stirring up more dust than was necessary, with a place.
consequent loss that far exceeded all expectations. A measure of the abrasion can be had only by
It was determined that before any dust collecting comparing the screen analysis of the material when
installations were to be made, the actual loss sus- fed to the drier with the screen analysis of the same
tained in this operation was first to be measured. material as it issues therefrom. For the purpose of
As a precaution against an excess loss of the dust, producing as definite results as possible, the crude
the draft fan was operated with just enough speed to ore to be fed to the drier consisted of pieces no
carry away the gases from a very light fire. The larger than those passing through the Blake crusher,
fan was so accurately adjusted that a reduction of about 2 in. ring, while al«o everything liner than
but 15 to 20 revolutions per minute caused some of 16 mesh was eliminated. Thus a direct relationship
the furnace gas to leak through the brieksetting and isto be had, since any material liner than 16 mesh
other openings, into the mill. in the discharge from the drier must necessarily
The ore carried about 20; ;
of zinc as its principal have been produced during the passage of the ore
value. This zinc was mostly in the sulphide state, through the machine The ore as it was discharged
having some iron chemically combined with it, so from the drier was again screened over 0"25 in. and
that the individual crystals varied from a light 16 mesh screens, the same as the feed. The rela-
semi-translucent brown to quite a dark brown, tionship between these screen analyses directly
opaque in appearance. The iron associated with the measures the abrasion factor.
zinc was present primarily in three forms that is, ;
During the time of the test the stack draft,
the sulphide, specular hematite and magnetite. through the drier, carried out into the atmosphere a
The percentage of iron in the ore was about equal to small proportion of very line material, all of which
that of the zinc. As to the other values, there was was - 200 mesh, and which represented the actual
a small quantity of lead as galena carrying a few quantity not accounted for between the feed and the
ounces of silver to tbe ton. The gangue consisted discharge. On account of the fineness of this dust,
primarily of silica and some lime. Some of the this must be charged to the -200 mesh material in
mineral values were oxidized, considerably further the screen analysis of the dried ore. The results of
complicating the mixture, and there were present in this test are as follows :
appreciable quantities some earbonatss of zinc, lead, The test! was made on 2,177 pounds less 0'8% of
iron and manganese. moisture, or 2,160 pounds of dry ore, of which
Extent fniil Effect of Abrasion —
The type of drier s3-7% was- 2 inch ring + 0'25 inch mesh.
16 3% was -0"2.) inch mesh + 16 mesh.
-
the stack even before it came in contact with the loss was represented by the tine material carried
drier shell was great. Even with ore carrying from away by the draft. The dry ore discharged showed
10 to 15% of moisture, a heavy loss was experienced, as follows :
Screen Analysis on
Theincreased pitch of the drier shell would result
- 16 Mesh -Material Screen-analysis in a large) capacity, however, at the expense of the
of r»rie<l ( (re with of Total Ore
Sizings. efficiency of the machine when moisture in the ore
After Passing
Lossof 2"3 Per Cent runs high " (To he continued.)— Carl E. Dietz
Ailtletl to Float.
Drier,
Per Cent. Per Cent. and Dyke Y. Keedy, Trans. Am. Inst, of Mining
Engineers, February 12, 1912. (K. A.)
+ 0-25 in. 74 400
+
— Bauxite
-0-25 in. 16 mesh 13 300 Brick for Kiln or Furnace Lining.
11-74 - 16 L'll 1 -420 " Recent applications of bauxite as refractory
1017 - 20 + 24 1-2411 lining are :for rotary Portland cement kilns, for
(1),
8 III! - 24 + 28 0-970 which purpose a 6 inch bauxite lining has been
5 3 - 28 + 34 0-650 found superior to a lining composed of 9 inch hreclay
8 00 - 34 + 42 ii 07U blocks (2), for the hearths of lead-refining furnaces,
:
4-7S - 74 + 86 0-585 naces, for which bricks made from washed, pisolitic
9-30 - 86 + 109 1146 bauxite, containing 6-s of silica, have been found
:
3-40 -109 + 125 0-422 to compare favourably with the best magnesitebricks
;
4 40 -125 -t 150 0-538 such bauxite bricks, should, however, have a low
7 03 - 150 + 200 0-862 silica content, not exceeding 12%. In preparing
6 S6 -2(10 grit 0-838 bauxite for use as a kiln or furnace lining, the crude
2 44 -200 float 293 material is first worked to remove some of the free
silica. It is then calcined in a rotary kiln at a tem-
action might appear to be advantageous. The perature of 2,5«0°F. (1,371'C), using oil, gas, or pow-
abrading action of the drier, however, throws at dered coal for fuel. Between 2,390°F. (1,310°C.) and
least 0"3 lit t lie
, total ore into a product which •2.-50II-F. (1,371 C.) the material undergoes great
becomes practically useless from a separating point shrinkage. An analysis of washed, calcined bauxite
of view. Since in the test all the original lines had from Arkansas showed the following percentages ;
been eliminated from the feed, it is likely that the moisture, O'SS silica, 6-40
; ferric oxide, 1-43
;
;
quantity of -200 Boat in the drier discharge is more alumina. 87'30 and titanium oxide, 399. tor the
:
nearly 1% on the total ore. By weight, this is not so manufacture of bricks, the calcined material may be
serious, lint the assay of these products shows that •
bonded' with fireclay, sodium silicate, or lime,' the
the heaviest abrading effect takes place on the zinc. last-named causing the bricks to set hard in a few-
It was found that with the crude ore assaying hours like 'green silica bricks. Alter careful dry-
'
191% of zinc, the abraded or -16 mesh portion of ing, the bricks are burned in down-draught kilns at
tin- diied product as discharged from the dried a high temperature, and become hard and tough. A
showed an assay value of 2:1 4, of zinc. The -200 brick 9 21. 41, in. weighs 71, lb. and has a crushing
mesh material contained in the dry ore shows a zinc Btrength of 10,000 lb. per sq. in."— S. K. Stone,
value of 261. We have then as follows :
Journal of the Society of Chi mini/ Industry, Vol
xxxi., No. 20, Oct. 31, 1912, p. 985. (J. A. W-)
Pounds. Per Cent.
2,160(5 19-1 =412-5 lbs. of zinc in ore.
Air Filters.—" The compressed air that is to be
2,160<§ 12-3=266 lbs. of ore-abraded material.
used for aerating the sand or slime, or in agitating
266 <S 2!i-4 = 78-21bs. of zinc in abraded matei ial.
the pulp is purified by filtration before use at many
78 -2
cyanide plants. Several types of filters are used at
= 189 per cent of zinc abrasion. ;
and the uses of this material, but it was not until equivalent to 0'03% titanium is sufficient to make
he used the electric furnace in 1903 that his life-long the steel more ductile. Larger quantities are of in-
efforts were crowned with success. Since that time creased benefit, but cannot always be added because
the manufacture and consumption has grown by of the carbon content, and also because of the den-
leaps and bounds, and now t lie plant occupies a large sity imparted to the steel, which increases as the
tract of land, and railway facilities are necessary for proportion of alloy is increased, and therefore is not
the prompt handling of the large output. always desirable. In high-carbon steels this in-
As the uses of this alloy are so many and so creased density is desired and more alloy is used.
varied, it has been suggested that the more im- The addition of the alloy permits the use of a con-
portant features be discussed in a suitable paper. siderably higher carbon content without increasing
Metallurgists have practically all agreed that the the brittleness, and several railroads are now using
use of a small percentage of alloy of titanium is of as much as an equivalent of 0'10% titanium or more
benefit in both iron and steel, but some question has in securing tough, durable rails.
arisen as to the form which this alloy should take. In the crucible practice the best results have been
In a recent publication the statement has been made obtained by adding the titanium alloy to the pots
that caibon-free metals dissolve more easily than before they are removed from the furnace, giving
metals containing carbon, since the latter contain more time for washing and deoxidizing before teem-
carbides. The experience of the writer does not bear ing.
out this fact, he having found that a carbon-free Leading authorities seem to agree that titanium
alloy was not at all adapted to use in the iron and achieves its remarkable results through its strong
steel industry, and the manufacturers were obliged deoxidizing powers, together with its effects of giv-
to make a product containing from 5 to 8% carbon ing the slag formed sufficient fluidity to completely
for such use. Our early experience with an alloy of separate it from metal.
iron and titanium free from carbon, but containing The presence of titanium oxide lowers the melt-
'
5 to 10% aluminium, resulted in almost complete ing point of slags occluded in iron and steel, and im-
failure, as the aluminium when present in any parts thereto sufficient fluidity to account for their
appreciable quantity made the steel brittle, and it's elimination.'
oxide showed great tendency to remain in the steel. '
Titanium has a stronger affinity for oxygen than
Titanium alloy, as stated above, contains 5 to 8% have the well-known deoxidizers it probably gives
;
of carbon, mostly in 'the form of graphite. Analyses the slag such a consistency that it separates more
of this material made in the laboratory of Dr. C. F. completely from the molten iron.'
McKenna show the following proportions of the two '
The treatment of all steels with ferro-titanium
forms of carbon : for the purpose of purifying the metal is strongly
recommended, the presence of nitrogen to the extent
Graphite Combined of 0-02 to 0035 or 0045 in certain steels being enough
Sample No. to cause the metal to break asunder, destroying all
carbon. carbon.
elongation and reduction of area.'
141 9-601 0-147 The great affinity of oxygen and titanium is an
162 9179 0-12 absolutely sure means of completely deoxidizing the
291 7 012 013 steel, the advantages of which need no further
298 6 234 0118 elaboration. It has been proved that an ingot of
steel containing a very small quantity of titanium
From these analyses it appears that titanium acts will show practically no segregation.'
very much like silicon in that it causes a separation The cost of treatment with titanium varies from a
of carbon as graphite. Dr. G. B. Waterhouse re- minimum of 25 c. to a maximum of §2 per ton of metal
cently cited an interesting experiment to bear out -treated. It is the cheapest deoxidizer above the grade
this fact. A ladle of iron for making malleable of manganese or silicon, and a far greater purifier than
castings was treated with 10% titanium alloy suffi- any other alloy. The amount to be used is very small,
cient to equal 0-1% metallic titanium added to the and should be proportioned according to the carbon
iron. The original iron gave castings showing a content of the steel and to the amount of impurities
white fracture with a little graphite in the centre. present. To the electro-metallurgist it is a triumph
The titanium-treated metal showed a white border worthy of record that Rossi should take an element
between three-eights and one-half inch (1 to 1 -25 em.) like titanium, so long considered useless, and make
deep, and a gray centre showing the separation of out of it so wonderful a servant in the iron and steel
graphite Contrary, therefore, to the viewpoint of —
industry.'' CHARLES V. SLOCUM, a paper presented
Dr. Goldschmidt, there need be no fear of the non- at the Twentieth General Meeting of the American
solution of the electric furnace titanium alloy, as it Electrochemical Society, in Toronto, Canada.
does not contain more than the merest fraction of (K. A.)
the unreadily soluble carbide.
The density of a ferro-alloy to be used as ferro- Step-Bearing for Slime Agitator. — "Air-
titanium has an important bearing on its agitation for the treatment of slime is being widely
incorporation in the molten bath. Careful determi- adopted in the more recently constructed cyanide
nations made on the electric furnace product con- plants, but it would not always be good policy for an
taining both 10 to 15% titanium show a density of old plant equipped with mechanical agitators to
6'20 to 6'40. The metallotherniically produced alloy make such a radical change in the treatment as the
shows a density of between 6'20 to 6-30. The introduction of air-agitation would require. More-
difference between the densities of the two alloys is over, the mechanical agitator still has many advo-
therefore hardly noticeable. cates among cyanide operators, and it will probably
The alloy is best added to the ladle of steel after never be entirely supplanted by other methods.
tapping from the furnace and before the slag begins There is no doubt that it is an effective form of slime
to run. For open-hearth steel the supply should be agitator. The chief complaint has been the high
placed convenient to the ladle and shovelled in pre- power-consumption due to the friction in the sub-
cisely as so much coal. For soft steel an addition merged step-bearing and the excessive wear in the
Dec. 1912 Notircs "ml Abstracts: Metallurgy. 279.
bearing itself, necessitating constant repairs and matte can be produced within of the required
1
metals. This alloy was found to possess not only Cross bar. Rolled bar.
the more valuable properties of nickel, but other Nickel 68-90 67'55
desirable properties in addition, that would ensure a (upper 26-55 26'25
wide usefulness, and owing to the simple method of Iron 3 30 3 25
produotion, was obtainable at about one-third the On looking through the literature of the subject,
cost of nickel. The alloy consists primarily of nickel no very recent analyses were found. Analyses of
and copper in the proportion of three parts of nickel cast, rolled and forged metal were made at the
to one part of copper, this being the proportion in laboratory of the Board of Water Supply, New York
which the two metals are found together in nature City, during the latter half of 1911.
in the great deposits of nickel ore at Copper Cliff in For such material as Monel metal, which is not a
Canada. pure alloy, the feature of these analyses is the re-
Nickel and copper are associated in enormous markable approach to uniformity in composition.
pyribotite deposits in the Sudbury district of On- If compared with the earlier published analyses, it
tario, Canada. In 1905-6 the International Nickel would appear that the manufacturers have perfected
Co. considering no doubt, that for many purposes
.
the methods of reduction from ore and matte to such
there was no need to separate the amicable metals a degree as nearly to control the composition. In
nickel and copper, took up the problem of reducing the present process of manufacture, the claim is
them together and obtaining an alloy of the two made that the physical properties of Monel metal
metals in the proportions in which they occur in the are not materially affected within the limits of vari-
ore. The method adopted consists merely in elimi- ation in which the constituents occur. If this is
nating the impurities, except a* small percentage of true, a closer uniformity in the results of physical
reduced iron and a minor quantity of other sub- tests must be looked for from improvements in the
stances which remain with the alloy. heat treatment. As a matter of fact, the effect of
Process of Manufacture, —
The ore from the mines variation in the copper-nickel ratio, as well as the
is Hist reduced to a matte, which is blown until the influences of the presence of varying amounts of
iron is nearly eliminated, the sulphur is removed by carbon, iron, silicon and manganese have not hither-
roasting, and the combined oxides remaining are to been studied, and are, therefore, not yet under-
reduced to metal. Thegeneial method of production stood. A comparison of the chemical analyses with
includes roasting the ore in heaps, followed by the physical tests made at the laboratory affords
smelting in a blast furnace, and further enriching in some deductions.
a converter, which yields a high grade matte con- Nickel-t '"///" r Ratio.—On looking over the results
taining about sir nickel and copper, from 5% iron, -
of physical tests, it would seem that the variations
ami tlie rest sulphur. By careful attention to the found bear little relation to the chemical composi-
furnace charge, it now is claimed that a Bessemer tion. Specimens of the cast metal in which the
2S0 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dee. 1912
nickel-copper ratio was about tin 1 same, and other Brown presents much data to prove that copper-
constituents in close agreement, gave a considerable nickel alloys form, as far as conversion is con-
difference in strength and yield point. For example, cerned, one homogeneous metal. In conversion,
one specimen showed an ultimate strength of 69,100, copper and nickel act together, presenting the same
and elastic limit 38,450, with a nickel-copper ratio curious resistance to oxidation irr the converter. This
of 08'49-27'02, while another specimen with a nickel- may be in some way connected with the resistance
copper ratio of 6810-27 '04 and other constituents of the finished Monel metal to oxidation and corro-
nearly identical, gave an ultimate strength of sion. These facts seem to suggest the idea that the
73,750, and elastic limit 44,550. The difference of nretal is an entity by itself.
10% in ultimate strength and 15% in elastic limit As the component metals have never been separ-
here is plainly due to some other causes than com- ated from each other, the particles of each seem to
position. be in more intimate contact than can be attained by
Carbon. — In accordance with previous examina- any synthetic method of manufacture. It is claimed
tions of this material, only the total carbon was de- that melting the constituent metals together has
termined samples submitted.
in the With respect produced no alloy having the same physical pro-
to the influence of this element, tests gave ultimate perties as the Monel metal obtained direct from the
strength 8.3,250, yield 51,250, and carbon 0'28. An- matte. The metal must therefore owe some of its
other test showed ultimate strength 86,200, yield remarkable properties to the grouping of its con-
58.250 and carbon 0'44, with other chemical con- stituents. Small quantities of foreign substances
stituents agreeing closely. Another representing which ordinarily affect the structure of alloys in
only a different section from the same rod, gave general may be of negligible effects in an alloy of
ultimate strength 85,500, yield 51,300, with carbon this type.
II v>7. The ultimate strength and yield in these In certain of its chemical as well as physical pro-
three cases appear to follow in some measure the perties, Monel metal closely resembles nickel. It is
carbon content. In future study of Monel metal, it slowly dissolved by hydrochloric acid and by sul-
would be well to ascertain the carbon relations, for phuric acid, but dissolves rapidly in nitric acid with
unless it is known in what form the carbon exists in the evolution of nitric oxide. It is apparently un-
the metal (whether free or combined, arrd in what affected by alkalies and shows the same stability as
ratio) it is fruitless to attempt deductions. nickel in the presence of other corrosive chemicals.
— Like both nickel and iron, Monel metal is magnetic,
Silicon and Manganese In the narrow limits of
variation in which these metals were found, no indi- a property which it loses above a certain tempera-
cation was observed of any material effect on physi-
ture. Like nickel and iron, it absorbs carbon, and
like steel, its physical properties are profoundly in-
cal properties. Manganese is an advantage as a
fluenced, not only by the percentage of carbon, but
deoxidiser, and renders harmless any sulphur that
the form in which it exists in the metal.
might be present, forming manganese sulphide.
In the examination of Moirel metal at the labora-
The results of the analyses in general show that
tory, the carbon present was observed in some
the chemical composition alone is an insufficient
samples in the free form of graphite, and in a smaller
guide to the strength or other physical properties of
Monel metal, which depend, as in steel, so largely degree as combined carbon, the differential relations
upon other influences, and especially heat treatment. apparently depending as in iron on the rate of cool-
Much light on these could be obtained from investi- ing."— (To /" concluded.) Richard H. Gainks,
gation with the microscope. A metallographic ex- Mining Science (reprinted from the Journal of In-
dustrial mid Engineering Chemistry), Sept. 19, 1912,
amination of the structure of the various specimens
p. 180. (R. A.)
under test would be of great assistance in revealing
segregation, the form in which the carbon is present Artificial Ammonia.--" This is art account of
and other facts having an important bearing on the the successful experiments of Professor Haber and
physical and chemical constitution of the metal. the Badische Fabrik to synthesise ammonia from its
While the laws governing the nickel-copper alloys elements on a commercial scale, and thus forms a
are not thoroughly understood, some progress Iras complement to the Norwegian work on artificial
been made in this study. There are no chemical —
nitrates made from the air both subserving the re-
compounds of copper and nickel, neither is there any quirements of agriculture, which makes demands for
eutectic mixture. The metals unite in all propor- combined nitrogen greater than all other industries
tions without any separatiorr on cooling. Hence, it put together. No increase in ammonia from coal
is inferred that the two metals form solid solutions can be expected, at all commensurate with the
or mixed crystals in all proportions. development of agriculture, so that the only source
Working with pure metals, Hiorns found the of nitrogenous fertilisers will eventually be the
nickel dissolves in copper up to a certain percentage nitrogen of the air. There is, of course, the third
forming homogeneous solid solutions, and, on the process of synthesising nitrides or cyanamides (e.g.
other hand, taking nickel as the solvent, copper dis- '
nitrolim ') which generate ammonia by action of
solves in nickel, forming homogeneous solid solu- —
steam which have been dealt with elsewhere.
tions up to a certain limit. These two solutions are N
The affinity of a for H, under ordinary circum-
miscible in all proportions. These facts have a stances is almost nil. The research began with the
direct bearing on observations made by David H. purely scientific development of the determination
Brown, metallurgist of the Canadian Copper Co., of the equilibrium between N.,, II., arid NH
3 in 1904
after five years' study of copper matte and copper- (Haber and van Oordt). This showed that at L000°C
nickel matte in the Bessemer converter, and in the about 120 parts of ammonia might be expected to be
manufacture of Monel metal. He submits the fol- forrrreil from a million parts of a nitrogen-hydrogen
lowing conclusions : mixture when in contact with 'reduced iron' as
1. Nickel-copper alloys act in the matte-blow catalyst. The equilibrium was still more unfavour-
like one metal. able at lower temperatures or with the use of other
2. Nickel-copper alloys follow during the matte- catalysts, such as nickel or manganese. The effect
blow exactly the same laws that govern the behaviour of working under high pressures was first tried on
of copper alone. theoretical grounds by Nernst and Jost, but the
—
Dee. 1912 Notices and Abstract* Metallurgy. 281
yield of ammonia was still extremely low. Never- mill water throughout the whole operation. In older
theless, with the financial and technical aid of the to prevent this it is necessary to take the slimes out
Badische Pabrik, Habershowed that by a cycle of of the pulp before it has been much diluted. Then
operations which constantly removed the ammonia the slimes can be sent in a thick condition- to the
as it was formed, the synthesis became commercially -lime device- with little or no settlement being
possible. Change of temperature under high pres- necessary. Much of the preventable losses in milling
sure constituted the cycle required. The 2 2 N -H occur through the hiss of lines and slums in the tail
mixture circulates through the hot vessel containing products from machines that never were intended to
the catalyst, then into a very cold condenser and treat such line sizes of feeds. Poor classification is
—
then via a pump with a feed lor fresh gas back to — largely the cause of this, and | r classification is
the hot chamber, the waste heat of the condenser being sure to result as long as the slimes are allowed to go
employed to pre-heat the fresh gas. The yield was into the classifier along wfth the coarser si/es.
constantly improved by increasing the working pres- Slimes can not e classified except in special devices
I
—
sure when new problems arose ii nnection with of large ana in which quiet currents -ire possible.
getting materials to stand such conditions as 200 Such conditions can not be obtained in ordinary clas-
atmospheres at a red heat. Koi details of the suc- sifiers;at least in those adapted to the handling of
cessful apparatus see Haber (Z. C. Elektrochemie, the coarser feeds. There is certain to be an entrap-
1910, ]'. 244, and British Patent 17951 09). Osmium ment in the downward current along with the coarser
was found to he a much
better catalyst, than iron, particles of at least 10% of the fines in the best down
although platinum is inert, but as there is only about ward-discharging classifiers when treating the ton-
200 Hi-, of osmium in the wot Id's stock, it was out of nages thai have to be handled in actual mill work.
the question. Uranium was also satisfactory in the Often it is as high as l.V oi 'Jli .
absence of water, giving a 10' yield at 100 atmos- A notable feature i- the extension of the field of
pheres and. 500°C. The most stiiking difficulty in crushing that is being assigned to the tube mill.
the technical development of the process was the First coming into prominence in cyanide plants,
fait chat steel becomes decarbonised and thus weak- where it was forced into being a slimer, it has gra-
ened by the hot hydrogen, besides being quite dually been able to elbow its way into the crushing
pervious to the gas naturally no details of the
:
of middling products as well as the tine crushing ol
Fabrik's successful construction are published. ores where the ore minerals are sulphides quite easily
finally, the iron catalyst was much improved by slimed. At Miami, Ariz., where a disseminated
eliminating certain elements which 'poison' the re- copper ore is being treated and sliming must be at a
action even when present in minute traces such as;
minimum, and also in the Lake Superior copper
sulphur, phosphorus, boron, and the reducible (and country, where the small particles of metallic copper
fusible) metals. On the other hand, traces of certain must not be flattened so that they will be slow to
metal oxides and alkalis are very beneficial, especial- settle even in table and vanner currents, the lube
ly if properly distributed by melting up with iron mill is showing its worth." Mining and Engineer
oxide at a very high temperature and then reducing ing World, Oct. 1912, p. 701. (A. R.)
in hydrogen. Tungsten and molybdenum are giving
promising results. Finally, it may be mentioned —
LIME in Cyaniding. "A series of experiments
that the value of the world's combined nitrogen out- were made by A. U. Myers at this plant to deter-
put (ammonium sulphate and saltpetre) last yearwas mine the effect both as to extraction and cyanide
about £40,000,000."— Prop F. Bernsthen (Popular consumption by using different quantities ol lime.
lecture before Congress of Applied Chemistry at The first four experiments started with (1) One
:
New York). (J. M.) pound lime per ton solution. (2) One and one-half
pounds lime per ton solution. (3) Two pounds lime
Tendencies in Milling Practice.— "There are per ton solution. (4) Two and one-half pounds lime
two strong tendencies to be noted in the recent per ton solution. All were given 36-hr. agitation in
advancements in milling practice. The first is to in- small cones and no lime was added to the tests.
crease the capacity and the cheapness of the opera- It was noted that up to 2 lb. of lime, the total ex-
tion by making a rough concentration at first and traction increased, and the cyanide consumption
then Cleaning the rough concentrates on more deli- decreased with the increased quantity of lime, and
cate machines which have to lie watched more that in every- case all the lime had been neutralised
closely. Upon the cleaner machines the best, of the at the end of the 36-hr. agitation also that in the
;
inillmen are employed while on the rougher machines first three tests reprecipitaion had taken place after
the younger and less skilled labour can be employed the protective alkalinity bad been destroyed, while
and taught the business. Large tonnages can be in the fourth test there was a slight increase, due,
worked on these toughing machines, for it is only probably, to the fact that while the protective alka-
necessary that they give a clean tailing; the grade linity hail been destroyed, enough time had not
of the concentrates is of minor importance. While elapsed to allow for reprecipitation. All reprecipit-
this has been a tendency in the milling practice of ation was of gold.
the Lake Superior district for several years it re- A second series of experiments was made in which
ceived its chief impetus from its adoption in the it was attempted to keep the solution at : (1) One
mill- of the Utah Copper Co. and the co-related com- pound lime per ton solution. (2) One and one-half
panies. It is the real advance in milling that the pounds lime per ton solution. (3) Two and two-
mining industry owes to them and it should be more tenths pounds lime per ton solution, (-t) A saturated
generally recognized. The great advantage of the solution. This result was not, obtained, although a
roughing system is the feeding of a richer head to large excess of lime was added. In all these latei
the cleaners so that a wider concentrate and a pro- experiments the cyanide consumption remained
portionately narrower middling brand is obtained. about the same and' the total extraction increased
Another tendency \3 to throw the different pro- with the greater protective alkalinity.
ducts into the department to which they belong as Many apparent contradictions in the above will be
soon after crushing as possible. No longer are the found, for instance, in the statement that the total
slimes in the best mills allowed to contaminate the extraction increased on using more lime, while the
—
282 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
highest results shown are after 24-lir. agitation with One advantage in using lime in the form of an
1A lb. lime, but in this ease only the total extraction emulsion i~, that unburned lime and other admix-
after 36-hr. agitation was considered. tures which the poorer grades of lime may contain
Also comparing the lirst and second -eries the are kept out of the plant. However, as the total
question naturally arises whether reprecipitation amount of lime added to an ore rarely exceeds 1%,
was ilue to lack ot protective alkalinity, or excessive this is of minor importance." —
C E. RHODES, En-
aeration, or both. Also it is possible in some in- gineering and Mining Journal, Aug. 10, 1912, p.
stances that this apparent reprecipitation might be 251. (H.A.W.)
ilue to error in sampling or assaying. With this ore
probably only 24 to 30 hours' agitation is necessary Experiments on the Complete Precipitation
and a series of tests, taking samples at 6-hr. inter- of Gold. —
" In order to obtain the complete preci-
vals, might show much better comparative results.
pitation of gold, it is best to use a solution, freed
•">
At this plant the most efficient protective alkalin- from nitric acid, aqua regia, and silver. If the metal
ity seeing to be about 2 lb. CaO per ton, and our he then decomposed in a concentrated solution of
solutions titrate between IS lb. and 2 21b. Lime green vitro] at ordinary temperatures, and finally
cor sumption here is very high, varying from 131b. melted with borax and saltpetre, a pure gold legnlus
'to 17 lb. per ton of ore treated. will he obtained. The writer describes other methods
It has been claimed by some that a high alkalinity of precipitating perchloride of gold, such as treating
is liable to cause a slight falling off in the gold ex- it with an acid solution of sulphate of ammonia, or
traction, but the results on this particular ore do with oxalic acid, when the gold i> separated in a
nut hear out the claim spongy form. It may be separated with the addition
to the solution of oxalate of potash, and the process
Effect of Lime on Zinc Consumption. —
Another
is hastened if heat be applied. With the same object
point which may be of interest is the effect of pro-
tective alkalinity on precipitation ami zinc consump- the writer also tested glycerine (C .H H.) 300 CC. of
: :i
;
has been discontinued, and lime is now added to the lining for cement kilns, and second as a lining for
ore before going to the batteries. lead refining furnaces.
— —
Dec. 1912 Notices and Abstracts Minin . 283
The hearth of the l'ead furnace referred to, which Cumberland. In an appendix there is a report by J.
is10 ft. in dimensions, is lined on the bottom
X 13 ft. M. Beattieon the effect produced on the lung- by
by 9 in. sij bauxite brick, set on end.
. The sides of the inhalation of coal dust, powdered shale, and
the furnace are lined with a single course of 9 in. stone dust rich in silica. The experiments at Altofts
banxite brick, laid with ends against the walls, indicated that treatment of the roads in the mines
Pig lead, containing copper, antimony, and occa- with an incombustible dust, such as stone dust,
sionally arsenic and other metals in small quantities, might prove a means of preventing or limiting coal
is charged into the hearth of the refining smelter dust explosions, and this expedient has been adopted
and melted by the action of hot gases from above. in some mines and is in course of adoption in others.
The temperature of the furnace is from 1300° to The Committee state that before any final recom-
1 4i ii ]•'.,
i and outside of the part it plays in melting mendation can be made, further experiments are
the flaxes, bear no relation to the destruction of the needed, especially on the following points: — (1)
brick, as they are sufficiently refractory tc withstand Whether a flame of coal dust that hi- attained lull
much higher temperatures. It is purely a case of explosive violence in a mine will be extinguished on
chemical action on the brick leaching a region where stone dust has been strewn
During the process of refining, a scum rises to the over the coal dust (2) whether an explosion of lire-
:
surface of the molten lead, and this scum contains damp would not be 'extended' by a thin layer of
most of the impurities which the refining is designed coal dust deposited on stone dust: (3) whether the
to remove. It consists largely of litharge or yellow presence of an incombustible dust might increase the
oxide of lead, PbO, copper oxide, CuO, and anti- danger of a gas explosion, as suggested by Sir F.
mony oxide, Sb.,0,. with possibly oilier oxide- in Abel. It i- concluded, however, that even in the
much smaller amounts. present incomplete state of knowledge as to the
Wherever the brick- arc exposed to this scum, c\,ct action of inert dust, the use of incombustible
particularly around the doors where there is a larger dust should be taken into consideration as a means
supply of oxygen, and accordingly litharge is more of obviating danger in the working and transporting
easily formed, and along the level of this scum on of coal on dry and dusty roads. With regard to the
the walls, they are badly eaten away, and have to effect on health of such dusts, the experiments con-
be taken out after several weeks' service, ami ducted by J. M. Beattie confirm the view of Haldane
generally have to be patched after a week has that dust of slate or shale or other argillaceous sub-
pissed. Consequently the kiln plant loses much stances is not dangerous, but all kinds of dust con-
time for repairs which lowers its output consider- taining finely powdered crystalline silica {e.g., the
ably. dust from grinding wheels used in the cutlery in-
The cutting away of the brick is explained as dustry) are apt to produce fibrosis of the lung, a
follows Multiple silicates are formed between the
: condition which renders the lung very subject to
oxides of the metals in the scum and the silicates of tubercular infection." Journal oj the Society of
alumina and free silica in the brick, and these are Chemical Industry (from First Report to the .Secre-
very fusible because lead oxide, PbO, which is one tary of State for the Home Department), Oct. 31,
of the most fusible of the oxides, comprises the 1912), p. 974. (F. W". W.)
greater part of the base or element of the RO
silicate. But there are also several other oxides in Foot-Wall Shafts in Lake Supkp.ioi; Coppee
the base of the silicate, and it is quite well under-
Mines. — " This subject may be approached from two
stood that multiple are more fusible than single related standpoints— of economy and of
closely
silicates.
safety. 1 say related standpoints, for in safety from
Hence, as very fusible silicates are formed between
interruption to regular operation lies also economy.
the scum and the fire brick, the bricks are rapidly
It was mainly from the first standpoint that the
decomposed and eaten away. It was observed that writer became interested in the subject, and the aim
a porous brick wore out faster than a dense brick,
of this paper is principally to call n Mention to an un-
also that the scum penetrated along the joints for
economic practice, and incidently to evoke discussion
several inches beyond the exposed face of the brick.
on some other phases of mine development.
This was probably due to the fact that the raw lire
In the Lake Superior copper district, the increase
<day which was used in making the joints is much in the size of mining units and improvements in
more soluble in the scum than the burnt clay. mining methods, are constantly tending to reduce
Accordingly, great care should be taken in laying up costs. Methods in vogue to-day may be materially
the brick to see that the joints are as tight as Any
modified, if not discarded, some years hence.
possible.
conclusions based on figures of to day should, there-
Whereas the scum was composed of highly basic fore, be scrutinized with reference to possible future
oxides, it was considered reasonable to substitute
improvements. It is also true that no policy id"
a basic lining for the fire brick lining, and accord- administration nor system of milling will lit all min-
ingly a lining of bauxite was put in wherever the
ing properties alike, or necessarily the same mining
brick was exposed to the slag. The result was that property during all periods of its activity.
the bauxite brick lasted from five to six times as
Without pretending to give figures taken actually
long as the firebrick lining." Mining and En gin- from cost sheets, I purpose to assume conditions,
eering World (Chicago), p. 341, August 24, 1912. practices and costs with intent to present a fair
(W. A. C.) statement of the case. You may substitute any
other factors for any mine to suit conditions different
MINING. from those assumed by me.
Explosions in Minis Committee.
" The report — In accordance with time-honoured practice, -hafts
contains a brief review of recent work on the effects have usually been sunk directly in the lode to be
-of coal dust in coal-mine explosions descriptions of ; mined, because in and from such shafts a thorough
the experimental distillation at Altofts and some of examination of the lode is possible in the quickest
the results obtained there (Journal of tlie Society of and most economical way. and the average richness
Chemical Industry, 1909, S74, 1024) and a descrip- : and physical condition of the ground are directly
tion of the new experimental station at Eskmeals, ascertainable. Where, however, these considerations
I
284 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
are not of paramount importance, as for example lien lias shown that a hoist operating a ton skip
possibly on a property where one or more shafts are from a depth, I believe of 1,600 ft., can, if required,
already down, and others are to be sunk to increase actually hoist at the rate of 1,800 tons per sh'ft.
production from the same lode, or where, by diamond From official reports, 1 find that pioduction in this
drill exploration or otherwise, the lode is known to district in recent years in mines using skips of a
be rich in the neighbourhood of the proposed shaft capacity up to 6 tons, has varied from 600 tons to
or shafts, we may well consider an alternative to a 7ni> tons, and in one case has reached about 1,000
practice that ties up in shaft pillars a considerable tons per shaft. For purposes of our computation, let
amount of values during the life of t lie mine. More- us assume 800 tons per day as an average product,
over where the dip of the hide is variable, as is often and the length of the drifts at sun ft. on eaeh side of
the case, or when' the average dip is not known in the shaft. You will readily see that this latter factor
advance, the exploratory function of the lode shaft is elastic, for you ran inn ease your tonnage at will
is at least curtailed, if not altogether lost, and while by lengthening your drifts, and will not thereby
the dip of the shaft can eventually he readjusted to shorten the time of extraction to the ultimate depth
the actual dip of the lode, a variable dip in the shaft of any one shaft. In other words the length of the
is, from an operating point of view at least, a detri- drifts is, under an economic tramming system, quite
ment, if not a menace. immaterial, except insofar as it affects the distance
A shaft sunk in and within the limits of the vein apart of the shafts that is, the number of shafts that
or lode, must be supported on at least three sides, to may be required for any particular mine. Our im-
its ultimate depth, by an envelope of lode-rock cap- mediate consideration is the probable costliness of
able of sustaining not only its own weight, but also one lode shall.
the pressure induced in the overlying rock by the I have in mind one mine where if we allow 1,000
removal of its support under a large area. Under ft. beyond each of the ml shafts, the average tram-
i
one system of mining supporting pillars are leftfrom ming distance on each side of the shafts is 075 ft.
point to point in the levels or slopes, if possible only The ave.age annual rate of advance for the shafts
where the rock is not worth extracting : under for several years has been about 175 ft., which, I
another system, good rock removed is replaced by a suppose, represents about the annual rate of vertical
lilling of waste rock, but even if the filling be com- extraction in the mine.
plete, a settling of at least 10'\ of the filled area has we allow 1,600 ft. of drifts per level to a shaft in
I
either case movements in the shaft are apt to cause pillars, 160,000 cu. ft. total lode contents, 2,240,000
;
delay and expense, if indeed the shaft be not ulti- cu. ft. At 12 cu. ft. per ton, this is equivalent to
mately wrecked. 1 need not cite examples of each 186,61)7 tons, of which saj tin ,is merchantable rock,
kind from our immediate neighbourhood. or 1 12,ooo tons. At 800 tons per day, this would last
What then are adequate shaft pillars will doubt- 140 days and would be equal to an extraction of ft. I
less depend iii each case much upon the dip of the in depth along the edge of our mineral block in 1 '4
lode, the inherent strength of the rock, and the days, or 222 ft. in a year of 310 days.
absence of 'slips' or joint-planes. The size of the At this rate the life of a shaft 5,000ft. deep would
pillars can hardly be stated in terms of an equation. be 22 years. Taking the example quoted in a pre-
Based on local practice, a minimum average width of ceding paragraph and adjusting the lode area to the
oil ft. in the pillars lor a shaft intended for a depth different length of drifts, the necessary rate of ver-
of 5,000 tt seems small enough, and a mine manager
.. tical extraction would be (675 : 800= 175) 148 ft.
:
would run little risk of criticism if the wid th were per year, which is about two-thirds of the depth
even greater. If the dimensions of the shaft -be required under the figures assumed above. Ibis
assumed :is III 20 ft., and the lode be 15 ft. thick, would make the life of this mine by comparison,
the block of lode material surrounding the shaft will about MM years.
then have 120 ft., or l,800sq. ft. of area Its- the
!•">
Having assumed certain conditions under which
shaft opening in 20 ft.), or 1,6011 sq. ft. net.
i We the life of a shaft 5,000 ft. deep would be 22 years,
may negleet the small deduction for the shaft plant it now remains for us to calcinate the value of the
ami for drifts or cross-cutsthrough the pillar at each mineral in the shaft pillars, and the probable profit
level, for there are few lodes in this district that will dormant in them. The average price of copper for a
not average more than 15 ft. in thickness. period of thirty years past has been computed, 1
Let us now determine the probable life of the believe at 14 els. Several of our local mines work-
better class of Lake Superior copper mines, by con- ing in so called amygdaloidal deposits, have been
sidering the possible annual extraction; and here and are producing copper at juices between 7A cts,
again we may note that much larger daily tonnages and 10 cts. a lb. Companies that have facilities to
are likely to l.e hoisted in the future than have been extract and treat the greater tonnages figured in the
hoisted m the past —
by companies that own large foregoing computations, it is fair to assume, could
acreages, and have at their command ample stamp- easily produce copper at 9 cts., or at a profit of 5 cts.
ing facilities and other adjuncts, which smaller com- per Hi. mi the average price above quoted. For con-
panies cannot afford, or do not feel warranted in venience, let us assume 20 lbs. of refined copper re-
providing. covered per ton of rock stamped. These figures are
Shafts in the exploratory period are, for obvious exceeded by a goodly number of our best mines, one
reasons, usually equipped with small hoists of capa- of them over 20 years old and working at a depth of
city limited both as to depth and tonnage. As probably 3,500 ft., but it is likely that in most of
openings in the lode are extended and permit of our mines this average may not prevail to a depth of
larger production, heavier hoists with larger drums 5. nun ft. The pillars in 5,000 ft. of shaft that have
an- installed, so that the rate of extraction can a net area of 1,600 sq. ft. will thus contain 8,000,000
easily be increased to the limits imposed by the other en. ft., 666.667 tons of rock, which at the average
parts of the system at least to within a compara-
: per cent of merchantable rock in the lode .should
tively short lime of the exhaustion of the mine. Mr. yield 400,000 tons of rock containing S, 000,000 lbs.
— ——
of copper. 'I'll i-. represents a clear profit of 8400,000, The British South African Explosives Co. (Moddcr-
and this rock, if the shaft were in the foot fall, could fontein) The average number of employees during
be extracted mure cheaply than any other rock in the year was 255 whites and 039 coloured. The
the mine, and much more cheaply than shaft pillars quantity of explosives manufactured during the year
ran ever be extracted under the most favourable con- a unted to 256,627 cases the quantity issued was
;
ditions. However confident we may be that these 264,081 cases. (2) ICynoch, I. til. (Umbogintwini),
values will all he eventually recovered, we are still employed 239 whites and 810 coloured manufac- ;
facing the enormous loss entailed by tying up tured 208,627 cases of explosives, and issued 206,491
$400,000, for 20 years. One dollar a year for each oi cases, of which 204,313 went to the Rand, 2,162
20 successive years with interest at 3% compounded, to places in Natal, G to the Cape, and lo to the
will amount to §27 '67. Each lode for 20 successive (•range Free State. (3) Gape Explosives Works
years, there is wasted in each lode shaft §20,000 of (Somerset West), employed 397 whites and 575
latent profit, so to speak, or in 20 years a little more coloured manufactured 427,538 cases of explosives,
;
than §153,000. If by any mishap we should also lose and issued 427,541 cases, of which 8,065 were ex-
our shaft pillars, we shall have sustained a total loss ported to Australia, and 5,751 to Rhodesia. This is
of one-half a million dollars. the only factory which makes its own collodion
At first glance it may be thought that a shaft in cotton.
the foot wall will he more costly than one in the Storage. The number of licensed mine magazines
lode, by reason of the crosscut necessary at each of all kinds in use during 1911 were Transvaal 231, : —
level. If the shaft, is hicated about 50 or GO ft. from Natal 24, Orange Free State 16, Cape 150.
the lode, it will probably not be endangered by the Imports of Explosives into tin- Transvaal.
blasting in the lode. At the end of the GO ft. of
crosscut economical mining may begin at once, in From From From
two directions, whereas with shaft pillars extending Oversea. Cape. Natal.
Total.
50 ft. from the ends of the shaft, at least 100 ft. of
drifting is necessary before leaching those parts of
the lode that can be similarly mined. It is true on Blasting
the other hand that rock extracted in the drifts may cartridges
pay the whole or at least a part of the cost of drift- (cases) ... 4 290,724 •-'05,522 496,250
ing. In may also be true that the foot wall rock Deton a
may be harder and more costly to mine than the tors. Nos.
lode rock, and this is one of the few economic dis- G,and 6D
advantages of foot-wall shafts. (number) 26,619,500 — —
It has been suggested to me by a prominent Detona-
Houghton engineer, that in a mine where the rock tors, Nos
appears to be particularly under stress, another 8 and 8D
-advantage in a foot-wall shaft would lie in the fact (number) 6,140,100 — — •
33,372,569
that as soon as the lode matter is extracted opposite I > o n a-
e t
the shaft, the stresses in the rock next to the shaft tors Elec-
are immediately relieved, and there will result a tric (num-
greater stability in the shaft on this account. ber) 612,969 — —
In any event, if the shaft is in the foot-wall, it Safety fuse
(c.i ses of
will be more exempt from those disasters that some-
times overtake mines even where the greatest fore- 500 coils) 17,221 — — 17,221
sight has been exercised. "With the shaft intact,
safe egress for the miners that can reach the shaft is The safety fuse came from the United Kingdom
assured, and ingress to any level in the mine can
(10,904), Germany (4,974), and Belgium (1,343).
speedily be obtained. With a shaft out of commission The imports into Natal were Gelignite 560 : cases,
by reason of earth stress, production is interrupted, Dynamite I 220 cases. Permitted explosives 2,8S0
cost of production are raised, and shaft repairs made Blasting powder 533 cases or barrels (chiefly com-
necessary at considerable cost. For these several pressed cartridges), Detonators (No. 3A), 59.000,
reasons will not the physical advantages of a foot-
Detonators (No. 6) 280,000, Detonators (electric)
wall shaft fairly outweigh the slight probable dis- 470,000.
advantages and miscellaneous extra costs, even if No data of a similar nature are available for the
we disregard entirely the enormous capital locked Orange Free State or the Cape.
up in shaft pillars ? I have believed in the theory Samples tested. 85 samples of safety fuse and 208
<jf foot-wall shafts for several years, and first put in
of explosives, etc., were tested at Johannesburg, and
practice at the King Philip mine in 190G, and later
277 samples of explosives were tested at the Govern-
Winona and Obijway. I am
free to say that at the
ment Laboratory at Durban. These figures do not
latter location, the increase in the thickness of the include the hundreds of cartridges examined for
foot-wall bed, and the unexpected flattening in the exudation during the year. The samples of explo-
dip, have contributed to make the crosscuts from one sives tested atCapetown and Port Elizabeth (includ-
-of the shafts a good deal longer than was antici-
ing exudation tests) numbered 126, which all passed
pated ; but, on the other hand, each shaft has been with the exception of one doubtful case. 1,065
>unk nearly 2,0(10 ft., of which only about 200 ft.
samples of safety fuse were tested, of which 28 were re-
has required timber in one shaft, and 300 ft. in the jected. (Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry,
—
other." L. L. Hubbard, Lake Superior Mining
1912, 46." Journal of the Society of Chemical In-
Institute Minimi and Engineering World, Sept. 28,
;
dustry, Vol. xxxi., No. 20. p. 1,009,' Oct. 31, 1912.
1912, p. 571. (A. R.) (P. YV. W.)
"In the course of prospecting work that I have able to reconstitute it as it must have originally
had carried out I have had occasion to verify the appeared. It is therefore certain that formerly the
enormous extent of ancient workings. These are to iron industry flourished side by side with the gold
lie met with almost everywhere, in all the valleys industry. And probably all the tools required for
and even very often on the sides as well as on the the latter were made in the district.'
summits of the hills.' '
The remains of ancient dwellings, different from
'
In the alluvial deposits these ancient workings the present katir dwellings, are frequently met
consist of shafts sunk to the bed-rock, or as far as with, but up to the present I have met with no
the level where water was encountered in these
; extensive ruins like those of the Zimbabye (Zimbave)
cases the paywash lying above the water level was or those of Northern Mashonaland with their bizarre
washed and the rest was abandoned.' ornamentations. The ruins are of two kinds those —
•
Theshafts are almost all of a cylindrical shape, whose builders I am unable to identify,* and those
often widening out towards the bottom. In many which are undoubtedly of Portuguese origin.'
localities, where the shafts were put down close to- '
These latter consist mostly of ruins where the
gether, the pillars of ground which divided one from line of the walls that were formerly roofed in and
the other were removed and washed, and the spaces formed the dwelling house, can be easily traced.
they had occupied were tilled in with large stones, Remains of this description are to be met with here,
so well placed that several of these fillings-in remain and especially in the vicinity of the old fort of
even to this day in a good state of preservation. Andrada, and I have also come across them both in
'
Where the bed-rock was found close to the sur- the north and in the south of Manica between this
face, at a depth of only two or three metres, shafts district and Mossurize. Besides houses, the ruins of
were not sunk, but, instead, all the ground was old forts are also to be found, and since they arc
taken out in enormous funnel shaped excavations, constructed in such a manner that they were evident -
sometimes more than thirty metres in diameter, the ly meant to be defended by firearms, they can
auriferous deposit which which was thus exposed only have been built by the Portuguese, as were so
being subsequently washed. In some cases also many other forts that are to be found in Mashona-
galleries were driven close to the bed-rock following land. Moreover, it is curious to note that the
what was probably the course of some lead that was Portuguese sometimes make use of the remains of
richer than the rest, and driven in such a manner as old buildings that they had found and turned them
to facilitate the drainage of the water. These to their own use by changing them into forts.'
galleries are driven along the sides of slopes, and are '
The most important fort that I have met with is
rarer than works of other descriptions; they are to that of the Muza. As the kalirs had told that
lie met with on the Zambesi. Especially in the case there was a large house in the neighbourhood that
of reef outcrops the old workings took the form of had been built by white men, I set out to look for it,
shafts, sometimes of great depth, viz., from 20 to and, in the great plain which is traversed by the
40 metres, and off these shafts shoit galleries were Chimezi and Muza Rivers after they leave the
driven.' mountains, 1 found on the left hank of the latter
'
I have never found ancient tools left at the river and almost entirely hidden by the high grass
bottom of workings. I have only found an old the ruins of a fairly large building still in a fairly
spade on some cultivated giound on the Muza very good state of repair.'
similar in appearance to those that the katirs use '
The entrance of the fort is placed on the edge of
at the present time. This spade was buried at a the river bank, which at this point is fairly steep.
depth of two metres underground, and almost eaten The opposite side, which faces the open country, has
away by rust.' a length of 120 metres, and is Hanked by two rectan-
Side by side with the remains of workings carried gular bastions, which also cammand the two lateral
out with the object of obtaining gold, others are to walls that form the other two sides of the fort,
lie met with which prove that iron was produced in whilst the side where the entrance is also comman-
this country on a large scale. The ores used ded by a similar bastion which is placed in the cen-
appeared to have been more especially the ferru- tre of this fort. The walls, which must have been
ginous quartzites and some rather impure limonite from two and a half to three metres high and ninety
that are to be found in the district. No fluxes that centimetres thick, are built of large stones and
could have been used are to be met with here, and slabs of micaceous schist, which is the country rock
the amount of silica which occurs in these ores, that of that locality. These are joined together by a
contain at the most 20% of iron, accounts for the mortar composed of sand and clay, which is in an
very large quantities of ferruginous slag that is to be excellent state of preservation. A
double row of
found in heaps in several different places, and also loop holes, which are driven out inwards, one fifty
accounts for the numerous well built furnaces in centimetres and the other one eighty centimetres,
lireproof clay that are to be seen everywhere. In above the level of the ground, allow for the use of
some cases the slag conceal several furnaces grouped firearms. In both the rows the loopholes are 1
together anyhow. metre SO centimetres apart.
'
The system of metallurgical treatment employed '
On two sides of the bastions there are embrasures
must have been analogous to the 'Catalane' process, probably to allow of small cannon being made use of.'
and it is probable that the quartzites that were
'
In the vicinity of the fort, both in the bed and on
richest in iron were selected for treatment, and that the two banks of the Muza, there exist very exten-
they underwent a sort of rough washing. Forges of sive indications of alluvial workings, which extend
a sort must also have existed. In the Inhamucarara, several kilometres both up and down stream. Other
on a spur of the Vengo mountain, thousands of tons kinds of buildings probably of a still more ancient
of slags and traces of huge villages are to be met date have been encountered at several points of this
with. I have seen there the remains of a sort of mining held, and particularly in the Inhamucarara.
cupola-furnace with ducts built of stones and biicks '
Near the frontier, we have met with enclosure
joined together by a sort of lireproof clay. Unfor- walls, usually in the shape of an ellipse, sometimes
tunately the whole furnace lay hurried under rubbish, * Original XotrK.—'l hese are those which are attributetl to
and was in such a ruined condition that I was not the Arab-Sabean colonies.
, — —
thirty metres long and built of stone with a mortar may. under better economic conditions, he exploit-
mi" clay. Access to the interior was by one or two able profitably. Thus also the ore, or moderately
gateways, defended by a sort of Circular palisade rich rock, in a given decade or in a given mine may
work, also built of stones; the enclosure wall con- be the bonanza,' that is, the inordinately rich ore,
'
tained within it several other buildings almost in- of another decade or another mine. Miners habitu-
variably elliptical in form, with doorways similarly ally look for rich ore, namely, material that will
protected by palisade works. These buildings are yield a handsome profit. It is not usual to go deep
exceedingly numerous throughout an area of about in the pursuit of ore that leaves a scanty margin for
>i\ square kilometres, and amongst them both slag dividends unless a good reason exists for expecting a
heaps and furnaces are to be met with.' betterment in depth. I say that it is not " usual,"
in dose proximity to these there are tombs, because sagacious persons recognize the fact that
which are remarkable on account of the evident care beyond the ordinary expenses entailed there are
that has been taken in the matter iif their arrange- extraordinary expenses and all the accidents ol
'
sphere placed against a wall which rises above the in its essence it is comparative. Ii- a new district,
level id the ground. The corpse that lies within 500 ft. is deep in an old one, 1,000 ft. is shallow.
;
the tomb is bent double witli the head in the direc- But we do not use the term in the sense employed by
tion of the setting sun. The Ualirs of the district a mechanical engineer, we use it in this discussion to
do not know nor have they even any tradition as to convey the idea of the mining geologist. To the
who built these tombs.' latter the first dividing line between the shallow and
On 'the Upper Muza a wall similar in shape to the deep zone is the water-level, with its concomitant
those of the Inhamuearara had on it a schist slab chemical change from the oxidized to the sulphide
that was graven with signs, hut I am ignorant of its ores. However, even this is elementary and insuffi-
origin.' cient, forwhile in regions of average rainfall the
I am unable to deduce from what 1 have seen any
'
water-level may be at 200 or 300 ft., in arid regions
indication that might throw light on the question .1- it comes much nearer to surface, so that it is reached
to what race it was that first began working for gold at 40 or 50 ft. The level at which water hinders
in this district. But what I consider as certain is mining was early recognized as marking a change in
that the Portuguese, attracted hither by the gold the character of the ore; this change at first c
production of the district, settled here, and took into noted impoverishment because it involved refractori-
their hands the direction of the gold production, and ness and costliness of metallurgical treatment, hut
1 think that it is to them that a large proportion of later it was found to be attended in many cases, as
"
the workings are to be ascribed.' .Minimi Journal in some copper and silver lodes, with sulphide en-
of i/u' Companhia d< Mooambique, .Inl\ 191-2, p. 39. richment of a most positive nature. Still later
(A. K. evidence, obtained by deeper sinking, went to show
that for some distance below the water-level the
Persistence of Ore in Depth—I. — "Twenty finding of rich sulphide ore was likely. Conditions
favouring secondary enrichment might in some cases,
years ago it was generally held, among speculators
and operators in mining, that ore-bearing veins as at Butte, continue to a depth of -2,500 ft. from the
surface. In gold mining the rich ore bodies were
became icher in depth. Deep sinking was advocated
i
profitably exploited to-day is waste. Years hence it what a Cornishman calls "pulling out the h'ore by
_'ss The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining .Society of South Africa. Dec. 1912
the 'air of the 'ead." As compared to a bolder and generalisation. The Archean schists and the Ter-
more comprehensive scheme, it is underhand sloping tiary andesites afford conditions notably unlike; in
and winzing. A good miner who knew that his ore- the one the lodes are so old as only to be modified by
body reached to .5,000 ft. would sink a main shaft to profound regional metamorphism in the other the
;
the bottom of the ore and open up the mine in a big lodes are young and susceptible to the thermal
way. Of course, the capital required would be activities of expiring vulcanism.
greater and the return upon it would be delayed ; While appreciative of the scientific reasoning on
but that would he no obstacle to enterprising men if which a special plea may be based for lodes associated
it assured richer ore and a constant supply of it to a with rocks of uncommon geologic antiquity, I am not
mill of heroic proportions. Moreover, the dangers impressed greatly thereby, for it remains to be
and difficulties that befall every big and deep mine proved that the rich ore is so ancient as to have
by reason of the caving of ground due to the ever- escaped modification by the geologic agencies that
increasing pressure of the hanging wall country upon come into play near the surface. It is fair to ask the
the old workings would be obviated by excavating mining geologist to remember that it is only the
from the bottom upward. There would always be a enriched portions of a lode that have economic value
thick arch to protect the stopes, and that arch to the miner and that such enrichments represent a
would become weakened in proportion as its burden concentration or re-precipitation necessarily more
became less dangerous. No the experienced miner
; lecent than the lode as first formed. Moreover, the
may echo the loose optimism of the promoter or the cases that can be quoted as an exception to the non-
make-believe of the speculator but he knows
;
persistence of ore are so few that they hardly suffice
better. He follows the ore from surface, never to prove a theory. If one lode in the Archean, or in
knowing when it may thin to a thread. association with ancient eruptives, has continued
The Cornstock was once synonymous with a rich to 3,000, 4,000, or 5,000 ft, vertically, how many
natural treasure-vault, yet its bonanzas were found in the same terrain have ceased to be productive at
at a relatively shallow horizon. The big bonanzas shallow depths, even among those that survived the
uf the California and Virginia mines reached from trials of the water- zone ?
1,100 to 1,860 ft. The most productive portion of l'hysical conditions, as we know them, militate
the Coinstock mines was above the level of the Sutro against the persistence of rich ore to a great depth,
tunnel, which cuts the lode at about 1,850 ft. below such as 8,000 or 10,000 ft. Pressure and heat in-
the outcrop. The Combination shaft was sunk to crease. The increment of temperature is variable,
a vertical depth of 3,260 ft. Later workings from but it may be taken as about C. for every 90 ft.
I
;
the Union shaft went down to 3,350 ft., but they the pressure at successive depths is roughly equal to
found only patches of rich ore. Broadly speaking, the weight of a column of rock 2"8 sp. gr, equal in
mining became unprofitable in depth, not because of height to the depth in question. A decrease of
hot water or other physical obstacles, but just pressure and temperature is favourable to precipita-
because rich ore was less plentiful and barren rock tion; an increase gives greater solvent power to
was more abundant. underground waters. Hence, other things being
In almost every, if not in every, gold mining area equal, the approach to surface would favour deposi-
in the world the experience is that as considerable tion and the distance from surface would promote
depths are attained, the gold is scarcer. The de- solution. Solution is necessary to enable the under-
positions of quartz may be more or less or practically ground waters to collect the metals previous to their
the same as in the upper levels. Opinions vary on transfer and concentration in such receptacles as are
that point, but most authorities agree that as the provided by fractures, fissures, shear-zones, porous
• earth is penetrated to great depths gold is less sediments, and soluble rocks. Precipitation, it is
i
plentiful. •true, is often only the effect of interchange, but it is
Before going further it is necessary to recognise usually the exchange of a less soluble for a more
differences of geological environment. The most soluble substance.
persistently rich lodes are in Archean and Algonkian Beyond the direct results of pressure and tempera-
rocks they are associated with acid eruptives of the
; ture, we have to recognise a change in rock struc-
granitic type they are presumed to be in their
; ture. Natural sections of strata once buried
primary condition, that is, they owe little or nothing deeply under later formations indicate that there
to the secondary enrichment observed within the exists a horizon at which rocks cease to be fragile,
water-zone. Thus they are held' to be superior to that is, they do not crack or fissure, but undergo
the ordinary vicissitudes of veins of a different origin. deformation by pressure. They become plastic. C.
namely, those associated with Tertiary eruptives, of R. Van Hisc was the first to show the mining geolo-
which the Nevada and Colorado gold-silver lodes are gist the significance of this 'zone of tlowage as a '
a familar type. In the latter ease the ore-forming limitation to an indefinitely deep water-circulation.
agencies are associated with rocks having a structure The later experiments of F. I). Adams and the
proving that they are solidified near the surface, studies of Mr. Van His:- unite in placing the zone of
that is, where they were relieved from such pressure tlowage at about 35,000 to 40,0(111 ft. But, the effect
. as exists deep in the earth's crust; while the erup- of this change must lie felt, at much less depth. The
tives associated with the typically persistent lodes in openings through which mineral-bearing waters cir-
the Archean rocks have a structure indicative of culate, and in which they lay down their metallic
solidification under great pressure, that is, at a pro- freight to constitute the orebodies for which the
found depth. If a lode can be proved, by faulting or miner seeks, cannot persist indefinitely. Without
other structural evidence, to be not much younger them the circulation is too restricted to permit of the
than such a rock, then it may be assumed to have a wide gathering and intense concentration precedent
great geologic antiquity and to have been formed so to ore formation. As the openings become smaller,
far below the original surface as to be immune to by the (dosing of the larger ones as they approach
;
such changes as are due to waters circulating in the sub-capillary size and become discontinuous, the cir-
shallow zone. Hence some authorities, for instance, culation of water tends to diminish. When water
Malcolm Maclaren, argue that this question of per- ceases to circulate it is no longer an agent in forming
sistence as it affects the miner is not to be made a ore. Of course, gases under high pressure may still
—
All this bears on the lower fringe of our problem, the fallacy is due to the commercial optimism of the
.Man will never be able to test the reasoning on promoter, the gullibility of the ordinary speculator,
which such deductions are based, for no shaft or hole and tile ineradicable tendency of humanity to chase
will be -link deep enough. We need not "." SO far. —
rainbows." T. A. RlCKARD, Minimi ana Scientific
The openings made by the miner uive him a good Press, An-. 24, 1912, v. 31, pp. 232-264. (A. Mi A. J.)
inkling of the facts. The rock penetrated by the
deepe-t workings is harder and drier than that cut The Standardisation of Mining Tki:m>.- "No-
near the surface. Every deep mine i.s dry what : /. Metal Mining. — Some years ago the Institution
water may be seen on the lowest levels is the drain- ot Mining >V Metallurgy appointed a sectional com-
age from the upper workings. Openings of every mittee tor the standardisation of terms used in
sort— whether fissures, faults, or vugs--are less mining and metallurgy. We
do not know if the
common at 4,000 ft. than at 2,000
ft. The miner committee has yet started work, but the subject is
expresses it by savin- that 'the ground is tight,' an important one for mining engineers, although, it
and it is so dry that tin- water used by him in drill- must be admitted, it bristles with difficulties,
ing must be brought from some upper level or from Whatever recommendations may ultimately be
the surface to the place where he is at work. We made, it i- certain that the prospector and miner
have long recognised a 'water-level,' that i-, a will continue the use of localisms for all time, and
horizon at which water rises in a shaft if it is not. the -election and adoption by the committee of a
drained by a pump we have been shown by different
:
certain number of standard terms for the use of the
geologists how great is the etleet of this ground-water mining engineer in his reports, lectures, and writings
in modifying the orebodies found in the shallow zone. generally is about all that can be attempted with
i the other hand, the fact that there is also a lower
in any prospect of success.
limit to the ground-water has not been overlooked 'Vein' and 'lode' are usually regarded as
by most geologist-. synonymous. A mineral vein is a lode, but a lode
It may be profitable to consider the misapprehen- is not necessarily a mineral vein, in the strict sense
sions whereby the fallacy of enrichment in depth has of the latter term, for it may consist of a fissureless
originated. band of rock which has been mineralised by replace-
i. The point at which ore is discovered at surface ment. The misleading term true fissure vein is ' '
may not coincide with a rich portion of the lode ; in seldom seen in print now, but we may still write of
other words, the outcrop of an ore-shoot may not be fissure veins to distinguish them from contraction or
uncovered. In sinking, the shaft may penetrate into replacement veins. The term vein might lie '
'
richer ore by intercepting an orebody on its pitch. usefully confined to the smaller fissures and contrac-
This may give rise to the idea that the lode has tion veins, generally of simple structure, and lode' '
become richer. to the larger and more complex veins, and to all
2. Again some lodes containing the more soluble replacement veins
minerals are apt to have poor outcrops by reason of '
Matrix,' ' 'veinstone' and 'gangue'
lode-stuff,'
weathering ami superficial leaching. Thus the are used synonymously, The late Dr. C. le Neve
copper veins of Butte were first worked for gold Foster proposed that the word 'gangue' should be
because that metal had become concentrated at the consigned to oblivion. However, there seems no
outcrop. In depth, the gold diminished and the zone valid reason why the term should not be retained in
of enrichment, by re-precipitation of silver, gave the English. Matrix' and 'vein-stone' might also be
'
district a reputation for the less valuable of the two used, hut lode stuff' or
'
vein-stuff' can be dis-
'
increase in copper, due also to sulphide precipitation, speaking, this is so but even 'country-rock can be
:
'
gave Butte a new and much prolonged career of pro- defended. In Cornwall 'country' means ground,
ductivity. That career has not ceased, despite the and when the side of a hill forms the back of a house,
deeping of the workings to 2,500 ami 3,000 ft., it is said to be built 'against the country.' The
because in that locality a series of fractures at suc- word conies from Latin 'contra.' and country-rock
cessive periods has permitted the descending enriching may be defined as the rock against (bearing or
'
the other metals also, the shallow zone of oxidised 'underlay.' or hade' of a vein ' —
i.e.. its inclination
ore is followed by pyritic ore that was long regarded measured from the vertical. We think this term
as more refractory than the gossan and therefore less might conveniently be dispensed with in reports, for
profitable. Hence the downward penetration of the the inclination of all veins and beds should be given
workings might concide with fewer dividends. But in terms of the dip (measured from the horizontal);
when processes were devised to treat the ore formerly and. even in cases where it is convenient to measure
refractory, the successful issue out of this trouble from the vertical, a simple calculation would give
prompted operators again to scout the idea of im- the corresponding degrees of dip.
poverishment in depth, particularly as the top of the Selvage,' gouge,' pug' and 'dug' are usually
'
' '
new sulphide zone was usually marked by excep- regarded as synonymous. In reality, the selvages
tionally rich ore, due, as we now know to precipitation
, are the borders of the vein, or the contact-surfaces
of metal derived from the overlying leached and between vein and country. There may lie a layer of
oxidised portion of the lode. clay on one wall only, as in the New Almaden
4. A false idea of enrichment may in some cases quicksilver mine, Cal. (U.S.A.), when, beta? on the
have been fostered by an improvement in metal- hanging wall side, it is known as alta. The opposite
lurgical treatment, whereby relatively poorer ore selvage may be in contact with, or may adhere to,
—
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec 1912
'
shoot ill ore be called an 'ore shoot' or 'shoot,' there on a rather extensive scale. Tiie giving off of
lire -damp was the cause of the Hist trials being made ;
while a shoot for ore be called a 'chute' (sometimes
written shute,' which is incorrect). Strictly speak-
'
and their success was complete.
ing. or galleries include all approximately
'
levels ' ' ' The Bethune method was adopted at the Many
horizontal workings such as adits crosscuts,' and — ' '
'
plant of Maribaye, but afterwards superseded by a
simpler method, in which the side-walls are straight,
'
drifts.' Any level may be called a drivage 01 a ' '
'drive,' but we suggest that the term 'drift' he instead of being curved, while the roof support is
confined (as in the U.S.) to a level driven in the slightly arched. The most usual sections are, say,
mineral to be won. The term crosscut usually 5 ft. x 6 ft. with a rise of 6 in. and full 7 f t. x 7 ft.
means a level or gallery driven through country'.' '
with 8 in. rise. In the case of cross measure drifts,
Hut we need a word for a level driven perpendicu- the concreting follows up the face at from 16J ft. to
larly in a deposit for this we suggest double that distance. In neither case has the haul-
;
'
crossdrift.'
age been suspended and in the north rolleyway, at
;
(Cornwall) ' tye,' (Derbyshire) 'sough,' (N. Stall.) after 6 days the coffering may be taken down and put
' gutter
' or
' offtake. There are shallow adits and '
up farther on. The space between wall and rock is
deep adits, but it would be as well to confine the filled in with dry stones.
term 'adit -level' to the drainage level, and apply To form the arched roof, beams or stringing planks,
the term day-level to all adits abo\e it.
'
'
inside the walls, rest on (preferentially) tubular
The pnlley-frame or '
shaft- frame' (cm. 'head- '
'
metal props and carry an ordinary fimbei centreing.
gear.' 'pit-head frame') is the frame for carrying the Inn only 2 ft. 8 in. long, so as to facilitate the hori-
pulleys over a hoisting or winding-shaft, and is a zontal ramming. The arch, 7, 9, or even 12 in.
better term than U.S. 'head-frame,' or than thick, is reinforced both transversely and longitu-
— .
dinally against the side-walls, and covered in with operations is, in the opinion of the Minister, of such
stones for tilling the space. A length of from 5 ft. a nature as to cause miners' phthisis. This list in
to 7 ft. is accomplished by two men in a daj eludes all the working gold mine- ..I the Witwal.i -
The strength of this lining appears quite sufficient : rand, and some gold mines in the Heidelberg anil
ami their are some places in the cross-cut where the Klerks, lorp districts.
thrust is intense. The cost, for a mean thickness 3. A miner, in order to make his claim valid, must
(arch and walls) of 9 in. is 21s. per yard run, includ- first satisfy the Hoard that he has been employed.
ing concrete and labour, but not the labour and for a period or periods amounting to at least two
power for making the concrete, carriage, or mater- years of the four years immediately preceding the
ials for the coffering. Nor is reinforcement taken date of his claim, on any mine or mines in the
int.. account, as it consists of old wire-ropes, annealed scheduled list. The Board has, however, discretion
and untwisted. to admit the validity of a claim based on a short ei
The concrete made with 5 parts granulated slag, period of underground service, if it is satisfied that
1 of quartzose sand, and 2 of slag-cement, triturated any miner has genuinely contracted miners' phthisis
with water for half an hour in a mortar-mill, costs a under such conditions. This limit of two years is,
little over 6s. per cu. yard, Tests have shown a re- in our opinion, a satisfactory working rule, and we
sistance to crushing strain of 2,645 to 2,987 lb. per consider that the discretion allowed to the Board in
s.j. inch. this respect should he very sparingly exercised.
The advantages of concrete lining are: (1) mini- Scarcely ever doe< one find clinical evidence of the
mum resistance to the air-current, (2) suppression of existence of silicosis in any underground worker who
fire-damp outbursts and blowers through the £,oaf, has been for less than two yeai s vndermround. We
(3) suppression of coal-dust, (4) minimum of super- have heard of case s having been certified as cases of
vision and maintenance, (5) suppression of the fall of miners' phthisis in which the affected man has
Stones and also of ground, and (ti) reduced cost, which worked underground for less than six months. Such
is lower than for brickwork."— A. RENIER, 'Irans- a diagnosis, in our opinion, cannot he justifiably
i of the Institution of Mining Engineers (Ab- made.
stracts), 1912, p. .377. (A. R.) In order that every claim should have a further
4.
prima facie degree of validity, the claimant must
—
Laying Dust. " The latest experiment carried produce a certificate, signed by a registered medical
out in the Rand mines suggests that before long they practitioner, stating that the case is. in the opinion
will represent vast fly-papers. This will be due to of the latter, one of miners" phthisis.
the employment of a dilute solution of molasses as a 5. The claim having been made, subject to the
spray for laying the dust. The experiment has been conditions laid down in the Act, the claimant is sub-
tried at the City Deep, and has proved the molasses jected to examination by two members of the
solution to be superior to plain water In its dust- Medical Advisory Committee constituted under the
laying capacity, on account, it isstated, ofits hygro- Ait The decision of these examiners, if they are in
scopic properties. We
think, however, that the agreement, is final as to the nature and stage of the
inmate stickliness of the molasses must have more to disease. If the examiners are in doubt, they may
do with its success than its capacity for absorbing call for a special bacteriological or radioscopic exam
moisture from the atmosphere, and that unless the ination in the case of the claimant. If they are
solution is strong enough to make the resulting mud unable to agree as to the nature anil stage of the
an absolute nuisance, it cannot be veiy effective in disease, the Board then nominates a third medical
laying the dust. Its success in the long run will adviser to examine the case, and the decision of the
depend upon whether the amount of general sticki- majority of the three medical advisers is taken as
ness produced proves an impediment to practical conclusive. It is the duty of the medical adviseis to
work. Calcium chloride is admitted]} the most grade each case as belonging to one or other of two
economical hygroscopic material available it has — classes, the amount of compensation payable being
been found cheap enough to warrant its use for road different in the two. These classes may be named
—
watering in England and thus it cannot be for its A and B. Underclass A falls 'a miner who shows
hygroscopic properties alone that molasses is being definite physical signs of miners' phthisis, and whose
tried at the City Deep. On the other hand, witii capacity for underground work is thereby not ser-
the Natal sugar plantations on the verge of export- iously or permanently impaired.' Some impairment
ing their produce, as they now are, molasses can of working capacity is allowed for, but it must not
probably compete with the more expensive chemical be serious definite physical signs of the disease
:
lungs.' Silicosis „iiist lie found to be present by miner who has contracted miners' phthisis I
ite physical signs before any case can be marked degree, and whose physical capacity for
described as one of miner-' phthisis. A
simple underground work is thereby seriously and per-
tuberculosis of the respiratory organs, in the absence manently impaired.'
of silicosis, does not constitute a case of miners' Cases in this class would include the more serii.u-
phthisis, and cannot, theiefore be certified as such or eases of 'intermediate fibrosis' and all cases of
become the basis of a claim for compensation. . '
advanced fibrosis,' in w hicli the disease is readily
2. Certain mines in the Union are scheduled as recognisable, and the expectation of life is seriously
mines in which the mineral dust produced by mining reduced. Not much difficulty i- likely to arise i.,
—
_>!)_>
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 191"
regard to most of these. Any man who lias had to important to remember that the Act requires that
give up work underground because of respiratory definite physical signs of the disease should be present
disability, due to miners' phthisis, clearly falls into before a claim for compensation can be entertained.
this class, but since miners' phthisis is a disease Class II. includes cases of 'early fibrosis.' ft in-
of very insidious onset, and of slow and gradual pro- cludes men who showed undoubted, although fre-
gressive development, there must always be a number quently slight, physical signs of the disease, but
of cases in which it 'will be difficult to say whether whose working capacity was not impaired.
'the individual case should fall into Class A or Class i'lass III. includes cases of 'intermediate fibrosis.
1». Is this man going to improve and be able to turn These were more advanced cases, where the disease
i livelihood above ground, or is he not ? That is the had progressed to a stage which had produced a
practical dividing line. But it is not always an easy definite degree of physical incapacity, accompanied
line to draw. by the complex of physical signs and symptoms
Some provision is made in the Act to meet this which characterise intermediate fibrosis.
practical difficulty by allowing to the Board power Class IV. were cases of advanced fibrosis represent-
to review its awards, on application by the claimant ing the terminal condition, with practically absolute
within six mouths after the original award. This incapacitation for underground or, indeed, for any
allows any person originally graded under Class to A kind of work. In this stage a secondary tuberculous
obtain a revision of the award, should the circum- infection was common.
stances of his case appear to justify this course to ft will be seen that this classification combines
the satisfaction of the Board. two criteria :
native labourer employed upon that mine is suffering serious number. This percentage was made up of
from miners' phthisis to report the fact in writing to 21% of cases of early fibrosis, and some 4'5% of cases
the manager of the mine. The latter must then for- of intermediate or advanced fibrosis. The latter
ward a copy of the report to the Director of Native figure, of course, does not include any miners living
A Hairs. on the Rand who hail already relinquished work,
8. Finally the Act provides that every employer Cases in Class IV., indeed, are practically absent
shall cause any person seeking to obtain employment from miners at work, but they would have to be
as a miner to he examined by a medical practitioner added in proportion in any complete census of the
named by the Minister, and shall not employ that mining community. Further, the Commissioners
person underground unless such medical practitioner state that in their opinion the proportion of cases
furnish a certificate that the said person is of sound classed as early and as intermediate fibrosis respec-
physique, and is not suffering from miners' phthisis tothe latter
tively, is probably understated in regard
or tuberculosis of the lungs or respiratory organs. class. They incline to the view that, taking the
Exception is made in the case of underground mining community as a whole, some 7'5% are at any
workers, who bear a discharge note from an employer given time definitely or finally incapacitated for
on one of the scheduled mines. This, in effect, work by miners' phthisis.
means that any man who was in active underground Taking now the factor of the particular nature of
employment in one of those mines on or before
the underground work in which the miner is engaged,
August 1st of this year requires no medical certificate the Medical Commission found that the order of risk
of fitness for employment, whereas all new recruits
presenting themselves for employment after that
is— machine drillers, trammers, hammer men, and
timbermen. This is in consonance with the result of
date do require a certificate.
previous enquiries. The disease falls most heavily
Further, the words 'of sound physique should be '
upon rock-drill miners, whose occupation exposes
noted. 1 In risk of contracting silicosis is, ceteris them most to the risks of dust inhalation.
paribus, broadly speaking in inverse ratio to a man's The percentage of those affected in the miners at
respirator}/ capacity. work is much higher amongst machine drillers than
II. Incidence of Miners' Phthisis. —
First, we may amongst miners as a whole, or amongst those in any
perhaps be permitted to summarise the main con- other occupational group. Forty-eight per cent, in
clusions by the Miners' Phthisis Medical Commission this gionp were found to lie affected as compared
regarding the incidence of the disease amongst white with the figure of 32% already quoted for all miners.
underground workers on the Band. The Medical Further, the mean number of years spent under-
Commission divided the cases met with into four ground for all the classes or stages of the disease is
classes :
diminished in this group, especially in those who have
Class which includes cases where the history,
I., worked rock-drills only in Smith Africa. It is
symptoms and appearance of the miner pointed to clear that the disease is at once more rapid, more
his probably having the disease, but where no de- intensive, and more regularly progressive amongst
finite physical signs of its presence could be found on machine drillers than amongst any other group of
examining thechest. These, therefore, are 'border- underground workers.
land cases, in which the presence of fibrosis was
'
In all other groups the percentage number oftliose
trongly suspected but not actually demonstrated. found affected is lower, and the percentage of men
his class cannot, therefore be ignored, but it is atfected at each year of underground life is also lower.
Dr. 1912 Notices and Abstracts : Mining. 293
But it must be borne in mind that no group of mining operations, in drilling and blasting the rock,
underground workers is free from serious risk of and in shovelling, handling, and hoisting the broken
attack : cases of the disease are found in all. Even ore We may quote the definition of the disease
t lie supervisory start' of the mines is by no means given by the Medical Commission :
machine miners '), the percentage affected was 29. be hoped that measures will shortly lie universally
After eight and a half years' work the percentage adopted to remove the dangers of this practice, or,
affected was over 75 amongst machine men, as com- failing that, to prohibit it altogether. The existence
pared with 39% amongst other miners. It was not of this practice lias, in our opinion, been a very im-
until after fifteen and a half years' service that 50 portant factor in the higher incidence of miners'
of other miners were found affected, by which time phthisis amongst machine drill, and especially
practically none of the machine miners had escaped amongst development miners. The dangerous fumes
being effected in greater or lesser degree. These arising from the use of explosives are carbon mon-
figures are valuable as showing the much heavier oxide and nitrous fumes. Carbon monoxide fre-
incidence of the disease amongst machine miners, quently inhaled in the sub-toxic doses will tend to
and as giving a practical guide as to what one may produce an amemia and impair the general health.
expect to be the average resultin any body of miners When present in poisonous quantities, it is the most
submitted to examination. But they also show that frequent cause of gassing accidents in the mines of
'
'
the disease is one which takes time tucl velop, ami that tin: Kami. Nitrous fumes act as a powerful respira-
although the actual minute beginnings of fibrosis tory irritant, and if breathed in sufficient, but, even
may commence early in underground life, it takes a then, in quite small quantities, for even a short
period, on the average, of several years for the disease time, may produce an acute and fatal poisoning, in
of silicosis to manifest itself by definite physical which the cause of death is an acute inflammatory
signs, even under the worst conditions. oedema of the lungs. These fumes are the cause of
One other point we may note in the figures fur- the second form of 'gassing accidents in the minss.
'
nished by the Commission. When a miner has It is not very infrequent, also to find men suffering
reached the stage of early fibrosis, and continues to from slight symptoms of this nature, a quasi-
work, he will reach the further stage of delinite in- asthmatic condition which lasts perhaps for
capacitation, on the average, after a further four twelve or twenty-four hours or longer, with perhaps
years' work, ff he has never worked machines, that a little expectoration of bloodstained sputum.
period will be a little extended if be has been em-
;
These are cases of slight nitrous fumes poisoning. It
ployed on machine drills only it will be reduced to is, therefore, reasonable to assume that an inter-
[ess than three years. mittent exposure to smaller amounts of these fumes,
How serious the present condition is is shown by the which is practically inevitable where the practice of
figures given by the Commission relating to mortality double blasting on the same shift is employed, will
among miners on the Rand. The deaths occurring tend to create and maintain catarrhal conditions in
locally amongst miners in the Transvaal for the the air passages and lungs, and will at once prepare
years 1908-1909, 1909-1910, and 1910-1911 numbered, the way for and aggravate the effects of the irrita-
respectively, 109, 132, and 170. The Commission tion of the inhaled dust.
considered thai under present conditions approxi The mineral dust which penetrates the lungs is in
maiely 1,000 men would in any one year reach the the form of very minute angular and mainly acicular
staue of delinite incapacitation out of a mining popu- particles. Dr. Watkins Pitchford informs us that
tion of 12,(110 men. direct measurement of these particles, in sections of
III. Causation and Pathology of Miners' Phthisis. the affected lung tissue from cases of miners' phthisis,
— As to causation, there is little or no difference of shows that they range in size from 1 to 10 fi and that
opinion. Miners' phthisis is primarily a silicosis pro- the particles aie typically of acicular form. Although
duced by the mote or less continuous inhalation of silica itself is not pigmented, it is always found in
the line rock dust generated or disseminated in association with pigmented particles, and it. is the
294 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Af rica. Dec. 1912
aggregation of the latter which give to the fibroid in theReport of the Miners' Phthisis Medical Com-
areas of the lung their black or slate grey appear- mission (corrected edition), of which the following
ance. The ciliated epithelium of the trachea, the paragraphs are in large measure a transcription.
bronchi, and the bronchioles provides a defensive
The symptoms of early fibrosis of the lung are
mechanism against the ingress of mineral slight shortness of breath on exertion and recurrent
particles to the air cells, and against the irritant
bronchial 'colds.' The general health is good, the
effects which their presence causes. Bur, it the patient may to all appearance look quite well, and
amount of the foreign particles be abnormal, and if
working capacity is not noticeably impaired. A
his
their inhalation is frequent and prolonged, that
man may remain in this stage for a long period. As
defensive mechanism in time breaks down, and it
the disease progresses to the stage of developed inter-
breaks down the more readily, if the efficiency of the
mediate fibrosis these symptoms very gradually
defensive mechanism is impaired by the irritant
increase. Irritative cough, often a morning cough,
effects upon the mucous membrane, produced hy the
but commonly with little or no expectoration,
inhalation of a respiratory irritant gas such as
definite shortness of breath on exertion, a more fre-
nitrous fumes. As a result the tine mineral particles quent liability to slight but obstinate bronchial
are able to reach the air cells. Thence they are attacks, and Hitting pleuritic pains are the symptoms
taken up probably by the agency of leucocytes which which first attract serious notice. These are the
are often seen in sections of the lung within the air
symptoms when the condition is established. The
cells. It is by this means that the foreign particles
general health may not be noticeably affected there
appear to be carried into the substance of the lung. may be no loss of flesh the patient may present
;
pigmented particles, at all events, appear to be and there is ( now a delinite impairment of work-
definitely intracellular. Having effected an entry ing capacity. The affected man hnds that he cannot
into the lung tissue, the silicious particles act there
get about underground without delinite shortness of
as a mechanical irritant, producing areas of fibrosis
breath.
around each focus of irritation.
Silicosis is a diffuse and generalised disease of very
Physical examination of such a typical case of de-
fined silicosis or intermediate librosis will show
gradual development. It is this fact which renders
its physical signs in the early stages so elusive, and
certain definite physical signs. Of these the most
it is this fact also which differentiates it from many
obvious is impaired expansion of the chest of a
other lung diseases, the changes produced by which nature, which we shall describe shortly. As one
are more definitely localised in certain areas of the description graphically puts it, the chest is remark-
'
phthisis Is another matter which we trust will be but true crepitation is rare. But the complete clinical
fully investigated shortly, but they are no doubt picture is now unmislakeable. In the stage of early
mainly carbonaceous, and derived from the smoke of fibrosis one finds also, but to a less extent and degree,
candles and lamps. the cardinal signs of impaired expansion of the chest,
The pigmented particles are readily seen to be at impaired air entry, and alteration in the character oi
this stage intracellular the breath sounds, with perhaps evidence of slight
silicious particles are not
;
The cardinal symptom is shortness oj breath on crepitation is rare, and it present to an obvious
xertion. At first,slight: broadly speaking,
tins is degree probably points to a concomitant broncho
indeed, its degree indicates the degree of fibrosis pneumonia due to bacterial invasion and frequently
present. It appears earlier in men of poor initial due to tuberculosis. Sometimes, however, at the
expansion, whose reserve of respiratory capacity is bases one may find fine crepitation due to oedema,
more speedily used up. At first elicited only by and this may disappear altogether if the man be re-
abnormal exertion, it comes in time to hamper the moved from underground work.
man in his ordinary work. The affected man tells Fourth. With these cardinal signs and symptoms
you he finds he can't get about the stones as he used. may be found evidence of old or recent pleurisy with
In advanced cases there is obvious dyspnoea even —
impaired resonance and friction commonly a coarse
when the patient is at rest, and the exertion of rub, and to be found most frequently in the sub-
stripping for examination may produce apparent axillary region on either side or on both. Quite
distress. A
useful practical gauge of the respiratory commonly, however, the chest in cases of interme-
sapacity may he found in asking the man to hold his diate fibrosis is resonant throughout. In advanced
breath during examination of the heart. This cases it is common to find a generalised impairment
usually takes him off his guard, and one may judge of resonance, perhaps more obviously over one lung
from the space of time he is aide to hold his breath or considerable portions of it, an impairment which
t lie degree of his respiratory disability. does not amount to actual dullness, and which is
Liability to cold and pains in the chest from inter- partly due presumably to the reduced volume of air
current dry pleurisies are important symptoms. in the chest. Areas of marked or absolute dullness
The cough is characteristic. Typically it is a we have found to be rare except in advanced cases,
cough of irritation. It is usually worst in the in and we believe that if extensive iheir presence
—
ing an intense dry resultless cough, often ending in usually points to the supervention of consolidation
due to tuberculous broncho-pneumonia and oedema.
vomiting, and with little or no accompanying expec-
toration. Telling the man to draw a long breath They may be absent even although the case is very
may often induce coughing. advanced.
The cardinal signs are: First, diminished expan- Fifth. We may repeat again that the disease is
sion 0/ the chest, and a peculiar rigidity of the chest
one which takes time to develop, and the duration
null. The chest wall loses its normal expansile and nature of the underground occupation followed
elastic movement and becomes unduly rigid. It are therefore always factors to be considered in
moves more as a piece, especially in its upper por- arriving at a diagnosis in doubtful cases, although
tions, anteriorily. The sign of diminished expansion ihe decisive factors are of course the signs found in
is characteristic of emphysema also, but in emphy- the chest on examination or by radiography.
sema the chest is distended and barrel shaped, in What we have to insist on is that the disease of
fibrosis of the lungs it is typically contracted. silicosis is to be diagnosed by the presence of these
The expansion of the chest should be measured by cardinal symptoms and signs. It is a generalised
the tape. This gives a valuable indication but one disease, it takes years to develop, it shows itself by
which requires care in its interpretation. It is not impaired expansion, impaired air entry, and a char-
every one even with a normal respiratory capacity acteristic alteration in the breath sounds, and it is
wlm knows how to expand his chest properly, and typically 'dry.' The presence of this characteristic
individuals vary very much in their initial respira- complex justifies a diagnosis. But one must be care-
tory capacity. A man whose initial expansion was ful not to presume that a miner has fibrosis simply
four inches may have impaired expansion at two because examination of his chest shows the presence
inches another man, even at his best, may never
;
of some one or other abnormal physical sign. Ordi-
have had as much as two. Hence the character of nary phthisis, for example, is as likely to be met
tin- movement of the chest must always be studied in with as in other people, but it is not miners' phthisis'
'
relation to the actual expansion noted, and a conclu- Miners' phthisis is a disease, a definite departure
sion drawn from a consideration of both factors. In from the normal standard of healthy efficiency.
the more advanced cases of fibrosis the expansion is Very early fibrosis may be detected by the X-rays,
frequently less than an incn, but such cases present but it may not at that stage constitute a disease in
no difficulty. this sense.
The second cardinal sign is alteration of the breath Tuberculosis is in the great majority of case- .,
sounds. First of these is impaired entry. By this terminal phenomenon, attacking the sufferer from
term we mean that the amplitude of the breath fibrosis when that condition is already advanced.
ft is the normal termination of a case of miners'
sounds is reduced, the inspiratory murmur is
shortened in duration and reduced in volume. This phthisis. When this infection does occur the down-
is a consequence of the diminished expansibility of ward progress of the case is usually rapid.
the lungs. Secondly, the character of the breath This is the typical history of a case of miners'
sounds Is altered. One may find merely a lagging, phthisis as it is seen in the more rapidly progressive
wavy, interrupted, shortened inspiration— usually type, found especially amongst rockdrill miners. In
with prolonged expiration. But the inspiratory certain other miners, who have been less exposed to
murmur tends to become harsh, especially so and dust but have spent many years underground, the
first at the bases, and at the same time the expira-
symptoms and signs are less extreme, and approxi-
tory murmur is prolonged but may remain vesicular. mate closely to those of emphysema with a chronic
This type of breathing, shortened, with a. harsh, in- bronchitic asthma. This is the type of the disease
spiration ami a prolonged but vesicular expiration is known in England as miners' asthma or 'miners
'
'
very characteristic. In some areas of the lung the bronchitis,' and it is more commonly seen in older
breath sounds make take any of the forms of broncho- miners from oversea. It is, however, simply a more
vesicular breathing. But true bronchial breathing, chronic form of pulmonary fibrosis.
indicative of consolidation, is rare, except in ad- V. Roentgen Hay Examination in Cases if Miners'
vanced cases. Phthisis. —The X-rays unquestionably afford impor-
Third, the chest in a case of jiuve fibrosis is typically tant additional guidance in cases of this disease and
4
dry.' There may be rhonehi here and there, but should always be made use of in doubtful cases.
296 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. !!>!'-
They are particularly useful perhaps in deciding of tuberculous infection and to adapt the whole
whether or not an early present in con-
fibrosis is i le of living to this end. The second is to take
junction with an apparent tuberculosis in miners measures to develop and improve what functional
who ha\e had only a comparatively short under- lung tissue he has by systematic breathing exercises.
ground sen ice. This is a very important factor also in preventing
The screen affords valuable information as to the the development or the disease. Men who take
expansion and air capacity of l he chest, The move- regular exercise, whether in tennis or golf or other
ments of the diaphragm on one or both sides may he games, or in systematic physical chest exercises, and
impaired and also the movements of the ribs. It those who take regular holidays, are much less prone
may show contraction of one side of the chest, dis- to develop fibrosis of the lungs than those who do
placements or enlargements of the heart, and often not." I)K. L. (.;. Ikvtxe and Dli. A. H. Watt,
it may show the existence of other conditions which 'Transvaal Medical Journal, Sept. 1912, p. 30.
may simulate silicosis. One case which came under (H. A. W.)
our notice diagnosed as silicosis proved to be an
abscess of the liver. In advanced cases of miners' Sand Killing on the Rand. — " The method of
phthisis it may show areas of consolidation due to supplying dry sand to a shaft for filling purposes as
tuberculosis. here desciibed is actually in operation, and consc
An X a n photograph invariably shows fibrosis
-i
qnently may be considered to have passed out of the
when can be diagnosed by other means, and in
it experimental stage. It was the invention of Mr.
some cases shows definite signs before the disease Girdler Brown, general manager of the Cinderella
can be detected by the stethoscope. Consolidated Mine, in the Transvaal, under whose
// is necessary that a photograph should I"' taken direction the author installed and subsequently
with the chest immobile and the plate should show the operated the plant. The system adopted renders the
hilus shadow, and the branching of the bronchi right operation of sand filling at great depths, when of
to the periphery of the lung. The exposure must be course it is most needed, a matter of comparative
short, as many patients cannot refrain from breath- simplicity, though success was not achieved without
ing for more than a couple of seconds. We have had considerable thought and much hard work, accom-
no experience of stereoscopic photography of the panied by many reverses. In first cost it compares
chest, but it must afford much more information favourably wjth any other method, no de-watering
than the ordinary single photograph. cones or neutralisation process being necessary.
In a photograph of the normal chest we see the and it shows to the greatest advantage when employed
heart shadow, and on either side the hilus shadow in shafts of great depth and in circumstances where
at the root of the lung. The branching of the continuous filling is not necessary, as interruptions
bronchi is seen extending from the hilus shadow to are almost certain to occur from time to time in wet
the periphery of the lungs, and in the majority of weather, due to an excess of moisture in the sand.
our plates this is more marked at the bases of the The sand used should not contain more than from
lungs, especially on the right side. 5% to 6% of moisture, and should have been exposed
The photograph of a case of early fibrosis shows an to the sun and air for at least two days before use :
exaggeration and extension of this normal brandling. it will then be practically free from cyanide and
The shadows are thicker and denser, and there is in neutral in character. Sand in this condition may be
addition a fine reticulation seen between the thicker found at the foot of any working dump during fairlj
shadow-. In places small round shadows are seen,
dry weather. Sand taken direct from the cyanide
which may be due to a bronchus or blood vessel vats was tried, but even after it bad been treated
being caught end on. The condition is generalised with potassium permanganate, considerable quan-
and bilateral, but may show more advanced change tities of cyanogen were evolved when the sand
in one lung. became mixed with ordinary acid mine water. This
In later raxes the whole lung appears densely action was, however, entirely obviated by exposing
mottled And the clear interval- between the shadows the sand to the sun and air, as already mentioned.
are much fewer and smaller. There may be patches The plant was originally laid out with a view to
of consolidation due to the coalescence of smaller adopting the usual practice in sand filling of running
patches, but when we have this appearance we have the sand down the shaft already mixed with water,
also generally other evidence of the onset of tuber- but this idea was found to be impracticable, owing
culosis. Thus the X-ray appearances are just what ehiefly to the excessive wear of the pipes caused
we should expect to find from what we know of the by the great depth through which the mixed sand
pathology of the disease. fell,and the cost of pumping entailed.
In a number of moderately advanced and late
When the column first installed was worn out, it
cases of silicosis we have noticed a transverse linear was decided to replace this by a square wooden box
shadow on the right side. This we have interpreted launder down which the sand should fall unmixed
as being due to thickened interlobar pleura between with water. This launder measured 12 in. x 11 in.
the middle and upper lobes of the right lung. in cross section, inside measurement, and its cost
The Roentgen Rays, weconsider, are of great value was approximately '2s. 6d. per running foot. Obser-
in the diagnosis and prognosis of the disease, and vation doors were cut at distances of about 100 ft.
they furnish in our opinion the most reliable method The piping and launder from the surface bins were
we have at our disposal. Discredit has been brought replaced by a belt which conveyed the sand to the
upon the method on account of inexperience in in- top of the box launder. It was found that sand con-
terpretation and the lack of appreciation of the taining no more than 4 of moisture would run
necessity of having plates taken by short exposures freely from the bins to the belt without handling.
with an immobile chest. On arriving at the bead of the launder, the sand falls*
VI. Treatment and Prevention. Symptomatic — down the box on to a steeply-inclined iron plate on
treatment we need not discuss, but there are two which a stream of water is made to play. The
important principles in (fie treatment of the less plate, by the way, should be provided with a
advanced cases to which we may refer in a word. liner of the hardest white cast iron to counteract bei
The first is to safeguard the patient against the risk excessive wear at that point. On being mixed, tire
— .
sand anil water How into a steeply inclined launder From 5% to 7 of moisture did not affect the fall,
where tliey undergo further mixture before being provided that the -idc- of the box were themselves
conveyed by means of pipes or other launders to the dry.
pait of the mine requiring treatment. The effective From 7% to 9% of moisture caused the sand
capacity of the plant is controlled by the quantity of gradually to begin adhering to the side- of the
water available, as it is found that the delivery of launder, where accumulated slowly.
it
the sand through the vertical box is practically with- From 9% upwards of moisture caused a rapid
out limit. In the plant now installed, experience accumulation of sand along the sides of the taut der.
shows that the box launder has not appreciably These results were largely influenced, It was
worn, a reason for tin- being the conduct of the found, by the proportion of slime contained in the
sand, which travels normally down the centre of the sand.
box, with little or no impingement on the side. This The the -and to choke the launder
liability of
was proved by examination through the observation under certain atmospheric conditions render- u
doors already alluded to the sand could be seen
: essential to have an elticient bell-signalling service
falling in a steady stream the bare hand could be
; between the mining point and the surface bins, as
held in the corners of the box, but it was difficult to the supply of sand should be regulated in proportion
hold an iron bar across the falling sand in the middle to the quantity of water available for service. Thus,
of the launder, and the metal was quickly polished if the sand is supplied too quickly, it has a tendency
by the rapidly-moving particles. It was noticed thai to pile up at the bottom of the box launder and choke
the falling stream of sand created a suction of ail- it. as the water is not in that case sufficient to slui< e
down the launder thus, on opening an observation
; it away On the other hand, if the sand appears to
door no sand escaped, lml air was drawn in. be coming down slowly, it may be that a certain
proportion is sticking to the sides of the launder, on
account of there being too great a percentage oi
moisture. When this is found to be the case.
sluicing must be resorted to as mentioned previously
and must be repeated from time to time as the
occasion warrants
Determined attempts were made to use current
sand, direct from the vats, with a view to saving
transport from the dump. It was found, however,
that this sand, which contains from 12% to l.V, of
moisture, gave constant trouble by adhering to the
sides of the launder and forming accumulation-.
These accumulations happened at various points
down the launder, but principally at one point about
600 ft. down. Jets of compressed air were introduced
with a view to increasing the velocity of the falling
stream, and thus pi eventing the adhesion of the
sand. The box launder was furthermore con-
nected with the intake of a ventilating fan near
the bottom, and to a Roots blower at the top. the
idea being to dry the sides of the box, and thus pre-
vent the sand from -ticking. These devices un-
doubtedly permitted the use of damper sand than
could otherwise have been employed, but they were
practically of no avail when the sand contained mote
than 10% of moisture, and were consequently aban-
doned after prolonged trials.
Unfortunately, it was found necessary to place the
box launder in the upcast side of the shaft and in
the same compartment with the pump column. Con-
sequently, the box was always wet on the outside,
and the water constantly leached the interior. With
sand containing no more than 4% of moisture this
would not give rise to any considerable trouble,
especially if the launder has its interior surface
Diagrammatic Sketch showing arrangement of planed smooth, and the outside tarred. But in order
Plant for Sand-Filling at great depth-. to deal with sand containing up to a maximum of,
Prom time to time trouble was caused by the sand say 8% of moisture, the launder should be placed in
containing too great a percentage of moisture. This the driest compartment available on the downcast
caused it to adhere to the sides of the launder in side.
gradually increasing quantities until at last the How There is actually a saving in the quantity of \\ ater
is seriously impeded. Under such circumstance-, requiring to be pumped out of the mine when the
the remedy was to sluice out the box with water sand idling plant is in operation. The sand in the
from the surface until the adhering -ami was washed stope probably retains at least 10% of moisture. The
away. In this connection, experiments were con- sand as sent down contain- on an average 3%, and it is
ducted with a view to determining the maximum calculated that in the course of a good day- run. the
percentage of moisture which would allow of the water saved from the necessity of being pumped
4,0()(l ft. to the surface will amount to something like
.nand being run down "dry." The following were
the results obtained :
8,000 gal.
From to 5% of moisture allowed the sand to fall The labour required to operate the plant i- small.
freely, leaving the side- of the box clear and dry. A learner in charge of three hoys will look after the
The Journal of Tht Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa Dee 1912
bell and surface bins, and the underground part, SI cond Evi nt —
Four men. Rock fall, ltiejit arm
including the mixing point and the stope to be filled, nearly severed in arm pit by sharp rock. Pectoral
is in charge of a tiniherman. The sand is broughl muscles, chest to arm, cut oft', but no bones broken.
from the dump to the surface bins by means of Top of shoulder uninjured. No serious hemorrhage,
mechanical haulage, the actual shovelling and tip- vessels escaped or lacerated and el. a ted. Simple
ping necessary being done by unskilled labour. fracture of both bones of left forearm. Dress and
it ing < 'ost />' i Shift. cany 50 tl on stretcher.
.
lateness ol the hour, the sixth and seventh events Not treating shock, all events, jiicj-
»' mitted hen heir time came t
: Not stopping hoi rhage, second event, four i»ases.
First I ' (a) One man. Man partially over- Failure lo be aseptic, second event, two cases.
come by gas. ('an stand but cannot walk. Carry A few other minor criticisms were noted, but the
100 >
air. foregoing cover the most important ones. While the
i
i<. in nLeft hand caught by drilling events were timed, this was done as a check rathei
in. i
Bones of hand broken and palm a re rated. I than with .an idea of making or breaking speed
Sharp I liage, blood bright red and spurting. records. When, in the opinion of (be judges, a
tcher. team was unnecessarily slow, it imi- discounted.
^Fence
Grandstand
i/ '/e'
Team Stalls tor Fir st a, a Work \-F°nc«
' z J 4 5 a 7 e
Or if I 10 rtiotl
n — HPM-y
Oour Jti
lopes' |\
'2QI
/
Bio fatl
)
Auto mobiles
In. ". — Dim,;: \.\i r u: FlKLD mi; FlRST-AID CONTKST.
and Abstracts: Miscellaneous. 299
In keeping tl the following discounts ii surpasses gold, and for many purposes ii is pre-
led in each event where the] were applii
toit. I'he mam supply for the world's eon-
I'.: u. rt stopping bleeding, 10; for not trea sum].!: :ome from Russia, and in order to
sho h. I": for not doing the most important thing make as possible in that country
the price as firm
first. 5 ; for a loose or ' granny knot. 5 for a loose ' :
during the reign of Nicholas [..platinum joint were
bandage, "> for a loose splint, 5 foi wrong artifical
; :
struck of 3, 6 anil 12 roubles, consisting respectively
respiration, 5 for slowness in work, 5 for captain's
: ;
of 0-3355 oz., 0-6710 oz., L*342oz According to the
failure to properly command, a for awkward hand- ;
ordinarj value a platinum coin of 12 roubles is the
ling ol pa ienl oi sti el her, 5 for failui e
but the weight of the metal
i i
;
equivalent of £1 5s, 6d. ;
4 7::. +7 oz.
I
p. 78. (A. R.) Tl input n.r 1909 was 1134, IS oz and for 1 ,
given complete satisfaction. It is in most respects placers, which, in previous years of low prices,
very similar to the aerial wireless systems, but il is ill. To the above figures quite 60 ,
adapted to underground mine work, hould be added for platinum surreptitiously pro
utilise: the lower strata of the earth's crusl to in- duced. which reaches the market through other than
sulate the weak conductors existing in the mine — the official channels. During 1911 the exports ol
the hauling ropes, the pipe lines, and the rails. platinum ores from Russia amounted to 6,871 k<
Owinj; advantage, Mr. Reinecke's system can It is generally assumed that the rich Russian
he worked with very low primary currents of 12 v. placers from which the platinum is derived are re
tension and "5 amperes. B] the oscillations of the to Dunite, a variety of divine, which oi I
sound mem Inane of the telephone, alternate currents in the rals aver a somewhat uarrow zone, where
I
of very high frequency, are produced, whose voltage the 01 developed. The pla
i-. by means of an induction apparatus, brought to along the slope of the mountains and in the
several thousand volts. The high-tension low cur- Bowing from hem. Although, durin:.' re
i
rents pulsate in the connected imperfect conductors here ha been an in :rea of uction, there ••
l
in the mine, and communicate their electric osi is said to be a decline in the average yield, which is
to the surrounding ether. The whole plant now only 0'07 oz. of crude platinum per il i;ia\ el, t
il the transmission and receiving stations, excepting verj occasional richer pockets. Formerly,
of a few low-current elements, a small induction better results were obtained. Now the platinum
apparatu: —
which also serves for the functions ol operators have to work deposits that are er, or, if |
—
buzzer and the call-signal apparatus. It can be contain a higher content of the metal, they
in a small portable case, and weighs no more
1
occur in more remote or difficult districts, or the]
than kgs.
1 With this simple plant conversation
1 mav he ai greater depths, oi subject to other diffi-
are at the Carol in'engliick mine kept up in the culties. So long a- tin- recent high prices continue
e of the underground work over distances of tliese deposits can l.e worked at a profit. Recent
2 kilomel res. Owing to the \ ery low current -
prospecting has shown that in the chief platinum
required, this wireless telephone system is not region, the Rivet ssa, new platinum placers are nol
I
liable to any dangerous consequences. No -parks likely to he discovered. 'I'he Tagilsk region has
are generated, and practice has proved that nol In •en worked foi 75 years, and unknown deposits are
the elect iii' blasting fuses respond to it. Very little not likely to occur. stretch oi the olivine in
Tin-
powei is required for working the plant, which the Northern areas not only uninvesti-
I rals, in
es the expenses connected with thi j stem to a 1,11! hardlj e\ en visi ed bj man, can alone
minimum.' Colonel d'Andrade, London Mi offer hopes of new discoveries oi rich platinum di
.al, Oct. 26, 1912, p. 1048 \. R.) I I
Ids.
3UU The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dec. 191-2
wild state only: several attempts have been made expected with the required amount of rubber con-
to propagate and cultivate it, luit they have all lieen tents " Journal of the lioyal Society oj Arts, Oct.
mure or less unsuccessful. The plant is gathered by IN, 191'.', pp. 1079 in 1080, id. G.)
peons, and is usually pulled up by the rout-. These
plant- are hauled to some centrally located camp.
where they are pressed into bales weighing about The Housing of Miners.— " At the concluding
.'{So ||i., convenient for forwarding to the factory. meeting of the Miners' Federation at Swansea the
The method of manufacture is comparatively question of housing was the first subject which
simple, and consists, according to the United State- occupied attention. The Housing of the Working
Consul at Durango, only of three processes, viz., Classes Act. 1890, which was the most important
mechanical mastication, washing, and drying. The result of the Royal Commission on the Housing of
plant is first ground up into particles about I lie size the Working Classes, carried the problem in its
lit coarse -aw. lust, winch are placed in pehhle mills national aspect a stage further, and more recently
about halt tilled with hard flint pebbles, with suffi- (1909) the Housing,- Town Planning, etc., Act, was
cient water to cover the pebbles and the triturated passed.
shrub. The mills then revolve at thirty revolutions In colliery districts the problem is especially diffi-
per minute for two hour-. This process serves
cult. A colliery is started often in a remote part of
thoroughly to crush the particles, and to separate the country, and cottages are required for the
the wood from the rubber, which conglomerate- in miners ami others who will find employment. But
small pellets. Nest it is drawn off' into settling
the life of a colliery i- uncertain, and relatively
tanks, where the mixture of fibre and rubber is short, and consequently it is difficult to build satis
allowed to -etlle for several days the wood, gradu-
factory houses which will yield an adequate return
;
a little more than a ton of the shrub per day. This which have started well, and subsequently gone
industry gives employment to about seven hundred backwards. Whitehaven is a colliery town which
men, and i- -aid to be the largest single plant for was built originally on the plan of a garden city,
extracting rubber in the world. The output of with streets at right angles, and a garden for every
finished rubber from this one plant in 1911 amounted house. But it was difficult or impossible to procure
to between six and seven million pounds, almost land for necessary expansion, and there was a great
all of which found a market in the United States. demand for cottage property, which became for a
It i- estimated that there originally existed time a good investment. The natural result was
500,000 tons of wild guayule shrub in Mexico, and of that cottages were built on gardens, in back yards,
this fully four-fifths have been worked up since and in every conceivable place, in which they could
1904. Unfortunately the plant is of exceedingly by any ingenuity, he erected, without any regard to
slow growth, and ordinarily requires from eight to space, "
—
/ron and Coal Trades Review, Nov. s, 1912,
ten years to reach maturity. Fear is entertained p. 760. (A. K.)
that the supply will -non become exhausted, and
that the large factories which have been built and
equipped especially for its treatment will be forced Portland Cement in the United States. —
to close. In the last two or three years both the • Tin- great importance attached to the quality of
Federal Government and the large rubber companies cement used in the United States is seen in the
have been experimenting with the cultivation of minute specifications prescribed by Government for
this valuable plant with indifferent success. It has such as is used on its works. In June of last year
been found impossible to propagate successfully the Department of Commerce and Labour arranged
from seed on account of the lack of fertility. Some for a Conference of Railway Engineers to draw up a
success lias been obtained in propagating by shoots specification, and President Taft himself signed the
tnmi the parent plant, but when these plants reach executive order dated 30th April, 1912, giving State
maturity they posse-s a far smaller percentage of sanction to this specification. Wecan give only a
rubber than is ordinarily found in the shrub in its few leading items of the specifications, which are
wild state. Others look at the situation more hope- extraordinarily minute, giving even the methods to
fully, and point out that it has already been seven be adopted for chemical analysis and diagrams of
or eight years since the liist plants were gathered, the correct method of moulding the cement pats and
and that within a year or two new plants may he of tilling the briquette moulds. As the form of
— — — — -
302 The Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Dee. 1912
briquette recommended for testing purposes is of tiny foreign material. Great importance is atti
importance we reproduce the plan and section of it. to the consistency of the test samples, a so-called
normal consistency being first established for the
neat cement. This is determined by making the
cement and water into a ball above2in. in diani
ami dropping it without delay from a height of _' It.
on a hard, smooth and Hat surface. It it due- not
crack nor flatten out to more than one half its
original diameter normal consistency has been
attained, and the percentage of water used to at: in
it is recorded. Next, for ascertaining the percentage
of water to be used in mixing briquettes of cement
and sand the following formula is employed :—
v i
— j +K. Where
Y = percentage water required for the -and
of
mortar
P= percentage of water required for neat cement
paste of normal consistency
n= number of parts of sand to one of cement by
weight.
K = a constant which for standard Ottawa -and
has the value of 6.3.
Briquette as Recommended by the Committee on Uniform Tests
i
ement. A cement which would meet the demand- of the
of Briquette as Recommended by Committee of American American specification would be found to have the
Soi i- t.\ <>i I 'i\ il Engineers. following composition, though it cannot be -aid
that cements departing to some extent from the
In the finished cement, the following limits must proportions in this composition would necessarily
fail under the specified tests —
not lie exceeded :
:
Per 'tul.
Silica .. ... 19 to 25 percent.
Loss on ignition for 15 minutes 4
Insoluble residue ... ... ... 1
Ammonia ... 5 ,, 9 „ „
Sulphur anhydride (S0 2 ) 1'75 Iron oxide ... 2 ,, 4 ,, ,,
... ...
tested heated lor 30 minutes at a very dull led beat. Loss on ignition 0'5 ,, 3 ,, ,,
facture special numbered sieves. Ninety-two per The fact of the matter is that the qualities of
cent, of the cement must pass through No. 100 cement vary more with the methods of and care in
sieve of 0"0055 in. opening, anil 75 per cent, through manufacture than with the proportions of the
No. 200 sieve of 0-OO29in. opening, minute directions ingredients and hence it happens that outturns of
:
being given as to how the siftingis to be carried out. the same mill will often not give uniform results
in tests when there has been no change in the
Pats of neat cement arc made to determine sound-
ness they are to be 3 in. in diameter, I in. thick at
;
ingredients used." Indian Engineering, Sept. 7,
centre, and tapering to a thin edge. One pat is to 1912, p. 13S. (R. A.)
be kept in air, one pat in water, at a temperature of
To F., and pat is to be exposed to steam at CYANIDE Sokes. — "The irritation from cyanide
atmospheric pressure above boiling water for live snres on the skin can relieved by applying cam-
lie
hours. The first two must be observed at intervals phorated cream. Add
3 oz. of camphor to 1 pt. of
tin 28 'lays, and none must show signs of distortion, olive oil and dissolve by slow heat. It occasions
checking, cracking, or disintegrating. The cement some pain when first applied, but will soon afford
must not acquire its initial set in less than 45 min. relief. In mild eases the following will be bene-
nor its final set within 10 hr. Briquettes of neat ficial Zinc oxide, J oz.
: zinc carbonate, 30 gr.
; ;
cement, after being kept ill moist air for 24 hr. and glycerin, I oz. lime water to make
: pt. .',
the rest of the time in water, must develop tensile For sores which do not heal use Pure lard, 5 oz. : ;
strength per square inch as follows : olive oil, 5 oz. white wax, 2J oz.
; spermaceti, :
Alter days
7 500 ... ... and Mining Jowrnal, Oct. 19, 1912, p. 738 from :
heaven help thee if he lindeth the chutes empty. tine, andhe records could be kept week l.\ « eek in
i
IV. —
Thou shalt nut mix waste with ore, neither Ilie ordinary course of the author s studies. Th
shall thou mix cue with the waste, thou nor thy has had time to look through each article and weigh
partuer, nor the shoveller within thy drift, for surely it- value. No attempt ha- been made to cover the
as thou iloest the-e things the mine will stop paying whole field of technical literature the total number :
dividends, and thy name will be "niud" over the of publications receiving notice i- only seventeen.
length ami breadth of the camp. The bulk of the-e ale American, and the remainder
V.— Thou shalt not eat onions when going on consist of the Transact) ins of tie- South African
shift, even though they are cheap a- real estate in Society, the Australasian In-titute, the two English
Clifton, unless thy partner participated likewise, Societies, and Tin Mining Magazine. The book is
for that bulbous root exciteth hard feelings in the admirably indexed, and an inquirer after know
heart of the total abstainer, and eauseth the interior i-greatly helped thereby." '1 he Mining Maga
of the mine to he an unpleasant place. Nov., 1912. (A.R.)
VI. —
Thou shalt not address the boss by his
Christian name, neither .-halt thou contradict him The Use of Oxygen Breathing \\i> Ri 31 . ,
when thou knowest he is lying, but thou shalt Apparatus. By A. T. Winborn, M.I.M.E.
meekly say "Yes" or '-No" to all that he suggests ; Newport (M011. The Committee of the Mon-
) :
and laugh when he laughs and keep on laughing mouthshire Colliery Owners' Rescue Association.
when he relateth a stoiy, even though it be older " In this little hook the author, who i- superinten-
than thy grandmother. dent to the Monmouth Colliery Owners' Ri
—
VII. Thou shalt not steal thy neighbour's mops, Association, deals with the use of oxygen e
nor his picks nor his drills neither shalt thou carry
;
apparatus for work in noxious atmospheres. The
away on thy person or in thy lunch basket low grade object i- to present a text-book on the subject which
ore from the mine, for thou wilt find it will take a will not only -erve as a guide to the use of the
life time to obtain a mill-run. apparatus, but will also show the dangers attached
VIII. —
Thou shalt not have an opinion concerning to the use of imperfect apparatus or the wearing of
thy place to work, for thy employer payeth a fat apparatus by untrained men. The subject i- a very
salary to a school -of -mines expert for consulting in important one from the colliery owner-' and work-
bis mind bonanzas that do not exist, so thou -halt man's standpoint alike, and the author's effort should
refrain from theorising, and concentrate thy efforts he well appreciated in mining circles. A number of
on drilling and the blasting of an abundance of drawings and illustrations of the different apparatus
powder. dealt with are included in the hook, which yives a
IX. — Thou shalt not, in order to breathe, steal brief and concise survey of the subject." The Iron
from the drilling machine compressed air intended and Coal Trades Review, Nov. 8, 1912. (A.R.)
for drilling purposes. Thou -halt not go on strike
le-t thou be turned adrift on a cold and cheerless Modern Mini-: Valuation. By M. Howard
world, neither shalt thou demand thy pay, for the BURNHAM. Cloth, octavo. 160 pages, illus-
company's directors in the Ea-t know not that thou trated. London: Charles Griffin & Co. Price
livest, neither care they a tinker's dam. in-. 6d.
X. —
Thou -halt work and break ore everyday, the • This handy volume contains the matter published
Sabbath included, for verily the board of directors during 1911 in The Minimi Magazine, together with
aforementioned hath assumed the prerogative- of additional material, mainly elaborations of the
the Almighty, and if thou lefuseth to toil as they points made in the earlier articles. Prompted
dictate thou and thy dog and all that thou posseseth
originally by his unsatisfactory experience in the
will -ooii l.e hitting tic trail for Tonopah." Sam Santa iertruilis examination, the author has elabor-
(
Roberts, Colorado School of Mines Magazine, Sept. ated the basic principles underlying mine valuation,
1912, p. 293. (A. McA. J.) until he has covered a wide range of investigation
and elaborated an interesting serie- of conclusions.
No consulting engineer in practice should fail to read
Reviews and New Books. what Mr. Burnham has written he will find, if he :
Index of Mining
Engineering Literature. ment with all of the author's theses, he will at least
Vol.11. By Walter R. Crane. Cloth, octavo, have come nearer to understanding a problem funda-
4.111 pages. Xew York: John Wiley & Sons; mental to mining finance. The book is well printed,
London: Chapman & Hall. Price 21s. adequately illustrated, and conveniently indexed.'' —
" We
have several times given our opinions as to T. A. Rickard, The Mining Magazine, Nov., 191-2.
t he
\ alue of technical indexes; briefly our view is (A.R.)
that the value depends on the individuality of the
compiler. So many people undertake this class of Alimand, A. J. The Principle- of Applied Elec-
work that have not the necessary knowledge of the tro-Chemistry. 8vo, pp 560. E. Arnold. Net 18s.
subjects in hand, and the searcher i- therefore with- Atkins, Walter. Common Battery Telephony
out the desirable serviees of an expert guide. Mr. Simplified. Must, Cr 8vo, pp 174. Electrician.
Crane's compilation differs in this way from all the Net :;-.
Others. He is a thoroughly well-informed man, as Browne, C. A. A Handbook of Sugar Analysis.
might be expected, seeing that he is a professor of 8vo. Chapman ds Hall. Net 25s. 6d.
mining, ami the author of -Ore Mining Methods.' Browne, C. A. Sugar Tables for Laboratory l'-e.
We have to record our opinion that this new volume 8vo. Chapman a- Hall. Net 5s. 6d.
is of far higher quality than Volume I. Undoubtedly Doty, A. H. The Mosquito, its Relation to
the work connected with the first, volume was more Disease and its Extermination. IGnio. Appleton.
difficult and trying, because it covered the early 1 Net 2s.
)
304 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and M inirnj So* iety of South Africa. Dec. 1912
Heath, Charles E. The Beginner's Guide to the (P.) 576/12. Abraham Price (1), William Prose
Microscope. Cr 8vo, pp 120, bds. P. Marshall. (2). Improvements in and relating to shot firing by
Net Is. powder fuses and the like. 1.11.12.
Heather, H. J. S. Electrical Engineering for (C.) 577/12. Albert Eugene Cook (1), Thomas
Mechanical and Mining Engineers. Svo, pp 342. van Tnyl (2). Improvements in tractors. 1.11.12.
Electrician. Net 9s. (P.) 578/12. Andrew Baillie. An improved
Holley, C. I>. Analysis of Paint ami Varnish spiaying device for allaying dust in mines and the
Products. 8vo. Clutpman & Hall. Net 10s. 6s. like. 2.11.12.
Houston, R. A. An Introduction to Mathematical (P.) 579/12. Pieter August Smorenburg (1),
Physics. 8vo, pp 210. Longmans. Net (Is. Fergus Ferguson (2). A new or improved mixture
International Association for Testing Materials, for exterminating vermin. 2.11.12.
Vienna. Vol 2, Svo, sd. Spon. No. 11, Net 3s. No. ; (P.) 580/12. Izaak Jacob Haarhoff. Dust de-
12, net Is No. 13, net 3s.
: stroyer or preventer. 5.11.12.
Jamieson, Andrew. A Text-Book of Applied (P.) 581/12. David Stephanus ,le Plooy. The
Mechanics and Mechanical Engineering. Vol I, Pth improved wire strainer. 5.11.12.
Ed. Thoroughly revised and enlarged. Cr Svo, pp (C.) 582/12. Percy Henry Shailer. Improve-
430. Net 6s.
C. Griffin. ments in resilient vehicle wheels. 6.11.12.
Macdonald, H. M. The Effect Produced by an (C.) 583/12. John McEntyre. Improved appli-
Obstacle on a Train of Electric Waves. 4to, pp 39, ances for colliding and uncoupling railway trucks.
sd. Dulau. Net 2s. 6.11.12.
Makower, W. and Geiger, H. Practical Measure- (P.) 584/12. Cecil Murray. An oscillating pen.
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Net ."is. (P.) 585/12. Joseph Alexander Morcom (1),
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Maryon, Herbert. Metalwork and Enamelling. ((',) 588/12. Stewarts & Lloyds, Limited (1),
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joints for iron and steel pipes and tubes. 8.11.12.
Hall. Net 7s. lid. (C.) 589/12. Charles Butters. Improvements in
McLean, Angus. Practical Physics: a Text-Book
the treatment of refractory gold and silver ores.
for Technical Schools and Colleges. Svo, p 99, 414.
8.11.12.
Black. Net 7s. 6d. (C.) 590/12. Charles Butters. Improvements in
Ryan, W. T. Design of Electrical Machinery. apparatus for tillering slimes. 8.11.12.
Vol '3, Svo. Chapman a- Hall. Net 6s. 6d.
Simonson, A. How to Make Converter Steel
Castings. Svo. Spon. Net 4s. 6d. Changes of Address.
Spahling, F. P. A Text-Book on Roads and
Pavements. 4th Ed, Cr Svo. Chapman it- Hall. Members and Associates are requested to notijy the
Net 8s. (id. Secretary immediately of any change in address,
Thorpe, Sir Edward, and others. A Dictionary of otherwise it is impossible to guarantee the delivery of
Applied Chemistry. Vol 3, Gr. Oils, lliust, 4to. Journals or Notices. 'The Secretary should be noticed
Lo'ifjmans. Net 45s.
at once of non-receipt of Journals and Notices.
Tillison, G. W. Street Pavements anil Paving
Materials. 2nd Ed, 8vo. Chapman tfc Hail. An VMSON, R., l,o Eileen Alannah Mine P. O. Box ;
Nit 17s.
569, Bulawayo.
lower, WalterS. and Kobeits, John. Petroleum, New Primrose
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Wilda, H. Steam Turbines. Cr Svo. Scott,
M. Co., Ltd., 1'. 0. Box 1, Knights.
Grei nwood ' . Net 3s. (id.
CARBIs, W., l/o Johannesburg 250, Loop Street, ;
P. M. Bnrg, Natal.
Hailky, R. C, l/o England; Poleleh, N. Celebes.
Selected Transvaal Patent Applications. Dutch East Indies.
Hamilton, E. M., to c/o Butters' Filter Co., 50,
Church Street. New Vork, U.S.A.
Rki.ating to Chkmistry, Metallurgy and I.AWENSKI, J. D., l/o Cleveland; Modderfontein
Mining "B " G. M., Ltd., P. O. Box 14, Brakpan.
Pinto, M., to Usine de Lemeza, par Ulu-Teliak,
Compiled by C
H. M. Kiscii, F.M. Chart. Inst.P.A. Gouv. d'Oufa, Russia.
(London), Johannesburg (Member).
Phillips, J. Moyle, l/o Benoni 82, Victoria :
THE JOURNAL
(Ehcmieal, Metallurgical anti JHintng (Soeictg
of South Africa.
Ihe Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
Proceeding's As Student—
AT Smith, Benjamin Charles, Roodepoort United
Main Reef G. M. Co., Ltd, P. O. Box 152,
Ordinary General Meeting, Roodepoort. Plate House Assistant.
January 18th, 1913.
General Business.
The Ordinary General Meeting of the Society The President : In the Journal, on p. 246,
was held in the South African School of Mines you will find that the prizes offered by this
Building, Johannesburg, on Saturday, January Society were awarded to certain evening class
I8th, 1913, Mr. W. R. Dowling (President) in students at the School of Mines. The School of
the chair. There were also present :
— Mines proposes to hold an "At Home" on the
30 Members : Messrs. A. Richardson, H. A. 14th February, at which the prizes will be pre-
White, T. Johnson, F. W. Watson, A. Whitby, sented by the Presidents of the various societies
Prof. J. A. Wilkinson, J. Littlejohn, Dr. W. A. and other bodies that have given them.
I would like to draw attention to the short
I'aldecott, A. McA. Johnston (Members of Coun-
cil), W. Beaver, J. M. Campbell, H. N, Dungey,
notes and papers that are brought forward occa-
Dr. F. Garny, R. Gaseoyne, W. E. John, W. A. sionally under General Business, and which do
Osterloh, F. D. Phillips, J. Moyle Phillips, A. seems to me that these papers offer a favourable
Schwarz, D. F. Scott, W. E. Thorpe, C. Toombs, opportunity for members who have not taken
J. T. Triggs, J. F. Walker, John Watson and
part in our discussions, to break the ice by send-
E. M. Weston. ing in written contributions to the Journal.
306 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
given us the formula of the coloured salt, but it SO-CALLED ATI!BLASTS AND ROOF
is a pity he did not give us also the formula of the PRESSURE.
free phthalein for the benefit of those of us who,
like myself, do not come much in contact with (Read at Auyusi Meeting).
benzene rings in our every day work.
The formula for the free phthalein is written By Tom Johnson (Member of Council).
C6 H4 OH
REPLY TO Discission.
/
C H— C— H OH Mr. Tom Johnson {Member of Council) :
6 6 4
I
I
There has not been overmuch discussion on this
COO paper, but what there has been seems in favour
and this shows a lactone ring. The usually ot the pressure theory. I cannot see any evidence
accepted theory is that when an alkali is added to favour the idea that the) outbursts are caused
this ring splits up and the coloured substance has by the rock- having been subjected to great heat
the formula shown by the author :
and subsequent cooling. If there were anything
C6 H4 OB in the heat and cooling theory there would be
/
C6 H 4 -C = CB H4 ^0
more trouble with the roof and floor in these
outbursts, also from the many dikes on the
cannot see any reason why be should hold that to try and do what others successfully do all over
opinion. I have not in this paper or any other the world ?
paper advocated one machine one bench. As to 1 must thank Mr. Chilton for his contribution.
the efficiency of working faces faster, the dif- He must have given much time to finding the
ferent points such as the saving in timbering, many references he quotes on the subjects of out-
freedom from accidents, saving in shovelling and bursts. If a few more of our mining members
tramming incidental to handling more rock from would emulate his example it would lie to the
a stope in a given time, must all be weighed up benefit of our proceedings. Out of the numerous
for any given case. If mining on the Rand were examples given I do not see one which cannot be
done in a more scientific manner, there would be more easily explained by the pressure theory
no loss of efficiency by putting more machines on than any other. I have no authorities to quote
a face The breaking efficiency would improve in support of my theory that pressure is the
rather than otherwise as feared by Mr. Pam. cause of the outbursts in both the stopes and
Mr. i
1!. Saner owns to being amused at my
'. drives, but will take the examples quoted by Mr.
having a tilt at the miners again. My remarks Cbilton to prove, if possible, the above statement.
were not meant to apply to any one section of What took place in the mine with one outlet on
the miners but applied from the top to the the occasion of the mining engineers visit I would
bottom of officialdom in general. I wish Mr. not dignify by calling an outburst. Cases of
Santa- had given us a few examples of the courage that kind and the old fire mining do not enter
of our local men in trying new schemes. We into the question of rock outbursts as we under-
certainly have the circular shaft at the New stand them. The}r only show that certain things
Modder, the sinking of the Modder Deep shafts result from molecular attraction and repulsion;,
close together, and we have certain mines putting but they do not explain how tons of rock are pro-
in haulage levels and cutting out some of the jected from a face and the floor of a working
hoisting shafts. The is by a new
circular shaft place is lifted 3 or 4 ft. pressure making the
;
the Belgian coal-fields, in my opinion came to a Mr. Chilton mentions the classic slab at the
sound conclusion in thinking there was connec- Monson Quarry, Missouri, U.S.A. ; this slab is a
tion between outbursts and faults in compression confirmation of my statement as to roofs stretch-
— that is, reverse faults. The Belgian coal-fields ing and is a good example of what causes rock
are much distorted and have been subjected to outbursts. Here the rock had been compressed
great thrusts which increased the pressure of the and shortened and when liberated stretched itself
roof considerably and reduced the resistance. several inches. It is the same with the roofs,
That the outbursts should occur in definite zones after being subjected to a thrust the tendency is
is not surprising, as the outbursts would naturally always to lengthen out, like a compressed spring
take place at the points of greatest pressure, that would.
is, near where the greatest sudden change of dip The Rupert drop theory is in my opinion quite
had taken place. inadequate to explain these outbursts. For in-
It can be understood that the movement of stance, who would claim it to be the cause of
the rocks does not cause an even pressure coal outbursts. I do not think there is much
over the whole of the area disturbed, and the evidence of great heat and cooling in those cases.
outbursts would not occur close to the surface as In some cases of coal outbursts gas no doubt
most of the pressure would find relief upwards. plays a part, but the pressure of the roof is the
I should expect that the number of outbursts determining factor. I reason it out in this
would at some points between the two depths manner, the weight coming on compresses the
given be a maximum and decrease in number coal and the gas in the coal, forcing the gas
both upwards and downwards, upwards for the through the pores of the coal at an increased
reason given above and downwards because the velocity, the increased velocity causes extra
rocks would be stronger and the probability of friction, this extra friction grips the coal which
open goaf above having given some relief to the is torn from the face in the same manner as we
roof and reduced the pressure. see the collar of a hole torn away by the friction
In the case of the Lake Superior copper mines, of the escaping gases. There have been cases of
one cannot tell what or who felt the vibration of coal outbursts where the quantity of gas found
the footwall if il were the observers, then natur-
; has been much too small to account for the
ally they would feel the vibration on the footwall trouble.
as they stood on it. If there is a horizontal The pungent odour that Mr. Chilton noticed
thrust in action at present it would affect the in a stope where an outburst occurred was
hanging equally with the footwall. There is probably caused by the pyrite. Different en-
nothing to show that pressure of roof is not the gineers speak of the outbursts being caused by
cause of the outbursts. The Cinderella outburst unreleased strain, tension, stresses and strains in
shook the footwall. the crust of the earth. It is not clear what is
The case in Mr. Chilton's own experience in a meant by these terms, since the crust of the
central Rand mine, at 2,000 ft. depth, shows that earth is always stressed and in a state of strain.
pressure was causing the trouble. The long con- Stress is the reaction against the load and strain
tinuance of the trouble does not necessarily show is th3 deformation caused by the load. What is
that the force which produced the fold was still meant by saying the outbursts are caused by a
in operation. The cause of the successive out- sudden release of tension I Tension in relation
bursts was probably the advancing face coining to this question implies a pulling force or a
across the places of greater pressure. Another stretching of the rocks, and the release of tension
thing is that after an outburst some easement of that this force is destroyed. As most real
the pressure would take place for awhile and the outbursts take place in areas that have been
working place would be quiet until the pressure subjected to thrusts, I cannot understand how
again overcame the resistance and caused another release of tension can be the cause of the
outburst. The pressure that was necessary to outbursts it certainly cannot be the cause of
;
Jan. 1913 Tom Johnson— So-called Air l'>ln<ts mul Roof Pressure. 309
the so-called outbursts on pillars, many of which being taken that one hole does not mask another ;
are taking place in some of the mines on the in a narrow stope, 40 in. or so, these holes when
Band present time.
at the blasted would fill the stope to the roof, and with
Chilton takes exception to the formula I
.Mr. a little shovelling a pack would be formed from
gave, but seeing that he a short while ago in the bottom to the top of the stope with little
a paper quoted that weight did increase in depth, trouble. If a continuous pack was not wanted
I thought the formula was necessary. His only the holes that were necessary to provide
statement that pressure does not increase at sufficient waste would be drilled. In wide stopes
depth requires some qualification, for pressure two rows of holes would be necessary to provide
does increase in depth, but fortunately for miners waste for a coutinuous pack. If I had to use
the resistance also increases, and this is the birdcages I should prefer to use hard native
reason why we can mine at great depths. We wood, flattened on two or four sides, about 4 ft.
all know that two drives could be driven at the long x 6 in. to 8 in. square, for the face work ;
same depth, be practically subject to the same these birdcages could be drawn and used over
pressure, and that one would stand bare and the again, being followed by packs for permanently
other need a strong lining. The first does not steadying the hanging this I think would be
;
need a lining because the rock or the beam is safer and cheaper than using so muc'i soft lagging
strong enough to support itself in the second ; timber and leaving it in where first built It is
case the rock is weak and the beam is not strong almost impossible to estimate the cost of getting
enough to carry itself, the resistance is too small lagging to the place where it is to be used. There
and we must add to it by putting in a lining. is the first cost, then carrying to shaft head,
There is quite a difference between the actual putting into skips, taking out of skips, getting
pressure of the roof and the pressure we, as to the working place, and the interference with
miners, generally have to deal with. Mr. Chilton the work of the mine. Regarding the seam of
mentions cases of the rock splintering and Hying clay, I did make a slight slip there, and thank
so much that the miners were obliged to wear Mr. Chilton for noticing it. I should have said
guards to protect their eyes. I have man} times a softer stratum. Mr. Chilton mentions a great
-
seen the same thing in coal mines, due to the earth movement on the Rand south of the
gas and roof pressure. In some of the Rand outcrop, and he seems to imply that something
mines of the future the same thing will be seen. extraordinary is taking place. I do not know
It will not always be necessary to drill benches of any earth movement taking place south of the
as is the custom at present punching machines
;
outcrop, except that in places the hanging wall
will be used to undercut the face, and com- of some of the outcrop mines is trying to get to
paratively few holes will be used for making the footwall, which is to be expected. Where
width, the pressure of the roof doing most of the the dip is steep the hanging must travel north a
work. Mr. Chilton thinks our mining Homer, little to get to the footwall. It is this movement
meaning myself, was caught nodding in stating that is causing the ground to travel north, and
that there is too much timber going into many it has been the cause of some of the earthquakes
cages is sent underground, and in man}- cases all), outbursts are caused by pressure, therefore
half ofit is wasted. Birdcages are used in our the way to try to prevent them is to try to
mines as permanent work, whereas they should prevent the pressure concentrating on any point.
be used primarily as temporary work it is packs ;
The only way I know of at present is to work
that are wanted for the permanent work of the faces as fast and regularly as possible,
steadying the roof, and if waste cannot be got leaving no pillars, but cutting up the floor and
from sorting in the stope, it should be got from making packs as mentioned above. If these
the footwall. This waste could be got in the cuts and packs are kept fairly close to the face,
following manner Drill a series of holes about
:
the cut will give relief to the floor and allow it
14 in. deep in the floor, in the line of dip, care to flow and thus ease the pressure on the face.
310 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
nl rock from the solid face. other side has a velvety pile which exposes a
The crushing of pillars comes under ordinary large surface to the auriferous solution and has
weighting. much to do with the prompt responsive action
Many reported outbursts are simply ordinary characteristic of this form of zinc. The velvety
weighting of roof, or, as we call it, caving. pile seems to encourage the formation ami assist
Outbursts seem to occur most where thrusts the liberation of the free hydrogen which invari-
have taken place, so I do not think release of ably accompanies, at least to a slight extent, the
tension the cause of outbursts.
is precipitation of gold. The disadvantages of fili-
I do not think anyone claims that coal form zinc are wholly due to its physical struc-
outbursts or pillar outbursts are caused by ture and to mechanical considerations involved in
heating and cooling. using it and in dealing with the bullion precipi-
In clear strong ground it does not follow that tate. Zinc thread is weak, for during its prepara-
outbursts will increase as depth is attained. tion its fibrous structure is destroyed by the
Acknowledging the fact that rock can be cutting tool and the velvety surface is only an
made to flow, rock outbursts can be accounted indication of the thread having been strained
for by the pressure theory,, whether in stopes, beyond the breaking point of the original fibre
drives or tunnels. and left extremely fragile. As the auriferous
solution acts on the zinc, it soon penetrates the
pile of velvet and the beautiful springy zinc
thread collapses into a dirty mush long before its
A NEW METHOD OF PRECIPITATION full chemical work is accomplished. The result
BY ZINC. is that bullion precipitates generally contain at
in. t<> .'. in. wide. There is no point in any must piss through a series of channels of uniform
\
particular size so ln« as the waters are width. When a rotary extractor is Used the
small in comparison to the size of cell of the zinc channels cannot possibly be narrower, the flow
box, but it is found that oblong wafers pack cannot possibly be uniform and the succession of
ter and are more conveniently made and changes in position cause, by the rotation of the
1
handled than those approximately square. The extractor must have the effect of widening the
wafers are made by cutting ordinary sheet zinc channels and reducing opportunity of contact.
of any convenient gauge, say No. 11, into strips
The operations at Caveira, begun two years
about H
iii. wide in a bookbinder's guillotine before the date of this announcement, showed
and cutting these strips crosswise so as to give that a revolving extractor box was unnecessary
in using zinc wafers, and as the method has been
wafers 1 in. long and say
.1
-J
in. wide. When
the wafers fall into the cell of the zinc box, they installed at a mine in Italy and one in .Mexico
nge themselves irregularly but more or less with equally good results, its position is now
overlapping in slate fashion. Each wafer is proved.
slightly distorted at the corners by the guillotine ;
The cost of installing the guillotine which is
this prevents any sticking and provides the only special appliance required for making
channels for the passage of an auriferous cyanide wafers, is a matter of £10 or so- a very much
less sum than that required for a zinc turning
solution, which have the advantage of being
narrow and uniform. This means that the solu- lathe of equal capacity.
tion has equal opportunity of precipitation in It may
be said that at Caveira the precipita-
all parts of the mass.
tion is by the presence of a large
facilitated
amount of silver along with the gold doubtless
;
there!' ire
be assumed that they will work anywhere — and
possibly in a few years we shall see zinc threads
the whole box, may lie advantageously made only
displaced by zinc wafers.
half the usual depth. The method of precipita-
tion was introduced at the Caveira mine in Por-
Dr. W. A. Caldecott (Past- Preiident) : Our
tugal in 1907. The ore contains about 25 gm. Society is to be congratulated upon receiving
of gold and 120 gin. of silver per ton. With this paper from a man of Mr. J. S. MacArthur's
coarse crushing the average extraction is about
world-wide reputation. Besides the original
80% of the gold and 75% of the silver. The introduction of ordinary zinc shavings as a pre-
cyanide plant was equipped with the usual clean-
cipitant of gold from cyanide solution, the author
up plant, but as the bullion precipitate was likewise introduced, in 1894, the lead-coated zinc
found to contain only about 3% of zinc and 12% shavings now so generally used, of which his
of other foreign matter largely impurities re- — original specification appears on page 915 of the
maining from the dissolved zinc, it was found second volume of our Journal. Without this
that no acid treatment was necessary. Careful explanation the casual reference in the paper to
observation of the zinc wafers while in use
a little ' chemical dodging " with lead salt would
showed that they became thinner and thinner by
hardly convey the full importance of the author's
use, until at the end of three or four weeks they
researches upon this factor in precipitation. The
di-appeared altogether without the structural
description he now gives us of zinc wafers shows
strength being impaired and without leaving
that a quarter of a century after the introduction
distinguishable debris. The new method of
of the cyanide process the author is still labour-
treatment proved itself economical in con-
lias
ing to improve that branch of the work which he
sumption of zinc, in avoiding use of acid and it
has brought before us to-night.
has greatly simplified the clean-up and thus saved
As possibly of some little interest in this con-
time and temper.
nection, I may mention that in the early days of
It fell to Mr. James Hutton to work the plant the cyanide process I tried at the Sheba a pro-
in which this method was first installed, and 1 posal which had been suggested of using granu-
leave him to give details of work. lated zinc in place of zinc shavings, but without
:
312 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913'
much success, probably owing to the small sur- ment as carried out on the Rand with sand, and
face exposed in proportion to the weight of the it isonly when we come to the precipitation of
granulated particles. It is to be hoped that Mr. the bullion that we arrive at something new in
Hutton in his reply to the discussion of his paper, the use of zinc clippings instead of shavings as a
supplementing that of Mr. MacArthur's, will be precipitant.
able to give the Society data as to the results of Mr. MacArthur who is the Consultant for the
zinc wafer precipitation under ordinary working mine, decided to make a trial with clippings
conditions with banket ore. instead of shavings, but as a safeguard the last
I have much pleasure in moving a hearty vote compartments were filled with shavings, but this
of thanks to Mr. J. S. MacArthur. method was discontinued as the shavings were
This was agreed to with acclamation.
not required. The boxes were of the usual type
with slanting bottoms and side launders and
were installed for the use of shavings. There
were 8 boxes of the following dimensions
CYANIDING OF GOLD AND SILVER ORE Length over all 18 ft. 8| in. containing 10 com-
AT CAVEIRA MINE, PORTUGAL. partments 27 in. x 15 in. x 15 in. deep. The fall
being about J in. to the foot. The boxes
By James Hutton (Associate). specially designed for the use of zinc clippings or
wafers have a fall of 1 in 4 and the depth of the
In writing this paper to be read in conjunction compartment is 8 in. The clippings were made
with the one written by Mr. MacArthur, I find a from zinc sheet (No. 12 gauge) and were cut
difficulty in avoiding the path already trodden by about, \ in. broad and li in. long. This was
my iate chief, but as he has only given a general done with an ordinary printer's guillotine
idea of the process, it may interest the members machine. About 25 kilos were put into each
of this Society if in the following I give a more compartment, which is equivalent to about 3 in.
detailed description of the plant and the method deep, so that in 10 compartments there were only
of precipitation as installed by him and worked 250 kilos (^ tonne) or about 7 cu. ft. of zinc.
by myself. doing so I must unavoidably
In No packing of the zinc is required, as the
write much that jou have already listened to, clippings only require to be levelled off. The
but hope by the added details to explain a few rate of flow through these boxes would be 70 to
points that may interest and prove the success of 80 tons of solution per 24 hr., which is very-
the method. fast, being fully 10 tons of solution per cubic
The mine is situated about 70 miles south of foot of zinc in the 24 hr. The assay value of
Lisbon and is on the belt of copper mineral which the solution leaving the boxes was about
extends from Huelva in the South of Spain to 08 gm. of bullion (05 dwt.), and only carried a
near Lisbon where it is lost in the sea. It is trace of gold ;in all, the total value would be
worked for copper and also for silver and gold. about Id. per ton. At the clean up the solution
As on most of the mines on this belt of mineral is run off to within a few inches of the zinc, the
the copper pyrite is covered with a mass of fer- zinc scraped together and washed in the same
ruginous mineral (gossan) which is generally compartment by a simple process of sieving, put
known as iron cap, and it is this iron cap which on to trays and returned to the boxes after the
in Caveira is treated by the cyanide process for precipitateis washed out. New zinc is added
silver and gold. compartment to make up for loss by
to the last
The mineral, whichis of a soft porous nature, consumption. The precipitate when it is washed
is dry crushed, so that there is only one product out of the boxes flows down the side launder
for treatment. It is first passed through a jaw and is collected in a large iron vessel which
crusher and then into pan mills which are fitted stands on a small bogej', so that it can be taken
with ] in. screens. From the mill it is elevated from box to box without any trouble, and as it
into bins and from the bins filled into trucks and flows into the collecting vessel it passes through
taken to the treatment vats which are 30 ft. x 8 f t ,
a fine sieve (20 mesh to the lineal inch), so that
a charge being from 20t) to 230 metrical tons. any small zinc is caught in the sieve and
Cyanide solution of 0'25 is then run on and left returned to the boxes The collecting vessel
in contact for a few hours before starting to soon fills with solution, but as the precipitate is
drain off. 60 to 70 tons of strong solution are very heavy it quickly settles. The solution is
used and the treatment continued with weak then baled out into a large tub, and at the end
solution running about 0'12% and then finished of the clean up is pumped up to the head of the
off with a water wash. Fully 2 to 1 of solution boxes and any precipitate that is in the bottom
is used for the treatment. Generally speaking of the tub scraped out and added to the precipi-
the treatment by cyanide is similar to the treat- tate in the collecting vessel.
Jan. 1913 ./. Hutton—Cyaniding of Gold and Silvi r Ore at > 'aveira M ne, Portugal. :;i:?
from OS dwt. to 5 dwt, and silver from 1 oz. to A large saving in labour. As only a very
12 oz. per ton of 1,000 kilos. Taken over a small percentage of bullion is retained on the
period of 3 to 4 years the average would be zinc, it is not necessary to concentrate the zinc
about 1'5 dwt. gold and 4 oz. silver. the same as is done with zinc shavings by taking
Extraction Considering this was a coarse
: the heads of the weak boxes over to the medium
crushing and low grade proposition the average and the heads of the medium over to the strong.
extraction was very good. Gold 83% and I see no reason why this method of filling
silver 75%, The consumption of cyanide was boxes with zinc clippings should not be a success
about 1 lb. per ton. Zinc, 2'4 to -i-8 to 1 of on the Rand. True, here we have a low grade ore,
fine metal recovered, or equal to 8 oz. to 16 oz. but as Mr. MacArthur points out, the mine under
per ton of ore, the higher figure being recorded his supervision in Italy is a low grade gold
when a large amount of impurity was present. ore proposition and highly successful results are
All the work in the extractor house, cut- obtained with the use of zinc wafers. It would
ting zinc, cleaning up and smelting, was done be very interesting for anyone who may have a
by 2 men, assisted by the foreman. From box lying idle to fill a few compartments with
this small plant as much as f of a tonne of pure zinc clippings and as a precautionary method, if
bullion has been recovered in one month. the experimenter is pessimistically inclined, to fill
The mineral is very complex, and contains the lower compartments with shavings and use
traces of other elements which are also dissolved the solution that would under ordinary circum-
by cyanide and precipitated by zinc. stances go through the weak boxes. The author
Selenium. —This was the first impurity met for one feels certain that the results obtained
with ;
when present it formed a matte-like sub- would prove this method of precipitation to be
stance on the top of the bullion and had to be worthy of an experiment on a larger scale.
chipped off. It only remains to add that it is hoped that
Mercury. —
This was always to be found but in this paper does not clash too much with the one
small quantities, from a trace to 2 oz. or 3 oz. just read, and that the object of explaining in
per ton. I understand that a retorting furnace detail the general method as portrayed by Mr.
has been put up and that now the mercury is MacArthur has been attained.
recovered from the precipitate.
Lead. —This was also met with, and at one Mr. H. A. White ( Vice-President) I should
:
time it formed such a base bullion that it had to like to propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr.
be refined by cupellation. Hutton for his paper, which certainly does not
Copper. —
The mineral lying directly over a seem to clash with Mr. MacArthur's paper, but
copper ore, it was to be expected that copper ably illustrates the points made It would be
would be the impurity most to be looked for, but quite simple for almost any cyanide manager on
this troubled us very little and when present the Rand to make experiments with this method,
could always be detected on the clean zinc in the because he has waste zinc from the Betty lathe
last compartments of the boxes. which could easily be cut up into wafers and the
To sum up the benefits derived by the use of experiment would cost practically nothing. >l I
314 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. J;in. 1913
solution. Also, you may not use even as much evolved hydrogen, and numbers of tests were
as '01% extra cyanide strength ; so you have not made by estimation on the original sample, on con-
any very wide margin for improvements. It centrate and sand obtained therefrom and on
must also be observed that the area of possible similarly ground country rock, to verify the figure
contact is enormously reduced by the proposed given. The work was not of course undertaken
method and that the narrow passages available as a part of any analysis of ore, but was carried
with zinc wafers though they may increase the out for this specific estimation only.
contact efficiencyare liable to be completely With regard to the design and position of the
choked when white precipitate is formed therein. magnetic separator, I would, with Mr. Stadler's
permission, refer Mr, Chomley and Mr. Robertson
Prof. J. A. Wilkinson {Member of Council) :
ijnorlar. The metallic iron was estimated by have great pleasure in making a few remarks on
—
Jan. 1913 to the Worlcs of "The Transvaal Leader.' 315
Mr. Morris Green's paper —which was read be- nature has put in, and a pennyweight extra cost
fore our Society at the September meeting last may upset the whole scheme.
year. I am sorry that there has not been more dis-
The author seems to have taken a great deal cussion on the author's most interesting paper.
of trouble and care ovar his experiments on
The meeting then terminated.
Mount Morgan ore. I am sorry that he did not
receive quite representative samples of the ore in
question, but that was not his fault. Visit to the Works of the Transvaal
Research work, I am afraid, is not sufficiently Leader."
appreciated among the mining people large —
sums money are often spent on putting up a
of On Saturday afternoon, the 25th January, the
plant, which money would have been saved if Members of the Society were the guests of the
careful preliminary tests had been made before- Transvaal Leader management, when an inspec-
hand, at comparatively small cost. Very often a tion of the works of the Leach r was made.
metallurgist is blamed because the extraction Ab)ut 50 members were present, including the
—
when once the mine is started does not come up President and Vice-Presidents of the Society, and,
to the expectation raised by the experiments in — under the guidance of Mr. C. Hewitt, manage]
my opinion, sufficient care is not taken to obtain of the Transvaal Leader, Mr. Barber, the works
.representative samples. In the Barberton and in manager, and other members of the staff, in-
the Lydenburg districts the gold ores vary in a spected the different departments connected with
way of which the Rand miner has no conception. the work of producing a daily paper of the
I have made many experiments on Mount magnitude of the Leader, and also the printing
—
Morgan pyrite ore I never obtained more than and lithographic works.
a trace of gold by amalgamation —
and after At the conclusion of the inspection, which
grinding the ore, so as to pass a 200 mesh screen, lasted nearly two hours, the guests were enter-
57 was the highest extraction I obtained by tained at aftemon tea, and were presented with
using cyaniding with air agitation. a handsomely-illustrated souvenir of the visit.
I agree with the author in his remarks about In proposing a vote of thanks to the manage
graphite in the ore not being a precipitant of ment, Mi. W. R. Dowling (President of the
gold from cyanide solutions but where graphite Socijty) said the members present had spent
is present, trouble in extraction must be expected a most instructive and interesting afternoon.
— this is my experience. Sulphate of magnesia (Applause.) The average man, when he read
often occurs with such ores. I tried agitating his morning paper, did not realise all the
the finely crushed ore with a small amount of ingenious machinery, all the skill and knowledge
soap added to remove the graphite. I was which had been brought to bear to produce his
successful in removing the graphite but the ex paper. All he knew about it was its contents,
traction was not improved. I found a trace of and if it did not come in time, he felt he had a
zinc in this ore,and arsenic was always present. grievance. Continuing, Mr. Dowling said that
I have known for some years that when the gold it had become the practice, mostly among
and silver are present in an ore, say five parts of politicians, to blame the press when matters
to three of silver, that there is great difficulty
gi ild were published which got the politicians into
in obtaining a high extraction. But it sometimes trouble. The members of the Chemical, Metal-
happens that there is gold present in the ore lurgical and Mining Society had nothing to
alloyed with silver in the ordinary proportion, complain of whatever on that score. The press
say eight to one, and also there is silver ore had always been fair to them, and was always
present, which is only .lightly soluble in cyanide [leased to record their doings.
solution, this fact can only be ascertained by Concluding, Mr. Dowling said: "I would
carefully assaying the residue after treatment. thank the management of the Leader Works for
I obtained the best extraction by roasting the the entertainment they have given us, and
coarsely ground Mount Morgan ore, being very ask you, gentlemen, to drink to the further
careful not to raise the temperature over S50° C. prosperity of the Leader Works."
Metallurgists seem to be afraid of roasting, one The toast was heartily drunk, ami Mr. H. A.
day some one will have the courage to put up a "White, Vice-President, thanked the manager and
modern roasting plant, and will demonstrate that directors for the interesting souvenir of the visit
with our cheap fuel, we can roast as cheaply as which they had issued. The}' had enjoyed the
in Australia and the United States of America. visit tremendously. It seemed to him that if
The trouble is that very often tin se refractory the gentleman responsible for the construction
ores are no richer than the ore- more easily treated of the wonderful machinery which they had seen
and the metallurgist can only get out what were to pay a visit underground, he would be
—
316 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913-
able to devise for them a mechanical Kafir, and (the Leader)had been greatly honouied by the
so solve the whole native labour question. which he hoped would ii"t be the last.
visit,
Mr. Hewitt, in expressing the pleasure the They would always be welcomed, whether they
management had had in showing the members came as a Society or one at a time. (Loud
of the Society over the works, said that he did applause.)
not think the potentialities of the printing in- Mr. Hewitt then presented Mr. Dowling with
dustry were sufficiently realised. They wanted the original of the sketch of himself, by ''The
the public to know more about the industry, as Jabberwock," appearing in the souvenir.
questions might arise when it would be just as
During the afternoon the visitors paw the
well for the public to know what sort of industry
illustrated souvenir printed, bound, etc. The
printing was. It had been estimated that
little volume was very neatly got up, and con-
£4, 000, 000 had been invested in the printing
tained views and letterpress descriptive of the
industry in this country. That was four-fifths
departments in the building, some of which are
of the amount invested in the diamond industry,
reproduced here.
and in the printing industry all the capital was
represented by hard cash. Another point was The following is a short description of t he-
that there were 3, "200 white men employed in works, taken over by the courtesy of the manage-
the printing industry in South Africa, and 20 agement from the souvenir kindly presented t<:
plause.) The diamond industry, however, re- The Transvaal Leader works form one of
turned 25 per cent., and the printing industry the most striking examples of the manner in
only 2A. It was their own fault, said Mr.
which industry has advanced in Johannesburg
Hewitt, as, between themselves, they gave too since the war. The origin of the Leader goes
much away — (laughter) — and the remedy lay back to some years before the war. Towards the
with themselves. Further, Mr. Hewitt said he
end of 1894, or about the beginning of 189T>, the
could only acknowledge the kind remarks of the Johannesburg Tunes came into existence. It
President, and say for himself, the staff and the was owned and published by a Company in
directors that it had been a great pleasure to which Sir Joseph (then Mr. J. B.) Robinson held
receive the members, and he considered they a controlling interest. Besides producing the-
-Jan. Kin Visit <<> the Worlcs of "The Transvaal Leader." 317
318 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 191JJ«
Jan. 191:: Visit to the Works of " Tfie Transvaal Leader.' :?19>
^ The Journal of The. Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
<
"
Jan. 1!>IS ViM I" tin- Works nf " The Transvaal Leader 32B
322 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
paper, the Compan}- did a small jobbing business are, in addition to the " Miehle " machines, the
in premises, opposite Oceana
rather restricted great " Hoe " printing machine, from which the
Buildings, in Simmonds Street. During the Lender is rolled off every week-day morning and
war, of course, publication of the Times was sus- the Sunday Post on Sunday. Some idea of the
pended, and shortly after newspapers were again quantity of paper required to feed the ''Hoe"
permitted in the Transvaal the Company disposed may lie gathered from the statement that if the
of all its assets as a going concern to a private continuous rolls of paper used in the course of
syndicate, which, after a few months, sold out to one month were spread out they would form a
the Cape Times, Limited. white pathway which would stretch very nearly
from Johannesburg to Capetown Here also are
!
Notices and Abstracts of Articles and solutions. The varying conditions in which the
coinage metals occur dining the successive si ages of
Papers.
their treatment requires a more rapid and accurate
system of keeping check upon the composition of
CHEMISTRY. complex products. In the refining operations speed
Radio-Active Minerals in South Africa. is more essential in analytical work on a tentative
"In a paper entitled 'Thoric Dioxide in Smith scale than more minute precision. Therefore, short-
African Monazites,' read before the Cape Chemical cut volumetric methods have been worked out in
Society, (Sooth Africa), Prof. Halm gave some the mint laboratories with unique success, and with
interesting information. a notable reduction in the expenditure of time,
Tlie minerals containing the rare earths have been skilled labour and materials. Particularly satisfac-
considered up to the enc of last century only from a tory have 1 the results obtained by the humid
11
purely scientific point of \ iew, because they had del ei initiation of gold.
been observed only in very few localities and were Assayers are familiar with the regulation lire
rather difficult to obtain. When the use of soi i assay of whereby a half-gin. -ample of the
gold,
these earths in the manufacture of incandescent bullion under examination is alloyed with approxi-
lamps became known, the investigation of minerals mately gin. of fine silver, and from 2 to 3 gm.
1
received a powerful impetus, and it was soon found of lead foil. The base metal is n ived by cupella-
that their occurrence was by no means limited to tion, and its proportion is determined by deducting
Norway and Sweden, and in the United States as the loss in weight of the original sample, plus the
well as in South America, large deposits of these proof silver added. After boiling the cupelled,
minerals were discovered. Of those minerals is of annealed and rolled-out alloy of gold and silver
special interest the mineral monazite. It is essen twice in nitric acid, the residual gold is washed,
tially a phosphate of eerie ami lanthanic sesquioxi- annealed ami weighed., its relative quantity being
des The value of the mineral, however, depends reported in terms of thousandths and qiiaiters
upon the amount of thoric dioxide which occurs in thereof. The known weight of the tine gold, plus
monazite from 0"l to !l
the estimated base, when subtracted from the
In 1*114. st.Sliwas paid for 1 kgm. of thoric nitrate ; lialf-gni. sample, left as a difference the percentage
1895,1107; 1898, §975
1896, $17; 1900, 8690. ; ; of siher. Owing to inaccuracies occurring in the
Since 1900 the price has remained the same. Alreadj cupellation of siher bullion, the humid assay of this
in 1896 small quantities of monazite had been ob- grade of metal has long been used in the mints
served, together with some other rare minerals like instead of the tire method. Briefly, its principle is
fergusonite and aeschynite in the alluvial tin ore based upon the power of a standard solution of salt,
deposit near Embabaan, Swaziland in 1905 monazite : to precipitate an exact quantity of silver, from its
was found in Houtenbeck in the Transvaal, to- solution in nitric aeid. The final diop of this reagent
gether with fluorspar. The monazite of these two murks most accurately the point of complete preci-
localities has been investigated as to the amount of pitation by a taint cloud, which, after settling, will
thoric dioxide and as to the radio activity by K. he imperceptible with the addition of one more drop.
Hallack, assistant in the chemical department, This time-honored titration process has its advan-
South African College. The monazite of Houten- tages and limitations. While most accurate in the
beck was found to contain in two samples _':; .'i
determination of silver in most instances, it is
thoric dioxide, and the monazite from Swaziland subject to error when bismuth is present. Bismuth
ii(ill dioxide. An interesting sample of euxenite oxychloride is thrown down from the nitrate
contained as much as 1"54 and 2'04 of manic'
solution by the sodium chloride solution, which,
oxide. The monazite from both localities was found mingling with the turbid silver chloride, is fre-
stiongly radio-active as was also the euxenite. It is quently undetected and, as a result, the operator of
interesting to note that the intensity of the radio- the burette runs in an excess of the precipitant and
el ive effects of the different kinds of monazite is in mi obtains a higher return in silver than really
proportion to the percentage of thoric dioxide, which existed in the sample. Now the use of the Volhard
the minerals contain." Mining and Engineering volumetric method of determining silver is super-
World, Oct. 26, 1912, p. 783. (A. K.) seding the titration with salt solution, in the mints
and refineries, in the assay of bismuth-carryiiig
New Reaction of Diphenylamine. — 'Pure bullion, and wherever speed is more important than
chlorine water with diphenylamine dissolved in absolute accuracy.
H.jS() 4 gives the same blue colour as nitrates and Since the bulk of the bullion operated upon in the
nitrites. The reaction is more sensitive with nascent mints is now refined by the electrolytic processes,
chlorine, as in the presence of HC1 less than 0'01 mg. new conditions have arisen. Deposits of crude gold
of K„Cr,/) T can he indicated. Kahlbaum's purest and silver are segregated into two grades. All bars
KC103, K.MnOj, KC10;, and 2
give a similar Mn0 containing over 600 parts of gold per 1,000 are
reaction in the presence of HC.'I. Stronger bichro- blended with nearly tine gold, in sufficient quantity
mate solutions without HC1 give the green colour to bring the resultant alloy up to over 850 fine. It
of the chromic salts. Permanganate under the same is then cast into anodes and electrolyzed in a bath
conditions gives a yellow solution. A 0'01 \ solution of gold-chloride solution acidulated with hydro-
of Merck's hydrogen peroxide also gives a blue chloric acid. Pure gold is deposited on the cathodes
colour." —1. j. LuTSCHlNSKY.— Chemiker Zeitung, until the latter become about an inch thick, when
Oct. 22, 1912, p. 1239. (T. D.) they are removed, washed, dried anil melted into
bars, whose fineness averages nearly 0"9995. All
New Volumetric Methods in Vogue at gold bullion is assayed by the old, reliable fusion
—
Mints. "Recent radical changes in the metallur- met boil, when exact returns (one-fourth of one-
gical methods employed in the United States Mints thousandth) are required. Deposits of lower grade
have necessitateil the devising and adoption of more than 600 parts gold are blended with silver and dore
improved processes of determining the proportions of oars, until the average proportion is 300 parts gold,
metals contained in different alloys, admixtures and liilil silver and 100 base. This alloy is cast into
324 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 191?'
anodes, which are refined electrolytic-ally by modifi- gold requires at least '24 hr. in which to settle, and
cations of the Moebius and Thum processes, in a in this state is subject to mechanical loss, as well as>
series of cells tilled with an electrolyte consisting of the effect of counter reactions, this method does not
3% silver nitrate, 2% nitric acid, and small and commend itself to the practical worker who must
varying amounts of copper nitrate. The silver is have prompt and reliable results.
deposited upon pure silver or graphite cathodes, from Finally, resort was made to the use of ferrous
which it is removed ill the granular form, washed, ammonium sulphate, Fe (NH 4 )o(S0 4 )._,6H.,0. Em-
dried and melted into liars, averaging over 09995 pirical solutions of this double salt of iron were
tine. The gold remains as anode sludge, from 900 to found to rapidly precipitate definite quantities of
950 fine, and is then treated by the Wohhvill system gold from the solution of its chloride, with a marked,
described above. degree of concordance, providing that no free nitric
During the electrolytic procedure the precious acid or nitrates were present, which would affect the
metals are in various stages of parting and refining re-solution of the finely-divided precipitate. If the
as alloys, spongy precipitates, residues, and solutions ferrous solution was made too weak, the precipitate
of gold or silver in the composition of electrolytes would remain partially suspended and if too strong,,
;
and wash waters. It frequently becomes necessary the readings were less minute, as each drop would
to ascertain the strength of these solutions in order naturally throw down a greater amount. A
con-
to decide upon their disposition, whether they are siderable excess of the ferrous solution was found
to be removed or replenished. However satisfactory tore-dissolve appreciable quantities of the gold it
the operation of these electrolytic refineries may be, precipitated. Most satisfactory results were ob-
there is a serious element of risk to be considered. tained by employing a solution, 1 cm. of which
All these solutions which contain gold and silver are would throw down 2>mgiii. of gold. It was prepared
finally conducted to a series of tanks, where the by dissolving 1535 gm. of chemically pure ferrous
silver is precipitated by copper, and the gold by ammonium sulphate in warm distilled water and
scrap "iron, zinc and tin. It is of high importance diluting to just one iitie. About cm. concentrated
1
that these spent solutions should be most carefully sulphuric acid was also added to reduce any
tested before they aie drawn off into the sewers. incipient formation of ferric sulphate. Such a
The careless mixture of a little nitric acid with solution would keep unaltered for months, as it was
solutions of chlorides will effect the formation of below the point of saturation. Other solutions, a
dilute aqya regia, which will rapidly redissolve the little stronger, would crystallize upon standing and
finely-divided precipitated gold. Considerable losses were more variable in their precipitating power.
have occurred in just this way in the past. The standard solution which would precipitate just
It also becomes necessary to keep a close check 025 gin. of gold had the additional advantage of.
upon the composition of the electrolytes, so as to affording a convenient factor with which to compute
maintain the strength of the solutions as nearly determinations. For example 32 cm. ferrous
:
uniform as possible. If the electrolyte contains solution -=-4=80 mgm. An. This would be a shorter
more of a metal than is necessary, the solution is way of calculating the amount of gold thrown down
decomposed more rapidly, while the action upon the by a solution, whi.-h had the capacity of precipi-
anodes is lessened, tin the other band, if the per- tating 0'025 gm. per cm., or the product of
centage of metal in the electrolyte is permitted to 0025x32, which equals the same, 00S0 gin.
drop below a determined point, with a stable current A second solution was prepared to measure the
density, the deposit which forms on the cathode is excess of ferrous ammonium sulphate, used in pre-
usually less coherent and of lower grade. Formerly, cipitating gold from its liquid chloride 12'3 gm.
;
when it was desired to know how much gold there potassium permanganate was dissolve i in a litre of
was in a solution of its trichloride, the only way of water. This solution hail the power of oxidizing an
determining its quantity was to remove 10 cm. of equal volume of the standard ferrous ammonium
the solution with a pipette, and drop it upon a sulphate solution to ferric. Usually, after weighing
concave disk of lead foil, and in this 'boat' it was and dissolving the permanganate, 5 cm. would
dried and reduced to metallic gold and anions oxidize from 4 9 to 51 cm. of the ferrous solution.
chloride. After the distilled chlorine had been The two solutions would be brought to a perfect
driven off', almost always with an attendant loss of balance of chemical-conversion power by the addi-
gold, the lead and its anions residue was cupelled tion of from 10 to 20 cm. to the stronger solution.
according to the regular gold-bullion assay. This For all practical puiposes these two solutions gave
method obviously took up much time and required satisfactory results, as long as they were within
the consumption of considerable fuel, loss of lead one-fiftieth of their theoretical proportion of strength.
foil and bone ash ; besides, its results were either Occasionally it became desirable to be more exact,
low through the volatilization of gold, or too high and then the amount of ferrous iron in solution w as-
because of the mechanical mixture of floating determined by resorting to the highly satisfactory
particles of silver chloride suspended in the elec- Marguerite method, care being taken to prevent any
trolyte. In fact, to be accurate, the assayer could oxidation of the ferrous solution previous to
not weigh up the cupelled button as gold, but titrating with the potassium permanganate. As a
instead was required to resort to inquartation to rule, the crystals of ferrous ammonium sulphate
separate the by no means negligible amount of averaged between 14 2 and 14 '3% iron.
silver, which entered the pipette when the sample The usual procedure of the volumetric analysis of
was taken in the first place. gold solutions, as practised in the laboratory of the
—
The Volumetric Determination of Gold. Not only San Francisco mint refinery was as follows: Unless
in the electrolytic separation of gold from its alloys, the approximate percentage of gold in solution was
but also in the chlorination process, and in aqua know n, a preliminary test was made, which would
in/in solutions of this metal, it is frequently of indicate the probable amount of the ferrous
importance to know the amount of gold in the form ammonium sulphate solution that would have to be
of its trichloride. In a laboratory way the estima- added. The gold solution was contained in a cell, a
tion of gold has heen effected by titration with a jar or a crock, and a pipette was inserted, with
solution of oxalic acid. Hut since the finely-divided which, after agitating the liquid, and allowing any
;
suspended particles to settle, a few cubic centi- anions iodide, and re-dissolved in an excess of the
metres was removed from the middle of tlie volume ; reagent. After a clear solution of starch is added,
5 cm. was run from the pipette into a beaker its blue colour is destroyed by thiosnlphate. Then
10 cm. of hot water was added, and about J cm. of standard iodine solution is run in until a faint pink
H ,S( 4 shaken in from a dropping-bottle (to maintain
l shade is detected. From the number of cubic centi-
ferrous state). Then according to the judgment of metres of the known strength of the iodine solution,
the operator the standard solution of ferrous the number of milligrams of gold precipitated is
ammonium sulphate was run in rapidly and in figured. As in the case of the ferrous solution, its
sufficient quantity to turn the faint yellow tint of power throw down a fixed weight of gold is
to
the chloride solution to a pale green, in which a previously ascertained by careful standardization.
tnrbid mass of finely-divided brownish -black gold VolharoVs Sttlphocyanide Determination of Silver. —
was suspended. The contents of the beaker were The application of this rapid ami reliable method
rigorously stirred with a glass rod and allowed to is based upon the following simple formula :
settle. If the yellow-orange colour prevailed over AgNO,- KCNS = AgCNS+ KNO Adecinormal so- :i
.
the green, another cubic centimetre precipitant was lution of silver is first prepared by dissolving 10793
added until an excess was obvious by the permanent gm. of pure silver in chemically pure nitric acid,
pale-green hue of the solution in the beaker. After boiling oil' the nitrous acid and diluting with
allowing the precipitate to settle, water was added distilled water to 1 litre. The normal solution of
to the solution, increasing its volume to nearly the precipitating reagent potassium or ammonium
—
100 cm. Then the permanganate solution was run sulphocyanide— is difficult to obtain by weighing
in from a burette, after the manner of the Mar- the-e salts because of their hygroscopic character.
guerite's method, until all of the excess of ferrous Neither can be dried without partial decomposition,
solution had been oxidized, as indicated by the last and so only an approximate weight can be taken.
drop of the permanganate turning the solution a The writer used an average of 9 3 gin. of the
permanent pink. potassium salt for several years, and found it more
In such an instance, 5 cm. of the gold-carrying stable than the ammonium compound. This was
solution had been taken as a sample. If 18 cm. of weighed as quickly as possible and dissolved in
the standard ferrous solution had been run in, effect- 1 litre of distilled water. With the addition of a
ing a complete precipitation as above described, few cubic centimetres of water or a few milligrams
plus a slight excess, and the latter bad been deter- of the salt, the solution was standardised so as to
mined by titrating back with 3 cm. of KMn0
4 , then have the capacity of precipitating 10 mgin. of silver
15 cm. was the exact volume of the ferrous solution with 1 cm. of the sulphocyanide. For approximate
required to precipitate the gold contained in 5 cm. determinations this solution gave results sufficiently
of the sampled solution. Therefore, the sample, close, while the preparation of a decinorinal sulpho-
one-two-hundredth of a litre, contained 15 0"025 cyanide solution was effected by adding 100 cm. of
gm. = 375 gin. of gold and 1 litre of this solution
-
tiie normal solution to 900 cm. of water. A third
would contain 75 gm. of gold. solution was made up of about 15 gm. of ferric
To check up the precipitating power of the ferrous sulphate which served as an indicator, turning a
solution, the gravimetric method was entirely satis- reddish brown when all of the silver bad been
factory in most cases. The contents of the beaker precipitated.
would be washed through a filter with distilled Alloys of silver containing over two parts of silver
water, the residual gold boiled in dilute hydro- to one of gold are boiled twice in nitric acid, the
chloric acid, and rinsed upon the filter. Particles former in acid of specific gravity 1-2, the last boiling
of films of gold adhering to the beaker were removed being effected by acid of specific gravity 132 and the
with filter paper. After careful washing until all nitrous acid is driven off. Usually a sample of half
traces of iron are removed the gold on the filter a gram is taken for the assay. The solution of the
paper is removed to a porcelain crucible, dried, silver is carefully washed into a beaker, through a
ignited and weighed. The results are a little filter if necessary. Each 100 mgm. of silver in
higher than the ovipellatiun method. To be exact, solution as nitrate requires 100 cm. of distilled
the chemist should wrap the precipitated gold in water so that the reading of the colour change will
lead foil and cupel the same. Thus a careful check be most clearly noted. About cm. of the ferric
.">
may he made upon the titrations. The great, advan- sulphate solution is added to beaker, and then the
tage in the use of this volumetric method is the mixture is ready to titrate. As the sulphocyanide
notable saving in time. Five minutes at the most solution drops into the beaker from the burette
suffices for the estimation of the gold content of white Hocculent masses of silver sulphocyanide form
any solution. This will be of value in aqua-regta and gradually settle, and as the precipitation nears
separations, when, after evaporating the nitric arid completion, reddish brown ferric sulphocyanide
atid adding a little hot water, the gold may be begins to form, but fades out as long as ai:y silver
readily determined, providing its solutionis not too remains in solution. Finally, one drop of sulpho-
weak. Samples of solutions which contain less cyanide combines with the ferric indicator, and
than a gram of gold per litre should he evaporated a permanent red colour diffuses through the white
down considerably so as to facilitate the recovery of curds as a danger signal warning the operator to go
the gold in a coherent form. To determine the per no further with his titration. This colour change is
cent, by weight, divide the number of grams per very distinct and exact. Compared with the sodium
litre by the specific gravity. chloride titration, the sulphocyanide method is much
Morley mid GoocKs Iodine Method fm Gold. For — more convenient, ;is it does not necessitate the long
the estimation of gold, when present in quantities agitation of the chloride with the nitrate id' silver,
less than 1gm. per litre, the use of .Morley and ami the red end reaction of the ferric indicator as
Gooch's iodine method is more exact. This process seen against the white mixture is more easily
was an improvement upon the method of Peterson, detected than is the faint cloud of silver chloride
in which centi-normal and even milli-nornial solu- which marks the completion of the older process.
tions of iodine and thiosnlphate are employed. The This newer method may be used in the presence of
gold is first precipitated by potassium iodide as lead, nickel, cobalt, bismuth, zinc, iron and arsenic
—
326 The Journal of Tin Cliemicol. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 19U
in considerable quantities without interfering with the tar distillation products, so indispensable in the
tlie results. Mercury, however, is most objection- colour industry. The latest method of utilising the
able on account of the formation of the insoluble peat or turf lieds, so plentiful in Germany and many
mercuric sulphocyanide. When the alloy treated other countries, is practised on Schweger Moor, near
contains more than one-half copper it is advisable to Osnabriick, according to the process of Frank and
first effect si separation. The silver is precipitated Caro. Peat gas is produced and utilised and
by an excess of KCNS and washed on a filter with ammonia obtained as a by-product, the required
not too warm distilled water (about 70° (.'.). The power being generated in a 3,000 h.p. central electric
filter is then broken and the contents washed into power station. The moorland, after removal of the
an Erlenmeyer Mask by concentrated nitric acid. It peat, is rendered serviceable for agriculture.
is then gently boiled for three-quarters of sin hour. Production of Cold. —Instead of the ammonia
Since sulphuric acid is formed during this digestion, machines, with which a temperature of -20° C. can
it then becomes necessary to remove it by adding be attained, we employ to-day sulphurous acid
barium nitrate drop by drop until the sulphate is machines, or better still resort to the carbonic acid
entirely precipitated. The solution is diluted with gasifier, which yields a temperature of -40° C.
water and filtered, whereupon the silver nitrate Plants for the liquefaction of air, producing as
filtrate is ready for titration as described above. low a temperature as - 190° C, are becoming more
While the Volhard method will probably never and more common, and are especially profitable
entirely supersede the Gay Lussac process in mint where gas mixtures, rich in oxygen, or where pure
practice, its rapidity and simplicity of operation lias nitrogen, which are simultaneously produced, can
commended its adoption by technical men in the be utilised.
service to such an extent that its use is becoming Size of Apparatus. —
Influenced by the Solvay
more general. In the mints and assay offices the process, for soda manufacture, the apparatus used
electrolytic analysis of copper is largely preferred to in the chemical industry have enormously ineresised
the iodide method where time is an important factor, in size. In this respect the United states, no doubt
while in approximate determinations the cyanide on account of the example set by the iron industry,
assay is swift and sufficiently sure. There are yet with its blast furnaces with si daily capacity of 500
numerous opportunities for improving the methods tons, its giant conveyors (.Ill-ton wsigons), its huge
of separating and determining nickel, which should hoisting cranes, is ahesid of other countries. But
occupy more time of the Government assayers." careful calculations have proved that there is a limit
Harold Frknch. — Mining and Engineering World, in this direction.
Nov. 9, 1912, p. 853. (A. R.) It is not improbable that the high cost of construc-
tion and the great loss which accidental stoppage
The Latest Achievements of the Chemical entails will necessitate si reduction in size of the
[xihstisy. —
".Success hsis so emboldened this wonderful Wedge furnace, si creation of the United
industry that it considers itself capable of solving Stales, which roasts .'in tons of iron pyrites per day.
any problem, provided the men in its service are In the organic chemical industry, the iron vessels
well trained in theory and practice and ready to for chlorination, sulphonation, nitration, reduction
devote themselves to the best of their ability, with and oxidation, as well sis the wooden tanks in which
patience and perseverance, to the object in view. we diazotise and produce (•lours, have developed
This lists been shown by the struggle between the from the small vessels and vats of former years into
contact process of producing sulphuric acid and the apparatus of mighty size, their limit being generally
old " chamber process " by the rivalry between the
;
determined by the capacity of the mechanical
Solvay process and the Le Blsmc method in the industry.
manufacture of soda by the production of nitric
;
Wherever possible,continuous operations have
acid and its suits by direct, oxidation of nitrogen of replaced those processes which worked intermit-
the siir under the influence of the heat of the elecf ric tently. In this way loss of time and expense, caused
discharge by .the manufacture of ammonia from
;
by cooling and re-heating, are avoided. This is
atmospheric nitrogen indirectly via calcium cyana- exeniplilii'd h\ ebel - new mel hoil lor he produc
I 1
monium sulphate, so important to agriculture, and The Gaillard tower is supreme for concentration and
—
Jan. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Chemistry. 32T
recovery of t lie acid ami for the regeneration of t lie alkalinity Neutralize tin- excess KOH with a few
waste acids. drops of Cd (N03
solution, or of dilute acetic acid,
)2
Ammonium Sulphate. A new way of manufac — dilute, and heat on steam bath for .5 or III mill.
turing sulphuric acid, together with ammonia, from Filter hot and reject precipitate. With Fe'"(CN) (
the gases which are produced by the dry distillation present, the filtrate may contain traces. To remove
in coal, is looming above the horizon. Burkheiser is tlieui, add a few drop- H S0 , heat to boiling, and
s 3
seeking, with the aid of especially prepared wet iron filter.
compounds, to bind the sulphur, simultaneously 'ii tin- Filtrate.— Test one fourth the filtrate
xt< mi
absorbing cyanogen, and t convert the ammonium > • for 'X by adding FeS0 4 ami K( HI, heat, add a drop
I
sulphite thus produced into ammonium sulphate by of FeCk. and acidify with HO. SCN" may inter-
oxidation with atmospheric air. In competition tere, but can be eliminated by Hgl'lo solution.
with Burkheiser, Walter Feld is endeavouring to Acidify the remainder of the filtrate with dilute
recover sulphur directly a- ammonium sulphate bj HN0 3 ami treat for the detection of CI, Br, and I
,
tin- yield i- concerned, for a quarter of the salt used operation is repeated two or three times, then water
in the process is lost as such, ami the whole amount is added and the solution filtered. To the filtrate
of chlorine in the form of calcium chloride. is added soda or potash until only slightly acid the ;
Although the materials employed iii the Le Blanc volume is made up to 20l> cc. and sufficient pyridine
,
process are completely utilised, this fact "ill not is added to precipitate the whole of the iron. After
give it anj chance of surviving, and it would seem boiling for 10 min., the mixture is filtered, and
to be now chiefly of historical interest. washed first with a strong solution of pyridine, and
Not less remarkable is the twenty-five years' then with boiling water. In this way the iron
career of the alkali-chloride electrolysis." Abstract — remains on the filter while the manganese is in
of a' paper by PROF. Dr. CARL DUISBERG, read solution. When there is a large amount of man-
before the International Congress oi Applied ganese, the precipitated iron should he redissolved
Chemistry, from Chemical Engineering, 1912, pp. and then precipitated again in the usual manner.
246-250. (J.W.) Pyridine has no influence on lead or silver. At the
same time it is advisable to separate these metals
Cadmium Nitrate in Acid Radical Deter- when found, then boil the solution in older to
mination. — "The use of cadmium nitrate as a oxidise before adding the reagent. In the case
reagent to separate the anions of the second where zinc occurs in the precipitate, it is necessary
to reprecipitate with chloride of ammonia to separate
(AgNU group of acid radicals was discussed by
i
Anton Vorisek, of New York, at the International zinc from iron." Queensland Government Mining
Congress of Applied Chemistry. These anion- are Journal, Oct. 15, 1912, p. 491. (H.A.W.)
CI, Br, I, CN, SCN, Fe (CN) 6 , Fe CN) 6 ,andS. The
attempt was made to remove the last three a- these An w.ysis in Pi, VTINUM Ore. " In a criticism of —
interfere with the ordinary methods of determina- the methods devised by Wohlei, Devilleand Debray,
tion, but most reagents also completely remove CN Duparc and lloltz. Deville and Stas, and Leidie
with them. Cadmium does not do this quanti- and Quennessen for the analysis of platinum ore and
tatively, but under condition- a- described below alloys, it is stated (among other points raised) that
leaves four-fifths of the CN ions in solutions where in none of the processes mentioned is complete
they may be determined later. separation of the platinum from the common metals
Procedure. —
For the preliminaiy tests, take three effected, a portion of the latter— notably iron being —
small portions, or, to lcc. To one add KOH t" generally hided by the precipitated ammonium
alkalinity, dilute with water, and add a dilute chloroplatinate. As the result of investigation the
solution of Na 2(NO)Fe(CN), [sodium nitroprnsside]. following method is recommended 2 gm. of the : —
The other two are acidified with HC1, and one ore. contained in a small crucible previously glazed
te ted for Fe""(CN) 6 with FeCl 3 (which will also lest with borax, are heated with a knowa weight (7 10 —
for SCN at the same time, as its presence i- shown gm.) of pure granulated silver an 10 gm. of fused 1
by a deep-red colour), the other for Fe'"(CN) 6 by borax a small piece of charcoal is placed upon the
:
Ii-Si ij solution. If any or all are present proceed as charge which is then maintained at a temperature
follows : — in-t above the m. pt. of silver until the gaugue of the
Neutralize about 10 cc. of the solution, with KOH ore is dissolved by the borax, and the metallic
or HNOj as necessary. Add an excess of 10 particles are encl I by the molten silver. When
Cd(NOs )2
solution and add KOH solution to faint cold, the metal is separated from the borax, heated
328 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 19)3
with dilute hydrofluoric acid to detach the last par- weighed. The solution from which the ruthenium
ticles ofthe latter, washed with water, calcined at a has been distilled is neutralised with hydrochloric
low temperature, and weighed, the difference between acid and evaporated somewhat, when sufficient
this weight and that of the ore plus silver represent- sodium nitrite is added to reconvert the double
ing the gangue originally present. The silver having chlorides into nitrites rhodium and iridium are then
;
been removed from the metallic " button " by treat- precipitated by the addition of nitrite and chloride of
ment with nitric acid, the insoluble residue (clean potassium, and the precipitate filtered oft' and washed
ore) is treated with aqua regia, at 70° C. in a , with a 5% solution of potassium nitrite. The solu-
tubulated ietort until no further action occurs, the tion obtained by dissolving this precipitate in aqua
solution is then evaporated practically to dryness, regia is evaporated several times with hydrochloric
the distillate— which may contain osmium being — acid to eliminate nitric acid, and a slight excess of
collected in a well cooled receiver. The dry residue magnesium is added the precipitated metals (mixed
;
having been extracted with hydrochloric acid (sp. with the excess of magnesium) are washed with
gr. 1'12), the insoluble portion is re-treated with water containing hydrochloric acid and subsequently
aqua regia, etc., as described, the process being calcined in hydrogen the magnesium is then re-
;
repeated" until the hydrochloric acid extract ot the moved by treatment with dilute sulphuric acid, the
lesidue in the retort is no longer coloured. The residue is washed with water, and the filter and con-
combined hydrochloric acid solutions plus the final tents im inerated ; the residue is finally heated to
insoluble residue are several times evaporated nearly incipient redness in hydrogen, cooled in carbon
to dryness with strong hydrochloric acid to expel the dioxide and weighed as rhodium plus iridium. The
last traces of nitric acid, the concentrated solution hitter are separated by fusing the residue with 50
being finally diluted with hydrochloric acid (sp. gr. times its weight of pure lead in a porcelain crucible ;
1*12) and filtered through a weighed hirer; the in- the fusion is continued for 2 hours, lie charge being
t
—
soluble residue consisting of osmiridium and a covered with potassium cyanide and stirred occa-
portion of the iridium originally alloyed with the sionally with a glass rod. After removal of the
—
platinum is washed with hydrochloric acid and then cyanide by solution in water, the lead is dissolved in
with alcohol, after which it, is dried and weighed. nitric acid and the insoluble residue treated with
Through the filtrate, heated nearly to boiling, a boiling, aqua reyia which dissolves the rhodium.
current of pure acetylene is passed for 45 minutes to The insoluble iridium is filtered off, and after incine-
effect a preliminary separation of palladium the ; ration of the filter paper, is ignited in hydrogen,
precipitate is filtered off', washed and (the filter cooled in carbon dioxide and weighed the rhodium
:
having been moistened with ammonium nitrate is obtained by difference. The filtrate from the
solution) ignited ; the precipitate is dissolved in aqua precipitation by potassium nitrite, containing only
regia, the solution evaporated just to dryness, the platinum, is evaporated to dryness with hydrochloric
residue taken up with a little water containing one acid, tiie residue taken up with boiling water, the
drop of hydrochloric acid, and the palladium re-pre- solution rendered slightly alkaline with sodium
cipitated from the solution by the addition of mer- hydroxide and then boiled with formaldehyde to
curic, cyanide the resulting precipitate is succes-
;
precipitate the platinum (as metal) which is finally
sively washed, dried, strongly ignited in air, heated ignited and weighed." —
E. V. KOUKLINE, (from
to redness in hydrogen, cooled in carbon dioxide Rev. Met., 1912, 9, 815-824), Journal of the. Society
and weighed as palladium. The filtrate from the ef Chemical Industry, Nov. 15, 1912, p. J0.1l).
mercuric cyanide precipitation having been evapor- ("F. W. W.)
ated to dryness, ignited, re-dissolved in aqua regia,
evaporated with hydrochloric acid and added to the New Method for Volumetric Determination
filtrate from the acetylene treatment, the latter is and Separation ok Nitrous and Nitric Acids. —
evaporated nearly to dryness, diluted with waterand "The method depends upon the farts that nitrous
heated to about 70' C. A
concentrated solution of acid is esterified by methyl alcohol with extreme
sodium nitrite (sufficient to form double nitrites rapidity and that the resulting methyl nitrite is very
with the metals of the platinum group present.) is
then added, followed by a solution of sodium car-
volatile (b.pt. — 12° C. and can be completely re-
)
subsequently ignited and weighed. To the filtrate or sulphuric acid and 1 cc. of methyl alcohol is
from the sodium nitrite and carbonate treatment placed in the tap-funnel. A current of air is drawn
(now containing only the metals of the platinum through the nitrite solution, and the acid is allowed
group) sodium hydroxide is added, the solution is to drop in. After all the acid has been introduced,
placed in a retort and heated to 70" 80° C, whilst a — the current of air is continued for 5 ruins., and hen I
current of chlorine is passed through it to expel the the excess of acid is titrated with A'/IO alkali, using
ruthenium (as anhydride) which is collected in phenolphthalein as indicator.
hydrochloric aciil contained in the receiver. The NaN02 + HOI + CH ,OH = NaCl + CH ONO + H.,< > 3
ruthenium is determined by evaporating the latter
;
and N. Stkinbach [Z. anorg. Chem., 191-2, 78, 134- £1,888, an a.erage of £3-914 per oz. The present
140), Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, price is £7 10s. per oz.. and there are two buyers at
Nov. 15, 1912, p. 10^9. (F. W. W.) that figure. This price may be regarded as very
satisfactory.
No quotation is given in any of the leading Ameri-
METALLURGY. can, English or Australian mining journals for
Coking Test for Coal.— " Dr. R. Lessing, of osmiridium: hut pure iridium is quoted at £13 per
London, has devised an apparatus to show more troy oz. The former contains iridium and
markedly than hitherto the difference in the coks osmium in different proportions. Owing to its
produced from various coals, and which at the same unique qualities, iridium finds an extensive use.
time permits observation of the process of carbonisa- Most of the metal produced is probably used for hard-
tion in individual cases. The principal object is to ening platinum. Thus far little use has been found
ilo away with
the waste space above the coal in the for osmium, except for certain kinds of incandescent
ordinary test. Instead of the crucible, as he has ex- lamps. Osmiridium, as well as iridium is used to a
plained in a paper before the Society of Chemical considerable extent for manufacturing purposes.
Industry, he uses a cylindrical tube of about 111 mm. The native alloy serves on account of its extreme
internal diameter, made of quartz glass or platinum. hardness, infusibility and indifference to reagents,
One gram of powdered coal is placed into this for watch and compass bearings and the pointing of
tube and a quartz glass piston introduced, fountain pens. Of the native osmiridium only 10
is available for pen points, as it occurs in very smali
which rests upon the coal, and the weight of
which can be altered. The tube is placed into an grains.
outer tube of special design, which is electrically As there is a greater demand for iridium than
heated. A
special feature of the apparatus is the either osmium or osmiridium (341 11>. of iridium were
possibility of identification, as every coal will invari- imported into the United States of America during
ably assume the same shape and structure of coke 1909, and only 4 lb. of osmium for the same period),
when treated in the apparatus. Dr. Lessing classes and considering that iridium is obtained principally
the sources of error of the crucible test in two groups from the native alloy after chemical separation, it
— (1) Factors tending to increase the 'volatile' would appear that £7 per oz. is a very reasonable
value, (a) Burning of coke in the more or less price for the latter metal (osmiridium). The juice of
oxidising atmosphere; {b) 'splitting' of coal dust 1 oz. of osmiridium, on the basis of analysis, would,
due to explosive character of gasification of some for the total metals present, be approximately t'12
coals or rush of currents produced by the tlame. to £13 per oz. This amount would be reduced on
(2) Factors tending to decrease the '
volatile value.' allowance being made for the returning charge. The
(a) Insufficient coking of the coal (b) secondary
price ruling for pure osmium in 1909 was about £7
:
catalytic decomposition of volatile products on the per troy oz. About three months ago the Hon. the
walls of the crucible (c) decomposition of volatile
Premier received a letter from one of the miners
;
products by radiation in the waste spaces of the residing on the field complaining that the local buyers
crucible (d) deposition of carbon during coking by
;
were only giving about £7 per oz. for osmiridium,
too rapid primary decomposition of volatile coal and were selling it in London at about £20 per oz.
substance." Dr. R. Lkssing, Minimi mill Engin- Correspondence was then opened through the State
eering Review, Nov. 5, 1912, p. 59. (H. A. W.)' Agent-General in London, the result being that it
was found that £7 per oz. is very similar to the price
ISMIRIDIUM.
i
—
" In his ammal report for the year obtainable in Europe.'' The Australian Minimi
ending December 31, Hill, the Secretary of Mines of Standard, Sept. 26, 1912, p. 292. (W. A. C.)
Tasmania speaks as follows in regard to osmiridium
which has become a source of revenue to some extent Clarifying Cyanide Solutions.— " Methods of
to miners at the Savage River, West Coast : clarifying solutions previous to precipitation vary in
Although this mineral has for many years been cyanide practice. Frequently they are inefficient
known to exist in the bed of the Savage Riveron the when an excessive How of slimy solution to the gold
West Coast, and in the rivulets and creeks beading vats occurs at times. Often apparently clear solu-
from the Serpentine country, it was not till early in tions carry fine colloidal material and complex
the year that any effort was made to obtain the metallic compounds to the zinc boxes, where the
mineral, owing probablv to there being so little effect on precipitation is notably injurious.
demand for it, the difficulties and hardships encoun- Vertical gravity filters which I installed in two
tered in searching for it, the low price offering for it, mills so satisfactorily solved the problem of obtain-
ami to the fact that there was no ready local market ing clear solutions, that a description of this filtering
for disposing of it. However, a demand has been arrangement may prove of interest.
created, and the mineral is readily disposed of The filters were devised by W. E. Holder man, in
locally, consequently about 1110 men are employed in connection with the Holderman process at Manning.
searching for this mineral, which at present is more Utah. They consist of canvas-covered frames placed
valuable than gold. vertically in the gold tanks at intervals of about one
During the wet season the miners have to confine foot. Each filter has a bottom connection with a
their operations to the rivulets and streams, as the common discharge pipe placed on the bottom of the
Savage River is in flood, and can only be worked to tank, and since it is subject to a steady gravity pres-
advantage in the summer months. The mines are sure only, much less substantial construction is
scattered over a large area, leading from the head of required than for vacuum filters.
the 19-mile Creek down to the Rio Tinto section, a Thevertical position not only increases the pos-
distance of over six miles of very rough precipitous sible filtering area, as compared with a bottom filter,
country. The principal drawback the miners have but also allows much of the suspended material to
to contend with is getting stores on to the ground. settle between the filters to the bottom of the tank
There is a splendid road as far as the turn-off, but away from the filter surface.
from there to the river it is very bad indeed. The Wooden frames, with in. space strips, inclosed in
1
quantity obtained last year was 271'S8 oz., valued at a canvas envelope, give good service, hut for deep
330 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Afr Jan. 1913
tanks or where solutions are persistently clouded, factory. The accompanying illustration shows a
requiring frequent cleaning of he canvas, a more
t filter leaf installation and discbarge pipe connections
substantial construction is advisable. for either a pipe or a wooden box." F.— H
WETHER-
In round tanks the filters may correspond in length ald, Engineering and Minimi Journal, Nov. 9,
to the respective chords of the circle, or be built to 191-2, p. 884. (H. A. W.)
the length of an inscribed rectangle. The pipe or
box conveying filtered solution from the tank is then The Metallurgy of the Homestake Ore.—
placed centrally. " The metallurgical practice of the Homestake has
A strong frame is made by using y in. pipe, been criticised in some respects as unduly conserva-
arranged as shown in the accompanying illustration. tive, and in former times as wasteful, but in others
The two horizontal pipes forming the top member its example has been widely followed —
in some cases
of the frame have a T-joint connection with the cen-
without acknowledgment. The fact remains that for
tral vertical stiffening pipe. These horizontal pipes over 30 years, with an ore uniformly of low grade
are cut with right and left-hand threads in order to
and in a region of high wages and high freight rates,
draw the frame tightly together. The two horizontal tlii- company has, with the exception of three brief
pipes forming the bottom member and the lower end
cessations due to extraneous causes, kept its nulls
of the vertical centre pipe are screwed into a cross
running and paid dividends which now aggregate
joint, the fourth or bottom opening of which is over $27,000,000, the output having passed the
stripped of threads to receive loosely the nipple
$100,000,000 mark.
tapped into the main solution pipe. This nipple is The ore varies greatly in its general character in
provided with a lock nnt and washer to ensure a different portions of the deposit, but that of the
tight joint. Where a wooden box is used to convey deeper levels usually contains either chlorite or
filtered solution from the tank, the nipple is screwed
ferruginous hornblende (cummingtonite) with quartz,
into the cross, the box receiving the nipple and
pyrite, pyrrhotite, and carbonates of calcium, of
seating the washer. In the bottom pipe y;, in. holes
magnesium, and of iron. Arsenopyrite, garnet and
are drilled to provide means of exit for the solution.
mica are met in varying proportions. In a general
way it may lie said that ferrous minerals predomi-
nate, dint in tin: upper portions of the deposit the
iron of the sulphides, and to a varying extent of the
other minerals, has been oxidised to limonite, etc.
There are 1,000 stamps, crushing over 125,000 tons
per month, of which ."i7 goes to the sand and 41% to
the slime plant, between 1% and 2% of the slime
being wasted. Of the total ore value 94 is
was sluiced out of the tank twice a year. owing to the wearing through at the ends, the clear
In another case the tank was drained once a week, mice being very small. The mortar blocks are built
anil the filter leaves cleaned by sluicing with a small up of 2 in. pine plank, preserved by creosoting, the
high-pressure stream, the slime being pumped to a long vertical joints running in the direction of the
thickener. For shallow tanks 8 oz. canvas is satis- length of the mortar. The life of this preserved
Jan. 1913 Notices "n,/ Abstracts: Metallurgy. 331
timber is unknown, untreated pine lasting about >ix Table [II.— Mercury Fed and Lost in Mills.
years.
—
Water Supply. A comparatively large ratio of Tr.n\ Oi sens pun Tm\ Milled.
water to solid is maintained in the mil] pulp, especi-
ally at the Lead mills, where it ranges from
Fairly
10 to nearly 12. The Amicus and Golden Star mills Aver- Lou-Grade
High-I
are now fitted with nozzles or bushings screwed on age. Oxidised Ore.
TJnoxidised 1 »i
to the fact that, taking crushing capacity and Crude bullion IllS 012 0-26
amalgamating efficiency together, no other screen Valued at ... §2.92 $1.93 §1.00 S3.7C §4.12
has been found to excel it with average ore, though And mercury
the discharge corresponds nearly to that m recovered from
30- or 35-mesh wire screen with 900 to 1,200 holes retort 0-37 o-is — — 0-54
per sq. in. The material is No. 20 cold rolled, Mercury lost in
re-annealed and pickled open hearth steel, about tailings 0-132 0085 09 n-17 —
0035 in. thick. 9 in. 50 in., with a 1-in. rim. The Mercury found in
openings are slots o-22 in. by about 05 in., inclined precipitate
45 and making up about 15% of the total area of At slime plant
:
01114 — — — —
the 7 in. 4n in. within the solid rim. In punching, At sand plant
a slight burr is produced on one side, which i- No. 1 0001 — — — —
turned towards the inside.
Hi.
Cam-shaft Wrought iron 5"36 in. diam. ... 1050—1085 4 \ ears.
I
Chrome steel 2'5 in. face 35 in., huh 1085 No data.
Cam < 12 in. diam. x o!J in. 202
1
Cast iron — — — 250 2 years and up.
Chrome steel ... 9 in. 12 in 150 No data.
Tappet ...•!
Cast iron — — — 132 20 months and up.
Stem Wrought iron 3125 in. diam 15 ft... 380—390 4 months between break-
ages.
Boss-head ( last iron 9 in. diam. IS in. 236 4 to 12 years average 6 ;
Shoe Special chilled cast iron 9 in. diam. x s in. 145 60 to 90 days.
Die Hard cast iron 9 in. diam. x 5 5 iu. 110 30 to 35 days.
Mortar Cast iron — — —
..
The screens are cleared, when clogged with fine high chuck'is used with new dies, and the other is
wood, chips, etc,, by being struck with a 3-ft. strand substituted as the dies wear.
of wire rope, teased our for about two-thirds its Mercury is fed to the battery horn ly the practice ;
length. They last about ten or twelve days, and of inside amalgamation has been justified by assays
are seldom discarded on account of actual wear, but of the tailings when using this system in comparison
are usually broken by pieces of wood getting into w itli outside feeding.
the mortar. The increase of aperture due to wear The slime plant precipitate has sometimes con-
is negligible. tained as much as 12% of its weight of mercury, but
In 1902 an interesting series of tests were run in it has not been found profitable to attempt its
an attempt to dispense with screens by using the systematic recovery. This mercury must have been
'
Bosh-board or overflow discharge. This reversion
'
with screens, but the necessity for close attention to set copper plates newly coated with 2 oz. silver
'
'
offset the advantages. The principal difficulty was per sq. ft., before commencing amalgamation. If
the effect of the larger pieces of wood found in the allowed to stand for any considerable time before
broken ore. using il is probable that more mercury would be
Amalgamation. — Inside amalgamation is prac- :essary, as it is slowly absorbed and the surface
tised, a cupper plate \ in. thick, and either 5 in. or hardens. The amount daily sprinkled on the plates
7 in. wide, being attached to the chuck-block under varies with the condition of the plates and the
the screen of each mortar. The wider plate with character of the ore.
332 The Journal vf The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
Table IV. — Comparison of Recovery from Silvered the tipper rows, the fine adjustment of the flow over
Plates (Three Hows) when Dressed Once and the plates is made by placing small Hat pieces of
Twice Daily. cast iron at the head of a plate, so as to break up
the stream at points where it tends to be strongest.
Value of Amalgam re-
covered when Plates
Re-Grinding —On entering the re- grinding mill
the tailing launders discharge into a sump, from
were dressed.
which the pulp is distributed to a battery of 14
gravity cones, each 4 ft diam. x 70° slope.
Twice daily. ( Mice daily.
These cones are provided with relatively small
discharge bushings, and as they are heavily fed,
Second Row $49] •$451 their overflow carries nearly 88% of the tailing,
Third Row... 24(1 24 S including much tine sand and considerable coarse
Fourth Row 120 128 material, the latter, however, of low gold and
sulphur content.
Attached to the holder of the bushing of each
Total recovery from silvered gravity cone and forming a tight joint with it is a
plates $851 $827 hose connection, the other end of which is similarly
Relative value 100 972 attached to the feed-nozzle of a concentrating cone.
This nozzle enters the side of the cone, through a
stuffing-box, at a point near its apex, and discharges
Plate Houses. —In the plate houses the pulp the sand in an ascending stream at the axis of the
flowing from an entire mill has to be re-divided and
cone, while water at about 30 lb. pressure is intro-
spread over a series of very wide tables. In de-
duced below the entry point of this pulp. These
signing the larger installations of this kind, the
concentrating cones are 16 in. diam. x 80° slope.
conditions of sites, etc., have developed two different
systems of distribution, which are typified in the
The overflow from the concentrating cones joins
Amicus and Homestake plate houses. The Home- —
the main stream of pulp consisting of the overflow
of the gravity cones— and passes at once to the
stake mill style is, however, to be preferred, on
classification system the discharge from each cone
account of its compactness and simplicity of con- ;
Per Cent. Gold per Ton. Per Cent. Gold per Ton. Pet Cent. Gold per Ton.
The re-grinding machinery consists of (a) seven system, the tube-mill would be at least equal to the
pans, each 5 ft. in diam., and (6) a tube-mill 5 ft. pan in this respect.
by 14 ft. —
Classification. Control of the gravity cones is
The two types of grinding machine have n1 effected (i| by varying the diameter of the outlet
operated on 'similar material with a view of deter- (.) by cutting-out, or stopping the feed to, one cone
mining which is the better suited fdi the work, and or more : (3) by removing the bushing without
the conclusion arrived at is in favour of the tube- stopping feed, thus liy-passing the feed oi any cone
mill. A comparison of the work 'lone shows the to the next series; it) which amounts to the same
tiling as the last method, by turning a certain
pan to be more economical of power, bul we *"i
rider, and experiments have Bhown, that if 30% or fraction of the overflow hack into the discharge or
40% more sand were fed to tins tube-mill, and the underflow launder.
discharge elevated and returned to the classification The comparative constancy of the volume of pulp
334 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
Feed
sloping bottom does not How down with absolute in ease the early effluents show abnormal alkalinity.
uniformity but a certain proportion piles up and Determinations of available lime in residues indi-
slides down at more or less regular intervals. The cate that less than 0"21b. per ton remains undissolved
gravity of the outflow from any thickening tank at the conclusion of treatment.
therefore varies to some extent, but ranges from The addition of lime to the batteries, as practised
I -25 to 1'3, the adjustment being regulated by in South Africa, results in the deposition, within an
i
asional tests with a hydrometer. With a battery hour's time, of a hard scale of calcium carbonate
everal sneh tanks the general outflow varies containing a large amount of iron, which covers the
but little, and a very little attention is required to amalgam [dates to a thickness of several hundredths
keep it regular. of an inch. This precludes the feeding of lime to the
Cyaniding. —
Gt neral Principles. —
The supplying mills. Similar deposits form below the meeting
of oxygen to the charge by forcing compressed air points of two or more streams of water or pulp when
through the drained material is rendered necessary one of the streams is alkaline with dissolved lime,
by the presence of the many ferrous compounds. the deposits frequently reducing the area of discharge
It was formerly supposed that, pyrrhotite was the pipes until but a small percentage of the original
must troublesome of the minerals in the ore in respect area is available
to the affinity for oxygen, but later observations The aeration of the sand charge is achieved by in-
and analyses indicate that this property is shared troducing air below the filter bottom at a pressure
by many of the other constituents, and that the slightly in excess of that of the column of sand
nearly barren hornblende is particularly obnoxious through which it must pass.
This aeration of charges is common to all the In order to ensure satisfactory results, certain pre-
plants, and. indeed, the operations are closely cautions are carefully observed. Thus, the charge
parallel, within the limitsimposed by the nature of is thoroughly drained before air is applied, and to
the material, at both sand and slime plants. protect against the use of too high a pressure of air
These general operations may then be stated : each vat is provided with a gauge mounted on the
1. Drainage of surplus water from the charge in air line immediately behind the valve controlling the
onler that it may be in the most favourable condi- air supply. Too high an air pressure will result in
tion for the subsequent aeration.
the opening of channels through the charge, and,
2. Aeration. This precedes the application "1 when following imperfect drainage, may result, in a
eyanide solution, in order to oxidise and render
'
puddling' ami subsequent 'caving' of portions of
harmless many of the ferrous compounds which the charge.
would otherwise destroy cyanide. It lias been found By dividing the residue sample taken for as-ay
that the consumption of cyanide is nearly doubled (see below) into three parts, each representing one-
third of the depth of charge, a ready check is
when a solution period precedes the first air.
3.Leaching with cyanide solution until the supply obtained on the efficiency of the aeration, and there
uf oxygen is nearly exhausted. is rarely any difficulty in achieving satisfactory
4. Repetition of the foregoing cycle, either once or
results.
twice, and with variation of the time allotted to each Treatment with solution is followed by a washing
operation, as determined by the nature of the charge. period, after which the -and is discharged by sluic-
5. The passage of solution through two charges
ing, the residues passing through vitrified clay
before precipitation, thus concentrating the dissolved sewers to the creeks flowing beside the mills.
gold and silver in a portion of the solution, from Slime Treatment —
The Merrill presses are essenti-
which it is precipitated by the Merrill zinc dust ally of the ordinary rectangular flush-plate and dis-
method. tance-frame pattern with internal channels, but
ii. The segregation, from the main body of the equipped with the automatic discharging device
solutions, of the first and linal portions issuing from which is the distinguishing feature of the pie--.
the charge: the separate precipitation and subse- A standard press, 28 of which are now in service,
quent wastage of this ' low solution' having proven containing 02 4-in. frames and 91 plates, is 46 ft.
the most economical method of disposing of the long and holds somewhat over 61 III cub. ft., or25 tons
excess volume accumulated as a result of imperfect of slime under the usual treatment schedule, and
;
336 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 191$
Plates.— Tlie two faces of the plate are precisely originating at Lead, and the other for that
similar, and are corrugated to afford free passage for originating at the No.th-side, but we are now dis-
water and solutions, the bars being so disposed as to charging all the thickened slime into one tank,
stiffen the web (Fig. 16). Several perforations where a slight agitation with air is continuously
through the web serve to equalise the pressure on maintained and lime is added the surplus slime ;
the opposite faces. Each plate has six principal passes through the Y to find its level in the other
openings ; five of these are circular and surrounded tank, where it stands quietly, permitting a small
by machined faces, which, with the corresponding amount of clear water to be drawn from its surface
openings in the frames, form five continuous cylindri- from time to time. The slight increase in storage
cal channels running from end to end of the capacity thus obtained has enabled us to treat a
assembled press. quantity of slime formerly wasted.
—
Frames. The frames carry similar openings, with The constant-pressure tank connects with the
the exception of that at the bottom of the vertical sludge tanks through a valve operated by a float,
centre line. To give full clearance for the sluicing and is automatically supplied with sludge as the
mechanicism and to facilitate the discharge of requirements of the presses demand.
residues, this channel is omitted, the cloth covering Lime is prepared by slaking in tubs 8 ft.
the plate being made tight at this point by bolting a diam. x2ft. 6 in. deep. charge of about 5001b. A
thin U-shaped piece of cast iron over the edge of the is slaked in one of these tubs, and is then drawn as
Fig. 16.
In assembling a press the pla'es are so placed thai The working schedule now in use is given, show-
the side in which the solution channels connect with ing full details of the treatment of a fast-leaching
the corrugated suiface is alternately on the right charge.
ami left side of the assembled press. Thus the even —
numbered plates communicate with the channels on Schedule
Hue side ami the odd numbered plates with those on i sloss "' press. A. B. C.
the other side "I the press. Approximate pei
The slime overflowing the various cones passes to cent, of all
the thickening tanks, and is discharged, as a pulp presses in his |
the practice to use one sludge tank for the slime ing to line ;iv ulable.
t
— . — —
Jan. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy. :w:
adding solution after this aeration period, the the empty press, being run in simultaneously
solution appears to pass around the slime cake for through tlit sluicing bar and both lower solution
about ten minutes, or until the cake has absorbed channels, thus reaching both sides of the cloths ;
enough solution to restore it to its original bulk, alter the piess is full of this solution it is allowed
instead of going through it and displacing the to stand for four hours, when it is discharged and
retained water. treatment i- resumed. Only traces of free HC1 then
The following table of etHnent solutions, taken remain, and the iron of the press is not appreciably
from a typical charge leached first with pregnant attacked during the process.
strong solution, illustrates this point :
The average sluicing requires very slightly more
Strength. Gold. than four tons of water to move one ton of slime.
Nal X. Per ton. Over 1,700 tons of slime are treated daily at this
Per cent. Dollars.
plant, with a power charge of 120 h.p., of which
< Ingoing solution ... 08 0-60 75% is expended in air compression.
ErHuent after 10 minu .es IIH4 0-30 The water consumption is as follows :
Unaccounted for (de- hard metal or hard platinum, coupled with the
composition 0105 095 0-094 086 limited production of both the component metals,
Added to L.S. to raise has resulted in an almost uninterrupted rise in their
strength before pre- In September, 1908, refined platinum was
cipitating — — — 0016
[nice.
sold at §17.50 to 19 per oz., and iridium at about $30
per oz. whereas in the last issue of the Journal
,
Total 242 0-208 0-183 0177 platinum is quoted at $45.50 per oz. and iridium at
$68 to 70 per oz. The extraordinary demand which
has more than doubled the price of these metals and
Presses have run for more than a year without made iridium over three times a> valuable as gold,
developing a leak some have been in service for
; has come largely from the jewellery trade. The
three years without re-clothing. The average life unquestioned superiority of hard platinum as a
of the last 26 suits removed was 21 months the ; setting for diamonds, pearls and light-coloured
average age of the 28 suits now in service, which precious stones, both from an artistic standpoint
may be doubled to arrive at the probable average and from that of durability and safeness of setting,
life, is 12 months. together with the high price of the alloy, has made
During the early life of the plant, and, in fact, up it extremely fashionable, This demand on the part
to the middle of 1911, there lias generally been a of the jewellery trade is now firmly established, and
surplus of pulp at the plant, and slime has fre- is particularly responsible for a demand for iridium
quently been allowed to waste through leaky that greatly exceeds the supply.
presses rather than to involve a greater loss by Properties of Iridium and Platinwrn-Iridi/mn
cutting out a press for repairs. More recently, since Alloys. As intimated by the name 'hard metal,'
the press capacity has become equal to the supply of iridium is alloyed with platinum to increase it-
slime available, the loss by reason of torn cloths has hardness and strength, and articles made from the
become a matter of importance, and it is our opinion alloy are much more durable than those made from
that future practice will tend to limit the time a pure platinum, which is too soft for many purposes.
suit of cloth is retained in service
is months.
perhaps to 16 or — Iridium not only makes a hard alloy with platinum,
but it gives the alloy a greater electrical resistance
.loints of cloth to iron are made by painting with and higher fusing point than that of pure platinum,
a hydrocarbon paint, dissolved in benzol or carbon and is, therefore, used in resistance coils and also in
disulphide. thermo-couples for the measurement of high tern-
— — —
338 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
peratnres. The proportion of iridium in the alloy of iridium is generally found in the small quantities
ranges from 5% to 25%, rarely exceeding the hitter of crude platinum which are produced annually in
figure except in the case of special alloys where the United States as a by-product of placer mining,
great hardness is desired. Alloys containing less I believe that they are, perhaps, not cognizant of
than 10% of iridium are ductile and malleable, while the high percentage of iridium associated with the
those containing from 10% to 25% are hard and more crude platinum from certain districts in this country
difficult to work as the proportion of iridium or the comparatively large amount in which the
increases. Where the alloy contains 30% or more metal might perhaps be obtained if the potential
iridium, it is no longer attached by aqua regia.* sources of supply were thoroughly investigated.
Pure iridium is the hardest known metal. It is A complete analysis was, however, made on a
of a lustrous white colour, and about 16% heavier large lot of material obtained from a placer mine,
than gold, having a specific gravity of 224. Its at China Flat, Huinbolt County, Calif. This lot
fusion point, which is extremely high, is variously weighed 5355 gin., or over 17 oz., and was analysed
stated at from 2,150 to 2,250 C. It is brittle when as shown in the accompanying table :
kite, with over 40% iridium, and sisserskite, with Ultimate Analysis, Crude Pla'irmm.
Metal. Per cent.
less than 311% iridium. Sisserskite has a slightly
Iridium ... 41216
higher specific gravity than the newjanskite. 33-158
The extremely rare mineral, platmiridium, is de-
Osmium ... ... .. ..
Platinum 17640
veloped with a large increase in the iridium content 6S1S
Iron
of the normal natural alloy with platinum, which 0-568
Copper
does not exceed 5%. Platiniridium sometimes con- 0-074
Gold
tains over 75% of iridium. It is white, has a
Nickel Trace
metallic luster, a hardness of 67, surpassing Trace
Chromium
platinum, and a specific gravity of 226 to 23, being 0067
Silica
thus the heaviest known mineral.
Occurrence in the United States.— While most Total 99-541
readers of the Journal know that a small percentage
-Geological Relations and Distribution** of Platinum and |
'Moissan, H., Traiti iir Chimie Mvnfrale, Vol. V., p. 899. Associated Metals. U.S. Geological Survey, Bull. 19s, p. 21.
Jan. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metali 339
Per rent. Per cent rich enough to be worked commercially either for
Osmiridium ... 73 52 71-33 iridium, platinum, osmium, etc., alone or in connec-
Platinum ... 21-20 21-1(1 tion with i;old ?
Be S! \.
Australia
Colombia New (probably
El Choco California ' 111 -mi. Si Hltll Borneo. Brazil. Ni iv
Goro- Vim District. Will.-.
Columbia South
blogodat Ta-ilsk Wales).
District District
Iridium ... 0-33 2-44 1 44 1-70 0-40 1-3(1 0-66 114 2779 1 65
Platinum... 82-9(1 762S s-J 7«» 76-29 51-45 75-90 82-60 72-07 5.V44 60 tin
Iron 10-72 13-75 7-60 5-93 4-30 1015 10-67 8-59 414 4-43
Copper 0-56 1-31 0-51 1-91 2- 15 II 41 013 3-39 3-30 110
"22 o 1-69 -20
Sand 1-54 1-76 3-0(1 1 1
Manganese 0-08 II n o ii
Number of samples
analysed to obtain
average analysis... .3 17 5 4 1 1 1 1 1 2
• Kemp—Geological Relations and Distribution of Platinum and Associated Metali— V S. Beol Survey, Bull.. 198, pp. 18—19.
—
340 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. 1913
This query applies with equal force not only to Settling Slime at the Tigre Mill.— "For
the gravels of the district under discussion, but to ease in calculation the degree of thickness of the
the alluvial deposits in the entire serpentine and different pulps is expressed in terms of the ratio by
peridotite areas of the coast range, in northern weight of liquid to slime {L:S ratio). In the
California and southern Oregon. Although the formulas only the first character of the L:S ratio
larger part of such deposits are known to be entirely is used for example, the thickness of a Dulp with
;
barren of gold, is tlieie not a possibility that if these an L-.S ratio of 15 1 is expressed by the figure 15.
:
gravels were prospected, some deposits might be The rate of settling for both ijuiet and continuous
louud that were richer in the platinum metals than settling is measured by the depth, in feet, of clear
those of any of the well prospected gold-bearing solution formed per minute. By the words "quiet
areas ? settling," it is intended to distinguish undisturbed,
For purposes of comparison with the preceding intermittent settling in a decantation tank or
analyses of crude platinum from Trinity County, laboratory vessel, from continuous settling in a
Calif. the accompanying table of average analyses
,
mechanical or cone-bottom settling vat.
of crude platinum from Russia, Colombia, Brazil, The effect of depth on the rate of settling of dilute
British Columbia, Borneo, California and Oregon, is slime was first investigated. In order that the deep
given. It will be noted that ciude platinum from columns should settle to the same final consistency
both the Nijni Tagilsk and Coroblagodat districts, as the shallow columns, the duration of the tests
in Russia, as shown by '20 analyses, contain less than was made proportional to the depth. The table
4'5% of combined iridium and osniiridium, and the shows that in settling a dilute slime to a required
same is true of crude platinum from Colombia, as degree of thickness, the average depth of clear
shown by the average analyses of five samples from solution formed per minute is virtually independent
the El Choco district, and also of the one sample of the depth of the settling column.
from Borneo. The same principle is illustrated graphically in
Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows that at the beginning
The other analyses of crude platinum from New
South Wales, British Columbia, Brazil, California Slime 5 Onqinoi I 5 Rq+io 4, 5
and Oregon, show considerably more iridium and 0.0 10
osniiridium, hut in no case over 38%. In none of ,• i
.
these samples, therefore, does the total iridium con- l'epf_ hS, 1
tent approach that of the crude platinum from ___.» y»<r. ,-'
l
Crude Platinum, Oroville,
Sample
No. 1
Calif.
Sample
No. 2
% 0.005
i
I —
Per rent. Per cent.
;
settling should be determined by dividing the volume these conditions, the assumption of the preceding
of clear solution formed in a given time, by the paragraph would lead us to suppose that the shallow-
original volume of pulp in the settling vat. This vat was doubly as efficient as the deep vat. This,
assumption is misleading. For example imagine however, is not the case. The 5 ft. vat must be dis-
two continuous settling vats of the same diameter, charged and refilled at the end of 5 hr., and again
one 5 ft. high and t he other 10 ft. high, both receiv- discharged at the end of 10 hr. The 10 ft. vat
ing the same nature and quantity of feed per day. handles the same amount of feed in one operation.
The same volume of overflow would be secured from Figs. 1 and 2 show that in 10 hr. both vats would
the low tank as from the high one, providing the produce the same volume of clear liquid and yield
feed of the low tank was properly distributed. If the same volume of pulp thickened to the same con-
we accept the assumption that the efficiency may be sistency. The settling efficiency of the two vats
measured by dividing the volume of overflow by the must tiierefore be the same.
volume of pulp in the vat, the .3 ft. vat would show From the above illustrations, it appears that if it is
twice the efficiency of the 10 ft. vat. This, however desirable the settling efficiency may be determined
cannot be the case. Both vats receive the same feed by dividing the volume of clear liquid formed in a
per day, produce the same volume of clear solution given time, by the average volume of feed during
per day. and yield the same volume per day of pulp that time, but that it is erroneous to consider the
thickened to the same consistency. Therefore the settling efficiency as proportiona to the quotient
1
efficiency cannot be otherwise than the same. obtained by dividing the volume of liquid formed in
a given time by the original volume of pulp in the
5lime ? Ordinal LS Ratio 4.5--I
;o.o?o
vat. To me it appears that the simplest and most
logical manner of determining settling efficiency is
f 1 to regard it as proportional to the volume of clear
Depth 8" liquid formed per unit of time.
;00l5 The preceding paragraphs indicate that the settl-
if KpthZ* ing etliciency of dilute slime would be virtually the
IJ
same in very shallow vat as in the comparatively
deep vat used at the present time. Practically,
= aoio however, vats of reasonable depth have certain
advantages over more shallow" ones. In shallow, inter-
~T mittent settling vats, much time would he lost in
frequent changes of pulp. In shallow, continuous
;aoo5
settling vats, difficulty would be experienced in pro
perly distributing the feed and in properly regulating
iff
the underflow. For these reasons shallow settling
fo.ooo vats of either type would require more attention
a. than do the comparatively deep vats used at present.
o L 5 Ratio cfThickened Pulp In cyanide plants, deep settling vats have the addi-
tional superiority of prolonging the duration of
FlG. 2. — Effect of Depth on Relation between treatment in proportion to their depth. On the
Rate of Settling and Dilution of other hand shallow vats would have the advantage
Thickened Pulp. of less first cost and also the advantage of using up
less of the available fall about a plant. It thus
Parallel conclusions may he drawn for the case of
quiet settling. Imagine the two vats of the preced- appears that the matter of depth is a question of
ing paragraph working intermittently as decantation expediency rather than of settling etliciency.
vats. It may require 5 hr. of quiet settling in the Thick Slime subject todifferent Lav:. —
The principle
vat 5 ft. deep in order to produce pulp of a desired that the rate of settling is independent of the depth
degree of thickness. At the end of the 5 hr. the , is not true for excessively thick slime. Table IV.
volume of clear liquid decanted from the 5 ft. vat gives the results of a series of laboratory tests, show-
might easily be the same as would be decanted from ing the effect of depth on the settling rate of thick
the in ft. vat in the same length of time. Under slimes. The table shows that as a rule, the settlin
Solution.
So. Gr.
Slime Nature. ot Dry Mesh
iri-in.
No.
i
trating plant
:: Overflow from classifiers hand- Principally sand 2-640 so 016 2
ling reground sand from
tube mills
4 Average pulp after leceiving Mixtures of slimes JNos. 1, 2
48-liour treatment in air and 3 ... 2 635 85 0-17 1-'.)
342 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
rate of thick slime increases with the depth of the Table IV. —Effect of Depth and Initial Thickness
settling column. It also indicates that, for each of Pulp on Settling Kate of Thick Slime.
0-66 10 S •.-,:! 7-9-1 0-04 HUP) Quiet settling in glass cylinder 01 ft. diameter.
1 -33 20 8-5:1 79:1 009 0-004 Each test made by noting time required to form a
2 no 30 8-5:1 79:1 013 0(104
volume of clear solution equal to l/20th part of the
(ill 10 15 :1 131:1 0-08 0-008 original volume of pulp. Below the cross lines the
1
33 20 15 :1 131:1 017 0-1108
slime begins to follow the principles of settling for
2 1 ii 1 30 15 :l 131:1 0-23 0-008 thin slime.
0-66 10 25 :1 18-2:1 0-18 018
1-33 20 25 :1 18-2:1 35 0018
0-52 0-017
this article and will be shown to give results approxi-
2-00 30 25 :1 18-3:1
mating actual practice closely.
It was further observed that a slime, which was
Slime So. .,'.
too thick to permit the classification of the line sand
particles, settled to a much greater degree of thick-
ness in 2t or 48 hr. of quiet settling, than did the
0-66 10 3-0:1 2-2:1 0-15 015 same slime, when settling from a dilution which was
-33 20 3-0:1 2-2:1 0-28 014
1
thin enough for the sand particles to separate. This
•ion :ho 3-0:1 23:1 0-41 014 observation may prove useful in cases where it is
n-66 10 4 5:1 3-1:1 0-18 018 desired to secure a very thick pulp.
1-33 20 4-5:1 3-2:1 0-38 0-019
In making the tests on dilute slime, it was noticed
200 30 4-5:1 3-2:1 0-52 017 that the slime particles were more or less separate
o 10 7-0:1 4-2:1 0-25 0-025
lili
and held in suspension in the liquid. The thickening
1-33 20 7-0:1 4-2:1 0-50 0-025
of the pulp began in the bottom of the vessel, and
200 30 7-0:1 43:1 0-74 0-025
the liquid which was set free arose between the sus-
pended particles higher up, thus preventing thicken-
Quiet settling in rlass cylinder 2'3 ft. high by ing in the upper part of the vessel. It appears that
ni ft. diameter. only a limited amount of liquid can filter between
the suspended particles without carrying them up-
depth, there is a critical dilution at which a slight wards. This seems to be the reason why the settling
increase in the L S ratio causes a large increase in
: rate of dilute slime is independent of the depth.
the rate of settling. When the dilution is greater The settling of excessively thick slime, on the
than the critical point the rate of settling is not in- other hand, appeared to be caused by the contract ion
creased by a further increase in depth, the settling of the spaces between the particles, due to cohesion.
thus following the principle for dilute slimes. It A system of cracks was formed, which ultimately-
further appears that as the depth of the settling developed into channels, through which the clear
column is increased the L S ratio corresponding to : liquid reached the surface. The liquid coming from
the critical dilution is decreased likewise, as the ; the lower part of a deep vessel had a tendency to
depth is increased there is a less noticeable decrease open up the channels in the upper part of the vessel,
in the settling rate at the critical point. It is rea- thus facilitating settling near the surface. This was
sonable to suppose that for the comparatively deep especially noticeable at the critical dilution and ex-
vat used in actual practice, the critical dilution plains why, at this point, an increase in depth
would entirely disappear and there would be only a caused a large increase in the settling rate. Occa-
gradual decrease in the settling rate as the initial sionally at the critical dilution the settling rate in
I. S ratio is decreased. In other words, in tall vats
: the deeper columns was found to be greater than it
ihe relation between settling rate and initial dilution was for the same slime when slightly more dilute.
of thick slimes might be expressed graphically by a The reason for this appeared to be that at the critical
straight line. This principle will be used later in point the liquid arose through the channels, without
J
I
Total Depth Ai n At Pb \iii. ]..
(from
Ratio.
Test I tion Formed /•'
/•v;, - 4012 Fig. 3).
miu. Formed per min. '•'i t: 2 S:L Tons - «a ) t\X, - «= )
I ft. ft. Days /. :S Ratio of Tons Dl |il!l
Aver- Ratio
II,
Depth in
of Dry Over- Feet of Feet of
24 x 6 ft. vert. 45° cone aged. of Under. Slime flow Clear Clear
Feed. How. per 24 per 24
bottom vat hours.
Solution Solution
hours. Formed Formed
settling slime similar per min. per min.
to No. 2 but containing
larger proportion of
fine sand and concen- 3 9 21 155 279 0-014 016
trate. 40 2-3 156 265 0-013 0017
Continuous settling 4-2 1-9 136 313 0015 0-017
in vat ... ... 9-5:1 60 45 4 3 2-2 161 338 0-017
0075 | 017
Quiet settling in la 4-4 1-6 163 4.56 0-022 018
boratory ... 95:1 10 4-5 2 162 405
... 081 0-0081 0020 018
Same vat as above 4-6 1-9 161 435 021 019
settling slime contain- 4 7 2-2 153 383 019 019
ing larger proportion 4-8 2-7 161 338 0-017 0-020
of clay. 5 2-4 137 356 0-017 0-020
Continuous settling 51 21 161 JS3 0-024 021
in vat ... ... 10 :1 30 0-1SS 0063 5 3 1-9 165 561 0-028
5 '5 022
Quiet settling in vat 10 :1 60 0-425 (HK171 2-6 150 435 021 023
Quiet settling in 6 2-7 134 442 022 0-024
laboratory ... 10 1 10 061 0-0061 6 5 2-8 150 555 0-027 0-027
11x10 ft. Vert. 45° 7 3-2 115 437 021 OO30
cone bottom vat 8-0 3 1 128 627 0031 035
settling slime similar Aver-
to No. 1. age 5 27 2 45 145-4 410 0-020 022
Continuous settling
in vat ... ... j
24 :1 20 (i-l. is 0-0084 Results of continuous settling are from
Quiet settling in vat 24 100 0-768 daily
:1 0077 samples over a period of 49 days in a
< >uiet settling in
j
12x24 ft
L mechanical settler, treating slime No. 3.
laboratory 24 10 0-082
Labora-
... | :1 0-0082 tory tests of 10 min. duration each, were
made in
glass cylinders 2 ft. high by O'l ft. dia.
Laboratory tests made in glass cylinder 2 ft. high
by 01 that the rate of settling, as determined in
ft. dia. Continuous settling test made by the labora-
first lowering surface of solution 1 ft. below overflow
tory, could be used with a fair degree
of accuracy to
level, then regulating the underflow to maintain pulp represent the rate of either continuous
or quiet
level at constant height and measuring depth of clear settling, in tall vats.
solution formed per minute. Law Expressed in Formula.—This last principle
may be used advantageously by the mill
desio-ner
\\ lth the settling rate approximately
greatly disturbing the surface. When the same established by
laboratory test, a simple mathematical formula five's
slime was more dilute, the upward current of liquid
became so great that the particles in the upper part the relation existing between the thickness
of "feed
of the column were thrown into suspension, and he and discharge, tons of feed, tons of clear solution
l
rate of settling was limited by the amount of liquid produced, and the settling area necessary to secure
which could filter between the suspended particles, any of these relations.
as was the case with dilute slime. Let <S' = Rate of settling, expressed in terms of depth
The previous paragraphs indicate that in most in feet of clear solution formed per minute
a-es of settling of slime the settling efficiency may Let F= Feed of dry slime, expressed in tons per24hr.
be regarded as independent of the depth. Let A = Settling area, expressed in square feet.
Previous
writers have shown that the settling efficiency is Let R, = L ratio of feed.
;
,-.'
(6 1 expressed by the :
as in large settling vats. In order to check this Tons per day of clear solution = F(F - li„).
1
deduction, a series of parallel tests was made in Cubic feet of clear solution per min. =
32 /'(
settling vats ami laboratory vessels. The results
/,',
1440
-^ = 0-0222 F(E, -jy.
of these tests are given in Table V. In making ex-
periments on quiet settling, the duration of the tests Depth in feet of clear solution formed tier min
was timed so that the final dilution of pulp would be 0-0222 /'(/.',
-~— -/?,) „
c (formula
-' = S XT ,
.No. 1).
roughly the same in laboratory test- as in actual
practice. An examination of the table shows that Transposing ;
TABLE VII.— Rate of Continuous Settling for Var- the rate of settling of thick slime in actual practice.
ious Degrees of Thickness of Feed Compared Laboratory tests, shown by the dotted lines, indicate
with the Corresponding Rales of »Juiet Settling a much lower settling rate. The curves shown in
in Laboratory Tests. Fig. 3 may be termed 'settling curves.' Tests at
the Tigre mill indicate that with the settling curve
Ai ii \i Practice. Labora- of a slime determined by laboratory tests, any pro-
tory blem of settling pertaining to that particular slime,
Tests
S=0'00009 (from
may be solved with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
F /•|/.\ -88 Fig. ;i.)
To illustrate, it may be desired to determine the
«i R 2 L:S Tons - K,) F(R,-Ji2 ) diameter of a continuous settling vat capable of
Days L:S Hatio of Tons Depth in Depth in handling 145-4 dry tons per day of pulp No. 3. The
Aver- Kal io of Drj Over- Feet of Feet of
Dnder- Slime flow Clear Hear
slime ratio of the feed is supposed to be 5"27 1, and :
Of '
Feed. flow- per -24 per 24 s. .in i ion Solution the desired thickness of pulp in the underflow corres-
hours. hour. Formed Formed ponds to the L S ratio of 2'45 1. An inspection of
: :
o 1-9 1-75 153 23 0-0006 0015 ratio of 5"27 1. Substituting these values in for-
:
•>
20 1-7 167 50 00012 0-0020 mula 2 :
In Fig. 3, are plotted the settling rates correspond- from the feed and discharge two mechanical, con-
of
ing to a series of original dilutions of the fourpiincipal tinuous settling units. The
rate of settling for each
slimes produced in the Tigre mill. The base of each dilution of feed was calculated from formula No. 1.
curve represents the thickness of the slime after On days having the same value of it", (dilution of
settling 24 br. From this point a straight line was feed), the values of F
(tons feed per day) and Rg
drawn to the point on the curve corresponding to the (dilution of discharge) were averaged. The settling
test in which classification of the sand particles was rates thus obtained, were then compared with the
first observed. This straight line closely approximates corresponding rates given in the settling curves.
— '
Table VI. shows the results in a single -.'4 ft., lines of outcrop are shown as inclined lines in this
mechanical thickener, treating tlilute slime, and plane. Any horizontal line in a seam of coal or vein
Table VII. shows the results in two 24 ft. mechanical of ore will determine the strike.
thickeners, acting as a single unit and treating ex- Problem /.—A coal seam strikes 20° W, Fig. ::, N
tremely thick ~lime. The results of actual practice and dips 10 to the westward. Find the direction oi
are slight!}' erratic, due to irregularities in sampling an incline to be driven in the seam on a - 5% grade.
and to changes in the nai ure of feed from day today. Formula tan « = sin 1/ tan d.
:
•
increased. Likewise that the average result obtained To find b. Substituting in formula :
in actual practice corresponds closely with the •05 = sin b tan 10°. •
MINING.
Problems in Mine Surveying. — " The mine
surveyor is often called upon to solve problems in-
volving the determination of a plane, knowing the
direction and slope of two lines therein, or problems
involving the intersection of two planes.
The ease with which such problems can be solved
by use of the following formula is not generally
recognised, although the formula could be given
frequent application and is one of value to the
engineer.
The formula referred to is derived from the relation
existing between an inclined line and a horizontal
Fig. 1.
line in the same plane and the dip of the plane, and
is as follows :
tan a = sin
tan d h •
ward and runs S 111 K. Kind the dip and strike of
the vein. I'ig 2.
Where a the angle of slope of any line in the
is
plane, h is the horizontal angle or difference in bear-
Formula :
CB '
' AB'
fot, b
,
= tan 40°—
tan 20° sm 110
, cot
, ,
1
...
10 .
b.
AB!' cot 6=2-4534 - (
- -36397) =281737.
tan a=sin b tan d. ' (cot 110°= -tan 20)
the following problems, which are given to
In 6 = 19' 28'. 60 (19' 28') = 40' 32'.
illustrate application of this formula, a vein or seam Substituting value of /< in (1),
is represented, theoretically, by the plane. Mine tan 20 sin lit 28' tan '
d.
opening- (such a- inclines ami slopes), or sloping rf=47°31'.
311) The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minimi Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
The vein strikes N 40° 32' E and dips 47° 31' to the The above problems are intended to illustrate sonic
eastward. of the applications of this formula and its great con-
venience in solving problems of this kind. Readers
will be able to recognise iis usefulness in very many
modifications of the data here assumed. " C. K. —
—
Forbes. Mines and Minerals, Nov., 1912, p. 226.
(A McA. J.)
derella Deep, the changing weight of the winding the repeat orders that had been placed all showed
rope was compensated for by the use of a partly the favour in which the electiic winders were held.
conical and partly cylindrical drum. The winding It was very unlikely that any large -team winders
drums themselves were generally of east iron or would he installed on the Hand in the future. Elec-
-teel. with cast cleading provided with turned tric winders could he adapted to suit any conditions
grooves to accommodate the first layer of r >|>e. of winding and any location of engine-room. They
Small drums frequently had cleading of rolled mild were cleaner and more convenient than steam
steel plates without grooves. Wooden lagging was winders, and could frequently be used where steam
not often used, nor were there many drams built up of winders could not. With electricity in many cases
channels, girders and plates, such as were frequently cheaper in Great Britain than on the Band, the
encountered in England ami Wales. The ore was advantages were even greater than could be shown
brought to the surface in self-tipping skips, which in Africa, and Great Britain should lead, instead of
delivered their contents into bins fixed in the head- follow, Smith Africa in the number and size of electric
gear. That was impracticable in most coal mines al winders installed."— A. \V. BROWN, The Colliery
present, but would he an excellent system for any Guardian (reprinted from Trans, of North of England
coal mine in which the entire output could he Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers), Oct.
utilised at the pit month for coking and electric 25, 1912, p. S41. (R. A.)
P iwer generation.
The headgears of the modern mines were usually HAULAGK Clips. —
"At a meeting of the North
of steel. In inclined shafts the skips ran on rails, Staffordshire Institute ot Mining and Mechanical
and in vertical shafts either steel or wooden guidfe Engineers, Mr. W. (1. Salt read a paper entitled
mils were used, but never guide ropes. The speed 'Some Xoies on Haulage Clips in I'se in North
of winding varied between 12,009 ft. per min. in in- Staffordshire," which had been written by himself
clined and compound shafts (slowing to 1,00(5 ft. per ami Mr. A. L. Lovatt. The object of the paper was
min. around curves at the changes of incline) to to specify as far as was possible the types and makes
3,500 fo. per min. in vertical shafts. Although these of clips suited to the various conditions of haulage
speeds were by no means low, they were not as high to be found in that district. It was the authors'
as those obtaining in many British mines. In the desire to provoke a discussion, as there appeared to
electric winders the drums were driven according to be so very little reliable information available on the
circumstances, either by direct-coupled slow-speed subject.
motors, or by medium-speed motors through gear- Essential Qualities of a Good Clip.—[l) A clip
ing. When gearing was used the tendency was to must be made sufficiently strong, with a margin of
employ a single reduction, with either Citroen or safety, to do the work that is required and to with-
power plant double helical teeth. Good results had stand rough usage. If, however, the design of the
been obtained with these gears with powers as high clip is over liberal, the desired results would not he
as 1,000 to •2,(1(10 brake-horse-power, and ratios up to obtained, for if the tub or tubs became derailed,
.56 1.
: The pitch-line speeds in some cases exceeded serious damage might be caused to the rope or
2,00(1 ft. per min. The advantages of the gear-drive hauling machinery if the clip did not act in the
were very striking in the case of the alternating- nature of a safety valve.
current hoists, as they permitted the use of (2) Its design and construction should he such as
smaller motors with higher power factors and to allow of its gaining and retaining a linn grip on
efficiencies, and lower prices than those of motors the rope the moment it is attached.
suitable for direct coupling. The gear losses were (3) The jaws of the clip should have a good bear-
practically compensated for by the gain in motor ing on the rope of at least 70% of the circumference
efficiency. of the rope, and should embrace all the strands of
The majority of the electric winders on the Kami rope with a minimum length of clip jaw.
were supplied with power by the Victoria Falls and (4) A good margin for wear should he arranged,
Transvaal Power Company, Limited, their usual and easy adjustment by the person using the clip
supply being three-phase at oil periods and 2,100 should also be allowed for.
volts. The generating stations of that company at (5) The design and construction should be as
present had an aggregate capacity of over 130,000 simple as possible the fewer parts the better, and
;
kw\, and were consequently capable of carrying any such as to allow of its being easily attached and
peak which could be imposed upon them by any detached from the rope, the detachment being clean
winders yet installed. No equalisers were used, and and certain.
all the hoists were driven either by alternating- (6) The gripping surfaces should be so arranged as
current motors taking power directly from the line not to kink the rope when under working conditions.
and controlled by means of resistances in the rotor If the kinking effect is reduced to a minimum, the
circuit or by direct-current motors controlled on the wear on the rope will also be reduced, ami conse-
Ward-Leonard system. Both the .Ward-Leonard quently the life increased.
and the alternating-current rheostatic systems had (7) A clip should he capable of being automatically
their advocates on theRand ;and whilst all agreed that detached from the rope, and ideally should he of such
each system had its own sphere of economical applica- a design as to work satisfactorily under any one or
tion, there was much diversity of opinion as to what all of the conditions prevailing at a mine.
actually constituted economical operation. Some Controlling Factors. —
The following controlling
engineers were content to pay the greater first cost factors must be taken into account in the adoption
in order to obtain the easy and certain control of the of a clip :
348 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
top and bottom of an incline 800 yards long, varying were that it was' cheap and light, and was adapted
to undulating and level roads. It was automatically
from 13 to 20*. These tests were made when there
was less than half the working load on the rope. detachable.
The authors have no doubt this variation would be The Aspinall clip was used for over-rope haulage.
more noticeable with the rope working on full load, At a local colliery this dip was drawing one nib
and especially so in the case of a new rope, when the weighing 10 cwt. lip an incline of 30°. It adjusted
— —
Jan. 1913 S'ot;. >l Abslrai U Mitii '
;
349
Circum- Percent-
Diameter ference i
N.B.— 1 in. rope is based on 5 in. lay. 1 in. rope is based on 6} in. lay. 1 j in. rope is based on 8 in. lay.
British Isles there should have been 515 accidents increase the efficiency, but at a diminishing rate.
lining the year 1911 caused by explosives. These Different stemming materials vary in the effect they
resulted in the death of 56 peisons and in injury to have on the efficiency of different explosives. The
548 others. The number is so much in excess of the general conclusion may be drawn that tamped moist
average for the past ten years (402'1) that the public lire-clay, or the like, is the best stemming for all
is entitled to know if H. M.'s Inspectors of Explo- explosives, and may increase the useful energy of a
sives, who issue the Report, have an opinion to offer shot 93%."— W. 0. SWELLING AND C. HALL.
on the cause or causes of the great increase. The Chemical Abstracts, Bureau of Mines, Tech. Paper,
Report itself offers none. By far the largest number 17, Oct. 10, 1912, p. 2S42. (G. F. A.)
of accidents is in connection with blasting, and
among blasting materials gunpowder is the chief
offender. Thus the total numberof blasting accidents MISCELLANEOUS.
was 442 and the number attributable to gunpowder A New Theory of the Nature of Disease—
alone 202. If we consider the cases in which the the PROTEIN POISON. — "A poisonous extract made
accidents were avoidable but were brought about by by boiling bacteria with 2% alcoholic soda has been
pine carelessness we have the following tale :
made. The result is the same whether pathogenic
Number. or harmless bacteria are employed, and the product
Firing by electricity when persons are gives two well-known protein reactions. The patho-
at the shot hole ... ... 15 genic' character of microbes depends more on the
Not taking proper cover ... ... 99 capacity for multiplication in the victim's body than
Hang-fires and returning too soon to on any specific nature of the microbe. A similar
the shot hole ... ... ... 41 poisonous extract is obtainable by the same treat-
Tampering with miss-lired shots ... IS ment from egg-albumin, seralbumin, casein, zein,
Boring into unexploded charges .. 12 glutin and edestin, therefore every albuminous
Lighting fuse before inserting charge 1 molecule contains a poisonous group, and all albu-
Playing with detonators ... ... 20 mins and peptones are poisonous when injected
Playing with other explosives ... 6 without digestion. The first symptoms are restless-
ness'aml skin -irritation, then lethargy and paralysis,
Total No. 212 ending in clonic convulsions. The phenomenon
We find, therefore, that 48% of the accidents con- known ns anaphylaxis is a ease of the same sort.
nected with blasting were caused by carelessness The preliminary dose of the protein causes certain
resulting in the death of 1(3 persons and injury to cells to gradually elaborate a store of proteolytic
'239 others— a casualty list of 255 or 47% of the ferment, which disposes of the foreign protein slowly.
casualty list connected with blasting operations. A The ferment remains in the body, and when a second
type of accident not included in the above remarks dose of the protein is given the ferment suddenly
is one headed
— 'Sparks, tiame, etc. some of which
, decomposes it, thus liberating a large quantity w
are also due to carelessness.' There were 95 such the poisonous hydrolytic-product and so causing
accidents, gunpowder being the guilty explosive in death.
every case but one. The statement made in) the The essential difference between egg-albumin and
Report is that in many cases the accidents were due the typhoid bacillus is that the former is dead and
to non-conformity with the usual regulation enjoin- cannot reproduce itself. The period of incubation
ing the removal of the candle or lamp from the cab in typhoid is the period during which a sufficient
before preparing the charge. There is a suspicion, quantity of typhoid-protein is being grown inside
moreover, that in two cases the accidents may have the bacteria, and a sufficient quantity of the corre-
been caused by men smoking. The fact that these sponding ferment is being elaborated. The author
95 accidents caused 109 casualties is serious, parti- ' has succeeded in imitating the symptoms of typhoid
cularly when it is stated that there has been a by giving injections of egg-albumin to rabbits in
marked increase in such accidents. The fact that repeated small doses to correspond to the growth of
26 accidents were caused by persons playing with bacteria, and says that all fevers are due to the
explosives needs no comment beyond the remark entrance of foreign proteins into the blood. Symp-
that it is of a piece with the other acts of carelessness toms differ because the proteins choose different
that caused death and injury to the miners' fellow- parts of the body to act on, and because the ferments
workers. (hie other lesson to he learned from the from these different parts are different, but the
Report i- that there is very much less reason to fear poison is always (he same, and the symptoms
the strong new explosives than to fear gunpowder similar. All anti-febrile medicines are really anti-
which we are all familiar with and therefore are ferments." — Dr. V. C. Vauohan. —
Proceeding!
liable to have a contempt for." —Indian Engineer- American Philosophical Socitty, July, 1912, p. 20b.
ing, Oct. 19, 1912, p. 225. (R. A.) (J. M.)
sives. With slow burning explosives, such as black and in 1911 the American Institute of Electrical
blasting powder, the greater the quantity of stem- Engineers adopted this as the exact value of the
ming used, and the more firmly this stemming is horse-power. It is obviously desirable that a unit of
tamped into the bore-hole, the greater is the useful power should not vary from place to place, and the
work done by the shot. Small quantities of stem- horse-power thus denned as a fixed number of watts
ming greatly increase the efficiency of very quick- does indeed represent the same rate of work at all
acting explosives, and further additions of stemming places. Inasmuch as the pound weight, as a
' '
—
Jan. 1913 I
ids oj Patent Applications 35 i
unit of force, varies in value as -/ the acceleration of which may he of tee or channel section placed
gravity varies, the number of foot-pounds per second against he tube mill barrel ami notched at intervals
I
in a horse-power accordingly varies with the latitude to receive the liars, and also a steel key foi securing
ami altitude. It is equal t" 550 foot-pounds per same.
second at 50 latitude and sea level, approximately The liars, which may he in two or more lengths,
the location of London, where the original experi- are to he notched when' they pass over Mie hack of
ments were made by James Watt tn determine the the retaining ring so as to bring the bar down on the
magnitude of the horse-power. inside of tin- barrel.
Tne 'continental horse-power,' which is used on It is also proposed alternatively to put in a thin
the linent of Europe, differsfrom the Englishand liner plate against the barrel and to put the retain-
American horse-power by more than its usual 1 , ing rings and bars against the liners, the rings being
equivalent in watts being 73(3. This difference is secured by countersunk bolts passing through the
historically due to the confusion existing in weights l'ner and the barrel.
and measures about a hundred years ago. Alter the Francis Laurence Bosqui.
(C.) 126/12. Improve-
metric system had come into use in Europe, the
ments in pulp distributors for amalgamating
various values of the horsepower in terms of local
tables, plates and the like. 27.2.12.
feet and pounds weie reduced to metric units, and
This patent refers to improvements in means for
were rounded oil' to 7"> kgm. -metres per sec, distributing pulp over the surface of amalgamating
although the original English value was equivalent tables, plates, ete. and consists in the use of
, i
(C.) S2/12. Hugh McMenaniin. Improvements in anil the surface of the table being variously inclined
the linings of tube mills and the like. 7.2.12. allows the slime to travel slowly at first in order to
This application is in respect of a mel led of secur- settle the heavier materials, after which the travel is
ing the liars in the well known Osborn type of tube accelerated to prevent heaping of the sand and
mill liners. gangues.
The inventor proposes to do away with the inter- —
Nn. '•!:. This application refers to head motions
mediate flat liar usually placed between tin* radial I'm' concentrating tables and provides a motion in
bars and against the tube mill barrel, and to sub- which the forward movement is progressively de-
"
stitute for these what he terms a " retaining ring creased from a maximum to a minimum, giving a
)
352 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Jan. 1913
sharp reversal. This action imparts to the flow a tin bearing materials by conversion into volatile tin
rapid wave motion which by the progressively compounds. 11.11.12.
retarding action of the motion permits the heavier (C.) 599/12. Clifford Joon. Improved means
particles to settle out. for temporarily closing gas mains and the like.
Improvements (C.) 61X1/12. Philip Argall. Improvements in
(C.) 534/12. Henry James Rees.
classifiers. 11.11.12.
the deposition of metallic salts
in or relating to
(P.) 601/12. James Wilshir ;1), Theodore Albert
fiom solutions containing them. 4.10.12.
This application relates to improvements in the
Malpage (2). Improvements in and relating to sup-
ports for rock drilling machines. 15.11.12.
extraction of zinc from complex sulphide ores, and is
(P.) 602/12. Harry Ernest Rygor (1), Abraham
a further development of Patent Mo. 74/12 by the
In the former application a claim
Isaacs Wiesholtz (2). Improvements in safety de-
same applicant.
vices for skips running in inclined shafts. 15.11.12.
is made tor the precipitation of zinc from bisulphate
(C. ) 603/12. Ottokar Serpek ( 1 ), Societe Generale
solutions as a nionosulphite, whereas it his been
des Nitrures (2). Process for the manufacture of
found in practice that the sulphate is not so afl'ected
and accumulates in the liquors. It is therefore pro-
Aluminium nitride. 15.11.12.
Selected Transvaal Patent Applications. Bank of Australia, Ltd., Cornhill, London E.C.
Aymard, M., l/o Johannesburg Simmer Deep Ltd., ;
P. O. Box Germiston.
143,
( N.B. — In this
list (P) means provisional specifica- Bristol, Banning, Cal., U.S.A.
F. A., to
tion, and complete specification.
(C) The number Coombe, M. H., l/o Turffontein; c/o Rev. E. W.
given is that of the specification, thename that of the Coombe, The Manse, Clumber, via Graham-
applicant, and the date that of Jiling. stown, C.P.
Dixon, J. M., l/o Germiston Robinson Deep Ltd.,
;
iprocess for the recovery of tin from ores and other Mining Areas Ltd., P. O. Box 28, Brakpan.
— — —
THE JOURNAL
OF THK
2 fit Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications,
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment oj the si
Proceedings \- Associates
AT Makes, William Henry, Rietfontmn Mines Ltd ,
of the ballot papers, the President announi d i like to say that J was not present Council at that
that the candidate for membership had ling which decided to offer these prizes to the
elected, as follows : Trades School —
it is the first meeting 1 have
<:< man, Tom Albert, Princess Estate & < M. missel! for about four years but I heartily —
Co., Ltd., P. O. 1!"\ 112, R lej rt, Amal- sympathise with the idea, and congratulate the
gamator. Council on its public spirit in offering that
The Secretary announced that since the last stimulus. We
have to recollect that in this
meeting of the Society the following Associates country there were about 2,000 boys, of the
luul been admitted by the Council: average age of fourteen, leaving school at the
354 The. Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Feb. 1913
fourth standard last year on the Witwatersrand appropriate for us to show our sympathy at
it is
alone, with no opportunities of further educa- the loss of those gallant men, and I would ask
tion, and I think we must admit, in view of the you all to rise in your seats to express this.
future coloured competition which we have to All present rose.
meet, that the standard is not sufficient. There-
VISITS TO WORKS AND INSTITUTIONS.
fore we must do all that we possibly can to en-
courage secondary education. Of course it is a The Society has received an invitation from
duty for the Government to undertake, but I Mr. limes, the Director, to visit the Observatory.
think, when an effort is made in that direction, The date is not yet fixed but is being arranged,
as in the case of the Trades School, we must do notice will be given to members of this visit.
all that is in our power to encourage it. A great We have also received an invitation from the
many of us have come to this country from an Oliphantsfontein Brick and Pottery Company,
older country ; we have put to very great whose works are situated along the Pretoria line.
advantage the training we received there, and That visit unfortunately must take place on some
therefore it is only right that we should encourage week day other than Saturday because operations
similar training in the land of our adoption. are suspended on Saturday afternoons. The date
ol this visit will also be notified to members.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING OF ENGINEERS.
The Secretary We have received a letter
:
the meetings and join in the discussion on this from trees planted in dynamited holes. As I
important subject. To any member who would recently had an opportunity of comparing some
the Institute will be pleased to trees planted in dynamited holes with others of a
care to receive it
send a copy of the proceedings containing the similar nature planted at almost the same time
1
in
mite method by splitting up rocks which it does then run on the cyanide solution (i.e. in leach-
not dislodge otters a cheap and easy remedy. ing). Since cyanide is destroyed this is a
1 have been asked by a local farmer who has distinct source of loss. With the usual cyanide
been keenly interested in this paper if the author solutions employed it was found that, on the
will tell us whether he has found that blasting addition of permanganate, the oxides of man-
over a wide area has in any way interfered with ganese do not, after a time, settle out rapidly.
the flow of underground water it being sug ; Although the precipitate forms moderately
gested that this will have some influence in rapidly at the commencement, it takes some con-
^determining the attitude of farmers towards the siderable time before the final small portion
method in those districts where much of the water settles out. The bulk of this precipitate in a
is found below the surface. sand charge is, therefore, arrested towards the
Also have any data been obtained as to the top of the charge while the solution percolates
effect of dynamiting on the bacterial condition of downwards. Successive solutions applied to the
the soil With increased aeration consequent on
! charge may carry down a small amount of the pre-
splitting up of the rocks one would expect in- cipitate and become changed in some other
creased nitrification, for example, unless as has respect, e.g., in their power of oxidising reducers.
been stated in a local naper some plant poison is In any case, it is the solution (after the oxides of
generated during the blasting. The fact that manganese have separated out) which comes into
nitrification is increased when water-logged soil contact with the bulk of the charge and which
is drained illustrates one phase of the author's is the agent responsible for the extraction of
contention of the value of dynamite for this gold. [In an agitation charge the conditions are
purpose. evidently somewhat different].
In reference to the statement that the effect To a potassium cyanide solution was added ex-
lasts for at leastfive years, does this apply to cess permanganate and the filtrate added to a
orchards as well as ploughed lands One would .'
potassium ferrocyanide solution to determine the
expect only to the latter, and this is certainly the oxidising power of the solution, which was done
impression of those gardeners with whom I have by estimating the ferricyanide formed. The
discussed the point. standard solutions employed were — .
especially amongst some farmers, one feels inclined Sodium thiosulphate 40 gm. per litre.:
to suggest the addition of "Farmer's" to the In each case, to 150 cc. 0235% Aq. per KCN
three-deep name of our Society. manganate was added, the precipitate filtered off
as already stated, and the filtrate added to 30 cc.
standard ferrocyanide solution. A blank test was
THE ACTION OF OXIDISERS IX also performed in which 150 cc. water was added
to 30 cc. standard ferrocyanide solution, and the
CYANIDING.
volume of thiosulphate solution to satisfy the
ferricyanide determined. This figure was deducted
By Morris Green (Associate).
from the volume of thiosulphate required in the
various tests, and in the following list this deduc-
Some time ago the author experimented on an tion has been made :
is concerned. With a small quantity of reducing strength. If, in any particular instance, the use
matter the solution would, in this connection, be of permanganate is desirable, it should, as has
distinctly useful. often been pointed out, be employed in a different
It might be suggested that the addition of manner, namely, by adding water to theperman-
permanganate (not in excess) is useful not so ganite and, after the latter has been dissolved
much reducing matter as in yielding
in oxidising and carried into the charge where it can oxidise
a solution which dissolves the gold content of reducers, then adding the cyanide.
the charge more readily. This idea, as the fol- Potassium ferricyanide is a well known oxi-
lowing experiments show, is entirely fallacious. diser. The reaction with potassium cyanide and
Potassium permanganate (0T3 gm. to 500 cc. other substances involved in cyaniding appears
KCN Aq.) was added to a certain volume of to be quite unknown. A pure solution of ferri-
potassium cyanide solution, the cyanide strength cyanide in water was found to have no action
being finally 0'2% KCN. This mixture (solu- on gold. The addition of ferricyanide to KCN
tion + precipitate) is called No. (i.) in Table II. Aq. always accelerated the rate of solution of
Another quantity of mixture (i.) was prepared, gold in the latter e.g., in one case, the following
:
using the same volume of solution This was fil- figures were obtained :
tered and separated into solution (ii.), which was Tablk III.
made up to 0'2% KCX, and precipitate. This pre-
cipitate was added to a fresh cyanide solution, . of Total Gold Dis-
equal in volume to the volume of solution used in Solution. solved after Mechani-
cal Agitation.
making up mixture(i). This mixture (the cyanide
strength of the solution was 0'2% KCN) is called
No. (iii.) in the Table. Solution (iv.) was an 250 cc. 0-235% KCN 80-0
(ii.), (iii.) and (iv.) was added a gold cornet, the Ferricyanide, as will be subsequently explained,
cornets being of the same weight and similar in destroys potassium cyanide and introduces iv
allother respects. The mixtures were then simul- ducing matter into the solution but notwith- ;
taneously agitated under the same conditions for standing this its presence caused the gold to
the same period of time. The Table shows the more rapidly.
dissolve
results :
The reaction between potassium ferricyanide
Table II. and potassium cyanide was studied, using first
excess of one and then excess of the other. It
Per Cent, of
was found that with the quantities present in the
Per Cent,
Agitation of Total Total Gold tests, now to be described, one molecular weight
Number. Gold Remaining of ferricyanide reacted with about 1 '25 molecular
Dissolved. Undissolved. weights potassium cyanide,! yielding one mole-
cular weight potassium ferrocyanide, the reaction
(i-) 100 nearly Trace proceeding slowly till the constituent not present
(ii.) 569 431 in excess disappears. The time required for the
(iii.) 100 00 reaction to proceed completely depended upon
(iv.) 80-0 200 the concentration of the solutions employed.
Being satisfied that the reaction does take place
The solution after passing over the perman- with different solutions, a solution of one par-
ganate is thus a poorer solvent than ordinary ticular concentration was considered in greater
fresh cyanide solution of the same strength. The detail so as to render the results more compara-
precipitate, or mixture of oxides of manganese, is tive and intelligible, although tliia particular
evidently the active and useful agent, but its concentration was chosen in a perfectly arbitrary
effect in leaching charges, as already mentioned, manner. For example, when 0G gm. potassium
is negligible.* The common method of adding ferricyanide was added to 50 cc. 0"23% K( X
permanganate is, therefore, not only of little use solution (a little protective alkali being present),
in one direction, but actually harmful in that a the KCN was entirely destroyed after about 20
certain amount of cyanide is destroyed and the
*Possibly 100% was dissolved some time before 80% was dis-
resultant solution is a poorer solvent of gold solved in pure K< !N Aq.
1A blank test was pel formed, in which pure KCN solution of the
than an ordinary solution of equal cyanide same strength as the test solution was left standing for the same
period as, and side by side with, the latter. The action of the
ObBerve the analogy between the present case and that in- atmosphere upon the potassium cyanide was praetieall.v " '!•
ligible, but this does not prove that the test solution
;is
volving the use of finely divided carbon, referred to in the author's \
hours, the solution having stood in an open flask Two series of experiments were performed in :
on the laboratory bench. The potassium cyanide one case the amounts of potassium cyanide and
evidently functions as a reducer in the reaction ferricyanide were identical with those used in
since the destruction of the cyanide was attended the open flask experiments in the other tin
;
by the reduction of a certain amount of ferri- ratio of potassium cyanide to ferricyanide was
cyanide to ferrocyanide. Using the above twice as great as in the first instance. In both
quantities, namely, 50 cc. 0'23% KCN Aq. and series (i.e., with closed flasks) 26 molecular
0'6 gm. potassium ferricyanide, and allowing weights potassium cyanide, approximately, reacted
the reaction to proceed until KCN
could no with 2 molecular weights ferricyanide, resulting in
longer be found in the solution, it was found the formation of 2 molecular weights ferro-
that, very nearly, 25 KCX reacted with cyanide.
2K 3 FeC i;
N (
., 2K4 FeC6N6 being found in the The solutions used the above experiments-
in
final product. As stated above, this reaction possibly contained C0the commencement ;.
2
at
was complete, under the prevailing conditions, also, the air was not swept out of the flasks
in about 20 hours. A number of experiments before running in the solutions. The experi-
in which the solutions were allowed to stand for ments were therefore repeated with additional
longer periods, up to 75 hours, shewed the same precautions. The water used in making up the
results, the ferrocyanide and ferricyanide existing solutions was treated for some time to remove
side by side after the destruction of the potassium CO.,. Air, free from CO.,, was passed through
cyanide. The average of a series of eight experi- the flask and the solution of potassium cyanide
ments shewed that the ratio between the number and ferricyanide was then run in, every pre-
denoting the amount- of ferrocyanide
actual caution being taken to prevent the external air
formed and the number denoting the theoretical (containing CO.,) from reaching the solution.
amount of ferrocyanide that would be formed if After standing for about 50 hours the solution
N
2K3FeC6 6 were changed to 2K 4 FeC, N,, was ;
was examined. No potassium cyanide was left,
59 55. The reaction proceeded both in the
: and the ferricyanide had been converted to ferro-
presence and absence of protective alkali. cyanide as before.
The solutions at the completion of the reaction In all the previous experiments much hydro-
were never alkaline (to phenol phthalein), so that cyanic acid could be detected in the solutions.
if the carbon dioxide of the atmosphere enters That the reaction can proceed, however, without
into the reaction it (C0 ) is not present finally as the evolution of this, or any other, gas from the
2
the carbonate K 2 C0 3 but possibly as hydrogen
,
solution is proved by the fact that the reaction
potassium carbonate HKC'O.,. On heating the takes place in closed flasks filled with the solution.
solutions there was a rapid evolution of gas, To discover whether there is a tendency toward
found to consist largely of CO.,, while the the evolution of gas, a solution of potassium
remaining solutions became very alkaline. This cyanide and ferricyanide was placed in a gas
test is, iif course, also answered by cyanates burette. A vacuum was formed in one limb
which were discovered, by conversion to urea, to and the apparatus left standing for 46 hours'.
be present in considerable amounts. That CO., Throughout this period very little gas was
from the atmosphere does not enter into the collected :less than i- cc. from 150 cc. of
reaction was shewn by the following experi- solution. The change from ferricyanide to ferro-
ments : cyanide had taken place as in all previous cases.
Several flasks containing the potassium cyanide This experiment was repeated, using a number
and potassium ferricyanide solutions were closed of different concentrations (of potassium cyanide
with tightly fitting stoppers. The solution in and ferricyanide). In every instance the result
each case filled the tiask so that there was no air was similar to that obtained in the first experi-
space between the surface of the solution and the ment.
bottom The flasks were opened
of the stopper. Possibly hydrogen peroxide is a product of
at varying intervals and the solutions examined the reaction, but owing to its decomposition by
for potassium cyanide, ferricyanide and ferro- ferricyanide and ferrocyanide* its presence would
cyanide. The reaction was found, under these not be detected. The solutions were always
circumstances, to have proceeded much more examined for H.,0.,, invariably with negative
slowly than in the previous experiments in results. Numerous experiments were performed
which the flasks were open to the atmosphere in which HoO^Aq. was added to solutions of
;
for example, after 48 hours the potassium cyanide ferrocyanide, adding also varying amounts of
strength had fallen from 024% to 0'13% KCN. potassium hydrate. The peroxide was always
After longer periods the reaction proceeded rapidly decomposed.
further. The solutions also then became alkaline, 'Equations for the reaction between H 2 2 and K 3 Ke0 9 N o ;
358 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. Fell. 1913
I would suggest that there action between It is highly probable that the so-called pure
potassium cyanide and potassium ferricyanide cyanate used in the above tests contained impuri-
(in aqueous solution) is, in the main, represented ties, since, when the experiment was repeated
cyanide does not, therefore, appear to be due to not increase the rate of dissolution of gold in
any reaction between the ferricyanide and potassium cyanide.
potassium cyanide. In the presence of reducers To show further that the action of ferricyanide
of an ore the beneficial effect of ferricyanide and in accelerating the dissolution ofgold is not due
other oxidisers is, of c airse, easily understood. to any products of the reaction with potassium
But the use of ferricyanide applied direct to a cyanide, ferricyanide (not in excess) was added
potassium cyanide solution introduces reducing to a cyanide solution and the whole allowed to
material —
ferrocyanide —
into the solution besides stand for a couple of days, when the reduction
also destroying potassium cyanide. There is of the ferricyanide was nearly complete, a small
thus a wrong and a correct method of employing portion of the total ferricyanide being, however,
ferricyanide the latter method is tedious and
; still undecomposed. The action of this solution
generally cumbersome. Clennel has stated that (A) upon gold was compared with that of an
potassium cyanate plays a part in the dissolution ordinary cyanide solution (B) of equal KCN
of gold by potassium cyanide. If this statement strength (0"2%).
be a true one, the explanation of the principle Table V.
underlying the action of oxidisers (in the absence
of reducers) becomes obvious. Actually, how- Solution % of total gold dissolved at
end of treatment (mech.agit).
ever, potassium cyanate does not accelerate the
dissolution of gold in a solution of potassium
cyanide, as was shown by a number of experiments. A 27-4
A solution of potassium cyanate in water was B 96-1
found to have no solvent action upon gold.
Gold cornets, each weighing 3'2 mgm. and of
It is obvious, therefore, that the action of
the same nature were attacked by
in all respects,
ferricyanide in accelerating the solution of gold
the following solutions which were simul-
is due to some process independent, or rather in
taneously mechanically agitated, under the same
spite of, the reduction of ferricyanide by potas-
conditions, for 18 hours :
sium cyanide.
.Solution (a) 250 cc. chemically pure KCN Aq.
The detrimentaleffect of ferrocyanide in prac-
(23% KCS) prepared with fresh distilled water..
ticalcyaniding has sometimes being pointed out.*
Solution (4) 250 cc. chemically pure KCN Aq.
Alfred James, also, in his " Cyanide Practice
(•23% KCN) prepared with old distilled water.
quotes the results of experiments with oxidisers
Solution (c) 250 cc. chemically pure KCN Aq.
and shows that the use of air in addition to ferri-
(•23% KCN) prepared with old distilled water.
cyanide gives better results than the use of ferri-
+ 005gm. " chemically pure " KCNO.
cyanide alone. Since the oxidiser is reduced by
Solution (<l) as in (i) +0'2 gm. chemically pure
potassium cyanide to ferrocyanide, the reason
KCNO.
for the more rapid dissolution of gold when air
Solution (e) as in (/,) +0'35 gm. chemically
is employed becomes obvious, since the oxygen
pure KCNO. Table IV. shows the results :
treatment.
dissolved.* bromocyanide does not accelerate the solubility
of gold the reaction between bromocyanide and
:
(a) 0-22% KCN 100 potassium cyanide does not result in the forma-
0-22 „ 82-8 tion of reducers
(b) „
019 820 It has been shown in this paper that a solu-
0) „ „
0-15 „ 64 tion of chemically pure potassium cyanide in
(d) „
0-15 „ 64 freshly prepared distilled water dissolves gold
(«) „
•See, ini- example, this Journal, pp. 250-251, Dec. 1912, W t
No insoluble gold salt was ever precipitated by the Ohomlev in discussion on A. McArthur Johnston's paper " lnv< -
cyanate. tigation of Magnetically Separated Iron from Mill Pulp."
— — —
Feb. 1913 Morris Green — '!'!, Action of Oxidisers in Cyaniding. 359
more rapidly than an older solution. The former The last results confirm, in part, the observa-
solution was now compared with several different tions of Julian* who showed that
solut i ( Free oxygen plays no primary part in the reac-
1 )
Solution A. —
250 cc. freshly made distilled tion (i.e. in the dissolution of gold inKCNAq)
water + chemically pure potassium cyanide, ('J. Any assistance given by free oxygen is of a
|
70 :
Prof. G. H. Stanley (Member of Council) I : and these lead to four further errors. The last
should like to second this vote of thanks to Mr. two columns should read as follows :
treatment of certain by-products from gold ores for the " - 200 " were accepted, as before noted,
in which the effect of these various oxidisers had the surface would be nearly 300 sq. ft. per lb.
been tried with results which were not always The 1% difference referred to (p. 338) was due
what were expected. The paper therefore en- to assuming a somewhat different specific gravity
deavours to illustrate some of the reactions which for the'dust —
7'0 instead of 6-92.
might take place, and I think on close perusal As to the oxidation observed in a Montana
it will be found to give food for thought and consignment of zinc dust in large casks, this may
will, I hope, lead to an interesting discussion. have taken place while lying in the hold of the
ship in which it crossed the Atlantic unfor- ;
the same subject, I wish to disclaim any inten- limit for the effectiveness of this alloy is most
tion of questioning his estimate of the dimensions interesting, and this point deserves to be fully
of the zinc dust particles which he measured. my
investigated ; to the best of recollection my
My remarks were intended only to suggest that former experiments indicated about 2% as a desir-
the " - 200 " product in his sample was appar- able minimum, which would confirm this theory.
ently coarser than the average of the correspond- Solutions of lead salts have been widely used
ing fraction in a considerable number of samples in connection with precipitation by means of
from various sources which I have had occasion zinc dust, and incidentally it may be worth while
to measure from time to time. My measure- to note that lead nitrate is a little more advan-
ments have not however been as numerous as his tageous than the acetate for this purpose, as it
in any single case. This mode of measurement is not only costs less per pound (at least in the
however at best unsatisfactory, for even the most United States), but contains a larger percentage
careful sample from a cask of 600 to 1,600 lb., of lead.
when further diminished to a few milligrams for As to the proposal to employ a typical working
microscopic examination, may not be strictly gold solution for the " precipitation test," the
representative of the lot, and again one may chief difficulty has seemed to be the very large
examine a dozen different " fields " of the same volume of solution required. For instance, since
slide and obtain different results in each. zinc should precipitate about twice its weight of
Owing to an error in the hasty calculations, gold, 10 litres of a solution carrying about 10
two minor items in my Table on p. 338, Vol. dwt, gold per ton would require less than 0'1
XII. are incorrect as regards the decimal points, gm. of zinc for complete precipitation. This is
*Thi» Journal, May, 1912, pp. 40'.i-47ii. too small a weight of dust to give a fair sample,
'
unci "l) the other hand a richer gold solution for sampling solutions entering extractor boxes,
would be scarcely more representative of working but on account of the filtering nature of the
conditions than the silver now used, while a wool, it is not to be recommended as a suitable
volume of 10 litres is itself rather an incon solution sampler for the foot of boxes.
\rniently large one to work with. A com This leads me to an omission in my paper in
[promise, which has already been used, is to take not describing an "ever ready primed siphon,"
works solution instead of water for making up a contrivance suitable for siphoning the clear
the silver potassium cyanide for this test. liquid off a zinc acid treatment vat (in which
It is to be hoped that some further and more it is desirable to have as few connections as
definite tests may be devised, so as to enable possible). The siphon can be shaped out of a
standard specifications to be intelligently drawn piece of iron or lead pipe preferably the latter, a
up, that will positively ensure obtaining the most suitable size being 1-} in. diameter, of sufficient
efficient grades of zinc dust for precipitating length, when bent in the middle to reach the
purposes. bottom of vat inside and out with each end of the
In conclusion it may not be out of place to pipe turned up 6 in. (like a hook). The siphon
ca.lattention once more to the distinction between is suspended over a half circular piece of wood,
"total zinc content'' of this material, and "zinc with a radius of about 9 in., th's is attached to
in the metallic state," as the former is occasion- a rope and counter weight by which means the
sionally given in analyses as "metallic zinc." siphon may be raised or lowered at will. When
Under this erroneous system a sample of pure making the first adjustment it is esssential that
zinc oxide, entirely free from actual metal, would both the ends are perfectly level one with the
be said to contain approximately 80% " metallic other. The siphon is primed with a hose under
zinc," and a mixture of 50% actual zinc in the water pressure, and once primed is always
metallic state with 50 of oxide would bequoted primed, provided the ends as stated above are
as 90% " metallic zinc." kept level.
P ^
MINOR IMPROVEMENTS IN CYANIDE
PRACTICE.
-S*S> _>~K^Vff?/V
J
{Read at August Meeting, 1912.)
a connection to the bottom shell of valve directly indebted to Mr. J. J. Garrard). The results
under the clacks to serve as a drain pipe also obtained in the experiments now referred to
fitted with a one inch cock, and a series of half revealed no error, but only incompleteness, in my
inch holes round the flauged edges of the clacks original conception of the mode of existence of a
will have the desired effect. When the valve [iortion of the gold.
is shut, the clacks are both pressing outwards The author wishes to record his regret that the
against the inside faced shell ot valve, and to treatment of refractory ores, of more than passing
flush out the accumulation of slime in the work- interest in several localities of this country,
ing parts of the valve, the opening of the drain should be a subject so little commented upon by
pipe and the delivery of water or solution under members of this Society who have had actual
pressure, will quickly remove any obstruction experience with such ores.
free and workable.
and leave the valve
In conclusion it appears that my paper
being mostly descriptive has prevented much Obituary Notices.
criticism, still I shall feel satisfied if some benefit
has been derived from the various devices des-
MR. A. C. CLAUDET.
cribed.
The death announced with deep regiet of
is
The President Mr. Morrisby has set a very
:
Weight ok Load in Tons of Pebbles (at 105 lb. peb Cubic Foot).
l>
I
u i, lit"
ft)
i., t —
IjdflUi ;..
111
on t't
J l •
12in. above axis of mill 1421 14-65 15-10 15 55 16-02 16-48 16-96 1744 17-92 18-42
11 , ,
13-81 14-25 14-69 15-14 15-59 16-05 1651 1698 17-46 17-lU
10 ?' ?>
13-41 1 3 8 ! 14-27 14-71 15-15 15-60 1606 16 52 16-99 17-47
9 »? i>
13-01 13-43 13-85 14-28 14-71 15-16 15-60 16-06 16-52 16-98
8 >> " 1-2-60 13-01 13-42 1384 1427 14-70 15-14 15-59 16-04 16 50
7 jj »i
12-18 12-58 12-99 13-40 13 82 1424 14-67 15-11 15-56 16 01
6 »j ji
11-76 12-15 12-55 12 95 1336 13-78 14-20 14-63 15 07 15-51
5 ») j»
11-33 11-72 12-11 12 50 12-90 1331 13-73 1115 1 I
-58 1501
4 jj ji
10-90 11-28 11-66 12 (15 12-44 12-84 13 25 1366 14-08 14-51
3 >5 JJ
10-47 10-79 11-21 1 1 5!) 11-98 12-37 12-77 13-17 13-59 14-00
2 1 »> 1004 10-40 1076 1114 I 1-51 11-90 12-29 12-68 13-09 13-50
1 ?» Jl
9-60 9-96 10-31 10-68 11-05 11-42 11-80 12-19 12-59 12-99
[Level with axis of mill
(
i.e.-, half full) ... 9-18 9-53 9-88 10-23 10-60 10-96 11-34 11-72 1211 12-50
1 in. below axis of mill 8-77 9 10 9 45 9-79 10-14 10-51 10-88 11-25 11-63 1201
_>
jj )) 8 33 8-66 9 00 9-33 9-69 10-03 1039 1^-76 11-13 11-50
3 i» n 7-90 8-27 8 55 S'SS 9-22 9-56 9-91 10-27 10-63 1100
4 »i )i
7-47 7-78 8-10 8-42 8-76 9 09 9-43 9 78 10-14 10-49
5 >» n 7-04 7-:ll 7-65 7-97 8-30 8-62 8-95 9-29 9-64 9-99
6 >» j)
6-61 6-91 7 21 7-52 7-84 8-15 8-48 8-81 915 9-49
7 )> n 6-19 6-48 6-77 7-07 5-38 7-69 8-01 8-33 S-66 8-99
8 )> )i
5 77 6-05 6-34 6-63 G-93 7-23 7-54 7-85 8-18 8-50
9 M i)
:,36 5-63 5-91 619 6-49 i;77 7-08 7-38 7-70 8 02
lu >> i) 4 96 5-22 5-49 5-76 6-05 6-33 6-62 6-92 723 7-53
11 j' »)
4-56 4 81 507 5:;:; 5-61 5-88 617 6-40 6-76 7-06
12 >> i)
-4-16 441 4-66 1-92 5-18 5-45 5-72 6-00 6-30 6-58
The above formulae are derived from Molesworth's formula for the area of a segment, namely: —
4 V
-ys7 (0-626 V)- + 0',
when V is the height of the segment, and (' is the seniichord.
When
the upper surface of the pebbles is below the axis of the tube mill, find the weight of the
pebble load whose upper surface would 1c the same distance above the axis, and deduct this weight
from the weight of the pebble h id required t" entirely till the tube mill.
364 The Journal <>f The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Feb. 1913
MR. E. P. ARNOT. tried, ami all were acted upon, though not to the
same extent.
The death is also reported of Mr. Edwin Percy The strongest solution obtained was practically
Arnot, the Chief Mine Surveyor of the Simmer opaque with a thickness of 1 to 2 cm., yet contained
and Jack Proprietary Mines, Ltd., who died of only "16° of solid matter. A resinous black mass
was obtained on evaporation this easily redis-
;
enteric fever on the 3rd March. Mr. Arnot, who solved in water. The solution was acid to litmus.
was only 30 years of age, was elected a member The solid can be precipitated by salts, strong acids,
of the Society on the 22nd June last, and his loss and alkalies as an amorphous mass very difficult to
is deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. filter. The solution has thus very distinctly colloidal
properties. After precipitation of the brown solid
by neutral salts the liquid remains distinctly coloured
and has a more acid reaction than before.
This fact, with other indications, convinced me
Notices and Abstracts of Articles and that there were at least two substances present,
Papers. both containing very light percentages of carbon.
A slight lise of temperature above Inn C. converts-
tbem into insoluble substances with aloss of weight of
CHEMISTRY. approximately 30%. If this black residue is ignited
Electrolysis of Water with Carbon Elec- a slight but distinct smell of burnt sugar is evolved
trodes. —
" It has been known for many years that with a small quantity of white fumes. As men tinned
when graphite is treated for several days, with a above, gas carbon, battery carbon, and other dense
mixture of nitric acid and sulphuric acid or some forms all gave rise to similar results. When wood
other powerful oxidising mixture, at a geuile beat, charcoal was tried, the usual brown solution re-
it is partly converted into a substance known as sulted, but this solution was neutral to litmus.
graphitic acid (C n 4 5 ).H This substance forms pale Willi graphite a pale yellowish solution was obtained
yellow crystalline plates, somewhat soluble in water, having acid properties. 1 have not had time to
and the solution lias an acid reaction, reddens cany the experiments further, but it would seem
litmus, and combines with bases. Under the same fairly certain, combining my results with the earlier
conditions charcoal is converted into a brown soluble ones of Berthelot and others that under the condi-
substance of unknown or indefinite composition. tions of the experiments have carried out graphite
1
Berthelot proposed to found upon this a method for yields graphitic acid only, and charcoal a Brown
estimating the amounts of charcoal and graphite substance, or mixture of substances while all the ;
respectively in any sample of carbon. denser tonus of carbon yield a mixture of the two.
The object of this paper is to di scribe an entirely It would further follow that graphite must be a con-
different method of preparing the above compounds stituent of these more refractory varieties.
or others very similar to them, for I have bad no ( 'wing to lack of time I have not yet been able to
means of proving that the compounds prepared by put forward any very definite results, yet the method
-
me have precisely the same composition as graphitic of procedure described appears to promise interesting
acid. If a high tension current is passed between results if carried out in a thoroughly efficient
two pieces of carbon placed in a vessel of water, the manner. The action of high tension electricity in
water soon begins to acquire a brown tint and to the formation of carbon compounds seems to have
become a fairly goud conductor. This occurs even in been little studied up to the present, and yet it
distilled water, though the action is then extremely appears to approach none nearly to natural methods
slow, and many hours elapse before any appreciable than any other. There is little actual expenditure
action begins. The negative carbon is entirely un- of energy there are no violent changes of tempera-
:
affected, while the anode is gradually used up ture or powerful reagents used. in the animal or
;
fragments are torn off from it and collect at the vegetable cell the most elaborate compounds are'
bottom of the vessel. The amount of oxygen given built up step by step from simple ingredients with
off at the anode is notably less than it should be as the aid of the energy of the sun's light and beat. I
compared with the hydrogen. believe I am correct in stating that though the
In my experiments a voltage of 250 was used and actual energy consumed in the cell is infinitesimal
the current, inappreciable at first, gradually rose to yet here may be relatively enormous potential
I
it had been formed right inside the carbon itself and found in separating and identifying substances
formed, too, more quickly than the water could formed only in microscopical quantity, and for those
dissolve it. purposes the most refined methods of analysis must
The was made on electric light carbons,
first trial be employed."— E. G. BRYANT, 13. A., B.Sc, South
which bad been placed in a vessel of water for the African Journal of Seienee, January, 1913, p. 148.
purpose of forming a simple resistance arrangement. (H.A.W.)
In order to ascertain whether the substance thus
formed was really due to electrical action between Separation of Base Metals in Cyanide Solu-
carbon and water, two hard battery carbons were tions for Quantitative Determination. "In —
next tried with precisely similar result. Afterwards the treatment of silver sulphide ores by the cyanide
gas carbon, pure graphite, and wood charcoal were process, free alkaline sulphides are carried into'
— —
Feb. 1913 Notices rend Abstracts: Chemistry. S6.V
solution. Lead acetate is often used as a precipitant beaker, and is easily distinguished from either the
for these free sulphides. Any excess of lead acetate chloride or the sulphate of silver, which may also
over the amount required to accomplish this purpose have been precipitat) d.
is undesirable, a- it is carried to the zinc-boxes in the IV. Filter and wash with sulphuric acid diluted
form of sodium plumbite and there redeposited with 4 to 1.
the silver. This entails a needless waste, not only of i
< Precipitate containing lead (if present) and
I
the acetate, but of the zinc as well, which is con- a small quantity of silver.
sumed in the process of replacement. An excess of (d) Filtrate containing copper and nearly all of
lead acetate leads to the production of a base bullion. the silver.
It is highly desirable, therefore, to know if lead is To the filtrate (d) add just enough sodium chloride
present in excess. The amount of zinc ami copper in solution to precipitate the silver, which is then re-
solution is also of importance at times. By the moved by liltration. The copper in solution is
following scheme of analysis these and other base precipitated on aluminium foil. For quantitative
metaK may be recognized and separated for quanti- determination of both the lead and cupper, reference
tative determinatijn by any of the well known should be made to Low s Technical Methods of Ore
'
the funnel is inverted over an 8-oz. beaker, into Low's 'Technical Methods of Ore Analysis.'"
which the precipitate is washed with a line jet from Gt/PPY and Watf.EM.VN, Minim/ am! Scitntific
a wash bottle ; 15 or 20 cc. of sodium sulphide is Press, Nov. 9th, 1912, p. 597. (A.'McA. J.)
added, and the contents of the beaker digested for
10 or 15 min. to bring the antimony and arsenic into The Softening of Boiler Water Feeds. —
solution. "The process of combining feed-water heater and
Filter through the same filter-paper into a clean softener is now frequently used. In this plant, the
beaker, wash witli dilute sodium sulphide, and water, in .Messrs. Lassen & H jolt's system, is, after
finally with a little warm water. On acidify ing the measurement and admixture with chemicals, heated
nitrate with HCI the presence of antimony gives an to boiling point — if desired, by means of exhaust
orange-coloured precipitate, and arsenic a yellow. steam led into the precipitating chamber, which is
These substances may be determined quantitatively provided with a guiding plate and sludge cock, to
by any of the usual means, but an excellent method facilitate the removal of the large quantity of
for determining small quantities of antimony and precipitate which is deposited at this point. It then
arsenic, with full explanations of necessary precau- passes into the settling chamber, where a further
tions, will lie found in the first edition of Fresenius' deposition of the heavier part of the precipitate
'
Quantitative Analysis.' takes place. The lighter portion of the precipitate
III. Wash the bulk of the precipitate (a) into a rises with the water to the first filter, where the
casserole with hot water. Remove the filter-paper greater part of it is retained. In order, however, to
and spread over the convex surface of a watch-glass, ensure a perfect clarification of the water, it is
'the adhering precipitate is dissolved with hot dilute subjected to a second settlement and filtration, and
nitric acid and added to the contents of the casserole. is then delivered into the storage tank of the
(t '.lie should be taken that none of the
filter-paper is softener, the level of which is made to regulate
allowed to fall into the casserole.) Cover the cas- the How of hard water to the plant by means of a
seinl, and heat until precipitate is dissolved. Add ball valve.
•in cc. concentrated HoS0 4 and evaporate on hot So far as boiler compositions as preventives are
plate until copious white fumes are given oil'. When concerned, there is scarcely any doubt that these
cool, rinse the contents of the casserole with a little compounds effect very little in the way of softening
cohl water into a clean beaker. The presence of lead the water, while in those cases where they produce
may be readily detected by the white granular any effect at all they frequently damage the boiler
appearance of the precipitate in the bottom of the itself. Another great disadvantage of these com-
366 The Journal of Thr Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1913
pounds is,that where they produce a precipitate, cipitate in the filtering material by the filtration
the latter left in the boiler, and a large accumu-
is that lakes place subsequently. These installations,
lation of solids is the result. as time progressed, were found to possess marked
Take the case of a hoiler evaporating, say 8,0(10 lb. disadvantages. Apart from their usual large size,
of water per hour, the water having a haidness of and the usual great space they occupied, they
20°. This will represent about 23 lb. of scale- had the disadvantage that they were open, and 1ms 1
forming matter per hour, or on a week's run about became soiled by mechanical and chemical im-
386 lb., and in a four week's run 1.544 lb., or about purities, and of late years such installations have
three-quarters of a ton. Presuming the boiler is been made in the enclosed pattern. In this
blown down often enough to keep this enormous arrangement, air is usually pressed irrlo the water
amount of solids in hand, what will he the amount through a pump delivery pipe by means of a com-
of fuel and water wasted through blowing down, pressor, and the water, ihus laden with air is freed
and what will be the cost of heating the solids over a sand filter from the separated iron slime.
remaining in the boiler? Clearly the manner in Opinions differ, however, as to the amount of air
which to deal with the problem is to purify the to be pressed in the water. While on the one hand
water before it is used, and not to leave the boiler some consider that it is necessary to pass into the
to act as a purifier as well as a steam producer. pipe large amounts of air, others, on the other
AVhen feed water heaters are desired a valid hand, believe that results quite as good can be ob-
objection to those which claim to dispense witli the tained with very small amounts of air. In another
use of lime and depend on a mere heating up with process, the aerated water is pressed through (dosed
alkali for such slight reduction of hardness in the filters, which ate tilled up with wood wool, impreg-
water as they effect, is that the exhaust steam nated with ferrous hydroxide, stannic oxide and
employed introduces a large quantity of oil into the other substances. Before starting the operation,
feed water, ami as the latter, in the absence of the ferrous hydroxide is deposited on the wood wool
lime, can only be partially softened, a dangerous by causing fen cms sulphate and sodium carbonate,
scale containing oil is quickly formed in the boilers. or ferrous chloride, and caustic lime to react on
The softening, including the absolute removal of the fibre. Although, according to both processes,
the oil, should be carried out by means of lime and good results can be obtained so long as the fillets
soda quite independently of the heat. The oil is are properly attended to, the separation of the iron
coagulated by the lime particles and retained in the is never complete- Ihe additiotr of atmospheric
niters of the softening plant, the softened and oxygen does not always suffice for the complete
filtered water being free from the slightest traces. oxidation, and, moreover, the density of the
Possibly, there is more hard than soft water in material used subsequently for filtration is in-
nature. Springs which lise in underground moors, sufficient to prevent the passage of the finest
or pass through moors and marshy districts, as also colloidal ferric hydroxide.
those which pass through districts containing Water from a condenser is a very good example
putrefying matter, and thus give off their oxygen, of the rreed of mechanical purification. Tempera-
receive iron, combined with indefinable organic tures are so high in modern engines that oil
— —
substances humus acids which obstinately retain volatilises, and on (ondensing the stearrr and oil
the iron, and under ordinary circumstances do not vapour the oil is so finely divided as to pass through
allaw of its separating out in the presence of air. the finest filter or filter press with the greatest
Some maintain that it is only by means of pro- ease. If oil gets into the boilers, it is well to note,
tracted aeration in thin layers that a part of ihe blisters will appear on the sides of the lubes, and
iron can be removed from these waters, and then serious overheating of the plates will follow rrr
only because the organic substance i.s gradually consequence. It is absolutely necessary, if con-
consumed by the oxygen of the air. Suchwateis densed water is to be fed into a boiler, to have some
are readily recognised by their appearance. The simple hut reliable means of getting rid of every
colour, according to the circumstances, varies from particle of oil. I n some cases engineer's put large
yellow to light brown, and the smell is often fusty. quantities of sodium carbonate into the boiler before
A further characteristic of this kind of water is the the start of a run, with the result that for the first
very slight presence of minerals. The total hard- week or two they corrode the plates of the boiler,
ness is generally very slight and usually traces of and for the rest, of the run the scale is formed as
sulphuric acid can hardly be detected, as the before. Even il the scale irr a boiler can be kept
sulphates, when passing through a district con- qrrite soft, excessive priming is the result ol its
taining putrefying matter, are for the most part presence in the boiler. Professor Kankine, after a
reduced. In the same manner as water containing great number of experiments, estimated the re-
iron in the presence of air enables us to estimate sistance to beat of carbonate of lime to be between
the difficulty of removing the iron from the water, Hi or 18 times more than that of iron, and the
absence of sulphuric acid, presence of ammonia nr resistance of sulphate of lime to between 45 or
nitric-acid, show the difficulties which must he oil times.
overcome in removing the iron from water. In such modern tubular boilers, where high tem-
Willi
cases, the water should be previously clarified. peratures and pressures are experienced, carbonate
Often the whole content of iron may be removed of lime and sulphate oi magnesia always react with
1 water in the presence of air.
i each other, forming carbonate of magnesia anil
The first and oldest processes of water softening sulphate of lime, both of which are, of couise,
were based on the principle that water falling freely insoluble, so there is a double precipitate. This
in the form of rain, as in the Oestin system, or reaction occurs at about 390' Fabr. (220 lb. strain
trickling down, as in the Peifke system, over poio'-s pressuie) a by no means unusual temperature, or
material, such, tor instance, as coke, claj sponge, pressure, in a boiler of modern design.
and the like, was brought into intimate contael Assuming a fairly good water supply, say 12 gr.
with the air. 'Ibis 'aeration' oxidised the iron, of hardness per gallon (there are many with 50 gr.
and the iron hydroxide, then distributed in colloidal of hardness), and a plant working day and night
form in the water, was separated out as a pre- with an average output of 1000 h p. per hour in air
—
Feb. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Chemistry. 367
average toiler, about 3 gallons of water evaporated preservation of the materials and solutions, and the
per hour will give 1 h.p., which means tbat t lie titrations were conducted entirely with weight
boilers will have 36,000 gr., or 5J Hi of scale burettes. A study of the standardisation of per-
precipitated on them per bour. Working day and manganate with sodium oxalate showed that the
night would mean that 3.960 lb. (or over If tons conditions recommended by McBride must be
oi scale] would be precipitated inside the boiler. slightly modified for use with 0"03 N permanganate,
Suppose 75 per cent, of this to he got rid of during the strength usually employed for the bismuthate
the run by Glowing down, there still remains 990 lb. method since the relative errors caused by varia-
;
weight of scale to he removed by hand, a task that tion in conditions with 003 N
permanganate may
would take two men a week. he much larger than with 111 X. By the use of a
Besides the strain on the plates owing to the small volume in the titration the errors from this
unequal expansion of the scale and the iron, there source are reduced to a minimum.
is the increased fuel bill, the time of the men Results obtained by evaporation of a. manganous
employed in cleaning, as well as the increased de- sulphate solution depend entirely upon the time
preciation charge. .Moreover, the owner is deprived ami temperature of the final heating, which point
of the use of the boiler for about 10 per cent, of its was investigated. It was found that beating for a
life. surprise those who are soap useis to
It will considerable period at temperatures of 450° 500 is —
leant that10 gr. of baldness per gallon mean a necessary to obtain anhydrous normal manganous
dead loss of IT H>. of soap in 1,000 gallons of water." sulphate, and that the salt begins to decompose at
— H. A. Cartkr, Indian and Eastern Engineer, temperatures from 5o0 —= J
600 i.e., incipient to dull
.
under the conditions recommended by them. Man diately or after one-half hour. The results were
ganous sulphate is, iherefoie, the only compound accurate in the presence of as much as 3 gr. of iron.
adapted to accurate weighing of this element, either Addition of phosphoric acid to the ferrous sulphate
solution rendered the end points more distinct. The
in gravimetric analysis or in obtaining a definite
amount of manganese as a primary standard. Of only conditions found which yielded inaccurate
results were (a) deficiency of nitric acid, {b) failure
the various volumetric methods considered, the
to agitate after addition of bismuthate, and (r)
bismuthale method appeared to be most nearly fiee
allowing the solution to stand after addition of the
from the influence of the precise conditions of opera-
excess of ferrous sulphate. For analysis of rich ores
tion, and therefore most suitable for use as a
standard method.
and similar high grade materials, the use of O'l X
This method depends upon the oxidation of man-
permanganate is recommended, permitting the use
of about I'll gr. sample.
ganese to permanganic acid by sodium bismuthate
After filtration through Experiments upon seven permanganate solutions,
in nitric acid solution.
of different strengths (U'03 X and 111 X), prepared
asbestos to remove the excess of bismuthate, ferrous
from different sources, showed that the values
sulphate is added in slight excess, which is then
known manganese derived from sodium oxalate and manganous
titrated with permanganate of
sulphate agieed in every case to within one part in
value and of known ratio to the ferious sulphate.
The method of standardizing the permanganate is,
five bundled. The accuracy of these values was
confirmed by analysis of specially purified potassium
. course, fundamental, and forms ihe principal suh-
i
b.\ r than those derived from manganous sulphate, of the ferrocyanide solution with a standard solution
the subject was studied in further detail. Special of a metallic salt, such as the salts of copper and
precautions were observed in the preparation and zinc; (2) decomposition of the ferrocyanide solution
—
The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1913
368
into hydrocyanic acid, absorption of the gas in a Experiments were made to determine if it were
solution of caustic alkali, and titration of the result- possible or not to utilize the process for the recovery
ing cyanide solution with silver nitrate. of cyanogen on a commercial scale from various
In carrying out determinations by the first method waste products and the results were such as to
eo many precautions have to be taken that the pro-
indicate that it was quite practicable." H. E. —
cess becomes a very tedious and laborious one before Williams, Society of Chemical Industry. Mining —
its completion, and even then though the utmost and Engineering World, Oct. 26, 1912, p. 755.
care be taken, the presence of interfering compounds (A. McA. J.)
very often renders the results of doubtful value.
The second method has the advantage of being com- British Standard Specifications for Soap
paratively simple, but it frequently happens when Lye and Crude Glycerine. — "The following
this method is employed that the decomposition of standard specifications were drawn up by the British
the ferrocyanide is incomplete, and the results are Executive Committee on Crude Glycerine Analysis,
consequently of little or no value. To insure the and approved at a general meeting of crude glycerine
decomposition of the ferrocyanide, Feld proposed a makers, buyers, and brokers held in London on
modification of the method in which the ferrocyanide October 3, 1912.
was first converted into mercuric cyanide and then —
Soap Lyes Crude Glycerine. Analysis to be made
broken up by distillation with sulphuric acid and in accordance with the International Standard
the liberated hydrocyanic acid absorbed by caustic Methods 1911 (see this Journal, 1911, 556). Gly-
alkali and determined by silver nitrate. To convert cerol. —The standard shall be 80% of glycerol. Any
the ferrocyanide into mercuric cyanide it was neces- crude glycerine tendered which tests 81% of glycerol
sary to first add to it a small quantity of alkali and or over, shall be paid for at a. pro rata increase, cal-
boil the solution, and then magnesium chloride and culated as from the standard of .80%. Any crude
boil again and finally to add mercuric chloride and glycerin which tests under 80% of glycerol, but is
boil a third time. The solution was then ready for 78% or over, shall be subject to a reduction of 1J
distillation with acid. The process was not an times the shortage, calculated at jim rata price as
involved one, but it had one very objectionable from 80%. If the test falls below 78%, the buyer
feature and that was the number of boilings lequired. shall have the right of rejection. Ash.- The stan-
No matter how many precautions were taken there dard shall lie 10%. In the event of the percentage
was always some loss of hydrocyanic acid, which in of ash exceeding 10%, but not exceeding 10'5%, a
some cases has been known to amount to as much as percentage deduction shall be made for the excess
1%. Feld's method has much to recommend it, but calculated as from 10% at pro rata price, and if the
for the reasons already stated it is not to be relied percentage of ash exceeds 10'5%, but does not exceed
on and the author therefore recommends certain 11%, as additional percentage deduction shall be
modifications in the details of the process of which made equal to double the amount in excess of 10'5%.
the following is a description :
If the amount of ash exceeds 11% the buyer shall
If the ferrocyanide is in the form of a solid, have the right to reject the parcel. Organic Resi-
0-5 gin. of the carefully dried sample is dissolved in due. — The standard shall be 3%. A percentage
100 cc. of water and transferred to a 250 to 300 cc. deduction shall be made of three times the amount
distilling flask. Approximately 0'05 to 01 gin. of in excess of the standard of 3% calculated at^/?o rata
cuprous chloride, dissolved in a few drops of hydro- price. The buyer shall have the right to reject any
chloric acid or an equal quantity of a saturated parcel which tests over 3.75%.
solution of either sodium or potassium chloride, is Saponification Crude Glycerine. —
Analysis to be
then added. After gently shaking the flask to made in accordance with the International Standard
insure a thorough mixture, from 25 to 30 cc. of N/4 Methods, 1911 (toe. cit.). Glycerol.—The standard
sulphuric acid is then added and the mixture dis- shall be 88%. Any crude glycerine tendered which
tilled through a condenser into absorption flasks tests S9% or over, shall be paid tor at a pro rata in-
containing either caustic soda or potash. As a crease calculated as from the standard of SS%. Any
general rule the ferrocyanide will be completely de- crude glycerine which tests under 88%, but is S6% or
composed after boiling gently for about 30 minutes. over, shall be subject to a reduction of 1J times the
As soon as the reaction is complete the condenser shortage, calculated at pro rata juice as from 88%.
and absorption tubes are rinsed out with distilled If the test falls below 86%, the buyer shall have the
water and the cyanogen determined in the usual way right of rejection. —
Ash. The standard shall be
by titration with silver nitrate using a few drops of 05%. In the event of the percentage ash exceeding
a 10% solution of potassium iodide as indicator. 5%, but not exceeding 2 0%, a percentage deduction
The exact nature of the various reactions which shall be made equal to double the amount in excess
lake place are not clearly understood, but it has of 05%. If the amount of ash exceeds 20%, the
been established that the ferrocyanide is decomposed buyer shall have the right to reject the parcel.
by the cuprous chloride with the formation of cuprous Organic llesidiie,— T\\e standard shall be 1%. A
cyanide which is in turn converted by the sulphuric percentage deduction shall be made of twice the
and hydrochloric acid— the latter a product of one amount in excess of the standard of 1%, calcu-
of the reactions— into cuprous chloride and hydro- lated at pro rata price, the buyer shall have the
cyanic acid. It will be seen from this that the right to reject any parcel which tests over 2%."
copper compound is regenerated after completing Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry, Nov.
the decomposition of the ferrocyanide— a phenomenon 30, 1912, p. 1084. (F. W. W.)'
which permits of a very small quantity of the
reagent being used to effect, the decomposition of a Production of Illuminating Gas from
comparatively large quantity of material. Sewer Sludge. — " a French journal
It is stated in
The degree of accuracy obtainable by the above that a German chemist. Prof. Honig, has perfected
method is extremely high and the result- will a process for manufacturing gas for lighting purposes
almost invariably range from 0'2 to 111 higher from sludge. A (ubic metre of sewage contains on
than those obtainable by direct titration methods the average 1,666 gm. of sludge (about one-tenth
-when carefully performed. English lb. per cubic foot) resembling peat in com-
— —
Tel.. 1913 Notice* and Abstracts: Chemistry. 369
position. From this, when dried, a gas of greater into nitroprusside. The reaction proceeds more
calorific power than ordinary coal gas can lie slowly, the less soluble the double salt, and this pre-
obtained, ami it yields three tuiir times moret < •
cludes the use of potassium ferrocyanide in place of
ammonia. Works have been constructed at Brnnn sodium ferrocyanide, as the potassium double salts
>(Austria) for making gas by this process, and foj are very sparingly soluble."—!'. SCHWARZKOPF,
several months 37 tons <>f dry sludge have been Journal «/ the Society of Chemical Industry, Nov. 30.
treated daily, yielding S.191 cub. metres if gas 1912, p. 1077, (F. W. VV.)
1,862 cub. ft.),or at the rate of 7,870 cub. ft. per
ton.The yield of ammonia was 277 kilo. (610 lb.), Iron Salts Capable oi Absorbing and Fixing
in at the rate of 17 lb. per toil of simile " Journal Carbon Monoxide. — " Trisodium-ferropentacya-
„f the Royal Society of Arts, LXI., 3,136, 1912, nammin, Na 3 FeCy5 NH3 ,6H20, produced by saturat-
p. 152, Dec 27, 1912. (J. G.) ing a solution of sodium nitroprnsside with ammonia,
has the power, aqueous solution, and still
in dilute
Ciiiheya Rubber From North-Western Rho- mine rapidly if aqueous solution be added
to the
i~[\. —
"The sample consisted of four cylindrical acetic acid in quantity rather more than equivalent
mil- (9 in. long by i in. diam.) of reddish brown to the ammonia in the formula, of absorbing carbon
scrap rubber believed to have been derived from a monoxide. Under the most favourable circumstances,
vim'. It gave a loss on washing (moisture and im- one molecule of carbon monoxide is absorbed for one
purities) of 13'2%, ami the dry washed rubber con- atom (,f iron in the salt, and the ammonia is expelled,
tained 91'o% of caoutchouc, 66 of resin, 06 of ~u that a compound, Na 3FeCy 5 CO, is foimed. The
protein, and 1 °3 of ash. It was valued at 4s. 9d. to same salt absorbs in a similar way nitric oxide the
:
.V. per lb., with line hard l'ara at 6s. lid. per lb. compound so formed does not evolve its nitric oxide
Imp. Inst., 1912, 10, 385-386; Journal of the in a stream of hydrogen, as is the case when nitric
ty <J' Chemical Industry, xxxi., 1912, KIS6. oxide is absorbed by solutions of ferrous salts. As
(J. G.) ethylene and acetylene are not absorbed by this
reagent, it can be used instead of cuprous chloride to
absorb carbon monoxide by gaseous mixtures con-
Quantitative Determination and Separation
taining ethylene or acetylene. In absorbing carbon
oppkr by Means of Hydroxylamine Hydro-
iHLORIDK. —
" Copper may he accurately deter-
salt-
monoxide in the cold, this reagent shows a similarity
to the haemoglobin of the blood but the carbon
mined by reduction, boiling alkaline solution
in
;
oxide was passed to neutralise the hydroxy! ions and Chun. Betg., 1912, 26, 463-465, Nov. 30, 1912, p. 1093.
remove hydrogen cyanide. Mixtures of sodium (F. W. W.i
ferrocyanide with calcium chloride or barium chloride
may he used instead of calcium ferrocyanide preci- : The Visi osity of Lubrii ating Oils.— "At the
pitate! of sodium-calcium or sodium-barium ferro- Seventh International Congress of Applied Chemis-
cyanide are produced at first, but these dissolve ti v. London, 1909, one of the present authors (Dun-
gradually as the dissolved ferrocyanide is converted tan, Section 10, page 163 see this Journal 1909,
;
' I
370 Tin Journal nf The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining S y I South Africa. Feb. 1913-'
75') foreshadowed t lie more extensive application of may be plotted giving in a graphic form the varia-
viscosity as ;i valuable constitutive property, not tion of viscosity with temperature. The n-ethod of
only because of its specific suitability as a criterion
of lubricating efficiency, but also as a means of
calculation is as follows The viscometer must be : —
calibrated with a liquid whose viscosity is accurately
determining adulteration, and checking purity. It known at a range of temperature: moreover this
is, indeed a matter for astonishment, that a property standard liquid must be very viscous. Phenol is
which varies within such wiile limits for individual very suitable for this purpose, since its viscosity has
substances ami which, with properly designed been determined independently by Scarpa, Dnnstan,
apparatus, is so susceptible to accurate measure- and Thole.
ment, should have met with relatively little appli-
cation in technical chemistry. In this communi-
Viscosity of Pure Phenol.
cation, which deals more particularly with the
Temperature. Observer. Viscosity-
connection between lubrication and viscosity, the
authors desire to advance the proposition that the
viscosity of a lubricating oil can only be satisfactorily
25' Scarpa n-0So0
dealt with in the form of a temperature curve, so 45° Thole 11-11404
that the behaviour of an oil can be approximately 50°
predicted if the working conditions are known.
Dnnstan 0(1337
tin I lunstan 0253
Further, they wish to point out that the viscosity of 70° Scarpa 0-11107
an oil should be expressed in absolute units of dynes
per sq. cm., so that all oils may be directly compared,
and lastly that the apparatus in which the bulk of Suppose the time of How of phenol in the given
the purely scientific work on viscosity has been viscometer was t seconds. Then viscosity x time =K
carried out is eminently suitable for technical pur- x density, where K is a constant for the particular
poses. It is obvious, of course, that any standard instrument. It will be found that K only varies
oil may be taken for comparison purposes, and the slightly with temperature, and the values for K He
result quoted as they are at present, in terms of evenly on a straight line which forms the calibra-
such an oil. tion curve for the viscometer.
—
Apparatus and Method. The simple apparatus To take an actual example: temp. = 73-5° C. ;. —
devised by Ostwald is, in point of fact, a modifica- t = 130-5 sec. log K for viscometer =3 "0414 specific
; ;
tion of that used by Poiseulle a century ago in his gravity of oil = 877.
classical investigations on viscosity. A
reference Then viscosity =Kx!x (7=0-126.
to Fig. I. will show the chief points of the visco-
Experimental Results.
meter.
Filtered oil is run into the vis- Medium spindle oil. Light marine engine oil.
C Viscosity,
now suspended in a bath of para- 64 OHO 73 1 1 2Mi
ffin wax or suitable clear high 100 00348 100° 0-0780
Hash oil. It is adjusted quite 150 0123 140° 0-0246
verticallyby reference to plumb 150° 0106
lines suspended in the bath. A Heavy Texas engine oil.
two-litre Jena beaker forms a 70 0181 Ravison rape oil.
convenient bath, and stirring 110 0-0454 70' 0146
may be carried out by means of 150° 0175 100° 0-0673
a glass paddle, run off a hot nit' 130° 00327
motor. A delicate thermometer Standard cylindi r oil. 150° 0219
is immersed in the bath. If the
7ii 951
determinations are carried out in
a suitable well
100 0263 Bayonne medium gas
place, shielded
from draughts of air, surprisingly
1 51 00361 engine oil.
190" 0237
steady temperatures may be main-
tained for long intervals. It is
His 0-01S7 70 0148
100 0-0550
advisable, however, to guard the
apparatus with asbestos mill-
Medium gas < ngine oil. 150° 0157
board as a protection against tem- 70 0-148
perature fluctuations. After the 100 0-0550 Galician engine oil.
viscometer has been immersed 150 0157 75 0198
15 min. at constant temperature, the levels of the 100° 00638
oil should be accurately adjusted to the marks r—d, Russian i ngine oil. !25 00319
by means of a warmed glass pipette. Rubber tub- 80 0-122
ing is rixed to the top of bulb A, and the oil slowly 100 0535 Price's A air-cooled
sucked up above mark a. It is then allowed to flow 150 00160 motor oil.
down and when the meniscus passes a. a stop watch
Locomotivt cylinder oil. 80° 0-368
reading to fifth seconds is started ar d the time of
flow between n and h is taken. Four or five deter-
80 0-660 130° 00684
100° 0-279 170 0-0240
minations are made and averaged. For ordinary oils
150 0-0574
the following dimensions will lie found useful
ISO 00265 ciude American
:
.1
Capillary, (', i; em. x 1 mm. bore: bulb A 4cc, bulb
unrefined oil.
B, S cc length over all 15 cm. The viscometers
;
may be obtained from Messrs. Midler, Orme, & Co., Elektrion rope od. 80° 0162
High Holborn. 12o 0-694 115° 0-053
For lubricating oils it is advisable to take a series 150- 0-274 150° 0-0-216
of readingsbetween 70° C. and '200° C, when a curve ISO' 0111 170 0139.
—
Feb. 1913 A'rfi'i . Ibstraets : ' 'hi mistry. 371
The specific gravities are best determined in a acid and ferric chloride, with that given by standard
narrow necked 10 cc. flask, provided with an etched solutions of pure ammonium thiocyanate treated
mark. The oil is adjusted to the mark with a line similiarly. It is found that the colour is affected by
pipette after 15 min. immersion. The temperature the presence of ammonium salts, so that the free
lion for expansion of glass may be determined
ii ammonia as well as ammonium sulphide must be
by finding the weight of water contained in it al removed before the test is made. 50 cc. of liquor
various temperatures and constructing a correction are diluted with 50 cc. of water and evaporated to
curve. 30 cc. on a water-bath. The solution is made up to
Nip viscosity determination can exactly reproduce 1
100 cc. and 20 cc. of this solution are mixed with
the actual conditions under which the lubricating 10 cc. of a 6% solution of fenic chloride in 10%
oil will be used and consequently t lie above results hydrochloric acid, diluted to 500 cc. and 100 cc of
are of an arbitrary nature. Still, undoubtedly it this liquid taken for the colour comparison." F. —
would be of value, when dealing with a given oil, to Weisser, Journal of the Society of Chemical In-
plot its viscosity curve and compare it with one dustry, from Ckem Zeit, 1912, 36, 1285-1287, Nov.
afforded by an oil of real merit. The more viscous 30, 1912, p. 1070. (F. W. W.)
the lubricant becomes, tbe-stronger is the adhesion
between it and the bearings, and the greater the A Mercury Seal for Physico-Chemical
pressure and temperature it will sustain, but WORK.—" It is usual to place the mercury seal
excessive viscosity causes unnecessary friction, so externally, but where circumstances permit of its
that the ideal lubricant has just the correct viscosity internal position that lias many advantages. The
to keep the moving surfaces apart under tbs work following piece of apparatus is the adaption of
ing conditions. It follows then that sonic know- Findlay's form (' Practical Physical Chemistry") to
ledge, at least approximate, must be had of the internal use :
maximum temperature to which the oil will be sub- Through the cork A a short length of glass tube
jected, and it is apparent from the curves that above passes, slightly larger than the stirrer B, which
•Jim ('. although the viscosities tend to approxi-
mate they still are widely different for light engine
oils and heavy cylinder oils. The authors are
attempting to carry hen- method out at -till greater
t
by comparing the colour produced by hydrochloric ovei hr., and under the falling hammer, detonates
I
—
372 Tin Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of South Africu-. Fen. 1913-
losing its capacity of being easily detonated, \Y. happens, the trees are unable to bear incision with
Macnab has obtained the following results on tiring out dying, It is w. II known that a vast amount of
(by means of No. s fulminate detonators) tetra- criminal waste has been carried on in past years by
nitroaniline and some mixtures in a large calori- those who were in a hurry to grow rich and had no
metric bomb from which the air had been pumped thought for the morrow. As the plants must he
out " :
— from live to six years old before they can he called
CO. pet cent per cent. pel cent. per rent. per cent.
Tetranitroaniline, 55 gm. charge ... 1017 — 8'27 2 5 38-3 1-2 I.V1 23 9
,, 100 gm. charge ... mix — —
1
2511 33 1 0-6 18 o 22 S
Mixture of 86% of ammonium ni-
trate, S of trinitrotoluene and
6 of charcoal 1131 903 411 26 3 3-3 — 8 '5 61-9
Mixture of 81% of ammonium ni-
trate, 13 of tetranitroaniline
ami 6 of charcoal 116H 933 443 37 7 3 -a 41 547
Mixture of 87% of ammonium ni-
trate. 7 of 23 of tetra and' '
77 of dinitrobenzene, and 6
of charcoal ... 1154 913 416 265 41 — 8-5 60-9
B. FliURSCHEfM, Journal of the Society of Chemical rubber-yiehling, obviously cutting down to obtain it
Industry ; from Eighth Int. Appl. Chem.,
Cong. is a suicidal policy, because even if the place were
Sect, Illn. Orig. Comm., 4- 31-33, Nov. 30, 1912, again immediately replanted no further supply oi
p. 1095. (F. W. W.) rubber would be available until another live years had
passed. This is now being recognised, anil the ten-
Natural and Synthetic Rubiskr.— "Of late dency is only to cut down for clearance purposes,
years the importance of rubber, or caoutchouc, has and to sow or plant slips to form new rubber planta-
increased by leaps and bounds, partly owing to the tions.
enormous quantities which are employed in the Tapping is carried out by different methods in ilil-
manufacture of motor tyres, and to the various other ferent regions. Probably the best methods are
purposes to which rubber is now a necessary adjunct. adopted in Brazil, where incisions are made with a
The trees and plants from which rubber is obtained special hatchet, the blade of which is little more
only flourish in tropical anil sub-tropical climates. than an inch wide, and as the cutting-edge of the
A moist climate is required and a temperature with axe is not much more than one-fifth of an inch deep,
a minimum of 80 V. and a maximum of 108°F. The only the bark is incised and the wood of the tree is
rubber zones where such conditions prevail are not injured. Befoie incising the tree the bark is
tropical America, the West Indies, tropical Africa, well cleaned, and any rubbish removed from the loot
including Madagascar, Ceylon, anil the Indian-Malay of the tree. The cutting is either carried out in the
region, including Oceania. early morning and the latex which exudes collected
The rubber-latex yielding plants are not always within a few bonis of tapping, or the work is carried
of the same species or botanical order. Further- out in the night ami the material collected in the
more, the qualify and quantity of rubber yielded rooming. Little cups are placed below the incisions,
varies within wide limits even between the various ami into these I lie white milky fluid drops. The
species of the same order. In tropical America quantity of fluid collected varies within wide limits,
the rubber plants are mainly arborescent, but on an average, about one ounce.
is,
although there are a few hushes and climbers. The America the incision is sometimes re
In Central
African and Madagascar rubber plants are mainly placed by a small puncture. Within recent years a
climbers or vines. Latterly, however, tiees which large number of special tapping instruments have
are indigenous to Africa have been found to be been patented.
rubber-yielding. In the Indian-Malay region some After the latex has been obtained from the trees,
of the trees such as Finis elastica teacli gigantic it is necessaty to coagulate and preserve it.
sizes, but there are also a number of species of Although it will slowly coagulate of itself on ex-
climbers. posure to the air and light, it is necessary to treat it
It is not within the scope of this paper to go into to prevent putrefaction.
details as to the various species of the rubber plant
The latex by no means consists of pure india
or as to the methods of cultivation. few words as A rubber generally speaking, not much more than
;
to the methods of tapping the plants and obtaining
about one thhd of its weight is rubber, the rest
and curing the rubber may, however, be of interest.
being water, pntrescible matter, small quantities of
The present methods of obtaining the latex do not resinous material, etc.
vary much from those employed by the natives who
evolved them without scientific knowledge or train- A typical latex consists of :
which can oidy be justified under particular circum- Water ... ... .. 56 ,,
—
In this form the latex is a thin fluid and, ofcour.se, the cutting-machine, where it is shredded into frag-
could not be exported. In the process of coagulation ments from U
in. to 2 in. square. The slicing can
the bulk of the water is removed, together with a either he done mechanically or by hand.
huge portion of the putreseible matter, and what (3) The rubber
is then passed through rollers,
remains should he sterilised in such a manner that it generally corrugated, which revolve ,it differeni
will not putrefy on keeping, speeds, thus subjecting the rubber to a tearing and
In order to coagulate Para latex, it is heated over flattening process. As the rubber is being macerated
a smoky tire, the process being as follows :
water is caused to flow over the rollers. Any soluble
A bottomless earthenware vessel is Idled with twigs impurities are thus dissolved and mechanical im-
and branches and a light applied. In order to create purities, such as earthy material, twigs, hark, etc.,
a draught the earthen furnace is raised from the washed away. The rubber is crushed and drawn out
ground by Ineans of stones. As soon as a dense into a flattened sheet called crepe owing to its
smoke makes its appearance, the native operator appearance.
throws in palm nuts, then wood and nuts alternately Very considerable loss in weight occurs in the
until the jar is filled to within about 4 in. from the washing operation, as the following figures show :
—
top. It is, however, only in the lower Amazon that
Para Kubber .. ... 10- llj per cent.
the nuts are used, in other parts twigs and branches
Peru Sheets ... ... 30-40 ,,
within easy reach are employed. When the smoke
.lava Rubber ... ... 20-35
is sufficiently dense, the operator takes a wooden
paddle which he exposes to the smoke for a few (4) The final operation is drying. The washed
moments. He then smears the blade portion with rubber is sometimes spread on wire frames in a room
water containing soft clay, to prevent adhesion of heated by steam pipes. The room should be dark-
the rubber. After this treatment the end is dipped ened, as the rubber must not be exposed to bright
light when drying. The method most usually
into the vessel containing the latex. The excess of
latex i- drained oft', and then the mould is held flat adopted at the present time, however, is to place the
side down about 2 in. above the mouth of the lire.
washed rubber in vacuum chambers which are steam-
By turning it over, both sides become equally heated. The drying in this ease is much more rapid.
smoked. There being only a film of latex on the After the rubber has been dried it is folded into
instrument, the heat and smoke cause almost instant bundles and stored in dry places away from the
influence of light.
coagulation. The paddle is then again dipped into
In some eases the rubber is washed and rolled at
latex and the operation repeated time after time,
the plantations and is sent to the market as calen-
until a huge cake weighing about 10 lb. or 11 lb. is
dered sheets.
formed. It is then split down with a moistened
knife and removed from the instrument. Vulcanisation. —
Undoubtedly the making of the
It follows from the method of coagulating that the rubber industry was the discovery of vulcanisation.
rubber gets thoroughly cured, since only thin films On heating to moderate temperatures, pure rubber
are acted upon during each operation. 'The coagu- becomes sott and tacky, whereas at low temperatures
lation is probably produced by the heat of the tire it ni ns hard and is rendered practically unworkable.
I
and by the products of partial combustion or distil- Vulcanisation is not carried out to-day by dipping
lation in the smoke ; such, for example, as wood into molten sulphur, although in some cases the
creosote and acetic acid. The biscuits so prepared rubber is exposed to the action of sulphur vapour.
require to be further dried, for which purpose they The usual process is to mix the rubber with sulphur
are placed in the branches of trees. The operation of and any filling material which is to be employed.
drying takes several days. This mixture is continually passed through rollers
Chemical methods are largely employed they with the addition of oil or other solvent until an
;
consist in the addition of acids, such as sulphuric, absolutely homogenous product is obtained. The
hydrochloric, acetic, or citric filling materials employed are legion. For example
acids, also of :
alum, mercury chloride, etc. chalk, zinc oxide, antimony sulphide, lead oxide,
One of the best
seems to be a mixture of sulphuric acid and phenol. powdered metals, silica, etc. The rubber containing
In using acids only very small quantities may be the sulphur and filling material is employed for
employed, otherwise the coagulation is upset. That making the rubber articles before being vulcanised.
is to say, there must oidy be sufficient acid added to Vulcanisation only takes place at high tempera-
coagulate the albumen present. tures. After the articles have been made they are
After rubber has been purified or cured in some placed in small or large chests, where they can be
way or other— and there are many processes which heated to the desired temperature under pressure.
I have not time to discuss — it is sent to the market.
The process of vulcanisation requires great care
Before, however, it is in a condition to be used for and experience, as it is a very easy matter to spoil
manufacturing purposes, it must go through a wash- the goods by over-vulcanising. Different rubbers,
ing and rolling process. for example, require different periods of vulcanisa-
Kubber, as it comes on the market, is rarely suf- tion, and rubber which has been 'killed' by over-
ficiently pure for use without being first washed in maceration in the washing process requires different
order to free it from foreign matter, such as sand, treatment.
pieces of bark, etc. There are four operations in the In the process of vulcanisation as practically
cleaning process:— (1) Steeping in warm water to carried out, the average product oidy contains about
soften and clean it superficially. 2*5% of sulphur. It is interesting to note, however,
(2) Slicing. (3)
Washing. (4) Drying. that quite different results are obtained by quick
vulcanisation at high temperatures with large ex-
(1) When rubber arrives from abroad it is usually
cesses of sulphur, gradual vulcanisation in which the
too hard to be conveniently worked. It is, there-
tore, placed in wooden vats containing water, which
temperature is slowly raised to a maximum, and by
can be heated by steam. slow vulcanisation at comparatively low tempera-
It remains in these vats
from 12 to 24 hr. tures. And this is so, even if in every case the same
degree of vulcanisation is produced.
(2) When it ha9 been steeped long enough to make
it sufficiently soft, it is removed and passed through * Some of the pure plantations show much less loss than this.
>
374 The -hiu nud of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of South Africa. Feb. 1913
The chemistry of vulcanisation is very complicated, extracted from them by means of toluene or other
ami even although has been practised for more
it solvent.
than half a century, very little is known as to what On evaporating off the solvent the gutta-percha is
act ually happens. Evidently, however, thesulphida- left behind. By adoption of extraction processes the
tiim of rubber to cause vulcanisation is one of useful life of the tree is prolonged, and the total
addition, because sulphuretted hydrogen is not amount of gutta-percha obtained is greatly increased.
evolved in the process. As rubber contains un- Chemically, gutta-percha would appear to be very
saturated groupings, it is easy to understand how an similar to indiarubber, because when it is distilled it
addition product can be produced. Taking the yields isoprene and other products similar to those
simplest formula imaginable for rubber, we may yielded by indiarubber. Its physical behaviour,
suppose vulcanisation to take place, thus however, is different.
CH 3
CH 3
Natural, that is unvulcanised, rubberV'hen heated
to about 100°C. softens and becomes more malleable,
CH2 -C=CH-CHa
I
I
msider&bly altered. It ha* do) the same Two years later Tilden published a paper in which
elasticity or nerve, nor does it vulcanise in the same he showed that when turpentine is decomposed at
manner as before. high temperatures isoprene is produced. Now as
For commercial purposes it is not actually neees caoutchouc can he produced from isoprene, and
sary to know the constitution of rubber, its quality isoprene can be obtained from turpentine, it follows
under various conditions being all that is r» quired. that it turpentine can he obtained in sufficient quan-
Thus its distensibilit.y or elasticity is important; tities ami at a low enough price, and if the yield
that is i" say. when stretched it should assume its from turpentine is considerable, we have a possibility
original form immediately the force employed to for manufacturing rubber on a commercial scale.
stretch it is removed, it should vulcanise well, and Unfortunately, turpentine is not cheap, ami turpen-
so hi;. On the other hand, it is s matter of great tine is not plentiful:moreover, the yield of isoprene
impoi tance to know the actual constitul ion of rubber is small.
in order to understand why it has its peculiar pro- Tilden found that polymerisation could take place
perties, and if possible to arrive at some idea as to by the action of hydrochloric acid.
its formation.
'
Heiiieinann heated turpentine vapour to 500C. in oil was purified by fractional distillation, when the
<"intact with silver or copper. However, turpentine isoamyl alcohol was obtained :
—
was finally found not to be a satisfactory means of CH..\
J
obtaining isoprene. Although a very large number )CH.CH, CE, OH
of methods have been suggested, many of them are CH3/
1 his was converted into the chloride by the action
very complicated, the yields are poor and are ex-
tremely expensive. For these reasons, and also
of hydrochloric acid. The next opeiation was to
act upon it with chlorine gas, so as to convert it into
because the time at my disposal will not permit of it,
the dichloride
I will only pick out a few of them.
In the various researches which have been made in but the isoamyl chloride must always be in excess,
connection with rubber, it has been found that other and this can readily be judged by noticing the
substances similar to isoprene can be polymerised to colour of the liquid as it drops from the condenser,
form rubber. Thus substances having conjugated because if the chlorine is passed in too quickly it
carbon atoms arranged in the following manner will will be of a yellow colour. As quickly as the higher
yield rubber-like products on polymerisation :
boiling dichloride is produced it drops back into the
c=c-c=c. boiling flask, and as this is provided with a fraction-
Now isoprene has this grouping, its formula be- ating column, only he lower boiling isoamyl chloride
t
ing :
— can pass into the chlorinating chamber. By this
CH 3
means the dichlorides are removed from the further
action of the chlorine. When the chlorination has
CH2 = C-CH = CH, proceeded far enough the product is submitted to
So also has butadiene, which is represented as fractional distillation with a fractionating column
follows :
and separated into isoamylchloride and a mixture of
CH,= CH-CH = CHo dichlorides which distil at between 140 C. and 17.3 •'.
Three dichlorides are actually produced, but the
We can formulate the condensation of two isoprene
chief one is the one already mentioned, viz. the 1 3 :
chloride.
<H CH S
All the chlorides when passed through a tube
I I
to separate them.
I
I
•CH, = CH-C = CH 2 CH.,- CH = C-CH., Now the only difficulty in obtaining isoprene by
this method is the cost and the limited supply of the
I I
Fusel oil, from which isoprene can be prepared, is heated soda lime,
a product manufactured in considerable quantities, CH = CH-CH = CH 2
2
and consists mainly of isoamyl alcohol. The crude Butadiene.
C— . — — —
Feb. 1913 polices tttnl Abxlrwis . Che stnr. :i77
Butadiene is a gas at ordinary atmospheric tem- On oxidation the rin plits with formation of
peratures, so it has to he condensed by means of a fi-nietbyladipic acid
freezing mixture before it can he used to form <II.-CH*-CH, COOH
rubber. The acetone produced along with the butyl
alcohol ia a valuable by-product, ami it is of great CH*3 -CHo . COOH
value iii the explosive ami other industries. It It will be noticed that, if the two groups COOH
follows, by the sale of the acetone, which it is are eliminated and two hydrogen atoms, one fiom
claimed can be produced at a much lower cosr, than each of the parts marked with a star, isoprene will
at present, the cost of butadiene is greatly reduced, result.
ami consequently that of the resulting rubber. CH,.C = CH.
(juite recently Dr. F. E. Matthews, of the Syn- I
CH. ill.
caoutchouc-like product obtained from butadiene by
the action of sodium, but from which the sodium lias
c ch been completely removed, 100 parts of butadiene
liquefied by cooling are added. The mixture is
HC CH 1I..C CH. allowed to stand. After some time the polymerisa-
I
I
'I I tion is quantitatively complete. (2) To 500 parts of
HC CH II .• CH„ the caoutchouc-like product obtained by polymerisa-
/ of isoprene in an incubator, by means of blood serum,
C.OH •2.50 parts of isoprene are added. The mixture is
378 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Minin;/ > icirty tif South Afr Feb. 1913-
kept at 30° C. to 40 C, and after a time is quantita- Very many other methods for polymerising iso-
tively polymerised to a caoutchouc-like product. prene, butadiene, and their homologues have been
(3) To 1,000 parts of t lie product obtained by poly- suggested. For example, Ostromislensky, in a
merisation of jfjy-dimethybutadiene, 1,000 parts of French patent, submits isoprene to the action of
jS-y-dimethylbutadiene are added. The mixture is ultra-violet rays, cathode rays, Rbntgen rays, or slow
lieateil in a closed vessel for four weeks to 70" C,
electric discharges. There is no doubt that these
when the caoutchouc-tike substance is obtained.
agents will cause polymerisation but the action is
:
crucible with stick phosphorus. This is then heated --2CK.I tons of slime x 27-01 =5,416 cub. ft., the
with lime to remove the phosphorus, leaving a brittle required effective working capacity of the vat, to
white mass of iridium, which cannot be tiled or cut, which an amount must be added to secure the
lint is broken into the small pieces necessary for pen desired height of curb above the charge." H. B. —
points, which are ground by carborundum into
Lowdex, Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering,
shape. These piece- of iridium arc said to be about dune, 1912, p. 3i9. (W. A. C.)
the hardness of a ruby.'' Journal <</' the Society <</ [See Tables, pp. 380-381.)
Chemical Industry, front Engineering and Minimi
tial, 1912, !'"}. '802, Nov. 30, 1912, .p. 1080. The Physical and Chemical Properties oi
(F. \Y. W.) MONEL Metal (Continued from December, 1912,
page 280).—" In appearance Monel metal resemble-
ANew Slime Pulp Density Table.— "Slime nickel in colour. It takes a brilliant polish, nearly
pulp density tables heretofore published have been equal to that of silver, which it retains indefinitely.
prepared for use in special cases and are, therefore, On long exposure, the surface assumes a grayish
nut applicable to slime pulp in which the specific cast, which may be removed with a polishing cloth.
gravity of the solids differs from that, for which It is somewhat tougher than mild steeL but, never
the table was computed. Their value lias been theless, it machines very easily. lathe can beA
chiefly in indicating convenient, forms in which run at about the same speed on Monel metal as on
the weight and volume relations may be tabulated mild steel, and the metal can be soldered, brazed,
for use in the control of the cyanide process. The electrically welded and successfully drawn.
writer, having experienced the need of a more Sn mi of the Physical Constants of Monel Metal.—
generally applicable table in his work, has prepared Melting point, 1,360° C. or 2,480 F.
one of considerable range with small intervals, which Specific gravity (cast), 8-87-
he feels may be useful to others. Weight per cubic inch (cast), 0'319 pounds.
The table is based on the percentage of solid in the Weight per cubic inch (rolled), 0-323 pounds.
slime pulp, opposite which is given the ratio of solid Coefficient of expansion, 20 to 100° C. 000001375
to liquid. The numbers heading the double columns per PC.
following, are the specific gravities of the dry solid Electrical resistivity temperature coefficient,
(that of water being taken as unity). The columns 00011 per 1° F. =256 olims per mill foot.
headed S. (i. show the specific gravities of the slime Electrical conductivity (copper 100%), 4%.
pulp, that of water being taken as 1000 that is, the
: Heat conductivity, ! of that of copper.
figures show directly the weight of a liter of slime pulp Shrinkage, J inch per foot.
in grams The columns headed Vol. show the num- Hardness, cast material (Shore scleroscope),20 to23.
ber of cubic feet of the slime pulp in one ton of 2,000 Hardness, hot rolled rods (average Shore sclero-
pounds. scope), 27.
The specific gravities of solids chosen will pro- A comparison of some of the properties of copper,
bably cover the range of slime ordinarily met with, nickel and Monel metal, as reported by a recent
and the intervals are sufficiently small to admit of authority, is given below :
gravity of the solid is 2-7, a vat is shown, by the Elastic limit, lbs. persq. in. 58,873 37,427
depth of pulp in it, to contain 3,530 cub. ft. of pulp, Breaking strength lbs. per sq. in. 86,899 78,236
a litre of which weighs 1,223 gm. From the table it Elongation in 2 in., per cent. 400 38-5
i- found tint the specific gravity 1,223 corresponds Reduction of area, per cent. 60'5 340
to 2t 16 cub. ft. per ton and to 29% solid.
; The Modus of elasticity 22,000,000 to 23,000,000'
weight of pulp, therefore, is 3,530-=- 26-16= 133 tons In all the technical reports relating to Monel metal,
and the weight of solids 135 x 0*29=39-15 tons. The it is referred to as a non-corrosive alloy. Redfield
weight of solution is, by difference, 9585 tons. If and other writers claim that the castings have the
the solution titrates 105 lb. cyanide per ton and it strength and many other properties of cast steel,
is de-ireil to bring the strength up to 2'5 lb. per ton, while they have greater resistance to corrosion from
we have 25 L'05=l*45 lb. cyanide to be added pel sea water, superheated steam and corrosive chemical
ton. Therefore 95-85x1 -45= 139 lb. cyanide to be solutions than the bronzes. Owing to its remarkable
added to the vat. (Continued on p. S83.)
SI) The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1915
S.G. Vol. S.G. Vol. S.G. Vol. S.G. Vol. S.G. Vol.
5 1:19-000 1031 3103 1032 3101 1032 31-01 1033 30-97 1034 30-95
6 1:15667 1037 30-85 1036 30-82 1039 3079 1040 30-76 1041 30-74
7 1:13-286 1044 30-66 1045 30-62 1046 30 59 1047 3056 1048 30-53
s 1:11 500 1050 30'4ii 1052 30-43 1053 3D-39 1055 30-36 1055 30-32
9 1:10111 1057 30-27 1059 30-23 1060 3019 1061 3015 1063 3011
10 1: 9 000 1(164 30 08 1065 30 03 1067 29 99 106S 29-95 1070 29 90
11 1: 8 091 1071 29 -8S 1073 29-S3 1074 29-79 1O70 29-74 1078 29 69
12 1: 7 333 107s 29 70 1080 29-64 1082 29-59 10S3 29 53 1085 29-48
13 1: 6-692 1085 29-50 1087 29-44 1089 29-39 1091 29-33 1093 29-27
14 1: 6144 1092 29-31 1094 29-24 1097 2919 1099 29-12 1101 29 06
15 1: 5-667 1099 2918 1102 29-05 1 104 28-99 1107 28-91 1109 2S-85
16 1: 5-250 1106 28-93 1109 28-85 1112 28-78 1115 28-71 1117 28-65
17 1 : 4 SS2 1114 28-74 1117 28-65 1119 28-58 1123 28 50 1125 2s 44
IS 1: 4 556 1121 28-54 1 125 28-45 1128 28-38 1131 28 30 1134 28-23
19 1: 4-263 1129 28-35 1133 28-26 1136 28 -IS 1139 28 09 1142 28-02
•20 1: 4 000 1136 2817 1140 28-06 1144 27 98 1147 27-89 1151 27-81
21 1: 3-762 1144 27 97 114S 27-87 1152 27-77 1156 27 68 1159 27-60
22 1: 3 545 1152 27-78 1157 27 67 1161 27 57 1165 27-47 1168 27 39
23 1: 3-34S 1160 27 -58 1165 27-47 1169 27 37 1174 27-27 1177 27-18
24 1: 3 167 1168 27 39 1173 27-27 1178 2717 1182 27 06 1ISO 26-97
25 1: 3000 1176 27-21 1182 27 08 US? 26-97 1191 26 85 1195 26-76
26 1: 2-846 1185 27 01 1190 26-88 1195 26-77 1201 26-65 1205 26-55
27 1: 2 704 1193 26-82 1199 26-68 1205 26-56 1210 26-44 1215 26-84
28 1: 2-571 1202 26 62 1209 26 49 1214 26-36 1220 26-24 1224 2613
29 1: 2 448 1211 26-43 1217 26-29 1223 2616 1229 26 03 1234 25-92
30 1: 2333 1220 26-24 1226 2610 1233 25-95 1239 25-83 1244 25-71
31 1: 2-226 1229 26 05 1236 25 90 1242 25-75 1249 25-63 1255 25-50
32 1: 2125 123S 25-86 1245 25-70 1252 25 "55 1259 25 42 1265 25-29
33 1: 2 030 1247 25-66 1255 25-50 1262 25-35 1269 25 21 1276 25-08
34 1: 1-940 1256 25-47 1264 25-31 1272 25 15 1279 _:, in 1287 24-87
35 1: 1-S57 1266 25-28 1274 2512 12S3 24-95 1290 24-80 1298 24-66
36 1: 177S 1276 25 09 12S4 24 91 1293 24-75 1301 24-60 1309 24-45
37 1: 1703 12S5 24-90 1295 24-71 1304 24-55 1312 24-39 1320 24-24
38 1: 1-632 1295 24-70 1305 24-52 1314 24-35 1S23 2419 1332 24 03
39 1: 1564 1305 24 51 1316 24-32 1326 2414 1335 23-98 1343 23-82
40 1: 1-500 1316 24-32 1326 2413 1336 23-95 1346 23-77 1355 23-61
41 1: 1-439 1326 2413 1337 23-93 134S 23-74 1357 23 57 1367 23-40
42 1: 1-381 1337 23-91 1348 23-73 1359 23-55 1370 23 36 1380 2319
43 1: 1326 1348 23-74 1359 '
23-53 1371 23-34 1382 23 16 1392 22-99
44 1: 1-273 1359 23-55 1372 23-33 1383 2315 1395 22-95 1405 22-7S
45 1: 1-222 1370 23-36 1383 23-14 1395 22-94 1407 22-74 1418 22 57
46 1: 1174 13S1 2317 1395 22-94 140S 22-73 1420 22-54 1432 22 36
47 1: 1-128 1393 22-98 1407 22-75 1420 22-54 1433 22 33 1445 2215
48 1: 1-083 1404 22-78 1419 22-55 1433 22-33 1446 22 12 1458 21 -94
49 1: 11141 1416 22-59 1431 22-35 1446 22-13 1460 21 -92 1473 21-73
50 1: 1 OHO 1429 22-39 1444 22-15 1460 21 -92 1473 21-71 14S7 21-52
51 1: 0961 1441 22-21 1458 21-96 1473 21-72 1488 21-51 1502 21-31
52 1: 923 1453 22 02 1471 21 76 1487 21 52 1502 21-30 1517 2110
-53 1: 0-887 1466 21 S2 1484 21 -56 1501 21-32 1516 21 10 1532 20-89
54 1: 0-852 1479 21-63 1498 21-36 1515 21 12 1532 20-89 1548 20-68
55 1: 0-809 1493 21-44 1512 2117 1530 20-92 1547 20-69 15114 20-47
56 1: 0786 1506 21 "25 1526 20-97 1545 20-72 1563 20-48 1580 29 26
57 1: 0-754 1520 21 -06 1540 20 77 1560 20-51 1579 20-27 1596 21 1
-1
15
58 1: 0-724 1534 20-86 1555 20-58 1574 20-31 1595 20-07 1613 10 S4
59 1: 0-695 1548 20 67 1572 20-38 1591 20 11 1611 1986 1629 19-63
60 1: 0-667 1563 20-48 1585 20-18 1607 10 01 1628 19-66 1645 19-42
61 1: 639 1577 20-29 1601 19-98 1623 19-71 1645 19-45 1664 19-21
62 1: 0-613 1592 20-10 1617 10-70 1641 19-51 1662 19-25 16S3 10-00
63 1: 0-587 160S 19-90 1633 19 59 1657 19-30 1681 19 04 1703 18-79
64 1: 0-563 1623 19-71 1650 19-40 1675 19-10 1698 18-94 1723 IS 58
65 1: 538 1639 19-52 1667 19 20 1692 ls-110 1718 1S-73 1742 18-37
66 1: 0-515 1656 19 32 1684 19-00 1711 18-70 1738 18-53 1762 1816
67 1: 493 1672 1914 1701 IS -SO 1730 18-50 1757 18-32 1783 17 95
68 1: 0-471 16S9 18-94 1719 18-61 1749 18 30 1776 18-11 1803 17 74
69 1: 440 1706 18-75 1738 1S-41 1768 18-10 1797 17-81 1825 17-53
70 1: 0-429 1724 18-56 1757 IS-21 1786 17 90 ISIS 17-60 1847 17-32
Feb. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy. 381
S.G. V,,,. S.G. Vol. S.G. Vol. s.i;. Vol. S.G. Vol.
7 1:13 286 1049 30 51 1049 30-48 1050 30-46 1051 30-43 1058 30 26
8 1:11500 ;
1056 30-36 1057 30-27 1058 30 24 1059 30 21 1067 30 01
9 1:10111 1064 30-09 1065 30 05 1066 3002 1067 29 99 1075 29-76
10 1: 9-000 107] 29-87 1072 29 83 1074 29-80 1075 29-77 1084 29-51
11 1: 8-091 1078 i
29 65 1080 29 61 1082 29 58 1083 29 54 1093 29-26
12 1: 7-333 1087 29 44 1088 29 4(1 1090 29-36 1091 29 32 1102 29 01
13 1: 6 692 1095 29-23 1096 2918 1098 29 14 1099 29 10 1112 28 76
14 1: 6144 1103 29-01 1105 28 96 1106 28-92 1108 28 88 1122 28 52
15 1: 5 667 1111 28 80 1113 28-74 1115 28 70 1117 28 66 1132 28 27
16 1: 5-250 1119 28.59 1122 28 53 1124 28 48 1125 28-43 1142 28-02
17 1: 4 882 1128 28 37 1130 28-31 1132 28 26 1134 28-21 1152 27-77
18 1: 4 556 1136 28 16 1132 28 10 1141 28 04 1143 27 99 1163 27-52
13 1: 4 263 1145 27 95 1148 27 88 1150 27 82 1153 27-76 1173 27-27
20 1: 4-000 1154 27 73 1157 27-66 1159 27 60 1162 27 54 1184 27 02
21 1: 3762 1163 27-52 1166 27 44 1169 27-38 1171 27 32 1194 26-77
22 1: 3 545 1172 27 31 1175 27-23 1178 27-16 1181 27 09 1206 26 52
23 1: 3 348 1181 27 09 1184 27 01 1188 26 94 1191 26 87 1218 26 28
24 1: 3167 1190 26 88 1194 2679 1198 26-72 1201 26 65 1230 26-03
25 1: 3-000 1200 26-67 1204 26-58 1208 26 50 1211 26-42 1241 25 78
26 1: 2 846 1210 26 45 1214 26 37 1218 26-28 1222 26-20 1253 25-53
27 1: 2 704 1220 26 24 1224 26 15 1228 26-06 1232 25 98 1266 25-28
28 1: 2 571 1230 26 03 12g4 25 93 1239 25 84 1242 25-75 1278 25-03
29 1: 2 448 1240 25 81 1244 25-71 1249 25 62 1253 25 53 1291 24 78
30 1: 2-333 1250 25-60 1255 25 50 1260 25-40 1264 25-31 1304 24-53
31 1: 2 226 1261 25-39 1266 25 28 1271 25 18 1275 25 08 1317 24-28
32 1: 2125 1271 25-17 1277 25 06 1282 24-96 1287 24-86 1331 24-04
33 1: 2 030 1282 24 96 1288 24-85 1293 24-74 1299 24 64 1345 23-79
34 1: 1 940 1293 24-75 1299 24-63 1305 24-52 1311 24-41 1359 23 54
35 1: 1857 1304 24 53 1310 24-41 1317 24-30 1323 24-19 1374 23-29
36 1: 1:778 1316 24-32 1322 9419 1329 24 08 1335 23 97 1389 23-04
37 1: 1703 1328 24-11 1334 23 98 1341 23 86 1347 23-75 1404 22 79
38 1: 1-632 1340 23 89 1346 2376 1353 23 64 1360 23 52 1420 22-54
39 1: 1 564 1351 23 68 1358 23 55 1366 23-42 1373 23 30 1435 22 29
40 1: 1500 1363 24-47 1371 23 33 1379 23 20 1387 23 08 1451 22-04
41 1: 1-439 1376 20 26 1384 2311 1393 22 98 1400 22-85 1468 21-79
42 1: 1-381 1389 23 04 1397 22-89 1406 22 76 1414 22 63 1485 21-55
43 1: 1326 1402 22-83 1411 22-68 1419 22-54 1428 29 41 1502 21-30
44 1: 1273 1415 22 61 1425 22-46 1433 22-32 1442 2218 1519 21-05
45 1: 1222 1429 22 40 1438 22-24 1447 22 10 1456 21-96 1538 20 80
46 1: 1174 1443 22 19 1452 22 02 1462 21-38 1471 21-74 1557 20-55
47 1: 1128 1457 21-97 1467 21-81 1477 21-66 1487 21-51 1576 20 30
48 1: 1083 1471 21-76 1483 21-60 1493 21 44 1503 21-29 1595 20-05
49 1: 1041 1485 21-55 1497 21-38 1508 21 22 1519 21 07 1615 1981
50 1: 1 000 1500 21-35 1512 21-16 1524 21-00 1535 20 85 1637 19-56
51 1: 0-961 1515 2112 1528 20 94 1540 20 78 1551 20-62 1658 19-31
52 1: 0-923 1531 20-91 1544 20 73 1556 20 56 1568 20 40 1679 19-06
53 1: 0-887 1547 20-69 1560 20-51 1573 20-34 1585 2018 1700 1881
54 1: 0-852 1563 20 48 1577 20 29 1590 20-12 1603 19-96 1724 1856
55 1: 0-809 1579 20 27 1594 20 08 1608 19-90 1621 19 73 1748 1831
56 1: 0-786 1596 20 05 1611 19-87 1626 19-68 1640 19 51 1772 18-06
57 1: 0-754 1613 19 84 1628 19-65 1645 19-46 1659 19-29 1796 17 81
58 1: 0-724 1631 19-63 1646 19 43 1663 19-24 1678 19-06 1822 17-56
59 1: 0-695 1649 19-41 1665 19-21 1682 1902 1697 18 84 1848 17-32
60 1: 0-667 1667 12 90 1684 19-00 1702 18-80 1718 18 62 1H7-1 17 07
61 1: 0-639 1686 18-99 1704 18-78 1722 18 58 1739 18-39 1903 16 82
62 1: 0613 1705 18 77 1724 18-56 1742 18-36 1761 18 17 1932 16 57
63 1: 0-587 1724 1856 1745 18-34 1764 18 14 1783 17 95 1961 16-32
64 1: 0-563 1745 18-35 1765 18-12 1786 17 92 1805 17 72 1992 16-07
65 1: 0-538 1765 1813 1786 1791 1808 17-70 1828 17 50 2023 15 82
66 1: 515 1786 17-92 1808 17-69 1830 17-48 1852 17 28 2054 1557
67 1: 0-493 1808 17-71 1831 17 47 1853 17-26 1876 17 06 2088 15 32
68 1: 0-471 1830 17-49 1854 17 26 1877 1704 1901 16-83 2123 15 08
69 1: 0449 1852 17 28 1878 17 04 1902 16 82 1927 16-61 2159 14-83
70 1: 0-429 1875 17-07 1902 1 16-83 1926 16 60 19R3 16-39 2195 14 58
SO per ''.-n,*. ).>iiij- and -" i" i l*hu (juaru.
—
38-2 Tin Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1913
stability in -ea water, the government of the U.S.A. about 2,500' F. and eight hours are required to the
is now eqnipping it-battleships with propellers of heat. No fluxes or alloys are necessary. Becau-e
tlii— material, these being oast in -ingle pieces. of the relatively scant knowledge of nickel and it-
Propellers have already been maile for the North peculiarities, the handling of Monel metal reunites
Dakota and for battleships of other countries, some expert attention in the melting.
of the latter being 15 ft. 6 in. in dia. in a single The industry of making Monel metal casting- is
piece, weighing 16,(100 pounds. After IS months' now past the experimental stage, and is being it
service, it is said that the wear and corrosion of successfully accompli bed in at least three foundries
these propellers was found to be practically negligi- in New York and New Jeisey. Mr. Leonard Waldo,
ble. It was further found that they resist bending consulting engineer, is authority for the statement
to such an extent that, they are not so subject to loss that notable success has been achieved at the John-
of efficiency as propellers which yield under heavy son foundry of Spuyten Duyvil in the casting of this
backward pressure against the water. metal. The Bayonne Casting Co. of Bayonne, N. J.,
Experiments made at the laboratory indicate that and the Riverside Steel Co. of Newark, N. J., are
Monel metal possesses about the same resistance to other foundaries that are making good castings.
corrosive action as the better known bronzes. Speci-
men- of several bronzes, Monel metal and steel were
Uses. —
Although a comparatively new alloy, be-
cause of its resistance to corrosion, its strength, and
weighed and embedded in rich earth, which was kept the readiness with which it may be machined, Monel
wet for six months by periodical additions of very metal has already found many important use-.
dilute solutions of corrosive salts. At the end of the These include pump cylinders for handling salt
test period all the specimens were taken out, scrub- water, propeller wheels, rudders, centre-boaids, deck
bed, dried and weighed to ascertain the comparative fittings, mining screens, water ends of pump-,
In-- from corrosion. The result- were as follows :
linings, valves, shafts, piston rods and plumbing
Per cent Inss. fixtures subject to corrosive influences.
Phosphor bronze 09 In the rolled metal, there is a wide range of usage.
Tobin bronze o-ii Striking instances in the past include the roofs of
Monel metal 012 the new terminals of the Pennsylvania railroad in
Parsons' manganese bronze 0-12 New .York, and the Chicago & Northwestern rail-
Muntz metal 033 toad in Chicago, which were covered with Monel
Steel 1-04 metal. The sheets have also been used on several
Another test of the same kind, under somewhat large office buildings in New York, and on industrial
different conditions, but the .same period, gave about plants subject to severe corrosive conditions where
the -ame relative results. copper had proved unsatisfactory.
One advantage in favour of the Monel metal in Rigid physical specifications should be the rule
these tests was that it presented the least change in wherever Monel metal is considered for use in any
appearance as a result of the corrosive action. form of engineering construction. With reference
Casting.— While no trouble has been experienced to chemical specifications, it would be impracticable
in rolling Monel metal, considerable difficulty has to set any narrow limits as to chemical constituent.-,
beeu met with in some foundries in getting sound owing to the somewhat variable character of the ore
castings. Incidentally, it may be remarked that and the method of manufacture. It is not believed,
nickel-copper alloys have a great tendency to however, that such limits are necessary in order to
develop blow hides on casting, due to occluded gases. insure the desired physical properties of strength
This is another indication of the absence of a chemi- and durability. If too close limits are set on chemi-
cal compound, since the presence of a compound in cal constituents, the metal so specified might be
an alloy seems to have the influence of preventing obtained, hut at a cost that would render its use
blowholes and closing the grain. Monel metal prohibitive."— Richard H. Gaikks, Minimi Scienct
requires special precautions in casting on account of [from Journal o/ Industrial and Engineering Chemis-
dissolved oxides and gases, which, if not removed, try), Sept, -iti, 1912, p. -20-2. (R. A.')
would render the ingots unsound. Successful cast-
ings have been made in small foundries by adding
two ounces of magnesium per 100 pounds of the The Metallurgy of the Homestake Ore. —
alloy, before pouring. [Continued from Journal, January, page 337).
Unsound castings may also arise from gases that " Precipitation <;/' Gold by Zinc Dust. It has been —
are liberated in the cores of the patterns, and from noted that, as a result of careful aeration of sand
the fact that the freezing point of the metal is so and slime before treatment with cyanide, the volume
many hundred degrees above that of brass or bronze of solution required for extraction of the precious
that these gases cannot escape before they are metals is relatively small also, that only a portion
;
trapped by the freezing metal. This necessitates of this solution is piecipitated. The quantity of
the use of the same methods as for tine steel cast- these solutions, during the month of April, 1911, was
ings. It must be remembered that the actual tem- a- follows, expressed as tons solution per ton of
perature of Monel metal cannot be much lower than material treated.
1,550° C. The art of casting Monel metal is closely In all plants the Merrill system of precipitation
related to the art of easting steel, as distinct from with zinc dust is used, the zinc dust being fed con-
the art of casting brass, bronze or east iron. It tinuously during the precipitation period to a small
really involves the art of handling the linest steel stream of solution, by which it is carried to a point
ca-tings. The practice of casting Monel metal is, immediately in front of the outlet of the main dis-
therefore, very similar to that followed in steel charge from the precipitation tank, there joining the
foundries. The melting equipment of the plant main stream of pregnant solution and flowing with
consist- of standard reverberatory furnaces which it to the filter press. It is generally the practice to
are tired with oil, the fuel being fed by gravity. maintain a drip of a solution of lead nitrate to the
The metal is charged into the furnace in the form of feed pipe carrying the zinc emulsion, but this is
pigs or slabs which are about 15 x 8 x 3 in., in dimen- omitted when the silver content of the solution is
sion-, and weigh about 8.5 lb. The melting point is above normal. The nitrate of lead is preferred to
Feb. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy. .:s;(
(he acetate as being a trifle cheaper for the unit of which it is ready for acid treatment. Two men will
of lead contained and also as having a less offensive chan and reassemble a Nil frame press containingup
0<lour. to 2,000 lh. wet, or 1,200 lb. dry, precipitate, in two
hours, and in this time a third man will have sampled
Tons Solution per Ton Material Treated. ami weighed the precipitate and boxed it for trans-
portation to the acid treatment tank.
Low- Weak Strong Acid treatment is carried on in a lead-lined tank.
All Solution Solution Solution
Plant. 8 ft. in in. ft. s in., provided with agitating
.">
All plants 0-900 0168 0-372 0-360 drical montejus, holding about 2,0(10 lh. and is
.
solution from sump to press. In one instance, where 7 lb. weight. Three men turn out about 100 per
the sump has some reserve capacity and a consider- hour.
able volume of solution is wasted daily, it is possible The briquettes are placed in shallow pans and
to maintain a continuous flow of solution to the passed through the drying furnace, from which
press. they are withdrawn, utter two hours' heating,
Refining Cyanide Precipitate. —
sufficiently dried in charge upon the lead bath of the
Cleaning Up and cupel test, without danger of loss through splashing.
The precipitate removed from the presses once
is
For two hours prior to opening, the The use of in enclosed drying furnace for briquettes
each month.
was made necessary by the presence of mercury in
presses are blown with air. under al 10 lb. pres- I
the precipitate.
sure, to displace all possible solution.
A shallow box, mounted on castors, is then placed The lire, of coke, is maintained at a low temp, ra-
tine, not sufficiently hot to show red on the bottom
the press, the press is opened and tic Irames
i
the collecting box. The cloths covering the has proven useful in other operations, as in burning
plates are coa'ed with a layei ol precipitate, much press cloths, low grade rubbish, and •sweepings from
1
1 whichscraped oft' with trowels and added to the
i-
refining rooms, and in roasting plating room products.
in the collecting box, while some remains on
i
'
• t Tl pei at ion from this point n may he described
i
the cloths, which are taken from the press and set as a reproduction, upon a huge scale, of tic usual
for hin ning or w ashing. scorifieation assay of gold ore, the operations of
The former is the preferred practice, and the ash scorification and cupellation being performed succes-
resulting will contain from 2 t" 5 oi the total i
Lire cupel test, alter which the bullion is
ilean-up. melted to bars in the usual manner, while the by-
The precipitate is sampled and weighed, after product .ne reduced in a. blast furnace treatmi
s
384 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical <in<l Mining Society of South Africa. Feb. 191
Tbe cupel furnace is of the English type, carrying A similar device of cast iron is used in the slag
an oval test 4 ft. 1 in. >: 3 ft. 6 in. outside dimension, pots during the tapping from the cupel, to divide the
and about 7 in. deep at the sides and 3 in. less in lead buttons into pieces of suitable size for charging
front. hack to the test. The long lead moulds in use during
Tbe frame
of the test is of cast iron, in which is the blast furnace work are also sub-divided for the
tilled the hearth mixture of cement and limestone, same purpose.
''.
of the former being used, while the limestone, The slab of bullion having soliditied, the blast is
'-'•"'
of the mixture, is sized between 10 and 30 mesh shut off and the test withdrawn from the furnace,
screens. The iron frame is used repeatedly the ; and the bullion is removed, cleaned, and melted into
rilling, which costs about •'ij'15 for material and labour, bars in a wind furnace fired with coke. These aver-
is used for a single campaign, after which it is age 980 line.
broken up, the outer, unaltered portions thrown The presenceof copper in this furnace was formerly
away, and the remainder, which is more or less a source of considerable annoyance, while its presence
saturated with litharge and carries many small in the litharge used for fluxing, and in the lead
buttons of precious metal, charged with other by- resulting from by-product treatment, rendered cupel-
products to the blast, furnace. lation difficult, by reason of the decreased fusibility
Small water jackets built into the furnace protect of the impure litharge. A satisfactoiy matting is
the sides of the test during the operation. now obtained through charging the line particles of
The lire (of pine wood) having been started some pyritic material derived from the clean-up barrels of
hours earlier, lire clay is packed at the front of the the stamp mills, which material carries enough gold
test until this is raised to tbe same level as the sides. to make its treatment of importance. Trouble with
Lead bullion, usually obtained from an earlier run, blast pressure resulting from the line subdivision of
is then added, and, when this is molten and a good this and othei incidental by-products treated, has
heat obtained, the briquettes are charged through been corrected by mixing to a thick paste with water
the working door upon this bath. More are added glass, cutting into small blocks with a trowel or tin
as those first charged melt, until the test is full of can, and subjecting to a low heat in the drying
fused material, when a slag car is run under the front furnace.
ami the fireclay wall cut away, allowing the accumu- The resulting briquettes are very hard, and the
lated slag and matte to flow over the front rim of the elimination of the fines has enabled us to so increase
test into the car. Some lead is usually carried over the amount charged that we are now able to matte
at the same time this is removed when the slag
; all the copper originating in the cyanide product,
cools sufficiently to be broken up, and is returned to and, indeed, have on more than one occasion worked
the cupel at a later stage of the process. old coppery scrap through the furnace.
During the cupellation litharge is drawn off at the Control of Operations. Sampling and Assaying. — —
rate of 200 lb. to 220 lb. per hour through channels Mill feed is not directly sampled, but in metallurgical
cut in the front of the test, which are deepened as summaries is calculated from tailing assays and
the level of the metal remaining in the bath becomes bullion actually recovered.
lower, all the lead previously accumulated having —
Sand Heads. The feed to the sand plants has been
been added meanwhile. When, finally, litharge sampled by means of a horizontal slotted pipe,
ceases to How, the heat is increased for a few pivot ted at one end, which was swung at intervals
minutes, a small sample is dipped out, and the fire by hand across the stream of pulp. An improved
withdrawn. sampler has lately been installed, in which the
On account of the time formerly occupied in cut- slutted pipe is suspended from a small car running
ting up the slab of finished cupel bullion, in order to on rails, and is moved through the stream parallel to
get it into graphite crucibles for melting, a divider itself and at a uniform rate, by a sprocket chain
built up of stout sheet-iron strips connected by small driven by a winch. Three portions of 15 A.T. each
bolts is inserted by means of a detachable handle at are assayed from each vat charged, and the gold
the moment of drawing the tire, and is hammered buttons-are weighed progressively.
down as the bullion solidities, the blast being kept Hand tails or residues are sampled after the final
up. After the slab is taken out and cooled, the draining by making a number of vertical holes with
divider is removed (by cutting the bolts if necessary), a pipe having a slot with one lip projecting to form
and the slab is then easily broken or cut. a cutting edge, and a conical solid point. pole is A
Table XXVII — Analyses o Sundry Materials.
,— -^ L— ,~
i— -*. ~ ,— Combikkd Costs: All Ci ikidr P&axts 386,171 Tons
— I
^ico^-rxr;
" — — O. _
1-
$
:
<
-y |
2 Labour
:cio;::c Power...
...
...
... 0'0744 per ton treated.
0'0203 ,,
« — X — ~- "-r OC ec Chemicals ... (101127
o~ [o 3 oooo|
CO ., >t
>".
H » \
!M Other Supplies... ... 00202
3 CO
oooooo C
U-
0-2076
cs r~ OS - CD
iii ho o G
IS CD
c C4
c i
I
|
>0
Chemicals Consumed DntixG above Period: Lb. pkh Tos
*.
"J J= 3 O TREATED.
"_
o6 6 - 6
— t^ CC •<*
2 1 (llllllllH'il
H o a&
i
1
1
1 S2£?222®S i
i^-
Sodium Cyanide 0-393 209 0-225 0-289
c ^ 6 Lime .-.111 5-24 4-55 4-86
c
H ©
— ©
Zinc Dust (1065 065 0114 086
y: ?i
-i -r
a^O «-i
I
oi i—
r: i-
J——c
-t
f>i
in -f
-+ l~
c —
— OS
00
Hydrochloric acid — — 0-499 —
—
:.
<
|
7J
_" - r ccocccr i
which is taken to the assay ottice in a closed can, and
s
a / — — to r-- to co «
uo half reserved in case of accident. Two portions of
,.
'-
— o, v. = 1 oO-OO | •2 A.T. are assayed from each sample, and two
s~.
3
CQ
rf CO
c occec — buttons are weighed together. The assays of the
three layers, and their average, are all reported, and
^ ,J, — cc
3>OK ->i wo
Oh CC
-r the average is used with the corresponding 'charge'
s. s ^ 1 I 1
— »o ©
©©c
|
oc
re t^
e
-= L'
1
B f. - a,
|
I
1
| leges!
1 | I
1
1
1
based on the area of the vat a«d the average weight
of a cubic foot of sand, after drying.
~ fl-
oooo i
Slime heads or charge samples are drawn from the
/
on
1 - •>]
C) -t
"/ O] [^
~ IO 00
cs cc L-; oi -1- 0!
X t,^ 0. main feed pipe, one being taken when each press
©« oo
o —
- : ,y. r —
o c oo oG
opoc 00
c commences tilling, and a general sample being cut
- ©6 coooccc 6 from the accumulation of each 24 hours. Four melts
CJ are made of "2 A.T. each. The result is checked by
x r: r* —
1« JJK 71 ^ r-
CI — — OS CI CC SO to 1- cs daily samples taken hourly with a cup from the
B y. C— i
~ -f — — r 3 C 01
= — and
1
ci < = =
1
= = C o
O. ci
'
No. 1 sludge No.
'
'2 sludge' streams.
'
s—
o K
cc crccocc S/imi Residues. —
The slime plant is divided into
three sections of nine 01 ten presses each. In each
— —© 3
-*2 s.
*0 -t QC C. -t Ol
6 s - o—
o
£ •
H -^~ r - ~
cs
- — - —
- OS section there are placed three residue sample buckets,
49
/-
3C
~ - °p 90990
00000
'
' —
Three fusions of
X -:
— 600 6c 6 sponding to its leaching rate.
2 A.T. each are made on each of the three samples
X = - c to 1^ IC CO ft
Q> £J 1
rM 1 i-^ —— 1 1 1 f: caught daily.
13 /- e* I
g §g§g •
1 1 1 1
sampler is then withdrawn and laid over a trough the melting pot through a notch cut in one side of
equal in length the depth of the vat sampled, and the crucible cover.
divided by partitions into three erjual sections, into By this means the air jet impinged on the surface
which the residue is discharged, giving a lop," '
of tlie molten metal at an angle of about 45°. The
'middle,' and 'bottom' section. Each of these is point of the pipe was kept about 4 in. from the sul-
mixed, and a portion is cut out and dried, half of fate of the metal, so as to diffuse over about one-half
386 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smalt Africa. Feb. 1913
of the surface. In this way I could turn up about gold precipitate from the precipitation tub are then
15 lb. of speiss and lead in the bullion in an hour. cleaned up and melted together, bullion about 960
The fumes, however, were extremely unpleasant. line resulting. The recovery from the original pie
The slag produced was also exceedingly corrrosive cipitate averages about 9u! of the gold and silver
and destroyed the plumbago crucibles rapidly. The value.
greatest objection, however, was that the slag was By the former method it took about 16 hours, with
rich,containing on an average about 4 of the gold two furnaces using No. plumbago crucible.'-, to
_'.">
and about 10% of the silver. melt and refine the gold-silver bar. Now 1 do it in
About six months ago, after making a few labora- about 4 boms, with one melting pot. 1 think
tory te>ts, installed a small chlorination plant for
I thai the process is good, but the installation of a
refining the precipitate. In my laboratory tests I small lead-lined chlorinating barrel for dissolving the
found thai could extract about 999J parts in a
1 gold would be an improvement. Perhaps some
1,000 of the gold from the acid-treated precipitate metallurgists would go a. step farther and recover
by treating it with a strong chlorine solution, and the gold by electrolysis, thus dispensing altogether
that after the chlorine treatment nearly all of the with the disagreeable melting process." \Y. E. —
remaining gold and the silver chloride was soluble in Darbow, Engineering and Minim/ Journal, Oct.
cyanide solution. The small chlorine plant gener- 26, 1912, p. 78o. (A. McA. .1.)
night. The solution is then decanted off and the series of tests ran on iaw concentrate at one of the
I
residue given several washes with clear water to Tonopah mills. With a sulphur content of 30 per-
remove he dissolved gold. Tin' decanted solution
I fect extraction was readily obtained by cyaniding at
and wash water are (lowed to a larger tub set on a 90°F., but the cyanide consumption was 40 lb. per
lower level in the refinery. When tin- gold solution ton. [n testing the resultant solution it was found
has been transferred to the second tub, ii is precipi- that KSCN was present m sufficient amount to
tated with iron sulphate solution ami allowed to account fur about Mr of the cyanide consumption,
ettle for 4s hr. before the waste solution is Biphoned and consequently 20 or 30 tests were inn with var-
otV. ious reagents in the attempt to prevent the formation
As soon as the gold has been v ashed out, from the of KSCN. In repeatedly titrating for thiocyanate I
original residue, the acidity is neutralized with was struck bj the remarkable resemblance between
caustic soda and cyanide solution added for the re- the curves representing extraction and the concur-
covery of the remaining gold and the silver. The rent KSCN titrations. After running a few tests it
solution agitated with an air blast through a pipe
is was possible to determine silver extraction to within
and hose several leans and then siphoned off
for a few per cent by merely titrating for KSCN,
slowly to a couple of small iron zinc boxes und the Furthermore, the sulphur present as thiocyanate was
treatment repeated several times dining the two found to correspond a most exactly with the sulphur
days before the final clean up of gold precipitate. which bad bee n com bine .1 with the silver which bait
The silver precipitate from the zinc boxes and the gone into solution, and until the extraction of silver
— —
Fell. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metallur 38.7
bei ame complete only the sulphur mi combined pondent'- Butters filter make use of the Moore
entered the solution as KSCN. By prolonging the process ?'
test beyond ihe joint where all the silver was Judge Burlington then outlines the early history
extracted, considerable sulphur, combined otherwise of the cyanide process pointing out, by excerpts
than with the silver, came into the solutions, so that from articles published in technical journals in 1892
knowing the amount of silver in the concentrate, and thereafter, the great hindrance offered by slime
the most economic point tn stop the test could he to the successful application of the process when
determined merely by the KSCN titration. In ex- leaching and decantation methods alone were
ten. led experimental work I found nothing which practiced.
prevented the formation of KSCN and finally con- The following excerpts from the opinion indicates
cluded that either silver sulphide goes into solution the course of reasoning followed in leaching the de-
without decomposition, or if decomposed, that the cision 'The first suggestion for the solution of this
:
KCN snapped up the liberated sulphur ion before world-wide problem is found in the Engineering and
any preventive reagent could perform its beneficent Minimi Journal, Dec. 5, 1903, being a communica-
function.'' Noel Cumningham, Mining and Scien- tion from George Moore, wherein he describes the
tific Press, Nov. 16, 1912,p. B34. (A. McA. J.) process for which the patent in suit was issued to
him the following year.'
Sublimed White Leah.— "Sublimed white lead After a careful study of Moore's patent, we have
is made directly from the lead sulphide ore galena. reached the conclusion that his process is a radical
manufactured from ore produced in the Joplin
It is departure from the whole prior art and was an
district,Mo., U.S.A., or from any other soft (non- original and pioneer step in metal recovery by filtra-
argentiferous) lead oie by a process similar in prin- tion. ...Its novelty consists in his utilizing
ciple to that employed for making zinc oxide and the simple elemental processes of nature. These
zinc lead. Briefly summarised, the method of manu- processes he has, of course, neither discovered nor
facture is as follows Lead ore (galena), after having
: invented, but be has utilized them in combination in
been cleaned at the mine by crushing, washing and a manner never before used and has thereby secured
jigging, is ground to a powder and charged with a new result.
carbon into a furnace over an open coke tire. The The creation of this uniform and even resistance
charge is volatilized and in the presence of air the lead in the cake is the gist of Moore's process and such
sulphide is oxidized to a basic lead sulphate, while uniformity .... is secured by the slime being
some free sulphur dioxide is formed. The basic lead submerged when subjected to suction.
sulphate is thought to be composed of two molecules It is contended, however, that the Moore patent
of lead sulphate (PbS0 4 l linked to one of lead oxide is invalid by reason of the disclosures of the prior
(PbO). This product, volatile while hot, is cooled art. But in our view this contention is based on a
by being drawn by suction through a long series of failure to recognise the true significance of what
cooling pipes, or goosenecks, and some settling Moore really did. Practically his problem was to
chambers, and then is collected in bags of the type make commercially possible the recovery of a minute
used for collecting zinc oxide. The aim is to pro- amount of valuable metal from a large quantity of
duce a pigment containing 75% of lead sulphate, 20% mud. Of the fact of the metal being there, there was
of lead oxide, and 5% of zinc oxide. Notable pro- no doubt, for that fact, and indeed that it was possible
perties of this pigment are its great fineness, the to extract it, the tedious and costly method of labora-
uniform size of its particles, and its relative chemical tory filtration showed. It suffices to say that no one
stability or inertness in the presence of coal gas, of the numerous patents cited did such work, used
sulphur fumes, and other noxious gases that quickly such process, or effected such results, if none of them
dai ken some paints. It has a snow-white colour and led their inventors or users to the use of any process
is very opaque, but since it is so extremely fine and whereby such work could be done, or even led to a
of amorphous texture it requires blending with suggestion in their descriptive matter of the possi-
coarser pigments to give it tooth '—that is, to pre-
' bility of the use of any such process as Moore's, it
vent it from brushing out too thin." Australian follows thej taught Moore no more than others.
Min.)h/ Standard (extract from Minimi Science) Moore's Process and Not His Apparatus Involved,
Xov. 2-i, 1912, p. .519. (K. A.) — So far as the patent here in question is involved,
Monies disclosure was the process he originated and
Decision in Slime Filtek Case.— "As announced not the machine with which he illustrated the use of
in a previous issue, the Moore Filter Co. was awaided bis process in accordance with the statutory require-
the decision in its case (No. 1612) against the Tono- ment that lie file a written description 'of the manner
pah-Belmont Development Co., in which it was and process of using it.' To find, therefore, here and
claimed that the Butters filter used liy the defendants there in prior patents, and disassociated from each
infringed the Moore patent (I". S. pat. No. 764,486, other, all the mechanical appliances of the combina-
.Inly o. 1904). This decision was given at the tion apparatus which Moore thus illustratively used
October term of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals is not to prove that Moore's process is not original.
for the Third Circuit, at Philadelphia, Penn., Judges Vieweil from a patent standpoint, the significance
Gray, Burlington and McPherson sitting. It reverses of a machine lies not in its form hut in the principle
the decision of the U. S. District Court given at on which it works, as will be seen in the require-
Trenton, X. J., in February of this year. ments of 4SS8, 'in the case of a machine, he shall
—
Two Questions to Answer. In his opinion, Judge explain the principle thereof.' It suffices therefore
Burlington states 'As applied in the present case,
: to say that very few of these patents are even for a
the patent concerns the process of filtering metal- process, and as none of them operated on the prin-
bearing slimes and is known as the Moore process. ciple or process of Moore, they cannot he held to
The respondent's filter is for the filtration of like forestall or minimise the originality of Moore's sub-
slimes and embodies the Butters process. Both pro- sequent disclosure.
cesses utilize the cyanide-ore treatment and the And in giving these patents their due relation to
question before us is two-fold: (1) Does Moore's Moore's disclosure the fact must not he overlooked
process involve invention? and (2) does the res- that the slime problem which Moore solved only
388 The Journal of The Chemicdl, Metallurgical and Minimi Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1913
came into existence from the use of the cyanide of dry slime. After being then subjected to the dis-
process, which began, as we have seen, about 1887. placement step there was left in the cake but 4 cents
It will therefore be manifest that no patents preced- of gold per ton of dry slime
ing that date and none subsequent thereto which did —
Moon: Patent Considered Valid Being of opinion,
not apply to the cyanide process, were calculated to therefore, that Moore's [irocess was novel, useful and
solve the cyanide percolating difficulties that arose inventive in character, his patent is valid and we
in the use of that process. next turn to the question of infringement.
Prior Laboratory Practice Does Not Affect As claims four and five furnish sufficient basis for
Validity. — So, also, say that following prior
to deciding that question, so far as the respondent's
laboratory practice, it was possible to leach and device is concerned, and as some questions, not
extract the unrecovered ore left in a pasty mass by necessary to be here decided, exist as to claim Id, we
Ibe cyanide process is not to destroy Mooie's patent ;
restrict ourselves to a consideration of claims four
for this is to lose sight of the practical working and five. In considering the question of the infringe-
value of Moore's process as a workable, economic ment of a process patent, it must be borne in mind
treatment, as compared with theoretical possibility that the monopoly secured by the claims is, gener-
of laboratory practice. By repeated dilution the ally speaking, a monopoly of the process and the
laboratory could and we will assume did recover test of infringement, is whether such process is
with practical completeness all such unrecovered utilized by the infringer.
metal, but this has been done with an expenditure As the apparatus shown in a process patent is
of time, labour and expense out of all proportion to only to show that the process may be practically
the value of the metal. applied, it follows that such illustrative apparatus
When, therefore, Moore disclosed a process by does not limit the process patentee to that type of
which such recovery was made enormously profitable machine alone. If that were the case a process
and by which he turned a dump heap which under patent would be of little value. So distinctively
all known processes, machines and laboratory and separate in the patent law are process and
methods was worthless into profitable ore, we are apparatus for utilising such process that where, after
constrained to give little weight to the suggestion a patent for a process by one inventor a second in-
that his process was either anticipated, a mere venter might patent a novel apparatus for utilising
advance incident to the art, or involved no invention. the prooess, the situation would arise that the
So, also, it is said that the step described in bis inventor of the process could not employ his process
claim, viz. : further impoverishing the solids by a
'
in such machine without license from the machine
9
cleansing operation, was merely the washing or patentee and the latter could not use the process in
dilution of the prior art. Considered in its literalism his machine without license from the process
and in isolation, such contention may seem plausible patentee.
but considered as a step in Moore's process it takes Detail of Apparatus Immaterial if Filtering
on new significance and value. Bearing in mind Principal is Identical. —
It will therefere be evident
that in the prior steps of the process covered by this that the test of process infringement is not the
claim, the completely submerged filtering medium similiarity of apparatus, but rather whether
has formed a cake of uniform resistance at all points the apparatus, no matter what its form, utilises
and by reason of such uniformity the solvent has the process. Tested by this standard it is
percolated and is permeating the cake, it follows that clear to us the respondent's device infringes In
the step which follows is a non-diluting and bodily form the particular apparatus shown in Moore's
displacement of the solvent and not a diluting inter- [latent and the apparatus of respondent vary in the
mingling. number of tanks, in the differences between chang-
This displacement in contrast with dilution, not ing the fluid which envelops the filtering medium, as
only saves the time and expense of repeated dilution in respondent's device by allowing the filtering
and refilling, but also obviates excessive dilution of medium to remain stationary in one tank while the
the solvent solution and the necessity of rehandling submerging fluid is first drawn oft' and the second
large volumes of diluted solutions in the recovery of submerging bath is then drawn into the same tank,
the metal. It seems, therefore, that the '
further while in Moore's the filtering medium is raised from
impoverishing the solids by a cleansing operation the submerging bath in the first tank and then
'
of Moore's process, owing to the prior step whereby lowered into the second submerging bath in a second
a cake of even and uniform resistance is secured by tank.
submergence, is not a mere washing or diluting step, But this difference in numbers of tanks and
but is one wherein there is exerted a uniform pres- of respective withdrawal and replacing of different
sure or pushing action through the entire cake sur- baths in no way affects the identity of the
face, thereby in effect advancing a wall of water process, for it is manifest that Moore could in his
pressure to force ahead of it from the cake the value- patent specification have shown the use of his pro-
bearing solvent liquid and leave in the cake an equal cess, just as well by using respondent's apparatus,
volume of non-value-bearing water. This final had he known of it, as his own. Both alike use the
result is secured by first having built up a cake of principle of submergence and intra-leaf suction to
uniform resistance to solvent fluid How, and secondly create the unifoini and even resistance of the cake
by again submerging the filtering medium and its and both alike use the principle of intra-leaf [res-
built-up cake in the non value-bearing displacing sure, Moore using air and the respondent water, to
fluid. By this displacement by pressure difference shed the uniformly resisting cake from the filter.
only Moore pushes ahead instead of washes through For the mere fact of the output being carried off as
the cake-contained, metal-carrying fluid. a dry product in Moore's case to a dump heap and in
As showing the practically complete metal extrac- respondent's in fluid form to a slime pit, does not go
tion by the Moore process, we restrict ourselves to to the substance of the process. In the essentials
the uncontradicted testimony of results at a South that involve the invention the two are alike. Had
Dakota mine, where the original slime contained an apparatus such as respondent's, operated as it
gold at the rate of $7.90 per ton of dry slime. After is, been in use prior to Moore's there would have
filtration alone the cake still contained $2.75 per ton been no invention either in the process or in the
— —
Keli. 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metalln gy- 3S9
apparatus shown in Moore's patent. And what, if will extract gold from refractory materials where the
preceding a patent, would have anticipated it, cyanide process has wholly or partly failed. Anti-
equally infringes if subsequent. We therefore hold mony and copper ores are readily treated by the
the fourth claim is infringed. solvent, which is a weak solution of hydrocyanic
As we are of opinion and so find from the proofs acid. The company has treated at a profit about
that there is in respondent's device a removing the
' 4,000 tons of material at Costerfield, Burke's Flat,
medium while continuing the drawing action,' the and Clonbinane, which has been a stumbling block
fifth claim is also infringed. Do many cyaniders. Experimental work on pyritic
The decree of the court below is therefore reversed tailing from various parts of the Commonwealth has
and the cause remitted with instructions to enter a shown excellent results, a notable case being tailing
decree adjudging claims four and five valid and from Randall's Western Australia, which needs no
infringed and for such action by that court in the comment. Unlike the cyanide solution, the Gitsham
way of injunction and accounting as it shall deem solvent is a weak acid, and it is claimed that owing
fitting. I" this fact material can be treated by leaching
Defendants View of Filter Decision. In response — which otherwise would require agitation. The per-
to our request for a statement concerning the deci- centage of regeneration of the solutions, it is stated,
sion of the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals in the suit, is high, and averages from 40% to 50% of the chemi-
Moore Filter Co. vs. Tonopah-Belmont Development cals used. The company claims that, given an ore
Co., the Butters company lias sent us, with permis- partly amenable to the cyanide treatment, their pro-
sion to publish, a copy of the letter received from its cess will give an increased extraction at a lower
attorney, Harold Binney. This communication is cost ; and even on clean material the costs of chemi-
given below in full :
— cals are less, the only exception being on ores con-
New York, Nov. 11, 1912. taining carbonates of lime, and so far this difficulty
To the Butters Patent Vacuum Filter Co., Inc., has not been overcome.
50 Church St., New York. The following supplementary details were given in
Gentlemen, a recent issue of the Kalgoorlie Miner The process:
Please find enclosed a copy of the opinion written by consists of the use of an acid solution formed by the
Judge Burlington as the opinion of the United States combination of potassium cyanide and sulphuric
acid, giving rise to hydrocyanic acid. Its strength
Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in the
suit Moore Filter Co. against Tonopah-Belmont De- varies from 005% to 0'1%, and is worked on the
velopment Co., overruling Judge Rellstao's decision same system as ordinary cyanide. The solutions are
in the lower court, and holding the Moore process
allowed to percolate in the ordinary way, but before
patent valid and infringed. The decision that passing through the extractor box they are drawn off'
Moore's apparatus patent is not infringed remains in into a solution of limewater, which regenerates the
force. cyanide and makes the solution ready for precipita-
My colleague, Mr. Kenyon, agrees with me that tion. Should the solutions be used in the weak
the serious errors of fact on which the opinion rests state, a little cyanide is added at the head of the
will be so obvious to all mining and metallurgical zinc-box and the solution brought up to about 0'08%.
engineers that a modification of the opinion by re- After passing over the zinc the solutions are again
hearing is (so far as it might form a persuasive pre- made acid and applied to the ore.
cedent in other courts) quite unnecessary. As more- The following equations show what the inventor
believes really takes place :
over, the decision is binding as a legal precedent
only upon the courts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania 2KCN + H.,S0 4 = K„S0 4 + 2HCN
and Delaware, which form the Third Circuit, and as 4HCN+2Au^2HAu(CN) 2 + H2
it is still subject to review by the Supreme Court of after the zinc-box :
the United States by certiorari it should not give Ca(CM + H.,S0 4 = CaS0 4 + 2HCN
).,
any alarm to licensed users of the Butters patent or 2KCN+ H.2 SO J = K.2S0 4 + 2HCN
filters or processes anywhere else. The metallurgist of the company claims that all
I strongly urge you to consider the advisabilty of copper ores, likewiseantimony, bismuth, and
publishing the two opinions together, thus letting arsenic, are insoluble, and do not affect the solution
public opinion throughout the world be formed upon and its selective action for the precious metal. Even
full information of the reasoning of the two courts. the most refractory copper carbonate, with mixed
The carefully studied opinion of Judge Rellstab, oxides, has been successfully experimented on.
'
based on arguments that were not cut short by time About 4,000 tons of ore, containing antimony and
limits, will speak for itself to those skilled in the art. copper, have been treated by this process for a yield
The other pending suit upon the Butters patents of £1,600 worth of bullion, of an average value
against the Moore Filter Co. is not affected by the exceeding £4 per ounce.
present decision, but as the Moore Filter Co. has Although very delicate, the process is easily con-
refused to admit its own responsibility for the use trolledby a chemist, the important feature being the
of the Butters acid wash and of reduced vacuum combination point of KCN and H 2 S0 4 Some ores .
while the filter is exposed in the air, I strongly have quite enough acidity to generate with the
advise you to immediately sue the infringing users cyanide the acid. When
the latter is in excess it is
themselves, (Signed) Harold Binney." JUDGE — removed or neutralized. When
not present, the use
BuFFINGTON, Engineering ami Mining Journal, of sulphuric acid is resorted to. The inventor (Mr.
Nov. 16, 1912, p. 923. (H. A. W.) Gitsham) claims to be able to treat ores which have
before not been amenable to the cyanide process.
—
GlTSHAM PROCESS. "This new variation of the (losts are from 3s. to 6s. per ton on the most refrac-
cyanide process is attracting a good deal of atten- tory types. The process has been patented in the
tion in Australia. The Journal of the Chamber oj principal countries of the world, and the shareholders
Minis nf Victoria, makes the following statement have decided to raise the additional capital necessary
regarding it A subject of interest to the mining
: to introduce it in mining fields outside the Common-
community is the process of the Gitsham Gold Ex- wealth.
traction Co. It is claimed for this process that it The suggestion recently made by W. D. William-
— — >
30(1 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1913
son in a communication to the Journal of the CI" mi- also in a great measure as a relic of the depression
cal, Metallurgical ana Mining Society of South which existed here for some years and which tended
Africa, is of interest in tliis connection. Mr. Wil- to scare away South African boys from taking up
liamson states that the addition of sulphuric acid 1 1 mining, and others, already trained in other parts of
;i solution containing the double cyanide of copper the world from coining to the Rand to seek advance-
will cause the following reaction : ment in their profession.
i
:u 2 (CN)2KCN - H 2S0 4 =Cu s (CN) 2 t K SS0 4 +2HCN As a consequence of this shortage, it has become a
The insoluble copper cyanide can be separated by habit for our young technically trained men to seek
filtration, and the filtration neutralized by a slight that work, and to follow that alone, which appears
excess of alkali. It is obvious, however, that there to promise the quickest promotion and the laigest
is still cyanogen in the copper precipitate which pay possible. This line of quickest promotion is
ought to be recovered if possible. If the precipitate through the sampling department to survey work ;
be suspended in water, and treated with hydrogen thence to the position of shift boss, and so in some
sulphide, the following reaction occurs :
— cases, by easy and quick stages, successively to that
Cu a (CN) a + H aS = Cu„S+2HCN of mine captain, underground manager, and manager.
The solution resulting fiom filtration of the mixture Now, anyone who only follows those sections of
can then be neutralized with alkali and used as sol- underground work which cover the technical and
vent for fresh oie. The two reactions can be com- administrative sides, neglecting the more laborious
bined by adding sodium sulphide and the requisite and le.-s pleasant avocations which entail early
amount of acid to the cupriferous cyanide solution, hours and hard personal manual labour, may be able
with this reaction :
to gain quick promotion, but cannot at the end of a
•jKCX.Cu 2 (CN) a + Na.,S + 2H.,S0 4 = Cu.,S + + 4HCN few years be either such a useful individual to his
"
Na,SU 4 -K.,S0 4 employer in the more responsible positions or such
The precipitated copper cyanide carries down with it an experienced and able member of his profession as
the precious metals and can he collected, dried, and he who has carefully, systematically, and with much
shipped to the smelter. The clear liquor is then self-denial, grounded himself by actual experience in
neutralized with a slight excess of alkali to combine till the rudiments and various blanches of mining.
with the free HCN. This is undoubtedly so as regards underground
An obvious drawback of both of these processes is work, but it is even more a fact that the man who •
that any attempt to neutralize an acid sulphate has not also grounded himself by experience in those
solution by the addition of milk of lime will cause the other branches of work which go to make up mining,
formation of a copious precipitate of CaSOj.2H ? 0, namely the mechanical, metallurgical, and clerical
which occludes considerable quantities of cyanide branches, can nevei as efficiently administer and
and which is too line grained to peimit filtering' and control these departments when he comes to hold the
washing unless the solution is kept cold and allowed position of manager of a mine, and young mining
to stand seveial days during piecipitation. Since engineers who neglect these branches of their work
the hydrate of calcium is only slightly soluble in in their youth will have no one but themselves and
watei, being less soluble than the sulphate, any their confreres lo blame if, when they come to take
attempt to neutralize in this way would greatly rank as managers, they aie found incapable of gener-
dilute the cyanide solution. It might prove feasible, ally supervising all branches of woik on the mines,
however, to use dried or ground slaked lime for and they find that these departments are removed
neutralizing, drive off and col'ect the HCN
gas, and more and more from their control ami are supei vised
allow the sulphate solution to run to waste, or to by experts who may hold positions independent of
otherwise modify the process so as to reduce it to a the mine manager.
bettei wot king asis.
i The article on the regenera- The remedy lies first in the direction of facing
tion of cyanide solution by 15. G. Nichol'l in the squarely what a technical training in mining does
Mining and Scientific. Press, March 16. 1912, and its and does not teach one. To my mind, the young
discussion by K. P. Wheelock in the issue of Apiil mining engineer who feels that as soon as he has
6. will he of inteiest in this connection, as will the gained his diploma ami graduated from his college or
description of the eyanidathm of antimonial tailing school he is thereby qualified to take up any position
in the Hillgrove district of New South Wales, given tip to the highest on a mine, is doing his future
in our issue of .lime 29, 1912." Mining and Scientific career the gravest injustice possible. The correct
Press, Nov. 23, 101°. p. 660 (A. McA. J.) view to take of a technical training in mining (and
more so in mining, I think, than in any other career)
is that one has thereby been given the opportunity
MINING.
to study and reach the inwardness of mining pro-
The Young Minim; Enginekk on the Rank. blems 'and difficulties as they arise in one's true
— " The young technically trained men on the mines mining training, which only really begins when one
of the Rand haveoften a rather difficult decision to leaves the mining school. Mining can only really be
make soon after taking up work on these fields, and learned by personally doing the work in the company
it is with a view to helping them to make that of men who have become experts at it after long
decision wisely and in time that I am giving my years of practice and experience, and not by watch-
view of this subject to the South African Minim) ing and supervising natives do it badly, as so often
Journal. happens on the Hand.
There is no shortage of employment today for the If the young mining school man would look upon
budding mining engineer on the Rand in piactice : the knowledge possessed by eveiy experienced miner
there is a pronounced shortage of efficient men, and with whom he comes in contact as a well of infoi illa-
there would be no difficulty in placing a considerable tion and a book of mining lore, which can only he
number of technically trained candidates on the acquired by him by constant application on his part,
mines at short notice were these available. This and which' is worth all the application and hard
shortage, to my mind, is due both to the quick pro- work that is in the student, we would hear less of
motion to higher-paid work which has come in the the inexperienced shift boss and of indifferent mining
waj of men available during the last few years, and methods, both of which are far too common to-day.
F-l>. 1013 Notices and Abstracts: Mining. 391
It I were asked to advise a young mining engineer A return to underground work proper should then
fresh from his technical training as to what sequence follow, with or without another spell in the sampling
of work would best lit him for promotion to the office, this time with a round of his own and a proper
highest ranks of his profession locally, I would sense of the importance of his own slice of the work
advise his tirsl starting as a learner in the sampling of the mine. In the position of sampler, a man has
office, as in this position he would have the greatest a great opportunity of influencing keenness amongst
opportunity of learning from the experience of his the miners he comes in contact with by following the
seniors in this department as to the peculiarities oi pay leaders and discussing bedding planes with them,
the gold-bearing beds and of getting training for his and the possibility of bringing down the stoping
eye, which would he invaluable to him in his after width by getting into or under some particular bed.
work. No man, if handled right, and miners are no excep-
His next step should he to take up actual under- ! tion, likes someone else knowing more of his parti-
ground work m a junior position, preferably as cular working place than himself, and next time
assistant to a good hand stoper. If his technical the sampler comes through the stope it will be the
training had been received at a mining school where miner who will be pointing out the true foot leader
regular underground work through the three or four or the bastard in the hanging which he has managed
years' course was insisted on, he should he fitted to keep up, and the sampler will find himself being
within a few mouths to take charge of a stupe questioned as to values. When this happens, our
himself. This would give him the opportunity of sampler will know that he has not lived in vain, and
bee ing acquainted early w ii h the science "t handl- that one man at least will be taking more interest iu
ing natives, and would give him the necessary his work than before they met.
chance of learning to converse freely in the peculiar While underground for this spell, opportunity
dialect which is used underground almost universally should be taken of seeing all and doing all in the
by natives after they have been but a short time on various branches of mining, such as machine stoping,
these fields, and which is spoken so execrably and development, tramming, pumping, etc., rather than
Uiulei stood so little by most of our underground getting into a groove by, say, returning to hand
workers. stoping. The shift boss and mine captain should be
After a time, the daily round of underground madeinterested in the interest the student takes in his
work might have begun to pall somewhat and energy work, and many stray bits of information invaluable
and health to Hag owing to the unaccustomed lite, to him in after years will come his way, and he will
and a spell might well be taken as learner in the re- get the chance of assisting at a breakdown or the re-
duction works, thereby allowing of the enjoyment of timbering of a portion of the shaft, or what not, all
more fresh air and sunshine for a time. And here of which will be so much grist to his mill of accumu-
let me make a digression. This change of work lating knowledge.
would mean a set-back in wages, probably from, say,
After tliis spell of underground work, another run
15s. or His. sd. per shift back to a salary of £1(1 per
through the reduction Works to see those portions
month. No man likes such a reduction of pay but,
which he was unable to get to before would not come
:
take an Irishman's rise is the necessity for an inter- slightly less thoughtful amongst his acquaintances
the will be shaking their heads over him and saying that
view with that rather terrifying person,
'manager.' Now, managers are as human as other he will never get on as he does not stay long enough
less exalted personages, and don't like unnecessary at any one job to get promotion, while those who
interruptions by juniois when exceptionally busy, so know the man, and whose opinion counts, will be
I should advise steering (dear of the first tew day- of watching him carefully to see whether the early im-
the month, when outputs are in the melting pot and pressions of capacity and keenness which he gave
cheques and returns for signature litter the manager's them are fructifying, and will he giving an occa-
desk wrist deep. Rather he should write a short note sional word of encouragement and advice when he
stating his wish and asking for an interview, and if feels he wants these most.
the manager he worth his salt (and the majority are He can now safely change his scheme of work and
most sympathetic) he will make a point of teeing the launch out in the direction in which he thinks he will
Applicant early after getting information fr the get on best, either back to the sampling department
hitter's chief is to the quality of his work. If he is i
„ route for the survey office and a head surveyoi ship
not, and refuses an interview, the sooner a change of within two or three years, or down below again,
mine is made the better, for the want of savour in determined to qualify for the position of shift boss as
the manager will be equally evident amongst his thoroughly as he is able, but in this latter case he
staff as well, and it is these men who have it in their should first spend some considerable time in the sur-
power to inspire the student in his profession and vey offiee to qualify thoroughly for being aide to
help the seeker after information re than any carry the whole of the mine or section of mine in his
books, u.-eful as these will be as an adjunct to mind's eye ami to know all its peculiarities and
learning. faults, as until he is able to do this he cannot do
The length of spell in the reduction works musl be justice to the work of supervising that of others.
a matter of individual judgment, but it should not And here I would like to say that throughout his
be too short to allow of a proper appreciation of the tune on the mine he should have, spent odd hours on
reasons governing the operations, or too long to make the mine plan with the head sampler, surveyor. 01
underground work and hours appear a hardship when mine captain, talking over, and having pointed out
resumed say from three to twelvemonths according
;
to him on the plan, the points he may have noted
underground. The study of mine develo] -nt and
to circumstances.
———
39-2 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Feb. 1913
mine valuation also is most valuable and can scarcely were carried out even in only 50% of the eases con-
be overdone. cerned, the results in a few year's time would be
If during any of the first few years On the Rand worth all the trouble managers and students alike
our man has the chance of getting on to a small up- bad been put to."— Percy Uazalet, A. Mining
.$'.
country mine, say in the Northern Transvaal or Journal, Twenty-First Anniversary Number, p. 139,
Rhodesia, he will lose nothing by taking it, since one Sept., 1912. (W. A. C.)
can see so many more sides of mining in a given
time on a small place than on a big one, but if he Fires in Metalliferous Mines.— "The recur-
means to get on on the Rand he cannot leave this rence of mine fires in Nevada during the past decade
until too late or stop away too long, and must re- is nut only a matter of interest, but also one of con-
member that the moving about which is sound siderable concern to engineers and mine managers.
during the early years of training cannot be con- With the object of inviting discussion the author has
tinued too long, or it may degenerate into a tendency drafted the following regulations, which, in view of
to become the rolling stone of the proverb. the difficulty of providing for every emergency that
And now a few words about reading and the gain" may arise in a mine fire, and of meeting the mis-
ing of necessary Government certificates. cellaneous conditions that are at present iu Western
Sports at week-ends and during summer evenings metal mines, he has conceived in a conservative
is an absolute necessity to health and clean living; rather than an extreme spirit.
and is to be encouraged, and especially so for those I. Egress from Mines. —
For mines deeper than
who spend a large proportion of their time under- 200 ft and employing ten or more men underground,
ground only, as with all good things, it can be over-
;
,
course, to suit varying circumstances, is perhaps a. are in use, timber or other inflammable material in
tiitle idealistic and it may not always suit the economy excess of sufficient for one shift's use must not be
of the mine to agree to it for all young technically stored in such buildings.
trained men on that property, but it is an ideal after 2. Timber-yard or timber-storage sheds must be
which each young mining engineer who is anxious to placed not less than 75 ft. from any mine building.
qualify himself fully should strive, and if he is in 3. Lubricating oils and inflammable fluids must be
earnest he will find means to accomplish his wish, if stored in fire-proof buildings separated by a distance
not on one mine, then on another. If this scheme of not less than 75 ft. from other mine buildings.
—
Feb 1913 tfoti i i and Abstracts : M 393
superintendent, shall be sufficient to quench any 5. In mines employing 200 or more men under-
ordinary tire. ground, at least two oxygen-helmets shall be main-
2. At shaft house, in timber-framing building, tained in i roper working condition. The foreman
power plant, change mnin, and such other part- of shall designate certain men for instruction and
the surface plant as the mine inspector may decide, practice in the use of such helmets.
at least two-tire extinguishers of an approved type In mines employing 200 or more men underground
must be placed and maintained in proper working a " pulmoter," in proper working condition, must be
order. They must be placed in a conspicuous and provided. The foreman shall instruct the fire-fight-
convenient place. ing squad in its use.
3 Smoking shall be prohibited in non-fireproof 6. A general signal to indicate a surface fire ami
surface plants. one for an underground fire shall be designated.
4. Where more than a nominal number of lamps 7. Where practicable, an "all out of the mine"
using illuminating oils are in u-e a separate lamp- signal shall be designated and used in emergency.
house shall lie provided, and all filling, cleaning, and This signal must be used only by persons to be
trimming done in this building. designated by the superintendent.
5. Where water-pipes are not installed in shaft, S. Detailed instructions to surface and under-
connexions must be provided with the surface water ground men as to what to do in the case of tire are to
system, so that the compressed-air pipes may be used lie posted at -haft-mouth and underground station-.
to bring water underground in the case of a fire. — George J.Young, American Institute of Mining
6 Connexions must be made with air-pipes at each Engineers : London Mining Journal, Nov. 23, 1912.
station, whether the same is in active use or not. p. L165. (A. R.)
These connexions must be such that air can be
turned into the station. The World's Minerals. — " From the Home
7. \\ here candle illumination is used underground Office we have
received Part 4 of the Colonial and
metal sconces must be provided at all timbered Foreign Statistics, which is intended to give general
stations and stopes, and miners required to use same. information concerning the mining and quarrying
8. The placing of lighted candles or. timbers with- industries of the colonies and foreign countries. As
out proper protection is prohibited. stated in previous years great difficulties in prepar-
9. Smoking is prohibited in timbered mines. ing his part of the volume arise either from want of
I
10. -At all timbered stations which are in active adequate official statistics or from the lateness of
use and where water supply and hose-lines are not their publication. In several cases statistics for
provided, at least two fire-extinguishers of appioved 1910 were not received until the present year was
type shall be placed and maintained in working well advanced, and in a few the necessary figures
condition. are ill lacking.
I
11. Where
electric illumination or power is used Certain tables which have hitherto appeared in
underground or in surface plant, line installation and tbi- part of the Report have now been omitted a-
protection must be in accordance with the Electric not being of sufficient importance and some others
Code of the National Board of Fire Underwriters. have been re-arranged. The self-governing colonies
12. Transformers, where used underground, must of the Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Orange River, and
be placed in fireproof chambers and, at each bank of 'the Transvaal were united on the 31st May, 1910,
transformers, sand boxes must be placed and a and became original provinces of the Union of South
supply of sand maintained. Africa. The particulars relating to these colonies
13. In heavily-timbered slopes fire inspection must came under the heading 'South Africa.'
be provided after each shift leaves and before the Though the figures are not complete, they are
new shift cuines on. sufficient to give a fair general idea of the relative
14. Air-tight doors shall be constructed in each importance of milling in each country.
— « —
394 The .Inn rnul of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of Smith Africa. Feb. 1913
It would appear that the number of persons en- S, 000,000 tons, Great Britain with over 5,000,1 mo
gaged in mining and quarrying at home and abroad tons, France with over 5,000,000 tons, and Spain with
in 1910 exceeded 0>\ millions. Of this total, roughly nearly 4^ million tons come next. It is important to
speaking, nearly one-fifth were employed in the point out that the quantities of iron, and indeed the
United Kingdom and more than one-third in the quantities of other metals, are those which are con-
British Empire. It should be noted, however, that sidered obtainable from the ores raised in the coun-
no statistics are published bj several countries, e.g., tries in question, and must not necessarily be taken
Bolivia, Brazil, China, Persia, and Turkey, in which as a measure of their metallurgical industries.
mining is carried on, or for the ore mines ami The total value of the figures may be roughly
quarries of the United States, and the figure given taken as representing about £910,000,000 sterling.
prohably falls considerably short of the real total. Regarding the loss of life from accidents in mines
More than half of the total number were employed and quarries, and the death-rates from accidents per
in getting coal alone Great Britain employing
; 1,000 persons employed, and taking coal mines for
nearly 1,033,000, the United States over 725,000, which the figures are fairly complete, it will be seen
Germany over 694,000. France nearly 197,000, that the death-rate of the United Kingdom was 170,
Russia (190S) over 174,000, Belgium nearly 144,000, and for the British Empire 1 79 while for Austria
;
Austria over 131,000, and India nearly 116,000. it was 1*17, for Belgium '95, for France l'OS, for
The total amount of coal produced was 1,164 mil- Japan 2*23, for Germany 195, and for the United
lion metric tons, the value of which is estimated at States :j-79. The death-rate for foreign countries
nearly £420,000,000 sterling. The quantity and generally was 2'45.
value compared with 1909 show an increase of nearly In the case of gold mines, complete figures are only
oil, million tons in the output, and of £20,000,000 available for the British Empire They show a
sterling in the value. decrease in the death-rate from 4'38 in 1909 to 3 55
The following figures show the main sources from in 1910." the Science and Art of Mining, Nov. J:i.
which the fuel supply of the world for 1910 was 1912, p. 183. (A. R.)
obtained —
Mine Aik Humidifier. — " The United
:
States
© c — o
©o
o ©© co
© o Bureau ofMines has on exhibition at its Pittsburg
o o © o © testing station a machine for producing a water inist
sp—~
30 /. X cc ~ © -f
CI —
©
.- .-
V) V- ~ <C
— CO
<*
that is almost fine enough to be termed a fog. As
So 1-1
IC of
shown in the illustration, the machine consists of a
•"*
hollow wheel mounted upon the shaft of an electric
+ + + 1 + 4-
motor. The wheel is provided at its periphery with
o
o oo spray nozzles, at its nub with an opening for the
oo oo © 000 000 bed. 000
admission of water, and on its back with fan blade-.
iM 00
I- 1- o
CO C « »£C The hack and rim of the wheel is enclosed in a steel
'-4
«tf O
IO c£
ci cc -m housing that serves as a casting for the fan as a sup-
CS 00 W CC oW
OJ ©CO
i-O
-«!~ port for the air-diffusion vanes, and as a shield for
the revolving parts. When the wheel is rotated at
2ooo o©
S«
o o
C B O C ©
c ©o ©
© ©©©o
©
©.© ©© section or WHCEi
r
O
f:
d
rfl
j. r.
c
.
^ ^oi'a
© O CI ©-
l-
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» iO -f Oi
e3
•- -_
w C-l
-4J tO Tf"
§+++ 1
+ 1
+
= =: = ©
© ©© ©© ©
O
— © © ©©
33
o*
©— ©© ©
H iO r— U3 :: cor>
-T — .*- -* lO CI —
© I
CO CC
1
© ©©
CC
»C X CI t- 00 -J* CO
~- W CC CI
<* CN 71
-t rc tN tN
/. —
- .- h OR'V'MC *>OT0a
£" ^ -3 5
be
C G0£ >» : :
o M J -
-
"0 :fi r m
nil.
rea
em
poo<; &, g
Gold shows an increase of 7,347 kgm., as compared
with 1909, the total output being 693,370 kgm.
(22,292,535 oz.) of which the value is estimated at
over 94J millions sterling. The British Empire sup-
lied nearly 57% of the output; Australia contribu- . ALAOE5 0*£vOt_viN<?
ting 12j%, .^"iith Africa nearly 34 .and Canada,
India, New Zealand and Rhodesia combined, over -t
WWECl "OOSiNO
-c
Si of the total. The Unite, States contributed I
II
1
. .
Mine Air Humidifier.
In the case of iron, the United Slates with an out- normal speed by the motor, and water is admitted
put nearly 27,750,000 tons is considerably ahead of (under practically no pressure) to the opening in the
any other country. The German Empire with over hub, centrifugal force develops, at the nozzles in the
— —
wheel's periphery, a hydraulic pressure of more than pantagraph cannot give sufficient detail to suit all
200 lb. per sq. in. This pressure drives the water cases. For example, the reduction of an ordinance
through the nozzles in t lie form of a line spray which town map which is 1/500 scale, to he drawn to 50 ft.
is seized, broken up still more, and finally carried to the inch or 1/600 >cale can only be managed with
away by the blast or air that tiie fan-blades on the difficulty, as the setting of the instrument to effect
back of the wheel blow out all round the rim of the such work can only be accomplished by the tedious
wheel between it and the surrounding housing. The
diffusion vanes cause the air to he discharged in the
form of a cylinder whose axis is coincident with the
fan shaft. The mist produced is extremely hue, and
there is practically no dripping of water. The
device, which was developed by H. H. Clark, one of
the Bureau's engineers, is not yet in its final form,
and has not yet been tested in actual practice."
Burkm: of Minks, Minim/ and scientific Press,
Nov. 2, 1912, p. 569. (A. McA. J.) Fig. 1.
system of '
and error." The second considera-
trial
Mining Laboratory at Edinburgh.— " The tion is that of temperature variation. The instiu-
Mining Advisory Committee and a sub-committee of ment may possibly have been graduated in the height
the Heriot-Watt College Committee of George of summer, whereas it may be required tor use in tl.e
Hei it's Trust have had under consideration a pro-
i.
depth of winter, or Vice versa, and un ler such condi-
posal to erect a new mining laboratory for the tions the expansion and contraction of the metal
College. That then- is a call fur such a degree is arms makes reliability not to be expected.
shown by the fact that two day students aiming at The writer some years ago discovered the fact that
the college diploma, and also working for the univer- the ladii of the pantagraph after being set ale
sity engineering degree in default of one in their own always in proportion to the numerators of the repre-
subject, while live others desirous of gaining a B.Se. sentative fractions of the two scales of the plan under
in mining are compelled to go to London University construction. He accordingly had a pantagraph
for it. The policy of the college is therefoie to pro- 'setter' made as shown in Fig. 1. The portion AB
vide as soon as possible such equipment as would represents a piece of hard wood, say 50 in. long,
make certain that when the degree came to be accurately divided into inches and decimals. At A
formed the mining side would be left entirely in the there is attached a lixed socket, while at U and 1>
hands of the college in the same way that the in- there are two travelling sockets with verniers read
struction in mechanical and electrical engineering ing to 1/100 in. These sockets hold, as shown, two
has been ceiled to it for the recently established blunt-ended metal syles or spills and one longer
degree in those subjects. A three years' mining pointed spill, all three being interchangeable In
course, cannot be held complete without the metalli- order to show the application of this setter it may he
ferous branch being studied as well as that of coal. supposed that it is desired to enlarge the plan Irom
F.x|>ei ience has shown, indeed, that there is a consid- 50 ft. to the inch to a scale of 30 ft. to the inch.
erable demand for training in metal mining in Edin- The representative fractions of these scales are res-
burgh, and endeavour has been made to meet that pectively 1/600 and l/3b0, the denominators of com se
demand ever since the department was instituted live being 600 and 360. Now the ratio of 600 and 360 is
years ago. The metallurgical side would be useful equal to that of 6 and 36, but since these distances
not to mining students alone, but also to those in the are lather small for the purpose they may be each
mechanical and electrical engineering and chemical multiplied by 2, giving ratio numbers of 12 and 7'2o.
departments. At first it would he auxiliary to the The setter is then taken and the spill G is clamped
mining department, but as its equipment grew, and to read 7 20" while the spill at J> is clamped to lead
as its scope widened, it may become ultimately 12". The pointer spill is then inserted in the socket
advisable to form it into a separate department at A and is dropped into the fulcrum tunnel of the
under its own head. Leaving iron and steel to be pantagraph. The other two travelling funnels are
principally dealt with in Glasgow it is considered then worked with the hand simultaneously until the
that the metallurgical instruction at the Heriot- blunt-ended spills U and D drop easily into them.
Watt, College ought to be directed more particularly The travelling funnels are then clamped, the setter
to the non-ferrous metals. The full scheme makes rod is carefully withdrawn and the instrument will
provision for the following rooms : —
Coal mining then he found to he accurately set. It will generally
laboratory, two gas-testing laboratories, research be found that the pantagraph can be winked mote
laboratory, metallurgical laboratory, micrographic, easily if the fulcrum .-pill he placed between the
section-cutting, and photographic rooms, drawing other two. This can veiy easily be arranged by
office, rescue apparatus room, lecturers' private making the distance A to C 7 20" as before while
rooms and office, museum and library, metallurgical instead of making the distance A to D 12" this dis-
and mining lecture theatres, central machinery hall tance A to D
should be made 192" or the sum of the
and ore-dressing and coal-w ashinglahoralories." 'Ihe two numbers. In oilier words the distance C I)
Set: m:e and Art of Mining, Nov. 23, 1912, p. 179.
becomes 12". It is obvious that with a setting
(A. R.) rod no graduations on the arms of the pantagraph
are necessary and there need he no fear whatever as
MISCELLANEOUS. to error through unequal contractions and expan-
USE OF THE I'ANTAGRAPH. — "The pantagraph. sions of the arms. Moreover, at the present time
although a well-known and useful instrument for the pantagraphs are made of Hat brass rods, hut in the
enlargement and reduction of plans, is hardly re- new method above described tubular rods might
garded with favour by mine surveyors in cases where supersede these with great advantage both with
extreme accuracy in the work to be done is neces- —
regard to lightness and rigidity." H. G. Hen-
sary. The main reasons for this are two number.
in derson, Mines inn! Minerals, Dec. 1912, p. 286.
In the first place the graduations on the arms of the (A. McA. J.)
—
396 Tin' Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of South Africa. Feb. 1913
Danger from Dust Inhalation. — "In Sir alcohol only taken after the sun is down. A good
Thomas Oliver's paper before the International Con- sun helmet should be worn all day, even if it is
gress of Hygiene were some interesting statements cloudy many men in West Africa would be alive
;
concerning what becomes of inhaled dust, particu- to-day if they had not neglected this simple precau-
larly as throwing light on plumbisni. In experi- tion. A touch of the sun in West Africa is more to
ments by Dr. Yoichiro Saito, dogs and rabbits in- be feared than fever, for its effects are more lastiDg.
haled air charged with white-lead dust from 1 to 3.3 Drinking water should be boiled and filtered.
hr. The greater part of the dust was subsequently Now for a few don'ts :
recovered, not from the lungs, but from the alimen- (1) Don't think you are going to die when you
tary canal. In experiments with men and white- have fever you won't.
:
lead dust, 95% of the dust inhaled remained behind (2) Don't dose yourself if yon can avoid it: the
in the body, and from 60 to 80% eventually found its doctor will do that for you.
way into the alimentary canal, apparently by mixing (3) Don't allow yourself to get constipated.
with the nasal mucus and being subsequently un- (4) Don't forget to take with you a warm suit and
intentionally swallowed. These experiments show overcoat to use on your return journey land-
the necessity for respirators, and the good of fre- ing in England.
quent nasal douches, and that simply to avoid On the return journey every care should be taken,
contamination of food, etc., with lead dust is not for a man is not as fit as he feels. The doctor's
enough." Sir Thomas Oliver, Engineering and advice about continuing to take quinine, etc., should
Minimi Journal, Nov. 16, 1912, p. 934. (H. A. W.) be carefully followed.
On landing in England, report should be made at
Health in the Tropics.—" As one who has had once to the tropical doctor seen before leaving, and
considerable experience in tropical malarial coun- bis advice followed.
tries, a few hints may be of use to the younger All this is elementary, but many of these precau-
members of our profession who are working or con- tions are neglected, and sickness is incurred that
template working in the tropics. could have been avoided."— E. HoMERSHAM, The
I would first, however, like to register a protest Minimi Magazine, Dec, 1912, p. 437. (A. R.)
against any layman recommending to all and sundry
\\ hat quantity or kind of drugs should be taken iii —
Timber Treatment. "An important question
the tropics. has been raised in connection with the preservation
As regards quinine, personally a daily dose of of timber sleepers, and this is — Is it worth while per-
nine grains has not been recommended to me, and I mitting the timber to absorb only a fixed weight of
have never known any tropical doctor recommend the preservative? It will be remembered that
so large a dose for a regular daily one. And as to methods have been coming into vogue recently, based
10 gr. of calomel as an average dose, well, it is on considerations of economy, but also claiming high
prodigious. I should be sorry indeed for the man efficiency, under which the preservative is forced into
who started to dose himself with calomel in any- the pores of the timber and then by the production
thing like such quantities. Calomel should, as a of a vacuum much of it is withdrawn. This method
general rule, only be taken under doctor's orders. entails the very minimum expenditure of preserva-
To return, however, to our young engineer going tive, and will have to be put to a very severe test
to the tropics for the first time, I would strongly before its virtues can be accepted as facts. For the
advise him before leaving England to go to a first present let us consider only the earlier method of
class tropical specialist, such as doctors Manson, securing a fixed weight of oil in the treated sleeper.
Simpson, or Kantly be thoroughly examined, tell
; If this fixed weight could be secured in every single
the doctor exactly what the future programme is, sleeper treated something might be said for it ;
but
and having got the medical instructions, note and no method of treatment adopted so far secuies this,
follow them. and the result is that there are wide differences in
If the engineer is to be placed on a working mine, the individual sleepers of weights actually absorbed.
he need not unduly trouble himself abont medicines ; The method is to group timbers according to their
he should simply report himself to the resident supposed powers of absorption and to put a number
doctor on the mine and follow his advice. If, how- of sleepers of the same group into the retort and
ever, he is going into the bush, it is desirable to get keep them there for the proper length of time and
the London doctor to advise what medicines to under the propel pressure, so as to make sure that
carry, and generally what to do in cases of ordinary a fixed average weight of the oil will be absorbed per
malaria and blackwater. Carefully written notes sleeper. Now such grouping can be effected only in
should be made of the instructions, and if there is a perfunctory way. Experts will determine which
anything not at first understood, explanation should species may be relied upon to absorb the same weight
be sought. of oil under the same conditions, and other experts
The second question is outfit. This depends on actually on the job will actually sort the individual
whether the engineer is going to a settled camp or timbers that ought to go into the retort together.
going to travel. In any ease, a camp bed, mosquito But when we consider the factors making for un-
nets, and blankets should be taken. A sun helmet equal results we see how impossible it is, even if the
must not be forgotten a good supply of comfortable
; work is not done perfunctorily, to obtain uniform
and strong boots, also plenty of underclothing and results. The disturbing factors are (1) different
a few tropical suits. If travelling, a good assort- degrees of seasoning, (2) differences in the texture of
ment of food should be taken, packed in Venesta the timber, (3) differences in the proportions of heart
cases. wood and sap wood, (4) differences in the extent to
Whenin the tropics a regular and rational life which pores of the wood may be clogged, (5) differ-
should be led. A
man soon finds out what diet ence in the quantity of dried sap left in the cells,
suits him this is frequently a case of Hobson's
; etc. Further, on looking into actual results criti-
choice. But be must not try to starve himself. If cally examined what do we find ? Mr. Goltra,
he a teetotaller he should remain one as long as it
is writing in the Railway and Engineering Merieio,
suits. In any ease nips must be avoided, and gives the following case. Taking 1,020 ties of var-
— —
Feb. 1913 Xotires and Abstracts: Miscellaneous. 397
ions kinds tliey were grouped into three classes as however, the country where timber preservation is
follows : practised on the largest scale, more than from three
(1) Red oak, black oak, pin oak, water oak. to six months' natural seasoning is randy allowed,
(2) Beech. and it is very far from the rule to inject to the point
(3) Maple, hickory, back berry, sycamore, birch, of refusal.
hlackgnm, elm, yellow pine. One other fact that seems to have been brought
Fifteen truekloails, each containing 50 ties, were out inthe discussion is that certain classes of timbers
weighed, 750 in all, ami constituted a single cylinder arc more refractory to one antiseptic than to another ;
charge. On completion of the treatment the ties for instance, hardwoods, such as oaks, are more
were all re-weighed, and the difference in weight readily penetiated by zinc chloride than by creosote.
showed of course the weight of creosote oil absorbed. To impregnate them with creosote demands heavy
This worked out to 2l"70 lb. per tie as an average ; pressure applied for a long period, and it is doubt ml
and as the conditions were that absorption should if this does not to some extent injure the fibres. On
average 21 "75 lb. per tie, the result was considered an American railroad oak ties treated with zinc
But the true results
as in all respects satisfactory. chloride in 1S9S and 1.H99 had been found in 19111 to
were seen only on going into details which were as have failed to the extent only of some 2%. Further,
follows : on the score of economy, it is found that zinc chloride
54S ties absorbed from 17 to 26 lb. each. alone, or in combination with creosote oil, is mote
472 ties absorbed either more or less than these economical than creosote alone in treating railroad
weights, some as much as 60 lb., some as ties, generally, to refusal. This is a fact of some
little as 2 lb. importance to note in India, where the treatment of
timbers seems at last about to be taken up seriously
Ties that absorbed from li to 10 lb. had a pene"
tration of a qnaiter of an inch, those that absorbed
and where creosote is at present very expensive. —
from 50 to 60 lb. were saturated, while the average Indian Engineering, Oct. 12, 1912, p. 210. (R. A.)
penetration was three-fourths of an inch. The
weights of the lies varied widely, ranging between
—
Temperatures of Flames. "According to a
63 and 207 lb. and the absorption bad no relation to lecture delivered by .1. A. Harker, at the Royal
the weights, an instance being given of one tie Institution, London, the accompanying table gives
weighing 105 lb. absorbing S lb. of oil, while another the temperatures obtained in various fonns of
weighing 102 lb. absorbed 3S lb. That these commercial apparatus :
various species are mixed is proved by results with Hiinsen burner ... ... ... 1100—1350
one species only, viz., beach of a single species. Meker burner ... 1450—1500
Here the weights of ties varied from 99 to 192 lb., Gasoline blast lamp ... ... 1500—1600
and the weights of antiseptic absorbed by individual Large gas furnaces ... ... 1600—1800
ties varied from 4 to 50 lb It seems to be estab- Oxyhydrogen flame ... ... about 2000
...
lished from these investigations that preserving Oxyacetylene flame ... ... about 2400
...
very sensibly remove refractoriness, and it is only Mr. Frank Shnman, an enterprising American engi-
the partial seasoning that is now given to most tim- neer, has raised his first Sun-po«er Installation
bers that renders them so refractory to penetration. Plant. The experiment which has all the prospect
Complete seasoning, three days' kiln-drying and of success, if its expenditure should not mount up
treatment to saturation are prima facie experience higher than the gas production of energy, has been
first costs, hut so far as present experience goes are set down at Meadi in the vicinity of Cairo on the
the only means of securing a full proportion of thor- road to Helonan. Five reflectors, 204 ft. in length,
oughly preserved ties, and thereby ties that may be have been constructed in the form of parabolas with
expected to give lasting service on the roads. Mr. the steam generator at the focus. This is of zinc,
Goltra is of opinion that if ties are thoroughly rectangular in form and of a width of 14 in., with
seasoned they may be run into the retorts without Hanks only jj of an inch apart and painted black
;
separation into groups and can be treated to refusal because of' the heat -absorbing qualities of the colour.
in an average time of 90 min., whether they are The generator expands from a small head into a
treated with creosote oil, zinc chloride, or asphalt stenn collector 4 in. in dia., with a fall of 6 in. in its
Crude oil. Seasoning seems to bethe basis of success entire length of 204 ft. the collector being joined to
;
in the treatment, and artificial seasoning is strongly the main steam pipe at the higher and to the feed
recommended on account of the great saving in time water at the depressed extremity. The sides of the
effected. Where natural seasoning is allowed noth- reflector are lined with silver glass mirrors of differ-
ing less than a year seems to be effective and in : ent sizes, according to the depth of the reflector to
Europe it seems to be the practice to give sleepers which they are attached, and varying from 3 sq. in.
about this period ; and, moreover, in most cases, to near the votex to a square foot at the open mouth.
inject them with antiseptic to refusal. In America, The reflector and boiler are braced on steel cradles
—
398 Tin Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Feb. 191S-
which admit of rotation, in order always to face the tance, fluid electricity, corpuscular light, and caloric
sun by automatic movements, arranged on pulleys heat.
geared y an ingenious regulator, furnished with a
I
—
"Discoveries are of two chief kinds the discovery
thermostat. Theie are five banks of heaters so of law and the discovery of fact. The two tend to
placed apart as not to interfere with one another. "- liecome inextricably interwoven tlie discovery of
:
Indian Engineering, Nov. 30, 1912, p. 301. (K. A.) law often leads to the discovery of new facts, and
the discovery of new facts to either the formulation
of new laws or new modes of statement, or to the
Precautions in Handling Acetylene. —"Ow- resuscitation of discarded ones.
ing to some recent accidents with acetylene burners, " As examples of the discovery of law, I instance
the French Minister of Commerce has submitted to Newton's gravitational theory of astronomy, and
a commission the question of precautions to be taken Maxwell's electromagnetic theory of light. Dis-
with the cylinders containing compressed gases coveries of this kind take their place among the
(Journal da Four Eleclrigue, Nov. 1, 1912). The most prodigious efforts of the human intellect.
following are the rules laid down The cylinder con-
:
taining compressed gases for autogenous welding, or " Of all the facts discovered during the last half-
for cutting metals, should not be used in workshops century, I suppose that Roentgen's X-rays excited the
where there are floors above containing people. most popular astonishment and certainly they were
;
Before being placed in service each bottle should he sufficiently new. Nevertheless, existing theory had
placed in a ditch of which the sides are protected by a place for them. . If called upon to compare
. .
battens of wood, and only the neck of the bottle the discovery of Rontgen with the discovery of
should appear above the surface of the ground. The Becquerel, I should give the palm of novelty to the
cylinder should he placed at least fl in. from any latter; for the spontaneous splitting up of atoms,
fire. Each cylinder should bear legibly upon it the and the consequent expulsion of constituent frag-
date of being placed in service, and the pressure to
which it was submitted at the last test, aitd the date
of the test. It is forbidden to employ any lubricating
a revolutionary new fact. ....
ments, was not provided for on any theory. It was
Rontgen. Some of the lecturer's remarks are ex- but there is a converse process now going on, and in
i
racted below :
— the course of a sort of triumphant materialisation of
" Chemistry has borrowed the idea of evolution obscure entities, achieved at any- rate hypothetic-ally
from biology, and is trying to extend it from the and speculatively, if not yet in any substantial
origin of species to the origin of atoms though some
;
manner, chemistry seems to be dominating emanci-
chemists reject all this as haseless speculation, and pated parts of physics.
pour modulated scorn upon the few recent discoveries "The latest and most astonishing attempt to-
which physicists are willing to accept. wards the reconversion of physics into chemistry
" Mathematicians disport themselves destructively appears in a brilliantly clever and apparently serious
among what have seemed the realities, the very data, address to Section A by Professor Callendar, this
of physics distributing an atmosphere of doubt and year, on the resuscitation of caloric or the material
:
expression, and are trying if they can manage to not surprising that an anticipation of the Kind
sustain their science oh a basis of action at a dis- should he promulgated. At present it is no more
—
Fell. 1913 Bi vi< IBS 'i nd Nt ,r Books. 399
than a speculation, but if followed up, although it Painting by Dipping and Spraying.—" Though
may not lead to the result anticipated, it may lead doubtful if painting surfaces by this method
it is still
to others of perhaps equal interest. . , has serious disadvantages compared to the old method
" All this tendency to return to discarded hypo- of painting by hand with a brush a considerable
—
theses and revivify old beliefs for spontaneous amount of work is now done in this way at Home
generations is, 1 suppose, a very old belief or super- ami much more still in America. Its merit lies
stition —
is a matter of great interest and it is : chiefly of course in its quickness ami cheapness.
astonishing to lind how much can still be said for Dipping is effected °by immersing the object bodily
Ancient views. Forty years ago the caloric theory into a lank containing paint, allowing it to drip for
of heat seemed dead beyond redemption, and I do not a few moments and then removing it to dry >"tne :
say it yet lives, but the ingenuity of Professor times a complete railway wagon is dealt with in this
Callendar finds a great deal to say for it, some of it way. .Spraying is effected by attaching two tubes
of a cogent kind it appears to be quiet a possible
: to a single nozzle one tube supplies the paint under
;
mode of expressing facts, and one that is perhaps pressure, the other air under pressure which forces
convenient for several non-elementary purposes. tlic paint on to the surface in a tine spray: by this
method twenty times as much work can be done in
" Then, again, in early days it was customary to the same time by a single workman as would be
jeer at the prevalent popular habit of speaking of done by hand and brush. It seems fair to assume
electricity as a fluid, and until we know more about that in the case of wood, at least, mere dipping will
it the practice was certainly to be deprecated but :
not he as efficient as using a brush, as it will not force
now, in the light of further knowledge, something the paint into the pores spraying, however, being
;
very like an improved and more definite fluid theory affected under pressure would force the paint in to
seems likely to hold the Held. some extent. In the case of iron, there being no
pores tu speak of, the operation perhaps does not
"Hitherto Rbntgen radiation has seemed to belong
almost wholly in physics, whilst Becquerel radiation
hold. By the latter method, however, thete i~ a
strong probability of moisture that may be present
belonged largely also to chemistry, to which science
in the air being forced to the surface and mixed up
our friend the late Dr. Russell's radiation or emana-
with the paint, and consequently the door may be
tion has always belonged wholly but now judgment
;
opened to quick rusting. If either dipping or spray-
as to the nature of Rontgen rays may have to be
ing be resorted to, it is necessary to take great pre-
regarded as open to revision
cautions with the paint which, in the Hist place,
"Some mathematicians, among them the late ought to be kept constantly stirred by means of pro-
Professor Poincare, are willing to give away their pellers, or otherwise, and in any case the consistency
kindred subject of physics by admitting or maintain- must be such as to prevent streaky lines forming on
ing that our laws are not important statements of the surface. Dipping is essentially applicable to
tact, but aie only convenience of expression. And works on a latge scale and for first coats only for :
many philosophers seem eager to accept this vicarious finishing nothing is better than hand painting with
generosity at their hands. a brush. Spraying may, besides being used inde-
" But such repudiation of our claims and reduction pendently, be used for a second coating to surfaces
of our life work to insignificance, I altogether de- that have been dipped but if the work requires a
;
precate. If we are not seeking real truth, if we are good finish it must also be followed by hand-painting.
only seeking convenience of expression, the science In any case there is no reason why both dipping
of physics is not the noble structure which 1, for one, and spraying should not be resorted to much more
think it. largely than is the practise since there are wide uses
" To take the simplest and most rudimentary for a cheaper and quicker method of painting than
example :
— by hand." liulimi Engineering, Dec. 7, 191'J, p. iliiT.
"Are we to suppose that it is only a matter of (A. R.)
convenience whether we say that the earth turns on
its axis, or that the host of heaven revolves round it
once a day? I hold that the one is a genuine and
absolute truth, whilst the other is a genuine and Reviews.
absolute falsehood and that convenience of expres-
:
sionally necessary, are always dangerous, and should rank in importance with Dr. Peter's original edition
he kept in rigorous eheck. —
SIB OLIVER LODGE, of 'Modern Methods of Copper Smelting,' and with
South Ah "''in Journal of ,<'<< n" January, 1913,
.
the earlier books, pamphlets and articles on the
p. 111. (H. A. \V.) cyanide process, notably those by Scheidel and
—
41 li I The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minimi Society of Smith Africa. Fell. 1913
Geology.
Abstracts of Patent Applications. (C.) 107/12. William James Harnett (1), Oswald
Victor Whittle (2), Fred Morgan Linscott (3).
(C.) Thomas Kerr (1), John Mitchell Neill
17/12. Improvements in means for igniting blasting
Automatic regulator of outflows in classi- fuse. 17.2.12.
(2).
fiers ami separators. 10.1.12. This application relates to an invention in connec-
This application refers to an apparatus consisting tion with improvements claimed by the inventors in
of a sphere or other conveniently shaped meinlier the present methods of igniting blasting fuses.
suspended inside a pulp classifier or separator the The object of the invention is to piovide an elec-
object being to maintain constant, within limits, the trical apparatus which can be readily carried round
proportion of solid matter to liquid in the pulp and used for igniting each individual fuse exactly as
flowing from the outlets of said classifiers or separa- is done when using the methods at present in use.
tors. The apparatus is allowed to oscillate freely The apparatus consists of a pair of pointed termi-
about the said outlets and the distance at which the nals connected to the secondary circuit of a Ruliin
oscillation takes place can lie regulated. korff Coil, which, on being forced through the
Valentin Jansec. Improvements in covering of a fuse, completes the circuit and dis-
(C.) 68/12.
apparatus for lashing or removing broken rock, charges sparks actually in the core of the fuse, so
from igniting it and of an electric lamp connected to the
ore, mineral or the like the stopes or other :
underground workings of mines or the like, primary circuit of the battery exciting the Ruhui-
korff Coil.
applicable also for the construction of dams and
other similar purposes. 31.1. 12. (C.) 124/12. Edward George Clifford-Jones (1),
This application relates to improvements in appa- Alfred Edward Barker (2), Lancelot Ussher (3).
ratus for removing broken rock, ore, mineral, or the Apparatus for distributing material upon dumps.
like from stopes or other underground workings of 26.2.12.
mines or the like or for facilitating the construction
; This apparatus consists of a platform mounted on
of dams, tunnels, or earth works generally. rails, upon which is arranged a conveyor belt with a
Briefly described the apparatus consists of a hopper lor receiving a truck load of sand and dis-
travelling carriage provided with a series of indepen- charging it over the edge of the dump. The platform
dently driven wire brushes so designed that they can is counter-weighted ami ananged with false rails so
rise and fall and so adapt themselves to the surface that the truck can pass on to the platform for dump-
over which the apparatus is caused to travel, and ing on t(.i the belt.
with a short length conveyor belt upon which the
(C.) 130/12. Ernest William Massam (1), William
broken rock is swept by the blushes. This conveyor
belt delivers the broken rock to a second short
McVitty (2). Improvements in stamp guides.
28.2.12.'
length of conveyor, carried by a frame pivotally
attached to the carriage, by which the rock is in This application refers to a form of guide blocks
turn delivered to whatever apparatus may be in use for stamp stems.
for conveying it to loading bins or wherever it may The arrangement consists of a cast iron block
be required. between two adjacent stems secured to the guide
beam by a central bolt, the block is provided with a
;(_'.) Gustavus Adolphns Sheeley. Improve-
71/12. cap, and the sides of the block anil cap are grooved
shaft and track rollers for supporting
ments in
to suit the diameter of the stems and the combination
hauling ropes and the like. 2.2.12. can be turned round on the central bolt when one
This application relates to improvements in shaft
side is worn, so as to present a fresh wearing
and track rollers for supporting hauling ropes and surface.
the like. In addition to this square or polygonal block a
The improvements detailed in the specification further proposal is made to use a circular spool
accompanying this application are as follows •
402 Tin' Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. Feb. 1913
for annular wall of liquid, when rotated. Vanes on (P.) 614/12. Herbert Francis Hayllar. Improve-
centre spindle are provided, which are adjustable by ments in the treatment of battery pulp and in means
means of links. therefor. 23.11.12.
(C. 598/12.
) Arthur Richards. An improved pro- (P.) 615/12. Alfred Argles. Improved amalga-
cess for the recovery of tin from ore and other mation process. 25.11.12.
tin bearing materials by conversion into volatile (P.) 616/12. Kenneth W. Greenen. Automatic
tin compounds. 11.11.12. adjuster for conveying belts and the like. 25.11.12.
This application is for a process for the recovery (C.) 617/12. Frank Robert McBerty. Machine
of tin from ores, tailings and other tin bearing telephone switching system E.l. 25.11.12.
materials. The tin is converted into volatile and (C.) 618/12. Frank Robert, McBerty. Machine
soluble compounds such as chloride of tin by beating telephone switching system E 2. 25.11.12.
in a furnace with a reducing agent, such as coal, and (C.) 619/12. John Mann. Gas flash boiler
sodium chloride and potassium bromide. heater. 26. 1 1 12.
.
(C.) 648/12. Josef Heinrich Reineke. Telephony (P.) 10/13. Harlev Escreet. Improvements in
and Telegraphy formining cages. 7. 12. 12. pipe connections, coupling and the like. S. 1.13.
(P.) 650/12. Hany Ward. Siinplon fastener. (P.) 11/13. Thomas Thomson. Improvements
10.12.12. in drills or bits for rock drilling machines. 8.1. 13.
(!'.) 651/12. Frederick William Walker. Im- (P.) 14/13. .lames Fowler Harker. Improve-
provements in apparatus for manipulating composite ments in buffers and coupling for railway and road
posts or poles applicable for use as mine props and vehicles. 0.1.13.
for othei purposes. 11.12.12. (P.) 15/13 Harry August Stockman. Improve-
(C) 653/12. Martin Enimitt Harrison. Im- ments in apparatus for washing and concentrating
provements wrought metal pole arms. 12.12.12.
in diamond hearing material, alluvial metalliferous
(P.) 655/12. Walter Edward Kimher. Improve- mat ter and the like. 9.1.13.
ments in pneumatic hammeis. 13.IJ.12. (P.) 15/13. Pascal Marino. A process of pre-
(P.) 656/12. John Cairns Improvements in and paring electrolytes for use in the deposition of a
relating to the lyres of wheels of vehicles or the metal or metallic alloy. 9.1.13.
like. 13.12.12. (P.) 18/13. Gustavus Adolphus Sheeley Im-
(P.) 657/12.Charlton Effingham Wollaston (1), prove is in converting steel or/ and wrought iron
Albert Thomas Harris (2). A device for mixing and into cast iron. 10. 1.13.
agitating solutions or liquids containing solids, solids (P.) 20/13. William Tippiatt. Improvements in
in suspension and the like. 11.12 l-V catches or fastening devices for sliding doors, parti-
(P.) 65N/I2. .lames Fisher. Improvements to tions and the like. 1.1. 13. 1
ments in lope ".rips or jockeys for mechanical (P.) 28/13. British Insulated & Helsby Cables
haulage and the like 31.12.12. Ltd. (1), Rowland Wrench Blades (2). Improve-
(C.) 670/12. Walter Samuel Steljes. Improve- ments in electric cable connection boxes or appara-
ments in and relating to type printing electric tele- tus. 16.1.13.
graph systems. 31.12.12. (C.) 30/13. Hugo Altschul. Improvements in
(C.) 1/13. Emil
Ullman. Improvements in interna] combustion engines. 10.1.13.
bottom discharge trucks and the like. 2.1.13. (P.) Margaret Emijy Shearer. Improve-
31/13.
C.) 2/13. John Gattens. Improvements in rock ments acetylene lamps.
in 17.1.13.
drills and similar tools. 2.1. 13. (P.) 32/13. James Oliver Bartle. Improvements
(P.) 3/13. GiuseppeAntonie Pietro Provay. Im- in lamps lor lighting fuses and the like. 17.1.13.
provements in truck tipplers or means for discharg- (P.) 34/13. Hans Nordrok (1), Gentil Prelle (2).
ing ore contents oi trucks and the like vehicles. Improvements in ball hearings and the like. Is. 1.13.
2.1.13. (P.) 36/13. Sydney John Buckley. Side door
(P.) 4/13 James Hamilton Anstruther Macadam. truck fastening an automatic opening device.
1
ments in butlers ami coupling for railway and road " Radnor," Plymouth, England.
vehicles. 28.1.13. Bawden, E. R., should read Cerro Muirano, Pro-
(C.) 56/13- Edward Arthur Mellinger (I), Bernard vincia de Cordoba, Spain.
Darwin Willis (2), Talbot Grant Martin (3), Stanley BEECH.S. J., l/o Leederville ; Morgans, W. Aus-
Gordon Sinclair Dicker (4). Improvements in or tralia.
relating to telephone systems. 30.1.13. Bisset, A. C, I o East Rand ; New Unified G. M.
(P.) France Conrad du Preez
57/13. (1), James Co., Ltd., P. O. Box 5, Maraislmrg.
Fossey Steel (2), Electric time switch. 3.2.13. Boydrll, H. C., l/o Krugcrsclnrp Government ;
(P.) 59/13. Charles Henry Perrins. A new and Gold Mining Areas, Ltd., P. 0. Box 2S, Brak-
impioved method of soldering aluminium by means pan.
of a solder. 4.2.13. Collins, E. A., l/o San Francisco Pearce, Aiizona, :
and the like. 7.2.13. tary Mines, Ltd., P. O. Box 41, Springs.
(P.) 65/13. Louis Doyen. Process for treating Gilbert, T. W., l/o Roodepoort United; Princess
wood surfaces. 8.2.13. Estate & G. M. Co., Ltd., P. (). Box 114,
(P.) 66/13. Kobeit Howe Gould. Improve- Roode) it.
ments in electrical burglar alarms and like devices. GUTHRIE, G. L., l/o Japan; Atchison, Kansas,
10.2.13. U.S.A.
(P.) 67/13. Ernest Shaw. Improved means for HEELEY, A. W., l/o Shangani ; Susanna Mines,
decanting petrol, kerosene or such like fluid into the Gwanda, Rhodesia.
fuel tanks of motor ears or other receptacles. HORSFIELD, J. E.,l/o Giant Mines: Cam and Motor
10.2.13. Mine, Eiffel F'lats, Rhodesia.
(P.) 68/13. Thomas Galbraith (1), Otto Nest (2). LAWENSKI, J. D., l/o Benoni c/o Mrs. A. Solon ;
,
Combined water jet and spray nozzle also spray Leyds Street. Joubeit Park, Johannesburg.
.V.i,
nozzle. 11.2.13.
(P.) 71/13. Frank Hill. Patent hoop-iron bind LOCKHART, T. L., l/o Germiston New Spes Bona ;
sanitary or hygienic or aromatic vapour." 14.2.13. Stidolph, N. II., l/o Bulawayo ; (Rouge Mine,
( lolden Valley, Rhodesia.
(C.) si is. Samuel Cleland Davidson. Im-
provements in or relating to centrifugal fans.
TRT mi. S. .1., / 27, Austin Friars 65. Alierdare
-< ..
;
THE JOURNAL
OF THE
The Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
Proceeding's la Associates
AT GEMMELL, James, New Lisbon Berlyn, Ltd., Pilgrims
Rest. Cyanider.
Ordinary General Meeting, OXLEY-OXLAND, BERTRAM MONTGOMERY, New
March 15th. 1913. Ivleiufontein Co., Ltd., P. O. Box 2, Benoni.
Mine .Surveyor.
The Ordinary General Meeting of the Society As Student
was held in the South African School of Mints Kinahan, Brian Arthur Douglas, Ferreira Deep,
Ltd., P. O. Box 1056, Johannesburg. Post
Building, Johannesburg, on Saturday, March
( Graduate Student.
15th, 1913, Mr. W. R. Dowling (President) in
the chair. There were also present : General Business.
38 Members Messrs. K. L. Graham, A.
: The President We regret that we have
: re-
Richardson, H. A. White, J. Gray, Prof. G. H. ceived the resignation of Mr. Robert Allen as a
Stanley, F. W. Watson, Prof. J. A. Wilkinson, Member of our Council. Mr. Allen has gone to
A. Whitby, A. F. Crosse, A. McA. Johnston, Dr. another part of the world and consequently has
J. Moir (Members of Council), H. E. Adam, had to hand in his resignation. I would like it
J. M. Dixon, T. Donaldson, H. N. Dungey, placed on record that Mr. Allen did a great deal
L. L. Ellis, E. A. Furner, B J. Hastings, G. A. of useful work on the Council, and will be greatly
Lawson, W. A. Ledingham, FT. Lea, J. Lea, A. missed. I would now propose a hearty vote of
Macdonald, G. MelvilOj. M. Neill, S. tfewton, thanks to him, which we will ask our Secretary
W. S. V. Price, L. J. Robinson, A. F. Rose, A. toconvey to him.
Schwarz, D. F. Scott, W. A. C. Tayler, A. VISIT TO POTTERIES.
Thomas, W. E. Thorpe, C. Toombs, J. T. Triggs
On Wednesday we had a most enjoyable and
and J. Watson.
instructive visit to the works at Olifantsfontein
17 Associates and Students: Messrs. M.
of the Consolidated Rand Brick and Pottery
Aymard, E. G. Baskett, A. R. Flynn, H.
Company, and were all very pleased with what
Godwin, M. Green, W. J. R. Hunter, J. Ingram,
we saw. The management treated us in a very
J. D. Lawenski, L. T. Leyson, G. H. Little, H.
kindly fashion and refreshed us well, and I would
Lomberg, D. Nicholas, D. Ordman, F. J. Pooler,
propose a hearty vote of thanks to those gentle-
P. Scatterty, A. M. Thomas and H. Ward.
men for what they did for us.
7 Visitors, and Fred. Rowland (Secretary).
Mr. Andrew F. Crosse (Past-President) In .
The President read a letter received from whether such a large body could be heated up to
Mr. Wm. Cullen {Past-President), dated from a red heat in the few seconds during which it
Salt Lake City, U.S.A., where he had met Pro passed through the air.
fessor Christy, Chief of the Mining Department Prof. G. H. Stanley (Member of Council) I :
of the University of California. Professor do not think it was seen as a luminous body
Christy sent greetings to the members of the because the fall took place in daylight. From a
Society and expressed the opinion that the knowledge of what happens when a small piece of
Society was one of the best of its kind in the iron wire is burnt in oxygen {i.e., production of
world and that he had derived great benefit from brown smoke) we have to assume that the surface
the perusal of its Journal. The President said of this must have been in the condition I men-
it was gratifying to all concerned in the Society tioned.
to find that such an authority as Professor Mr. Andrew Crosse (Past-President) Dr.
F. :
Christy held so good an opinion of the Society Moir is wrong in saying two or three
certainly
and its proceedings. seconds. I remember when in Hungary a
METEORITE. meteorite skimmed over the earth close to where
Prof.G. H.Stanley {Member of Council): I have I was living. It could not be found anywhere
a very interesting specimen here of a meteorite in the vicinity, and shortly afterwards I read in
found near 'Nkandhla, in Zululand, a few months the paper that it had fallen 110 miles away.
ago, one of the very few in existence the fall of Pieces of that meteorite are now exhibited in the
which has been noted. This one was seen and Smith Kensington Museum.
heard. One eye-witness saw it 15 miles away, Mr. John Watson (Member) Our thanks
:
saw a trail of brown smoke right across the sky, are due to Prof. Stanley fur bringing to our
and heard a noise suggestive of burning huts, the notice this magnificent meteorite, one of the
noise inducing him to come out of his own place largest 1 remember having seen.
and ascertain the cause. It fell by the side of 1 can relate a story "I another meteorite. Mr.
some Kafir women, sinking into the ground a Plant, prospector, on Christmas Eve, 1901, four
:i
distance of 2 ft. or 3 ft. It consists of iron aijd miles from Fort Yolland and about 25 miles from
nickel with a trace of platinum and weighs 38 lb. 'Nkandhla, saw a meteorite fall across the stream
The size is approximately 9Jr x 7i x \\ in. It is (the little river Vuzana) about half a mile away,
very hard and tough and we found great difficulty lie "marked-down" the spot, mentally, and, next
in taking a sample for analysis ; we could not morning, went over with one or two natives,
drill it. You will notice that the surface is with picks and spades, and searched for the
coated entirely with a film of oxide. That, of meteorite. He did not find it, but came across
course, is produced by the iron burning owing to some stringers and lodes of mica, of which he
the high temperature produced by the friction was not previously aware. His partner and he
pegged (lif ground and sold it a few months later introduction in the zinc itself, or in the fluxes
to the Vuzana Syndicate, as an extension ol the iied in smelting.
Zululand Mica Company's area. There seems to be a possibility of iridium
Dr. J. Moir (Past- President) It is an ascer :
being intimately and associated with arsenic
tained fact that
the velocity of the earth in its nickel. A
examined some years ago, which
speiss I
orbit round the sun is 1!) miles a second, and as was obtained from black sand smelting, was high
tlir atmosphere is not 100 miles high, it is diffi- in arsenic and nickel, and also contained about
cult to see why more than a few seconds should 1 2 oz. iridium per ton.
1 ccupied hy a meteorite in falling, unless of
I
.IC ACID IN THE DETERMINATION OF CAUSTIC
course the meteorite is chasing the earth from
LIME.
behind, which is very unlikely.
Dr. J. Moir (Past-President): I have been
Mr. F. J. Pooler (Associate) May I ask why :
Led to give information about the method of
i
Dr. Moir is so certain that the atmosphere is using rosolic acid in the titration of lime men-
under 100 miles high '.
c/
./"
but as a rule they are about 65 miles high when OH
first seen.
viz., di -//-oxyphenyl-methylenequinone (or some-
ARSENIC IN SHEET ZINC.
times its methyl-derivative), and is insoluble in
Mr. C. Toombs (Member): In some recent water : therefore to make it up as an indicator,
analyses of sheet zinc I have found a quantity of about J. gm. is dissolved in 100 cc. absolute
arsenic present varying from a very distinct alcohol and then 100 cc. distilled water added,
trace up to "005%. In no case was the zinc free producing a slightly turbid solution. For the
from arsenic. The method used for the arsenic lime titration 2 to 5 drops are used per 100 cc.
determinations was that of Gutzeit. of lime solution. The alkaline colour is the same
The bearing ofon cyanide practice is
this as that of acid methylorange and the acid colour
the possibility of the very poisonous gas alkaline methylorange, only deeper
is like and
arsenuretted hydrogen being evolved. Another yellower.
possibility is the formation of a very rich speiss
in smelting, due to the presence of arsenic.
With regard to the latter, the month following CYANIDE l'HACTICE IN INDIA.
the above determinations, in our by-products
By Hugh M. Leslie (Member).
furnace where only cyanide slags were treated, ,*
Total ... ,9916 India in 1891 the author to erect the plant, and
;
An interesting fact, in view of the present Mr. Ellis to demonstrate the suitability of the
discussion on iridium, was discovered on making
process to the different mines under the manage-
a closer examination of the gold and silver con
ment of .Messrs. John Taylor &, Sons.
tents metals of the platinum group were found
;
When this object had been accomplished, Mr.
to be present. The following are the assay values: Ellis returned to England, and the author's whole
Gold ... 274'0 oz. per ton time for the next two years was occupied in
Silver ... 1130 erecting and starting new plants on the other
Iridium ... 88 ,, mines of the Kolar Gold Field. On his return
When one remembers that the slags treated to India from leave he was given (in addition to
were a by-product from the cyanide clean up the superintendence of the erection of all the
only, then it would appear that iridium is soluble
cyanide plants) charge of the running of the
in cyanide —the only other possibility being its * See this Journal, Vol. XIII., Dec. 1912, pp. 1U--ZU.
408 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical ami Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
Cyanide Department at Mysore mine, and in this was a more economical method, with the
1904 was appointed Consulting Metallurgical cheap and abundant supply of native labour
Engineer to the Mines in India under John available. At the time of the installation of
Taylor & Sons, in addition to his position as these sand and slime pitfj, the possibility of the
Chief Cyanide Chemist at Mysore Mine. future retreatment of the tailing, by other and
His endeavour in writing this paper, is to out- mire economical methods was not allowed for,
line the work accomplished during a term of over the question being simply one of the recovery of
17 years residence in the East, and to give as the water. The result was, that large accumula-
briefly as possible, a description of the treatment tions of tailing, varying considerably in character,
by cyanide in India, from the time the process came into existence.
was introduced in 1894 till the present day, and For several years the cyanide process was
to show the gradual development from the called upon to treat these various classes of tail-
beginning in those days, to the recent cyanide ing, all of which had undergone a more or less
practice, which he thinks will compare favour- lengthened exposure to the weather. The pan
ably with cyanide practice anywhere. tailing was found on experiment to be the most
The material treated on the Kolar Gold Field, amenable to cyanide, and it was consequently on
prior to the introduction of the cyanide process, a deposit of this material collected from drains as
was confined entirely to sand, which was rich above mentioned, that the cyanide process was
enough to pay for treatment by pan amalgama- first used and the success of the process demon-
tion. This was uniformly a very coarse sand, strated. The general method of delivering the
which contained the greater portion of any pyrite sand into a cyanide plant was to charge direct to
existing in the ore, and which in any case would the percolating vats, after having the lumpy, dry,
have required regrinding to ensure a high ex- slimy portion thoroughly powdered. This was
traction, by any modern method of tailing all done by hand labour, screens, riddles and
treatment. That the extraction by this method such like being used. After powdering, the sand
was not entirely satisfactory was shown, as on was conveyed by trucks and dumped into the vat
the introduction of the cyanide process, it was to be filled, one or more coolies being employed
demonstrated that the pan residues could be in levelling during charging. The discharging
profitably retreated. was also done by hand labour, the sand, after
The following brief description of the methods treatment, being thrown over the sides of the
in those earlydays of handling and dealing with vats, and conveyed to the discharge dump by
the mill pulp, tailing, etc., is necessary so that means of trucks pushed by coolies. In the case
the conditions then existing, and under which (if one plant at Champion Reef, side discharge
the cyanide process was introduced may be more doors were tried, but they gave so much trouble
readily understood. The pulp from the stamp by leakage, that they were soon given up, and
mills for treatment inpan mills was conveyed by the foregoing method for discharge adopted.
launders, and collected in a first series of As before mentioned, the old tailing, which had
rectangular masonry vats called "mill pits," not been stored with a view to future treatment,
from which it was discharged by hand, and was the first product to be treated by the cyanide
taken, at intervals as required, to the pan mills process, and the plants were therefore erected on
for treatment. The effluent from these vats, the sites which happened to be the most suitable
containing the fine sand and slime, was conveyed under the circumstances. Centralized tailing
in drains to a further series of similar pits called treatment was thus greatly handicapped at this
"slime pits," or "catch pits," in which the slime stage of the development of the process in India.
settled. The fine pulp from the pan mills, after These old piles of tailing were composed of very
regrinding and amalgamation, was also conveyed finely ground sand, mixed with slime which had
to a series of " slime " or " catch pits," although settled out in the slime pits ; and when these
it was sometimes allowed to mix with the effluent piles came to be treated, they consisted of hard,
from the " mill pits." It was common practice weathered material, which had to be broken up,
at this time to allow the coarser sand in the before it was in a fit state for lixiviation in the
reground pan mill pulp to settle out in the cyanide works. One peculiarity, common to all
drains, before reaching the " slime " or " catch the mines on the Kolar Gold Field, was the
pits " proper, as this product was of a higher amount of mercury which was extracted during
assay value. treatment by cyanide. It was a distinct trouble
The method employed for collecting all these to the chemist in charge, and entailed a great
various products was by hand labour, with deal of extra work at clean-up, the method of
one exception at the Ooregum Mine, where which will be described later. Owing to the
a steam grab or dredger was used for this purpose, large proportion of slime in the material, and the
but it was a very debatable point as to whether consequent difficulties of percolation, it was
—
March 1913 Hugh M. Leslie— Cyanide Practice in India. 409
found that, to get a good extraction, the vats cloths of the percolators. The most efficient type
could not be charged to the top, unless the vats of settling vat for this purpose, was found to be
themselves were made shallower than those in one constructed after the pattern of an extractor
common use for ordinary sand treatment. If box, but of a much greater depth, each compart-
this practice was not adopted lixiviation was ment being packed with cocoanut fibre to which
greatly retarded, channels formed, and a poor the fine particles adhered. These were cleaned
extraction was the result. In every case vacuum out at intervals.
had to be applied to assist in the drawing oft' of In the treatment of the old accumulations as
the liquid from the ore undergoing treatment, a already described, little or no free acidity was
practice which is still in general use. found, but on one or two of the mines a large
The author's method in treating this " pan amount of latent acidity was encountered. At
slime," as it was called, was as follows: —
The first Ooregum Mine this was found to be caused by
solution applied, about one-third of the weight of the presence of sulphate and chloride of magne-
slime to be treated, tested from (H2% to 0T5% sium. These salts were traced back to the water
KCN. This was percolated upwards till the used in the mills and cyanide works, and their
surface of the sand was covered, and the re- action on cyanide is commonly represented by
mainder then run on top This procedure, the following equation :
Result :Original assay, 3 dwt. 17 gr. per ton rapidly overtook the mill production of crushed
Residue „ 2 „ 3 ,,
material, it sometimes happened that the more
(c) To ascertain whether a better extraction slimy portion of the tailing was not sufficiently
could not be obtained from the dry sand, with a dried, with the consequent decrease in the extrac-
longer treatment, another vat was charged with tion, owing to the impermeability of the wet
similar weathered sand and treated for 72 hours. slime, as before mentioned.
Result : Original assay, 4 dwt. 21 gr. per ton It was at this time, about twelve years ago,
Residue ,, ,, 16 ,,
that the author advised the use of collecting vats,
(d) A vat was charged with sand taken directly fitted with distributors, to replace the existing
from the sand settling pits as they were being mill settling pits. Experiments had been tried
emptied, and given the same treatment as (b). on a large scale to determine the method of deal-
Result : Original assay, 4 dwt. gr. per ton ing with mill pulp, and the results of these
Residue „ 3 ,, 12 „ experiments demonstrated (1):
—
That it was
The residues from these trials were graded and necessary fcr successful treatment to have an
assayed, and the conclusion arrived at and subse- evenly mixed mass of sand and slime, and (2) it
quently acted upon was, that the worst extraction was also an advantage to have this weathered as
was chiefly due to the slimy lumps. These lumps long as possible before treatment. If these two
being impermeable to the solution did not yield conditions could be obtained, loss could be pre-
their gold content, as they held up their original vented, and the extraction greatly improved. The
moisture which could not be replaced by cyanide introduction of collecting vats and the increasing
solution. The treatment of weathered mill sand size of the discharge dumps, necessitated, in a
has been tried in many ways and under all con- number of instances, the use of power plant to
ditions, and it has been clearly proved that if a convey the sand to where it would be dumped.
dry product containing no lumps is charged into The problem to be faced in discharging was to
the vats, the bulk of the gold contents can be obviate the difficulty of increased height of the
extracted but if too much moisture is present
; dump, which would render later, some hoisting
the extraction is not satisfactory, as a stage is arrangement necessary, and to overcome this,
reached when washes are not effective in liberat- various methods were introduced. In one in-
ing the dissolved gold, caking, and channelling stance an old pan mill building had to be utilised
of the charge and choking of filter cloths having as part of a cyanide plant installed for the pur-
taken place. An important consideration which pose of working off the large accumulation of pan
affects this question is that, for nine months of slime with which it was surrounded. This being
the year, there is practically no rain-fall, and it situated on the lowest lying ground of the
is noticed that during the wet weather the extrac- property, and adjoining the boundary line, it was
tion in the cyanide works is never so good as for economical reasons necessary to treat the
after a spell of dry weather. material on the spot. The charging arrangements
The success of the cyanide process having been were ideally simple, but to get over the discharge
once established, the question of the collection difficulty ahigh wooden incline was erected. The
and preparation of tailing for future treatment height of this from top of the incline to the level
became an important one, and was given more of the discharge from the vats was 60 ft. It was
consideration than it had previously received. It provided with four tracks, and four platform
was proved that the mill sand before treatment trucks worked in pairs, each pair being indepen-
had to be carefully prepared to give good results, dent of the other, and having its own winding
and to attain this as rapidly as possible, the wet engine. This arrangement proved an expeditious
pulp from the mill settling pits was dumped in and satisfactory method of discharge. The
two or three separate heaps which were worked incline was constructed entirely from useful and
off in rotation. '1
he piles to be treated had to be common sized battens, in standard lengths, bolted
powdered same manner as the pan
in exactly the together, and these were readily used for other
slime. In working through a pile, it was found purposes when the accumulated slime had been
best to work over its face, and after exposing a worked off. In erecting new plants, a common
fresh surface, to leave that for a time to the action method was to utilise the site in such a manner
of the sun, before transporting to the cyanide that the necessary height could be obtained at the
works for treatment. The grade of these old piles charging end, by hauling the sand to be treated
was found to vary considerably, and after a series up an incline by means of trucks attached to a
of experiments it was suggested by the author steel rope, worked by a winding engine.
that a standard screen, from 900 mesh to 1,100 At the Champion Reef collecting vats, the con-
mesh be adopted for the stamp mills on the field veyance of the material from these vats to the
This was acted on with satisfactory results. As cyanide plant, was conducted by means of an
the larger cyanide plants afterward* erected mo aerial ropeway. The system adopted was the
March 1913 Hugh M. Leslie — Cyanide Practice in India. 411
" Otto," two carrying ropes, and an endless haul- belt and choking, and also as a safeguard should
ing rope, automatic engaging and dis-
with any workers' tools fall through the dis-
of the
engaging gears, being employed. These vats charge door, a protecting length of angle iron
were emptied through bottom discharge doors, (4 in or 5 in.) was fixed above the belt and
the sand being fed directly into the buckets of the directly over the feed chute, the angle pointing
aerial ropeway, which were suspended below the upwards. By this means, and with the assist-
vats on a system of hanging rails. The buckets, ance of a man with a small hand shovel, the feed
when filled, were pushed by hand to the loading could be kept even, and overloading the belt
station, and there engaged by the automatic rendered impossible.
loading gear, and carried by means of the hauling The sand from the collecting vats is stacked so
and carrying ropes to the unloading station, that it may have as much drying and weathering
where they were dumped into the trucks used for as possible before treatment. It consists of an
conveying the sand to the dumps from which the even product, free from slimy lumps, but having
cyanide plant was charged. This ropeway has a fair proportion of slime evenly distributed
been working since 1902. It conveys the sand through its mass. The necessary drying is
to be treated, a distance of about 200 yards to a obtained by building up piles in rotation, and
height of 90 ft., or about 25 ft. above the level working off the o'dest in the same manner as that
of the percolation vats. used before the installation of collecting vats,
The largest sand handling plant on the Kolar except that with it no lumps have to be broken
Gold Field, has been erected at the Mysore Mine. up, as the slime present is intimately mixed with
The collecting vats of this plant are discharged the coarser sand. In this case, however, pro-
by means of bottom discharge doors, on to belt longed sun-drying is unnecessary, as the sand is
conveyors, which elevate the sand a height of freed from excess moisture while still in the col-
about 40 ft. above the level of the charging tram lecting vats. The Mysore Mine, on which the
roads of the cyanide works, or to a total height of above mentioned plant was installed, has three
about 72 These belts were at first arranged
ft. stamp mills, with 120, 60 and 30 heads of
to work nne engine, the driving shaft being
<>tf' stamps respectively, and the tailing therefrom
provided with a separate clutch for each belt (the was treated in three widely separated cyanide
.belts tunning parallel, and each being in one plants, two of which had been erected originally
piece). These belts had each a length of about to treat dumps of the old pan tailing, and the
500 ft. from the centre of the terminal tighten- other for the output from the 120 head mill
ing pulley, to the centre of the terminal discharge when it was erected. This division of the works
pulley, but it was found from experience gained, could not be called satisfactory, and as it became
that the working could be facilitated, and the essential to introduce some more suitable method
wear and tear minimized, by substituting two of collecting the sand, to replace the old settling
shorter belts in place of the one longer belt. The pits originally laid down, the author designed a
sand is charged on to a horizontal belt running system for centralizing the sand settling arrange-
the whole length of the collecting vats, and this ments, so that the whole output from the three
in turn is discharged on to an incline belt. The mills could be treated in one cyanide plant as
sand on reaching the top of the incline, is dis- follows : —
The pulp from the three mills is
charged into a hopper from which trucks are carried in launders to a central collecting vat
filled and pushed by hand to the edge of the plant, consisting of 12 vats, each 30 ft. x 6 ft.
dump in course of preparation. The dumping deep. These are discharged on to the two con-
station, andincline carrying the belts, were made veyor belts already mentioned (one belt for each
.of steel trellis work, the lower half of which was line of six vats), which in turn convey the sand
filled up with waste material that did not require to the dumps for treatment in the cyanide plant.
to be removed. A great difficulty was at first The collecting vats are provided with sand filter
experienced in getting the feed of the belts from bottoms (filtering cloth of various materials was
the collecting vats properly adjusted. This was tried but discarded, as the eloth rotted too
however overcome by means of a straight sided quickly). When a vat is full, a drain cock is
hopper, hung below the discharge door. This, in opened, and as much water as possible drained
turn, fed on to a wide shallow hopper, about 4 off by gravity. Vacuum is then applied for a
ft. lung x 3 ft. wide, provided with a discharge few hours, and the sand is then ready for dis-
opening, or chute, the full length of the hopper, charge. About four hours is required to empty
and running in the same direction as the belt. one of the above vats, the usual time taken for
This chute was about 3 in. to 4 in. in width and draining and emptying a vat occupying about ten
the sides, finished off with rubber insertion, were hours.
just long enough to clear the moving belt. To The cyanide plant in which this material is
prevent the sand from falling directly on to the treated was originally laid down for the 120 stamp
41-2 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
mill only,and it at first consisted of nine perco- means dusting, the great drawback to this opera-
lators,each 30 ft. x 6 ft. deep. These vats were tion, was practically avoided, but if the trays
charged from the west side, but when the central were disturbed at this stage, dusting always
treatment system, by which all the tailing was to resulted. The heat was always carefully regu-
be treated in this plant, was installed, it became lated to prevent volatilization.
necessary to increase their number, and to charge The retorts necessary for the recovery of the
them from the north end. The first increase was mercury obtained from the pan mill slime were
by the addition
effected of three more vats of the cylindrical, each being provided with one long
same capacity as the others. Improvements movable tray and fitted with covers that could be
having however been effected in the stamp locked. The usual form of Liebig's condensers
battery crushing, a corresponding increase in the were used for condensing the mercury. The
cyanide plant was required. To meet this, four roasting furnaces were in batteries of from three
more vats of 36 ft. dia. were laid down, and to ten, and consisted of cast iron trays hooded
latterly the nine original vats were replaced by over with brick. They were fired from below,
vats of a greater capacity. and the fumes and combustion gases were carried
Much the same treatment is given to the sand each by a separate riue to a large main Hue,
from the collecting vats, as was the practice in which could be cleaned out when necessary.
treating the mill tailing dumps before their intro- The smelting furnaces were arranged for forced
duction. The first, or strong solution, testing draught, and each consisted of a rectangular fire-
from (H3 to 0T6%, is either run on top or box, large enough to hold two No. SO Salamander
:
percolated upwards and allowed to soak for six crucibles. Into the bottom of this fire-box the
hours or so. It is then drained off, and as soon air for the combustion of the coke used was
as the solution disappears below the surface of forced by means of a jet of steam or compressed-
the sand, a so-called solution wash, testing from air. A charge usually took about 40 min. to run
0-1% to 0-13%, is applied. Then follow about five down. To recover the gold contained in the slag
weak washes, from 0'08% to 0'05% strength and from smelting operations, ash. clinkers, crucible
a final water wash. Vacuum is applied at the end scrapings, sweepings from floors, etc., the author
of the treatment, to ensure the discharged sand many years ago introduced, as part of the cyanide
being as dry as possible. It was customary in clean-up process, an amalgamation pan through
the earlier days to use a higher percentage strength which every such by-product likely to contain
of cyanide for the first solution, but by experi- gold is passed. Everything which has to be
ence this was found to be unnecessary, and simply treated in the pan, is first ground in a ball mill 1
increased the consumption of cyanide without a to £ mesh, and then reground with mercury in
better result being obtained. the pan. Each charge receives about three
The extractor boxes used, and still in use to hours grinding, after which it is discharged over
the present day, are nearly all of the central riffles, and collected in a settling vat. What is-
launder type. This type, which the author de- caught in the riffles is put back into the pan for
signed for the Ca.ssel Co. has proved in his further grinding, and the contents of the settling
experience, to be quite as efficient as any of the vat are stored. The amalgamation pan is cleaned
side launder types, and easier for the operator to up as required, and the recovered amalgam re-
clean-up. It is also more compact, and easier to torted, the resulting sponge being added to the-
keep under lock and key, where this is necessary. next month's bullion at melting. The tailing
The ordinary clean-up arrangements in connec- from this process is rich, and when sufficient has-
tion with the reduction of the gold slime obtained been accumulated it is treated by cyanide, which
from the old pan mill tailing varied according to usually yields an extraction of about 90% of the
the ideas of the chemist in charge. The general gold contents. The gold slime from the mill 1
plan involved discharging the finer contents of tailing is not as a rule retorted, as the mercury
each compartment, through the launders, to a would scarcely pay for retorting. In roasting
vacuum filter box, sieving to remove coarse zinc this class of product, however, it was always left
which was returned to the extractors, treating untouched till all mercury had been volatilized,
with acid, retorting for the recovery of mercury, and when this condition was properly observed,
roasting, smelting, and finally melting the the loss due to dusting was reduced to a
buttons into bars The roasting of the gold minimum. The above brief description of the-
slime was a very important point, affecting the clean up is a summary of the general practice on
subsequent purity of the bullion, and the author's the Knlar Gold Field till some years ago, but it
experience was, that the trays, after being has since been considerably modified, by several
charged, should be left untouched until their improvements in zinc box practice, introduced by
contents are nearly all oxidized; this usually took the author, which have been in successful opera-
from half to three-quarters of an hour. By this tion for a number of years
March 1913 Hugh M. Leslie— Cyaiiidi Practice in hiilm. 413
>*
5
o
O
08
414 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Alining Society of mouth Africa. March 1913'
CO
in
T
—
416 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
•excess moisture hasbeen drawn off by means of had one or more assistants as required. All test-
vacuum, steam is turned into the steam jacket, ing of solutions, assaying, cleaning-up, and super-
and the slime is thus quickly dried to the point vision was done by them. Each plant had three
which by practice is found best. It is customary foremen (with sometimes one extra as well),
to leave enough moisture in the slime to prevent whose duties consisted in the carrying out of the
dusting during handling, and when it is being treatment, as directed by the cyanide chemist.
mixed with the fluxes preparatory to smelting. The native labour employed consisted of three
The slime is then conveyed to the smelting room, firemen, where steam power was used, three
and mixed with manganese dioxide, borax glass engine drivers (or motor drivers as the case might
{ground) and sand. This mixture is charged into be), who attended to the engine or motor, lathe,
Salamander crucibles and converted to bullion in pumps, shafting, etc., and in addition two or three
the usual way. spare coolies were employed, whose duties were
The following table shows the cost of smelting to keep the works clean. The natives' pay varied
elime from which bullion weighing 1,673 oz. was from 8d. to 6d. per day of eight hours. The
•obtained, the fineness being 870 fine gold. charging and discharging was done by native
Smelting Costs. — contract. The cost of both together averaged
from 3|d. to 4|d. per ton of dry sand treated.
Borax •32
32 pence per oz. fine gold
The consistent economic improvement in the
Manganese 11
working of the process on the Mysore Mine, may
Coke ... •94
be gauged by comparison of the working costs,
Crucibles •79
as the following figures will show (see p. 417):
Steam ... •09
The foregoing outlines what has already been
Native Labour .. 04
accomplished, but further developments in the
Soda ... 00
application of the cyanide process may be looked
Supervision •33
for. For some years prior to his retirement the
author realized that by means of tube milling
262 pence per oz. fine gold
better and more satisfactory results would
The cyanide works on the mines were directly be obtained. He also emphasised that the ques-
under the charge of a chief cyanide chemist, who tion to be decided with low-grade slime was de-
—
March 1913 Hugh M. Leslie — Cyanide Practia in India. 417
pendent on the efficiency of the slime plant to be Leslie for his paperwhich has been very interest-
installed, and that this question would become ing to us as it is resume of practice
a historical
more prominent with the introduction of tube in India. It would be unfair to criticise the
mills when the percentage of slime would be piper as representing current work although
*
owing to use of present tense it is difficult to
o — — - — C O
I 71 CO decide what is now still in use and what has long
55
x
—T
O 4a = ~~ ~~ '? J- — 7"
H _^ O i* -* -r —— 77 since been abandoned. There is however one
£
a point to which I am bound to call attention, and
7
that is the statement that two extractors should
a,
C
JO - — tt c 3 x m be all that is necessary for any gold ore treat-
:
i-
•r.
O ZO — 1
7i
O 00 1C(N
CO tH to
ment plant. At any of our huge cyanide works
U e —
O tH .—
71 71
< O
t>{£) CO
US
t£ — — — — — —
ifl
•r.
o - -+• o c cs co -r- t-i -•* cs as high as seven grains, which is .'.bout as high
o —
" £
a «.5 — hoo«o-^fh as we start with on some of our slime plants.
J i
< £ t- — O X ^ X 71
-s
Anything approaching a grain per ton of solu-
— --j — 77 « as oc - c cr:
o
H <
00
** ... tion leaving the extractor box is considered bad
-2 practice on the Rand and it is appalling to con-
^ sider the amount of gold that has been thrown
EC
s *p cc > * r. *> 2 t ::
away in India owing to too rigid economy in zinc.
c a> ^ — o 77 — :; o
^ ^^ Another curious thing is the tabular statement
CI C QC 71 r:
-
Ol GO
-t3
°0 "" ^ '^ '~ '^ » " r
~ : of sand treatment. I suppose we are to under-
B o ^r ^ x r- X 3
o JS
c-i
,_, — ^ ;i :i ?i stand that these vats only got 45 hours treatment.
CC
If that is so there is no wonder that the last
55
55 X draining was nearly one dwt. in value. These
O c
o
OS *o
-# *-
—-
c.
QOOlCOOOO
:i - « "/) things, we hope belong to the bad old days.
r- tT7
— tc - i: c ^ Lt
"/.
But I must say one advantage we have on the
tc
HW" SO* 30 I—'
1-7:' O lO
CO t7 to x o as
-!"'
these have received very careful attention. The round some of our up to date works and I think
question of classification and regrinding has been he went away benefitted by the knowledge he
one on which for a number of years much time gained. Whether he carried that knowledge to
has been expended by the metallurgical staff at India I do not know ; I believe he was ship-
Kolar, and numerous experiments have been wrecked off Beira and lost his records but
carried cut and a large amount of practical work probably he remembered most of the details.
accomplished in this direction. The author as It is interesting to know that in India they have
consulting metallurgical engineer had charge of a had the same up hill work that we have had and
central laboratory during his last six years in also that they have graduated from the early stage
India and conducted a large number of working of cyaniding up to the present practice.
It is also
scale tests on these points and also in connection interesting to hear of such things as stirring cal-
with the treatment of slime. These included cined zinc gold slime. Probably a few of the old
experiments with most of the modern types of hands know something about stirring calcined
filters. Since then tube mills and filter plant slime. There are also several points mentioned
have been introduced and he is of opinion that in this paper, such as percolating from the bottom
it is only a question of time when their use on of the sand treatment vat and allowing a certain
a large scale will be adopted on all the mines time for contact and then drawing off by the
on the Kolar Field. vacuum pump. The remarks about the cubic feet
Mr. H. A. White (Vice-President) I should :
of zinc to the ton of ore or per ton of solution pass-
like to propose a hearty vote of thanks to Mr. ing through the extractor boxes we have also
—
418 Tin Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining S'ocicty of South Afr March 1913
bad brought tn our notice recently in various most of the figures I quote, I am indebted to the
papers. recently published " International Whitaker."
Mr. F. W. Watson (Member of Council) :
remarks on the efficacy of caustic soda as com- Why should this black sand all be extracted and
—
pared with cheaper alkalies presumably lime treated separately .'
are of interest. The author, however, does not Manythings must be considered before arriv
state how much latent acidity had to be dealt ing at an answer.
with in his plant and how much alkali had to be Experience would lead one to believe that the
added per 10,000 gallons. The amount required black sand as known on the Rand, mainly consists
for our mine waters is as a rule so great that it of iron sulphide, containing a large quantity of
is doubtful if the increased efficiency of soda gold, small quantities of iridium, osmiridium and
would make up for the extra cost of this alkali in insome cases platinum and other metals of that
preference to lime but it is interesting to have group This black sand generally comes down
the experience of metallurgical men in other on the amalgamated plates near the discharge
parts of the world, and perhaps this point might from the mortar boxes as a dark coloured coating,
be worthy of experiment even on the Rand. which adheres to the already deposited gold
Mr. John Watson (Member): A paper on amalgam. In many cases the colour varies from
Indian practice is interesting, especially to- all reddish brown to black. In general the quantity
Britishers. of black sand found below the top two feet of
When we remember that, for the year 1911-12, the plate is relatively small. To account for this
the sea-borne imports into India were of a total it might be fitting to quote from " Notes on
value of over £92,000,000 sterling, and that Treatment of Gold Ores," by O'Di'iscoll, who
624, of these were/rom the United Kingdom ;
excerpts from the 1870 reports from R. W.
also that of the exports from India, value close Raymond when United States Commissioner of
on £152,000,000 sterling 26'0% were to the Mining Statistics: " Floured or granulated quick-
United Kingdom, we realise the importance, from silver, or fine particles of gold have in common
a commercial point of view, of that great depen- with some other polished metals the property of
dency to the British Empire. The imports of condensing on their surface films of air which
metals into India, foi that year, amounted to over decrease the specific gravity of particle. As the
£9,500,000. This amount, doubtless, includes amount of air, and hence the amount of decrease in
a lot of the gold which we export from South specific gravity, is proportional to the surface
Africa. As Dr. T. Kirke Rose pointed out, in an exposed and its ratio to the mass of the particle ;
interesting paper, some years ago, quite a lot of and as the smallest particles expose always the
South African gold is shipped (via England) out largest proportional surface, it follows that very
to India where it is stored, in the form of small fine particles will acquire a density less than that
bars, or ingots, by the Rajahs and Maharajahs. of water and will in fact float upon it, many more
The yield of gold in India (nearly all from will be rendered so light as to settle very slowly."
Mysore district) amounted to 583,000 oz. in The foregoing would account for the poverty
1911; so, their output is roughly about ons- of the lower part of the plates in yield of black
fifteenth of the Transvaal output for that year, sand and also to a great extent for the mercury
or just about equal to that of Rhodesia. For losses that occur. It is very evident that the
March 1913 •/. M. Neill — The /.' covery of Blacl Sand and Floating Particles of Metallic Minerals. 4)9
friable nature of the metallic sulphides causes can be shown by carefully extracting and treat-
them to be reduced with great rapidity to a size ing separately this valuable constituent of the
much smaller than much of the other material ore. This can best be illustrated by the follow-
composing the main body of the matrix, and at ing particulars of the treatment of 70,000 tons
the same time exposes the lustrous or polished "f dn.-ely sorted fjold ore milled through 1,000
surfaces to the action indicated above. That mesh screening daring two separate periods each
this action is a very real one, tests on many of four months duration. The condition of the
thousands of tons of ore, have clearly proved. mercury was the same, the temperature variations
It is generally noticed that black sand were similar and the alkalinity of the water was
exhibits a great affinity for mercury, hence the as nearly as possible the same during both
enormous amount of mercury in treated residues. periods. At no time during either period was
In this case the affinity is largely chemical, owing the mill allowed :o run with acid water. Dur-
to grinding intimately sulphides and mercury ing both periods the black sand was collected by
during the barreling process, and largely physical methods similar ;o those in use in most mills and
owing to flouring. This same affinity is also plate houses to-day, i.e. by the simple brushing
noticed in alkaline solutions to a marked degree. up and separately treating the product so obtained
Hence the ease with which black sand is at the ordinary times of dressing and scraping.
caught on the amalgamated plates. In this case The first period gave a yield of one ton of
two reasons can be advanced. First, that the black sand from each 6,188 tons of ore crushed.
gold in the pyrite is metallic and clean and The value per ton of black sand actually
occupies the cleavage planes, and naturally the recovered was 647 oz. fine gold.
gold carrying side of such a particle coming in The second period of four months using a
contact with mercury would be amalgamated. specially designed apparatus, as illustrated below,
Secondly, that the minute particles of pyrite which overcame the surface tension of the water
acquire electrical charges while under the current gave a yield of one ton of black sand for every
of alkaline water and are thus held on the mer- 5,000 tons of ore crushed. The value of this
cury or amalgam coating the plate. The pro- black sand was 899 oz. fine gold per ton actually
bilities are that both of these actions come into recovered. Subsequently values of 1,200 oz. to
play, and in any case one of the reasons for 1,500 oz. per ton were encountered when the
catching the black sand is to be found in the amalgamators got thoroughly acquainted with
above, which indicates that if it does escape, it is the best methods of carrying out the work.
usually in company with finely divided mercury. During the first period the black sand amalgam
The presence of this mercury in the pulp for to total amalgam was 33'09%. During the second
cyanide treatment has a detrimental effect on the period it rose to 4341%, or a gain of 10'32% in
time in which gold will come into solution. This the proportion of amalgam from black sand. This
is somewhat confirmed where the cyaniding of gain was somewhat offset by a loss in percentage
black sand is undertaken on the mines in special of fine gold to amalgam but was accompanied by
apparatus. an actual increase of 58S% in mill recovery of
Good results are only achieved by a variation the screen value.
of the ordinary current pulp treatment, due Now as to the treatment of this black sand if
allowance being made for the pyritic nature of separately recovered or if allowed to go into the
the black sand. This would indicate thatblack sand pulp. For the purpose of comparison let a black
is not amenable to ordinary treatment and should sand value be assumed of 1,000 oz. per ton-
not therefore be allowed to go into the pulp. (a i'4'2337 per oz. With efficient apparatus in
There is also the case where slime pulps are the clean-up room it should be possible to obtain
kept in circulation in stock pulp vats for even- 990 oz. fine gold as clean amalgam, 99% extrac-
tual filter-pressing. Owing to the action of the tion. There remains in the residue 10 oz. fine
mechanical stirrer a certain amount, of concen- gold which on being sold usually realises 80% to
tration takes place, and when owing to one cause 83% of its value, but let it be assumed that only
or another this stock pulp vat has been so far 75 is realised.
tion to the last few remarks will well repay every quantity of air it is some considerable time before
mine and the achievement of a mercury free it rises into the surface tension. If the apron
barrel residue will considerably facilitate the were placed, say, 2 ft. from the top of any table
accomplishment of a satisfactory cyanide extrac- or plate there would be little or no result. That
tion of gold from the residue and so render un- is why the apron is shown so far down.
necessary the railage and smelting charges, etc., Mr. K. L. Graham (Vice-President) I have :
now involved where the by-product is sent for much pleasure in proposing a vote of thanks to
outside treatment. Mr. Neill for adding another to the list of short
The following is a sketch of the specially de- practical papers, a number of which have been
signed apparatus (patent granted) referred to in brought before the Society recently. I heartily
the paper. It is not to scale. agree with what he says as to the importance of
The whole apparatus completes a light flexible recovering every possible ounce of black sand
floating apron, under which the pulp passes from the tables. This object is too often sacri-
freely. Air bubbles attached to small lustrous ficed to striving after records in the time occupied
particles are disturbed and liberated owing to the in dressing plates, and it is only within the last
surface tension of the water being overcome. The two or three years, when the majority of our
particles then sink and are caught. mines have been equipped with suitable plants
It will be noticed under (a) the side eleva- for its treatment, that proper care and attention
tion shows the copper plate with the apparatus has been given to the recovery of this valuable
—
March 1913 John S. MacArthur — A Method of Prt cipitation by Zinc 421
by-product. I know
mines where the question-
of was 1-35 dwt gold, KCX 0'04%, alkalinity
able practice still adding the black sand
exists of 0-010% XaHO.
after having been reground in the mill barrels to The zinc shaving employed was cut on the
the pulp t" the cyanide works. In regard to the Betty lathe, set to cut " single tooth," and it is
device shown by Mr. Xeill, I am unaware of any- of interest to compare the surface exposed per cub.
thing of the kind having been used before, and ft. of zinc space utilised in the following cases :
ing particles to sink, and the method proposed is 2 „ (0020--0025in.)9-12 23-5-28-8 221-345
one of those little points of practice which are 3 „ (0035--0045in.) 15-20 14 0-17-4 210-348
not widely known. I hope the example set by Wafers(H x 4 x -025in.)80 2 4 192
Mr. Xeill in placing Ms observations upon record, Acalculation shows that the square foot of
will be followed by other millmen who have zinc wafer surface exposed was equivalent in
noticed some property of the ore and have devised Princess experiments to H
sq ft. of zinc shaving
some method of improving extraction. surface which certainly supports Mr. MacArthur's
The President I hope we shall have con-
: claim of greater efficiency per unit of surface.
siderable discussion from millmen, as suggested Against this, however, we have to consider that
by Prof. Stanley. more than ten times the weight of zinc would
have to be locked up to get the same precipita-
tion, as when reckoned on cubic capacity the
A NEW METHOD OF PRECIPITATION shaving appears to have the greater efficiency
BY ZINC. owing to greater surface exposure. This would
involve a prohibitive increase in the labour of
By John S. MacArthur, M.I.M.M. (Hon.
dressing and clean-up with probably slight
Member).
decrease only in lock-up of gold, quite apart
CYAXIDIXG OF GOLD AXD SILVER ORE from any troubles from the much weaker slime
AT CAVEIRA MIXE, PORTUGAL. solutions employed and their tendency to choke
up small passages with white precipitate.
By James Hutton (Associate). The figures quoted for zinc dust assume only a
somewhat similar increase in bulk as is experi-
(Head at January Meeting, 1913). enced between solid quartz and fine sand and
DISCUSSION. though no better than a mere guess serve to
Mr. H. A. White (Vice-President): Though indicate the possibilities of this method. If the
this suggested new method appears to offer some surface efficiency is equal to that of zinc shaving
advantages, preliminary experiments do not show a coating of y'y in. thick on filter cloths would
it to be applicable to the solutions usually dealt effectively precipitate one ton per square foot per
with in current practice in this district. Before day of weak solution. This amount would have
coming to any final conclusion, however, we must to be got into a filter press before ordinary
wait results, which will doubtless be published service commenced and thereafter only the small
shortly, by Mr. James Hutton, of his experience amount required to keep up the necessary surface.
with similar solutions on the Witwatersrand. His
experience under Mr. MacArthur will enable him THE ACTIOX OF OXIDISERS IX
to secure the most favourable possible results and CYAXIDIXG.
his description of the exact methods employed
(Head at February Meeting, 1913. I
tion of 9'2% (average over 11 days) being to be congratulated on the re-opening of certain
obtained against 76%. In each case the first cyanide questions after an interval of many
compartment of a box was used for the test and years, and the author on the lucid presentation
the same value and strength of solution passed of his results.On the first section of his paper,
through at equal rates. Solution value entering the permanganate experiments, I have no remark
422 The Journal of Tin < 'hemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
to make except that I am glad he has called Hydrocyanic acid being weaker than carbonic
attention to the absurd way in which 4
is KMn0 acid, will not react with ammonium bicarbonate
used on some mines. The author has shown and be driven off on heating.
will
that any benefit it does comes after it has been I am not going to discuss the author's concep-
destroyed —
with loss of cyanide and converted — tion that free oxygen may have a retarding
into Mn0 2 Such a method therefore is really
. influence on gold-dissolution it would require
:
almost identical with the Adair process, in which much more evidence than either he or Julian has
another variety of MnO„ (a naturally-occurring produced to make me believe it. The whole
hydra ted form) used to be employed. question of the solution of gold in cyanide is still
As regards ferricyanide, although I agree in mysterious. What essential difference is there
the main with the author and accept as correct 1 ween the reactions
iet :
his chief equation (p. 358 top), I think the (1) 2KCy + Au-)-H ,0 = KAuCy,
:
+ KOH + H
actual result of the oxidation depends on the and
particular conditions of alkalinity (or otherwise) (2) 4KC1 + Au + 3H 2 = KAuCl 4 + 3KOH + 3H,
of the solution. I think the real reason for the to account for the fact that the second one
activity of the mixture of KCy and K,FeCy 6 in does not happen ? In both cases nascent hydrogen
dissolving gold is merely the momentary libera- is produced, to be afterwards depolarised by free
tion of nascent cyanogen ( - ON), thus : oxygen and in both cases, according to present
:
KCy + Ka FeCy = K 4 FeCy + - CN ( ). day theory, no free gold ions, or scarcely any,
(Cyanogen gas NC'CN is on the contrary inert as are present. An equation which would express
a gold solvent.) This may be usefully compared the solubility of gold in cyanide without employ-
with the bromocyarjide reaction : ing oxygen is the following :
hydrolytic decomposition of the cyanide itself), it evidence so far shows oxygen to be necessary.
will be seen that the primary reaction liberates
acid owing to the cyanogen combining with water
just as chlorine gives HC1 and HOC1, thus :
FARMING WITH DYNAMITE.
2KCy + 2K 3 FeCy 6 + H 2 =
2K 4 FeCy + HCN + HOCN. (Read at October Meeting, 1912.
tl
As
to the length of time which the effect lasts, of the Journal bear ample testimony to his work
this depends greatly on the nature of the soil, in that connection. Right up to the time of his
some soils (for example clayey soils) packing death he was busily engaged upon a paper to be
more readily than others, but on similar ground read at the next mining meeting, and although
the effect of dynamite will be felt at least as the paper was not quite completed, it is hoped it
long, when used to assist fruit trees, as for any will be possible to have the paper submitted to
other purpose. In the case of trees growing the M ly meeting of the Society. For nearly
indifferently in hard ground, apart from the other twelve months past it was evident his health was
considerations breaking up the ground gives the failing rapidly, and despite a change to Xatal a
roots a better chance to develop, thus producing few weeks ago from which he derived no practical
a permanent beneficial effect. benefit, the end came with startling rapidity.
Certain American orchardists, who have had He was buried at Brixton Cemetery on the 28th
long experience of the use of dynamite, believe March, the funeral being attended by a large
that the effect lasts in some instances for 15 to number of his friends, including the President,
20 years According to the same authorities it several members of the Council and the Secretary.
has also been found very effective in destroying Mr. Johnson was born on tl z 1st October,
fungus diseases which when allowed to develop 1866, and was thus 46 years of age. He
have been known to completely destroy orchards. was a member of the Institution of Mining
On the question of plant poisons, I can only Engineers, as well as of several minor societies,
say that the weight of evidence of the success and held the Mine Manager's Certificate
which has attended the use of dynamite in many (Transvaal) and a First Class Colliery Manager's
parts of the world is all against the possibilities Certificate (England). At the early age of 25
of the development of such poisons he held the position of Manager of the Snow
Amongst the great mass of evidence on the Hill and Crop Side Pits, near Bolton, England.
subject I have never seen it stated that the effect Mr. Johnson came to South Africa in 1893 and
of dynamite had been found harmful to plants. was for some time Assistant Manager of the
generally recognised that better aeration
It is also Albion Gold Mines, Barberton coming to the
;
of the soil obtained by the use of dynamite Rand he was for a long time Mine Captain at the
encourages the growth of the bacteria, whose Geldenlmis Deep, Ltd., and his services in that
work it is to change the plant foods into a condi- capacity were so successful that in 1904 he was
tion easily assimilated by the roots. appointed Manager of the Rose Deep, Ltd., and
The meeting then terminated. in 1907 was transferred to the South Xourse,
Ltd., in a similar capacity. After the amalga-
Obituary Notices. mation with the Nourse Mines, Mr. Johnson took
The Society has suffered severely in the loss by a lengthy holiday, a great portion of which was
•death, since the issue of the last Journal, of three spent in studying mining conditions in various
members, two of whom having served with much parts of Europe.
energy and ability on the Council for some years. On returning to the Rand in 1909 he was
MR. THOMAS JOHNSON. appointed the underground manager for the
Mr. Tom Johnson (Member of Council) died Transvaal Stope Drill Competition and latterly
suddenly on Thursday morning the 27th March held the position of Assistant Manager of the
from miners' phthisis and tuberculosis, from Ferreira Deep, Ltd. During the war he served
which complaints he had suffered for a consider- with the Ambulance Corps in Natal for a period
able time. Mr. Johnson was a well-known and his services were later in the war requisi-
figure at the Society's meetings where he fre- tioned by the military in an engineering capacity.
quently and oftimes forcibly expounded his views When the Volunteer movement was originated he
on mining questions in no uncertain terms. took an active part and held a commission is
With a long and varied career as a practical Captain in the Witwatersrand Rifles. His activi-
miner, the profession he followed was his hobby ties in so many directions will be greatly missed,
and he was ever ready to give assistance to those and the sincere sympathies of the Society will be
who required it from his large and ripe experience. with his wife and family in their bereavement.
As was the case with Mr. Coombe, he had a Mr. Johnson joined the Society in February 1899
warm spot in his heart for the white worker and was first elected a Member of the Council in
underground, and it will be long before his life June 1910, being re-elected in subsequent years.
and work on the Rand is forgotten by those who
knew him. The Society loses in him its most MR. MARTIN H. COOMBE.
active worker in its mining section, one who gave Mr. M. H. Coombe, whose iegrettable death
his wholehearted support to anything tending to from miners' phthisis and tuberculosis was
improve underground conditions, and the pages notified in Johannesburg a few hours after that
— —
424 The Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim] Society of South Africa. March 19)S :
of Mr. Tom Johnson, was a well known mining his had earned, he retained the frank
abilities
man on the Rand. He had lived here for many simplicity his younger days.
of It was this,
years,and was highly respected and esteemed by coupled with his transparent honesty, which gave
a large circle of friends. He was elected a him the influence he wielded over the men he
member of the Society in January 1905, and in came to command.
June 1911 was elected a Member of Council, He was naturally proud of securing a world's
being re-elected in 1912. In August last, record in shaft sinking, but he was prouder still
however, failing health compelled him to regret- of the affection with which his subordinates
I have made mistakes," he said
''
fully resign that position, as well as the position regarded him.
of Manager the Government Gold Mining
of one day, when referring to his relationship with
Areas (State Mines), and about two months ago the employees on the mine, " but the men know
he left for Clumber with the hope that country that I have tried to deal out even-handed justice."
air and a lower altitude would restore his health. He died at Clumber, near Grahamstown, on
That, however, was not to be, and his loss to the March 26th. He was only 52 years old. Had-
Rand generally and the Society in particular his life been spared for even a few months he
leaves a gap which it will be hard to fill. Living would have given the mining world some of his
some distance from town made it difficult for him slowly gathered stores of experience, for he had
always to attend the Society's meetings, but his written a considerable portion of a book dealing
interest in its work was extremely keen and his with shaft-sinking, but the rapid decline of
assistance was always available whenever required. strength compelled him to relinquish the prospect.
The condolences of the Society have been con- There will be no permanent record of his life's
veyed to his family and much sympathy has been work. Rut it will be long before he is forgotten
expressed at his loss to the Rand. A largely by his friends.
attended memorial service was held at the Fords-
burg Wesleyan Church on Sunday evening the MR. F. A. BRISTOL.
6th April, at which the Society was represented, Mr. Frederick Amos Bristol (Member) died
when the Rev. John Howard alluded particularly, recently at Banning, Mr. Bristol
California.
in feeling terms, to Mr. Coombe's active work who was born Canada in
in 1868 was
and assistance to that community. We are educated at the State University, Nevada, U.S.A.
indebted to his brother, the Rev. E. W. Coombe, He came to the Transvaal in 1895 and was
for the following short sketch : associated with the Consolidated Gold Fields of
Martin H. Coombe's association with gold- S.A., Ltd., during his stay of 15 years in the
winning dated back to his childhood days. These country. His first position was that of surveyor
were spent on the Thames Goldfield, New Zea- and underground manager at the Simmer & Jack
land, in the opening up of which his father mine, and he subsequently became manager of the
played a prominent part. Jupiter, the Robinson Deep, and the Knights
In early manhood, when he had been only a Deep mines. On leaving the last named property
few months in South Africa, he joined the first Mr. Bristol was appointed Assistant Superintend-
" rush " to De Kaap, where he spent a year in ing Engineer to the group, which position he
exciting but ill-requited prospecting. held until April, 1910 when he severed his con-
Kimberley, for the next few years, supplied nection with the Company in order to reside in
him witli more lucrative, if less congenial employ- California. His death is regretted both by the
ment, but the opening of the year 1887 found Society, which he joined as a member in April
him wooing fortune on the Witwatersrand. And, 1905, and a large number of friends.
with the exception of about four years spent in
Rhodesia, the Rand has, from that time, been Notices and Abstracts of Articles and
the scene of his activities. Papers.
He was familiar with every stage of its wonder- CHEMISTRY.
ful development —
from the far-off days of the
Gravimetric Determination ok Zinc. — "A
precipitate of zinc sulphide which can he rapidly
surface working, or the 6x4 shaft with its filtered and washed without loss is obtained by the
" whip " for hoisting ground, to the present following process. The solution containing zinc, and
4,000-5,000 ft. ventures. Each phase had some free from other metals which are precipitated by
hydrogen sulphide, is treated with an excess of potas-
lesson impart, and he was an eager learner,
to
sium hydroxide, and then with an excess of benzene-
sparing no pains to qualify himself for any sulphonic acid. The solution is heated to boiling,
service which the future might demand from him. and hydrogen sulphide is passed through it until
Quietly and steadily he won his way, step by cold. The precipitate can be filtered off at once,
washed with water, and weighed as zinc sulphide ii
step he climbed from the lower rungs of the pro-
the usual manner." —
H. .Schilling, Chem.-Zeit .
fessional ladder to the higher, but, while he 1912, 36, 1352. Journal of the Society of Chemical
placed a proper value upon the recognition which Industry, Dec. 16, 1912, p. 1148. (F. W. W.)
— — —
Improved Method of Forming Halogen probably prove a useful source of nitrogen, as the
CYANIDE. — "In cyaniding it has been found ad- residual gas after the reaction could he burned and
visable in some eases to make use of bromocyanide, used to preheat the charge. Impurities in the charge
or similar halogen compound. The usual method appear to act favourably, especially iron and lime.
of preparing this compound has been by mixing It i- probable that the first stage of the reaction con-
sulphuric acid, potassium cyanide and an alkali sist- in the reduction of the alumina by the carbon,
bromide and bromate. The mixture usually is made and that the nascent aluminium in tin' presence of
only when it is needed, and the procedure is one fairly pure nitrogen, combines preferably with that
requiring care. It is the aim of Dr. Hans Foeisterl- element rather than with carbon the impurities
;
ing, of the Roessler and Basslacher Chemical Com- mentioned probably act as catalysts in the union of
pany, of Perth-Amboy, N. J., to provide a better aluminium and nitrogen. Aluminium nitride slowly
means of forming halogen cyanides by melting an evolves ammonia on treatment with boiling water,
alkali halogen with an alkali cyanide in the propor- and would probably behave in a somewhat similar
tion of one molecule each and permitting them to way in the soil. It would be more advantageous
solidify. No decomposition takes [dace in this pro- how rvrv to obtain ammonia quantitatively by boiling
cess and the double salt is used instead of making the nitride with alkali solution, as the residual pure
the mixture above referred to. In order to liherate alumina would then be available for use again or as a
bromocyanides, for example, from a mixture of so- saleable by-product. The experiments indicate that
dium bromide and sodium cyanide, an oxidising agent there should be no difficulty in manufacturing alumi-
such as an acid solution of hydrogen peroxide i> nium nitride containing 30% of nitrogen as compared
u^ed. The reaction follows: —
with the 17 "20% of nitrogen in crudi calcium cyana-
NaBr + NaCN + H„0., + H.,SO J = —
mide (nitrolim)." S. A. Tucker and H. L. Head,
i;iCN + Na,80 J + 2H„0. Met. and Chem. En</., 1912, 10, 74o-6. Journal of
By this method it is possible to provide cyanide tin: Society of Chemical Industry, Dec. 16, 1912,
mills with a correctly proportioned mixture ready p. 1124. (F. W. W.)
for use when dissolved and mixed with an oxidiser.
999,215, Aug. 1, 1911.)"— The Mexican Mining
Journal (reprinted from Metallurgical and Chemical
Engineering), Jan. 1913. (R. A.)
— Detection of Nitric Acid
"The use of diphenylamine
in Sulphuric Acid.
in testing sulphuric
anhydride and fuming sulphuric acid fornitricacid is
Laboratory Apparatus. " This is a descrip- — unreliable under ordinary conditions, according to
tion of a very useful and extremely simple form of
W. N. Iwanow (Chem.-Zeit,, p. 1170, 1912; Journ.
Soc. Chem. hid., Nov. 15, 1912), since an acid contain-
apparatus. It consists of right angle wedge-like
ing over 20% of free anhydride gives a pink to blue
coloration with this reagent. To test an acid con-
taining say, 30% of free anhydride, it should be first
diluted with about twice its volume of pure sul-
phuric acid of sp. gr. 1/84, so as to produce approxi-
mately the monohydrate, which gives no colouration
in the absence of nitric acid. The diphenylamine
test may be used in the absence of nitric aeitl to give
a rough estimate of the percentage of anhydride in
—
fuming sulphuric acid." \V. N. Iwanow, Engineer-
ing and Mining Journal, p. 1212, Dec. 28, 1912.
(II. A. W.)
New Apparatus for the Examination of more suitable for commercial purposes without
Mink Am. — " The author desires i<> describe a new impairing accuracy.
its The following is reccoui-
form of oxidation capillary tube, which lie has em- mended as being a suitable procedure for mild steel :
ployed for the past twelve months in the estimation 0'2 urn. of borings is dissolved in III cc. of nitric acid
of small quantities of methane, carbon monoxide, of sp. gr. 2, in a tall beaker of 2U0 cc capacity,
1
and hydrogen in air and in ol her gases. warming until the red fumes have been driven off.
The method of oxidation first employed by the 211 CC. to 30 cc. of A'/HIO silver nitrate solution (10cc.
author has subsequently been adopted in modified suffices if less than 0"7 of manganese he present)
forms by others, and the author ventures to think and about gin. of solid ammonium persulphate are
1
that the apparatus incorporating his oxidation tube now added, the beaker is maintained at 5n' to 60° C.
described below is win thy of this special note, on for live minutes to complete the oxidation of the
account of its extreme simplicity, accuracy and manganese, ami after cooling, and diluting with
absolute safety. 50 cc. of water, the solution is titrated with a solu-
This oxidation tube can be employed in ordinary tion of arsen ions acid until the pink colour changes
gas analysis apparatus as well as in the two special to a pale green. The arsenious acid solution is
instruments for mine air examination to which atten- prepared by dissolving Id gin of arsenious acid and
tion is now particularly drawn. 20 gin, of sodium bicarbonate in Toll cc. id' hot water,
1. Silica-Platinum Oxidation Capillary Tube — and then diluting to in litres. To standardise this
During the past year, the author has made a con- solution a steel of known manganese content must
siderable number of experiments on the estimation he taken and treated as described above. For.pig
of small quantities of methane in air. The oxidation iron, the above process is modi lied as follows 2gnis. :
of the methane was effected by passing the gases of pig, or i^ui of Spiegel, are dissolved in 30 cc. to
1
cal Industry, 10(13, 112) in order to render it bucli dcr Chemische Analytische Titermethode,
—
Marcli 1913 Notices unil Abst mistry. 427
acid it was necessary to heat it to~tart precipitation. a- a means of colouring glass was patented twenty-
The nickel oxalate was filtered off on asbestos in a one years ago by F. Welz (Her., xxv., 819), very
perforated crucible and washed with small amounts littlehas been published on selenium glass. It is
of water. The crucible was placed in a beaker con- for thisreason that the paper by Fritz Kraze in
taining about 25 ec. of dilute (1 4) sulphuric acid,
: Sprechsaal, 1912, xlv., No. 14, 214— No. 15, 227, is of
,
428 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
and uranium oxide in the manufacture of orange- IV. 1-53 K.,0 CaO 5"4 SiO,
yellow glass was patented in 1893. Uranium- V. 1-53 KjO BaO 54 SiO,
selenium glass shows a green colour in reflected light, VI. ! -53 Na.,0 BaO 54 Sio.,
while it is yellow-red in transmitted light {cf. VII. 1"53 K„6 ZnO 54 Sio,
uranium glass). VIII. 1"53 Na.,0 ZnO 5 4 SiO.,
Spitzer patented a process for the red coloration IX. 149 K.,0 CaO 98 SiO,
•of glass by the use of selenites and selenates [Ber. X. 1-49K,0 BaO 9S SiO,,
xxvii., 777). These compounds are more suitable XI. 149 K.,0 ZnO 98 SiO..
than metallic selenium, since they are more stable XII. 149 K.,0 PbO 98 SiO.
in the heat of the furnace, and are in consequence XIII. ]-49K„0 CaO 93 SiO, 1)5 B.,0 3
less likely to become through volatilisation and
lost XIV. 1 49 K.,0 CaO 947 SiO, P2 6
33
oxidation. New shades of colour are obtained by XV. 1-49 K.,0 CaO 9 3 SiO., 05 SnO,
the use of selenium and selenium compounds with XVI. 1-49 KoO CaF2 03 A1 20, 9-8 SiO,
gold {Ber., xxviii., 195), or with silver, opacifying According to the calculation of the mixtures of
metallic oxides and certain minerals, such as cryolite, types I, to XVI., all contained 100 parts by weight
fluorspar, various phosphates, &c. of quartz, in order to measure the proportion of
Even if elementary selenium is incorporated into added selenium recommended by Schuster and Wil-
the glass batch, it dissolves in the clear fusion with- helmy A.-G. for the production of rose-coloured
out producing any coloration doubtless it is
; glass'. According to this firm, 300 to 350 gin. sodium
oxidised and exists in the form of dioxide in a selenate or 100 to 120 gm. elementary selenium are
colloidal state. A reducing agent is necessary if a used with 100 kg. sand.
red selenium glass is to he obtained. Arsenic trioxide No. I. The crude mixture contained by weight :
will effect the reduction of selenium compounds dis- 100 quartz, 40 potash, 17 limestone. Of this mixture
solved in glass, and the same reaction occurs with 157 gm. were fused with 03 gm. sodium selenate.
corresponding amounts of powdered charcoal or by On the first run, three hours after heating the
fusion in a reducing atmosphere. With glasses fused Seger oven, the glass was still colourless. Ii was
with sodium seleuate, Kraze always obtained a red then treated with 05 gm. arsenic, and after thirty
coloration following an addition of arsenic trioxide minutes another test was made. The result was a
corresponding to the reduction to selenium. completely fused glass with a very faint red colour.
'
All formulas including saltpetre for red selenium This molten glass was next well-stirred, and one
glass are absurd ;
in fact, the use of saltpetre does
'
'
hour after the previous test was found to be coloured
not seem to apply even in lead glass coloured with red. After another hour the colour remained un-
selenium' (Sprechsaal, 1911, 142), for there will changed. It was next mixed with mi gm. more
always he an oxidation of the selenium present, arsenic, which produced a deep red colour; and, in
giving rise to ineffective selenium (colourless dioxide) fifteen minutes, with the addition of another gm. of
and occasioning considerable loss. Kraze failed to arsenic, the colour remained unchanged. This ex-
obtain a colour with a batch of the following com- periment showed that the red coloured selenium
position :100 kg. sand, 15 kg. potash, 15 kg. soda, separated out under strong reducing influences, the
12 kg. marble, 6 kg. minium, 3 kg. saltpetre, and colour increasing until the completion id reduction.
125 kg. selenium. No. II. An equal molecular weight of soda was
Kraze concluded that if the red colour of selenium substituted for potash; and the mixture contained
glass is due to the separation of red elementary 100 gm. quartz, 31 gm. calcined soda, and 17 gm. lime-
selenium, then there must result an evolution of stone. This time 0'5 gin. selenium was added. After
hydrogen upon treating the glass with concentrated two hours, the glass was colourless the addition of
;
hydrofluoric acid. Investigation showed a simul- arsenic an hour later gave no result, and the glass
taneous formation of hydrogen selenide, which could finally became greenish without any noticeable red
only be attributed to the presence of a selenide in tint. These experiments showed that the soda-lime
the glass examined, No. 1 of the experiments given glass was unsuited for selenium colouring the ;
calcined soda, and 24 gin. calcium carbonate were The following tests were decidedly more acid than
fused with 03 gm. sodium selenatc. After three the preceding and the glasses were similar to potas-
hours, the glass was incompletely fused, very opaque, sium glasses of the type
hut clearly rose-coloured, being even stronger than l-49KjO.BO.98 acid.
Xo. I. before the addition of arsenic. The glass In the previous tests the acids entered into the
became slightly transparent thirty minutes later, composition solely as silica: in the following diffi-
but the red colour had disappeared: after another cultly fusible aeid glasses were experimented with
half -hour there still remained some unfused matter, for comparison.
but otherwise the glass was clear, although it No. IX. This was a composition for Bohemian
posse-scd a greenish tint. An addition of 05 gm. crystal glass taken from Hohlbaum's 'Zeitgemasse
arsenic was now made, and the result was a clouded Herstellung, Bearbeitung und Veizieruiig des fein-
and intensely green coloured glass the green colour
;
eren Hohlglases.' The batch of 100 gm. quartz, 35
persisted until clear fusion. Another addition of gm. potash, and 17 gm. calcium carbonate was fused
ii'.i gm. arsenic gave a pale but still green glass. with only 0-1 gm. selenium. Three hours after
These fusions showed, as in the case of No. II., that heating the furnace, test 1 showed no unfused parts
Soda-lime glass was hardly suited for selenium and was deep brown two hours after, test 2 and 3
;
colouring, even though the greater lime content as possessed the same colour. The addition of 0'5 gm.
compared to the soda present was somewhat favour- arsenic, howeter, caused a change to a pretty red
able for colouring at first. The increase in depth of (test 4). The rose colour did not change after three-
the green colour after the addition of arsenic was quarters of an hour (test 5), and even remained after
ascribed to a reduction of ferric silicate. repeated additions (2'5 gm.) of arsenic [test 6). Even
Xo. IV. 100 gm. quartz, 65 gm. potash, and 31 after thirty minutes later, following an addition of
gm. calcium carbonate were fused with 5 gm. arsenic (0'5 gm.), no change in colour was observed.
selenium. The iron oxide (from the rod) altered the The results of this experiment showed that the
red colour of the selenium. An addition of 0*5 gm. desired colour had been obtained with very small
arsenic brightened the glass, and further additions amounts of selenium (0T gm.). Hence the results
served to produce ferrous oxide, the green colour of agreed with those of Xo. I for the measured addi-
,
which, with the red colour of the selenium, produced tion of sodium selenatc (40 \ salt used in the latter
]
the decolonisation. The cold glass was bright corresponded to 0'12 gm. selenium but glass Xo. 1.,
:
yellow-brown, although it had a rose tint. with less silica, did not assume a rose colour so
rapidly as No. IX. Therefore, it seems that the
No. V. The batch contained 100 gm. quartz, 65
acid content of the glass plays an important part in
gm. potash, and 60 gm. barium carbonate, making a Nevertheless, it must
developing the red colour.
glass winch fused easily : 0'5 gm. selenium was
not be considered that sodium selenate requires
added, and before fusion an addition of 1'5 gm.
more energetic reduction for red colouring than
arsenic was made. After two hours, the glass was
selenium.
bright and possessed a coffee-brown colour and a rose
Kraze also fused the batch of Xo. IX. with 02
shade. After thirty minutes, 1 gm. arsenic was
gm. of selenium, with 1 gm. selenium, and again
added, whereupon the glass rapidly became colour-
with double and live times the amount. What he
less, with only a weak brown tint. Further additions
expected did not occur the red colouration did not
:
25 gm. zinc oxide, and 05 gm. selenium. The potash, 39 gm. minium, and 02 gm. selenium.
results obtained were similar to those in Xo. VII., After four hours fusion, the tests showed a yellow
except that the clarification occurred after three glass, but later brownish yellow, and finally a glass
hours and the colour changes were different. After coloured a little more intensely.
the first addition of arsenic, the colour change was The next three experiments were again with
to yellow, and further additions etlected no change potassium— lime glasses, but boric acid, phosphoric
in colour and only a slight claritication. A red tint acid, or stannic oxide was in part substituted.
was never noticed. Replacement of part of the silicic by boric acid in,
—— — —
430 The Journal of Thi ( hemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
the acid potash glasses diminished the red colour ; furnishes another argument in favour of the rotating
and phosphoric acid and stannic oxide acted in a cathode over the stationary one when purely nitric
similar manner and to a greater extent. Replace- acid solutions are used.
ment of the lime by fluorspar gave only a colourless The following experiments were then made as a
glass, owing, no doubt, to the volatilisation of the further test :
—
Five gm. of electrolytic copper were
selenium as fluoride during the fusion. dissolved in 50 cc. of 1*2 nitric acid, and the solution
Kraze promises to investigate the existence of evaporated to one-fifth its bulk to decompose nitrous
selenides in coloured selenium glasses. Journal of compounds. It was then made up to 500 cc. and the ,
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, iv., No. 7. free nitric acid in 50 cc determined. This was
The Chemical News, December 27, 1912, p. 309. found to be 236 mgm. The remaining solution was
(R. A.) electrolysed with a rotating cathode in 50 cc. lots.
Additions of free acid were made as shown in the
table, and the other conditions were kept as constant
Note on the Electrolysis of Nitric Acid
—
Solution's of Copper. " In the electrolytic de-
as possible. The measured volume with additions
was made up to 100 cc. in each case.
positions of copper from nitric acid solutions it is Tne potential difference between the terminal of
practically impossible to deposit the whole of the the rotor carrying the cathode and the anode = 3 '2
metal upon either a rotating or stationary cathode volts. Current = 5 amperes. Duration of experi-
1
dynamic equilibrium is reached, and no further per- thereby to check the formation of nitrous acid (b) ;
manent deposition of the metal can take place This it unites with nitrous acid to form a nitrocompound
i
which is much less effective in bringing about resolu- nate required will be greater than in the regular
tion nf t lieComparison of the results
metal « > method in the proportion of 12 to 11.
Experiments 2, :?, and 8, 9 makes the first part of Referring now to the table, we note that 23*91 x
this explanation clear. The second part was sng 12/1 1=2608 and that 15*76 12/11 = 17*19 instead of
nested by the late Dr. Edward Divers in discussing 2602 and 17*18, respectively. In the case of the
the results of some experiments on the reactions of determination with pure potassium chloride, the
metals and alloys with nitric acid, which the author calculated quantity of potassium was 0*01694, that
lias carried out". 1. —
H. Stansbie, Chemical Nt obtained by the regular method 23*91 <0*0007111 =
Dec. 13, 1912, p. 283. (F. W. W.) 0*01700, and that obtained by the author's modifica-
tion 26 02 0*0006518=001696.
advisability of adding dilute sulphuric acid to the Di.,0.. (earths) ... ... .. 31
yellow precipitate before oxidising with permanga- SiO, (silicates) ... ... ... 1*50
nate and obtained some results that may be of Th03 (silicates and perhaps phosphates) 650
interest. In the winning it is necessary to get rid of the phos-
The yellow precipitate dissolves so slowly in dilute phorus compounds as they materially interfere with
sulphuric acid that loss of nitrous aeid or oi oxides the efficiency of the thoria when used for mantles.
of nitrogen need not be feared. As a matter of fact, This is usually accomplished by converting the earths
more permanganate is required when the oxidation into insoluble oxalates after solution of the sand.
is carried out in acid solution than when the regular Other methods have been proposed, and some are
method is followed. This is shown by the lesults now used commercially for avoiding this by fusion
presented in the following table. The last column with alkaline carbonates and leaching the phosphates
gives the ratio of the amounts of permanganate used out with water, dissolving the residue in suitable
acids, and then making the separation of the earths.
in the two methods. This ratio is seen to be very
approximately, 12 11. A study of the reactions
:
Troost (Comptes Rendus 1893, cxvi., 1227) prepared
that take place during the oxidation of the eobalti- thorium carbide (ThC2 ) by heating the oxide with
nitrite soon led to an explanation of this ratio.
carbon. Moissan and Etard (Ann. Chi/m. Phi/s.,
1896 [7], ix., 302; and 1897, [7], xii., 427: Comptes
Table. Rendus, S96, exxii., 537 and 1462) made elaborate
I
Co. of KMn0 4 .
Studies on the foi inatinn and properties of thorium
Material K. Repulai Author's carbide. Muthmann, Hofer, and Weiss (Ann., 1901,
Used. cal'\ M.*>thod. Mi thi d. Ratio. eccxx., 260; German Patent 129,416, Aug., 1901)
r.p. KC1 0-01694 23 91 26-02 1 088 fused nionazite sand with carbon and dissolved the
15-711 17091 carbides and phosphides obtained in hydrochloric
Fertiliser — 15*80 -l.VTt 17*28 171s 1090 aeid. Whereas the objectionable phosphoric com-
15-771 17-16 I
pounds are removed in this manner, other practical
The assumed formula for the yellow precipitate is difficulties arise, one being the hardness of the pro-
K,,Nat 'o(N< or 2KN"(>,.Na.\( i,.<\,i\( I, s.
I
,)„ To oxi- duet which involves expenses in grinding the fused
dise this to nitrates would require 12 oxidising units product.
(one oxidising unit being equivalent toil 2), were it The work of Kress and Metzger (Journ. Am.
not that cobalt changes from a valence of three to a Soc, 19(19, xxxi., 640) indicates that thorium
('//•in.
valence of two, so that 11 oxidising units are does not occur as the silicate in nionazite. It is a
required. Accordingly, we have the following series: fact, however, that silica or silicate is a constant,
2K = K,XaCo(NOoV =ll ;
0/2. From this, 1 cc. of but variable, constituent of the sand and must be
til N oxidiser is equivalent to 000071 11 gm. K or taken care of, whatever means of extraction is
0008564 gm. K.O. These are factors to be used applied. When the carbides are made by electric
when the regular method is to be adopted. In acid fusion of the sand with carbon some silicon carbide
Bolution, however, trivalent cobalt is not an active is produced which cuts the grinding machinery in
oxidiser It is evident, at least, that it will not the later process of pulverising. We
have found
oxidise nitrous acid, since it is in acid solution that that the addition of a small amount of fluorspar
nit nms acid oxidises divalent to trivalent cobalt. reduces this difficulty, yet the expense of some grind-
Accordingly in sulphuric acid solution the cobalt ic ing remains.
salt formed must change to the cobaltous salt with In order to reduce this expense to a minimum,
evolution of free oxygen. In this case, then, we I decided to deliberately produce calcium carbide
have the series: K2NaCo(NO 2K= 12 0/2, and - within lie mass, which, when thrown into water,
I
N
,
1 Cc. of 1 oxidiser will be equivalent to would disintegrate. (Application for letters patent
0'00065I8 gm. K or 00007850 gm. K„0. thus We on this method of disintegration of fused masses has
see that if sulphuric acid is added to the yellow salt been made). Although Moissan has shown that
before the permanganate, the amount of permanga- thorium and the rare earth (?) carbides are attacked
— — —
432 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
by water, the speed of the reaction is very much less eous medium, or in a medium of charcoal or other
than with calcium carbide, and is also much depen- pure form of carbon heated and the surface carburised
dent upon the fineness of the particles. Hence com- to the required extent and depth after which it was
:
paratively little of the thorium and rare earth (?) again heated and quenched and so made fit to carry
carbides would be decomposed by such treatment. a cutting edge. It is not unlikely also that they
Many experiments were carried out, with theoretical knew how to manufacture cast steel in a crude way.
and practical mixtures, in various types of furnaces At least crucibles, apparently for this purpose, have
(Stokem, Moissan, Herault, and resistance) with been found. It is asserted the Egyptians knew how
direct and alternating currents. The numerous ex- to harden copper to a degree, but Dr. Hadfield and
perimental details need not be recited. (The experi- others hold that they could never have hardened it
mental work was done by Mr. S. G. Wagner of my to the extent necessary for working on the hard
stall'). Suffice it to say that a satisfactory charge stones they employed. The tools must have been of
may be had with a sand of approximate composition iron case-hardened in some way, if not of actual steel.
given above as follows : The opinion, moreover, is gaining ground that an
Pounds. iron and steel age must have precede! the bronze age
Monazite sand ... ... ... ]
-
brass).
chloric acid, and the thorium separated from the
Brass containing 2.5% zinc — greenish yellow (green
-
opinion among cyanide operators seems to be more material. The relations of the valuable to waste
ami more in this direction. metal are closer and complete solution of the gold
One of the developments toward this end is the and silver is harder to obtain. In continuous agita-
attempt to treat slime by the continuous deeantation tion and deeantation, the first particles to settle are
method, by means of which a number of changes of sulphides, and with them goes much of the gold and
solution is possible. Successive thickenings and silver. The result is that the material which should
dilutions tend toward rapid solution of metals, and receive the longest treatment really escapes from the
the avoidance of filters is hoped for by making system first, and there seems no general way to avoid
each dilution with weaker solution, using a final this without completely destroying the process itself.
extremely weak, barren solution, or water. The old process of deeantation is available for coarse
Where water is not scarce and weak solution can material ; continuous deeantation can be used on
be used, as is the case of some gold ores, the system coarse and finer material and is useful for taking oil'
may be used without the aid of any filter at all, as the richer solution before vacuum filtration. For
successive dilutions will reduce the metal and slime the best treatment is by filtration, and it is
cyanide content so that there is little loss in discard- worth noting that the old Australian method, not
ing the necessary amount which must go out as covered by patent as it happens, of pressure filtration
contained moisture. Where water is scarce and with hand cleaning, is still used. Our New York
stronger solutions must be used, as in beneficiating contemporary sees in deeantation the future of slime
silver ores, some method of recovering the greater cyanidation. We
hold that for general use it is a
part of the final moisture content must be found. backward step, however helpful it .y be in special m
Thickeners can be relied upon to deliver a product cases or in combination with filtration." Minim/ —
containing approximately 50% moisture, sometimes and Scientific Press, Dec. 14, 1912. (W. A. C.)
a little less, and some one of the simpler forms of
filters, which are really not filters at all, but dewater- Production of Eliccteic Steel.- " The produc-
ing machines, will easily reduce the moisture content tion of steel in electric furnaces durinj the last three
one-half. vears was, in tons :
force of some sort must be given to the liquid ferro-alloys made in electric furnaces were respec-
material which it is proposed to pass through the tively 5,756 and 23,800 tons the electrically produced
:
mass of solid particles. In settled sands the open alloys amounted in 1909, to 14,900 tons, and varied
spaces are sufficiently large to permit gravity alone little in years 1906 to 1909.'*— Mining and
the
to pull solutions through the mass at a rate that Engineering World, Nov. 2, 1912; Journal of the
makes commercial results possible in treatment Society of Clmmcd Industry, Nov. 30, 1912, p. 1080,
plants. With slime, to obtain the same rate of flow (J. A. W.)
requires a vacuum or pressure.
The proposal to obviate this difficult}' by contin- CYANIDING at the Domk Mill. — "The property
uous agitation and deeantation has been made many of the Dome Mines situated about _",
(Jo. , Ltd., is
times, and plants designed on this plan are in succes- miles west of the town of South Porcupine, Out.
ful operation treating finely ground material that is It is now equipped with a modern mining plant, a
really a sand. In them the individual particles are power plant, a modern 40 stamp mill and cyanide
kept freely floating, each completely surrounded by plant, started in March of this year.
solution, and never allowed to completely settle. As Orebody is Quartz and Schist. The ore is white —
a result, there are no pore spaces, and the particle quartz and schist, the quartz occurring as stringers
rather than the mass becomes important. The plan and veins of various width running in different
is ingenious and there is a field for such treatment directions through the schist country. Within the
plants, but not, we believe, a universal one. The payable zone the rock is so impregnated with gold
reason lies in the difference in specific gravity that no attempt is made to separate it, the whole
between sulphides and silicious particles. The very product being sent to the mill as mined. In common
ores that most need sliming for successful treatment with the ores of the camp and district in general, it
are those in which the gold and silver is locked in has a high specific gravity, the dry slime treated in
the sulphides. It is to release this gold and silver the mill having a specific gravity of about 2 8, and
that the ore is slimed. In practical operation of the resultant slime is largely granular in character.
treatment plants where concentrates are cyanided, it It has been determined that the pulp under treat-
is universally true that the sulphides are found to ment contains about 35% colloidal slime, the rest of
require more time for treatment than the other the product beiDg granular and heavy.
434 The Journal of Tin chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa March 1913
—
A Mode,// Steel Frame Mill. The mill is a modern heavy rush of coarse pulp they are of little use. One
structure with steel frame, concrete foundations and of these plates has already been experimentally dis-
Boors, and, a feature which is often forgotten in mill continued and it is likely that the others will be put
construction, excellently lighted with windows and out of commission.
skylights, making it easy and convenient to work From the primary plates the pulp is passed through
in any part of the mill without artificial light in the four Dorr duplex classifiers where the sand is taken
day time. The building is heated by steam, a sepa- out and sent to four Allis-Chalniers tube mills, each
-ate boiler installed in the mill for that purpose be- 5 x 22 ft. having spiral scoop feeders and reverse
ing of sufficient size to make the building comfor- spiral discbarge, which tends to prevent pebbles
table at all times. issuing from the mill and also is convenient for the
The ore. entering in cars moved by a hoist with introduction of the regular daily addition of pebbles
an endless wire rope, is thrown first into a No. 7J which can thus be fed into the discharge end of the
Kennedy gyratory crusher. This crusher discharges mill without trouble. From the tube mills the pulp
to a grizzly with H in. openings. The oversize is is returned to the Dorr classifiers by means of five
put through 2 No. 3 Kennedy gyratory crushers. All Frenier pumps, each 8x54 in., the tube mills and
the ore, after passing through these crushers, will classifiers thus being in a closed circuit. The tube
pass a 1 J in. ring. This is somewhat smaller than mills make 32 r.p.m., which is somewhat excessive,
is usually necessary for feeding stamps, but in the the genera] speed of mills of this size being about
case of the Dome ore experience has proved that if 28 i. p.m. Due to the weight of the pulp it may be
crushing is not rather fine, slab-shaped pieces of ore fed into the tube mills somewhat thicker than in
are likely to pass through the crushers without be- usual practice.
ing sufficiently reduced. To avoid this condition, From the classifier the fine pulp, or slime, goes
the crushers are set rather close, and the result is
over a second series of plates, called the secondary
that the product is all of a good size to go through
plates, where amalgamation takes place. These
the feeders and into the mortars.
plates are 108x144 in. with a slope of 4 in. per ft.
—
Ore Delivered to Mill an Belt Conveyor. The ore On these plates under present conditions of opera-
from the final crushers falls upon an inclined belt tion about lid to 65 of the gold content of the ore
,
ment is for protection against fire, the crusher house as much as possible, the usual effluent being about
and the conveyor way not being constructed in a 1:1. From the thickeners it goes to the boot of a
.\.iy to resist tile as the rest of the mill is.
duplex belt and bucket elevator, 70 ft. between
The inclined conveyor delivers the ore to a second centres and carrying 7 16 in. buckets. This
conveyor which reaches across the bins. The second
elevator delivers to the agitation system.
conveyor is provided with a tripper so that the ore
can be delivered into any desired part of the bins. In the boot of the elevator the cyanide necessary
This belt is also 20 in. wide. for treatment is added, the material in lump form
The mill bin is of steel construction and has a- flat being suspended in the How of pulp w here it dissolves.
bottom. It has a capacity of about 1,500 tons of Tin? solution is made to a strength of one pound per
o>e and is placed back of the stamps. ton of solution, the average consumption in total be-
The ore
going to the bins is not weighed, but carloads are ing about S lb. per ton of ore treated. The dilu-
weighed at intervals and an estimation of the quan- tion ratio varies between 1 1 and 14
: 1. :
tity is made. A rough sample of the coarse ore is The classification of the pulp going to agitation is
taken, also one of the pulp issuing from the battery about as follows : + 100 mesh, S +200 mesh, 32%
: ;
at the lip of the mortar, but no absolute system has -200 mesh, 60%. The fineness of grinding is eon-
been devised to record the content of the ore milled. trolled entirely by the comparison of cost and
A( iding to the general results obtained it may he recovery, and the most efficient condition for both
said that the ordinary milling ore averages about considerations has been found to be the condition
J, oz. in gold. above stated.
Entire Crushing System Uses Water. —From the The water from the pulp is returned to the battery
circuit for further use, the circulation being main-
bins the ore is fed into 40 1,250 lb. stamps by means
of suspended Challenge feeders. The stamps drop tained separate. It is of course necessary to take
through 0', in. 100 times per minute and crush out as much water as possible from the pulp which
t In oueh a rolled slot wire screen equal to 10 mesh. is to go to cyaniding treatment, in order that the
On this ore and with the screen mentioned the consumption of cyanide shall be as low as possible.
stamps have a capacity of 10 tons per stamp perday, Agitation in Pachuca Tanks of Special Design. —
but owing to the limitations of the cyanide plant For agitation of the pulp Pachuca vats, are used,
the actual crushing is a little under that figure, the but the design varies from the usual standard.
40 stamps crushing generally about 3S0 tons per day. These vats are S ft. in dia. and 40 ft. dee]), resembl-
Water is used in crushing at the rate of about 6J : 1 ing a chimney more than a vat. This form was
of ore. adopted in view of the especially heavy character of
.Inst outside the batteries are the primary amal- the slime to be treated, it being considered that in
gamating plates, one for each 10 stamps, 54 x 144 in., a w ider vat there would be danger of settling of the
in two sections, the grade being 14 in. per ft. These solids. It is stated that 35 to 40 lb. of air pressure
plates are intended to recover coarse gold coming is sufficient to secure satisfactory agitation in these
from the batteries, in which there is no provision for tall vats. They seem a peculiar form of agitator,
amalgamation, but due to the scouring effect of the but if they are as is claimed, the most satisfactory
March 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy. 435
HQI^i
Fovr con tint/tut Pachuco
Agitator; 6x40 ft
Na 7j Kennedy Gyratory (o
Crushers Y
Grizzly /j " Openings k
Secondary Amalgamating
Plates 1 08a 144" Blast Furnace
form for agitating this heavy pulp, no critic-ism can and at the same time lasts longer than one without
be made of them. it. The glass seems to reduce friction, so that often
The agitation is continuous through the Pachuea a launder which gives trouble when made of wood
vat, of which there are four, the last vat being or iron will flow easily and without trouble when
arranged so that its overflow may take out a quan- glass bottoms are put in. A sudden drop or fall of
tity equal to that which enters the vat, or may he the pulp on glass must be avoided, for in such cases
changed so as to take out more or less, according to the glass grinds out soonei than when iron is used.
the desirability of increasing or reducing the amount The cost is low, scrap plate glass being used, which
of material in the vat. The dilution of the pulp may be bought for about seven cents per foot for
during this treatment is from 1:1 to H and : 1 pieces of various length 12 in. wide.
varies somewhat in accordance with the work of the Merrill Pressure Filter Used. —
The pulp is led
thickeners. The height of these vats results in an from the mechanical agitator to two Merrill slime
advantage in that a considerable fall is secured to presses, standard type, having 76 frames I in. thick.
the Iilter3, allowing them to be rilled by gravity. The press is tilled by gravity and the slime, being
The pulp from the agitation system goes into two thick, there is no segregation and a homogeneous
Dorr thickeners, each 25 x 10 ft., where the pulp i> cake is made. Once made, the cake is washed with
thickened for filtration and then into a mechanical barren solution, an amount equal to the weight of
agitator vat where the slime for filtering is stored, the cake being used. During this wash there is an
tlm slow agitation preventing the solids from settling appreciable additional solution of gold. After the
in the vat. The overflow from these two thickeners solution wash the cake is discharged, there being
is passed thiongh a Merrill clarifying press anil is no actual water wash in the press, but as it requires
precipitated. four or five parts of water under SO lb. pressure to
Glass bottoms are used in many of the launders at discharge the slime, there results a sort of washing,
the Dome mill in order to facilitate the How of pulp. as most of the water is afterward recovered in the
It has been shown that with the same grade a laun- two Dorr thickeners, each 30 x 10 ft., through which
der having a glass bottom runs cleaner and easier the sluicing mixture is passed.
43G Tlie Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical ana1 Mining Society of South Africa. March 1013
Only an equal amount of water is discharged with which makes a properly absorbent test. The satu-
the slime, the rest being recovered from the thick- rated portions are melted down in the blast furnace
eners and used again to sluice out the presses. The together with scraps, sweepings, etc., in a scavenger
amount of wash water discharged is about equal to run which is made at intervals.
the quantity of water taken into treatment from the Points for Discussion.— The first point in the Dome
crushing system. The slime is discharged from the mill which is open to criticism of any kind is the
thickeners by gravity. This system is well adapted fact that no accurate weighing or sampling is done
to the character of the pulp, the heavy solids having on the ore which enters the mill. Estimations are
no time to settle previous to filling the press, with made, but these can hardly be considered an effec-
the result that a cake which can be thoroughly tive substitute for absolute methods and prnbably
washed with solution is formed. much more satisfaction would be obtained with
Zinc Dust Precipitation Used. —The Merrill system accurate weighing and sampling systems such
of zinc dust precipitation is used, the zinc being as are being installed in the newer mills. The pulp
added to the solution from the clarifying press which from the Dorr thickeners, going to the agitation
pas-.es to the two pregnant solution sumps, from treatment is estimated by measurement and specific
where it is pumped into the precipitation press, gravity determinations which are taken at regular
which has ten 2 in. frames. The zinc is added by a intervals and the operators believe that in this way
spiral screw conveyor which feeds the dust into a a good estimate of the tonnage is obtained.
miniature tube mill where an emulsion of solution Pachuca vats as here used seem to be a subject
and zinc is formed, this emulsion going into the for some discussion, but personally I think there
stream of solution entering the pump. might be some more satisfactory and economical
The amount of zinc added is approximately J lb. method of obtaining the same result I am not con-
for every ton of solution. As there are about two vinced that Pachuca vats are most efficient agitators,
tons of solution precipitated for every ton of ore particularly where the time of contact is short and
treated, the consumption of zinc is about 1 lb., or where great agitation is not necessary. The fall
approximately two cents per ton of ore milled. for the filters could as well lie secured by using vats
A small amount of lime is used in the treatment, of different form, even if the elevation were made
the system being the formation of milk of lime In- equal to that now obtained.
placing the dry pulverised lime in a barrel and add- A comparison of the design of the Hollinger and
ing a constant stream of solution, the outgoing solu- Dome mills presents a good illustration of two ways
tion, or milk of lime, entering the treatment at the of doing the same thing. In both mills the original
desired points. About three-fourths of the total design contemplated the removal of coarse gold
lime consumption is added to the thickeners which which might not be dissolved in the cyanide solutions
prepare the pulp for the agitation treatment, this and which, it was feared, might be discharged un-
being to assist settlement and aid in the production dissolved with the residues. At the Hollinger the
of a thick pulp the remaining one-fourth is added
; attempt was made to extract this coarse gold on
to the thick pulp going to treatment The total concentrators, while at the Dome mill the satin-
consumption of lime is a little under three pounds result is sought through the medium of amalgamat-
per ton of ore treated, as the ore is not extremely ing plates. It is probable that neither system is
aeid, and the lime is used more to assist settlement necessary.
than for any other purpose. At the Hollinger mill it has been demonstrated
A total of approximately 9.3% of the gold content that this coarse gold is more than likely to be re-
of the ore is recovered, about 0.3% of which is tained in the tube mill as long as it is coarse, and
recovered on the plates as has been mentioned, and being there scoured and subjected to attrition it is
the remaining quantity in the cyanide treatment. generally reduced and dissolved. The concentration
The percentage recovery is governed by the economic system is already under suspicion of being useless
question, there being no difficulty in recovering 98% and may be dispensed with. At the Dome the sys-
or 99% of the gold if it is desired to do so. Experience tem of amalgamation on plates is done in water
has shown that it is more advisable to stop at the which has to be carried through the whole grinding
point now established than to attempt to extract system and this presents the serious defect of losing
more. the dissolving effect of the solution during crushing
Precipitate Melted in ]it<ist Fn/nwe. — The precipi- and grinding, and particularly the highly efficient
tate is melted in a small blast furnace with litharge, dissolving action of the tube milling operation.
the resulting lead bullion being afterward cupelled I am of the opinion that the simplification of the
in an appropriate test. The cost of this system of mill through the discarding of the plates and grind-
refining seems to be less than the older method of ing directly in cyanide solutions would obtain a
direct melting and a practically fine bullion is ob- result as good or better than the one now in use and
tained, with the advantages which come witli a pet haps at less cost. A great advantage about the
product of that kind. The lead stack is easy to latter system is that not so much water would be
operate and does not entail the severe labour atten- necessarily taken into the circulation. None would
dant upon pot melting, and the cupelling operation be taken in through milling and what water is
is also comparatively clean and convenient. A com- required could be taken into circulation through
parison of the cost will add the deciding factor, and giving the filter cake a water wash. This would
I expect to give special attention to this matter in reduce the loss in dissolved gold and also the
future papers on the subject. mechanical loss of cyanide, which constitutes at
At the Dome mill the cupelled bullion is melted present about two-thirds of the total loss.
and made into bars in a small oil-fired tilting furnace. The logical addition of water to milling systems
For this purpose the tilting furnace is satisfactory. is through the filter cake where it will do the most
The cupel furnace is heated by means of an oil good, and not into the agitation circuit where it
burner, but the operators consider that it is not as merely dilutes solutions and necessitates the addi
satisfactory as when wood fuel is used. The cupel tion of cyanide to keep strengths up to normal.
made of a mixture of ground limestone and
itself is It is still an open question whether or not econo-
Portland cement in the proportions of about 1 3, :
mics could be introduced by using a system of par-
— — — —
tial leaching, agitating only the natural slime Metallic Iridium.— "Iridium is extensively used
formed during grinding and passing the Hue, granu- for the points of gold pens, and is made from the
lar solids to a leaching system. This question can powder obtained in the wet way from platinum ores
only be solved by a series of experiments establish- by heating to a high temperature in a sand crucible
ing the point to which grinding must be carried to and then adding stick phosphorus. The iridium is
liberate the maximum quantity of gold and the thus fused as an iridium phosphide. To remove the
desirability of either leaching or agitating the fine phosphorus, the phosphide is heated with lime, and
sand, according to cost. metallic iridium is left as a hard white mass, so hard
The system at the Dome mill, using the
filtration that it cannot be filed or cut and is broken up into
Merrill pressure filter, is the best I have seen in small pieces to solder to the points of gold pens.
Canada. The character of the pulp makes the These small pieces are ground to the right size on a
machine especially applicable to handling it, and copper disc wheel with emery or carborundum. It
filtration is performed at a minimum expense and is stated that an ounce of iridium will make about
with beautiful simplicity. The pressure system 5,000 to 10,000 pen points. Iridium thus prepared,
ought to be installed in all mills to be built even if it is practically as hard as the ruby, and is the harden-
does not displace vacuum plants already installed. ing agent in the so-called hard platinum." Anon.,
With the change from the Dome practice of adding Brass World, viii., ix., 306. Journal of the Franklin
a water wash to the cake, it seems to me that most Institute, clxxiv, Dec, 1912, p. 662. (J. G.)
admirable results might be obtained.
At the Dome mill the metallurgical difficulties are Tungsten. — "Tungsten
is used t make tungsten >
negligible. The problems are all mechanical, due to steel, filaments for incandescent electric lamps, and
the handling of the heavy pulp and the devising of a in the manufacture of projectiles. Tools made of
system of manipulation which will give the highest tungsten steel do not soften when subjected to high
—
economy." 11. A. MEGKAW, Engineering and Mut- temperatures and the heaviest work. Tungsten
ing Journal, Nov. "23, 1912, p. 983. (H. A. W.) alloys used for high-speed tools contain from 10%
' '
Bystem, the pipes and radiator being found packed The weights (D) are so adjusted that the tanks will
full ofhigh-grade gold precipitate. remain an horizontal position until they contain a
in
i#After this discovery, the heating was done by a certain definite weight of liquid then they tilt into
:
pipe and hose connection, so that after the heating the position shown by the dotted lines, and the liquid
had been carried far enough the hose could be pulled then begins to How through the siphon pipe (C).
out of the tank and no damage could result." En- After the flow has been started and the level of the
gineering and Mining Journal, Dec. 7, 1912, p. 1,071. liquid in the tank has fallen sufficiently, the tank is
(H. A. W.) returned to its original position by the influence of
—
438 The Journal nf The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
of the counter (G). The amount of error introduced filter chambers and connected by a series of pipes
by a calculation of a sample which has been mea- with a water-distributing valve at the other end of
sured out is not very great, but it is an incongruity the shaft. When the filter chambers reach a position
and should be remedied. The author would favour vertically over the shaft, compressed air is auto-
allowing the machine to remain as it is and the matically admitted to them from the rotary valve SO
counter to register the amount of solution passed in that the cakes drop away and are collected in a
pounds, and to weigh out the sample taken for hopper situated in the hollow portion of the drum
assay, but he believes that the general opinion —
above the shaft." A. A. Holland, Hastings-npon-
would be to favour a counter which would register Huilson, N.Y., Assignor to E. K. Scheftel, New
the number of cubic feet of solution. A better way York U.S. Pat. 1,036,847, Aug. 27, 1912. Journal
;
perhaps would be to design a meter specially for of the Society of Chemical Industry, Dec. 16, 1912,
cyanide solutions and have the tanks so proportioned p. 11.-14. lF. W. W.)
that the counter will register the quantity of solu-
tion which has passed through in tons and decimal The Flotation of Minerals. "Small grains of —
fractions thereof. mineral suphides float readily on water. In the
The foregoing is a description of the machine as it Wood process this property alone is utilised. There
is ordinarily constructed to weigh solution. In order are three types of machines used the principle in
;
to use it as a sampler it is necessary to provide an each is as follows: the ore, crushed to from 10- to
auxiliary device which will remove a portion of the 40- mesh size (or finer in some cases) is gently
solution' during the period of transfer. There are deposited on a flowing sheet of water. The gangue
several ways by which this can be accomplished. sinks, while the floating film of sulphides is collected
The best way would be to provide an auxiliary and removed. The most efficient type of machine is
siphon tube of glass alongside the large siphon shown in the adjoining figure. The ore drops from
and which would come into action with it simul- the vibrating plate, B, on to a corrugated rubber or
taneously. By drawing the tip down to a line point, canvas-covered cylinder, K, revolving in water, and
the quantity of solution delivered could be regulated which carries upon its surface sufficient water to wet
to a nicety! If a siphon of this kind were placed on the gangue. The floating film of sulphides crosses
each tank an absolutely accurate sample of the the tank and is forced by water-jets on to an endless
entire quantity of solution sent through the boxes canvas belt, L, the water draining back into the tank,
— — — » — —
and carrying with it any suspended gangne. The It will be seen that in case (1) we have an impos-
concentrate is deposited in another tank. The auto- sible slag, in case (2) a slag which appears too basic,
matic siphon, X, preventing any overflow of concen- judging from the appearance of our slag here, and
trate. The tailing from G and H usually passes to case (3) is slightly on the acid side.
Willley tables, though this is not always necessary. In our calculation we assume that the CaO present
The '"infiltrate from this type of machine is much combines with the requisite amount of AI..O. to form
freer from gangue than with the other types. About the silicate of lime and alumina with the composi
0*5 ton per hour of an average quartz ore can lie tion ALU,, 3 CaO, b' SiO.., this alumina acting, of
treated with a 3 ft. feed roll and a 4 ft. canvas belt. course, a^ a base and any excess over the amount
required for this formula will act as an arid.
Figuring fbe above slag on thi> basis, we have :
Acid. Base.
sii). ... 23-47 CaO 5 49
ALU, ... 268 AUK .3-49
26 15 Fet 3 57
MgO 1 00
15*55
\\liich gives ratio base to acid 1 ltis, a good econo-
:
mic -lag.
Figuring all the slags mentioned in Mr. Bellinger's
article on this basis the result is a good practical slag
in each instance and similar results have been
obtained from calculations on many other slags
which have come under our notice.
Our experience here is that the amount of alumina
acting a> a base is determined by the amount of
lime present in the slag and the addition or sub-
traction of lime to or from the charge beyond
During the tests made with the process, many certain narrow limits proves this to be the case.
points ot special interest have been noted with differ- It is quite probable that some other bases may act
ent ores. To obtain a maximum flotation with in the same capacity as lime. " Canadian Mining
copper ores, freshly crushed material must be taken, Journal, Nov. 15, 1912. (K. A.)
as an amount of oxidation which is otherwise imper-
ceptible exerts a very marked deleterious effect on Mill Feed Samples. — " The apparatus shown in
the floating property of the sulphide grains. With the accompanying sketch is used in sampling the
galena and blende this is not the case. Bornite ami mill feed in the No. 6 concentrator of the Arizona
chalcocite do not float as well asehalcopyrite. Most Copper Co., at Morenci, Ariz.
of the magnetic minerals sink. Unnecessarily fine It comprises a moving sample bucket supported
pulverisation is disadvantageous. Attention has between two chains about 18 in. apart, so arranged
been paid also to the treatment of minerals contain-
ing molybdenite and graphite. The examples of
testsquoted show good results. Henry E. Wood,
1'
1GX |4
Company of Canada, Limited, at Trail, British neat* Pu//e/
Columbia, and while we have not yet arrived at any
definite conclusion in regard to its behaviour, we
\ : i
\>
of
Be/r Cgn/e^or.
'
16-1 440 192 25 174 a- to run through the discharge from a belt conveyor.
(1) Figuring alumina as acid, oxj gen ratio i> 3 14. 1 :
The bucket is made of sheet steel, is bolted to
special links on the chain, and is easily renewable.
(2) Figuring alumina as base, oxygen ratio is 1 28. : 1
(3) Figuringalumina as neutral, oxygen ratio is 1 :2'33. 1 he chains are of the commercial type known as
—
440 The Join iml of The Chemical, Metallurijica/ urn/ Minim/ Society of South Africa. March 1913
link belt and run on 24 in. sprockets. Each of the The portion of pulp which overflows into the
five shafts contains two sprockets —
one tight, the second compartment repeats the same process
other loose. Shaft B is provided with a take-up and exactly, except that the material is finer, and there
spring. The device
is driven from a line shaft by may be a different arrangement of the blades or ribs
means of bevel gearing on shaft A. witli the object of taking out a product finer than
The sample is taken, as above stated, when the that extracted by the primary compartment and
bucket passes through the ore stream from the belt leaving a pure slime product to be overflowed from
conveyer. The bucket then moves up at an angle of the machine at the rear point E, this wall being
nearly 45° and dumps while passing around sprocket lower than the wall partially closing the opposite
A, the sample discharging into one of three wooden end of the machine.
bins. One bin is reserved for the sample from each As the sand and middling are carried upward by
shift. The samples caught in the bins are subse- the blades in their respective compartments, they
quently cut down to laboratory size by coning and are washed by a spray H, after which the discharg-
—
quartering." L. M. Banks, Mines and Minerals, ing spray washes the material off into the proper
Dec. 1912, p. 2S4. (A. McA. J.) launder or tray. In order that there may be two
distinct products kept separate, the discharging
launder is usually divided into two parts, or made as
—
The Major Classifier. " A classifier used at two launders running side by side, arrangement
one of the mills in the Black Hills district of .South being made to dump each class into its particular
Dakota operates on a principle rather different from launder. These launders may be arranged to dis-
that utilized by the majority of successful mechani- charge in different directions if it is so desired, but
cal classifying devices. The machine referred to is it has been found better practice to have them dis-
known as the Major and has been used in
classifier charge at the same end, the one opposite to that
the Minnesota mill at Maitland, S. D., for 18 months, through which the pulp enters. The drawings show
sufficient time to give it a thorough working test. the arrangement and operation of the machine.
The classifier consists of a cylinder or drum The particular advantages obtained by the use of
mounted upon rollers so that it can be revolved, and the machine are a saving of almost the entire fall, as
having a bevel-gear arrangement for applying the the machine acts as an elevator as well as a classifier,
power for rotation. The ends of the cylinder are and it occupies less floor space than the usual
partly closed, leaving openings varying in size with mechanical devices used for the purpose. Tire power
the requirements of the machine. The cylinder is consumed is small anil the machine has a large
divided in two portions by a ring, the height of capacity. A machine ft. in dia. and ",\ ft. long,
which is somewhat less than the height of the end when handling 30 mesh and finer solids at a ratio of
walls of the cylinder. Inside the cylinder are longi- one of solids to seven or eight of liquid, has a capa-
tudinal ribs or blades fastened to the drum, these city of about 150 tons of solids per 24 hr.
blades forming pockets or gutters with the cylinder Three products can be obtained, a coarse sand for
shell.HiEg| regrinding, a finer sand, or middling, for leaching,
The operation of the machine is as follows : —The and a dime for agitating, or any other convenient
pulp introduced into the drum, revolving at from
is utilization of these products. If it were considered
li to 2 r. p.m., by means of a launder which enters desirable, the machine could be easily developed to
through the overflow end of the cylinder and delivers deliver additional products as required. No atten-
the pulp at the opposite end of the drum. The tion is necessary, as the machine works efficiently
launder is shown at A, Fig. 1, and at B is shown the witli varying feeds up to its maximum capacity. In
ring which divides the interior into two parts. The case of a forced stoppage of the mill, the machine
blades, shown more clearly at C, Fig. 2, tend to docs not choke up and can be easily started even if
agitate the pulp, and the lighter portion is over- filled with pulp.
flowed past the dividing ring into the second com- The machine installed at the Minnesota mill is 6A
partment the coarse sand settling in the pockets of
;
ft. in dia. and 8 ft. long and handled over 200 tons of
the blades is elevated as the drum revolves and dis- solids per day with ease. Its cost is low and main-
charged with the assistance of a water or solution tainance is slight. It was designed by Edmund
spray into a launder conveniently placed co receive Major, superintendent of the Minnesota mill, and
it. This launder is shown at />, as are also the pipe has been patented in the United States, Canada an 1
and spray connections, F and G, for dislodging the Mexico." Engineering and Mining Journal, Nov.
coarse sand elevated in the pockets. 23, 1912, p. 977. (H. A. W.)
—
Recent Developments in Heat Treatment of Similar instances can be cited from the gauges of
Steel — " It well known, of course, that the
is the 100 mm. size (39371 in.). One gauge contracted
hardening process lias the effect of distorting the 00123 mm. (000048 in.). This was, however, an
steel objects to which it is applied. It is not so well exceptional ease, A change of 0"0050 mm. (00020-
known perhaps that changes in dimensions occur in.) was not an unusually excessive amount. For
subsequent to the completion of hardening. Steel example, one gauge in a little over two and a half
articles which have received merely the usual heat years expanded 0055 mm. Another, expanded
treatments commonly known as hardening and o oiii)7 mm. in the same time; still another con-
tempering cannot be absolutely depended upon to tracted 0-0048 mm. in four years.
retain their exact dimensions and forms. It has now In many cases the variations were considerably
been ascertained beyond reasonable doubt that a less than the most of these examples. But every-
rod of hardened steel will grow shorter with the lapse where change was going on Generally it was con-
of time. The change is quite small. But, in these traction :hut not always, as the examples show.
days of precision, it is not always negligible. We In fait, there is some little evidence tending to show
harden measuring gauges in order to eliminate prac- that a single gauge might vary in more than one
tically the effects of abrasive wear. It now seems direction in the course of time. But this evidence is
certain that such gauges will suffer variation as time scarcely reliable. A piece of hardened steel either
goes on from some other cause operating within the shrank or expanded throughout the periods of obser-
metal itself. Let the gauge lie quiescent in the store vation ; it did not do both.
or the shop, and its dimensions will change. It will It might he thought that such variations as those
be seen at once that such an activity at work will observed could only occur in the case of some special
have serious results in respect to our line gauges of steel or only in the case of high-carbon steels. No
hardened tool steel. It is quite true that some doubt, the high-carbon steels are more subject to the
measuring instruments can be made of low carbon variation-: but the results of other investigations
steel, the hardening process being applied only to seem to indicate that cast steel, bessemer steel of
the regions of wear. But this method would hardly medium carbon, high-carbon tool steel, annealed
apply universally. steel, all, are more or less affected.
When we come to consider precision tools It may seem incredible that a piece of solid steel
—
reamers, drills, milling cutters, etc., we see still subjected neither to mechanical nor thermal proced-
more clearly, perhaps, that a hardening of restricted ures should be affected in its form and dimensions
areas could hardly lie carried out without sacrifice of by the mere lapse of time. But consider a moment.
some valuable quality. In the hardening process there is a sudden quench-
—
Further there are machine parts whose dimen- ing from the high temperature, say 1475 F. to a ,
sions we would like to consider as subject to even fairly moderate one. But this affects, at first, only
—
minute changes parts where microscope distortion
For example, it is of the
the exterior. The internal mass is hut slightly
There is a certain large amount of contrac-
or variation is important. chilled.
very greatest importance that the toed steel parts of tion which the external shell undergo because of the
a high-class ball bearing shall he individually and excessive temperature reduction. This shrinkage
collectively dimensioned with an extremely degree of cannot take place to its full extent because of the
accuracy. If internal changes of such a character unchilled. and so uncontracted, interior. It seems
are going on that external dimensions are affected, reasonable to assume that this exterior shell will
it i- something we ought to know, and if possible lose a part of its power of contraction because of this
correct. resistance to the effort when the effort was at work.
The facts of the change and of a simple method of Later on, when the inteiior feels the effects of the
treatment have recently been put upon a reliable surrounding influences tending to chill it, it will
basis, as we learn from Leman and Werner. contract. The chilling of the interior is a gradual
The
fact of variation arising out of lapse of time process because of the protection afforded by the
was established by a series of experiments extending shell. It would seem that we have a reduction of
over a period of four or more years. Eighty measur- the contraction ot the exterior shell it is less than —
ing gauges, divided equally among the sizes 10 mm., it would otherwise have been but that we have an
;
25 mm., 50, and 100 mm., were accurately measured effort of the interior to find its normal volume. The
from time to time and their changes noted. In —
result of these activities a slowly shrinking shell
general the changes were in the direction of contrac- and a rapidly shrinking interior is to produce —
tion. There were, however, exceptions, though not tensional stress within the shell is under stress from
:
many. These gauges were obtained from four the mass inside. Also, the total volume is greater
different concerns and undoubtedly represented
;
than before heating. That this latter is so has been
their finished product ready to sell. shown by experiment. A
rod of cast steel (A) one ;
show contraction in one direction and expansion in cedure was somewhat varied in treating the 10
the other. specimens, especially as they were in the hands of
That the hardening process produces changes in the more than one concern.
dimensions of the steel treated has recently been The high-carbon English silver (B) was treated by
demonstrated by a series of experiments. Six a process apparently unknown.
varieties of steel were involved cast steel (A) best
: ;
The methods employed in treating the medium-
English silver steel, having a carbon content of carbon bessemer (C) and the chrome-carbon (D) tool
130% (B) a special quality of bessemer steel, having
;
steels are understood to he the following :
with a carbon content of 0'73% (E) (2) heating in a gas oven, followed by quenching
and, finally,
;
this
in sail water ;
last steel after hardening and low annealing
(3) application of a protective covering for lead-
'
latter method is, undoubtedly, more expensive, Comparing the last two tables, we reach this
because of considerable personal attention necessary. general conclusion. A single prolonged treatment
Moreover, we want to know the measure of success gives as good rc-ults as a repetition of short treat-
attainable with either method. Painstaking experi- ments. Further, this procedure is quite effective in
ments have been conducted whose results furnish accomplishing the result desired— a forcing of inevi-
an answer to these questions. taWe changes.
From each of the classes A, B, C, D, a single rod The lesson of the foregoing is well nigh obvious—
was kept in its ordinary, hardened condition, with anneal subsequently to the hardening process, and
the view of noting the variations arising with the —
prior to the final grinding to size." JOSEPH STEEL-
lapse of time without treatment. These could then man, Mexican Mining Journal, December, 1912,
be compared with other rods from the same classes, p. 25 (H. A.)
,it'ter these latter bad been put through the annealing
treatments. The following table shows the result- :
MINING.
Untreated. Reinforced Concrete for Roofing a Level.—
Steel. Period. Change in mm. "During 1912 some experimental work with rein-
A lj yrs. 037 forced concrete was carried out by me at the King
B li yrs. 039 Edward Mine, belonging to the' School of Mines of
C li yrs. 002 Cornwall, with the object of giving the students
D li yrs. 0-03S experience in the use of a material which is every-
where rinding more extensive employment under-
Fifteen other rods were given low temperature ground. Two places in the mine where selected for
annealing treatment subsequently to the hardening experiments in rooting levels with reinforced con-
process. In the case of nine of these, from four to crete in place of timber. One place, at the 10-fathom
eight treatments of li hours each were given. In
level, was a small gallery, about 7 ft. x 3 ft. 6 in.,
the case of the remaining six rods, a treatment last- covered by timbers in the last stage of decay, sup-
ing about 7i hours was given followed by a short porting the waste-tilling of an old stope. The other
treatment for li hours. The following tables place, at the 30-fathom level, was a larger gallery
summarize results :
with a span of about 8 ft., roofed with timbers that
Four to Eight Short Treatments. were sound. Above this level the lode had been
Steel, Number of Total Change effected sloped some feet upward, allowing the concrete
1J hours change by last rooh'ng to be built immediately above the timbering.
treatments. mm. treatment.
The method proposed for working the stope was
A 6 0-070 x 1
back-stoping and rilling with waste brought through
A 6 114
a pass from the level above.
A 6 0104
In both cases the roof-timbers were left in place.
B 4 0079
In the smaller level the timber was of no further
C 4 0011
use, and as it was possible to roof the level over with
D 4 0085
reinforced concrete underneath the old timbers,
E 8 0-080
there was no object in taking them down.
F 8 065
In the case of the larger level the concrete roof
F 8 069
was built over the old timbers, which were left in
The last column showing that practically no place as a precaution in case the .lew roofing proved
further variation was being obtained is to be regarded unsuccessful. It was, however, the intention to take
as indicating success of the procedure. Thus, the down later the old timbering for use elsewhere.
chrome-carbon tool steel (D) was made to shrink The walls in both cases consisted of decomposed
along one dimension a total 0085 millimetres in four granite enclosing the lode. There was no support
—
treatments an average of 0-021 per treatment but ; for the side-walls in the case of the larger level, but
the fourth treatment produced none of this result. in the smaller level the foot-wall was lagged, as the
A Long Followed by a Short Treatment. granite here was specially soft and had a tendency to
flake.
Length Length Total Change effected
Steel.
of 1st of 2nd change by the short The principal difficulty in the smaller level was to
treatment. treatment. mm. treatment support the cap and the waste-filling above while
mm. the walls were being built. The level was timbered
B 7-8 hrs. H hrs. 0081 0001 with a half-set, that is, one leg or post on the foot-
C 7-8 hrs. li hrs. 0011 0000 wall side only, the cap resting on this leg and on a
D 7-8 his. li hrs. 0091 0000 hitch cut in the rock on the bang-wall side. The
E 7-8 hrs. hrs. 0-075 "
1J leg bad to be removed so that an 8 in. wall of con-
E 7-8 hrs. li hrs. 0079 0000 crete on both sides of the level might be built. This
F 7-8 hrs. li hrs. 007i 0001 was done by supporting the cap by a false leg placed
If as far as may be, the total changes
we compare, 10 inches from the wall, which served to support
shown as accomplished by time (U to lj years) with 2 in. plank forms for the conciete wall. The accom-
the changes effected by the heat treatments as panying drawing showing plan and section explains
shown in "the last two tables, we shall see that in the work done. After the side-walls had reached
every case, the heat treatment more than accom- the height of 6 ft. 6 in., a plank roof supported by
plished in a shore time the results reached by a light sets was built, in short sections, commencing
.
prolonged time. In other words, by annealing at the from the end farthest from the cross-cut. Short
low temperature, we forestall the changes which pieces of old 16 lb. rail were then laid across the
would otherwise occur with the lapse of time. In level at an inch above the top of the wall at 3 ft. 6 in.
the case of six rods referred to in the last table, the centres. A covering of about 2 in. of fine concrete
various individuals were remeasured after the lapse was then laid on the boards, and on the top of this
of a year following the annealing procedure. No were placed sheets of expanded metal, each 4 ft. long
further change amounting to more than 0002 mm, and 8 ft. wide, securely fastened to the rails by stout
was found. wire. There was an overlap of 3 in. at each rail.
: —
444 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical rind Mining Society of Smith Africa. March 1913
About 4 in. of concrete was then rammed in from Rails, say 300 lb. at 50s. per ton 6
the advancing end. Owing to the presence of the Timber forms, depreciation of
old timbers it was only possible to work in short Labour (estimated)
lengths of four feet at a time, and the sheets, which 2 men for IS days at 4s. 2d. ... 7 10
weie supplied in 8 ft. lengths, were cut in half.
The rails were not really necessary, and it would £13 4
have been better to place the sheets with the long Total cost on 24 ft. run : lis. per foot.
','
,,
7
1.75
,,
,,
„ 6d.
,, 36s. 3 2 2
END VIEW
Expanded metal, 4 sheets, 3 x 8 ft.
No. 9, 3 in. diamond mesh, Is. 2d. persq. yd. 12 4
/O -Fathom Level.
March 1913 Xoticts and Abstracts: Minim/. 445
•top and on both sides the cost would have been L5s.
Cos tof rooti l^ . 8 10 6 or 6 57s per ft.
. <V /
«e
•
The boxes forming the beams were then filled with Cost per foot 8 shillings, as against 6 57s. for con-
concrete, which was also spread for about one inch creting.
thick over the whole floor. On the top of this con- As regards the labour cost, an estimate has been
crete were placed the sheets of expanded metal, made, as no exact figures could be kept. The
8 ft. long, overlapping 6 in. at the rails, to which miners were quite new to th« work and a good deal
they were secured fastened by stout wire. On the of time was spent in experimenting and in explaining
top of the metal sheets a 5 in. bed of concrete was to the students, who assisted, what was being done.
placed, being well rammed, especially at the sides. Owing to the irregularity in the width of the stope,
The expanded metal sheets were, of course, much time was also spent in cutting and placing the
trimmed by shears to suit the walls, which averaged boarding for the concrete. The time put down in
8 ft. apart. There was a rise in the middle of the the estimate is what I consider fair for men accus-
stope and the method of securing the walls can be tomed to the work.
easily seen from the drawing. The forms for the With regard to the strength of the concrete roofing
concrete walls were kept in place by dividers spaced at the 30-fathom level, the Expanded Metal Com-
five or six feet apart. The concrete mixture was the pany, who kindly made some calculations, reported
same as that used in the smaller gallery. as follows :
According to the following estimate, the concret- It has been found that the beams reinforced with
ing cost 657s. per running foot, as against 8s. for 16 Hi. rails have a strength much in excess of the
timbering. slabs reinforced with expanded metal. The strength
_ —
446 The Journal of Th Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
of the slabs, therefore, regulates the load-carrying instead of .3 in., anil if the area of steel had been
capacity of the platform as a whole. doubled, the strength of the platform would have
Slab, 6 in. thick span 5 ft. centres of beam
; ; been doubled.
reinforcements No. 9 E.S. 5 in. below the top The packing of rock in a stope is well known to
surface. mining men, otherwise the wooden lagging ordinarily
Area of No. 9 E.S. per foot of width = 01875 used would never stand the load that it theoretically
sq in. has to carry.
Percentage of reinforcement I append the following list of papers and articles
_ 100x0-1875 ..,.
oy
'"'
on the use of concrete in mines :
ste.nl. it lies, especially in the west, in improving the adequately to discuss papers read in London, as the
individual who is doing the work. interest has to some extent evaporated during the
It is useles9 ti> pay s| a day if the living conditions unavoidable interval. This paper, however, deals
in the community are such that only a $2 a day man with a matter of vital importance, as will be obvious
will work in the district. It is useless to pay $4 a from the fact that one ton of the residue sand, upon
day. and have conditions so that it will cost the man npletion of the cyanide treatment, will contain
with a family, even when he is economical, almost sufficient of this poison to kill more than 100 men ;
s4 a 'iay to meet his legitimate expenditure. The and the necessity for adequate precautions in neutra-
true appraisal of any wage is the amount thai the lising the cyanide, before introducing such material
economical workman can save. into the mine, is at once apparent.
It is useless to expect to get the best out of the The South African Mines and Works Act of 1911
men when no sane amusement is supplied in the lay- down the regulation (No. 170) that the moisture
community for them and their families. The families contained in such tailing shall not contain more than
of the married men will become discontented, and 0'005% of potassium cyanide, but, by the use of per-
the married men will leave, while the single miners manganate of potash as cyanicide,* it is easily
will fast change to the 10-day man, or else to possible to reduce the cyanide strength so that the
foreigners. Discontent i- inevitable when the human hydro-cierulignone reaction, sensitive to 1 in 5,000,000
mind is not busy with sane and healthy
kept parts, gives a negative result.
thoughts. Sane amusements and good reading, local The system of mine filling with sand residue direct
bands and musical associations, good dancing places; from the treatment vats, involving destruction of
all these make the liability of labour troubles and cyanide by permanganate, and transport of the sand
strike- less. as a water pulp to diaphragm de watering cones, aboi e
A discontented workman can not do good work. the point of lowering into the mine, is in regular and
A man who lias not had a refreshing night's rest in satisfactory operation on various mines on the Hand,
a well-ventilated room on a goo bed, and who has
1 notably on the Simmer and Jack since June, 1910. +
not had good, nourishing food to eat, cannot do At this mine the systemj has proved so satisfactory
work efficiently, no matter whether he is paid si a and economical that it has recently been much
day or s i a day. He is expensive at any price. extended, and is now dealing with up to 1,100 tons
Congenial surroundings are as essential to good daily, and eventually it is anticipated that no current
work upon the part of the manual worker as they are sand residue will be sent to the surface dump. The
to the artist and the brain worker. Few brain cost of permanganate used in this case is under id.
workers can do their best living in a garret, and like- per ton of sand.
wise few manual workers can do their best when The author gives no estimate of the capital cost of
they live in a hovel. installation of the Cinderella scheme, but from his
Low wages mean foreigners, and 10 or 15 men diagram it would appear that the haulage, belt con-
sleeping in a room, and, unless the company sees to veyor, and large storage bins would cost considerably
it that rents are cheap and that the men have good more than the mixing box, with pump, pipelines and
home-, with low cost of the necessities of life, low Caldecott cones, as used elsewhere.
wages always mean that in time. When that is done In view of the above facts, it would seem that the
the wages are really high, for the true appraisal of method of sand tilling advocated by Mr. Sawyer is
the wages is what the men are able to get for their both more costly and more likely to lead to danger
expenditures in that district, together with the underground. The costs quoted by the author are
amount that they are enabled to save with reason- 2'58d. per ton in addition to the usual cost of hand-
able economy. ling the residue; but this estimate should be
High wages with poor community surroundings certaiulydoubled, as the cost of native labour pershift,
mean an ever-increasing proportion of men who are inclusive of feeding, compound, hospital, recruiting,
working just for the money that they can get. That etc., is certainly not less than 3s. per shift. (It is
sooi -am an increase-in the proportion of foreigners unusual to discriminate between unskilled labourers
with a gradual change of the standards of the com- and natives, as in the table given.) In addition, no-
munity to those that such people have been used to. account is taken of maintenance of haulage and con-
Then when the foreigners become numerous comes the veyor belt, nor does any charge for supervision
great trouble of all the officers of the company are
;
appear.
paid for (he jobs, and soon the men are loafing at the With regard to the danger involved in taking sand
work, because the men over them have degenerated after two days' exposure on the dump, with a possible
into grafters. Everywhere that foreigners become risk of contamination with newly deposited sand
abundant and begin to push out the better class of which in itself is almost sufficient to condemn the
workmen, this accusation that the foremen are taking scheme, if it be borne in mind that a white boy at
pay for the job arises, and it is true, in many in- 5s, per day is in charge— the statement that after
stances. two days ''it will then be practically free from'
Cheap labour is expensive in many ways. Either cyanide and neutral in character,' requires further
cheap labour or high-priced labouris expensive and evidence than the ipse dixit of an author who goes
inefficient, unless there is competition for the posi- on to say that sand, taken from the vats after treat-
tions. Either class of labour is expensive and ineffi- ment with permanganate, evolved considerable quan-
cient unless it is well bossed by men loyal to their iities of cyanogen on mixing with ordinary acid mine
employer- Either cheap or high-priced labour is ex- water. This statement is, of course, an error as it
pensive, unless the community surroundings, and the -I ninls; but, if corrected to read hydrocyanic acid
individual living conditions, bring health, joy and gas, it merely shows that sufficient permanganate
contentment to that class of workmen."—Mining was not used,' or that the charge had been allowed to
and Engineering World, Dec. 7, 1912, p. 1029. get acid before treatment, or some other blunder had
(A. R.)' been made. It is, perhaps, fortunate that the
A System of sand Filling as Used ox the t See >lus Journal, Vol. \i., i>. 76, August, 1910.
Rand.—-' It is somewhat difficult from this distance J See " Kami Metallurgical Practice," Vol. i., p. 172
.448 The Journal of Tht < 'ht mical, Mt tallurgii al and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
' determined attempts to use current sand direct from methane content would not, therefore, rise so fast as
tlie vats' (no mention of destruction of cyanide) might be expected. Indeed, by reversing the venti-
iailed owing to moisture, or probably an entirely new lation the outflow of gas can be shown to be capable
underground start' would have been required at the of great reduction in certain cases, owing to the con-
Cinderella Consolidated. siderable increase of pressure thus produced.
In the Rand rain falls on more than 80 days per It may be assumed as a reasonable working hypo-
annum, and the average rainfall is 31 8 in. As this thesis that the critical condition in many pits, so far
scheme cannot be worked when rain is falling, though as the presence of inflammable gas is concerned, will
much of the expense continues, and as water trans- be the approach of a barometric depression after a
port must be used as the last step, it seems a pity period of high readings. It cannot, of course, be
not to use it from the start, thus eliminating cost of said that this principle has been absolutely estab-
elevation of residue to top of the dump and 1,600 ft. lished but it is supported by a weight of evidence that
;
of carriage and loading on to belt. Elsewhere, both can hardly be ignored. What the colliery official re-
on the Hand and in other parts of the world, the quires, therefore, is early information of an approach-
difficulty of pipe abrasion has been overcome, and ing change in the prevalent type of weather. In a for-
this obstacle would doubtless yield to suitably mer issue it was shown that the ordinary mercurial
directed effort at the Cinderella."— H. A. White.— barometer, read daily at a fixed hour in the manner
Institution of Mining and Metallurgy [discussion of usually practiced at collieries, is not capable of giv-
paper by R
E. Sawyer], Dec. 12, 1912, p. 9. ing this information promptly. Even if for no other
,(A. McA. J.) reason, the fact that it is only read after long
intervals renders the barometer readings practically
New Method of Detonating Explosives. — useless for colliery purposes. Such readings tell but
"This is an application of the principle of the an imperfect story of the weather changes, even
D'Autriche test. It was found that if two such when plotted as a curve. It is obvious, therefore,
explosion waves, as those which met in the instantan- that a critical condition in the pit might easily arise
eous fuse used in the above test, occurred within without warning, and might have passed away long
another explosive the latter would be detonated with before the atmospheric conditions producing them
.a greater initial velocity than if the initiating wave would be recognised.
moved through it in only one direction. To render barometric records of any practical use
In applying this principle the two ends of a loop of in collieries there appears to be but one available
detonating fuse are attached to a detonator, the loop method, and that is to substitute for the mercurial
being imbedded in the charge to be detonated. In barometer a self-registering aneroid or barograph, as
exploding the detonator increased efficiency of explo- recommended by Dr. Shaw, director of the Meteoro-
sion results." — —
H. BrUNWIG. American Chemical logical Office, in his work on 'Forecasting Weather."
Abstracts Orig. Com. 8th Intern. Cong. Appl.
;
For, independently of any question of the relative
Chem., 4, 19-22, Dec. 10, 1912, p. 3519. (T. D.) sensitiveness of mercurial and aneroid barometers, it
is clear that properly corrected readings of the
The BAnoiiETER and the Mines Act.— "The height of the mercury column are not to be expected
part played by the barometer in mining legislation as a part of the daily routine of the colliery. It is
is interesting. In the Acts of 1872 and 1887, both it obviously preferable to rely upon an automatic in-
and the thermometer were part of the statutory equip- strument, which is both capable of being checked at
intervals, and lias also been proved to possess a high
ment of every colliery. But, inasmuch as no condi-
tions as to taking readings were imposed, these
degree of sensitiveness. In geneial, also, such in-
st ru men tsare independent of temperature correct ions.
instruments must be regarded as having been often
rather ornamental than useful. The only legal .
The best possible arrangement would be to have both
requirements were that a barometer and thermometer a barograph and a mercurial barometer side by side.
should be placed above ground in a conspicuous The barograph readings could then be periodically
checked by the height of the mercury column.
position near the entrance to the mine. The same
words are retained in the new Act, although some of Section 71 of the new Mines Act also requires a
the available 'conspicuous positions near the en- hygrometer to be placed below ground in a conspi-
trances to the mine ' might be the very worst place cuous position near a shaft or outlet, both in the
for such instrument. The words were doubtless main intake airway and in the main return airway.
copied without consideration from the old Act, and Self-recording hygrometers, or hygrographs, can now
little or no discussion of this clause took place in be procured, and the use of such instruments would
.committee. The instruments should, of course, be be advisable. The form made by the firm of Richard
under cover and accessible, but not necessarily con- Freres appears to give satisfactory results. In a pit,
spicuous. however, any form of hygrometer would lie liable to
In the discussion upon Messrs. Hutchinson and sutler from exposure to dust. Hygrograph indica-
Evans' paper at the South Wales Institute there was tions might be useful also in connection with the
some question as to whether the barometer would barograph, for the well-known humid condition of
not be better placed below ground. Obviously, how- the front of an advancing cyclone is an extremely
ever, this would be inadvisable. The readings below sensitive index of an approaching depression.
ground would be influenced by the ventilation current, A point of particular importance in connection
and would normally be too low. Stoppage of the fan with the effect of meteorological conditions upon
(in the case of an exhaust fan), or a reversal of the colliery management has been emphasised by Dr.
current, would in each case cause the underground Shaw. We really know very little about the explo-
pic sure to increase, and the barometer would rise. sive conditions ni mine air. These conditions probably
Any variation in the velocity of the current would vary in different pits, and it is only by a careful
also have an effect upon the barometric reading. correlation of meteorological conditions with the
This fact suggests a curious point to which Dr. explosive conditions that the degree of risk can be
Ealdane has referred. Stoppage of the fan, by correctly foreseen. At the same time mere lm al
suddenly increasing the atmospheric pressure, would variations of the weither can never give more than a
at first tend to check the efflux of gas, and the small part of the knowledge that is now available
—
regarding atmospheric pressure changes. Local in- trifugal. This pump is of the Cornish type, with
dications should invariably be read in conjunction compound cylinders, 70 in. end 144 in., one within
with the daily weather charts issued by the Meteoro- the other, actuating seven 37 in. draw-lifts, raising
logical Office. These charts should be sent regularly 70 tons of water per minute through 15 ft. and
to the collieries. weighing 150 tons. The efficiency is given as 44 .
Certain types of weather lend themselves readily Incidentally it may be mentioned that this pump has
ti accurate forecast by those who will Lake the pains been in service over 60 years.
to study these charts. Other types are less ea~y and A corresponding centrifugal pump weighs 5 tons,
some present great difficulty in regard to prognosti- with an efficiency of 68%. With respect to electrical
cation. pumps, centrifugal versus reciprocating, it may be of
There has, hitherto, been too much official hesita- interest to compare the experience of two mining
tion in regard to this matter. The subject has never centres in Mexico, Pachuca and El Oro.
been taken seriously by the authorities, for fear that At the Difficultad shaft of the Real del Monte
it should he taken too seriously by the mine official. Company, Pachuca, in 1901, I first saw the newly
Weather warnings have thus not been permitted to installed 4-step centrifugal pump direct connected.
play their proper part in colliery management. Such The alternator ran at 900 r.p.m. The rising main
neglect may do positive harm. Not long ago one of was 16 in. diam. The water was delivered at the
II. M. inspectors of mines slated that in a certain adit, some 700 ft. of vertical height. This p-imp was
colliery, not too well ventilated, six explosions had reported to have given every satisfaction. On the
occurred in the year, all with a falling barometer : station were one or more electrical 3-throw recipro-
and he expressed the opinion that every one of these cating pumps, to stand by. At surface was a large
might have been avoided. This circumstance speaks coinpound beam engine of German make, with a
for itself, anil nothing further need be urged mi 36 wrought steel rising main in the shaft. The
in.
behalf of the importance of the subject to which we comparatively small centrifugal had satisfactorily
have drawn attention." The Colliery (fuardian, displaced this enormous and costly installation. Sub-
Dec. 20, 191-2, p. 1253. (R. A.) sequently the San Rafael installed multi-step centri-
fugal pumps, with entire satisfaction, for mine
Comparative Efficiency of Mink Pumping drainage. Consequently the centrifugal pump found
SYSTEMS. —"The Cornish system, in its entirety, an abiding home at Pachuca.
consists of the usual plunger and draw-lifts actuated At El Oro, on the other hand, principally at the
by the Cornish single-acting beam-engine, although El Oro mines, multi-stage centrifugal pumps were
installed having capacities of 300 to 500 gallons per
the modern practice is to dispense with the beam-
engine and drive the pit work by compound recipro- minute, with about 700 ft. head. In almost all
cating engines, through the medium of a sweep-rod. instances, as station pumps, the centrifugals failed
to maintain a constant delivery, and the 3-throw
Pumping plants are rated according to their duty,
which applies to the entire installation, as opposed geared pumps, motor driven, and the 5-throw pumps
to mechanical efficiency, meaning the horse-power
were reiied upon.
raised divided by horse-power indicated steam con- These pumps in all instances gave a steady and
sumption. constant service. Consequently the El Oro camp
The duty of the Cornish Pumping plant, as tabu- be>*ame the mine of the reciprocating electric pump.
In sinking the power shaft, when the air-driven
lated by ' Lean's Reporter monthly, is given in so
'
many millions of footpounds of woik, the standard sinking pump proved a tax on the compressed air, a
being 222 000,000 ft. lb. by the consumption of 1 bu. multi-stage centrifugal motor-driven sinking pump
of coal, equivalent to 100 lb. The rated duty of the was installed, which, I gather, gave satisfaction.
reported pumping plants is from 35 to 6.5, or there- The defect experienced with the centrifugal pumps
about. was in regard to wear in the 'impeller' and
'follower,' with a serious falling off in the volume of
At the Fowey Great Consols, many years ago, a
Cornish Plant, with new pitwork and at a shallow —
water delivered." H. E. Wkst.— Mexican mining
depth, gave a duty of 120,000,000. Journal [reprinted from Proceedings of Institution
of Mining and Metallurgy], Dec, 1912, p. 40. (R. A.)
It is readily seen that economical use of steam is
impracticable in the single 10 ft. cylinder. In the
first place, low pressure steam only is admissible, a Disinfecting Miners' Dwellings.— " The min-
high expansion is impossible, owing to the inability ing community is at a disadvantage in proper
of the pump rods, either steel or wood, to withstand sanitary protection against disease. Miners form an
the shock, and the cylinder condensation is abnormal. essentially transient population, not alone from the
Clearly a reciprocating engine, using higher pres- nature of their calling, but also from a certain spirit
sure steam, with cylinders compounded, admits of a of restlessness and a desire for new and better fields.
much higher steam efficiency, and with an equal The situation of the less well established towns is
efficiency at the water end. It might be remarked almost entirely dependent upon the ore deposits.
that the standard of duty is equivalent to 1,000,000 At first everything is of a temporary nature, and
b.t.u., equivalent to the consumption of 100 lb. of sanitary conditions are entirely disregarded in the
coal, evolving 10,000 heat units per pound. location of the houses. One family moves in when
On this basis the duty of rotative engines is as another moves out, with a total disregard of the
high as 97,000,000 to 107.000,000, or twice that state of health of the former occupants. This
quoted for the Cornish engine but here, again, the
; leads to the spreading of disease, which might be
relative efficiency of the pitwork is not comparable. prevented in many cases by the proper use of
In mechanical efficiency, in general terms, it may disinfectants.
be said the efficiency for reciprocating pumps in- The principal agents which are efficient in the des-
creases with the head up to a moderate height, while truction of germs of all kinds are three chemical
:
the converse holds true for single stage centrifugal disinfectants, heat, and light. Although the pur-
pumps. poses for which chemical disinfectants are used are
An interesting comparison is made with a large now generally understood, there is much popular
drainage pump in Holland and a corresponding cen- misconception as to the value and limitations of the
450 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical unci Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
various commercial disinfectants. Most commercial 1,000 cu. ft. Candles selling for 35c. each usually
preparations contain some true disinfectant, but contain 1 oz. of formaldehyde, and two are required
often in such small amount that they are of little or for a room 10x12 ft. A second method of fumiga-
no value for disinfecting purposes. In many cases ting with formaldehyde, and which is considered by
this is due to the fact that they are produced by per- many to be the most satisfactory and efficient method
sons having little knowledge of sanitation, or of the of fumigation known, consists in setting free the gas
principles of disinfection. With bacteria, as well as from formalin, the 40% solution of formaldehyde in
with animals, or the higher plants, a poison, to be water, by means of potassium permanganate. When
effective, must be administered in excess of the limit using this method 1 lb. of formalin should be taken
of toxicity. for each 1,000 cu. ft. of space. This is placed in a
Many substances will prevent the development of metal pail of about 3 gal. capacity, which in turn is
bacteria, and as they may lie used without destroy- placed in a pan to guard against any possibility of
ing the tissues, they are therefore useful in prevent- the material boiling over upon the floor. One-half
ing putrefaction or suppuration in the living body. to three-quarters of a pound of potassium perman-
Such substances, as boracic acid, salicylic acid, and ganate, in the form of crystals, is then added. In a
others, when used for this purpose, were called anti- short time a violent action will take place and the
septics. A much smaller number of substances are gas will he evolved with great rapidity.
more powerful in their action and are true disinfec-
tants, that is, substances which will destroy the
A third method which is quite often used in setting
free formaldehyde consists in heating the solution in
bacteria which are the cause of infection. The' most a shallow metal pan on a stove, or over an alcohol
important of these are formaldehyde, sulphur dioxide,
lamp. When this is done properly, the method is as
carbolic acid, cresol, chloride of lime, and bichloride satisfactory as any other, and when the means for
of mercury.
either heating is available, it is more economical than
When disinfection is carried out by means of a gas, of the other methods referred to. Whatever method
the process is called fumigation. Only two effective is used in fumigating, the same caie should be taken
gaseous disinfectants are known formaldehyde, and
: to close all doors, windows, fireplaces, keyholes, and
the sulphur dioxide formed by burning sulphur. It other openings as tightly as possible by stuffing with
should he borne in mind that a sufficient concentra- cloth or pasting over with paper, as otherwise the
tion of the fumes of any disinfectant to kill the fumes will escape, particularly on a windy day,
micro-organisms in the air must make the air entirely before the proper concentration of gas is reached.
unfit to breathe. Consequently burning a small All articles should be spread out as much as possible
amount of sulphur on the stove'; placing saucers of or hung up on clothes lines in the middle of the room ;
chloride of lime under the bed or about the room, or window shades should be unrolled cupboards and
:
hanging up sheets dipped in some non-volatile dis- drawers should be opened and mattresses should be
;
infectant, are of little value. In the same way, so placed that both sides are exposed. Formaldehyde
medicated lamps or burning pastils are useless as has considerable power of penetration, so that when
disinfectants but simply act as deodorizers. the fumigation is carried out in the way recom-
To thoroughly disinfect a room with sulphur, 3 to 5 mended above, it is not usually necessary to open
lb. should be burned for each 1,0(10 cu. ft. of space. either mattresses or upholstered furniture, but when
This is best done by placing the powdered sulphur in articles of this kind are to be fumigated, special care
an iron pop which is, in turn, placed in a vessel of must be taken to make the room tight. The time
water. This not only dimishes danger from tire, but that a room should remain closed while being fumi-
also furnishes moisture to the air, thus making the gated is variously recommended as from six to
gas more effective. Sulphur dioxide not only, des-- twenty-four hours, although it is very probable that
troys the germs of infection, but is also fatal to most of the organisms on exposed surfaces are killed
animal life. It quickly kills rats, mice, roaches, during the first hour, if they are destroyed at all.
fleas, mosquitoes, and all kinds of vermin. It is, for The longer exposures are recommended so as to per-
this reason, particularly suited for fumigating mit of ample time for the gas to penetrate into the
cellars, vaults, stables, outhouses, and similar places interior of bedding and other articles requiring more
which are infected with vermin. Formaldehyde, than surface disinfection.
which is such a powerful germ killer, is not poisonous The principal disadvantages in the use of formal-
to animal life, and in the strongest concentration of dehyde are that the gas has little value as a
the gas has no offect on roaches, bugs, etc. Places disinfectant when the temperature of the room is
infected with such diseases as plague, yellow fever, below 60" F and that, in common with the fumes of
,
and malaria, which are carried about by different sulphur, it is not effective if the air is drj', nor unless
classes of vermin, should therefore be fumigated a sufficient concentration be maintained tor a suffi-
with sulphur. cient length of time. Its advantages are that when
Formaldehyde is a gas which is soluble in water used properly it is the most efficient germicide known
to the extent of 40° o forming a so ut ion known as
, for disinfecting closed rooms and apartments ; it is
formalin. It also occurs in the form of a powder and not poisonous or dangerous to work with and it is
;
is then called paraformaldehyde. Whether obtained not injurious to delicate fabrics, paints, or metals.
in the form of a liquid or solid, some means must be In this respect it is practically the only disinfecting
resorted to for the liberation of the gas. A great agent which may be used in the living apartments
number of devices have been placed on the market without danger of injury to objects of art or value.
for this purpose, some of which require expensive A number of powerful disinfectants are not volatile
apparatus, while others are comparatively simple. and cannot be used for fumigating purposes, but are
In formaldehyde candles, of which tliere are many valuable for disinfecting solid substances which have
different kinds, the solid formaldehyde is almost been particularly exposed to infection. The most
always used, anil the gas is set free, in most cases, important of these are bichloride of mercury, car-
by the heat of a burning paraffin candle. Repeated bolic acid, cresol, formalin, and chloride of lime, 10
experiments by bacteriologists have shown that under name but a few.
ordinary conditions at least 2 07. of solid formal- Bichloride of mercury, or corrosive sublimate, is
dehyde are required to properly fumigate a space of the most powerful disinfectant known. A single
1
application of a solution containing one part of cor- articles should be burned in order to insure absolute
rosive sublimate in 500 parts of water is sufficient to destruction of any infection which they might con-
destroy the most resistant organisms in a few tain, forit fortunately happens that germs of all kinds
minutes. A solution of one-half this strength is one in washable articles maybe completelydestroyed with
mosi commonly used. It is especially suited for certainly by simply boiling in water. The genus of
washing doors and articles of furniture, such as most, of the common diseases, as diptheria, cholera,
chairs and beds. This is often done as an additional typhoid fever, pneumonia, and tuberculosis, are
safeguard even when the articles have already been instantly killed by boiling water, but linens and all
fumigated. Corrosive sublimate tablets, so largely articles of clothing which are disinfected in this way
used for general purposes, contain about 50% of should be bailed for fifteen minutes or so in order to
ammonium chloride, which renders them more insure that all air spaces in the materials are healed
readily soluble. The principal disadvantages in the to the temperature of the water. If it is desired to
age of corrosive sublimate are that it is a dangerous take extra precautions, a small amount of formalin,
poison it acts injuriously upon materials made of
: or one of the cresol preparations already referred to,
metals and its power is destroyed by albuminous
: may be added to the boiling water. It may be men-
matter, so that it cannot be used for the disinfection tioned in this connection that tbeett'ectiveness of the
of excreta or sputum. chemical disinfectants when used for the purpose to
Carbolic acid is very generally used as an anti- winch they are suited, is greatly increased by using
septic. A 5 solution of the crystallized acid in lIn' solution while hot.
water acts as a disinfectant and is of wide applica- Some bacteria, as for example those which produce
tion. A solution of this strength does not destroy blood poisoning, and which give rise to such diseases
metals or fabrics. Whenever possible, garments or as anthrax and lockjaw, form what are called spores,
implements to be thoroughly disinfected should and when in this state are so much more resistant
remain in the 5% solution for about an hour, if that continued boiling for two hours, or even more,
cold, but when heated, a much shorter time will is necessary to destroy them. Steam, particularly
suffice. when under pressure, is much quicker in its action
Cresol, sometimes called crude carbolic acid, is than boiling water, and is the most valuable disin-
derived from coal tar. It contains little or no car- fecting agent we possess. Various appliances for
bolic acid, but consists of a mixture of three closely disinfecting in this way have been devised and are
related compounds, all of which are superior to car- used in all hospitals, quarantine stations, and other
bolic acid as disinfectants. A 2% solution of cresol places where a great deal of disinfecting has to be
is regarded as being a more efficient disinfectant done.
than a S solution of carbolic acid, and is consider- Under a pressure of 201b. to the square inch, steam
ably cheaper. Like the latter, it does not destroy has a temperature of 248'F., and will then destroy
metals or fabrics and is applied in the same way. all living organisms in a few minutes. Asubstance
Many preparations have been placed on the market so treated is said to be sterilized. Disinfection
containing varying amounts of cresol. Soma of the implies the destruction of all disease-producing
most efficient of these are known in the trade as genus without necessarily destroying all of the non-
creolin, lysol, and kreso. Directions are given on pathogenic bacteria which are so beneficial and so
the labels for their use not only in washing wood- widespread in nature. A
body which is sterilized is
work, lloors, and utensils, but also in disinfecting necessarily disinfected, but disinfecting processes do
garbage, sputum, and excreta. They are also used not always cause sterilization.
to a large extent as antiseptics on cuts and wounds.
As i- well known, but not always practised, the dis- Disinfection with steam is particularly suited,
infection of sputum is of particular importance in the with some exceptions, for bedding, clothing, and
Case of consumptives. For this the cresol prepara- fabrics of all kinds. Among the articles which are
tion- are well suited. Bacteria are not able to rise injured in this way may be mentioned leather and
frcm a moist surface, and only get into the air when rubber goods, furs, and skins of all kinds. Fumi-
in a dry state, hence the advisability of the use of
gating with formaldehyde is the best way for treat-
sputum cups containing a liquid disinfectant. ing these. The disease germs which are most likely
to occur in milk, or drinking water, are all of the
Formalin is not only valuable in fumigating, but a
non-spore bearing kind, and are therefore very easily
solution of in water may also be used for any of
gotten rid of by simply heating to boiling. Many
it
the purposes for which carbolic acid or cresol is re-
are even killed when maintained for a short time at
commended. A 5% solution of formalin is generally
a temperature considerably below the boiling point.
regarded as superior to carbolic acid of the same
Milk heated in this way is said to be pasteurized.
strength as a general disinfectant, but it is not
commonly used as an antiseptic. Light is the great natural disinfectant. None of
i
Ihlorideof lime has long been used for treating foul the pathogenic bacteria are able to develop in sun-
smelling cesspools and similar places. It is a power- light, or even ordinary daylight, but thrive best in
ful deodorant, ami when properly mixed with the dark damp places. It is for this reason that well-
mat. 'rial it is intended to disinfect, it destroys not lighted rooms are so frequently and wisely recom-
only the odour, but also the bacteria which give rise mended. The time required for light to cause the
to it. Its cheapness makes it particularly suited for death of any particular class of bacteria cannot be
this purpose. As a general disinfectant, however, stated definitely, as this depends upon the intensity
chloride of lime has no advantages over carbolic acid, of the light, and the thickness of the stratum
cresol. or formalin, and has the disadvantages that containing them. It is for this reason that the time
it i- destructive to metals and fabrics, and that it required for sunlight to kill the germs of tuberculosis,
loses its strength on being exposed to the air. which are more resistant to disinfectants in general
The application of heat is the most reliable as well than the germs of most of the other common
as the most economical of all methods of disinfec- diseases, is variously stated to be from a few minutes
tion. It is for this reason that refuse, garbage, and to several days."— W. H. Ross and R. (J. Bknneh,
all articles of little or no value should be destroyed Mining aid Scientific, Press, p. 829, Dec. 30, 1911.
by burning. It is not at all necessary, however, that (W. A. C.)
;
452 The Journal of The Chemical, M<< illurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 1913
Mixing Engineers' Reports.—" In reading the and, as far as possible, in the order of their
reports furnished by mining engineers upon pros- importance. It must he remembered that the object
pecting properties and developed mines, it is often of a report is to make the reader clearly understand
noticeable that they are lacking in clearness upon the reporter's opinion of the property, and to do this
the business aspect of the proposition. This is to be it is necessary to have some idea of the knowledge of
deplored, as it must always be remembered that the readers of the report. It is often possible to
mining is a business, and that people invest in it condense a report greatly if it is known that the
with the object and hope of making money, and with readers have a sound knowledge of technical terms,
this object alone. The fact that too many reports but if it is impossible to find out the extent of the
are tilled more with a semi-scientific account of the knowledge of the readers it is wiser to be on the safe
geology of the district and the nature of the ore side and assume that they can only understand plain
deposit than with an account of the probable value English.
of the property from a commercial standpoint, may It is best to start with the summary, in which are
be accounted for in two ways. A certain section of clearly set out the opinions and conclusions of the
the investing public, through being connected as writer, and to then follow with as much detailed
shareholders with various companies, and by reading description of the subject as is considered necessary
the mining columns of the press and the reports of to back up those opinions, and which will contain
mining companies, begin to fancy that they are the facts taken into consideration and carefully
more or less mining experts, and therefore like to weighed before the summary is written. Of course,
read a report rilled with geological and scientific the summary cannot he written before the detailed
terms which they only half understand, but which, report is prepared, and these remarks only apply to
when used in conversation with their friends, give an the order in which it is best to place one's opinions.
impre-sive and convincing appearance to the value The reason why it is advisable to place the summary
of their criticism upon the property and the expert. on the first pages of the report is that many of the
The mining profession cannot always afford to readers will be busy men, who wisely realize that
neglect this aspect of a report, ami perhaps tinds they are not mining experts, and wdio are only con-
that it pays to mystify and overawe their clients by cerned with the conclusions, and not with the facts
the use of technical terms. The mining profession is upon which they are based, as they have not suffi-
not the only one guilty of such practices. Hut it cient knowledge to weigh up those facts for them-
would surely be better for the industry, and in the selves and draw their own conclusions. A busy man
end for the mining engineer, who lives upon the may pick up a report, ami on reading the summary
industry, if an endeavour was made to write reports find out all he wants to know, when it will not be
that are intelligible to, at any rate, the majority of necessary for him to wade through the whole report.
the intended readers. 15y placing the summary first it ensures that anyone
This desire to impress the reader with the impor- who has picked up the report knows the writer's
tance and erudition of the writer accounts, perhaps, proper opinion of the property if the summary is at
;
for a little of the want of commercialism m many the end it may happen that a busy man will start
reports, but the education that the mining engineer reading the report and not have sufficient time to
receives is far more responsible. In many mining complete it, and from the opening pages draw quite
schools the fact seems to be completely overlooked a wrong impression. It may seem that if the writer
that a business training is of equal importance to a has protected himself by embodying the correct
mining engineer as a scientific education, and that if opinion in the report he has done all he can to
the student is to be eventually a success in his pro- protect himself but if a man reads a portion of a
:
fession he will have to manage a very varied and report only, and from it draws a wrong conclusion,
complicated business, which requires a sound know- and by backing this loses money, it may take a lot
ledge of finance as well as ordinary business methods. of trouble to prove to him that the writer of the
This results frequently in the mining engineer having report was not responsible, but his wrong impression,
an exaggerated opinion of the importance of the drawn from not carefully reading the report. He
scientific side of the profession, and in not recogniz- will be sore about the money he has lost, and not
ing that it is subsidiary to, and only learned with think much of the author's opinions in the future.
the object of assisting, the commercial side of the The summary of a report should be clear and con-
operations under his control. cise, and the writer should hedge as little as possible,
A mining engineer is called upon to report upon but be prepared to give his true opinion. He has
different subjects connected with his profession, but been paid to give an opinion, and if he wants to pro-
his reports can be classified broadly under three tect his reputation by too much hedging and ambi-
headings :
guity he must remember that he does so at the
(1) Reporting upon prospecting shows and unde-
expense of his honesty as he has been paid to give an
veloped properties. opinion, but if he evades this, by so woiding his
(2) Reporting upon the value of developed mines.
answer that it is ambiguous, he is not honestly earn-
(3) Reporting upon the methods in use at a parti-
ing bis fee.
cular mine, including both the mining of the ore and When considering what it is necessary to include
the metallurgical treatment. in the detailed portion of the report, the class of
These three classes require different treatment in report must be taken into consideration. Reporting
regard to the details of the report, as the detailed upon a prospecting show or a partially developed
account of a method of treating the ore would lie out mine is always a most unsatisfactory job to a mining
of place in the first case, where the existence of the engineer. It entails a maximum of deduction from
ore has to be first proved ; but there are some a minimum of facts, and requires the faculty of being
general principles which apply to all, and should be able to weigh probabilities against possibilities. If
work is being recommended, all these points require the working of the property should be given, with an
careful consideration, as they have a great influence estimate of its approximate cost and the saving that
upon the economic- value of the proposition. Although it would produce in working costs.
ore quantities cannot he expected to he available in In reporting upon the treatment ot an ore the most
this '-lass of property, still an idea should be given <>t important point to remember is that high extractions
the possibilities in this direction by stating that if do not of necessity mean good work, or low extrac-
the deposit is found to continue for a certain dis- tions bad work. If it is considered that the extrac-
tance, both horizontally and vertically, with its tions should lie improved, the onus of showing that
present dimensions and values, it would produce so the .able of the increased metal extract is greater
many tons of ore. This sort of information is usuahy than the extra cost of treatment and the interest and
ot meat value to investors, who ordinarily have very redemption on the required capital expenditure lies
vague ideas about quantities, and are inclined to err upon the engineer. Also, it is important that an in-
upon the wrong side for themselves by imagining vestigation should be made to discover it it is not
greater c[iiantities than can possibly exist. It should possible to make a greater profit out of the ore being
be needless to say that in including any assays no treated by using more of its values. There is always
picked samples should be given, as, however careful a tendency upon the part of metallurgists to spend
one is to state that the sample is a picked one, the more money in improving their extractions than the
investor or owner will build his hopes upon the pos- value of the increased extraction warrants, as their
sibility of obtaining bulk parcels of ore of this value. professional brethren largely look at the extractions
Before including any assay results in a report the being obtained, and judge the metallurgist accord-
engineer should be convinced that there is a reason- —
ingly." J. Bowce Wilson, Australian Minimi and
able chance of his sample eventually representing a Engineering Review. — Mexican Minimi Journal?
quantity of ore. This is more particularly necessary Dec, 1912, p. -JO. (R. A.)
on account of the liability of owners and miners to
always themselves pick samples above the average
value. In the report of the meeting of a mining MISCELLANEOUS.
company, which appeared in the mining columns of Hypochlorite Sterilization ok Water. —
a daily paper, it was stated that it was decided that
'
"Actual Operating and
Reduction of
Statistics tin
two of the directors should visit the property and Typhoid Epidemics Following Installations of this
secure specimens tor assay.' The man who wrote up SysU in in Various Cities.— Hypochlorite sterilization
the account of the meeting most likely meant lias the advantage over ozone and ultra-violet ray
'samples,' but all who have had the pleasure of sterilization in that it is more economical in opera-
watching directors and laymen gathering samples for tion and installation and yet as effective as the others
assay will agree that ' specimens is a very proper
'
in its results. The cost of chemicals for the hypo-
word to use for the result. chlorite treatment will range from 10 to about 40
In describing the geological features of a deposit cents per million gallons treated, the operating and
it must be remembered that too much detail will depreciation charges being very small. The cost for
destroy the clearness of any picture. The main and attendance will vary within wide limits. At one
important features should be carefully described, plant 15,000,000 gallons per day are treated with
and any point which may have the effect of produc- hypochlorite at a cost of 96 cents per million gallons
ing local enrichment. If it is known that the readers for chemical, labour, power, and supervision. The
will only be laymen, this portion of the report should superintendent is also chemist for the water depart-
be greatly contlensed : but if it is expected that the ment, analysing coal, oil, gas, etc. This plant, built
report will be referred to another mining man for with concrete tanks, mechanically-driven agitators,
his opinion, care should be taken to clearly bring out recording devices, and all the latest improvements,
all facts that are necessary to enable the reader to cost about $3,500 complete. At another plant,
form, with his knowledge of geology and ore treating about 30,000,000 gallons per day, the cost of
deposits, a mental picture of the deposit. A sketch operating, including chemical labour, and power, is
plan showing the main features is of great assistance only about 27.6 cents per million gallons. The city
to any reader, and should, whenever possible, be chemist, whose salary is not included in this figure,
attached to the report. has supervision over the operation of the plant.
In reporting upon adeveloped mine great attention New York City is now building a sterilization
should he paid to its past history, and all reliable plant to treat the entire water supply from both the
figures about its production should be included. As old ami the new Croton aqueducts, supplying the
these naturally have to be obtained from records and boroughs of Manhattan and the Bronx, the How of
the mine officials, it is wise to quote in all cases the which may reach a maximum of 380,000,000 gallons
authority for the figures, to allow the reader to form per day. Among the cities in other countries using
his own opinion about the reliability of the source of the hypochlorite treatment might he mentioned :
the information. Naturally the chief feature about Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa, Canada; Cambridge,
this class of report will be the ore reserves and their Worthing and Poplar, England; Middelkerke, Bel-
] ible extensions. The checking of ore reserves is gium Paris and Nice, France ; Vera Cruz, Mexico,
;
a very tedious and lengthy job, and requires great and Havana, Cuba.
care and patience but when the figures are com-
;
The hypochlorite treatment is used alone at Cleve-
pleted the writing of the report is a very simple land an Erie, with impounding reservoirs at Jersey
1
matter. Masses of figures should not be included, City and Baltimore, with sedimentation basins at
and the results can best be shown in tabulated form ;
Nashville and Omaha, with infiltration systems at
but the methods employed in making the calculations Des Moines, with slow sand filters at Pittsburgh and
should be indicated for the information of any Indianapolis, with pressure filters at Davenport and
engineer who may be advising upon your report. Terre Haute, with rapid sand filters at Cincinnati
Plans and sections of the mine should accompany and Cedar Rapids, with mountain streams at North
the report, showing ground stoped out, widths and Yakima and Grant's Pass and with well-water sup-
assay values. If the report is for the owners of the lies at Corning. The action of the chemical is purely
mine, any improvement that you can suggest about germicidal, oxidizing the organic matter and bacteria.
—
454 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Afri March 1013
It does not reduce the turbidity and decreases the ing the use of hypochlorite, namely, 1909, 1910 and
colour only to a slight extent. 1911, a reduction of 48% in die average typhoid death
Whereas it requires months to instal a filter plant, rate.
a hypochlorite plant can be put into operation in a Cincinnati, Ohio, has a rapid sand filter plant with
few days and even hours, if urgent. It is a valuable a capacity of 1 12,000,000 gallons per day. The hypo-
adjunct to a filtration system, which at best removes chlorite treatment has been used as an adjunct to the
only 97% or 98% of the bacteria without any parti- filtration process since December, 1910. The reduc-
cular selective action. The hypochlorite treatment tion in bacteria in the filtered water by means of the
used in conjunction with filtration will at a very hypochlorite treatment was from 315 to 26, or 91 '7%
small additional expense increase the bacterial B. coli was present in 0'6% of the 1 cc. samples and
removal to from 99% to 99-9%. in 91 "1% of the 100 cc. samples of filtered water
In considering typhoid fever statistics before and examined, but in the treated filtered water tested no
after the introduction of the hypochlorite treatment, 1 cc. portion showed B coli present and only 12% of
it is often very difficult to make a fair comparison the 100 cc. portions were positive.
for the reason that there is a woeful laxity in report- These data show conclusively that the hypochlorite
ing these statistics in many cities. This is usually of lime treatment of water supplies is wonderfully
conscientiously looked after following an epidemic, effective, that it reduces the bacterial content of
but seldom previous to one. water to a very low number, that it practically
Cedar Kapids, Iowa, began using hypochlorite in eliminates B. coli, and therefore, we think, B.
March, 1912, as an adjunct to its rapid sand filters typhosus, from water supplies, that it is a very valu-
and the results have been spectacular. During the able adjunct to filter plants, that mountain streams
period from March 29th to April 15th, 1912, the raw and impounded reservoir supplies are made safe by
water averaged 40,200 bacteria ; filtration alone its use, that it has stopped many typhoid epidemics
showed a reduction in bacteria to 1,700. or 95 8%, -
already begun, and in all probability it has prevented
while the count for water treated with hypochlorite many epidemics from occurring. Hypochlorite is not
was only 44 per cc. or a total reduction of 99 '9%.
, a panacea, but when properly applied to the proper
B. coli was present in 63% of the raw water samples water in the correct quantities it will accomplish
examined, in 36% of the filtered water samples, but wonderful results. Its great cheapness as to instal-
not a single 1 cc. portion of the sterilized water lation and operation, the short time necessary to
showed B. coli. instal the treatment and its comparative simplicity,
Nashville, Tenn., after drawing the water from will surely cause sterilization by hypochlorite of
the Cumberland River, coagulates it with alum and lime to be continued and to be adopted by other
"
allows it to settle in large basins. It is then cities where the supply is not all that it should be
sterilised with hypochlorite of lime. The average — C. A. JENNINGS, The Engineering .Magazine (from
bacterial content of the raw water is 3,000 per cc. Engineering Records), p. 274, Nov. 1912. (R. A.)
with 90% of the 1 cc. portions tested showing B.
coli present. The settled and sterilized water shows The Manufacture of Sugar from Wood and
an average of only 70 bacteria, and during the year its Economic Importance. — " The industrial utili-
1910only three samples out of 1,200 tested showed B. sation of the alternative chemical substances which
coli. wood is capable of producing has recently received a
The wonderful efficiency of hypochlorite in stop- new impetus by the application of the Classen pro-' '
ping a typhoid epidemic has been shown at Council cess. In tnis process, wood meal, or sawdust,
Bluff's, Iowa; the epidemic began in the Fall of 1909 undergoes various and far-reaching chemical changes.
and ended with the introduction of hypochlorite in The resulting products are of economic importance,
April, 1910. Since this treatment was inaugurated, and deserve, therefore, special attention. They have
a period of 25 months to June 1, 1912, there have this unique attraction in that they are all and every
been but five deaths from typhoid in this city with one of them not produced from any other raw
a population of 30,000, and one of these five deaths material which this country produces. One of the
was that of an imported case. This is a remarkable main features of bhii industry is, therefore, that we
record. For the eight months following the intro- can produce commodities which are of essential
duction of hypochlorite there was not a single death importance to us and will, by that means, be with us
from typhoid. even in case of war when our present resources or
Omaha, Neb., has used the hypochlorite treat- importations from abroad may be cut off.
ment since May, 1910, at which time there was an Wood substance is a complex of carbohydrates,
epidemic of typhoid. The typhoid death rates per and the following is taken to represent the proxi-
100,000 for Omaha have been : 1908, 16: 1909, 26 ; mate composition of ordinary pine sawdust :
1910, 67; 1911, 13. A reduction from 67 to 13 per Ash ... 0-7
100,000 is remarkable, and it is difficult to say how Sugar ... ... ... ... nil
much higher the rate would have been in 1910 had Carbohydrates soluble in acid and
not the sterilizing process been installed in May of alkali ... ... ... 310
that year. It is worthy of mention that the treated Carbohydrates insoluble in acid and
and settled water shows an average of only 43 alkali ... ... ... 683
bacteria, whereas the raw water from the Missouri
River averages 30,447. 1000
Jersey City, N. J., was one of the first cities to Wood otherwise defined as a cell structure mainly
is
adopt the hypochlorite treatment for municipal water composed of cellulose with lignone, pentosane, cutin,
supplies. The water from the storage reservoir etc., as secondary components which are incorpor-
averages 12,000 bacteria, with I!, coli present, but ated with the cellulose. Theie latter substances are
the treated water averages only 10, with B. coli protective to the plant tissues. They show a ten-
absent. The hypochlorite treatment was installed dency to hardening with every year's growth, and
in September, 1908. The average for 1905, 1906 and are called encrusting substances.'
'
1907 is ls-5 per 100,000 and this is reduced to an Chemically, they are carbohydrates, and so far
average of 9'6 per 100,000 for the three years follow- analogous to cellulose, but they differ as chemical
March 19 L2 Notices and Abstracts: Miscellaneous. 455
individuals by fundamental constitutional varia- pathetic attitude of the Inland Revenue authorities,
tions, ofwhich the elementary composition, and who, however, were bound to apply a prohibitive
notably the percentages of carbon contained, are only law.
a slight index. The lignone and eutin have a higher, Improvements have been made in the quality of the
the pentosanes a lower, percentage. But these sugars obtained, but, so far, it has not been possible
bodies represent distinct constitutional groups. to prepare a crystalline sugar on a commercial scale.
The compounds which they form with cellulose In following up the matter industrially, the tex-
lessen the reactivity of the cellulose complex, and ture of this convene fibrous product came into con-
I
this becomes more pronounced with every year's sideration. Instead of the tenacious wood structure,
growth. In annual plant life, as with hay and we hail produced a friable substance of great porosity
similar substances, the modifications are slight, but filled with the sugar product as the result of the
in perennial woods they develop with every year. process. This substance, having no fibrous tenacity,
Hence it comes that wood stands discredited as an was evidently useless for the paper industry. The
article of fond, while hay and cereal straws are of reason for this is the structural disintegration
great food utility. It is held, therefore, that saw- attending hydrolysis hydrocellulose, with which it
;
dust has only a problematical food value, and even may be classed, also possessing no tenacity. The
detracts from the food value of other feeding mix- new product is sufficiently distinctive for a specific
tures of which it may be a component. descriptive term, and the name of sacchulose was
' '
These physical facts are sufficient to prove that work, ' The Economic-!
of Feeding Horses,' and
sacchulose is no longer wood. Id has lost the char- American authors, like Professor Armsby, have un-
acteristics of wood. The drastic changes in the for- hesitatingly accepted the figures given by Kellner, as
mation of su?ar and the complete disintegration of above, as the respective data for calculating starch
ligno-cellulose justify a special descriptive term for equivalents or heat values.
this new product. We have selected 'sacchulose,' Astriking feature of these data suggests correc-
as said before. tion of the popular conception of the high food value
My attention to the potential value of this new of albuminoids, which our agricultural classes are
product as an article of food was first attracted by asked to hold. English farmers are paying annually
the lectures of Professor Lehmann, of Goettingen, large sums for albuminoids under the erroneous
and Professor Kellner, of Moeckern, who had each impression that they aie fully as rich in fetding
independently found that when feeding oxen with value as oil and fat.
the more tenacious and resistive strawstuff of paper- As real food values, however, the digested oil is
makers, a very considerable proportion of body fat just two and a half that of the digested albuminoids,
was deposited in the animal from the digested part and, further, the digested carbohydrates are by no
of this substance, and the co-efficient of digestibility means inferior to the albuminoids. What is essen-
was found to be even as high as 95%. tial is that a certain percentage of albuminoids,
Lehmann and Kellner give the unchallenged figure sufficient to replace the nitrogenous substances ex-
of 248 parts of body fat formed from every thousand pended by the body tissue in the digestive process of
parts of digested strawstutl', the same as starch and converting carbohydrates into fat, must be replaced
more than sugar, and even slightly more than albu- in the body to keep a beast in good health. There-
minoids, thus showing that a colloidal hydrated fore, an equivalent proportion of albuminoids in the
lignified cellulose is freely digestible. food ration is necessary to replace that expenditure.
In Kellner's standard book, The Scientific Feed-
'
This proportion, and sufficient for all purposes, i>
ing of Animals,' translated into English by his pupil, generally considered by eminent authors to be no
Professor W. Goodwin, now Director of the Midland more than 10% in a food ration, and larger propor-
Dairy College, we find on page 82 that the following tions of albuminoids in a food ration give by no
quantities were assimilated as body-fat from digested means better results.
food materials, provided that they were added in I should like to add here a word as regards crude
purely finely divided form to a maintenance ration. fibre, as the term is used in the feeding science.
yx. fat.
Crude fibre, of course, occurs more or less in all
From 1,00D grammes Protein (Albuminoids) 235 plant life, since it is the framework of all vegetable
,, 1,000 ,, Starch or Nitrogen free growth, but it must not be concluded that all crude
extract and Crude fibre in plants is therefore of equal food value, nor
Fibre 248 that Kellner's figures apply in full to, for instance,
,, 1,000 ,, Cane Sugar 188 the crude fibre in oats, hay, straw, or other natural
,, 1,000 ,, Fat 474 to 598 growth of even greater resistance.
This discovery as to the relative value of crude Crude fibre occurs in such plants in more or less
fibre induced further study as to the feeding poten-
whole and resistive form, requiring a considerable
tiality of sacchulose. amount of chewing labour by the animal, largely
Before I proceed, however, I would ask you to detracting from the heat value of such class of crude
fibre, which, under certain conditions, even affects
notice these figures, which are accepted unchallenged
in all countries where agriculture is benefited the reputed heat value of the other food constituents
by the co-operation of Government support for the such as albuminoids, fat, and other carbohydrates in
maintenance of elaborate research stations to .ascer- such food.
tain the relative feeding value of every available In oats we see that the crude fibre is accountable
food, so as to guide the farmer in the selection of the for a larger deduction than its reputed value
most economical materials in order to assure the namely, 333 loss as against 2'7 gain.
greatest possible return for the money expended. —
In meadow hay it is much the same loss namely,
Such important help has not, until very recently, 11 55 loss as against 10 62 gain, the balance being at
existed in this country, and practically the few ex- the expense of the albuminoids, fat and other carbo-
cellent feeding specialists we have in England, who hydrates in the respective foods.
have made a particular study of this science, have It be seen that although crude fibre
will therefore
been ottered very little or no opportunity to make is good food value according to Lehmann and
of
their valuable influence felt with the • gricultural Kellner, yet that real value is qualified by the form
classes. Through this neglect our British agricul- in which it is ottered.
tural interests have undoubtedly been at a great dis- In considering the factors of efficiency of sacchu-
-
We have to thank the present Board of Agricul- tegrated product, and therefore readily breaks down
ture that this state of neglect will not be permitted under slight pressure between the fingers, its porosity
to last any longer, and funds have now been granted already demonstrated giving great surface for attack :
for maintaining a research station in the manner it is, furthermore, chemically disintegrated through
recommended by English specialists in the science of the changes of the liguone, by which the cellulose is
feeding. freed from the encrusting substances.
The development of such an institution is, how- It is also generally true that natural substances,
ever, not a day's achievement, and a good space of such as wood, have an equilibrium which means
time will be required to bring that work to any stability, and when this equilibrium is disturbed by
degree of efficiency. chemical action it is frequently observed that changes
Meanwhile, I find that not only every important go on with accelerated speed. Thus in this con-
author on the Continent and America, but also verted product not only are soluble sugars present
Professor B. Warrington, of Oxford, in his book but after these sugars have been removed the tissue
' Chemistry
of the Farm,' and Professor H. A. substances actually give the characteristic reaction
Woodruff, of the Boyal Veterinary College, in his for the sugar aldehydes and copper-salt precipitating
—
capacity, therefore permitting a much more rapid to that when they are fed entirely on oats and
breakdown under the action of the powerful diges- chaff.
tive juices of animals. A- to ruminants, they, of course, have in them-
Here, then, we have our wood converted into a selves greater capacity of assimilating crude libre,
form which, in comparison with the structure of the and when ordinary care has been taken and time
usual annual growing feeding-stuff?, offers us the been given, most gratifying results have been
greatest encouragement, both as regards texture and obtained in fattening and producing animals, just as
chemical condition. No further improvement can be in the case of fowls and wild birds.
desired as far as its chemical condition is concerned, In the production of milk and butter a keen ex-
but still an important process has to be carried out hibitor of dairy produce, after several years' failure
in order to ensure the highest and most natural to gain any first-class recognition at county shows,
physical condition of sacchulose. In the manufacture, achieved his successes during the period in which he
we have not only carried out a conversion, as already experimented with sacchulose mixed with oil and
explained, but also in that process we have destroyed protein.
certain substances which played their rdle as encrust- The manager of one of the largest firms of butchers
ing and protective materials. Consequently, our in the country made the interesting discovery that
converted product would have a tendency to shrink the feed produced the best bacon hogs which he had
together and reduce the surface for attack by the cut.
gastric juices, if steps were not taken to make this A
veterinary surgeon, with a large g ineral prac-
impossible. To this end, materials of various kinds tice in a district where many sacchulose-molasses
are by agitation induced into the pores of the sacchu- feeding experiments were being carried out, gave it
lose directly the acid vapours necessary for the as his undoubted opinion that sacchulose food was
conversion have been expelled, and before the pores one which he could thoroughly recommend.
of the product have had time to contract. Another veterinary surgeon, after conducting ex-
For this purpose either an addition of a small periments on his own horses, came to the conclusion
quantity of molasses or the admixture of fatty sub- that sacchulose mixed with molasses was the best
stances is suitable. sugar-food he had ever tried, and its Hesh-forming
So far I have dealt with the theoretical reasons why propensities most pronounced.
wood treated in the manner which I have described In fact, many thousands of tons have been con-
should be a digestible and useful food and of special sumed in practically every county in the kingdom,
value to a country like our own, which is entirely and the results have justified the early experiments
dependent on the importation of foreign-grown pro- referred to.
duce. Up to the present no experiments have been made
I have enumerated various statements made by with sacchulose prepared for mixing. Owing to the
the leading agricultural scientists of the day in peculiar condition of this converted product, it is
support of my contentions, but no truer proof as to very difficult to overcome the physical shrinkage and
the actual value of sacchulose to the farmer and chemical rever-ion to which this product is prone.
stock breeder can be gained than by experiments Some interesting experiments have recently been
carried out on livestock. The three tests which carried out in Germany with some of the crude con-
come under consideration are :
verted wood in its unstable state as it leaves the first
process of manufacture. This crude product, although
1. Testing on live-stock and working animals
it had not been treated further, and had actually
without interfering with their daily routine.
been stored for a twelvemonth before the tests were
2. Testing on animals which are boxed for the
purpose under natural conditions, as carried out by made and bad consequently suffered in the manner
the agricultural institutes.
which I have described, actually confirmed, under
the unnatural conditions, the results of the practical
3 The laboratory tests, as used to determine the
feeding value of all agricultural foodstuffs.
experiments which I have enumerated.
It might be said that weight production does not The increase of weight, or the formation of body
necessarily mean healthy condition. No better substance, as has been proved in practice and also in
method exists, you will agree with me, in order to those German experiments when a reputed sacchu-
ascertain whether or not an animal is in first-rate lose was fed, offers considerable inducement for
order, so far as appearance, coat and condition are further study by the feeding specialist.
concerned, than to offer such an animal to the judg- Involuntarily, I am reminded here of Kellner'sand
ment of the practical connoisseurs who act as judges Pfeiffer and Frisk's surprise at the formation of body
at recognised agricultural shows. In the early stages substance with food material comparatively poor in
of this new discovery a horse, which received its albuminoids and fat.
regular sacchulose rations daily, won more than Personally, I incline to think that the very poro-
twenty prizes, and another won live as a yearling. sity which this new product sacchulose offers,
Seeing that this discovery of a new base for fodder exercises a levigating influence upon the pasty chyme
production is so absolutely and entirely different passing from the stomach into the intestinal tract,
from anything ever before attempted, and feeling and so helps in the intestinal digestion to bring
also that the knowledge of the base from which it is about a better utilisation of the food for the forma-
prepared is in many eases sulll'dent to prejudice the tion of body substance, produce and work of the
lay mind against making serious test- witii it, I feel animal. This, however, must be left to the results
it incumbent on myself to mention the results of future research.
obtained by gentlemen who have been kind enough, As to the chemical determinations of the value of
in the early beginnings of our experiments, to con- foodstuffs, these are admittedly inconclusive and
duet practical tests for their own satisfaction. sometimes of doubtful value. The so-called indiges-
Still pursuing the subject of horses, the secretary tible fibre obtained by chemical separation as used
of an important Durham colliery reports that he in the official methods of examining is not claimed
finds the substitution of 2 lb. of sacchulose mixed to represent that part which is rejected by the beast.
with molasses for an equal weight of oats keeps pit One would imagine that what resisted drastio
ponies and horses in good and hard condition, similar chemical treatment would be of no value to the
— —
458 The Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. March 101.'
animal. It is, however, often found that this chemi- other directions has yet to be considered. The sugar
cally resisting portion is largely assimilable, espe- content marks it out as a resource for some industry,
cially by ruminants. and naturally the first of these is the manufacture of
The process of the conversion has been mentioned spirit. This has already been touched upon, and to
as the heating of sawdust under a pressure of six to outline the process briefly would add nothing to our
seven atmospheres, i.e., 90—100 lb. in closed vessels. knowledge of the subject. It follows in the main in
This sounds simple enough, yet the mechanism of the two operations of fermenting and distilling, and
the action is really complicated and extremely these actual operations are sufficiently well known.
interesting. It is, perhaps, sufficient to say that a factory, cap-
To trace the continued action is still more so, and able of treating 200 tons of sawdust per week, could
the results give rise to interesting speculation. turn out between 300,000 and 400,000 gal. of proof
An experiment undertaken was the subjection of spirit per annum. This would also give by-products
a series of blocks taken from the same plank and cut of 50 tons of acetic acid, 10 tons of furfural, and
to ei[iial size. These blocks, measuring 4 in. x 3 in. '2.000 gal. of methyl-alcohol for recovery The spirit
x 2 in., were treated for periods of from one to twelve produced is of high quality, being free from fusel oil,
hours in the autoclave. though in these days a mixed advantage, since it
The results speak for themselves, and are given as appears that the fusel oil obtained as a by-product is
under :
becoming more valuable than the spirit produced.
Periods. Wood. 1 - 3 i 5 6 12
A glance at the results is interesting. Comparing Time was, and not more than twelve years ago, when
the original wood with the results of the first action, fusel oil was worth only £10 to £20 per ton, while
we get an idea of the value of the process, although to-day it fetches £150 per ton, and the price i> rising
it must be remembered that we are dealing with a rapidly day by day.
thick block, not with Hakes of wood. Many other alternative openings have not yet been
So great a penetrative force has been developed that fully considered.
no less than 15% of sugar has been formed, and the in- The sugar world to-day is producing vast amounts
soluble fibre has been partly digested. After the of farina sugar, i.e., glucose, and this amount,
fourth treatment the wood begins to show the result although so enormous, does not adequately supply
of the continued action, and accumulates acid by the the demand made for it, so that the rdle of wood
increase of condensed and insoluble fibre, as will be sugar is not to be ignored when the question of such
seen from the specimens before you. a body as caramel is to be considered.
These dark pieces are not charred, however, but It is, of course, not contended that such a saccha-
altered by condensation, and as the ultimate prodirct rine matter can compete with white glucose for
of the condensation of wood is coal, it may perhaps sugar-boiling, but for sugars relatively unferment-
be a permissable speculation to put forward the idea able, to be used as priming in the brewing industry,
that in these specimens you have a magnified view of this may form a base.
what happens to the vegetable matter which was
Of late years, too, molasses have been used for
buried in the earth ages ago. Taking coal and the
road sprinkling, and it is seriously suggested that
specimens before you in comparison, each is wood
the Cuban molasses should lie shipped to New York
which has been subjected to great pressure under the
for American consumption for this purpose. If this
action of acid and water vapour. That coal forma- is successful, why should not a similar product home-
tion is influenced by the formation of acid substances
produced be used for home consumption? The
is supported by the fact that vegetable decay is
experiments are to be further carried on, and their
attended by tlie formation of organic acids, and
successful completion will cause a demand for very
even peat, one of the transition products of vegetable
large quantities of such products.
decay, always shows acidity. One, however, has
been treated at high temperature for a short time, Still another use for the sugar is the preparation
while the other has been treated at at a lower tem- of butyric acid by bacterial action, and already the
perature for a very long time. It is not, however, acid produced from this source has been found to he
suggested that artificial coal is yet a commercial of good quality. One may here pertinently ask :
converted wood substance, and its value in these from a Potato' have already appeared.
—
Converted wood may claim to lie the cheapest Abstracts of Patent Applications.
base from which ti> start for such a purpose, and it
will doubtless !« of great assistance in the develop-
ment of tliis process. The hase or its derivatives (('.) 212/12. Guiseppe Antonio Pietro Provay. Im-
have a field in the linoleum industry, for the speeially- provements in truck tipplers or means for
treated ami prepared base has many advantages for discharging the contents of trucks and like
resilient treadings. Again, in the manufacture of vehicles. 10.4.12.
mining explosives, where organic matter is mixed This application is for an improved railway truck
with powerful oxidising agents, this substance can tippler. The principal use of this tippler is for load-
be used with great advantage, since it can be so ing ships and the like with coal.
minutely divided, and lias such rapidity of combus-
tion. Not the least surprising of its characteristics (C. ) 218/12. Adam
Richard Staepoole. Improve-
arc its non-conducting properties, produced by appro- ments the linings of tube mills,
in amalgam
priate treatment, so that for refrigerator packing, barrels and the like. 16.4.12.
incubators, ice chambers, etc., it will he found of This application relates to improvements in tube
great use. mill linings which consists in adopting blocks of
Much more could be claimed for it, and many wood shaped to lit the interior of the mill which are
other out lets are under investigation and are under- reinforced with pins or pieces of suitable hard
going patient development. These varied processes material for this purpose.
are, after all, the result of, and go hand-in-hand
with, the production of sugar from wood." —
A. ZlM- (C.) 244/12. Martin Deacon (1), William Cove (2).
Improvements in or relating to apparatus for
MERMANN. Journal of the Ror/al Society of Arts,
adding reagents to liquids or for mixing liquids.
Dae., 6, 1912, Vol. lxi., No. 3133, pp. 69-78. '(J. O.)
3.5.12.
This application has reference to an apparatus for
Review. mixing liquids, and comprises a vessel having two
outlets, one for the dense solution and another
Concentrating Ores by Flotation. By Theo- oppositely disposed for the less dense liquid, and an
dore J. Hoover. 230 pages. 12s. 6d. ('lhe outlet for the mixed solution. A Hoat whose position
Mining Magazine,) is controlled by the density of the mixed solution
"This work is the first collected account of the operates the two inlet valves in opposite senses so as
various processes at present employed in which ores to maintain a uniformity of density of the mixed
are concentrated by what is generally termed 'the solution.
dotation process.' This has now reached the com-
mercial stage, and will, as it is better understood and (('. 605/12.
) Leo Michael Andrew Zumhusch. Im-
improved, have doubtless a much wider Held for provements in machines for concentrating ore
operations in the future. and other materials. 18.11.12.
In all new metallurgical ideas no certain results This application has reference to an apparatus for
can be reasonably expected from any one process on concentrating alluvial or crushed ore products, and
all types of ores. The dotation process is emerging consists of a vat or a series of vats within which
from the point where success or failure can be reason- are arranged shaking trays operated by suitable
ably ascertained, before going to a large and perhaps gearing.
unnecessary expenditure. A cylindrical vessel, disposed on top of the vats
Having reached this stage, it becomes at once of into which the pulp Hows continuously, is made to
practical importance to the mining engineer, who is discharge intermittently on to the trays, permitting
called upon to face the treatment of low-grade sul- of the complete concentration of the pulp before
phide ores, especially those containing zinc. another discharge is effected.
One thing can be stated -that probably no com-
bination of metallurgical processes has been the (<'.) 632/12. Cyril Douglas MeCourt. Improve-
subject of so much litigation, and the remarks made. ments in processes and apparatus for calcining
by the author on pages 39 and 411 are only an expres- or treating material in granular form. 29.11.12.
sion of opinion which can be fully endorsed by any- This application relates to a process and apparatus
one who has had to do with the Patent Laws as they for calcining and treating ore by means of a mixture
at present stand. of air and gas entering the furnace at a speed greater
The theories connected with surface-tension and than the speed of back ignition of the mixture, the
adhesion are treated in Chapter 4, bill not so clearly material in the furnace being kept in an incan-
and fully as might have been possible bad the author descent state at the point of entrance of the gas
not wished not to trespass on the new and unpublished mixture.
details that will be looked for in Sulman & Picard's
new work on The Theories of Concentration Pro-
' (C.) 7/13. Thomas Sutton. Improvements in ore
feeders. 4.1.13.
cesses Involving Surface Tension.'
A fairly complete statement of the various results This application refers to an ore feeder for stamp
obtained are found scattered through the pages. mills or other crushing appliances, and claims a
The next edition would be improved if a chapter was special applicability to the feeding of wet or sticky
given up to tabulated results, so that both reference ores.
to and comparison of the various mines and processes It consists of a short length of ordinary screw
would be facilitated. conveyor in the usual type of trough, driven by a
The author may be congratulated on producing a grip wheel operated by a striking lever which
useful and needed work on a subject which has been receives motion from one of the stamps, or in the
not fully understood in the past, and will doubtless case of other crushing appliances from a revolving
be welcomed by the mining world. shaft provided with a cam.
A complete 'bibliography is added. The book is This lever is provided with a screw stop for adjust
well printed and indexed." Mining Journal, Dec. ing the feed and also with an arrangement for
28. 1912. (H. A- W.) dropping it clear of the actuating tappet or cam.
)
460 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and. Minim) Society of Smith Afr March 1913
(C.) 25/13. Hugo Velten. Improvements relating (C.) 103/13. Ernst Sokolowski. Improvements
to ore dressing apparatus. 14. 1. 13. in or relating to explosives. 28.2.13.
This application describes a form of spitzlutte (C.) 104/13. Frederic Ehninger Baldwin. Im-
hydraulic classifier, "operating by means of a provements in acetylene gas lamps. 28.2.13.
separating medium in the form of an ascending (C.) 105/13. Frederic Ehninger Baldwin. Im-
stream, characterised by the tact that the cross provements in miners' lamps 28.2.13.
section of the separating medium is abruptly re- (C.) 106/13. John Ashford. Improvements in
stricted immediately below the level of the lateral and relating to tube wells and the like. 28.2.13.
discharge outlet for the separating medium and the (P.) 107/13. Edward Henry Johnson (1), George
lighter or smaller material carried away by it.'' James Mackay (2), Charles Frederick Edward Oscar
Schmitt (3). Improvements in filtering apparatus.
28.2 13.
(P.) 108/13. Johannes Jacobus van Zyl. An
Selected Transvaal Patent Applications. improved automatic coupling, with specially con-
structed link for railway carriages and trucks.
Relating to Chemistry, Metallurgy and 4.3.13.
Mining.
(C.) 83/13. Cyrus Robinson. Improvements in Allan, J. R. , l\o Maraisburg ; Essex, P. O. Twee-
agitating devices. 14.2.13. spruit. O.F.S.
(C.) 84/13. Jens Andrews Johnson Humberseth BEATTY, J. W. S., tn "Freda," Marshall Street,
(1), Teif Knudsen Improvements in means for
(2). Belgravia, Johannesburg.
sharpening rock drills and the like. 14.2.13. Bluett, II. N., Z/o Sumatra, D.E.I; " Oaklea,"
(C.) 85/13. Robert Larl'ord Lowne (1), Cyrus Chaucer Road, Bedford, England.
Robinson (2). Improvements in and relating to pro- Brodigan, V. F., l/o Sabie c/o H. A. Tute, Esq., ;
cesses for precipitating and separating metal from Nourse Mines, Denver {pro tern).
solutions. 14.2.13. Burt, W., l/o Rhodesia 20, Burden Terrace, New-
;
(P.) 88/13. Alexander Pearson (1), Frank May - Mining Co., Ltd., N. Rhodesia.
nard Hallewell (2). An improvement for grinding Dunnachie, W. J. N., l/o Transvaal Newlands, ;
and classifying graphite by dry air process. 19.2.13. Mount Vernon (N), Glasgow, Scotland.
(C.) 89/13. John Brookes Chadwick (1), Peter Francis, W., l/o Kimberley Reefs; Union G. M.
Hollinshead (2). Improvements in or relating to the Co., Macequece, P. E. Africa.
working of gas producers. 21.3.13 Gibson, J. M.,'l/o Denver; 32, President Street,
(P.) 90/13. Frederick Victor William Swanton. Germiston.
Improvements in power production apparatus. Hill, J. W., tjo P. E. Africa 38, Darnley Road, ;
Improvements in induction motors foi driving wind- vincial Bank, Finchley Road, Hampstead,
ing engines and for similar services. 21.2.13. London, N.W.
(C.) John Godfrey Parry Thomas. Im-
92/13. Mackay, G. J., l/o East Rand Machavie G. M. ;
George Hayward (2). An improved instrument for Prop. Mines, P. O. Box 192, Germiston.
measuring and indicating the length of the diameter Thorburn, A., l/o Geldenhuis Deep, Ltd.; Rose
and/or circumference of cylindrical bodies or other Deep, Ltd., P. O. Box 184, Germiston.
bodies of similar shape. 26 2. 13. Truscott, S. J., l/o Aberdare Gardens 509, Salis- ;
(P.) 99/13. James Book. An automatic light- bury House, London, E.C.
ing protector. 26.2.13. Veasey, J. H., l/o Que Que Chance Mine, Golden ;
THE JOURNAL
Chemical, (Metallurgical attb JRining gncietg
op South Africa.
The Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
deceased members.
White, E. Pam, J. E. Thomas, F. W. Watson,
Prof. J. A. Wilkinson, R. G. Bevington, A. F.
The President It is with deep sorrow we
:
able for scholarships of the yearly value of £150 unable to get access to the somewhat uncommon
to £250 each. These will be open to those resident publication (Biochemische Zeitschrift, 1910, p.
within the Witwatersrand area who have passed 100 ft .??</. by S. P. L. Sorensen) in which they
their 18th year. Awards will be made in one or are discussed. This I have now been able to do,
more of the following subjects Art, Music,
:
and thereafter have made and tried some of these
Languages, Education, Literature, Railway Eco- indicators in air-testing with success.
nomics and Organisation, Marine Transport, I first worked with benzaurine ^ phenol benzeine)
Municipal Economics, Anthropology and Ethno- which is very easily made, even here. A mix-
logy, and any department of Historical, Economic ture of one molecular proportion of benzaldehyd
or Scientific Research. I shall be pleased to send with two of phenol is treated with a little strong
a copy of the circular to any member interested sulphuric acid and thereafter carefully heated
in this matter. until the first solid product (leucobenzaurine) is
oxidised into the dye it is then poured into water
:
gas, it is in the main due to the behaviour of the sample, two 200 cc. samples were withdrawn into
indicator phenolphthalein, and held out hopes the test-bottles already in use for the shaking-
that a better indicator would be discoverable. method, and tested as described last year, only
Using phenolphthalein and the diminished quan- witli the use of benzaurine as the indicator ami
tity of reagent recommended in the Journal for 12*0 ci. of the Na, 0O3 reagent. The theoretical
April 1912, I find the error is usually about amount is 125 cc. for the laboratory pressure
0-02% when the CO„ is 020%, and it is still (13 6 for average underground). I thus gave an
negative (0 22 indicated as 020) and somewhat
-
allowance of 4% to compensate for CO^ which
irregular owing to the indefiniteness of the refuses to dissolve on shaking.
phenolphthalein end-point.
See my remarks "ii T>. 1. .tames' paper (see this Journal,
•
The theoretically-correct indicator is one which Volume Mil., November, 1912, page 194): the poor colour
is a slightly weaker acid than phenolphthalein,
given by monoxyriiphenylphthalide with ulk:iti is due to the
hydrolysis of the salt being over 50%. The monomethyl ether
so that the disturbing influence of its presence on of phenolphthalein (which Mr. James was unable to make)
should behave in the same way, being constitutionally an Lo
), (itself a weak acid), shall be diminished to
<
'(
pious to monoxydiphenylphthalide. This monomethyl e
say to 2%, instead of the 10 to 20% caused by
1
should be easily obtainable by combining pbthalic anhydride
lirst «h h anisol and then with phenol, but I have not hail time
phenolphthalein. to tn it.
April 191:: eneral Business. 463
1 019% Colour not quite neu- 18% than Na„ C0 3 the proper strength of the weak
,
colourless with acids, the change being remarkably the results to normal pressure and temperature.
sharp as compared with that of phenolphthalein I should like to know how this is clone, because, if
or of benzaurine. Its acid function tends to be there are certain normal solutions for gas analysis
too much on the weak side, so that its tendency those solutions are made up to express a certain
is to give slightly too high results when used in weight in milligrammes of the gases that are
IVttenkofer's method, but when used in the shak- being determined, yet the weights in milligrammes
ing bottle method this error practically com- are made up for normal pressure and tempera-
pensates the error due to imperfect solution of ture. I should like to ask Dr. Moir if he would
the CO.,, so that when thymolphthalein is used, kindly explain to us how these weights are
the theoretical quantity of reagent should be reduced to normal pressure and temperature in
used, viz., 12'5 cc. on the surface, 136 cc. for the bottles that are brought up from the mines.
medium depths in the mines (say 2,500 ft. ) and Dr. J. Moir (Past- President): Instead of calculat-
145 cc. in the deepest mines. Thymolphthalein ing the volume of the actual bottles back to NTP
is unfortunately still expensive, but so little is as Mi'. Crosse suggests, I calculate the solution
used in the tests that this really makes no differ- from NTP into the actually existing conditions of
ence. I think that with this indicator it will be the mine. I take the mine pressure ami temperature
unnecessary to use Pettenkofer's method for mine as the standard in calculating the strength of the
air samples and that they can be tested by the solutions.* In all these processes the error may
shaking method on the spot as required. I hope be allowed to be as much as 5%. The amount
that one of my confreres engaged in this work to be determined is 20 and it does not matter
for the mines will compare the methods mi actual whether it is 019 or 021. If I assume the
simultaneous mine samples and let us know the pressure at 25 in. it does not matter if it is
results. I should also like to know how the blue or 25.1 n
24J in. ;
404 The Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 191S
observed any tendency for the colour to come as to whether barium carbonate is alkaline to
back again owing to the solubility of BaC0 3 phenolphthalein is surely a matter of experiment,
even on standing overnight, except in the case of and I think if Mr. Toombs will try the experi-
one particular bottle out of a set of 24 in con- ment in a platinum vessel he will get the same
stant use. With this particular bottle the end result. In the experiments he describes he must
point was always unsatisfactory, the colour have overshot the mark so much that the solubil-
returning over and over again even after an ity of BaC0 3 could not show up. As regards
excess of acid had been used —
this I put down to the other point I agree, that where the sample is
the alkaline nature of a poor quality glass. collected underground and brought to a cold labo-
I would suggest to Dr. Moir the possibility of ratory and this condensed, really too much CO.,
an error on the other side, viz., too high a result. is obtained, but I do not believe there is ever any-
When samples taken underground at a fairly high thing like 1condensed water in the bottles.
cc. of
temperature are received at the laboratory they As for whatWilkinson says, I have to
Prof.
are under great pressure, and probably at a much point out that thymolphthalein is less sensitive to
lower temperature than when taken. The prac- alkali than phenolphthalein and more sensitive to
tice is to carefully lower the pressure to that of acid.
the laboratory. I have observed that after this
operation there is invariably a small amount of
moisture, sometimes amounting to a couple of
NOTE ON THE QUANTITATIVE DETER-
MINATION OF NITROUS FUMES IN
cubic centimetres, left in the bottle. Now. this- FIRING (CHEESA) STICKS.
moisture will be saturated with CO., absorbed
from the full sample before reducing the pressure By Dr. L. Heyma.w (Associate).
and the result will therefore be too high.
Pettenkofer's method was the subject of a The new mining regulation which came into
i
earch by Letts and Blake of the Queen's force on January 1st prohibiting the use of
University, Belfast. (Proc. Chem. Soc, 1896, "cheesa" sticks made with blasting gelatine, and
192). They found that it was necessary to use permitting the use of such lighters only as do not
bottles coated with paraffin wax to avoid errors produce any nitrous fumes, had the effect of
due to action of the alkali on glass. By the use bringing into the market many different makes
of these bottles and special apparatus and of these products, and the necessity was soon felt
burettes to enable them to make the determina- for having a quick and reliable method for the
tions in vacuo, they found a mean error of 004 in technical determination of nitrous fumes.
10.000, using large receivers containing air free A number of experiments were made with
from C0
2
and adding very accurately measured
, various methods, and the following was found to
quantities of pure carbonic anhydride. be the most satisfactory. The principle involved
Mr. F. W. Watson (Member of Council) I : is that a small quantity of the substance to be
have much pleasure in seconding the vote of analysed is burned in a closed vessel of sufficient
thanks. We are deeply indebted to Dr. Moir for capacity to make the conditions comparable with
many small notes he gives US under "General those obtaining when combustion takes place in
Business." He has done a great deal of work on the open air, and the fumes are completely
comparatively unknown indicators, and I am sure absorbed by a strong alkaline solution in which
it would be of great benefit to us all if these the oxidised nitrogen compounds are determined
could be compiled and put together. 1 would after reduction to ammonia.
April 1913 L. Heymann—Xute on the Quantitative Determination ofNitroiis Fames in Firing Sticks. 465
The process may be carried out as follows : further 50 cc. and nessierising the distillate.
A glass jar of the shape shown, of 10 litres or The NH: in the main distillate may be deter-
15 capacity
litres —
an ordinary aspirator is suit- mined (1) by titration with N/100 acid, (2) by
able the purpose— is closed with a stopper
for receiving the distillate in a measured quantity of
through which three thick copper wires arc standard acid solution and titrating back, or (3)
passed. One of these wires carries a small porce- by nesslerising.
lain crucible containing the substance for deter- The following results were obtained by the
mination, and the other two wires are connected writer from the analysis of several well known
by a small piece of thin platinum wire and placed brands of " cheesa " sticks by this method.
in the crucible in intimate contact with the sub- No. 1gave 0-006gm.NO,pergm.ofburnedsubst'ce
stance. The outer ends of these two wires arc No. 2 „ 0-0045 ;,
whole is allowed to stand for two hours, the (1 cc. = 0-0001 gm. N), with the following results.
crucible removed, the jar recorked and well As N. As KNO s .
pure zinc filings, and a pipce of platinum gauze 4 ... 00247 0-01785
are added to this portion, the flask closed and Average ... 0D02475 001790
connected with a separating funnel and with a According to the mining regulations, no lighter
Liebig's condenser. About 15 cc. of 2 S0 4 H is allowed which gives off any N0 2 on burning,
(1 :
3) is introduced through the separating but this I understand has been altered depart-
funnel into the tiask, which is gently shaken mentally as it was thought that no lighters could
at intervals until the whole of the zinc is dis- be obtained to satisfy the regulation, and a maxi-
solved. A concentrated solution of Na'JH is mum of 005 gm. NO., per gram of substance
burned was substituted. This I am afraid is too
liberal an allowance, especially as it appears from
the above results that lighters which give off a
much smaller quantity of N0 2 can now be obtained.
The above method is the one now generally
used by the writer, but the following method has
often given good results. The method depends
upon the oxidation of nitrites to nitrates by
KMn0 4 upon the action of free HN0 3 on
,
up to about 600 cc. with distilled water, and (0722 gm. in 1 liter of 2 0)
H
is evaporated to
250 cc. is distilled off. If the solution be< es dryness in a porcelain dish, 2 cc. of phenol-
milky during distillation NaOH solution is added sulphonic acid added and well mixed, 2 cc. 2 H
until clear. The 250 cc. distillate will contain and eight drops of concentrated H.,S0 4 added and
practically the whole of the ammonia formed, but heated on the water bath for about 10 minutes ;
a small correction may often be obtained by add allowed to cool, 20 cc. more water added and
inc more water to the residue and distilling off a then concentrated NH OH
4
in excess and the-
—
466 Thi Journal of Tlu Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913"-
whole filtered into a nessler tube. The actual of nitrous fumes. From personal experience I
sample is prepared as follows Take 5 cc. to : — can say that, if one attempts to reduce the
20 cc. of the original 250 cc. solution of amount to an infinitesimal figure, or prevent
nitrous fumes in NaOH, dilute it with twice its their formation altogether, there is a danger of
volume of water and add 2 5 cc. of N/10 KMn0 4
-
introducing other serious defects. The fact that
then 2 cc. H.,S0 4 (I 3) and allow to stand for
: all of the lighters tested by the author produce
10 minutes. If the colour disappears a little nitrous fumes in varying amounts, shows that
more KMn04
is added. The excess of 4
KMn0 their complete elimination is a difficult matter.
istreated carefully with a solution of FeS0 4 and , The figure proposed by the Government Mining
the iron precipitated with a little KOH, filtered Engineer is certainly a tremendous reduction
off, washed, and the filtrate and washings evapo- on the amount produced by the old blasting
rated to dryness. The residue is treated like the gelatine ''cheesa" stick. Then it should also be
KNO a
residue when preparing the standard solu- remembered that a miner is only a very short
tion, with the difference that 10 drops 2
S0 4 are H time in the atmosphere produced by his lighter,
added instead of S drops. The following results and even then he can only breathe a very small
were obtained by this method : proportion of the fumes actually evolved.
No. 4 —
0'020 gin. NO., per gram of substance
Mr. Andrew F. Crosse (Past-President) I :
burned.
would second the vote of thanks. I think
like to
Blasting gelatine 0-385 gm. NO., per gram of
in the practical examination of "cheesa" sticks one
substance burned.
tiling must not be forgotten. One may go wrong
This method failed on several occasions owing
to the disadvantage of the man who sells "cheesa"
to the yellow colour of the final solution having
sticks. If you have a large bottle, a certain
a greenish tint which made it difficult to compare
amount of nitrites in a solid form fall to the
with the standard.
bottom of the bottle. I think they should not be
During the course of my experiments 1 >r.
taken into consideration because the miner cer-
Moir's method of determining nitrous fumes was
tainly would not breathe those nitrites. The
published. 1 made a number of experiments
correct way is only to take into consideration the
with that method but I regret to say that I was
gas which is formed by the burning sticks. In
unsuccessful in obtaining concordant results from
the determination of nitrous fumes in gelatine
duplicate tests, or figures in any way comparable
this would not happen because the whole material
with those obtained by either of the above
is consumed and nothing falls down in the bottom
methods. "
of the bottle. But in many of the new "cheesa
Mr. E. M. Weston (Member) : As I believe I sticks which we have, nitrites are formed these ;
This is the first paper l>r. Hey man n lias read far, have found it impossible consequently, my ;
solution.
improved by increasing or reducing the number of
of determining nitrites present in drinking water,
bonds chosen by the author while in other cases,:
wise of this theory would be by means of a few _= 57447, which is nearer to the standard
well-chosen experiments, and I had hoped to find 188
time to attempt something of the sort, but, so figures than the theory.
468 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical anil Minina Society of South Africa. A j > r i 1 1913
estimated ratio is 166 120, and the theory figure cannot be numerous.
is 1 '66 108, two bonds being allowed the cobalt (3) With examples demanding a large
compound. If we allow only one bond we get number of bonds better agreement can often
216 be obtained by relatively large additions to,
a better ratio, namely, — .,
= 1 "66130; and
or subtractions from, the number chosen by
if the 1913 atomic weights are taken, with no the author, a.id in many such examples, on
2 15-76 account of the relatively high figures in-
bond, we get 1-66110.
volved, one bond more or less makes very
129-89
little difference.
4 (d). Ag3 As0 4 /3AgCl.
In this example
a large number of bonds (8) are required for the Like the author, I have little faith in the
arsenic compound. The estimated ratio is theory, and the evidence he has brought forward
1-07592, and the theory gives 1 '07570, which is seems to me to support that view.
not good agreement. By adding on five more Prof. J. A. Wilkinson (Member of Council) :
bonds we get good agreement, namely, The premises from which the author starts in
4(53034.
430554
—
= 1 "07590, and taking8 the 1913 atomic this paper are (1) that the relative masses of the
:
this respect the author is more than justified in gives a number nearest to the one adopted by the
bringing forward his ideas. From another point International Committee. The calculations work
(pf view it is pleasant in a society, such as this, to out as follows :
feel that there are members, who are not wholly Gold. Mallet's determination.
absorbed in cyanide vats and gold amalgams. Au 100
In the former paper the author obtained a remark-
= 105C17
AgBr 95-222
able series of coincidences by the use of the
Calculated
empirical number 009, which his later work
191 197
given in this paper modifies, the number used 1-017
OS + 80 + 0-018 1881)18"
1
being just double, nanuly 0018. The former
Lead. Baxter and Wilson's determination, 1907
represents the mass of sixteen electrons and the
latter thirty-two, but with this conception he
2Ag = 0-776102
does not trouble, translating the number as the PbCl.,
Calculated
83 elements, whereas in the paper the author
has used only 28. The difference between the
133 + 35-5 + 0-018 168 518 _
t
.
17419
atomic weights given in the International table 108 + 35-5 + 0018" 143-518
and those used by the author are very small and Beryllium. Parson's determination (1904).
comparable in dimensions to the value given to BeO 0-121124
the affinity element. If we deduct from the Be(C 5 H v O„) 2
number of elements given by the International Calculated
Committee those with no affinity, namely, the rare 9 + 16 + 0036 25036 0-120611.
gases in the atmosphere, we see that fifty ele 9 + 99 + 99 + (32x0018) 207 576
ments have not been considered at all, and Second method Basic acetate.
:
Calculated
sideration in the paper. In order to test the
theory further I selected I ine of these elements
4(9 + 16 + 0036) : 0-246114.
whose atomic weights were nearly all whole num- 36 + 16 + 354 + (50 + 018)
bers, the difference being in no case greater than Secondly, taking the calculations given in the
0"2 namely : paper it will be seen that in the case of the car-
Aluminium ... ... 27T bon oxygen ratio, only one experiment is taken,
Antimony ... ... 120-2 the classic one of Dumas in 1840. On page 53
Caesium ... ...
-
132 81 of the Constants of Nature, Part V. by Dr. Clarke,
Gallium ... ... 69-9 Dumas and Stas' figure is given as 2-6662 ±
470 Th Journal of Th < 'Jiemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April I '.H3-
O'OOOO gm. CO., from 1 gin. carbon, which gives that work. I have made several attempts to find
the ratio C CO., as 0"272762 and not 0'27274 as
: out if the work as laid down in the paper, led to
stated by the author. Erdroann and Marchand's a confirmation of a theory that is by no means
result (1841) gives 0-272948, Roscoe (1883) original, but that seems to have received too little
26654 ±0 0006 gm. CO.,, and Friedel (1884) attention, up to now. It is something like this :
2*6638 ± 0004. Without taking into account pro- Matter as we know it is not of constant amount,
bable errors we get as a mean of these experiments but matter and energy are merely manifestations
the ratio C:CO., = 0-2731409. Assuming no bonds of the same thing, viz., "electricity in motion," to
for the carbon atom in diamonds, the ratio is quote Mr. A. J. Balfour when President of the
0-272281. It should al-o be noted here that British Association. Thus what one should look
12 44 = 0'2727. If the carbon atom be assumed to for is a constant, involving matter and energy.
have four bonds in diamond, as in its compounds The difficulty seems to be that energy generated
the ratio would be 0'273915. It is noteworthy in during chemical action is only a part of the
this respect that Dr. Clarke in summing up all the
energy of the electrons that J. J. Thomson con-
work on the carbon oxygen ratio states that this ceive < to build up an atom — each atom being a
may lie written as 12:16 within the limits of
miniature sclar system of alarming complexity,
experimental uncertainty. have been unable or the neutral atom being a sphere of positive
I
to check the other results given, but in looking electricity with electrons immersed in it. When
through them it will be ceen that there are a chemical action takes place, the heat generated
many coincidences between the experimental data or absorbed is only, then, a part evidence of the
total energy of the atoms engaged and I suppose
given and the calculated results. From what
has been said above, however, it is obvious that that accounts for my failure to find some sort of
the author has laid himself open tj the suspicion a constant relation between atomic weight (or
that he has taken many results which " fit his equivalent) and heat of combustion.
theory " rather than show us where it is want- On the assumption, however, that valency is
ing. Perhaps his knowledge of the latter has electrical and that mass is due to the motion
led him to state his want of faith in his own with which charged electrons are possessed, it
work These mathematical coincidences how-
?
seems that somewhere in this region lies the
ever do not lead us much further, and it can factor Dr. Moir is seeking. Why it should be
easily be proved mathematically that a small 0018 is a mystery, supposing 018 is correct,
quantity x can always be found such that the which does not seem proved, the case being
percentage error is less than any given quantity weakened to an orthodox person by such assump-
tions as that carbon atoms in diamond have only
//, however small the latter may be.
one valency. If this is so, will the author please
Mr. F. J. Pooler (Associate) : The author is tell us how CO., gets four bonds I Is it that the
to be congratulated in that he finds time to step diamond carbon becomes a different sort of carbon
aside from the daily routine to investigate pro- on combination with oxygen ! If so, it is quite
blems that perplex who
are interested in the
all feasible, for it seems more than probable that an
theory of chemical constitution, as a part of the atom in combination has entirely different pro-
greater problem of •' what is matter." It is perties from an atom or an aggregation of atoms
somewhat disconcerting, however, to find that he in the elemental state. This seems to me to be
has found cause to double his value of /i, and a problem of much the same kind as that of the
tends to upset the faith of those of us who rather difference between ordinary elements and the
hoped he was on the right lines, or at least, was same when "nascent," whatever that may mean
making a valuable
contribution to current — I wish text books were more explicit on the
thought, one, in fact, who coupled imagination, point. Supposing however 0018 is correct, it
that so essential and rare a factor in the thinker's leads to the position referred to by Mr. White
armoury, with knowledge and the power of in- that this represents about 30 electrons, but why
terpretation of chemical facts that is lacking in 30, I should like the author to deal with. It is
most of us. Not that 1 think one must place too worth mentioning that on Thomson's Theory, a
rigid a reliance on the size of the fraction. To group of 60 electrons would be strongly electro-
my mind, the value of this paper is that it does positive and act like a nionatomic element.
something to open up the subject. As we find The whole subject is so fascinating that one
a hypothesis fits in with experimental results, we might go on adding theory to supposition, ad
elaborate it into a theory that helps to explain nauseam, and get no further. But I do think
current facts and here, I believe, lies the worth such contributions are distinctly valuable, each
of such contributions as this. It is not my pur- forming a stepping stone towards the light tha
pose to analyse the figures and the ratios must come one of these days, and as such our
deduced, as I understand others are undertaking Society should congratulate itself on the paper.
)
April.lHlH E. 11. Bawden— Some Observations on thi Graphih Deposits of Madagascar and Africa. 471
The ddea I have is that we have a sort of eludes " so that it is possible for the loosened '
" atomic momentum " where chemical affinity is electrons to be split off without the molecule
a factor instead of velocity. itself undergoing dissociation." The elaboration
If. the author has no great faith in the real of this to electrolytic dissociation in solution
existence of affinity-elements, why does he ask partly answers one of Mr. H. A. White's inter?
for redetermination of AgCI.'Ag and so on, and esting puzzles.
suggests that sufficient allowance has not been In the face of these divergent views what can
made for the solubility of AgCl One would
\ the busy man with a day's work to do hope to
think that the International Board in charge of achieve in the search after the truth We leave .'
Atomic Weights would have given this matter the matter in the hands of Dr. Moir, confident in
careful attention already. his ability to throw some light on the question. .
In his reference to 4
NH
C'l, the author suggests
one his possibly tetravalent nitrogen does not Mr. Bawden in his reply be able to give us some
seem a favourable example to bring forward in information on the average content of the African
support of the argument that nitrogen may be disseminated graphite deposits If he is privi-
'.
tetravalent in other cases, but otherwise there leged to announce the results of any sampling
seems little evidence in support of the idea. Is undertaken, his contribution would gain materi-
it possible van t'Hoff's idea of three equal valences ally in economic value. The world's graphite
in one plane and two others differing " from deposits are so well favoured that successful com-
themselves and from the other two '' might not petition in Africa or Madagascar can only proceed
help to solve the question For the author's
! from mines of unusual richness or of great
suggestion of " residual affinity " seems to indi- magnitude and simplicity of treatment. In the
cate that he is not sure that O'OIS would always region of Ottawa, Canada, there are many exten-
be the value of his valency weight. In the case sive and widely distributed deposits of dissemi-
suggested its value is apparently zero. nated graphite, which have been worked unsuc-
There have been so many theories of valency cessfully for twenty years with a persistence
advanced that one becomes confused in an indicating the critical uncertainties of the indus-
attempt to get clearer ideas on the subject, and trial problem. From the geological and academical
one has only to read Friend's " Theory of point of view, these graphite deposits are propo-
Valency " to see what I mean. As an example sitions of assured prosperity. There appears no
of the different ideas existing on the question of justification for the failure of such bodies declared
constancy of mass, I should like to refer those by scientific authorities to contain 10% graphite
interested to the Annual Report (1908) of the carbon. The calculations are simple and alluring.
London Chemical Society. It states " previous 10% carbon equals 250—300 lb. per ton of
work (on the law of conservation) not only by commercial graphite, which in three grades
Landolt but also by other investigators, pointed averaging about 2jd. per lb., means 55s. to 60s,
to the conclusion that in the majority of the per ton of ore milled. With obviously cheap
reactions studied, diminution in weight beyond mining — largely by open pits — the position
the limit of experimental errors occurs." appears unassailable. Realities are otherwise.
. . Rut " the final conclusion is therefore
. First, there are few deposits of any magnitude
arrived at that in the fifteen reactions investi- with a 10% grade, to 7% being nearer the
6%
1
an attractive paper profit. It is true that, by a standing of the holder." Gold has never been .so
wet process, the Dixon Company is successfully plentiful as to lose its value to any great extent.
treating a low grade ore, but its big deposit at It is heavy and of small bulk in relation to its
Tieonderoga is commercially linked to the com- value. " It is of uniform goodness and quality,
pany's crucible factory, and thus does not provide easily tested, easily transported, easily guarded
a fair standard of comparison. It is more than or hidden, and easily divided or reunited without
likely that profitable graphite mining will yet be loss." Its identity is perfect. It is beautiful
undertaken in Quebec, and the big losses of the and brilliant and, alloyed with copper, is .suffi
past serve to guide future operators to better ciently hard to withstand wear. It does not
methods. But the lessons of Canada may well alter or deteriorate with storage or with time.
be taken into account by those considering the Gold and silver were first employed by weight in
exploitation of similar disseminated graphite "talents," "shekels," "onzas" and "pesos."
deposits in other parts of the world. Certainly " Coin " means a wedge referring to the shape of
one African graphite venture (in Natal) was ingots used in trade. Coins were first struck to
happily relieved of all treatment difficulties by guarantee quality and weight. The Roman
possessing no ore, but if the newer deposits to emperors made coinage their own exclusive pri-
the north are to reach the standing of importance vilege and since then coinage has been the prero-
suggested by Mr. Bawden, they will probably gative of governments only.
have to pass through a costly stage of experi- To make clear the depreciation theory one
mental treatment, as done by mines of Quebec, might be asked to imagine an isolated island on
after the resources are proven. which A produces wheat, B produces wool, C
produces cattle. They decide to use gold as a
medium of exchange. It is easy to see that if
COLD PRODUCTION IN RELATION TO the stock of gold coins be limited the purchasing
HUMANITY A STUDY OF THE
;
power of each coin must, expressed in terms of
QUESTION: HAS GOLD DEPRECIATED other commodities, be high but if the stock of
;
iGolden Age,"' in which the steady increase of and his Argonauts no doubt headed a gold rush
gold in circulation was contrasted with the steady to some streams in Asia Minor and gilded their
reduction of national and mortgage debt The '.
! fleece in a primitive sluice box. The author of
Same theory was upheld and all sorts of dire con- "Job" (B.C. 1500 .') knew gold was refined and
sequences predicted. Byron Holt published that men had dust of gold.
articles entitled "Gold Supplies and Prosperity." Ktnpires are commonly supposed to have risen
Hf wrote, ''it has been seen that a rapidly in- and fallen solely by conquest. We may, how-
creasing output, and supply of gold does for a ever, gather hints that the matter of the rise and
time at least give an artificial stimulus to industry fall of empires was closely connected with the
that has the appearance of genuine prosperity. exploitation and exhaustion of the ore bodies the
It is n it founded on a just distribution of pro ancients could make available with the appli
ducts. In fact this prosperity founded on rising ances they had. One reading of world history
prices has many dark sides to it at all times. would be that the Egyptians, after having raised
S. inn of these are, speculation in stocks, commo- large quantities of gold from the Eastern Soudan
dities and real estate, increased cost of production and gained more by conquest, reached a stage in
and of living, labour troubles, general unrest, their history when the old sources of supply of
inability of workers to purchase at the high gold and silver failed them. They failed to
prices asked, the total products offered and discover new ones and then their empire fell. It
needed, glutted markets, closed mills, and if an must be remembered that these empires of the
increase of is not forthcoming always, a decline past were largely protected and had their
of prices resulting in depression and panic ensues." boundaries extended by the aid of mercenary
Dr. .1. Peace Morton, of Yale University, is one |
soldiers, and when these could not be paid the
of ihf loudest declaimers of this theory. Writing end came. The Phoenicians and Egyptians
in 1907 he predicted all sorts of evils as due to ;
perhaps had a hand in gutting Rhodesia. All
immediately overwhelm U.S.A. Such is the sorts of theories have been brought forward to
situation according to the exponents of this explain why these old workers left the country.
theory. The real reason was that they had won practic-
The mining magnates of the Rand will now ally all the gold tbey could reach with their style
appear to us in a yet more odious and horrible of working, and left when they were starved out
light. They are piling up burdens grievous to and the business would no longer pa)'. The
be borne on the shoulders of a suffering world. ;
sudden or gradual failure of such sources of
Every new shaft sunk, every stamp erected, supply must have acted disastrously on the
every improvement in metallurgy and mining are wealth and influence of the nations and empires
wrongs inflicted on innocent people. Before we concerned.
proclaim ourselves as converts to this doctrine The rise of Athens and the adornments its
is examine the situation more in detail. I rise gave to the world of art, literature and
•
glance at the history of humanity as
se to philosophy, had a very prosaic economic cause
affected by gold, and then to enquire whether — in the existence of the silver mines of Laurium,
prices have over long periods increased and 30 miles west of that city. The Phoenecians
cb-. reased in relation to the rise and fall of gold first drew wealth from these mines about 1000
production ? Whether all prices have increased B.C. At a later date and for a period extending
or only those of certain commodities Whether
I over hundreds of years they formed a source of
there arc not other factors which govern the rise easy wealth to the Athenian people. We know
and fall of prices.' What these factors are and that these mines altered the whole of the
whether any of them can be proved to have a world's history. Just before the battle of
greater and more far reaching effect on prices Salamis the citizens were going to declare them-
than that of gold production Whether the
i selves a large dividend from recent profits when
expansion of gold production has been real or the eloquence of one of their leaders induced
only apparent Whether it is a real expansion
'
them rather to spend the money in building a
compared with the growth of the world and its fleet to guard against the threatened Persian
requirements 1 Whether it is not rather a stream invasion. It was this fleet that later on hurled
which even now barely irrigates by the channels back the hordes of the East and saved European
of trade the world's needs, and which shows signs civilization. When the surface and oxidized
of drying up in many of its sources and which silver and lead ores that the ancients could make
threatens in its failure serious and incalculable available became exhausted or refractory, Athens
danger to civilization .'
declined and fell.
The writings of the " Vedas " in India, going The Phoenicians were the most enterprising
back perhaps to 5000 B.C., tell of the use of and assiduous prospectors for new sources of
gold and the excitement of a gold rush. Jason supply, their search extending from Britain on.
474 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Sot iety of South Africa. April "191!
one side and E. Africa and India on the other. and argentiferous resources were by this time
They discovered and began the exploitation of practically exhausted There is no doubt in my
the mineral wealth of Spain. Their descendants, mind that, though the cause of the downfall of
the Carthaginians, subdued the country and the Roman Empire has been ascribed to many
they supplied the Mediterranean peoples with things, the one great cause was the exhaus-
gold, silver and copper from her rich resources. tion of its mines of gold and silver and the
As the Roman republic gained power it yet consequent scarcity of coin to pay mercenary
controlled no great source of mineral wealth, and soldiers and to sustain credit. The world of the
it began to cast longing eyes on this ancient Eldo- early and middle ages, having little real com-
rado. Hence arose the Punic wars. In these wars merce, got along in poverty on the accumulations
the Romans narrowly escaped disaster. They of the gold the Romans had collected. The
had to debase their silver coinage to carry on wastage of this by war and conquest, by ship-
the war. It was only when they obtained wreck, by undiscovered hoarding in troublous
command of the sea and the Scipios were enabled times and by the conquests of Mohammed must
to carry the war into the treasure house of their have been great. It is estimated that in the 1 3th
opponents, and finally to rob them of it, that century the total stock in Europe was Only
the Republic triumphed. Then arose the great £30,000,000 to £10,000,000, of which only half
Roman Empire. In this empire communication was coined. There were no banks, or paper money.
was perfected, and trade, commerce and a much coinage was debased. Then came the dis-
financial system were highly developed. Gold covery of America, and the ruthless conquerors of
in large and increasing supplies became a Mexico, Peru and Columbia began pouring into
necessity to lubricate the wheels of trade. Europe the stores of wealth which had been accu-
The Romans, with characteristic thoroughness, mulated for generations by highly civilised peoples.
proceeded to exhaust all the ore bodies they When this plunder was exhausted the Spaniards
could make available within their domains. copied the methods of the Romans and enslaved
They were skilful, tireless and ruthless miners, whole peoples to work the mines. The inhabi-
and they poured the blood of forty thousand tants of San Domingo were exterminated in two
slaves every few years into their Spanish mines centuries of working alluvial for them.
alone. The peaceable and civilised people of Peru
Adits up to 3 miles long were chiselled out of were reduced in numbers from forty millions to
solid rock, deep shafts were sunk, equipped with four millions. The Spaniards are estimated to
large water wheels. Alex. Del Mar gives an have taken nearly £'200,000,000 worth of gold
account of their huge sluicing operations on the from Columbia during their occupation. The
alluvial deposits of Las Medullas in Leon Pro- discovery of the silver riches of Potosi and of the
vince, Spain. Here they worked 1,000 acres of Veta Madre and other gold and silver bonanzas
huge gravel banks 50 to 750 ft. in height. They in Mexico and Peru swelled this flood of wealth.
constructed five lines of water races with splendid Where did all this great wealth go and what
accuracy. They made reservoirs and employed a effect had it on an almost stagnant Europe .'
.sluicing system which could be improved upon There is no doubt that coming suddenly on a
only by the use of the modern hydraulic monitor, restricted world, with trade and population nearly
For removing tailings they adopted the system of stationary, its effect was to raise prices especially
boomirg on a large scale. In the sluices was in Spain. It was however soon distributed,
recently found a coin of the Emperor Nero, and wasted, or absorbed. The conquest, settlement,
•so we learn that these mines began to be ex- colonisation, government, and defence of the new
hausted in the first century, A.D. Their deep world began to absorb an increasing proportion.
quartz mining operations in Spain, Wales, Hun Spain held a great empire in Europe and but for
gary and other localities in Europe and Asia the stubbornness of a few Dutch burghers might
occupied the next two centuries or more. have ruled the world. The news of such wealth
It is interesting to note that a gold coin of the soon attracted the attention of all the daring. and
Emperor Trajan was recently found by a pros- adventurous spirits of the world. The strong
pector in an old working in the Gwanda district fought for it, wasted it and died for it. The
Pihodesia. Pliny says that in his day (A.D. rulers of Spain poured it out like water over
66) Spain yielded gold of a value of £1,000,000 Europe. They spent much in fighting the en
-and Del Mar considers that the total annual yield croaching Turks. William of )range made
(
was perhaps eight times that amount Philip of Spain pour millions into the cock-pit of
About the third and fourth century, A.D., the Europe in defence of bigotry and cruelty. Much
Roman Empire was bounded by desolate wastes of perished with the Armada, continual war on
it
and savage foes and the stream of gold from land and sea wasted and scattered it but in :
plunder dried up. The available auriferous scattering it the seeds of expansion were sown.
— 1
Manufacture was stimulated in the Netherlands Gold Production of the World, 1851-1912.
and in England. Men were sent hurrying off to
provide from new and unknown lands new
Year. Value. Year. Value.
markets and new trade routes to profitably
employ it. Struggles for trade, trade routes and 1882
1851 | 67,600,000 102,000,000
colonies followed. The world expanded every- 1852 1883
132,800,000 95,400,001)
where and wealth increased and the gold was 1853 I8SI
155,500,000 101,700,000
needed for its commerce. In the 18th century
1854 127,500,000 1885 108,400,000
there was estimated to be ten times the amount
855
1 135,100,000 1886 106,000,000
of gold and silver in Europe than there was in
1856 147,600,000 1887 105,775,000
the 13th century. In 1894 the world's stock of
1857 133,300,000 1888 110,197,000
gold was estimated at £800,000,000. From the 858
1 124,700,000 1889 123,489,000
18th century onwards the world had to be con- 1859 124,900,000 1890 118,848,700
tent with a very small annual increase in the
I860 119,300,000 1891 130,650,000
g ild supply. Europe had to irrigate her ever 1861 1892
113,800,000 146,292,600
increasing harvests of trade by perfecting bank-
1862 107,800,000 1893 158,437,551
ing and credit systems. One must remember 1863 1894
107,000,000 182,509,283
that practically all the world was bi-metallic,
1864 1 3,000,000
1 1895 198,995,741
Silver was a legal tender as well as gold.
L865 120,200,000 1896 211,242,081
In 1845 the world again burst her bounds.
1866 121,000.000 1897 237,833,984
The Russians began to draw large supplies from 1867 104,000,000 1898 287,327,833
the alluvial deposits of the Urals and Siberia, 1868 1899
109,700,000 311,505,947
and in 1848 the Californian rush broke out. Up 1869 106,200,000 1900 258,829,703
to the present time California has produced about
1870 106,900,000 1901 260,877,429
£300,000,000. The gold discoveries of Aus- 1871 107,000,000 1902 293,812,493
tralia followed in 1851. Australia has produced
1872 99,600,000 1903 329,475,401
about the same amount. Much of these vast 1873 96,200,000 1904 349,088,293
sums went in developing and colonising these 1874 90,800,000 1905 378,411,754
new continent- and in opening up their agricul- 1875 97,500,000 1906 405,060,969
tural and pastoral wealth. The pubic debt 1876 1907
103,700,000 412,556,136
ei Australia is now nearly as large as all
1877 114,000,000 1908 443,434,527
the gold production. Acommission in America
1878 119,000,000 1909 459,927,482
estimated that the first £13,000,000 produced 1879 109,000,000 1910 454,213,649
in California cost £67,000,000. However,
880
1 106,600,000 1911 459,377,300
before Europe and the world could expand 1 88 103,102,000 1912 469,618,083
their production, population and trade, this
wealth, and afterwards that drawn from the
famous Comstock and other Rocky mountain ore plaint of an increase in prices and in the cost of
l>i had a disturbing effect on Europe.
.dies, It living. We need to enquire reviewing the
in
was in 1844 that England became mono period since 1851 if prices have varied with
metallic. An act was passed compelling the variations < f the gold output. Though a crisis
Rank of England to buy all gold sent it at occurred in 1857 and prices fell for a time the
£4 4s. Id. per oz.
1 In 1847 it survived a run. output of gold continued high. Prices rose
Pi ices rose in Europe and trade expanded but ; enormously and to higher levels than in modern
in 1857, owing to over speculation, a reaction times, in 1860 to 1864, though the gold output
occurred, and the Imperial Rank of Russia kept gradually declining. They fell steadily
suspended specie payments. Germany and
• from 1864 to 1871, and rose sharply from 1871
Austria adopted a silver standard. Prices, to 1873. From 1873 to 1895 prices tended to
however, again rose, trade expanded, and in 1871 fall though the gold output tended to increase.
Germany adopted the gold standard. In 1873 Hence it is made evident that other factors must
U.S.A., France, Holland and Belgium followed control prices besides gold production. It will
suit, and so we approach the consideration of the be noted that from 1853, in which year the out-
course of events in modem times. The follow- put was about £31,500,000, the gold output kept
ing tallies, taken from the Engineering and between £25,000,000 and £19,000,000, and in
Mining Journal, shows the estimated gold 1888 was only about £21,000,000. In 1912 it
production of the world since 1851 in dollars :
was about £98,000,000.
We note first that in 1889 the gold production Since 1851 several records of the course of
began to show a remarkable increase, and that wholesale prices have been kept in most
since that time there has been a general corn- products. Their records are known as index
470 The Journal of The Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society <>f South Africa. April 1913
numbers, and are calculated by taking a fixed there was a great trade expansion in America
and
year as standard = 100 and calculating prices of Europe which produced an increasing demand
other years to that year. W. R. Ingalls has for metals. Since then prices have risen all
constructed several interesting tables showing round, with of course variations due to fluctua-
their course in connection with gold output. tions in production caused by the opening of
Since 1895 the rate of increase of prices has rich mines, or the use of improved metallurgical
been greater than the rate of increase of gold processes. The rise of tin prices has not been
output. effected by gold production. The development of
Generally speaking history shows us that the art of preserving foods in tinned iron cans lias
though a very sudden influx of easily obtained stimulated demand, though while the easily worked
gold in large amounts into a limited busi- alluvials of the Malay States and Australia were-
ness world with stagnant trade and com- being exploited prices kept low. To-day pro-
merce has for a few years caused prices to duction is kept up only by working low grade
advance, yet equilibrium has very soon been deposits at a greater capital and operating
re-established by the trade requirements of the expense, and production shows no signs of any
new lands which have produced the nev,- gold great expansion. The discoveries of new sources
supplies, or by the development of other lands of supply have been few. The price of lead
stimulated by these discoveries. These have has been influenced by the huge production from
rapidly become producers and consumers of other the Bonanzas of Broken Hill, Australia, C'oeur
commodities and enlarged the circuits of trade d'Alene, Leadville, and Missouri in U.S.A. ;
and the markets for manufactures from older but consumption has now overtaken production
countries. No real relation between prices and and prices have risen.
gold production can be shown to exist. Pour The course of copper prices can also be traced
salt into a stagnant pool and it becomes brackish Western
to the exploitation of the vast deposits of
and into a running river and its effect is nil. America. Improved methods of mining, concen-
This leads us to the enquiry Are there other
: trating, and smelting these have several times
factors which govern the rise and fall of prices caused production to overtake consumption with :
or the relative exchange values of commodities consequent breaks in prices. Despite the im-
expressed in gold values'/ Can any of them be mense production of zinc from Broken Hill
shown to have influenced prices in an upward tailings by flotation processes the demand for
direction during the last two decades'? zinc follows hard on production, and prices tend
The law of supply and demand must reign to rise.
supreme. What many need the man with the most Prices for coal have risen in Europe partly
to offer will obtain. Few buyers and many sellers owing to the demands labour and partly
of
mean low prices. The sudden opening up of new owing to the exhaustion of the shallower coal
and large sources of demand caused by increase of seams. Mines are deeper and the greater expense
population, increase in their productive power of working and ventilating them has not been
and wealth, or some new use being found for a offset by the improvements in power production,
commodity must tend to raise prices. mining methods, and transport.
What is known as the state of "credit being Prices have risen because the present generation
good'' may tend to raise prices for a time. When has drawn heavily —
too heavily and recklessly on
men can borrow money at easy rates to expand most of the natural resources of the globe. They
their business, build houses or railways, or improve have indeed inherited the earth and have often
their land, demand is stimulated for goods and wasted it recklessly and wantonly. Many coal
labour, and their prices tend to rise. When men mines were worked in U.S.A. for a yield of only
can borrow easily they buy stocks for a rise and —
about 50% 60 of the total seam. Timber has
prices advance. When the banks call in loans risen in price during the last ten years, simply
prices fall. owing to the exhaustion of the forest areas of the
The modern system of credit, banking, ex- new world by wasteful methods and neglect of re-
change, discounts, brokerage and the joint stock planting. Rubber rose in price because natural
company system all tend to increase the work supplies were depleted before cultivation could
the sovereign can do in facilitating exchange, supply the growing demand. From 1870 to 1890
it is estimated that a sovereign to-day can do the unpopulated areas of North America, Australia
ten times the work it did in the middle ages. and South America proved ideal grazing grounds
The effect of the law of supply and demand is for vast herds of cattle. The American farmer grew
most plainly seen in the course of prices of the hogs and wheat in excess of the requirements of
other metals in recent years. While gold pro- the population of America. Their surplus pro
duction was steadily rising, the prices of all the ducts gravitated to the world's markets, and the
chief metals fell from 1889 to 1899. In 1899 British workman bought his bacon at 5d ;
Apiil 1913 Eustace M. Weston— Gold Production in Relation to Humanity. c;
whereas now, whore the farmer has displaced the live and produce cheaply on the exploitation of
grazier and the American farmer can barely feed its peoples energy, vitality and health —
for a
the population of U.S.A., beef and bacon have time. This has been done. Prices have now risen
risen in juice Hides have become scarcer and because education has taught workers to know
leather has risen in price for the same reason. their power and demand better rewards. Wages
Two decades ago when the rich and easily mined have risen because the opening of new countries
iron oresof U.S.A. began to yield their supplies and i
has increased the demand for labour, and because
huge plants grew up manufacture iron and
to wages have risen prices of commodities have risen.
steel, production overtook consumption and Prices have risen because the laws of many
prices fell so low that we heard much of dump- countries have allowed a limited number of people
ing and apprehension was caused in free trade to control limited sources of supply. These
England. Now the situation is changed. The people exact tribute from all. The Oil Trust,
average grade of ore mined has fallen steadily Sugar Trust, Beef Trust, Water Power Trust,
and already schemes to concentrate low grade ore ! etc., are well known examples.
are spoken of and the cost of manufacture has Prices have risen because where the wealth of
risen. The expansion of the world and the natural or manufactured goods have been greatest,
immense increase of consumption in order to there extravagence of living has been most
supply the needs of enterprise, development and marked. Protective tariffs increase prices.
improvements in old and new countries overtakes War and the burden of preparation for war
the supply. Wool has risen in price not because helps to weigh down industry and increase prices
gold is too plentiful, but because in the first and to threaten the future of civilisation. The
place the number of countries which support mere threat of war is said to have cost Austria
people wealthy enough to buy woollen clothing £50,000,000 recently and warlike prepara-
has increased. In the second place because in tion costs Europe £450,000,000 every year. It
new countries not enough new pastoral land has is obvious that if the capital, skill and human
become available to breed sheep enough to supply energy spent on warlike preparations could be
this demand. Australia reaches her maximum diverted into other channels production would be
sheep carrying power. stimulated and prices would fall.
The best portions of the world have been Prices have risen because owing to the needs of
occupied and exploited for the production of an expanding world more and greater efforts have
certain commodities, and the world has not been put forth year by year to obtain a sufficiency
expanded as fast as the population, or as that of the medium of exchange. That is to say
portion of the population having new standards every year the world's gold has cost more in
"f living and new means of attaining these human effort and capital expenditure to produce
standards. This true of wool.
is It will very it. It is gold easily won by conquest or from
soon be true of wheat. But a few years ago shallow deposits that alone can influence prices.
U.S.A. was the granary of Europe. Now, with The world's gold supply is costing every year
increase of population and exhaustion of the soil, more and more per oz. produced. Ores have to
America is within sight of the time when she be raised from greater depths and lower grade
also will have to compete with Europe for ores have to be treated. Really rich mines are
<Canada's grain supplies. Prussia tends to need becoming scarcer every year and the most un-
more and more of her own crop. British en- accessible and unhospitible areas of the globe
gineering skill and capacity for government have have now to be ransacked to keep up the produc-
created two new sources of supply in Northern tion. The margin of profit compared to the total
India and Egypt, and Australia still has some production tends to diminish year by year. It
new land available but demand must overtake
: is not hard to perceive that owing to the world
supply shortly and prices must rise. having had to support a population of half a
It would be foolish to argue that the world million people in South Africa alone for many
now contains no areas that will reward develop- years to mine its gold this population must have
ment, or that the development of many older proved a burden on production, and this must have
countries is not in a very backward condition. tended to raise prices. Nor is it hard to perceive
The point is that, during the last quarter cen- that, if all this wealth of capital and all this boasted
tury a population relatively small because com- supply of brains which have been employed pro-
posed of the most enterprising races had the curing the medium of exchange, had been devoted
cream of the resources of two if not four new to, say, growing mealies and meat in South Africa,
Continents to exploit. To help them do this the worlds supplies of these commodities would
work they had the help of all the aids modern have been greater and their prices lower.
science gives. Raw materials and manufactured Prices have risen because the expense of selling
goods could be cheaply produced. A nation can goods under competition has risen. In some
— —
478 Tin Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of Smith Africa. April 1913
cases the cost of selling is greater than the cost dates only from the diamond discoveries of the
of manufacture. The cost of advertising and of seventies Tropical Africa, with a new rich
supporting agents of all kinds forms under the Egypt and Algeria, did not exist for real trade
present competitive system a heavy tax on the three decades ago. A new India and Japan
consumer and raises prices to him. have loomed large in the world's commerce.
Prices have risen because the system of China has been aroused, and Russia has added a
gambling on stocks and on the price of com- new half Continent to the accessible world
modities allows an ever increasing number of Siberia. The expansion in square miles alone
speculators to secure a share of the profits of has been tenfold, the old boundaries have been
industry for which the consumer pays. burst everywhere. It has been necessary for
This rise would have been greater and more uni- capital to be found and poured out like water to
versal had there not been compensating factors. build railways, roads, cities, warehouses and
New natural resources are still being developed. bridges, etc., for these new lands. Considering
The tropics are being made healthy and their railways alone, it is estimated that from nine
resources are being developed. The scarcity of thousand to ten thousand million pounds of
ores and minerals has so far been compensated capital is invested in them. Thirteen hundred
for by working lower grade ores by improved millions have been spent in great Britain alone.
methods. Science and invention have discovered At the close of 1907 there were 602,000 miles
new materials for use and shown us better ways of railways working. Of these the newer
of utilizing old. They have increased man's countries developed in this generation showed in
power of production a thousand fold so that ; 1907 mileages as follows :
many articles like bicycles or motor cars are Canada 22,452, Mexico 13,612, Central
cheaper to-day than ever before. The improve- America 4,000, Peru 1,332, Brazil 10,714,
ments in rail transport and steamships, owing to Uruquay 1,210, Chili 2,939, Argentine 13,672,
the use of larger, more economical and speedier
Siberia and Manchuria 5,565, China 4,162,
units, and of transport generally have enabled
Japan 5,000, British India 29,893, Asia Minor
raw materials to be cheaply transported from the
2,930, U.S.A. in 1900, 198,964, Australia 17,762.
most remote localities to compensate for the
In U.S.A. a average of new lines laid in recent
exhaustion of nearer sources of supply. Forty
years is 5,000 miles per year. In 1887, 12,876
years ago England smelted her own iron ores.
miles were laid. From 1896 to 1905 mileage
Yesterday and to-day she draws on Spair and
increased 1,790, sidings 57%, locomotives 35/'
Sweden. To-morrow she will obtain them from
and freight 42%. The world's growth of popu-
Cuba and Brazil. Improvements in the arts of
lation has also been most marked from 1882
agriculture and horticulture make two blades of
to 1907, the increase is estimated to from
grass or larger and better fruits take the place of
172,000,000, i.e., from 1,434,000,000 to
smaller and fewer units. Except on the Rand,
1,606,000,000. But the increased number of people
labour is better organised, controlled and directed
placed in communication with the channels of
to attain the ends sought than ever before.
trade by the enormous railway development has
Business tends to fall into the hands of the
been proportionally greater.
more efficient, who can work with a smaller
margin of
The scale of National and individual expendi-
profit. The inventor is everywhere
ture has gone on increasing, the National
busy perfecting automatic machinery to multiply
debts of the world rose from £4,680,000,000 in
a thousand fold the efforts of a single brain and
1874 to £5,018,000,000 in 1888, and to
pair of hands.
£6,311,000,000 in 1900. Gold has been
We nowtura to the consideration of our last
needed everywhere. I have been able to obtain
query. Has the expansion of the gold output
no estimate of local and municipal debts. The
been a real or only an apparent expansion when
worlds total debt may he from £10,000,000,000
considered in relation to the world's needs The '<
April 1913 Eastern M. IT, iton Gold Production in Relation to Humanity. 479
Copper production of world, metric tons. sufficient. gold reserves become depleted,
If
1880 1890 1900 1905 credit facilities are reduced,prices fall and the
172,000 320,000 541,000 669,000 bank discount rate rises. Of recent years the
1907 1909 1910 1911 1912 bank rate has tended to rise rather thin to fall.
723,000 9-41,000 882.250 887, OSS 1.(114,849
There are no signs of a glut of gold. We
Tin production in metric tons.
may now change the line of our investigation and
enquire what has become of the recent increased
1880 1885 1901
38,303 43,900 '.14,500
gold output Has it been minted into so many
.'
ISO The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of South Africa. April 1913'.
tries aremainly in the East and before they can annum. The value of the home trade of Great
buy goods from Europe they must with their Britain alone was
£1,000,000,000 against
silver buy gold, or bills payable in gold or in ; £487,000,000 exports and £633,000,000 im-
commercial language " purchase exchange." ports. So that the world's total trade must be
This forced the value of silver coin down and about £15,000,000,000 yearly. In comparison
some years ago the rupee became worth only with these figures the amount of annual gold
Is. 3d. with the prospect of falling lower. The production is insignificant. The increase in the
Indian Government passed a law fixing the value world's foreign trade has been 7% per annum
at Is. 4d. and partially adopted a gold coinage. since 1895, and the increase of gold output has
Europe cannot to-day pay its debts to India in been less than 2%, and yet have risen
prices
silver only. India is to-day one of the creditor The banks have been lending an increased'
at such
countries of the world, thanks to the British rate to finance this trade that they have in most
irrigation works in the Punjaub and the world cases unsafely increased their liabilities in
owes £52,000000, every year.
it Of this proportion to their gold reserves.
Great Britain takes £17,000,000 for services Taking the leading banks of Europe and
rendered ; so that India has a right to demand America :
with no prospect of any great increase. district that can surely keep up its production
In 1910 it was 220,000,000 oz. in 1911 : for fifteen years, and of very few copper produc-
225,000,000 oz., and in 1912 229,000,000 oz. ing districts that v.\n do the same for twenty-five
Of this 150,000,000 oz. are used in the arts, years. A decade should show a large reduction
leaving 75,000,000 oz. for coinage. India ini- of output in nearly all zinc producing districts.
p irted some 130,00,000 oz. in 191 2. With almost only one single exception the gold
The trouble is that gold and silver supplies are and silver producing districts of the world can
not increasing at a rate to keep pace with the be shown to have reached their maximum out-
enormous expansion of credit money required to puts. With the Witwatersrand I might perhaps
finance the world's business.This is the opinion group the Alaska Treadwell, the Black Hills and
of the French banker, Mon. A. Neymach. F. the new Porcupine fields as possible exceptions.
Austin, Chief of the Bureau of Statistics, I do know of a number of important goldfields
Washington, U.S.A., estimates that the aggre- showing more or less rapid declines or like the —
gate foreign trade of the world reaches Mysore mines to have reached such depths that
the immense total of £7,000,000,000 per the future cannot eclipse the past. The output
»
.f Australia, U.S.A.,Mexico and Russia declines an extremely important position in the economic
and that producing countries show but
of other world.
slight increases except the Witwatersrand. Mr. J. R. Williams {Past-President) have : I
The only undeveloped field that can giveany hope irery much pleasure in seconding the vole of
of supplying the world's future needs is on the East thanks for this paper. Time will not allow us to
I! ind though we have not yet enough information go into the paper, neither does the paper lend
to estimate the proportion of paj ible ground itself very much to discussion. The reason for
that will be met with there. The far East Rand much that is mentioned is largely a matter of
will soon be one of the most important places on opinion. Whilst coal is rapidly rising in price in
the globe as on the other portions of the field
;
the British [sles, coal in Johannesburg is cheaper
it will, in a few years, take the deep mines all than in any other part of the world. The ques-
they can do to compensate for the exhaustion of tion is always one, in my opinion, of supply and
the outcrops. One scarcely cares to guess at demand.
what may happen as the world continues to The meeting then terminated.
expand and the increase of Rand production is
swallowed up by declines in other countries, in-
crease of demand must tend to raise prices, and
Obituary Notice.
shortage of gold to create financial panics. How
these factors will work out it is impossible to MR. A. COMRIE.
predict. Can the world escape a huge reduction have been received of the death
X.i details
in credit and a period of depression and reorgani-
of Mr. Alexander Connie, who joined the
sation .'
Mr.
Society as an Associate in June, 1898.
One might guess that within a decade bi-
Comrie was connected at that time with the
metallism will aga'n be talked about. One might
reduction works of several of the mines of the
dream of a future gold trust which demanded Rand Mines roup, and left the Rand some
( I
£6 per OZ. for the world's gold production, or years ago for Rhodesia. Subsequently he spent
some other state of affairs that seems impossible some time on the Gold Coast, but returned to
to-day.
Rhodesia where he was Cyanide Manager etc., to
The development of the East Kind is rather the Susanna Mine, Rosalind Mine and Matabela
behind hand to-day, and there is much new
Sheba Mine. Mr. Comrie was latterly in Bula-
development work suspended for want of funds.
wayo, from whence his death is reported, and
After all, the mine magnates are not there the
which is recorded here with much regret.
sinister figures we pictured them to be in our
first pages, engaged in flooding Europe with gold
and ruining honest people by raising prices. On Notices and Abstracts of Articles and
the contrary, they are today doing the most Papers.
necessary work for civilisation as at present con-
stituted, and on the success of their efforts to CHEMISTRY.
attract cipital to available the latent gold
make The Separation of Iron and Manganese.—
resources of the Rand, depends the stability of "The reactions upon ivhicli the method to he
credit conditions over the whole civilised world. described depends are similar to those of which
advantage is taken by Allied Stock* in the method
for the precipitation of aluminium proposed by him.
Mr. A. Richardson Via -President) I have
( :
When a mixture of potassium iodide and iodate is
^leisure in proposing a vote of thinks to Mr. added to a solution containing a ferric salt, the iron
Weston for his thoughtful paper. The subject is immediately and completely precipitated man- ;
mainly responsible for the rapid addition to the reason for this has not been fully elucidated, but
field
the available stock of the precious metal, occupies '
Comptes rend , 1909, 1 '" 175 (I his •/••». nal, 1900, 270).
4S2 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical rind Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
that it is not due to co-precipitation of manganese is not completely decomposed subsequently by the
sufficiently certain. It is probable that basic salt is iodide."— F. H'. CAMPBELL.— Journal of the Sorirlu
retained. of Chemical Industry, Jan. 15, 1013, p. 3. (F. W. W.)
The method usedis as follows The cold solution
:
of iron and manganese salts, preferably the sulphates, New Method for the Determination of Sul-
is almost neutralised with ammonia, a mixture of phur iv Pic-Iron and Steel.— " From 4—
8 gm.
equal volumes of a 25 potassium iodide solution and of pig-iron, or S gm. of steel, are dissolved in hydro-
of a saturated solution of potassium iodate is then chloric acid in the usual manner and the hydrogen
added. The precipitate is allowed to settle, the sulphide evolved is absorbed by an ammoniacal solu-
liberated iodine removed by the addition of a slight tion of cadmium sulphate prepared by dissolving
excess of 'Jo sodium hiosulphate solution, and the
I
oil uni. of cadmium sulphate in 1 litre of concentrated
precipitate is again allowed to settle: the super- ammonia and !l litres of water. To minimise the
natant liquid is tnen decanted oil' through a filter, amount of hydrochloric acid in the distillate, the top
to which the precipitate is next transferred and of the reaction flask is fitted with a special trap
washed with water, the temperature of which is which is illustrated. If the distillate becomes too
gradually increased, the final washings being with acid ammonia is added from time to time. The
boiling water. The nitrate is made acid with dilute solution containing the precipitated cadmium sul-
hydrochloric acid, and about 5 cc. of a saturated phide is boiled (in the case of pig-iron forSOmin.)
solution of ammonium phosphate and 20 gm. of solid in order to drive off the hydrocarbons and theiw
ammonium chloride are added the solution is then
:
diluted in another beaker with 600 cc. of water con-
made faintly alkaline by the addition of ammonia taining 25 ce. of sulphuric acid (1 1) and which has
:
drop by drop and the amorphous precipitate at first been made just red with standard potassium perman-
produced rendered crystalline by digestion at about ganate. It is now titrated slowly with constant
80° C. The precipitate is filtered off through a stirring until the cadmium sulphide has disappeared
Good] crucible, washed with very dilute ammonia, and the solution remains pink for one minute. The
ami ignited to manganese pyrophosphate. value for the sulphur is one-eighth of the iron value
This method for the estimation of manganese, sug- of the potassium permanganate and the results of
gested by Gooch and Austin, was adopted because fifteen tabulated analyses show close agreement w ith
the presence of iodide rendered the ordinary methods, —
gravimetric methods " A. VlTA and U. MASSENKZ,
depending on the oxidation of the manganese to the 'stall! a, Eisen, 1912, 33, 2089— 2090.— Journal of the
manganic condition, inconvenient. The results Society uf Chemical Industry, Jan. 15, 1913, p. 26.
obtained are slightly too high, but the errors are no ib. w. w.)
greater than those attending the use of other
methods they are nol due to the presence of iron.
:
ammonia -
5 gm. of dimethylglyoxime is dissolved in 5 cc. oi
The method separation has been tested by the
of 98 alcohol, and ce. of concentrated ammonia are
."i
analysis of mixtures of solutions of ferric sulphate added. The (dear, pale yellowish solution obtained
ami manganous sulphate in various proportions. "keeps for a long while in glass-stoppered bottles.
The iron content of the former was determined b\ The surface of the metal to be tested is cleaned with
precipitation with ammonia and by titration with ether, and a drop of the reagent is brought upon it- ;
standard potassium bichromate solution, after reduc- traces of nickel oxide show as red specks in a few
tion of the iron with stannous chloride. The results seconds before any copper present ran dissolve and
obtained by the two method' were identical. The turn the reagent blue. With fresh and unoxidised
strength of the manganese solution was determined surfaces it is advisable to beau a small spot with a
by Gooch and Austin's method. small oxidising flame, and apply the reagent after
The advantages of this method over the basic ling. The test is extremely delicate, and leaves
acetate and basic carbonate methods arc, that when no permanent traces even on a polished surface."—
conducted in the manner described, a complete V. Fortini, Chem.-Zeit., 1912, 36, 1461.— Journal of
separation of iron and manganese is brought about /'it Society uf Chemical Industry, Jan. 15, 1913,
without a second precipitation of the former, that p. 28. (J.G.)
the iron precipitate shows no tendency to redissolve,
and that the most favourable conditions are easily Determination of Chromium ami Vanadii m
arranged. iv Steel. — " The method described previously (this
The fact that the results for iron are too high does ./., 1912, 43lil lor the determination of vanadium lias
not lessen the value of the method of separation, been i lifted so that chromium may be determined
since solution, reduction, and titration of the iron as well in the same sample. Two grains of steel are
with potassium permanganate or bichromate gives dissolved, by heating, in a mixture of 12 cc. of strong
good results. sulphuric acid and 50 cc. of water, and when solution
The conditions set out musl !" adhered to, as it is complete, 25 cc. of nitric acid (sp. gr. 42) are
1
has been proved that correct results cann.it be added. The solution is heated to boiling to expel
obtained when t lie solution is hot, as under these nitrous fumes and oxidised with sodium hi.smuthate
conditions part of the manganese is precipitated until the permanganate colour (produced by oxida-
when the thiosulphate is added before the whole of tion of the manganese) dc.es not disappear on shaking.
the iron is precipitated, as complete precipitation It is then diluted to 200 cc, and, after addition of a
takes place very slowly when either iodide or little more sodium bisinuthate, boiled for 20 minutes
iodate is added alone and then the other. When the to decompose the permanganic acid. After cooling
iodate is first added, a mixture of the insoluble by adding 50 cc. of water, the manganese dioxide is
iodates of manganese and iron is thrown down and is ri ived by filtering through asbestos, the filtrate is
—
made up to 300 cc, cooled, treated with 5 cc. of .1. Direct Methods.
syrup; phosphoric acid, and titrated with N loo I. Water driven oft by ignition, condensed in part
ferrous sulphate, using ferricyanide as external iudi- of ignition tube and weighed directly. (Penfield.)
cator. The solution now contains trivalent chromiuni II. Substance heated in a current of dry gas, or in
and quadrivalent v anadium, and the latter i- oxidised a vacuum, water vapour collected in calcium chloride
by titrating with A loo permanganate, a slight or sulphuric acid and weighed.
excess of the latter being added and til rated hack III. Substance mixed with an excess of a volatile
with ferrous sulphate: the cc. of total ferrous sul nonmiscible liquid such as xylene, distilled, and the
phate minus the cc. of permanganate :00O01733 water measured under the hydrocarbon layer, with
represents the chromiuni. Excess of ferrous sulphate or without corrections for the mutual solubilities of
is now added and then gm. of manganese dioxide,1 the water and liquid used for its removal.
anil after shaking until all ferrous iron is oxidised, IV. The material directly heated to 130 C. by a
the solution is liltered through asbestos (using vapour jacket (high pressure steam), the steam given
suction) and the vanadium titrated with permanga- off condensed and measured.
nate.'— 1>. .!. DEMOREST, ./. hul. Eng. Clam.. 19i2, Gasometric Methods.
/.'.
;, 895- IiiiiihiiI of tli< Society of Chemical [ndustry, V. The substance is mixed with calcium carbide,
• Ian. IS, 1913, p. 26. (F. W. W.) acetylene measured.
VI. The substance is mixed with magnesium
Dktermin \tk>n (if Moisture, — " The amount of methyl halide in presence of a suitable dry solvent.
moisture in commercial products frequently enteis Methane measured.
into contracts for sale and purchase, the price paid VII. The substance is treated with sodium.
in some cases being legulated by a sliding scalp Hydrogen measured.
according to the amount of water present. The ('. Indirect Methods.
moisture is determined in the laboratory, and its VIII. Determination of the loss of weight by heat-
estimation, from its apparent simplicity, hasreceived ing to a definite or indefinite temperature. The
less attention than its importance and difficulty usual method.
merit. A Sub-Committee of the Eighth International IX. Prolonged exposure in a vacuum in presence
Congress of Applied Chemistry has recently reported of strong sulphuric acid, either tit ordinary or at
on the determination of water in coal, and in con- higher temperature.
sidering the general question we would call attention P>\ one or other of these methods most of the
to the report of tins Sub-Committee which was' water determinations required in practice can lie
issned by the President (Mr. G. T. Holloway) and carried out with fair accuracy, but there are a few
one of us :1 s Vice-President.* The Committee in- outstanding eases to which no one of these is applic-
cluded the folio wing active members: E. K. Andrews, able, for example, the water present in hydrated
i' it Bannister, H. Baucke, \V. T. Burgess, I'. silicates in coj'.l.
Clowes. Stall of Messrs. Schneider \ Co.. Le Creusot, I. Pentield's elegant method (suggested in its
E. .1. Constam, .1. H Coste, H. F. Hills, W. B. original form by Brush) is specially designed for the
Hodgkinson, G. X. Hutitly, M. Huybrechts, A. analysis of rocks It gives accurate results in pre-
McArthui Johnston, L. L. de Ivoninck, G. Lacombe, sence of carbonates or where ferrous salts tire present
R. ing. C. Nicolardot, W. Pollard. W. E. P.
I in the rock, but can obviously not. be applied if the
Powney.\V. Rosenhain, C. A. Seyler, and .1. E. substance to be diied is organic.
Stead, several ot whom co-operated in the examina- II. Driving oil' the water in a stream of gas and
io lis C in the water hath, and between still wider confirmed, that alumina (dried by heat, in a stream
limits in t he air hath, the loss of weight under these of dry air at the temperature of a smoky llamel
conditions being set down as moisture. It is well absorbs water vapour as completely as sulphuric acid,
known that any substances which contain volatile then alumina will he an ideal substance tor the pur
constituents oi hei than water or are liable to absorb pose, as it does not attack rubber or corks, and will
oxygen from the air can nol he dealt "with by simply not require saturating with carbon dioxide like
taking the loss of weight, and no one, for instance, calcium chloride neither is it liable to absorb hydro-
:
would attempt to determine water in a crude fuel oil carbons like sulphuric acid. Air is not a safe gas to
bj mere loss of weight Many substances, however, use, as with coal at loo C. oxidation is marked and
which absorb appreciable amounts of oxygen at or water is one of the products. This is pointed out by
near 100' and which do not lose all their moisture
<
' .
W. 1''. Hillebrand and W. P. Badger remarking on
at this temperature, are still commonly examined by the experiments of Archibald and Lawrence [J. Tnd.
the more indirect method. F.mi. Cheiii-, t. 25S, 1912) in a paper before the
The methods used for the determination of water Eighth International Congressof Applied Chemistiy,
may he classified as direct, and indirect, with an carbon dioxide or nitrogen, preferably the latter,
intermediate class in which, although the water con- must therefore be used in this method, and this
tained in a substance is nol directly weighed or destroys the practical value of the process. Subject
measured as such, a gas such as acetylene, hydrogen to the future conditions that all the water is proved
or methane, evolved by the interaction of water .and to he given oil" at the temperature chosen, and that
an added substance in amount directly proportional no products capable of being absorbed by the hygro-
to the quantity of water present, is measured We scopic reagents used are also given oil' at this tem-
hrielly mention some of these various methods. perature, this is one of the best standard primarj
Or. R, Legsing attended the ('oneress ;ui*l presented the report. Jolt Amer. Chem. Soc, 1912, 'in.
—
4S4 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April I9HL3
methods, by means of which the everyday process IT — 23. This Journal, .;/, 863) have used a similar
can be checked. method for the determination of water in petroleum
On this process the reporters of the International and its products. They describe the process is
Committee say :
accurate to (1083 gm. of water per 100 cc. of distillate.
4b. The method
'
of drying at 104° —
107° in a
The process has the drawback of requiring close
current of gas free from oxygen' appears to possess attention during the distillation, and hence is not
a considerable advantage over any other process of suitable for dealing with large numbers of samples
drying at an elevated temperature, in that the simultaneously, and is not free from danger of lire.
necessary compromise between the desire to dry com-
IV. Crosliehl (Journal Franklin Inst., 1911. 172,
pletely on the one hand and the fear of oxidation on
495) has designed an apparatus called by him the
the other is reduced to a minimum. It may be said, '
moisture determinator for the direct estimation of
'
as they show that at least the amount of water It is dillicult to see how water is prevented from
indicated is actually given off from the coal, since coming over below Hill Probably the authors
.
calcium chloride, unlike sulphuric acid, is not an collect all below 150 and from this separate the
absorbent of olefines. It is worthy of note that in water.
four coals out of six sent out, the highest result V., VI. and VII. Three gasometric methods have
obtained by any method was by this method.' been proposed, based on the evolution of acetylene
III. Distillation with a non-miscible liquid, such j
from calcium carbide, of hydrogen by means of
as xylene, and measurement of the liquid water sodium, and on the production of methane from
carried over is a very promising method, and deserves magnesium methyl halide. The latter reaction is
a careful comparative study against Nos. 2 or 8.' It 1 quantitative, but the time and skill required for the
lends itself to substances difficult to handle by the preparation of the reagent and solvent and also the
ordinary method, such as oils, butter, tar and coal. fact that all hydroxy! groups and many other organic
' Dr. Constam,' working with the International groups react rule this out as a working laboratory
Committee, 'gives some results obtained by his method. The use of calcium carbide was first ^n^-
colleague Dr. Schliipfer with a modification, not gested by Duple. (For other references cf. F. II.
hitherto published, of a method described by Mar Campbell. Cordite, wool, butter, cocoa, coffee and
cusson for the estimation of water in oils, fats, soap, coal are substances io which this method has been
—
and resins. 40 50 gm. of coal (100 gm. of coal of applied. The reaction assumed here is
low water content) are weighed into an Erleumeyer CaC2 + H 2 = CoH a +CaO.
Mask of 50(1 cc. capacity, 200 cc. of xylene are added, When tested with known amounts of water, how-
and L50 cc. id' this tie distilled over, the Mask being ever, there is always a deficiency of about (i of
heated on a sand bath, into a measuring cylinder, acetylene, and this necessitates working empirically.
the lower part of which is divided to 1/20 cc. The Possibly some calcium hydroxide is formed from the
measuring vessel is then hung in a cylinder with oxide as a secondary reaction. The use of this
warm water. Any drops of water which hang about method will probably remain restricted to substances
the shoulder of the measuring vessel are detached to which the ordinary methods are inapplicable.
and allowed to fall to the narrow part by means of a Treatment with sodium has been used, as well as
glass rod. After one hour standing, the volume id' treatment with calcium carbide, by Allen and Jacobs
water distilled over with the xylene and which has (Inc. rit.) for the determination of water in petroleum
separated under it, is measured, due correction being
and its products. They describe the method as very
made for the meniscus. The results obtained agreed accurate since hydrogen is insoluble in oil. 2 gm.
well with those of standard methods. The method of finely cut sodium, are used for 1 gm. of water
is ingenious and, in the opinion of the reporters, has
supposed to be present, and the apparatus used for
many advantages, and might well be made the the evolution and measurement of the hydrogen
subject of further trial by other workers.'
evolved by the interaction of the sodium and water
Allen and Jacobs (VIII. Inter. Cong. Applied is similar to that for the carbide method.
Cheni., 1912, Sec. Vc. Original communication, 10,
The i
hod. although clearly of rather limited
' This requirement should lie taken literally. The presence
of a small percentage <>t oxygen may lead to the absorption of
application, appears to be sound within those limits.
.'iiis gas. The use of rubber joints or stoppers should be
— — —
avoided as far as may be in the apparatus since As might be expected the temperature irregulari-
hydrogen is a gas which diffuses very readily. i are much greater in the case of the ordinary
ies
VIII. This is the method in general use, and is single walled air oven. Such an oven heated by a
likely to remain so. The errors to which it is liable single bunsen burner showed a steady temperature
require careful consideration, and it is proposed to on a mercury thermometer of 1 10* C. Fluctuating
devote some space to them. Correct results will be temperature differences of 2° to 5° C. between two
obtained if porcelain crucibles placed side by side in the centre
1. The temperature of the oven and period of dry- of the oven were found with a thermocouple, and an
ing are sufficient to drive off all the moisture. exploration of the inside of the oven with the couple
No moisture is reabsorbed before weighing.
'_'. showed a maximum difference of 27° C. The substi-
3. No volatile substance other than water vapour tution of a spreader burner with 25 small tlames for
is evolved. the bunsen did not reduce this maximum difference,
4. Xo
oxidation takes place. although the differences in the centre of the oven
.">. No
absorption of carbon dioxide takes place. were reduced to a' C. It is obvious that such an
6. No
internal chemical change is induced which oven cannot be used when the temperature of drying
may lead to the formation of water in the substance enters into a specification. Some form of constant
to be dried by heating it to the chosen temperature. temperature jacket must be used, and for tempera-
This error is seldom considerable at 100 <
'. —
tures of 106° 109" either toluene (B.P. 111° vapour
1. The ordinary water oven, with water at the and liquid at same temperature) or a mixture of
bottom, and steam on three sides does not give a glycerol and water* (liquid used far jacket) appear
uniform inside temperature of 100" C. The copper equally suitable.
door exerts a cooling effect, as is shown by the The following figures taken from the report of the
following ligures : International Sub-Committee will illustrate the
Temperature of the boiling water .. ... lOO'O effect of a rise of 8° or 9° above the water oven in the
Temperature of the centre of the oven ... 98 "0 temperature of drying.
Temperature 1 in. from the door ... ... 96'8 Percentage lost by coal lohen dried in water oven.
Difference observed in the oven .. 1-9
These figures are for an ordinary unventilated
I. II. III. IV. V. VI.
oven. With a shutter ventilator of the usual type
in the centre of the door, these differences are in-
cieased, a temperature of 94 was observed 1 in. from
Maximum 312 9-78 7 36 5-50 731 7 66
of the oven was steady at 97 0. Data obtained with Average 2-89 9 65 714 5 34 6 96 7 25
such an oven cannot be put down as loss at 100° '
C*
An additional loss of efficiency with this oven is due Pera ntage lost by coal when heated at 104 —107° C.
to the fact that the air in the oven soon becomes
saturated, and the substance to be dried ceases
to lose moisture. Two simple improvements have Maximum 3-24 1025 8-00 6-42 7 63 816
been suggested for this type of oven, the door is Minimum 2 72 9-48 0-52 510 6 22 6-92
jacketed with a non-conducting substance (uralite, Average 2 96 9 84 7 33 5-84 7 2ii 7-48
asbestos) and air is introduced at the back after
passing through a tube of sufficient length to raise it Similar differences are observed with such vegetable
to the temperature of the boiling liquid. If this air products as linseed, cotton seed and soya bean cakes
is forced in under a slight positive pressure, it can be and meal.
dried previous to entering the oven but this, ; 2. It is well known that many, if not most, dried
although very desirable, is rather too complicated powders are hygroscopic. This property of powders
for ordinary use. \n oven with a stout 'uralite' appears to be more marked when they are very finely
door, and fitted with a preheater ventilating tube, ground and to be independent of ordinary chemical
showed 1090' when used as a toluene oven, and affinity for water, since it has been noted in such a
exploration with a copper eureka thermocouple -
substance as ignited quart/ (cf. Hillebrand, Analysis
showed differences in various pints of the oven of of Silicate and Carbonate Rocks, U.S. Geol. Survey,
HI to il 2° C. only The wateroven may occasionally Hull. 422). This increase is almost certainly due to
be too hot thus with an oven with a badly fitting
; the increased ratio of surface to weight caused by
door, heated by a rather large Maine, some of the grinding, and the consequent greater absorptive
combustion gases found their way into the oven, and power of the powder. It must, however, be re-
temperature reading of. lit'? was obtained in the membered that whereas the water content of a sub-
neighbourhood of the door. stance which is in equilibrium with the atmosphere
A- showing the drying effect of a few degrees rise (of the balance case) or nearly so will not vary, or
of temperature the following table is instructive :
will vary very slowly, the tendency to change, i.e.,
to absorb water will be much more marked when
ance, the dried material cools and tends to assume .1 negligible, and, therefore, so far as this source of
state uf equilibrium with the air around it. This error is concerned, the method is applicable to coal. -
lias probably nut had time to dry, and equally The water in very heavy hydrocarbon oils such as
probably will part with its moisture more readily to are used for lubricating purposes can probably be
the dry powder than to the 'desiceant' provided. determined with some accuracy by the indirect
( lonsequently some gain of water occurs in the desic- method, but it is not applicable to the cla.-s of rela-
cator which will lie further increased in the balance tively heavy oils which are used for fuel. It nut he
case. Dr. Pollard in the International Report illus- said with safety that for any oil having a Hash point
trates the absorptive power of a coal (No. 2) alter it below, or not very much above, inn (_'., this method
is dried, as follows :
—
Air was sucked over 5 gm. of
' should not be used. It is inapplicable for creosote or
dried coal and then through a sulphuric arid tube for tar oil- generally.
si\ hours. The coal gained 0T21 gin. and the U tube 4. The action of the oxygen of the air on substances
only IMIOS gm., so the coal had nearly dried the air. to he dried is in many cases not to be neglected. It
On the question of suitable drying vessels the is not always of a simple kind, since frequently the
Intel iiat tonal reporters say: —'It cannot be contended sign and magnitude of the error caused are both
that an ordinary crucible, either of porcelain or uncertain.
platinum, is a vessel of suitable shape for use in such The simplest possible case is to be found ill the
it determination as that of moisture in any substance: drying of minerals containing ferrous salts. Tin
1 particularly one so liable to oxidation as il, only satisfactory way to determine the moisture in
which should therefore be dried as quickly as possible. these by means of an indirect method is to correct
The A rican Committee, in indicating that plati- for the difference in the content of ferrous iron before
num crucibles, which are usually of a ta'l form, give and after ignition when it is desired to ascertain the
on the whole lower results than porcelain, have hit total water. Hillebrand has shown that grinding
on a weak point in the method recommended by such materials decreases the amount of iron found in
them. .
.' A crucible is perhaps the worst
. the tei rims condition, and it is therefore fairly
shaped open vessel for this purpose. certain that the determination of 'moisture' should
It is well known that substances left over-night in be corrected in the same manner. Dr. Pollard (cf.
ordinary desiccators frequently gain in weight. International Report) found that ferrous sulphate
It is, therefore, important - dried in an 'air vacuum' was invariably oxidised,
(1) To weigh substances for moisture determina- but not so in a ' hydrogen vacuum.'
tion in vessels which, whilst exposing a large area of Drying oils and substances containing them present
substance, can be closed satisfactorily during the difficulties which are frequently ignored. It is well
pei ioil oi weighing. known that an increase of weight occurs when films
(•2) desiccator, which will expose a
To use a good of drying oil are exposed to the air this increase
;
large surface of strong sulphui ic acid and ; also occurs at elevated temperatures, but to a less
(3) To allow the vessel to cool open in the desicca- extent. This does not appear to be due to a reduced
tor since, e.g., a weighing bottle of 15 cc capacity oxidation at the higher temperature, but rather to
woitid hold at 15 about 18 mgm. of air, and at Inn the protective action of the film which is formed,
only 1+ mgm., which would he the amount weighed and to the circumstance that oxygen is not simply
after cooling if the bottle were kept stoppered. added, but that carbon dioxide, water and possibly
The International reporters describe various forms other volatile substai s, are given off.
of weighing bottle used by members, and mention Such substances as linseed cake, if dried slowly at
that well fitting watch glasses are very simple and temperatures below 1110 (.'..reach a minimum weight
are apparently quite satisfactory, (< >ne of us uses and then slowly gain. It does not follow that any
small shallow tins, such as vaseline is sold in. which weighing which may be made will represent the
appear to possess many advantages.) may We point of minimum weight, although the rate of gain
remark that here was considerable evidence showing
t
i- usually so low thai the probable error on this
that covered crucibles are not satisfactory. Apart account is small. It is certain, however, that in
from the looseness of their covers, we consider their such a case the minimum point does not furnish a
shape very unsuitable. sure means of determining the amount of watei
The subject of desiccators can be more conveniently originally present in the substance.
considered in connection with the vacuum method. Coal is another substance which in the finely
3. The possibility that a substance may evolve ground state i- very sensitive to the action of oxygen,
some other volatile matter than water introduces an especially at high temperatures. Here again the
element of uncertainty in the indirect method, which sign of the error affecting indirect determination is
must be eliminated or shown to be negligible. Fer- uncertain. Not only is the oiganic matter of coal
tilisers of such an alkaline character as Peruvian or easily attacked by oxygen, but the sulphur of pyrites
lish guano and many other products will evolve contained in it also presents a vulnerable point. It
ammonia or amines as well as water when heated. was shown by the International Committee that the
Ammonium salts are not a hove suspicion in this results obtained by drying at a temperature above
respect. Salts of weak and volatile acids may absorb the boiling point of water, hut not above that ol
('<), ami evolve the acids. .Many vegetable sub- toluene, were higher than those obtained in the
stances, '/.. spices, seeds, etc., give oil' essential oils
1
water oven and corresponded more nearly to those
as well as water when heated. Snaps, or similar
obtained by drying in a current of inert gas. For
materials, containing 'carbolic acid,' creosote, naph- these tea (ins we feel that the use of a water oven is
thalene, or petroleum will lose matters other than indefensible for this material, and agree with the
water when heated. It is well known that many
conclusions stated below of the International re-
substances char slightly when heated even at 100 for porters on this matter.
a time.
Other organic materials, such as sugar and veget-
The evolution of traces of hydrocarbon gases by able products, generally are affected by the oxygen
coal his heen shown bv Mahler {vide supra) to be
of the air when they are dried. The approximate
in setiR- ciisen a niiuiit. be <tt-sh nM.- i" use counterpoises oi
This magnitude of errors in moisture determinations in
similar form TOlume and surface to the weighing vessels.
1
riiil necessary for anj ordinari work. all cases should be carefully considered, and where
—
the sigh is also uncertain the indirect method should the International Committee on Glycerine Analysis:
nol be ised unless it is certain that the sum of any a vacuum of 1 mm
i- specified, and drying lias been
.">
Mortar, soap, or any product containing free
(. Nil 366 in.ST 7 83 6 05 7 lis 8-36
Highesl 2 90 L033 776 6-iiT 7-80 7-99
alkali or alkaline earth, may absorh CI K it dried in a
current of air.
9. Prolonged exposure in a vacuum to the action In this table the line IV.' represents the loss in a
'
of a drying ageut is the last method to be considered. vacuum (unspecified) over sulphuric acid after 8daj -
The apparatus may he arranged to measure the gain taken from the paper already mentioned by Hille
of weight of the drying agent or the hiss of weight brand and Badger. The series IV.' was considered '
of the substance to he dried, the latter being more by them as best representing the moisture condition
usual. The presence of substances, other than water, of the samples as received. The second line contains
volatile in a vacuum, obviously renders the results the loss over sulphuric acid (184), (30 sq. in. surface)
inaccurate, but when working al the ordinary tem- in 24 hours, vacuum I mm. for first 15 hours, dropped
are, even with this restriction, this process is to 3 mm. during the following nine hours. (Shallow
applicable to a large number of substances. Owing bottle-, weighed stoppered). The third line contains
to the low temperature and the absence of oxygen the hicbest figure recorded for 8 days exposuie t<
(the latter condition being effectively secured if after the vacuum over sulphuric acid h\ Hillebrand and
the first exhaustion an indifferent ga- is admitted Badger.
and again pumped out) oxidation is completely ex- Excluding sample 1, it is clear that the differences
cluded. The method
has its limitations like all the are small, and in fact are much less than the differ-
rest, crystallised copper sulphate is not com-
e.g., ences between different observers all using the loss
pletely 'dehydrated in this way, but direct comparison for one hour in a toluene oven, ef. VIII. 1. Except
with heating at 10.V C. shows that the vacuum pro- in coal No. .3, the 24 hours his- is always greater
cess usually gives the higher, and therefore more than the S days loss, a result possibly due to the
pro '•'-. c,-t results,
> [t is, however, necessary area of sulphuric acid exposed and the high vacuum.
to see that the sulphuric acid used to absorb the There is no certainty that the whole of the moisture
water is concentrated (1-sti. bas a large effective i- lost in this way, but it is worthy of note that the
-i, .
25 to 30 s.| in., and that the vacuum is as losses shown in the second line are consistently
high as possible. Before remo\ ing the samples from higher than those found in the ordinary way in the
the desiccator the vacuum should he Broken by the toluene oven, and the higher figures here appear to
admission of dry air (see remarks of l>r. Pollard on be more probable. It would lie a matter of great
the hygroscopic properties of dry coal). The point interest to try to reduce the time of exposure neces-
necessity for a good vacuum appears to sary by using a higher vacuum. Pressures of
have been missed by some workers. The vapour ii ni mm. and under can be readily reached and
pressure of water at the ordinary temperatuie is of maintained by a double oil pump of the Fleuss
lie- order of 10 mm. to "20 mm., and a water pump pattern working in series with this and an arrange-
:
gi- es about this figure. The water on the surface of ment for circulating the sulphuric acid, the time
a line powder lias a lower effective vapour pressure required for a vacuum moisture determination might
than this, and hence the rate of drying of a powder possibly he reduced to 1 or 2 hours. There is no
in a water pump vacuum over sulphuric acid is practical reason why the double pump should not be
practically the same as in a desiccator at the ordinary used with a Hempel desiccator containing -tnuig
pressure There is no difficulty in a pump of the
'
Badger, in the paper already mentioned, show a moisture and water of combination is of little
moment in the case of coal, since the losses of watei
steady loss of weight up to s days; no details are
given' of the vacuum, and it is possible from these (a) at ordinary temperature under greatly reduced
figures that the pressure was greater than 1 to2 mm. pressure, and in the presence of suitable means for
In his connection it may he mentioned that an ordin-
i
reducing the tension of aqueous vapour to an in-
inary vacuum gauge as purchased cannot he relied up- appreciable quantity (desiccants), and (A) at tein-
on without examination. It should be connected (pre- peratuies a few degrees above the boiling point of
ferably fused) to a good Tbpler mercury pump and water, do not differ seriously.
tested, it. will usually be found to require boilingout 3. Coal is a substance which very readily under-
in avacuum before use. goes oxidation, and the best results in the determi-
The vacuum method bas been officially adopted by nation of water are only to be obtained when the
— — t
488 The Journal of Tin: Chemical. Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
coal is treated in an atmosphere containing no of the period of cooling, which should be equal to
oxygen. that allowed for the heated empty glasses or bottles,
4. Coal is a very hygroscopic substance and before they should be reweighed and the percentage loss
being dried, must be properly protected in the labo- calculated. The higher results shall he considered
ratory from the effects of changes of temperature or as the percentage of water in the coal. The required
of atmospheric conditions. When dry, it must be temperature can be obtained by the vapour of boiling
protected from any contact with moist air or with toluene (111' C. at 760 mm.), by steam at a pressure
moisture in any form until the determination is of 0116 —
1,100 mm. or by an electrically heated ther-
finished. mostatic arrangement. We
advise that a long oven
5. Unless the drying is known to be
initial rate of with a door in the small end should be used. A
very rapid, the drying should be divided into two toluene oven with a preheating arrangement for the
periods of which the latter is much longer than the air current, as described by Siau (Jour. Soc. O/iem.
former. Unless this is done, it is probable that an Iml., 1911, 61) or other similar device* is, in our
almost constant small loss, continued over a very opinion, a practical arrangement. strongly con- We
long period, may be mistaken for an inappreciable demn air ovens and all devices in which the tempera-
loss. ture of the walls of the drying chamber is variable.
A consideration of the curve on p. 124 of Report We believe that a fairly uniform temperature in the
will illustrate tiiis point, which obviously applies whole of the interior of an oven is only to be obtained
with very great force to the vacuum method.'
' when the heated walls have an area very large
6. When the initial rate of drying is very rapid, relative to the cubical contents of the interior and
i (j., at 105° or thereabouts, the gain of weight by are themselves at a uniform temperature A pre-
oxidation may very soon become greater than any heated supply of air is to be desired. Mere heating
loss due to a very slow rate of drying over a long without a proper air current is unreliable.
period. 3. Whenever it is suspected that a coal is specially
7. There is no advantage to be obtained by drying liable to oxidation or the I hr. and 1 hi. results differ
coal at temperatures above that of the atmosphere materially drying at 104 —
111° in a current of nitro-
but below, say, 105° C. Those who have read the gen or carbon dioxide is to be preferred to drying in
body of the Report or who have, even, carefully read an oven through which a current of air is passing.
the above conclusions will not need to be informed Either the direct or indirect method of estimating
that the accurate determination of water in a small water may be used. If the former is chosen, care
sample of coal is a matter of difficulty and requires must be taken to prove the dryness of the stream of
grave consideration. In the case of large samples of gas which is passed over the coal. The percentage
relatively coarse coal, the matter is of even greater of free oxygen in this gas must be inappreciable.
difficulty. We put forward the following recom- This method of drying in a current of inert gas is to
mendations believing them to be sound, and having be preferred for all very exact work.
due regard to the requirements of both the industrial 4. Drying to constant or minimum weight in a
and the research chemist, but we do not suggest that vacuum in the presence of sulphuric acid (or other
they are final. We do, however, ask that workers dessicant) possesses no advantage over the last men-
shall give them serious consideration with a view to tioned method. It is very much slowe--, and, unless
their adoption. the vacuum is very high, it is better to till the desic-
We recommend that cator with carbon dioxide (or other inert gas before
1. Whenever possible,especially in the case of exhausting). If this method is preferred, a Hempel
very moist coals, the water in the original sample desiccator, or any other form in which a large surface
should be determined after it has been subjected to of sulphuric acid is exposed both above and below
a minimum amount of preliminary mechanical treat- the coal, should be used the coal should be weighed
:
ment [e.g., thorough mixing with rapid crushing of in watch glasses or shallow weighing bottles and the
lumps), by either of the following methods: loss after, say, 24 hours, 72 hours and 144 hours
('0 A carefully weighed portion of from 100 gm. to should be taken.
500 gm. of coal is spread out in a metal tray and With such prolonged periods of drying, the results
exposed for at least 24 hours to the atmosphere of obtained by this method are practically identical
the sampling room. The tray containing the coal is with those by method 3. The air admitted into the
then reweighed and the percentage change of weight vacuous space should always be dried by passing
is calculated. The coal is then coarsely ground in a slowly through or oi'er sulphuric acid.
mill (a ball grinder is best), and the water deter- 5. The methodof drying off water from coal by
mined in the ground portion by one of the methods heating xylene and measuring the water
in boiling
given in recommendations 2, 3 or 4. The water on which with the hydrocarbon, is a variant
distils over
the original sample can then be calculated, or of the method of drying in an inert atmosphere at an
elevated temperature. It is worthy of serious con-
(6) The xylene method used by Dr. Constam and
given in recommendation 5, all results to be calcu- sideration, and although we cannot, in view of the
lated back to the original coal. limited information at our disposal, recommend it
2. For ordinary technical work, coal should be unconditionally, we consider that it is most promis-
dried in an oven with a good air circulation for a ing and apii'-ais to be particularly suitable for indus-
period not exceeding one hour at a temperature not trial purposes.
below 104° nor above 111° C. It is advised that two 6. Coal should always be weighed in closed vessels
portions of 1 gm. should be weighed between pairs with well fitting lids or stoppers. Deep vessels such
of accurately fitting watch glasses or in a shallow as crucibles are unsuitable for water determinations.
weighing bottle which has been heated to the tem- Porcelain or metal boats which can be weighed in
perature of drying and cooled in a good desiccator, stoppered or well fitted sliding tubes may be used.
and be dried for periods of A hour ami 1 hour respec- 7. Desiccators with the strongest sulphuric acid,
tively, the upper glass or the lid of the bottle being which is frequently renewed, are recommended. If
removed during the period of drying, at the end of * A simple oven with preheater has been described by one of
which it should be replaced loosely and the covered US (J.S.C.T. XXXI ,1912,471.)
vessels placed in the desiccator to cool. At the end t Pressure not greater than 1 nun. to 2 mm.
—
calcium chloride i- used it must lie ignited before it the percentage of tin obtained as a difference from
is put in the desiccator. If phosphoric anhydride the direct determination of all impurities, they will
is used it must frequently be stirred. These sub- nevertheless lie forced in the usual routine of a busy
stances are not nearly as convenient or reliable as laboratory to use a direct method. The impurities
sulphuric acid. found in leading brands of the metal include, in
George T. Holloway, President. varying quantity, antimony, arsenic, iron, lead,
J. H. Coste, Vice-President. copper, sulphur, to mention only the more impor-
These recommendations, of course, refer more tant and a glance at these will emphasise the
:
particularly to coal, but as this presents most of the economic impossibility of submitting every sample
difficulties wliieli are found with other substai -. to an exhaustive analysis in order to obtain a
most, of the conclusions may lie considered as of commercial estimate of purity.
general application. Some of the methods to which Tin is now of such great interest, and the activity
we have referred were not examined by any member in the metal is so likely to increase, that it may not
of the Committee, such as the ignition method be inopportune to investigate what reliance may be
(obviously inapplicable to substances containing placed upon the direct determination of the metal in
organic matter or ammonium salts), the 'water deter- a technical manner.
mutator' method, and the gasometric methods. The estimation of tin in ores, slags, and other pro-
These are applicable to coal and to many organic ducts has been the consideration of many able
materials. We
do not suppose that either the direct workers, who have elaborated convenient and accu-
or the vacuum method will lie adopted to any great rate methods. These methods ha e heen reviewed
extent notwithstanding their undoubted merits, nor by L. Parry ('The Assay of Tin and Antimony,')
that the ordinary water or steam oven will (ease to and others, but, so far as the author can trace, no
lie a prominent feature in most laboratories. It is, record has been made of attempts to utilise the deli-
moreover, provided in various statutory rules and cate reactions of SnCl 2 in that critical manner of
regulations [e.g., under the Fertilisers and Feeding cariyiug out the iodometric method of copper assay
Stuffs Act, 1906), that water shall be determined hy which has yielded such valuable results (see, how-
drying at Mm C. We
strongly urge that those who ever-, 'The Volumetric Estimation of Tin by means
either choose or are obliged to work at temperatures of Potassium Bichromate,' hy H. Reynolds, Cliemi-
not exceeding 100° C. should use such appliances as rid News, xcvii., 13).
will ensure the attainment of a temperature through- The experiments on which these notes are based
out the oven within a very few degrees of tin' boiling were originally carried out to determine the relative
point ot water, and which will allow a steady current convenience, with regard to accuracy and speed, of
of hot aii to pass over the substance to lie dried. It iodine and ferric chloride in the volumetric estima-
does not appear that for general work temperatures tion of commercially pure tin, but they are directly
below 100° are nearly as satisfactory as those a few related to the larger question, and, whilst presenting
degrees above I'.otli on the grounds of accuracy no striking features of novelty, it is hoped they will
and of speed the higher temperatures are to be appeal to general interest. The two methods are
recommended. It would lie advisable in many cases now so widely utilised and detailed in all works of
to state the method used when returning results reference that description of their leading features is
which are at all likely to be the subject of dispute. unnecessary.
It must be remembered that frequently the analysis The experiments fall under four headings :
of the dry matter is dependent on the exact deter- A. Preparation of solution of stannous chloride.
mination of the moisture, and that the presence of 1!. Titration with ferric chloride in excess, work-
at least some of the -water of combination' or ing back with titanium chloride.
'organic matter' is very often due to an umlei estima- (
Titration with
'. ferric chloride alone.
tion of the amount of moisture in the sample I'. ,, ,, iodine.
examined. A. Preparation of Solution of Stannous Chloride. —
The analyst should therefore make the same care- The author has tried many methods to effect this by
fill choice of a method for this determination as he no means easy part of the operations. He found that
would for that of any other constituent. with suitable precautions, the stannous condition
In conclusion, we wish to thank our colleagues on could be ensured from the start, thus eliminating
the International Sub-Committee for the mass of tlie interference of reducers and saving much time
analytical work and of information which have heen and trouble. The process found to be most, satisfac-
incorporated in the Report, only a small portion of tol V Was as follow s :
and .1. H. CoSTE Journal of the Socii ty of Chemical open- out above ml o a small funnel like enlargement,
Industry, dan. 31, 1913, p. <i-». (F. W. W.) for introduction of acid and oxidiser ; the other, of
narrow bore, serves to c. nnect to a similar Ilask by
Notes on nit: Direct Volumetric Determina- means of a lubber tube and small glass rubber-
tion (ik TIN.*—" At a recent meeting of the Society covered nozzle fitting into the funnel tube. In this
of Chemical Industry, Mr. Ernest A. Lewis initiated manner a train of flasks was fitted up and the bulk
a discussion on Limits of Accuracy in Copper and
'
of the air displaced by the passage of carbon di-
III. is- Analysis,' and stated that, amongst Others, oxide. Each Ilask was then opened in turn at the
the metal 'cannot be determined accurately in
tin funnel tube and oil cc. concentrated hydrochloric
the eom iciallv pnre state directly ' (Jourii. Soc. oj acid poured in. Tie- Mask was immediately connected
Chemical Industry, vol. xxxi., p. 96). Whilst, most in the series and the qniet passage of carbonic acid
analysts w.ml.l probably regard .is an ideal figure gas maintained till solution was effected in the cold.
A Papei read at > Meeting of the Institution of Mining and
This arrangement proved quite easy to manipulate,
Metallurgy, December l'.nh, 1912. and, although nearly all the solutions were obtained
—
490 The Journal of The < hemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
in the colli, several special series gave equally good In order to test whether 'the tin in the prepared
results when the whole set was moderately waimed solutions was within very narrow limits actually
to hasten solution. '
stannous,' a solution of 1'eCl.. was prepared from
15. Titration with Ferric Chloride in excess, work- the purest iron and acid in the cold, oxidised as far
ing hart toith Titanium Chloride. The method — as possible by the gentle passage of air and finally
adopted, the principles of which are described by E. at nearly a boiling temperature with H aOo. The
Knecht and E. Hibbert ('New Reduction Methods solution so prepared was used to oxidise a special
in Volumetric Analysis,' 1910, pp. 15 and 56), con- set of ' Kahlbauni tin trials, worked back with
'
sisted in disconnecting the flasks successively and TiCl, as usual. Despite every precaution taken to
adding the FeCl 3 solution in slight excess from an ensure accuracy, such as weighing the whole .solu-
automatic burette down the funnel tube the excess ; tion of iron and the amount delivered from the auto-
of ferric, salt being afterwards reduced by TiCb, matic burette, the figures obtained appeared to
using NH
4 CNS
as indicator. indicate, not only that tin was not oxidised durim?
Experiments showed that there was no necessity its solution in the prescribed manner, but that the
to warm the SnClo in some cases this was done by
; deficiency was on the iron side. The results, whilst
partly immersing the flask in warm water before being unsuitable for discussion, were of great regu-
disconnecting from the CO., supply. It was found, larity and indicated that a more refined series would
however, to be much more satisfactory to complete confirm the stannous condition of the tin solu-
the titration with TiCl., in the cold, as, although the tions.
indicator acted more sharply when warm, yet the The influence of antimony on ferric chloride is
intense red colour returned more quickly, and the well known, and if present in more than the minu-
end point became doubtful. With cold solutions, test trace, which is readily seen on dissolving the tin
however, the end point was quite definite, and no in cold acid, its presence must be duly allowed for
reversible reactions were noticed for some time. The influence of copper in small quantity on the
The exact strength of the FeCl 3 solution is a Tit 'I was tested and found to he practically negli-
|
reasonable excess, the value of the TiCl., being Kahlbauni tin. c opper. TiCl a . Till
determined in terms of FeCl 3 and, hence, of tin. , Gin. Gm. Cc. C
The delicacy of the end point between the FeCl. 0-9980 00005 6-2 4 95
ami TiCl was examined by oxidising a solution of
. 0-9980 o-l li in.-, 6-0 4-75
Fe(NHj)o.-2S0 4 with KMnOj (Knecht and Hibbert, 09957 0-0010 76 4 95
lor. cit., p. 48), both in the absence and presence of 0-9980 00010 6-0 4 7a
fully oxidised SnCl 4 and found to be satisfactory.
, 0-9984 0-0025 V7 47
The value of the TiCI was finally determined by
;;
. 0-9985 00025 .V6 4 7
titration of a solution of SnCl._, oxidised with excess 11-9944 7 9 4 4
of FeCl 3 to which were added successive amounts of
, 09965 7-0 4S
very carefully standardised FeCl 3 solution. (Collected result- of estimations are recorded in
The following sets of trials performed with com- tabular form later on.)
mercially pure tin, with a negligible trace of anti-
mony, indicate the uniformity of the processes, each C. Titration with Ferric Chloride. The process —
set being, of course, independent, on account of here was identical with the last series, except that
slight variations in value of the FeCl., solutions. the FeCl. delivered from the automatic burette was
In all these experiments the value of the TiC'l equivalent to less than if tin. Titration was
1
..
was 1 cc. =0-0016 Sn. then completed with dilute FeCl 3 using Cii.J., and ,
4 9
was found to he rather less than the theoretical
2. „ 4 6
when a dilute solution of KeCI,, standardised for
3. „ 47 44 The tin equivalent of the
ferric iron, was used.
4. „ 44 41
ferric iron was used as the factor in the absence of
5. ,, 4 7 4 4
any better independent method of control. Tin- end
Maximum difference in terms of tin 014%. point appeared to be sharp, but not so sharp as one
B. Ihin Strips, Warmed ; time of Solution about 90 usually associates with iodine and starch reactions.
mill ill, v. The billowing illustrate the uniformity obtained (all
1. 0-9993 8-7 8-3 dissolved cold) 1 cc. dilute FeCl 3 equivalent, to
2. 0-9957 111 8-4 0-002 gm. Sn :—
3. 0-9932 12-9 8-7 Tin (fin). nihi ;eFeCI a (cc. ). Dilu ,.
pel I : i
K) 9a
4. 0-9948 120 s-s
11 9995 3 00 3-25
5- 0-9948 1205 8*8
9994 2-75 3 05
«. 0-9980 .",
<s-3 3-85 3-45
II 8
Maximum difference in terms of tin OS ;,. 0-9993 25 2 8.-)
C. Thin Strips, Cold; all Night. 9998 2 6 •2 70
1 cc. Dilute [i
Titanium titrations of the tin foil ami '
checks '
:
—
Tin (tin. i. l>ihm Iodine (cc.). i qui* alent i< Sn
Kahlbaum tin. TiCl 3 cc. Til ,, 1 cc. tor 11 Su.
,
00382 15 25 0025
-V2|
0-9980 gm. l
041 14 16*2 00025 o 9974 „
.
7-0
g 3 .
•
(NOTE. The volume of iodine solution delivered A complete analysis of this foil gave:- Sb li'.l ;
iiay be rendered more uniform by making the solu- As nil 0-25;Fe ; Pb 0084 ; Cu 0025 ; S 021% ;
tion with about 10% of industrial spirit. This lias Sn by difference 9893 .
not been found to introduce any secondary reactions.) The extremely linely divided antimony also affects
Before adding the strong iodine, 50 cc. of distilled the iodine end point by reacting even in the cold
water containing a little Na 2 C0 3 is introduced into with the SnClj produced, hence the reduction by
the flask, generating CO., ami neutralising to a antimony, tised by some as a method of preparing
small degree the strongly aeid liquor. fFuither the tin for titration, must be likely to give high
experience lias shown it to be better !> dilute with results. With a knowledge of the percentage of
rold boiled distilled water saturated with CO,.). antimony present, it> elle.-t may he adjusted by
The regularity of reaction is shown below all solu- : allowing the solution after adding the strong iodine
tions were obtained in the cold. cc. dilute 1 I in st;u il until the antimony has gone into solution,
equii alent to 0025 gm. Sn. finally completing the titration with dilute iodine
Tin mm.). Dilute I 2 (cc). Dilute I2 for 1-000 Sn. anil subtracting the equivalent of the anti y
0-9968 19-2 20 5 present.
09954 18-7 20o indicate that, with care in dis-
The experiments
ii-9950 isn 20-6 solving, the solution of tin was obtained in the
1-0002 20 6 20-5 stannous condition, and when titrated with iodine
0-9996 200 20-2 or ferric chloride against checks of pure metal,
0-9980 HIT 20-5 direct results of technical accuracy were obtained.
Indeed, it is highly probable that these results were
Maximum difference in terms of tin 0-10/ .
492 Tht Journal of Thi Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Afr April 1913
All temperatures found in this study weie deter- Zn ... 1:80,000 Boiling Nll.oll
mined by thermometers or thermocouples immeised by experiment, as attempts to get them by direct
directly within the nitroglycerin. When thermo caliiilation of solubility will be negatived by optical
meters were thus used, only those that had been factors not influenced by mass action. The results
checked with known stand:.]. I- woe taken, and in are as shown iii the accompanying table. In each
all case- a table of corrections was applied. When rase the sensitivity is based on observation of 5'0 cc.
thermocouples were used, the readings were checked of final solution.'- I,. J. UUKTMAN and A. I). St.
against similar readings of the boiling points of JOHN. Engineering and Mining Journal, Jan. IS,
liquids of known composition, such materials being 1913, p. IS3. (H. A. W.)
selected for standardisation as boiled at approxima-
tely the temperatures being measured in the A New Method for the Determination oi
experiment. Hypochlorites.— "Hypochlorites can be titrated
The temperature at which ebullition of nitro- with a A In solution of hydrazine sulphate, the end
glycerin begins at normal atmospheric pressure was point being determined by starch-iodide paper. The
found to he 145 C This result is correct within me .
reaction appears to he :
phosphite, ami, contrary to the assertion of Hanus cornet can be resolved into two parts: one a correc-
ami Soukup (this ./., 1911, 574), no appreciable pro- tion proportional to the fineness of the bullion (or
portion of the copper enters the filtrate. The author's proof) but constant for all fires, and the other, a
procedure is as follows (compare Dallitnore this J., ; correction constant for all cornets in a lire, but vary-
1909, 962) —
50 cc. of solution, containing 5 gin. of
:
ing in different fires. The first correction is made by
copper sulphate crystals ami 3 cc. of dilute sulphuric. adjustments applied to the weights and ordinary
acid (1 5), are heated for 10 minutes with 20 cc. of
: rider used, and the second by placing an extra ('sur-
hypophosphite solution (200 gm. per litre). The charge') rider in the requisite position on the beam.
precipitate is immediately washed with hot water The balance reading thus gives the fineness directly,
until free from acid, and then with alcohol, after —
conected for surcharge." A. O. WATKINS, Chem.
which it is rapidly dried and ignited till of constant Neios, 19r2, 106, 248-9, 259-260. — Journal of th,-
weight. These operations may be completed in less Society of Chemical Industry, Dec. 31, 1912, p. 1 S3.1
than half-an-hour, and the results are shown to In' (F. W. W.)
almost as accurate as those obtained by electrolysis.
— R. WlNDISCH, Z. anal. Chun., 1913. .7.', 1-13.—
METALLURGY.
Journal of thi Society of Chemical Industry, .Ian.
31, 1913, p. 111. (F. W. W.) Nipissing High Grade Mill, Cobalt. — "The
high-grade ores of the Cobalt district consist mainly
Determination of Small Quantities of Car- of the arsenides of cobalt and nickel in a calcite
bon Monoxide — " The gas to be tested is collected gangue with a large quantity of silver in the metallic
in an Erlenmeyer tlask of known volume, and shaken state. A
typical ore carries 10% silver, 9% cobalt,
with a solution of palladium chloride containing H nickel and 39% arsenic the rest is lime, silica
:
excess of sodium acetate. The metallic palladium and smaller amounts of antimony, iron, sulphur,
(CO + IMC1..+ H..O = Pd + CO., r 2HC1), tellurium, etc.
which separates, is tiltered oft' and weighed. gin. 1 Ore is Complex.— The complex nature of the inl-
of palladium corresponds to 210 cc. of carbon mon- and its high content in arsenic make it an undesir-
oxide at N.T. P. It is necessary to use sodium acetate able ore for the ordinary custom smelter, who is
in order to prevent the hydrochloric acid from redis- compelled to charge a high price for its reduction.
solving the finely divided metal in the presence of The general practice is to smelt in a blast furnace
oxygen. The author gives figures illustrating the where a large part of the silver is recovered at once
reliability of the method for percentages of carbon as base bullion the resulting speiss is roasted and
;
monoxide varying from 0'12 to 10 by volume, using treated in the wet way for the recovery of the cobalt,
about a litre in each determination. The method is nickel and the rest of the silver. This process is
not available in the presence of hydrogen or un- slow ; the necessary plant costs several hundred
saturated hydrocarbons." O. Brunck, Z. angeiv. — thousand dollars, and a large working capital must
Chem., 1912,' M, 2479-2481.—Journal of the Society be available to carry on the business.
of Chemical Industry, Dec. 31, 1912. p. 1178. As the largest producer in the district, the Nipiss-
(F. \Y. W.) ing Mining Co., Ltd., had been trying for several
years to find a simple process by which its high-grade
New Method for Determining Nitric Oxide. ores could be treated at the mine without going to
—" In the gas-pipette is contained a little moist si irk tin- large expense of building the usual smeltery.
caustic potash, the rest of the pipette being rum To this end a great many processes had been inves
pletely tilled with mercury. The measured volume tigated and one small experimental plant was built :
of gas containing nitric oxide is brought over into tlie trouble with most of the processes is the compli-
the pipette, and is followed bya measured volume of cation of the operations and the consequent tying up
air, more than sufficient to convert the nitric oxide of a large amount of money.
into nitrogen trioxide. As fast as the nitrogen tri- —
A V nii/iii' Process Used. It remains to Charles
oxide is formed it is absorbed by the caustic potash, Butters and his assistant, G. II. Clevenger, finally
forming potassium nitrite, and no nitrogen peroxide to work out a process which promised to be so simple
is formed. The gas is now brought back into the and effective that the Nipissing company decided
measuring vessel, and the diminution of volume to build the necessary plant at once, .lames John-
measured. Four-fifths of this is equal to the volume ston designed and constructed the plant which went
of the nitric oxide into operation February, 1911, and has run success-
(4N(.)+ 0., = 2N 2 0., 2N,0 + 4KOH = 4KXO, + 2H,0).
;
:!
fully ever since.
This reaction can also be used to determine oxygen, The high-grade ore from the picking tables is de-
if excess of nitric oxide be first brought into the livered to the sampling plant at the top of the mill
caustic potash pipette, and the oxygen— containing where it is put through a9x 15 in. Blake erusher and
gas be then admitted. If the nitric oxide be brought ele\ ated to a steel receiving bin. From this in is fed
into excess of oxygen standing over caustic' potash, automatically into a No. 3—6 ft. Krupp ball mill
there is always some formation of nitrogen peroxide." carrying 1,0001b. of steel balls and fitted with 20
0. BAUDISCH and G. KLINGER, Ber., 1912, 1,5, mesh screens. The metallics or silver nuggets which
3231-323G. —
Journal of the Society of Chemical will not pass the screen are removed periodically by
Industry, Dec, 1912, p. 117s. F. \V. W.) I
taking oil' a screen, and are melted down in the re-
finery. From the ball mill the pulp is delivered by
l'wn New Methods of Weighing Cornets in a spiral feed to a Vezin sampler and elevated to two
the Assw of Gold Bullion. "At the Perth — 6(1 ton steel storage tanks, from which it is drawn as
(Western Australia) mint bullion assays are made in needed for treatment in the mill.
duplicate, one by weighing the cornets by a modifi Amalgamation in Tube Hill the Chief Operation.
cation of Foord's compensating weight method, and The main operation consists of amalgamating the
the other by a direct-weight system. It has been silver in a 5° cyanide solution while the 20 mesh
found that under the conditions of work employed, material is being ground in a tube mill. The mill
there is the same difference in surcharge for equal used is a Krupp mill 3 ft. 11 in. in ilia, and 19 ft. Sin.
differences in fineness, so that the surcharge of a long, fitted with silex liners and run at 37r.p.m
4(14 The Journal of Tin < 'hemical, Metallurgical and Minim/ Society of Smith Africa April 1913
The weight of ore per charge depends somewhat on Remarkable Recovery by Amalgamation.— It was
the silver content, but with 2,500 oz. ore the soon found that the amalgam must be kept exceed-
ordinary tube mill charge is 6,500 lb. of ore 8,500 ; ingly thin, otherwise it would stick in the tube mill
II). of mercury 3,800 lb. of cyanide solution, and six
; and cake under the muller of the settler: hence the
tons of pebbles. mercury used is 15 times the weight of the silver in the
The materials arc charged through a manhole on ore. After draining in the sacks, the amalgam still
the top of the mill, and after the rover lias been re- carries 78% mercury. The remarkable part about
placed the mill is revolved for 9j hi. when !I9 of , the whole process is that 97% to 98% of the total
the pulp will pass a 200 mesh screen. Ibis line silver in the ore yields to amalgamation in the tube
grinding is necessary to liberate the line particles of mill. An ore assaying 2,5(10 oz. per ton is reduced
silver and permit of complete amalgamation. A to 511 to 75 oz. per ton when it leaves the settler.
screen analysis of the final tailing shows that the Cyaniding Plays a Minor Hole. The cyanide —
coarser particles are much richer than the slime : treatment of the pulp which follows is comparatively
this is also shown by the accompanying screen tests unimportant as it deals only with six or seven tons of
on ore crushed through a 10 mesh screen. 50 oz. ore daily. There are four 16x7 ft. wooden
It was found advantageous to have a certain quan- tanks for the collection and treatment of the pulp,
tity of silver go into solution in the cyanide, and to and the necessary tanks for storage of solution and
this end more air bad lo be supplied to the charge. water. A charge for agitation is made up of four
Each gudgeon of the mill is fitted with a stuffing tube mill charge or 13 tons of dry pulp. Five pounds
box through which passes a heavy cast-iron pipe, of lime per dry ton of pulp are added and the charge
4 in. outside diameter, with a \ in. bole lirough the
1 I is agitated for 36 hr. the tanks are fitted with
:
centre. The easting is held stationary by bolts to mechanical agitators, and the pulp is circulated
the concrete foundation, and the mill revolves about through a pump as well. The cyanide strength is
Grading Analysis of Nipissinq Ore Crushed Through n-75 .
- 200 ... ... ... 291 706 this year contained 9% cobalt and 4 "5% nickel.
the pipe. Compressed air under 2.") lb. pressure is Evidence of Mercury in Ore. The complex nature —
introduced through one of the hollow castings. At of this residue is shown by the following analysis by
I lie outlet end there is a right-angle turn in the hollow Johnson >V Sons on some of last year's product :
casting just inside the mill and the upper end reaches Nickel, 972 cobalt, 5 '85
: iron, 2585 ;antimony, :
io within \ in. of the lining. The heavy cast iron 3-80 bismuth, 0(I9
: copper, (lilti ; tellurium, ;
elbow, therefore, remains stationary, the inside leg 1-39 arsenic, 29511%;
: sulphur, 1'59 silica, ;
level of the charge at all times, allowing the com- acid, 1355%: combined water. 574%; mercury,
pressed air to escape while the mill is in motion. alkali, oxygen, gold and silver, traces of zinc, tin and
The casting is heavy enough lo withstand the bat- manganese, 3T5' Determinations of mercury con-
.
tering of the pebbles falling against it. This sumption indicated the presence of mercury in the
arrangement allows the mill to be filled well above ore itself. Investigation along this line showed that
the centre with a consequent decrease ill the power the ordinary high-grade ore of the district usually
used, bm it is found that the best results are obtained' carries from 2 to 5 lb. of mercury per ton of ore. de-
by filling the mill to a point 2 in. above the centre. pending upon the amount of nietallics contained.
Tiilie Mill Product Washed mid Settled.
'
which delivers it into an all-iron settler, 8 ft. in dia., cury per ton of nietallics and averaged 35 lb.
fitted with wooden shoes. The lube mill is then The presence of mercury in the nietallics was
washed out twice by revolving it with a ton of solu- proved on a large scale when the refinery was built ;
tion and 1,500 lb. of mercury. These washes are the first charge melted down in the reverberator^
added to the charge and the seltler filled with sola when the furnace and tines were dean, was a ton of
ion
t the charge i< kept in agitation by the muller
;
nietallics. A small bottle full of mercury was taken
while the amalgam is drawn off info an iron cleanup from the condenser and globules of mercury could be
pan, and from there into canvas amalgam (ilWs, of plainly seen through the Hue dust.
which there are 24. each holding 4no lb. of amalgam. Zinc-box Precipitation Used. There are two zinc —
The pulp is gradually run out of the settler by draw- precipitation boxes, one for strong and one for weak
ing the top plug, the balance of (be charge being solution. The precipitate from both boxes goes to
washed twice with solution. When the How of an 18 in. Johnson filter press with 12 frames: the
amalgam has ceased, the mercury, as it drains out press holds 500 lb. of precipitate which assays 15, COO
of the canvas filters, is pumped back to the settler oz. silver per ton. The product of the cyanide plant
to wash out any remaining amalgam. The bottom amounts to 8,01 id to 10,000 oz. silver per month.
plug is finally drawn and the balance of the pulp The solution going to the zinc box carries 14 oz.
discharged. It requires 2 hr. to dump the charge silver per Ion, o '028% mercury and zinc. l!y
and get the amalgam into the filters. passing through the box the mercury in solution is
1 B —
April 191? Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy. 493
in« through the zinc liox it inns to a storage tank in be detected by the loss in weight when it has not
t lie bottom of which a precipitate collects. An been noticed by the man in charge. The sponge is
analysis ct this precipitate follows Silver, 0'394/J : : 79 silver; the impurities are mainly arsenic,
mercury, -"'I antimony, 3*30%
;
sulphur. Iiii:: ; ;
cobalt, nickel, antimony ami bismuth.
arsenic, 32'64 ;silica, 5-362 zinc, 2-25T iron, ; ; The average life of a retort, is .'!l charges. As soon
-,
ut :nickel, 906 cobalt,; 03 lime, '.r_>4 , ; ;
as the slightest crack appears the retort must be dis-
carbon dioxide, 7'259 manganese, trace.
: carded at once. Occasionally a retort will break on
(
DryOre ."Sacks
V
BiakeCrusher
Elevator
;
Ore Bin
Vezm Sampler
Sample E'e sator
?-0'zBirs i
i r~ ,
Cyanide
Solution Tram Cars
'¥ : Heronry
Tube II itI
*
Launder
Settle r(d'x3-'4")
,
Cre Phlp(200flesb)
-=r~ —r~
Amaloam
1
T - Pan
i
T
<"" ™ Amalgam
~ —
plip~~ n°™» t,d\n lutinn
1
T
fl Iters
I
_
— VMzSilver)
«-"*
I
Pilfer Press I
f
SkiMmmgs Fumes
t \
FineSilver (999)
','"
"~>
I
Holds
I
\
\ T
\ Condensing Cham hers
Dump-*-
Sfa<
f-
Fumes Silver — (Re for+and Briquet)
±... J
Flow Sheet of Nipissing High-Urade Mil
The sacks of amalgam are h»isted into a car with the first firing, and retorts have been received which
a cast-iron body, weighed and taken to the refinery would not hold merenry when cold. Various grades
which adjoins, but is separate from the mill build- of iron have been tried but the makers have not suc-
ing. There are six 14 60 in. retorts mounted in ceeded in turning out a cast iron retort which will
batteries of two. They are tired by oil, and the stand up to the hard and continuous work required.
waste gases are conducted through a condenser A soft gray iron, low in phosphorus, gives the best
before discharging them this is to catch any mer-
:
re. nils.
cury which might get into the flue on account of a Recently a cast-steel retort was installed it is :
406 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Societi/ nf South Africa. April 1 91
into a cast-iron cylinder which will take the weight bar. The total cost of the plant was §67,757, which
of the charge and bear the brunt of the living. —
includes sampler, mill and refinery." R. B. Wat-
Melting in Reverberatory Furnace. The sponge — SON, Engineering and Mining Journal, Dec. 7, 1012,
from the retorts is melted down in a reverberatory p. 1077.' (H. A. W.)
furnace in charges eontaining 28,000 oz. of refined
silver. The hearth is stationary and is made of HOI.LlNfiER CYANIDE MlI,L, PORCUPINE.—" Ore
brick contained in an iron pan, 5 ft. 5 ft. 6" in., sup-
Soft and Easily Crushed. --The ore, in which gold
ported m rails. iHeat is supplied by two oil burners ;
is the valuable content, is comparatively soft and is
the waste gases pass first through a series of dust easily crushed, the crushing and grinding machinery
chambers, then through two iron pipes 27 ft. and •'?
Mast furnace was installed. The jacket is hung Experiments made on crushing capacity show (hat
from the feed lloor to allow removal of the curb. through a 14 mesh screen of this type a capacity oi
The flue is connected with the dust chambers. eight tons per stamp per 24 hours is obtained with ;
Before being charged to the blast furnace the Hue Ii mesh 9} tons, and with 4 mesh 121 tons. The
dust and precipitate are retorted, then mixed with screen normally used at the present time is the
sugar water, briquetted and dried. Ii mesh, and a regular crushing of 0J tons, possibly a,
The skimming assays about 15,000 oz., silver per little in excess of this figure, is obtained.
ton. he Hue dust 700 oz.. and the precipitate 15,000 to
t Crushing is done in cyanide solution of U lb.
! s.i ii iioz.i The charge is calculated according to the KCN per ton. the ratio being live of solution to one
material tube put through some of the mixtures
: of ore. The mortars are arranged so that the
used are as follows Charge :2501b. of skimming
1 :
:
height of discharge is two inches.
.Still lb of slag: inn lb. of coke. Charge 2; 100 lb. Classifiers and Tube Mills in Close,/ Circuit.—
of skimming; Km lb. of Hue dust; 300 lb. of slag ;
From the stamps the ore is carried by gravity to
in lb. of iron ore: 1001b. of coke Charge 3 10 1b. : four Dorr duplex classifiers of the Belmont type.
of Hue dust 20 lb. of precipitate 30 lb of slag 25
; ; ;
This type of machine is fitted with a crank arrange-
lb. of ii re; 15 lb. of limestone. These charges ment with which the rakes may be lifted above the
gave a slag carrying from 5 to II oz. of silver per ton. bed of sand and the machine started. This is oi
The charge being so rich in silver no lead is neces- great service when a large amount of sand has
sary. As soon as the crucible is half full of bullion settled in the classifier after a shutdown, the rakes
tin tal is drawn off into moulds. A small amount being gradually lowered into the settled sand and
a i.eiss is also formed. The bullion runs 800 fine raking it out by degrees.
and is melted down in the reverberatory with the The sand from the classifiers is re-ground in four
sponge. It is only necessary to run the blast furnace Allis Chalmers tube mills each 5 <20 ft. They are
one day in every ten. to dean up all the bv products. lined with silex brick, the brick being set on edge in
Tlie onlv product marketed is line silver. It is the mill, thus giving thickness which ai Is in giving
shipped direct to London and sold at the daily quota- lone life to the lining. At present no idea of th
tion without refining charge. Shipments this year life of these linings can be obtained because the
have amounted to 370,000 oz. per month. The bullion original linings are at work and do not show any
.arries 11-111143 gold, equal to about si per 1,200 oz.
,
great indications of wear.
,
The tube mills are lined with special spiral scoop being ground up and dissolved to a great extent in
feeders, 22 in. in diameter. Through these feeders the tube mill. The concentrate recovered, however,
the daily addition of pebbles is also put into the is high in gold and is treated separately on the
mill. The pebble charge is about six tons to each ground.
mill and the consumption is approximately two Amalgamation of Concentrate. -The concentrate
pounds per ton of ore ground. The consumption of from the tables drops directly into conduits in the
pebbles was higher at first, reaching four pounds per floor, which are equipped with spiral steel conveyors
ton at one time, but is gradually becoming less, and by means of which it is conveyed to the end of the
it is expected that the normal consumption will concentrator room, where it is received by a cross
remain at about two pounds per ton. conveyor of the same type and delivered into the
The consistency of the pulp fed to the tube mills boot of a belt-and-bucket elevator. This spiral con-
varies somewhat from that usually considered most veying system would seem to be a rather expensive
efficient and is the result of experiments undertaken way ot conveying concentrate on account of the
to determine the most efficient dilution. The weight large amount of power usually consumed by
of the solids in this case makes it most efficient to machinery of that class. Screw conveyors are
c
use a thick pulp, 33 c moisture having proved to give usually not considered altogether satisfactory on
the best results. The mills make 2S r.p.m., use No. that account.
1 Danish pebbles and grind 90 tons per "24 hours to a The concentrate is elevated to a launder which
point such that 90% passes a 200 mesh screen. delivers it into four wooden, flat-bottom bins, each
Original Driving Device for Stamps and Tube 4x7x5ft., where it is stored and shovelled out as
Mills.— At this mill an original device, by means ot required in the amalgamation treatment.
which a unit of 10 stamps and one tube mill is driven There are installed four Chalmers and Williams
from one motor, is installed. The motor, of lun standard Wheeler pans, 5 ft. in dia., and into each
h.p.. is connected with a 3|.i in. line shaft by means of these is charged 1-5 tons of concentrate, 100 lb. of
of a Reynolds silent-chain drive, ami this shaft mercury and some lye for keeping the mercury clean,
passes to stamp-mill line shaft, of 2 J
in., at right
:
: the pan being filled up with solution. The mullers
angles, moving it by means of a mitre gear. The of the pan are let down and grinding is continued for
motor shaft continues to the front of the batteries one hour, after which three hours are devoted to
and is directly geared to the tube mill. The advan- amalgamation. The pulp is then passed to two 8 ft.
tage claimed for this arrangement is that the full settlers, where settling is completed in four hours,
power of the motor may be utilised for starting the the amalgam lieing drawn oft' and cleaned up in a
tube mill after a shut down ; the power is sufficient small clean-up pan. In this way about 97.', of the
to overcome the inertia of the loaded mill, the gold contained in the concentrate is recovered, the
stamps being hung up while this is done. The cam amalgam being sent to the refinery, where it is re-
shaft for the 10 stamps, six inches in diameter, is in torted and the resultant sponge added to the bullion
two parts and is driven by a pulley on each end. obtained from the regular cyanide treatment.
The arrangement of the driving motor and shafts is As already mentioned, the original scheme of
shown in the plan of the mill. This arrangement, treatment included this concentration and amalga-
while having the advantage claimed for it, has also tion for the purpose of taking care of the expected
the apparent disadvantage of being subject to quantity of course gold, but that has not been en-
breakage due to the crystallization of the metal of countered in practice and it is altogether probable,
the gears from the constant vibration caused by the according to the management, that this step in the
stamps. As a matter of fact some of these gears process can be left out, the straight cyanide treat-
have already broken, but it is considered that the ment being oble to recover as much gold without it.
advantages of thesystem outweigh the disadvantages. Experiments toward this end are being undertaken
Removal of Coarse Cold by Concentration —
The ami a decision will be made within a few months as
slime product from the classifiers is led to a series of to the course which will be pursued.
wooden dewatering bjxes, 20 in number, each —
Dorr Thickeners Used before Treatment. The tail-
6x6x6 ft., having pointed bottom and goose-neck ing from the concentrators is joined by the solution
discharge. This dewatering plant is really two In which was taken from it by the spitzkasten and goes
compartment spitzkasten, and is used to obtain a to two Aldrieh triple slime pumps, each 10x12 in.,
pulp thick enough for efficient concentration. The which deliver to four Dorr thickeners. These thick-
underflow from the spitzkasten, at a dilution of three ener vats are 30 x 12 ft. and the scraper arms make
of solution to one of solids, is led to 40 No. 3 Deister J revolution per minute.
slime concentrators. The concentrators are installed Each triplex pump is operated by a 10 h.p. motor
for the sole purpose of removing from the pulp the and lifts the slime in an 8 in. spiral-rivetted pipe
comparatively coarse particles of gold which would through 3n ft. to deliver into the thickeners. The
require a long time to dissolve in the cyanide pulp from the amalgamation treatment joins the
solutions used. There is not a great deal of this concentrator tailing and goes through the regular
gold that ever appears on the table-, most of it being cyanide treatment in the mill. The Dorr thickeners
retained in the tube mill and ground until it is deliver an underflow containing 4S
:
moisture which
:
Heart/ Solid* Mi*!,, Agitation Difficult. -There are being that there is a segregation in the cake, the
four agitating vat- each 30 15 ft. with Hat bottoms lighter and more inpenetrable slime being at the top
which are equipped with Trent agitators operated by of the leaf, while further down it is more and more
6 in. Morris centrifugal pumps. The pulp i- treated mixed with granular product until the bottom of the
continuously through three of these vat-, the length leaf contain- a porous, granulated material which is
of time of this passage being about 4^ In., experience to all intents sand, and through which the wash
having shown that this is sufficient time for treat- solution will pass, leaving the upper part of the leaf,
ment the fourth vat is reserved as a spare. Due to
; which contains the true slime, practically unwashed.
the high specific gravity of the solids these agitators The filter vats are supplied with air lifts to assist
have been unsuccessful in handling the pulp in the in keeping the solids suspended, but they are not
agitation vats. The pulp cannot be successfully altogether efficient and are rather troublesome to
agitated if [his is thicker than 3: I, the power for take care of.
moving the arms running as high as s h. p. per tank. I The major part of this filter difficulty is traceable
At the 3 dilution the sand and granular slime
: 1
to the inefficiency of the Trent agitators. With a
settle in the vats, stopping the agitator arms and properly thickened slime, as lias been proven in this
giving an endless amount of trouble. This trouble case, less trouble will be experienced in keeping the
extends to the filtration department where, on solids in suspension and the homogeneous cake thus
account of having to filter a dilute pulp, the opera- formed can be washed with a 974% efficiency. It is
tion cannot be performed in an efficient manner. On expected that with the installation of the new system
account of the difficulty experienced with these of agitation a thick pulp, 1:1, will be maintained
agitators it has been decided to remove them and throughout the agitation and filtration system with
instal an agitator of a different type, which will he beneficial results to both.
described. With the Trent agitators, in addition to The loading solution from the filter plant, to-
the difficulty inside the vat there is the difficulty ex- gether with a part of the solution from the Dorr
perienced with the use of centrifugal pumps. With thickeners, is passed through two 20 leaf 38 in.
the pumps used this consists principally in the diffi- .Merrill clarifying niters and to the pregnant-solu-
culty and time required to take them apart and tion sumps, of which there are two, each -Jo ft. '2-_!
examine the interior. This solution i- pumped out by means of a 7x9 in.
The agitators to he installed aie of the Dorr type, Aldrich triplex solution pump, into which zinc dust
which is simply a mechanism with four revolving is fed through a .Merrill feeder at the rate of 0"2 lb.
deposit carrying extremely small quantities of gold hours. The vats are charged at a rate which gives
is being milled at a substantial profit. The ore, the mill a daily capacity of 500 tons.
after passing the usual crushei system, is broken —
Lime added at the Crushers. Lime at tlie rate of
through four sets of rolls, two of which are used for six pounds per ton of dry ore is added at the
roughing and two for finishing. This crushing is all crushers, and is carried through the crushing system
performed on the dry ore. After passing the linish- with the ore, being thus thoroughly mixed with it.
ing roll the material will all pass a screen having The treatment solutions carry about one pound dis
i in. openings. A large proportion of the material solved Cat), which is sufficient to protect them
is, of course, much liner, varying between line sand, against an\ small amount of acid which the ore-
there being little slime, and the maximum size of might develop.
-r>oo 77/. Journal of The. Chenvical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
—
Good Extraction at Loir Cost. The extraction at the slime-discharge end of the machine and
averages about 70% of the precious metals contained, smaller at the sand end. These machines are more
sometimes a little more and occasionally a little less, or less efficient, but the general consensus of opinion
depending on the grade of the ore handled. The among those who use them is that the absence of the
cost of the treatment is exceptionally low. The reciprocal motion, which is obtained in the Dorr
entire costs of the operations are Mining, 53'48c.
: machine, allows more slime to be carried over with
per ton milling, 66"82c.
; general expense, 4'35e.
: sand product. The reciprocal motion of the latter
The principal items in the milling cost are Labour,: seems to turn over the sand, loosen it and otter
21 •3c. per ton; cyanide, 6'3c. zinc, 33c; lime,
; facilities for washing out the greater portion of the
l"2c. power, 84c. and supplies and repairs, 126c.
; ; slime mixed with it.
per ton milled. The separation of slime and sand is about half and
Unusually Simple Treatment at Wasp Mill. It — half, the sand being delivered into leaching vats,
will be seen that the metallurgy of the Wasp ore is each 20 x 10 ft., where it is treated in the usual way
extremely simple. The simplicity is probably due. by successive solution washes, followed by a final
in a great measure, to the fact that the gold is con- water wash. The slime is passed through Don-
tained in cleavage planes which are fractured and thickeners and pumped into slime-storage vats, the
opened by the coarse crushing, thus exposing a simple passage through the thickeners being suffi-
maximum quantity to the action of cyanide solutions. cient to dissolve the economical maximum of the
Besides, the rock itself is porous and the solutions contained gold.
can readily enter and act upon a large portion of the —
Moore Vacuum Filter Used. From the slime-
gold, bringing it out without entailing the expense storage vats the pulp is drawn by gravity into the
of fine crushing. Moore filter at an average dilution of about one of
A large number of experiments have been made on solid to H of solution, this rate varying with the
this ore by competent metallurgists in order to exigencies of the occasion. The Moore plant contains
determine whether an economical highei extraction two 40-leaf baskets, each leaf measuring 6x8 ft.
could be obtained by grinding finer, but the conclu- A 1 in. cake is formed on the leaf in from 40 to 60
sion has been that the maximum profit is being minutes, depending on the condition of the leaves.
obtained by the system now followed. The ore The cake is washed with solution and water and dis-
carries only about S2 per ton and will not stand a charged following the usual practice, the application
higher operation expense. It is likely that there are presenting no novelties.
"few examples of a similar nature in existence where The proportion of colloid slime existing in the
a profit ranging from 50c. to 75c. per ton can be pulp makes it particularly applicable to filtration
obtained on ore of this low gold content. I have by this system and efficient results are procured
seen one other example, a Mexican mine, which con- with comparative ease. The problem of filtration is
tained an ore having a good gold content. The ore not a simple one in any case and it cannot be said
was so porous that pieces I in. in size would readily that any of the processes in use at the present time
surrender their content to weak cyanide solutions, approximate perfection to any great extent, but by
but this ore was in the surface zone of a vein and was applying the machine and method best adapted to
soon exhausted. any particular ore fairly satisfactory results may be
Wet Crushing Chilian Mills at Golden Reward.
in obtained.
— An example conditions differing from those
of The ores treated at this mill vary widely in grade,
obtaining at the Wasp is found at the mill of the running from a minimum of about $5 per ton to a
Golden Reward Mining Co. at Deadwood. This maximum of about i?12. An average extraction of
J
company owns mines in different districts and the slightly under 80 C is obtained at a cost of less than
,
ores delivered at. the mill for treatment differ widely" si '50 per ton milled. The lime used in treatment,
in character. Some of them are hard, while others the quantity varying with the ore at hand, is added
are at the other extreme of the scale, being soft and at the crushers and amounts usually to four to six-
clayey, many variations between the two being sub- pounds per ton milled. The milling capacity is
mitted for treatment. The ore is delivered to the about 275 tons per day.
mill in railway ore cars and is always carefully The practice at the Golden Reward mill is typical
weighed before being put into the mill bins. The of the modern tendency to mill in cyanide solutions,
ore is crushed dry through a series of crushers and in this case the strength being about K lb. KCN per
rolls, an automatic sample being taken during the ton, and although the mill ieold and not particularly
process which is reduced in a small crushing roll, put well adapted for securing low operation costs, the
through several quartering samplers, and finally work is nevertheless efficiently done and the costs,
divided in a small hand sampling machine, which under the circumstances, do not seem to he exorbitant.
delivers a sample appropriate for assaying purposes. —
Experimenting with Roasting Process. The Golden
The reject from the sampling all goes into the mill Reward Company possesses a large quantity of ore
bins with the milling ore. which has resisted the efforts of metallurgists to
From the mill bins the ore is taken to Chilian treat it by any of the straight milling processes and
mills of the modern, high-speed type, making 30 an effort is now being made to render it amenable to
r. p.m., and is milled in cyanide solution. The cyanide by giving it a preliminary roast. Experi-
feeders for these mills are similar to the Challenge ments have shown that, after being roasted the ore
feeders used for feeding stamps, but are continuously is amenable to cyaniding and high extractions can be
moved by power, belt and pulley, and the feed is obtained without excessive consumption of cyanide or
arranged so that a practically continuous stream of other chemicals. The cost of roasting will not be
ore is fed into the mills. The ore is milled to pass a excessive as it is proposed to utilize the sulphur con-
16-niesh screen. tent as fuel as far as possible, thus reducing the
—
Drag Classifiers Used. From the Chilian mills consumption of extraneous fuel.
the pulp goes to drag classifiers of the so called A roasting furnace is now in course of erection
Esperanza type, which differ from the Dorr machines and will be in operation in the near future. The
in that the series of scrapers is connected to a link results obtained by this departure in metallurgical
belt, which moves continuously over spiockets, large practice will be awaited with interest.
-April 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Metallurgy. .-,iil
Wet Crushing through Rolls •>! Trojan Mill. — tated, containing about one pound of KIN per ton.
Another mill employing a wet crashing process and A light water wash is given before discharging thi
using cyanide solutions throughout is that i>f the sand, the treatment usually extending over about
Trojan Mining Company at Portland, probably one live days
of the most modern installations in the Black Hills. The lilter is the ordinary Butters stationary,
This mill formerly was the property of the American semi-gravity type which, while more or less satisfac-
Eagle Company, but was acquired by the Trojan tory, entails a high cost for pumping pulp and
Company and remodelled to suit modern practice. solutions. From the filter the solution etHuent from
The ore from the mines is (lumped into bins at the making cake is sent to the precipitation department,
crusher house and from these bins is drawn over the weak barren-solution wash and the water wash
grizzlies, the undersize going to a belt conveyor, not being precipitated.
the oversize passing through gyratory crushers and Precipitation is accomplished in the usual way.
then joining the undersize on the belt conveyor. using zinc shavings and the ordinary form of steel
This conveyor has a slope of about 16 and delivers box. The boxes have a total capacity of :iS4 cu. ft.
ore into mill bins having a capacity of about 450 of zinc. At the clean-up the precipitate is run into
tuns. Au
automatic sampling arrangement was at an acid treatment vat where the sulphuric-acid
li installed to cut a sample
« st from the ore stream process, customary in the Black Hills plants, is
falling into the bins, but the arrangement did not carried out. The precipitate is collected, dried,
give a representative sample and was dismantled. partly roasted, fluxed and melted in crucibles in a
The ore is drawn from the mill bins and fed by coke furnace.
disk feeders into two sets of crushing roll-, strong The extraction secured by the combined slime and
cyanide solution being added at this point. These sand treatment is in the neighbourhood of 75]
rolls were probably not intended for wet crushing, somewhat more on the slime than on the sand
for the housing leaks a good deal and the alino-i product.
• instant attention of an attendant is necessary to Crushing Praclia is Unusual. The practice of —
keep the leaks stopped up. crushing with cyanide solution through rolls is nol
The product of the rolls Hows through a launder to usual, although it is practiced in a few cases and in
two Monadnock Chilian mills, each seven feet in one other instance in this district, as will be noted.
diameter. These mills gave some trouble clue to It has been productive of good results, probably due
slight mechanical imperfections, but these have been to the increased time of contact between the ore and
remedied so that the mills now give good results. cyanide solutions, and the agitation secured in the
The product of the mills is elevated to Dorr classifiers rolls and Chilian mills.
where the sand and slime are separated. The said The chilian mills are efficient crushing machines
is delivered to 200 ton leaching vats 28x8 ft., and are capable of handling large quantities of ore,
through automatic revolving-arm distributors. The but being high-speed machines they naturally incur
sand treatment presents no novelties, being the same a maintenance cost which is high compared to the
as that usually followed in the district. results obtained with slow-speed mills. In this con-
—
Air Agitation of Stime. The slime from the nection it might be mentioned that the Minnesota
classifiers is taken to three vats for air agitation, mill, at Maitland, is equipped with slow-speed mills
these vats being said to be of the Pachuea type. of the Lane type, ami it is claimed that these mills
They measure 17 ft. in. in diameter ami Hi ft. in have demonstrated their ability to crush an equal or
height, and it will be readily seen that they differ a greater quantity of ore with less expense both for
great deal from the Pachuca idea in their proportions. operation and maintenance.
A true Pachnca vat should have about 4u ft. of Dry Crushing of Sard Ores m
Victoria Mill. As —
height for a diameter of 15 ft. and the Trojan vats an example of extremely hard ores found in the
have a greater diameter with much less height. Black Hills district, the material handled by the
They are, however, doing excellent work. The Victoria mill in the Spearfish Canon region may be
dilution of the slime under treatment is about 1 or mentioned. The ore here is extremely hard and till
\\ 1, the object being to maintain a fairly thick
: mill equipment has been designed with this char-
pulp suitable for subsequent filtering. acteristic in view. The ore is delivered into the mill
A detail of these vats which is of interest is the bins by a tramway and from these bins i~ passed
central air agitation tube, which is not a tube at all, through a gyratory crusher which delivers a product
but a succession of cone sections set one above that will pass a in. ring.
1 j This crusher product is
another through the entire height, of the vat. The passed through a set of rolls which delivers a product
idea is that, whatever the height of the pulp in the having a maximum size of | in.; lie- crushed ore
vat, it can be successfully agitated because the drops into a 100 ton bin.
central tube will discharge itself at almost any From this bin the ore passes a set of line crushing
point. rolls and through a trommel, carrying 6-mesh, No.
The slime treatment is continuous through two of 14 wire screen. The oversize from the trommel
the agitation vats, the slime from the first one being passes to a second set of fine crushing rolls, and
transferred either to the second or third vat as through another trommel like that already men-
desired, by air lifts, ami from these secondary plants tioned. The oversize from this trommel "oes back
it is drawn off into the lilter plant. The average to the same rolls and the screened product from both
agitation time of the slime is live to six hours, no trommels drops into a finished product bin having a
solution being decanted but the entire pulp going to capacity of 2nd tons.
the filter. The on- is so haid that its passage through the
The solution fed into the primary crushing rolls rolls is accompanied by a great ileal of noise which
with the ore averages three pounds of Kl'X per ton sounds much like cannon shuts, but the rolls handle
and is added in the proportion of four to six tons of the material in a satisfactory manner without undue
solution to one of ore. The sand in the leaching vats wear.
is treated with this same solution for about three The finished product is drawn from the bin and
days, ami this treatment is followed by treating two taken to leaching vats by means of a belt-conveyor
days with weak solution, which has been precipi- system. The conveyor deposits the ore into the
502 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April I9KJ-
centre of the leaching vats, each 27-i ft. in diameter the roll supply vat while the overflow of the
l>y eight feet deep, with a capacity of about 200 tons, thickener goes to the Chilian mill. The thickened
and the distribution is by hand. slime containing about 55% moisture is transferred
Leaching is practiced in the ordinary way by first by air lifts from the thickener and the 18 ft. cone to
treating with a 3 1b. cyanide solution, for 72 hours. the 22 ft. cone. From the latter it goes to a small
During this treatment about 70 of the cold content cone agitator and into the loading vat of the Moore
is dissolved. An additional 10 or 12% is obtained filter, usually carrying about 55% moisture ami con-
by leaching for a further period of 48 hr. with taining from 5% to 10 of 200-mesh material.
cyanide solution containing H
lb. KCN
per ton, the First Moore Filter. —
This original Moore tilte
latter being finally displaced with a minimum water plant was designed in the beginning to handle 30'
wash. tons of slime per day, but it has been crowded until
—
A Mill of Historical Interest. At Terry is situated it now handles 60 tons daily, using two baskets.
the Lundberg, Dorr & Wilson wet crushing cyanide With minor changes in the construction of t lie plant
mill, owned by a partnership comprised of John and a change in the bottom of one vat the installa-
Lundberg, J. V. N. Dorr and A. D. Wilson. For tion is practically the same to-day as when it was
several reasons this plantis unique. It was started designed in 1903.
in January, 19(14. and was the first mill in the world The crane for the transfer of the basket is operated
to operate continuously and successfully a leaf-filter by water at. 105 lb. pressure, the water being pumped
plant. It was in this plant that the first filter plant into an accumulator. It gives little trouble and
designed by George Moore was installed, its difficul- costs almost nothing for maintenance. The mill
ties encountered and overcome the original plant is
:
solution and most of the barren-solution wash from
today operating and doing good work. In this the filter process and sand leaching go to the gold
plant also the well-known Dorr classifier ami the vats and are precipitated. Solutions assaying less
pqually well-known Dorr thickener were developed. than §1 per ton are not precipitated unless the treat
In addition this was the first plant in the Black ment happens to demand additional barren-solution.
Hills to use the improved Chilian mill for crushingin or the supply of high grade solution is insufficient to
cyanide solution. The plant has operated steadily keep the precipitation department busy.
since January, 1904, except during the labour Usual Precipitation In/ Zinc Shavings -The solu-
troubles of 1907 and 1910, and it has the best record tions are precipitated by means of zinc shavings.
for continuous operation of all the Black Hills As the clean-up usually consists of about 100 lb. of
cyanide plants. dry product, all the figures which follow apply to a
The ore from the mines belonging ti the company clean-up of that size.
is held in three bins having a capacity of 135 tons To the product in the acid vat 415 lb. of commer-
and the custom ore is dumped from mining cars on cial sulphuric acid are added and allowed to remain
the Chicago \- Northwestern Railroad tracks in the in contact for six to seven hours, oi until chemical
rear of the mill into bins holding so tons, from which action has nearly ceased. Water in equal volume is
point it is trammed to the crushers. After passing then added and the contents are heated with live
over grizzlies with openings of \ in. the ore passes
1
steam and allowed to stand 10 or 12 hr., usually
through a (Jates gyratory crusher and thence to a over night. The following morning the solution is
1'2 in. vertical belt elevator which delivers it into a siphoned into a settling vat where any flooeulent
75 ton crushed ore leu. As the ore drops into this matter is settled. Another water wash is added and
bin an automatic sample is evil from tic stream. live steam again introduced to heat the charge
Wet Crushing Molls Used. — From the crushed ore thoroughly. The charge is then allowed to si and
bin the material is fed by a cam feeder into a about an hour. The (dear solution is drawn off into
Carterville Beared roll together with solution carry- a vacuum vat and filtered. When the acid vat is
ing I! lb. KCN per ton. The solution is run in nearly empty the contents aie energetically stirred
sufficient quantity to sluice the product satisfactorily to bring all of the product into suspension ami the
through a launder into the Chilian mill. This pro- charge is transferred to a vacuum vat and filtered.
duct, which will average about in. in size, passes
j' When the moisture contained is brought down to
to a 6 ft. Monadnock Chilian mill, and is reduced so 4% or 5% the product is taken from the vat, broken
that practically all of it passes a 30-mesh screen. so that no piece is larger than a 1 in. cube and placed
At this point sufficient clear overflow from the in Hat, iron roasting pans. These pans arc placed in
thickeners and cones is added to bring the quantity a soft coal furnace and the fire is started. The
up to 3 or 3! tuns of solution to one of ore. furnace has a total capacity of four 18 x 3 in. pans
The ground product from this mill is taken to a in two layers; I. to 2 hours' time is sufficient to
1
standard Dorr classifier, the sand product of which drive oil' nearly all the zinc, ami the resulting bullion
passes to one of four leaching vats, each is ft. in is comparatively clean.
diameter by 11 ft. deep, holding 105 tonsofsand. Other Mills in the District. —Among the mills now
In addition to the 32 hours required to lill each vat, operating in the Black Hills district may be men-
the charge is given a further 12 hr. treatment with tioned the new Reliance, which has just been
mill solution. The balance of the live-day treatment rei Idled ami has started operation along lines
is with barren solution carrying lj lb. cyanide per unusual in the camp, treating slime by a continuous
ton, followed by a week solution treatment and decantation process and making use of Dorr thick-
finally a minimum water wash. The leaching rate eners for the purpose. This mill has also installed a
starts at live tons per hour and gradually diminishes Portland continuous filter for filtering the slime
toward the end of treatment at which time it is 1 to tailing. The mill has been in operation only a short
\i tons per hour. time, remodelling is not yet complete and no infor-
Slime Treatment Simple.- -Slime from the classifier, mation isavailable for publication.
which amounts to .Ml to 55 id' the dry weight of The Bismarck Mining Co. is building a mill nei r
the ore, is divided between two cones, one 18 ft. in the Wasp No. 2 in which the system of treatment
ilia, and th" other 22 ft and one standard IN ft.
. will be identical with that of the latter. The mill is
continuous Dorr thickener. The two cones are so approaching completion and should be in operation
placed as to give a gravity How of clear solution to in the near future.
April 1913 Notices and Abstracts Metallurgy. 503
In this paper no mention has been made of the In order to test the value of the vanning shovel
metallurgy of the Honiestake installation. This assay, the author submitted several samples of ore
is a matter which is so extensive that it should he to some of the most experienced millinen in Corn-
treated alone, and hope in a later paper to discuss
I wall, and compared their results with the chemical
that practice. The Homestake
is treating ores on a assay. The recoveries, as will be seen from the
scale which not equalled at the present time and
is ace, nip anying table (Table I.) varied between 22
has attained an astonishingly low cost for mining and 95 ..the vanning shovel being least accurate on
and milling. An ore of low grade is being treated poor tailing and nearer the truth on ore containing
and the methods, original in many instances as they coarse cassiterite.
are efficient, are a lasting credit to the energy of the Table I.
technical men who are responsible for their devising."
— H. A. MEGRAW, Engineering nm! Minimi Journal, Comparison between Vanning and Chemical Assays.
/ \ anning Assay.
December 28, 1912, p. 1221. (H. A. W.) Wei
r Assiiv ,
lb. Sn per 2,000 lb. com- Pol-i'f>!lt"AI>"P
111. S'll puted on the assumption Recovery by Vanning.
jT
per that the concentrate
The Dressing of Tin- Ores in- Cornwall.— ,01111 II.. contained 70 Sn
"Although from time to time several papers have C. D. G. W. C. I». G. W.
been written on the dressing or concentration of tin II 3 4 2 2 33 44 22 22
ores, there is but little reliable information available 2
i
19 — 11 U — .->s 58
as to the losses thai arc made. The object of this 2A 19 — 12 12 — 63 63
paper is to .-.ill at ten ion to the subject, mil to show .'( :t:i - 26 25 — 67 64
I
19 18 15 16 89 95 79 S4
prepared from material collected during a residence 5 17
of two years in Cornwall, where, as Principal oi the I), G and \Y represei t foui different
Tin letters C,
School of Mines, the author had special advantages vanneis. As regards the samp] es No. was a : 1
for gaining information as to what was being done sample of mill tailing No. 2 was an ordinary
:
in the district. The author's knowledge of the sub- screen sample from the stamps at Kins Edward
ject was further supplemented by experimental work mine No. 2a was the same sample Healed with
;
»iil Concentration carried out at the King Edward nitric acid, to remove the copper and sulphides of
Mine, which is worked for the benefit of the students. iron before being sent to the .aimers. The usual
In this work the author received valuable assistance practice in Cornwall is to roast the sample before
from members of the teaching stall', and in particular vanning, but Mr. Beringer prefers the acid treat-
from Mr. J. J. Beringer, who introduced a rapid wet ment. The vanning results were, of course, corrected
method for the determination of tin, of great value for change of weight due to acid cleaning. It will
and convenience. he noticed that the vanning results were better on
It is difficult to obtain reliable figures as regards ex- the cleane than the uncleaned oie.
1
traction, for Cornish mines are. as a whole, very weak No. 3 was another sample from the stamps, from
as regards statistics. .Their figures lack precision. which the slime had been removed by decantation,
They adopt, for example, a unit of indefinite value, and which was therefore easier to van. No. 3A was
called black tin. which is an expression for the con- the same sample, acid cleaned, and therefore easiei
centrate of cassiterite of no particular quality. to fan than No. 3. No. 4 was anolhei sample from
According to the Home Office statistics the black tin tin- stamps. No. 5 was a tin ore from Portugal, con-
sold by the mines has an average value of about ti4 taining much coarse cassiterite, and therefore tin
of tin, whereas thai sold by the till streamers carries easy oie to wash.
no re than 46 of metal. These figures show that on Cornish ores averaging
Another reason why Cornish statistics are unre- from 1 to 2 Sn, the vanning shovel results will he
liable or ambiguous is that they are based, not on a about one-third below the real value, and mill ex-
chemical assay, but on what is known as the vanning tractions, calculated on vanned screen samples, will
assay, which gives the quantity of cassiterite thai a be in error to that extent. A mill that recovers by
man can separate from the gangue by washing on a vanning assay 85 of its screen sample will really
shovel :a method of valuation liable to great varia- only be making a recovery of
tions according to the class of ore treated. 66 6 -85=566
It is only in recent years, and since the introduc- 100
tion of the chemical assay, that the serious losses The practice of calculating recoveries by the
made in concentrating tin ores have been recognised. vanning shovel assay is by no means obsolete in
Formerly, those who inquired into the losses in ore
(
'oi nvv all indeed it is the usual method.
:
dressing do not appear to have taken the vanning The chemical assay, however, is being introduced
shovel lass into account, arriving, consequently, at on several mines, revealing, as stated, above, re-
figures of extraction which would hardly beaccepted coveries not exceeding 60% of the original value of
bo-da) . For example, according to an est imate based the ore ami sometimes less. The mine ore may still
on the vanning shovel assay made in 1887, the mines be vanned for the sake of economy, hut the vanning
of "the Red liver district wen- said t
I cover as much error is determined, and the vanning figures corrected
as Nil ot the original value of the oie, while a accordingly. At King Edward mine all samples were
further savin:; of 9 '3 was credited as saved by the assayed by the wet method.
stream works. From information that the author It' is, unfortunately, impossible to give precise
was able to obtain from mine managers and figures of the losses incurred in dressing, because the
others aid from his own experience at the school mining companies hardly ever state tl riginal
mine, the actual extraction to-day throughout Corn- val f the ore. All they do is to give the recovery,
wall is between 50% and 60%, this great reductio and that in terms of black tin, which, as mentioned
previous estimates being ilue to the abandonment of above, has no definite value.
the vanning shovel and the substitution of the Tic- usual information given is that the produce
chemical assay. (or \ ieldl has been, say 4(1 lb. per ton. To those mi-
—
-304 The J ournal of Thi I hemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of Scull, Africa. April 1913
familiar with Cornish ways, it may be well to point coarser than formerly and to re-grind where
out the inaccuracy and ambiguity of this statement. necessary.
The per ton means per ton of 2,240 lb., Cornwall
' '
All the machines make beads and tails, and some
not having come into line with the rest of the world of them one or more middle prodncts. The difficulty
in using the 2,000 lb. ton. The 40 lb.' means 4n 11,.
'
in all cases is to get a clean tail. The incomplete-
of concentrate containing an indefinite amount of. ness of the separation accounts for the large number
tin (probably from 00 to 70%), and an indefinite of concentration machines employed, the pulp hav-
amount of water (from 1% to 10%), and is part of a ing to lie passed from one machine to another, each
•toil of 2,300 lb., the smelters' weight when purchas- delivering a poorer product to the next, but never
ing concentrates. quite completing the extraction of the values.
Hence the product. i> always understated by 26 In most of the mills the pulp from the stamps is
Thus, if 100 tons of ore were mined and 2 tons'of con- (dassilied before concentration. At Dolcoath, how-
centrates sold, the mine would say that the produce ever, the pulp passes di t to Fine vanners without
— yield wa>
i.e., classification.
2 2,240 The author believes in this practice of direct treat-
-jttq— =44-811). (of concentrates) perton (of2,2401b.. ment, seeing that a high percentage of the values
omitting the words or figure in brackets, whereas can be recovered on the first concentrating machine,
it
should be hut he would prefer to crush coarser than is done at
2 2,300 Dolcoath— (30 mesh)— in order to increase the value
— = 4o
,,.,,„
lb. per ton. of the stamps, and would pass the pulp over bump-
Evidence of recoverable tin going away from the ing tables, such as the Wilfley Record or Buss,
mines is to be found in the tin caught by the tin instead of over vanners. This was the practice
streamers, who re-work the tailings of the mines. adopted at the King Edward mill of the School of
-Mine-, where, using a 4 mesh screen in the battery,
According to the Some Office statistics, the value of
the tin recovered by streamers for the period 1905- about 42% of the value- were recovered on a Buss
1910 amounted to about 9 of the value of the tin table in the form of a concentrate worth about 32
sold by the mines. Sn.
There are no figures available to
show what the streamers lose. The capacity of this table for producing a head of
concentrate was remarkable. On one occasion the
While carelessness in the matter of statistics is
author stopped the feed when the table was fully
the general failing in Cornwall, there are, for- charged, and returned all the pulp, except the con-
tunately, exceptions.
centrate, for a second or thin journey over the table.I
A company that gives praiseworthy publicity to A clean head of concentrate was continuously
its technical
results is the Cornish Tailings Com- formed, and it looked as if a complete extraction (if
pany, whose operations, it should be noted, are con- the free cassiterite must be made if the operation
fined to retreating an old dump from which the most were only continued long enough. The Buss table
easily recoverable tin had been extracted in the past. made four products :
about its extraction is the Cain Urea and Tincroft veriser and then going, with the undersize, to an up-
Mining Company, where a recovery of 95"81 .on the current classifier. Middle- 2 were also screened, the
vanning assay, equivalent to 737 on the chemical oversize being often r enough to throw away.
| The
(or actual) assay claimed, a figure considerably
is undersize passed to the lassitier. The slime and
.
higher than what other mines appear to reach. line sand went direct to the classifier.
The Mist step towards improving the recovery is to The classifier, which now had to deal with perhaps
see that reliable figures are kept of the value of the s. ot the original weight and ."i6
I of the original
ore. The vanning assay should be abandoned, and value, divided the pulp into sand and slime, the
records based on the wet assay and tin metal. The former passing to a Fine aimer, and the latter to a
\
method of reporting the produce or yield in terms ot round table. The tails of both machines carried con-
black tin should likewise be changed. The publica- siderable values and were re-treated, though rather
tion of accurate figures as regards the yield and the indifferently on account ot insufficient plant.
cost of working would lie sure to set 'up a healthy The author thinks that the tails ot the Fine
rivalry amongst millmen, which could hardly fail to vanner and, perhaps, of the round table, should be
produce improved results. screened, when the oversize would probably be poor
Proper attention to statistics would show where enough to throw away.
tic greatest losses were being made, and in what Now that there an- efficient screens for line
direction improved or new machines were wanted. material available, such as the Callow or Bunker
The main reason for the present low recoveries j- Hill screen, he thinks that screening might be em-
probably not because the machines or plant are de- ployed in tin ore-dressing mills more than is the
tective, but because the dressing of the ores is not case."— W. Fischer Wilkinson, Institution of
carried far enough, tailing which could be profitably Mining and Metallurgy 'l'ltf London ; Mu
treated being allowed to go to waste. Journal, Dec. 21, 1912, p. 1273. (A. K.)
While there is no uniformity in the design of
dressing plants, the general scheme of concentration of Gold and Silver bvCarbon.
is more or less similar on all mines. — Precipitation
" This paper the outcome of experiments carried
is
The ore is crushed through a screen of from 111 to on and experience gainedat the Waihi-I'aeroa Gold
•'ill mesh,
the coarse and fine sand being treated on Extraction Co.'s tailing plant at Waihi. New
shaking tables or on vanners, while the tine sand Zealand. The plant was erected to treat accumu-
and .slime pass to vanners, round tables or auto- lated tailing which had been discharged into the
matic frames. The general tendency is to crush Ohinemuri river by the Waihi stamp mills. The
ipril 1913 Notices find Abstracts Metallurgy. ->ll.T
Ohinemuri river is a common sludge channel for all ( odd, oz. Silver, oz.
mining debris, tailing, and ashes from the power- Before agitation . 01140 0642
plant, tin' last Ileitis the cause of occasional high After agitation . 013 O504
residues which gave so much trouble to the manage-
Precipitated (I n33 0-138
ment. ...
Die tailing was dredged from the bed of the river No. 5. — Unconsumed coal-dust was also placed in
into barges by mean- of a Pohle air-lift, the power a gold and silver solution and agitated for two days,
being supplied by a 13 b.h.p. Tangye oil-engine but no precipitation occurred.
driving an air compressor and a centrifugal pump. No. 6.— A sample of half-burned coal from the
The sand was elevated from the barges by bucket- river was assayed, and was found to contain 0102
belt elevators over screens, to eliminate large par- oz. of gold and 0604 oz. of silver.
aiul rubbish, into storage hoppers, and from —
No. 7. A sample of charcoal (in small lumps)
there fed direct into four C. Judd, Ltd. tube mills. found floating in the lime vat was assayed and found
Tic method of treatment was line grinding in a to contain 1 760 oz. gold and 1-792 oz. silver. This
weak cyanide solution, agitation in Brown and showed that it was imperative to eliminate the
McMiken vats (Pachuea), filtration with turn-over charcoal associated with lime used for settling
vacuum filters, and precipitation with zinc shaving. purposes.
The comparatively high content of the residue in By comparing the time of the river freshets and,
old "ave a great deal of trouble, and it was
not the 'slime residue of the tailing taken at that time,
until repealed experiments were carried out that the it was found that the residue was higher than at any
cause of the trouble was identified. While the other period. From this it was concluded that fresh
remained stationary, the gold
.intent in silver carbon precipitated gold and silver more freely than
fluctuated greatly. To overcome this, finer grinding old.
was tried, with poor results, except that more silver eliminate the carbon two 6 ft. Union vanners
To
was recovered— the gold still remaining too high. were installed. Though these were overtaxed, the
It was well known that carbon would precipitate desired result was at once obtained. Besides remov-
-..Id ami silver, hut its selective action was not ing the carbon, the light river sand was also removed.
known. When line grinding did not give the desired The output of the plant was 80 tons per day, and
result, other methods had to besought. Knowing that amount was run over the vanners. The vanners
that there was a variable amount of half-burned coal were driven at about 120 revolutions, with a belt
among the tailing, it was decided to experiment with travel of 6 ft. per minute, and with a fall of 8 inches
carbon. in the whole length. The distributing box was
A heavy freshet occurring at that time gave the placed is in. farther down than is usual, while the
opportunity on a large scale, as it brought down a pulp discharged from the lower side. The water-
large amount of half-burned coal. On the newly distributer was also placed lower down the table.
deposited tailing experiments were carried out, and The sand was from \ to 3 in. thick as it came com-
i- was found that silver residue, just
after grinding, paratively dry over the head, where it was washed
was normal, while the gold was slightly high. off with a series of solution jets into a launder.
Samples were then taken every day from the B. In the assays No. 1, 2, and 3 there was no
and M. vats and assayed, with the result that the apparent precipitation of silver until nearly all the
gold content n istakably increased while the silver gold was precipitated, but in the experiment No. 4
content decreased until such a time when practically and assays No. (i and 7 silver was shown as being
all the gold was precipitated, then the content of the precipitated in equal and greater quantities than
silver residue started to rise, thus showing that the gidd. From this apparent contradiction it is assumed
ii lion had no apparent effect on the silver until that, while the silver was being dissolved, a very
nearly all the gold was precipitated. The following small amount was being precipitated, showing that
are the results of a few assays, showing the action
of the dissolution of silver up to a certain point was
carbon on gold and silver in cyanide solutions. The quicker than the precipitation.'' R. K. COWLES, —
samples were first taken from the overflow from the .1ustralasian Institute of Mining Engineers.— Mining
classifier, and then daily from the B. and M. vats. iiml Scientific Press, December 7, 1912, p. 730.
Sample Gold, oz. Silver, oz. (A. McA. J.)
No. L—From overflow 0-088 0908
Researcheson Corrosion of Iron and Steel.—
B. and M. vats :
First day 0-098 65S "In his report to the Manchester Steam Users'
Second day 0,102 0-634 Association Mr. C. E. Stromeyer, chief engineer of
Third day' 0-108 0628 the association, reviews the present situation in the
Fourth day 0112 0li72 corrosion problems as follows :
Firstday 0-068 0-67-2 regard to the question of corrosion of iron and steel,
Second day 0-088 0654 and though it cannot be said that the mysteries of
Third .lav' 0096 0604 this complicated subject have been dispelled, much
Fourth day 0-096 0684 additional information is now available.
0044 0680 Practical experience indicates that the internal
No. 3.— From overflow
B. and M. vats
corrosion of boilers is due almost entirely to the
presence of air in the boiler water, or rather it is due
:
lilleil with waters containing various proportions of the water into the steam space, and need not be
corrosive and anti-corrosive salts. If these experi- dealt with, and it is only the small residue which
ments on various salts are to prove of value to boiler remains in the water that has to be removed. Of
users, the corrosive influence of the air must be course, if the boiler circulation is bail and much
reduced, and for this particular purpose it would stagnant cold water rests in the boiler's bottom,
have been highly desirable if the experiments had then obviously it would be best to introduce the
been conducted in an artificial atmosphere, with deoxidisers continuously into the feed. That, too,
comparatively little oxygen. is the only effective method for checking the internal
However, as it is very desirable that these care- corrosion of economise!' pipes, if these are fed with
fully conducted experiments on corrosion should be
strongly aerated feed water ; but it is probably a
turned to advantage as regards boiler corrosion, the costly process, for, after all, it is but a mere trace of
corrosive influenced air in feed water must be in- the total oxygen in the water which does the harm,
quired into in order that its disturbing influence on yet all the oxygen has to be removed if no harm is
the results may be discounted. In the experiments to be done.
the average corrosion amounted to about 70 mgrn.
Another plan is to keep the oxygen out of the
feed water, which means that instead of feeding the
in twenty-two days, which, taking into account the
surfaces of the pieces, is equal to about 700 millionths boilers through the feed pumps of the main engine,
of an inch of thickness in 120 days. Experimental which have to be excessively large and which
corrosion of one-tenth of this the total, or say, 70 necessarily pump air into the boiler, the feed .should
units, should therefore correspond to very serious
be dealt with by slow running independent feed
corrosion in a boiler, and the experiments, to be of pumps and perhaps the recent practice of marine
;
value, should indicate to within 10% of this amount, engineers to use high-pressure centrifugal pumps for
say, 7 units, whether the addition of a certain salt feed purposes may be equally advantageous. These
to any water will increase or decrease the corrosion. centrifugal pumps otter the advantage that they
Unfortunately, the results do not come up to this require little driving power when the feed valves on
expectation, for even among the experiments with the boiler are partially or entirely shut down.
distilled water the corrosion varies from 552 to 782 Although the present experiments are somewhat
units, and individual results of two pieces of iron disappointing, they do at any rate point to two very
placed side by side under identical conditions, which important conclusions which are confirmed by practi-
ought to have corroded at identical rates, differed cal experiences. These are that most ammonia
from each other by large amounts, in one case by as salts are powerful corroders of iron, which accounts
much as 1.*>S units', or by twice as much as what may for the serious corrosion sometimes met with in
be considered serious boiler corrosion. By averag- boileis feil with water that is contaminated with
ing results, however, certain indications are obtain- waste liquors from gas works, and, secondly, that
able. when carbonate of soda is added to brackish water
The object of the analysis of Profs. Heyn and (water containing common salt) then severe pitting
Bauer's experiments was to ascertain whether any occurs, although the average corrosion may not be
of the salts which they tried would be likely to extensive. The protective action of oxidising acids
counteract the corrosive tendency of the oxygen and requires confirmation, if this be possible, by tests on
carbonic acid which are introduced with the feed boilers, and the well-known beneficial influences of
water. There is no great difficulty with regard to deoxidising agents require further scientific- investi-
the carbonic acid, for almost any alkalis will neutra- gation.
lise it, but the oxygen can only be removed by letting Of late, certain salts and devices have oeen in-
it oxidise something, and that, no doubt, was the vented, which, although they aim chiefly at the
reason why, among other salts, deoxidisers were reduction of boiler scale, may also counteract corro-
tried, but no additions were mad" of alkalies -which sive influences. The most sensational of these is
would neutralise the carbonic, acid in the solutions, the so-called luniinater,' which consists of a sheet
'
though it is well known that most photographic of corrugated aluminium over which the feed water
developers (these are deoxidisers) require an alkali lias to flow under certain conditions of daylight.
to make them active. It is, therefore, not surprising There seems to be no waste of aluminium, but the
that no very pronounced results were obtained. lime salts in the water, instead of being precipitated
Ferrous sulphate appears even to be an intensilier of as hard scale on the heating surfaces, are said to fall
corrosion, which may be due to its oxidation result- to the bottom of the boiler as fine powder.
ing in a ferric salt but in a boiler where the oxygen
; '
Perruutit' is a double salt of the following com-
supply would be limited, ferrous sulphate might be position -iSiOo, Al 3 0,,, Na,,0, 6H..O.
; If water con-
advantageous. A possible reason why weak solu- taining lime salts he passed through a bed of this
tions of sugar had a corrosive effect may have been salt, calcium is retained there and sodium takes its
that in the presence of an excess of air sugar is, place in the water. After a time the operation
perhaps, converted into an organic acid which would would cease, due to an excess of lime in the bed;
corrode iron, whereas with an excess of sugar there then a stream of salt water is passed through it, and
would not be enough oxygen in solution to effect now the process is reversed, the sodium replacing
this conversion ami yet allow enough to remain for the calcium in the bed of permutit, and chloride of
corrosive purposes. sodium passing away The bed can then be used
The idea of making the oxygen harmless is often again for the purification of feed water. The pro-
carried out in practice. The customary deoxidisers cess is far too costly for the purification of waters
are however, not salts, but organic substances, containing chiefly carbonate of lime, for in addition
notably, tannin compounds. To he most effective to the first cost, of the permutit, about 70 lb. of salt
they must be associated with an alkali, and it would are required for the removal of 100 lb. of carbonate
be correct to introduce them continuously with the of lime.
feed, then all the oxygen would disappear. The If the water has permanent hardness (sulphate of
more economic plan, however, would be to maintain lime), the case is more favourable, for every 100 lb.
a slight excess of the deoxidiser in the boiler, for, as of this impurity would require 74 lb. of soda ash,
already explained, most of the oxygen escapes out of costing 3s., for their removal in an ordinary softener
April 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Mitallim I!/- 507
whereas with permutit experience shows that about on the liner results in prolonged life of the liner, the
600 lb. of pure salt, costing about 4s., would suffice. prevention of flattening of the pebbles and the avoid-
It is, however, very rarely that the water supply has ance of much waste power (3 by reason of the cas-
:
only temporary hardness, and as yet it has not been cading action of the pebbles, their spherical shape is
possible successfully to treat the water, tirst by the maintained this great commotion and rolling action
;
ordinary lime process for temporary hardness, and of the pebble produces a greatly increased grinding
then with permutit for the permanent hardness. action (4) the consumption of pebbles or Hints and
;
The difficulty seems to be that softened waters the amount of power required per ton of sand ground
deposit lime in the permutit and choke it. Permutit are small (5) the metal is distributed to give the
;
is also not suitable for waters containing appreciable greatest amount of life and the least amount of scrap
quantities of common salt. when worn out (b") it alters hut slightly as regards
;
Another very efficient but comparatively costly thickness and shape, which means constant peripheral
sail is aluminate of barium. It is preserved from speed on the inside of the liners and uniform effici-
atmospheric influences by being sent out in sealed ency (7)
; it is easily and quickly installed and
tins, which must not be opened until required for repaired (8) it can be cast at local foundries of semi-
;
use. The formula of this salt is BaO, A1 ? 3. The steel, white, gray or hematite iron.
barium combines both with the carbonic acid and the The inventor and patentee of this liner is F. C.
sulphuric acid of the lime salts, forming insoluble Brown, who has granted the sole manufacturing and
precipitates the lime is also precipitated as well as
; selling rights in the Tinted States to tire Edgar
the alumina, the latter carrying with it most of the Allen American Manganese Steel Co., Chicago, 111."
organic or greasy substances which may be present — F. C. Brown. — Engineering and Minvng Journal,
in the water. Water treated with this salt is, Dec, 14, 1912, p. 113.3. (H. A. W.)
therefore, almost as pure as distilled water, and
ought to be useful for washing purposes. As barium
is somewhat poisonous, water purified by its means Slime Agitation.— "I have just recently re
cannot be used for domestic purposes.'" C. E. — turned from Johannesburg, South Africa, where [
Stromeyer, BtetaUurijicaland Chemical Engineer- have oeen for about a year, introducing the Hen-
ing, Dec, 191-2, p. 790. (\V. A. C.) dryx agitator on the Hand.
One of the 18 in. agitators constructed by Head,
Wrightson & Co., Ltd., of London, Eng., who are
Komata Tube Mill Liner.— "The Komata tube manufacturers and sales agents of the Hendryx
mill liner is a metal liner consisting of a scries of apparatus in foreign countries, was sent to Johan-
plates and lifting bars, which was first introduced in nesburg anil turned over to the Mines Trial
New Zealand at the Komata Reef mine. It has heen Committee of the Chamber of Mines, Johannes-
in use in New Zealand for the last tivey ars and has burg. This committee is composed of high-class
replaced the silex, honeycomb and other forms of engineers, who represent all the groups of mines on
liners. It is now being used in mills in the Goldfield the Rand, and are very competent and reliable
and Tonopah districts of Nevada and other parts of mechanical ami metallurgical engineers.
this country. The present general method of treatment on the
The angle bars, which form the ribs of the liners, Rand consists of stamping, amalgamating, tube
are of Stag
'
brand manganese steel, as a tough,
' milling ami classifying, then leaching the sands six
unbreakable metal is required. Liner plates of the to seven days, and treatment of slime by deeanta-
same metal are also usually recommended, as long tion. A few of the more recent plants have installed
wear, and what is more important, no breakage is agitation ami filtration for their slimes.
thus secured. However, the situation of the user's The average extraction as near as I was able to
plant and local conditions often make it advisable to ascertain by the above methods, including amalga-
have the liner plates of either semi-steel, white, gray mation, is from 92% to 96%.
or hematite iron. In this case the manufacturers The results obtained in the live tests as shown in
have the plates made at a local foundry and shipped the official report, a copy of which appears herewith,
direct, thus saving the operator the cost of freight. were extremely satisfactory. The agitator was in-
The filler bars, which are placed underneath the stalled at the Wolhuter gold mine, which has a
angle bars, are not exposed to wear, therefore are of capacity of 1,000 tons per day.
soft cast iron. The several pieces of the liner are It will be noticed by the report that only one
fastened to the shell of the mill by means of square- charge of slime, 95J% —
120, was treated in two
headed tapered bolts, so that even though worn hours with 98% extraction. The other four tests
extremely thin they are held in place. were made on the mixed product of sand and slime,
To prevent the liner from cupping" around the bolt- and it will be noticed by the solution assays that six
holes, raised bosses are placed on the casting around hours was the longest period to get the extraction,
each hole. Also when cast-iron plates are used, ami in charges Nos. 3, 4 and 5, that it was practi-
bosses J in. high are placed on the under side around cally completed irr 5 hours.
each holt hole, the object heingto keep the liner from Taking these facts into consideration and the
lilting close against the shell of tin* mill, thus avoid- results on the slime, I think it removes all doubt as
ing danger of breaking when hots are tightened. to the statement that if these ores were ground to
The pulp soon gets behind the plate and makes a -90 mesh, three hours would be sufficient in which
harking for it. The rihs, or angle bars, are spaced to treat this product. Most of the mills on the Rand
about IS in. or 20 in. apart, according to the to-day are grinding at least 98% to -60.
diameter of the mill. Wicking or oakum is used The percentage in cyanide loss is extremely small
around bolts to seal from leaks. The joints are and substantiates the claim that I have always made
staggered with the joints of the liner plates to prevent that the loss of chemicals was far less by the use of
the forming of grooves. mechanical agitators than where air agi'ators were
The points of merit claime for this liner are (1)
I : resorted to, as well as the time of extraction being
It gives a maximum area, of mill a d therefore in-
1
much shorter. It also substantiates the fact that it
•creased capacity (2) absence of slipping of pebbles
;
is practical to treat sand and slime together.
.",!
IS The Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913'
power, two hours for the slime, and even taking the (A. McA. J.)
The Hendry.x Agitator -Results of Actual Tests made by the Mines Trials Committee at the
Wolhuter (i. M. Co.
Te-t No. and Date ... l—March 11. '12 2— March 20, '12 3— March 26. 12 4— April 9, 1912 5— May 2. 1912
Product Sand and Slime Slime only Sand and Slime Sand and Slime Sand and Slime
:
35 1 ,
70 j
l
. „ Ore 35 031
Soln. 70-00J
i
•
o Ore
Soln.
:
:
35
71
"\
1
, „
SohK?^} 1 ^ 68
Ore 35 09 \
Soln73-69(' -
, .
'
Per cent. Per cent. Pel' cent. Per cent. Per cent.
( '.
A verage assay of charge 2-55 dwt. 1-65 dwt. 22 dwt. 1-95 dwt. 2-3 dwt.
Loss 0-002x2 = 0004 0001 -.2 = 0-002 003x2 = 0006 0-002 2 = 0-004 0025.x 2= -005
Extraction :
— By So Assay > Ratio Dwt. Hour Dwt. Hour Dwt. Hr. Dwt. Dwt.
lution 1 hour 0-76x2=1-52 J 0-5 2=1-0
x 1 2=1-34
0-67 0-6 2-068 = 1-24 1 0-57x2-1 = 1-218
— ' »> 1 00 x 2 = 200 i 0-58x2=1-16 2 0-83x2 = 1-66 2 0-67x2-068 = 1-385 0-65 x 21 = 1-365
3 „ 1-10x2 = 2-20 1 69x2=1-38 3 0-84x2 = 1-68 3 0-68x2068 = 1-406 0-79 x 21 = 1-659
4 „ 1-15 .2 = 2-30 2 0-76x2 = 1-52 4 9 x 2 = 1 SO 40-79x2 068 =1-633 0-85x2-1 = 1-785
5 „ 1-15 x 2 = 2-30 3 0-76x2=l;52 5 0-92 2=1-84 5 0-84x2-068 = 1-737 0-89x2-1 = 1-869
6 „ 1-20x2=2-40 6 094x2 = 1-88 6 0S4x2 06S=l-737 0-98 x 2-1=2058
7 ,, 1-20x2=2-40
Per cent. Extraction •2'4 dwt. from 1-52 dwt. from 1-88 dwt. from 1 -737 dwt. from 2 -058 dwt. from
by KCy Solution ... 2-55 = 94-1% 1-65 = 92% 2-2 = 85-4% 1-95 = 89-3% 2-3 = 89-47%
Washed Residue Assay 0-281 dwt. 0-05 dwt. 0-35 dwt. 0-25 dwt. 0-55 dwt.
Comparative Percent-
age Extraction from Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Residue Assay 93 06 97 84 87-2 76 3
Solution Assai- 94-1 92 85 4 89-3 89-47
The above figures represent the exact results obtained by the Mines Trials' Committee (Johannesburg,
Transvaal) in the Hendryx agitator upon residues after amalgamation.
The following figures show the total extraction from the original ore. including amalgamation
in the mill and were furnished by the courtesy of the Wolhuter G. M. Co.
Total Extraction by :
Amalgamation ami
KCy Solution — Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Figured from Residues 97 6 99 94 5 95-5 91 6
Figured from Solutions 97 9 !.sn 94-89 96-2 9631
April 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Mining. 5IW
who, he states, concludes that after the oxidized them, and a permanent, reinforced concrete bearer,
5
4 ft. or 'ft. high, was put in. Two or three days
zone and the zone of secondary sulphide enrichment
are passed, ore deposits must be expected to heeonie were allowed for this to set, after which the concrete
leaner with increasing depth. This he considers to lining was built on top of it. The forms were built
in sections, 12 ft. high, and the concrete poured in
lie pernicious doctrine if universally applied : the
'
more so,that for most ore bodies it contains a kernel between tht •form and the rock walls of the shaft.
of truth." Thus it is entirely true when its applica- As soon as one 12 ft. section was filled, another was
tion is limited to a certain group of ore-bodies,
elected on top of it, plumbed and blocked, and tilled
namely to those formed near the existing surface, with concrete in the same manner. The work pro
including not only deposits formed in recent geolo- ceeded thus until the bottom of the finished lining
gical times, but also some of Paleozoic and pre-Cam-
above was reached, the temporary timbering being
brian age. In the latter cases subsidence and burial removed as fast as the forms were erected.
beneath later deposits have protected the upper The concrete was made to inn from the conical
portions of these ore channels against the effect of mixer into a hopper and down the shaft through a
erosion and the auriferous conglomerate of the AVit- 4 in. iron pipe to the point where it was needed,
:
watersrand is quoted asan example. Mr. MacLaren where it was caught in an ordinary steel sinking-
remarks that all deposits of this group originated bucket suspended from the finished portion of the
lining above, and allowed to run through a hole cut.
from the cooling of rising solutions on approach to
in the side of a bucket a few inches above the
the earth's surface but, be states, many deposits,
:
occurring chiefly in Archean and 1'aleozoic rocks, bottom, and through a short steel chute into the
and occasionally in Mesozoic strata, cannot be forms. This was a very efficient and flexible arrange
ascribed to simple cooling. Lode fissures in these ment. as the bucket could be easily swungor turned,
rocks are normally very steep, while the strata are and a continuous stream of concrete directed to any
usually much disturbed. It is a fundamental axiom
part of the forms desired. The concrete was success
fully dropped in this manner for a distance of over
that in these older deposits the nature of the lode-
1,000 ft. in building the last section.
wall exercises a vital influence on the richness and
The long a minimum
walls of the lining were given
sometimes on the mineral character of the orehody.
thickness of III in., and the short walls and centre
Hence it rarely happens that a great depth is reached
before the lode, worked from the outcrop downward. wall S in. Where the rock walls were irregular,
has passed out of the favourable rock. forming hollows, large rocks brought down on the
'
Herein
lie* the kernel of truth in Mr. Rickard's generali-
cages were thrown into the concrete. The centre was
reinforced every IS in. vertically with mine rails laid
sation, but surely the fact should be stated in terms
across the shaft in the centre of the wall. The end
of geologic structure and not of depth/ Future
industry, Mr. MacLaren considers, must more and
and side walls were reinforced in this way only at
points where the ground was bad and at stations.
more concern itself with concealed on- bodies, and it
Bolts were embedded in the concrete at regular
is here that a universal acceptance of Mr. Rickard's
intervals for fastening the guides.
proposition would prove harmful both in the
engineering profession and to mining capital."— The concrete was a 1:3:6 mixture of Portland
cement, quartz sand, and crushed limestone from J
Canadian Mini)ig Journal (criticism by Malcolm
to 1 in. size. About 2,300 cub. yd. of concrete and
MacLaren on paper by '1'. A. Rickard), Dec. 1,
750 cub yd. of large rock were med. The time
Mil.', p. S05. (K. A.)
occupied was eight months, of which the first month
was spent in erecting the surface plant, cleaning
Concrete Shaft Lining.—" The use of concrete
the walls, and putting in temporary timbering pre-
in mining extending and enquiries arc continually
i>
being made for information as to practice. We there- paratory to concreting. Also, the lower 110 ft. of
the shaft consisted of a rise of one-compartment size,
fore u:ive details of the work done at the 2 compart-
and this had to be enlarged to full size. The actual
tuent shaftat the United Globe mint' belonging to the
Old Dominion Company, one of the Phelps-Dodge work of concreting was done in 100 days, or about
40 of the total time consumed. Ordinarily, one
group, situated at Globe, Arizona, quoting from an c
Tii be quite Unnecessary; but experience sliows the plaints about their instruments which they would
contrary to be true Theodblities ordered from like to make, particularly as their remarks may be
makers lists often have the' most absurd defects interpreted as signs of inexperience and incompe-
from the mining point of View. I keenly recollect tence, oji the old principle that
'
He is a bad
'
'
my feelings on receiving" a theodolite which would workman who quarrels with his tools.'
not transit with the diagonal eyepiece in position, Doubtless, also, the instrument maker is not dis-
thus rendering it unfit foi" steep work. It is now, pleased with the simplification in the number of his
perhaps, fairly well known that no shaft observa- patterns, which results from the acceptance of his
tions are of much value unless they are at least dup- civil engineering models, with only a few trivial
licated with the telescope in its reverse position, or, modifications for mining work.
alternatively, unless they are corrected for the Apart from obvious defects there is another aspect
errors arising from defective instrumental construc- to the question of the need for specification. There
tion, adjustment, support, and manipulation by :
are more recondite troubles— troubles of which the
amounts ascertained by trial, or computed from the maker, the engineer who may give the order, and
indications of the Striding bubble, etc. the user are commonly unaware. It is, perhaps, not
'
In another instance, a mine theodolite was sup- well enough known or appreciated that observations
plied arranged with its focusing slide at the eye-piece on steep sights are conducted with greater liability
end and its standards so low that the telescope could to error than those carried on with the nearly hori-
not be transited until the focusing slide was closed zontal sights of surveys at the surface, or in under-
in. Thus there was always a possibility of inadver-
'
ground levels. The fact that error increases in this
tently striking the eye-piece against the plate and way has even been light-heartedly challenged by
its superstructure, and the focus was lost whenever various experienced mining engineers, eg., E. J.
•changing from 'circle left' to 'circle right' observa- Hulbert puts the matter as follows in Dunbar Scott's
tions. ' Evolution of Mine-Surveying Instruments,' p. 149 :
very short time the needle would be sluggish and in- angles and observations now. therefore, why not
:
the glass, and, even when the instruments were new preliminary scientific training or study, on a par
and there was no wind, the bad system of lilting the with that of the person who asserts 'The earth is
compasses to the theodolites would often cause errors. obviously an approximation to a plane, and therefore
Lastly, in a wet mine the loose cover glasses would fiat. Why, therefore, should we adopt the far-
allow water to pass into the troughs, which would fetched hypothesis of its being round?'
sfion rustthe needles and their pivots. This instance is nil the more significant as Mr.
Different makers seem to have grossly divergent Hulbert is one of the best known American engi-
ideas as to the sensitiveness of the spirit levels re- neers, and to him we are indebted, inter alia, for
quired for engineering theodolites. For example, great and lasting advances in the construction of
taking the commonest case, viz., the plate bubbles, mine-theodolites.
I have found the sensitiveness to range from 30 sec. In further illustration I may, perhaps, be per-
I'd X iii. on an American-German model to 8 min. mitted to refer to a discussion* in which I called
per ,',-, -in. on old English "Y" theodolite, and the attention to the increased difficulty of getting re-
sU'ihe value (8 min.) in a new light theodolite (so- liable results with the theodolite in steeply inclined
called transit) by one of the oldest and best-known shafts, but so little was the matter then appreciated
American firms. that was unsupported, and. while some experienced
I
Similar large variations in quality have been found engineers mistakenly thought referred entirely to
I
in other respects, such as the quality of telescopes, the mechanical difficulty of setting up the theodolite,
the amount of the eccentricity of centring marks, etc. one of them flatly denied that the mean error of the
From my own experience I could easily multiply direction readings of the theodolite increased with
examples of instruments of grossly faulty design and the steepness of the sights.
unfitness for mining work if to these were added
;
This is hardly the place to demonstrate the ele-
(») a list of defects of a like nature found in instru- mentary theory of the errors referred to, but hope I
only discovered at the mines a thousand miles or — gestions for improvements in mine-surveying
—
more from the makers a case would lie presented practice. I hope to make it clear that insufficient
Which would call for instant enquiry and remedy. attention to mine-surveying education is the root of
The chief cause of the continuance of this unsatis- the paralysis in progress from which the subject is
factory state of affairs is, I believe, that the makers suffering in this country.
and the users are commonly separated by purchasing To-day the Germanic peoples lead the world with
agents, and that the insular makers have little to the best instruments, the most exact geodetic sur-
guide them as to mining needs moreover, the users
are mostly young men who have not acquired suffi-
;
veys, the most accurate mine-surveying and, the —
cient confidence in themselves to back up any com- TraiU., vol. ix., 1901, pp. 147, 439.
—
root of it all, perhaps— the best staffed and the best by the screw of the tribrach stage, or by adapting a
equipped schools in surveying. Breithaupt spring-bolt to screw on the base of the
The little Saxon town of Freiberg has brought into socket.
proximity of her mines, the scientific surveyor of her JVos. .' to ', lireconditions desirable for reliable centr-
mining academy, the practical surveyor of the mines, ing in inclined shafts and workings ttiid in
ami the instrument maker. The result of this con- underground drifts.
junction is that we are dazzled with the number ami 2.Centring points or other marks should be cor-
importance of her improvements in instruments anil rectly placed both on the telescope and base of the
methods; her splendid educational collection of instrument to enable the instrument tobe adequately
mine-sun eying instruments, unrivalled throughout centred either underneath a plump-bob suspended
the world ;'her long line of brilliant men who have from a station mark in the hack of a level, or over a
occupied the chair of mine-surveying. mark, temporary or permanent, on a bracket or stage
Passing from the oldest school to one of the newest, underground, or on the sole or Hoor of a level or on
from the East to the West, letusglance at the Tech -
some masonry pillar, tree stump or post.
nische Hochscule, at Aachen, where there are two 3. Eccentricity of the telescope should be specially
distinct and independent chairs of surveying. The guarded against by specifying the maximum error
mine-surveying division is brilliantly slatted, well allowable, as weli as a close lit of the trunnions
eijuipped, and growing so much in importance that between the standards.
new and specialized accommodation is being sought 4. Attention should be directed to a very common
for it. weakness in theodolities as usually ci ns true ted, viz. ;
duties piled on their shoulders and who cannot turn underground the amplitude should not be less than
aside from the drudgery of teaching, except by great 1 in. The amount of play of the specification is over
sell sacrifice, to help their subject out of the vicious 1 in., which should be ample. Rapid freehand cen-
rut into which it has fallen. tring for a range of 2 in., with the last touches by a
Surely England is not so shabby that she cannot mechanical line-centring device, both motions caus-
aft'ord to equip one or two schools in a decent manner, ing no disturbance of the levelling, should befit the
thereby giving some guidance to her other schools instrument for the difficult work to be done in shaft
and preventing further paralysis to progress. surveying and plumbing, as well as for the almost
I have endeavoured to make a modest beginning equally exacting requirements of narrow, tortuous
in reform by taking up the- case of the '-nmnionest levels.
instrument used in ore-mines. More complicated Conditions No. in l'i are additionally) desirable for
types [e.g. shaft-theodolite's, three-tripod outfits, the succcssjul measurements of the horizontal
etc.) must be left for future occasions. equivalents of angles with steep legs [as in shaft-
The point of view adopted in drawing up the speci- work). Scqi-cely one of these conditions seriously
fication of my accompanying paper has been purely concerns lint work, mul the;/ rarely trouble tin
technical and from the side of the surveyor only. civil engineer.
Conditions as to time of delivery, inspection dur- 6.The setting of the azimuth-axis vertical should
ing manufacture, penalties for breach of any condi- be arranged to be done far more accurately than i-
tion, and the like, are purposely left out, as also the usual in Hal work. The widely-spaced, line-threaded
matter of details of dimensions and design which do levelling screws with sensitive spirit-bubbles will
not specially affect the accuracy or manipulation of facilitate setting either the azimuth-axis very closely
the instrument, and which are probably best left to vertical, or. alternatively, the transit-axis horizontal.
•the mechanical knowledge antl experience of the Ordinarily, in Hat and gently-inclined workings, the
maker. plate bubbles can be used as indicators of the posi-
The instrument designed to be complete and fit
is tion of the azimuth-axis, but the instrument should
for any class of work about a mine where
it is the only
be further equipped with a telescope bubble or strid-
first-class instrument besides a level. It should, in
ing bubble for the greater precision required in steep
addition to being adapted for its principal use, viz. :
workings. A skilled worker will do the hulk of the
underground work in levels, shafts, winzes orstopes, levelling with the sliding shanks of the legs, leaving
be available for magnetic orientation, correlation by little work for the levelling screws.
shaft plumbing, triangulation, traversing at the sur- 7. A striding bubble should be provided
to allow
face, sun and star observations, stadia work, level- of corrections being calculated or applied without
ling and setting out, as well as for a possible calculation, or of errors being evaded by new special
adaptation to still higher angles than those'specified. methods for the case of very steep sights.
To satisfy the above-named requirements the fol- 8 Both the coarse and tine centring devices -hould
lowing conditions have to be fulfilled :
be arranged to be clamped after use, thereby avoid-
Wo. / covers the difficulties of setting up underground. ing the weakness of earlier arrangements, which
1. The instrument should be available for use : allowed a minute rocking of the azimuth-axis.
9. The centres should he unusally long, so as
to
(«) on a specialised tripod stand :
(b) on boards or planks fixed across the levels or reduce shake to a minimum and get greater precision.
elsewhere 10. The obliquity of the plate-axis to the limb-axis
should he particularly dealt with and the maximum
;
Sli The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
12. The altitude fine motion should receive special I. Tripod. The height
of the tripod is slightly
attention to prevent the disturbance of the line of reduced to adapt better to narrow excavations,
it
sight by the act of using the tangent screw. and an attempt is made to reduce the difficulties of
13. Attention should be directed to preventing the setting-up by adopting a compromise between the
telescope pivots from rising in their hearings. ordinary British tripod-head and the one commonly
14. The lower ends of the foot-screws should have used on the Continent with its large table top, which
no vertical play. is sometimes as much as 7 in. to 9 in. in dia. The
15. The standards must he unusually high to allow Continental type, while clumsy in appearance, at
the single, centrally-placed telescope to take steep least to English eyes, is practically most convenient
sigdit*. with>angles-of degression of al)out 65 . underground, especially in narrow levels for it -can j
iron and of such a character that the best methods very little spread is essential.
of orienting underground surveys by the magnetic The commonest work of the surveyor in ore-mines
needle are practicable with it. consists of a series of visits to the end of levels per-
17. The distance lines of the reticules should be iodically to survey the advances, which, as a rule,
distinguished so that no special device of disappear-
'
will not have been very great. Generally, not more
ing stadia or of axis illumination is required to befit
"
than one set-up, or at the outside two, is necessary.
the instrument for underground service. The instrument is commonly carried in its box
18. The telescope must be of excellent quality from one end to another, and the easiest way or
with a large field and ample illumination to adapt it setting-up under a plumb-bob is to postpone the
to underground work, while at the same time it must attachment of the instrument to its stand, to leave
have a flat field, excellent definition, high magnifica- two legs closed in, to extend the third, to place the
tion, and freedom from distortion for stadia work. tripod under the station-mark with the foot on the
19. A simple reticule illuminator should be added spur oi bracket on the shoe of the extended leg, to
mainly, for star and shaft observations. loosen, the clamp of this leg and to readjust the
20. An altitude vernier-arm bubble shoiild be height of the tripod (if necessary) in order to get a
added. It should be suitably sensitive to allow of clear view of the hack and fore-signals. (Often in
corrections being applied mechanically or otherwise narrow levels longer drafts can he obtained by
to the readings of the vertical circle, to compensate setting the instrument at the mid-height of the level
for the deviation, of thcaziinutb-axis from the or a little higher, where it is often rather wider than
vertical which takes place in a long stay at a station, nearer the sole or the back.) The surveyor then,
e.g. in stadia work, or at a station where the set-up grasping the tripod-head with both hands, holds it
is unsteady, as is sometimes the case in shafts, etc. both level and centred, with his foot still on the spur
21. The telescope bubble should be sufficiently sen- on the shoe, while his assistant pulls out the shanks
sitive to allow of levelling, or setting-out gradient, of the other legs till they hear on the ground, in
being done with sights of a maximum length of which position they are clamped. In this manner
about 200 ft. for it is often economical to use the
: the tripod is fixed up at the right height with its
instrument at the same visit to an 'end" or else- top approximately level and centred. This proce-
where as a combined theodolite and level ('universal dure is a considerable advance in speed and conven-
instrument '). ience on the practice of shifting the legs about
22. Suitably inclined large diffusing reflectors unsystematically, and it leaves the head in such a
should be fixed to the plate above the vernier-win- condition that the subsequent operations of fine
dows to throw down artificial light on the gradua- levelling and centring the instrument are much
tions, and the vernier-readers should he so designed facilitated and shortened.
that they do not materia ly interfere with the A somewhat similar procedure is often useful in
illumination. setting-up in inclined shafts.
23. The horizontal limb should lie well protected Obviously, the larger the tripod-head, the easier
against mine-dirt and water by extending the vernier the task of holding it levelled and centred. do not I
plate, by covering the vender openings with glass, think that this method can he conveniently prac-
and by making the joints of the vernier windows tised with a head-»f a smaller diameter than 5 in.,
water-tight, while the vertical circle should he left and, moreover, there is another advantage with a
unprotected partly to decrease weight anil top-heavi larsje head, viz., that the larger it is the more rigid
ness, partly to cut down expense and partly to avoid is the tripod.
increase in the surface and consequent increase in With wing-nuts for the joint at the tripod-head
wind-pressure and disturbance. and a relay of longer shanks, the instruments can
J4. The working parts of the instrument should be often be set-up in awkward situations in shafts and
arranged so as to be easily taken apart for frequent stopes, where otherwise brackets or other special
thorough cleaning. stages would have to be erected. A set of longer
Below, the various sections of the specifications shanks will also be generally more convenient foi
surface work.
are dealt with in detail, reasons being aiveii for the
construction adopted and comments ottered on com- The use of such a tripod renders unnecessary an
pering types. Naturally these are instances where additional stand, with legs of the ordinary civil en-
one mode of construction has apparently as many gineering pattern for surface work, such as is often
advantages as its rival, and it has been almost a demanded on the Continent or by colliery surveyors
matter of indifference or chance which of the two at home.
has been nominated. In a few cases further research When the underground shanks are closed in as fat-
and practical comparison will be necessary to deter- as they will go they are designed so as to leave some
mine the relative methods of the rivals: here pre- 5 in. still projecting and thus keep the bottoms of
judice or chance has been given the reins. « Boultoll ft :•!.. ny. at., vol. vi., p. 23t
— — — —
the thigh-pieces and l heir clamps out of the inuil of tribrach stage with its locking plate ; for the rapid way
the level moreover, the
: in. projection oilers a
.">
of attaching and detaching the instrument which it
reaily hand-hold for the withdrawal of the shanks. provides has endeared it to the surveyor. It depends
whether in setting-up or in the cleaning of them tor its efficiency («) on the exact lit of the feet of the
:
after use. Perfect cleaning of the slides of the legs three levelling screws in the V-shaped grooves of the
is important if quick work is to he done in setting- stage and (b) on the weight of the instrument being
:
up in dirty narrow levels. sufficient to keep the screws steady in their grooves
We have hail tripods delivered with round shanks throughout the various manipulations. It is a scien-
having stops on them to prevent their complete tifically-precise appliance so long as it is kept clean
wichdrawal. We have discarded these stops, with and the foot-screws are not bent away from the 120
no disadvantage resulting and with greatly increased radii hut in actual practice, in dirty underground
;
facility both as regards setting-up and cleaning. workings, one finds that without special care foot-
A small point, but one of some convenience, is pro- vcreus do get bent and both dirt and wax accumulate
vided for in the specification, viz., the provision of a under them, allowing the feet to slip about mi ti •
strap-holder for the water-proof hood. Strapped to greasy surface, thus vitiating the angular measure
the legs the hood is always at hand, whereas if nients. In g.iod hands these objections may not be
carried in the box it may be some distance away and grave, but there remains a weightier one— the lock-
not available at the time of a sudden shower, dust- ing-plate may be inadvertently left unclosed or
storm, etc. unlocked, leading to a possible fall of the instrument.
II. cases. The instrument is arranged
Instrument This led me to abandon this type in favour of the
to pack in its case complete, saving not only time in one specified, which is disadvantageous in that the
packing but time in setting-up and readjusting the foot-screws cannot be conveniently detached from
altitude-verniers, losses which occur when the com- their stage lint must be tediously screwed out
mon British method of packing the body of the from their bushes It would, of course, be possible
instrument and its telescope separately is adopted. to have the tribrach arranged so that by springing
I have given a long trial Co the German method of
open the ends of its arms the screws and their bushes
packing the instrument away in a cupboard case. could be released and allowed to slip out. But in
This is certainly the ideal position if a careful, well- that case it would have the chief fault of the Everest
trained man is to carry it. It. keeps the centres arrangement, and, moreover, would he less con-
nearly upright and always in their proper position, venient.
with no side strain and with no tendency to separa- The arrangement of the spherical feet of the level-
tion one from another, which facilitates the entry of ling screws to work in slotted cylindrical grooves i-
dirt and thereby produces extra wear and more fre- an old one. Experience with it in dirty levels shows
quent stoppage of work to clean and lubricate the that the grooves are liable to accumulate dirt
instrument. But this German cupboard case and cause the screws to work very stiffly. In the
which has secured favour in the United States and new specification a remedy has been suggested, viz..
in South Africa is somewhat bulky and clumsy, and by making a narrow groove or saw-cut in the bottom
rather tedious to use when all the precautions are of each main groove, leading to a vertical hole for
taken which the long experience of the Germans has the dirt to fall away. On trial, a great improve-
led them to put into practice. If those precautions ment has been found and much annoyance has been
are neglected and the instrument is simply screwed saved.
to a base-board, the transport of the instrument is For steep work the knobs of the foot-screws must
not always safe. Suddenly, from a fall, or little by littheir grooves very precisely. This is arranged for
little by gradual wear, the hold-down screws weaken by a device for taking up the wear.
in their hold of the base-board. Sooner or later the IV. Combined centring and levelling frame. The
instrument breaks loose from the base-board and intention being to deal with such devices in a
knocks about in an ugly way in the box. separate communication, the only points about them
Consequently the plan of packing the complete that need be mentioned here are the following :
instrument on its side, supported and guarded at as (a) They should have a great range of centring
many points as possible, has been adopted. This —over 1 in.
necessitates the instrument being built somewhat (b) The freehand, oreoarse centring motion, should
stronger and heavier; but it is hoped that the advant- prefeiably be placed above the levelling screws so
age lost by extra weight is more than counterbalanced that dialevelment is avoided throughout the centring
by the gains in time, security and durability. operation.
The main case should have additional fittings to (<•) A fine centring motion should be added to
take and hold fast the trough-compass, the objective facilitate repeated centring, which is very desirable
cap and the tripod screw-cap when they are detached at the ends of very short drafts in levels or inclined
from the instrument. drafts with short ! horizontal equivalents."
An auxiliary case to pack such special parts and (rf) The clamping
of the centring motions is
spares as are not ordinarily required is a proved con desirable in order to prevent errors in azimuth aris-
venience it should be fitted with recesses, blocks
: ing from the rocking of the instrument and the
and cleats to hold securely the tripod, screw-cap, the resulting tilting of the transit-axis.
heavy plummet, the vernier-readers and their sup- (c) The rapid freehand motion alone should suffice
ports, and the waterproof hood. The auxiliary case for drafts of ordinary and great lengths.
should be provided with an engirdling strap.
I have borrowed from the microscopist the plan of
(/) The device should be arranged to facilitate the
correlation of the underground and surface surveys
liaving screw caps made for the eye-pieces to protect
by way of two or more plumb-lines in a vertical
them against grit, and I have found it advantageous
shaft.
to provide wooden cleats, turn buttons, or wire clips,
to hold the accessories, etc., in position, in case the (.7) It should be very smooth in working, clearing
open box gets accidently turned on its sid*. itself very readily of dirt.
III. — Combined tribrarh stage and trirrt. It is (/<) The sliding surfaces should l>e placed well out
with regret that I have discarded the old Everest of the way of accidental injury.
—— — ,
514 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913-
Ilook, or eye, screwed to the base of the instrument The arrangement the altitude spring bulfc.isi
of
or to the head of the tripod, is unfit for work in partly to facilitate the operation of changing pivots.
narrow lodes where very short drafts may be ex- In the instrument built fiom my earlier specification;
pected. The hook, or eye. is always liable to be it will be seen that the standards were tied together)
bent out of position and thus cause a centring error, by shoulders screwed to the ends of the transit-axis.,
which may be ignored for surface work as well as for This arrangement is excellent if the theodolite is to
Ion;; straight road in collieries and elsewhere, but be used only for low vertical angles, but for more:
which would he fatal for work on short drafts in ore- difficult work on steep sites the binding which may—
mines. The device of the plumb-bob suspending cup under certain circumstances result from this device-—
is by means new, but it is not so well known as it may cause the transit axis to be tilted, a matter of
deserves to be and lias been rarely adopted. little consequence for low vertical angles, but one
An alternative is to have a retaining screw on the which becomes more and more important as tire sites
base of the plate-centre, drilled with a line axial hole get steeper. As the instrument now specified is de-
in which tightly tits a piece of plumb-line carrying a signed for rather steeper work than its predecessor,
hook or ring. and, indeed, for possible adaptation to the steepest,
VI. Spring centring pin. This is another device work, this otherwise excellent construction is relin-
little known in this country, which is arranged to quished.
take the place of the plumb-bob cup for special pur- However, I would repeat that the stronger con-
poses. For precise setting-out, or for steep sights on struction of the older model should be retained for
tin' stars for latitude, time, or meridan observations, workings on deposits dipping at a lower angle than
lor triangulation or other precise work, there is no 50". The standards are lower and sturdier, they are
more rigid support for the instrument than a braced together by the transit-axis, and the bearings
masonry or concrete pillar, or, failing a pillar, the and pivots are better protected from dirt.
stump of a tree, or the top of a post firmly set in the It is necessary to stipulate that the plate-clamp
ground. The centring pin is an extension of the and tangent-screw be kept out of the plane of colli-,
plate-axis ; it can have a cross-piece as a handle near mation, and, indeed, clear of the objective head.
its point, which can be used to overcome the resis- This is a point sometimes overlooked by instrument
tance of its spring and pull down the point to the makers. Two instruments in the collection of the
surface of the pillar, thus enabling the azimuth-axis Royal School of Mines which were bought as mine
to be set to coincide with the vertical through the Hi loliies are subject to this disadvantage, and it
station mark on the pillar with any degree of preci- seems desirable to specify the avoidance of even such,
sion required. This device may be also useful at an obvious defect as this.
times when the instrument is placed with its trivet VIII. Azimuth circle or limb. For reasonsalready
base resting on a bracket or any improvised stage explained, in narrow excavations the theodolite is
underground. often placed at about the mid-height of the level, or,
at all events, rather lower than for surface work. It
VII. Clamps and tangent-screws. Heads of clamps
thus seems desirable to have the limb bevelled some-
are very commonly made over-large, leading to over-
clamping. I have adopted a recommendation of Pro-
what Hatter than usual, viz., 20° or 25° approximat-
ing in this respect to the Continental model rather
fessor Leonard S. Smith* and asked for the strives
to be made smaller than usual.
than to the 45° of the British civil engineering
instrument.
A difference in shape between the heads of the
The thickness of the engraved lines specified, viz.,
clamping and tangent-screws of the plate and limb
23/i to -iSfi, is that which has been found to be the
axes would help to prevent muddles and probably
lead to quicker work owing to the readier identifica- best for underground work, after long usage and
tion of the clamps, particularly as there are now in direct side-by-sidecomparison of different instru-
the form specified extra screws below the limb to ments having both thicker and thinner lines.
help to cause confusion. It would, perhaps, be A dull finish the silver is to he
to the surface of
advantageous if the heads of the limb clump and recommended, as anything the nature of burnish.
in
limb tangent screw were made of ivory or aluminium, ing leads to a glare which often causes the reading
01 were simply covered with tied-on wash leather, or of the circles to be difficult. The glazing of the
made more conspicuous in some other simple manner. vernier openings helps to preserve the mat surface.
On Sir Edward Shackleton's expedition to the Ant- The simple clockwise direction of numbering is
arctic, the heads of all hand screws of the theodolite that usually adopted for the azimuth circles of
were made of ivory or celluloid, not so much with British and Continental theodolites, but it is desh
the idea of making them conspicuous, but so that able to make an express stipulation in this matter,
the intense cold should not blister the fingers by a as theie are now two or three makers in this country
rapid conduction of heat from them to cold metal turning out instruments on the American model in
parts. This construction suggested, seems, there- which the numeration is both ways. I have already
fore, to be a practicable one. called attention* to this American system, which
The position specified for the altitude tangent- constitutes a source of annoyance and blunders.
screw, viz., vertically above the trunnion is the more Furthermore, the double numbering demands,
convenient position for clamping from cither end of either double verniers or far worse, a double num-
the instrument. This arrangement is desirable for bering of each vernier, which is another abounding
workings on narrow lodes where the practice of taking source of confusion.
1 hope that the old and simple practice of number-
face, right and face left observations should be the
rule. There is a possible disadvantage, viz., that the ing clockwise, or from left to right, will eventually
slight disturbance of the transit-axis which ensues be superseded by the equally simple practice oi
from the clamping-screw being placed in a vertical numbering counter-clockwise or from right to left,
position is felt to a greater extent in the azimuth and thus cut out still another source of blunders to
the user of vernier theodolites.
'
trans. .Imo. Inst. C.E., xlviii., 1902. * BotiUen <( al. "Practical Coal Mining," vol. vi.,p..2Ll.
April 1913 Notices "in/ Abstracts: Matin ">\.i
•1 have in two previous specifications li.nl every live but l.a steepei wotL, particularly in niijie,s
.">".
first instance. This device is intended to take the If the instrument were intended mainly for stadia
]. lace of the stud's projecting downwards from the work, or if it were to be largely used with a Dunbar-
limb or the hinged handles, both first introduced in Scott or a side telescope, then the intermediate posi-
the well-known Troughton & Simms' instruments. tion might be best. The disadvantages of having
Unfortunately, both studs and handles prevent the the vernier near the plane of sighting are («) t he fre-
adoption of the preferable central type of plate quent trouble of having to tilt the telescope out of
clamp. Another device to attain the same end is the way in order to get readings of the azimuth
that in which the periphery id' the limb is milled. circle :(l>) the slight error this causes if the tele-
My objection to this type is that wet dirt is brought scope, owing to dirt in the clamps, or beneath the
by the linger- to the opening between the plate cover verniers or between the .bearings and the pivots of
and the limb, or dust is generated in its proximity the transit-axis, turns in altitude stiffly and produces
from dry dirt on the fingers, and is more likely to a shift of the vernier over the azimuth-circle and:
lead to the fouling of the instrument. (c) when wearing a helmet in the tropics, contretemps
•
It is for fear of a similar contamination with dirty will almost certainly arise when one forgets to turn,
fingers that I have asked for the ribs to be cut away or insufficiently turns, the telescope out of the way'.
lor one qnarter of an inch from the periphery. More- On the whole, I think that the vernier reflectors
over, the rihs should terminate in a centra) hub so are best fixed to the plate. They are not specially
large that there is no temptation to put the lingers liable to injury in this position, and more exact
boo far underneath and so drive dirt into the joint of vernier readings are obtained if the light always
the limb with the plate-clamp or the socket. comes from the same quarter. As soon as one begins
IX. — Vernier plates and standards. I have already to use reflectors which can be turned around, one is
drawn attention to the fact that the standards of theo- tempted to hold the light in varying positions, and
dolites are usually too weak laterally for mining work, the shadow cast in the minute grooves, or engraved
whether on flat deposits or steep deposits, if short lines, of the silvered surface leads to 'phase' and
drafts are likely to heat all common. For surface increased error in the readings. The illustration in
work or for ordinary colliery work this is a matter of Boulton's 'Practical Coal Mining' (vol. vi., p. 229)
no great importance. An effort should lie made by clearly indicates the way in which the reflectors and
makers of mine theodolites to have the ribs of stan- cover-glasses are best mounted. In trying to intro-
dards as thin and as much extended laterally as pos- duce vernier rellectors and cover-glasses into the
sible and to connect the standards with one another practice of British makers I have had considerable
trouble. In some cases hard cement has been used
and with the plate to the fullest, extent in other:
words, each rib should have foothold ri<_dit across the in the attempt to make the joints water tight,
j>late. This becomes all the more important when
which renders cleaning, either of the limb, the ver-
the excellent braced construction of the older lei
i
nier or the cover-glasses, a difficult and, indeed, a
is abandoned and at the same time the height of the dangerous operation. In other cases, where the
glasses have been lifted in too loosely, and with no
standards is increased, as in this specification.
Both in this country ami on the Continent the cover to the joints, water has been admitted to the
matter of providing an adjusting device to raise or azimuth-circle in wet places underground. Specifi-
lower one pivot of the transit-axis has been recently cation is certainly necessary at the present day in
this country in order to get satisfaction in this most
brought into question. One maker in this country,
who has discarded this device, claims to -end out his important mining accessory. The screw with the
instruments in perfect adjustment in the first in- head partly cut away, shown clearly in the illustra-
tion referred to, seem- to be a small matter ; but it
Bfance later on, when from unequal wear or other
:
7.16 The Journal of Tin Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April lSI.'t
hand, and British and Continental surveyors on the line to bisect the interval between the azimuth lines
other, are diametrically opposed :it seems to he isnot only more accurate, but is also more conven-
largely a matter of custom and prejudice. The ient and quicker than the method of using a single
objection often urged by American and Canadian azimuth line and, when the plummet is still oseib
:
engineers against the use of readers fixed to the lating slightly, it is easier to split the swing with
instrument is that they are very liable to damage. the double lines than with the single one.
—
This is an a priori argument a mere presumption The expense of having 'disappearing stadia :-
with little or nothing to support it : I have rarely avoided by the simple plan of having a pointer near
known readers to get damaged. In their favour be the central intersection. Besides, the distance line^
it said, they are far more convenient to use than a are made so thin that probably this alone will suffice
handglass and give greater accuracy. For surface to distinguish their intersections. In quick work
work and triangulation they should certainly be underground the adjustment for parallax is not
used, and if any surveyor does not care for them always quite perfect and the stadia lines may not
underground they can be quickly taken oft' the plate always be visible. In more exact work they may
and deposited in the box for spare parts. thus serve as a check on this adjustment.
But if readers are used it is important they should In this form of reticule on glass all the usual a<i -
be of a kind adapted for mines, i.e. they should not vantages are realised with the exception that there
be of too short a focus so as to hinder the illumina- is some little loss of light.
tion of the verniers, and I have, therefore, given a The range of focus of the telescope specified i-
detailed specification on what might otherwise seem extreme. 1 have never seen it realised in practice.
a paltry point. One instrument in the collection of the Royal School
of Mines, advertised to focus to 3 ft., cannot be used
X. Plate bubbles. Following British usage have1
should be taken to see that its swivelling and screw- one tine of the long fork is slightly bent, and it
focussing arrangements are perfeet. The diagonal should therefore be avoided.
eye piece usually supplied, which slides freehand in XII. Telescope fittings anil accessories. A pair o.
a straight slot in the containing tube, is one to be sight-vanes attached to the telescope as a simple
avoided. tinder saves time and increases accuracy. By u»ing
I have tried screw-focusing for the straight eye-
the finder the object can be sighted freehand within
1 or 2 min. of arc, thus leaving less work for the
pieces, but while it is a very pleasant, smooth-work-
ing arrangement, some clamping device seems tangent-screws. Especially in sighting up a shaft,
desirable. I have therefore abandoned it, and or on a star, it is a valuable convenience and consid-
adapted a cheaper, and, I believe, a better arrange- erable expedites the work.
ment due originally to Hildebrand, of Freiberg, and The ray shade* should have no shutter or door, to
now widely in use. The clamp is an addition bor- enable it to serve also as an objective cap, as is com-
rowed from another source and is particularly mon in British surface instruments. A shutter when
desirable to prevent alterations of focus in tele- open projects in a most awkward way, and is sure,
scopes where, as in the present one, the sun-glassea sooner or later, to get damaged underground. More
screw on, in place of being adapted to, the eye-lens over, when it works loose, it will often fall over on
by coning. its hinge screw and cover up the objective, so cans
The thicker azimuth and levelling-lines of the ing some annoyance, and occasionally loss of time.
reticule are, I think, more convenient for under- The reticule illuminator specified has the advan-
ground use than thinner ones, and there is certainly tage that the light can be held in almost any
no decrease in the accuracy of the horizontal angles position, above, below, or at either side, with a
;
for the plumb-line commonly used as a station-signal practical certainty of getting the field suitably
can be sighted more accurately with the double lighted.
azimuth lines than with a single one. The accuracy The plain cap for the objective should be easily
attained is independent of their thickness. The placed in position and removed. Generally, as it
device of allowing the image of a stationary plumb- * Boulton el at., op. ctf., vi., p. 238.
— —
eoiues from tlie maker, it is in perfect condition as dimensions reduced to a minimum to give as little
regards this, but after the cap has been squeezed in wind-hold as possible.
the hand two or three times, or put into the pocket, XIV. Trough-compass. The trough compass is a
it generally lits too tightly. After precisely setting very much neglected appliance owing to the tact that
up the azimuth axis, it is most inconvenient to find the ri\ il engineer uses it only as a very rough check.
a tight cap inadvertently left on the objective head, It is usually extremely badly fitted and often merely
the withdrawal of which upsets the precise adjust- an expensive toy. The reason fcr the stipulation,
ment. Such an occasion will convince anyone of the that the trough be attached to a rigid vertical plane
desirability of having a cylindrical block tixed in the on the standards in such a manner that it can be
instrument case to take the cap and preserve its [lacked away in the box without its attachment
shape. being in any way disturbed, is to enable the method
Sun glasses are preferably made to screw on and of repetition to he practised in connection with care-
not to tit by a coned joint, because the coned type ful magnetic orientation.* If the compass is detached
often tits imperfectly and either drops off or jams on. between the surface and underground observations,
A reversion spirit-level on the telescope saves time its collimation error —
or relationship with the colli-
in testing and rectifying the adjustments or in —
mation plane of the theodolite is liable to he dis-
carrying on precise levelling underground, and, if turbed and the comparison between the surface and
occasion arises, it can serve as a substitute for either underground observations is vitiated.
the striding level or the vernier-arm level. Trough compasses as now made are commonly
The advantages of a striding level need not lie de- neither air nor water-tight. If the" are not air-
English. Some practical notes on the striding level balancing it in any latitude' after the words
are scattered through Roulton's Practical Coal
'
'
counterpoise of German silver.'
.Mining,' vol. v., pp. 155, 160, 162 vol. vi., p. >'5. I
;
The instrument is also designed to permit of the
have devised new means of taking advantage of this adoption of mote refined orientation instruments if
level, an account of which will shortly be published. desired.
The sensitiveness of 10 sec. per ,Vf in. prescribed XV. — Plumb-bobs. — The heavier bobis intended
for the striding bubble is rather higher than usual, for use underneath the instrument in draughts or
but is desirable for the steeper angles for which the winds. The smaller bob is to be used above the
theodolite is designed. With such difficult work as telescope for greater precision when centring at the
sights inclined at an angle near 65° (or higher with ends of the shorter underground drafts. The thick-
an adapted instrument), and with such a sensitive ness of the plumb-line is not specified, but it appears
level, temperatuie-variations in the parts of the level
not sufficiently well-known that it should tightly fit
must be guarded against, and the specification of a the hole in the screw-head of the bob and its thick-
non-conducting handle is not petty, but important, ness should not much exceed the diameter of the
if speed and accuracy in use are ot any consequence.
hole. On short drafts the spuds should he made
with eyes not exceeding in. in ilia., and a plump-
,',.
XIII. Altitude or transit circle. The continuous
line with a thickness much greater than in. when
..',,
numeration from to 360°, with every .V fully num-
bered, is an advantage from the point of view of pre- swelled by damp or frayed by use is liable to be
venting confusion in the positive and negative signs troublesome when threading the eye of the spud.
of vertical angles, though it may give a little mote
Duplicate head-screws with still liner holes maybe
trouble in the office. an advantage for very close work in tortuous levels.
The stipulation that the index of the vernier is to Fast experience and recent enquires both go to
point to the zero on the circle when the azimuth axis
show that the price of such an instrument as that
specified need not exceed what is usually paid for an
is vertical and the line of collimation horizontal, has
been adopted because this arrangement gives directly ordinary so-called mine-theodolite, viz., about £30.
Its weight will not be greater than the average for
the angles of elevation as acute angles.
The zeros of the circle ami the A vernier should
' ' other first class instruments. If a lighter instrument
is especially desired, one can he built of half the
be distinguished in some conspicuous manner so as to
facilitate setting them to concide as a preliminary to
weight and at from half to two-thirds of the cost of
centring the theodolite under a plumb-bob. tbe more precise instrument.
The position of the bubble of the vernier arm Such a light, handy tool would be a valuable addi-
tion to the surveying equipment, and would enable
should be controlled by a special tangent-screw and
opposing spring-bolt with guiding tail instead of the the better instrument to be kept in more perfeel
condition for critical work.
ordinary opposing screws, etc., with or without lock-
nuts. The bubble slow motion should be distin- The theodolite specified and its immediate prede-
guished from the telescope one, (a) by the latter cessor can be simplified with advantage if the work
tor which they are likely to he used is of a less diffi-
being arranged to bear on a lug on the opposite stan-
cult character than that named. For example, in
dard ; and (b) by having a head of a distinctly
different shape and colour. The extra slow motion Hat workings in collieries or ironstone mines, the
vertical circle could fie suitably cut down in diameter
is a great time and error saver. It enables Mie
bubble to be readily adjusted to the middle of its run and accuracy, and the instrument could be stripped
of most of its spirit bubbles, etc. Considering more
for each observation of a vertical angle and dispenses
with arithmetical corrections of varying index in detail the requirements of those ore-mines work-
errors. ing wide deposits, in which short drafts on the main
The vertical circle and its appurtenances should traverses are not cm in, and in which, conse-
have their angles especially rounded off ami their *
Boulton op. ''(., p. 281.
— '
51S The Journal of Tin < lu mical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
qiiently, one may expect few awkward set-ups, the. Chilian' Saltpetre and its Origin.— "Very
following simplifications could be practised :
— much has been said and many opinions have been
I. Tlie trivet points could lie discarded. expressed by scientists of different nationalities
2 The mechanical fine centring device could be regarding Chilian saltpetre. Books have been
omitted, for the movement of tbe freehand, coarse written on the subject and various theories advanced
centring is so soft and easy that it will suffice: as to the origin of the deposits.
unless, therefore, the very sharpest accuracy in The most popular and best known of the theoiies
centring is frequently desirable, this lb. weight of !. is that the immense and rich deposits of saltpetre in
metal can be discarded with advantage, lightening Chile are due to the location of these deposits in
tbe instrument both in weight and cost. remote ages, being on a maritime coast with a great
3. The spring centring-pin can be discarded if quantity of sea weed accumulated there. These
there is no very precise setting out or surveying to weeds were decomposed by the action of the sun.
be done. leaving the nitrogen in nitrate form and its con-
4. Another economy can be effected by having tained iodine as iodates. This theory is based on
only (me vernier to each circle, and making both the fact that before the taking up of the iodine from
'
J
circle right and 'circle left' observations. There the mother waters, the only source of supply was tbe
need be no falling off of accuracy in ordinary under- kelp or sea weed reduced to ashes. To confirm this
ground work, but tbe wider possibilities of tbe in- view it is cited that the nature of tbe ground
strument and the special precision desirable for shows that the sea weed once existed here in vast
triangulation are lost or considerably reduced. quantities.
However, the instrument is liable to a certain de- Against this theory that the saltpetre has been
terioration. I believe it is a business rule with formed by an accumulation of sea weed are three
many makers not to provide an instrument which is objections which are as follows ;
more accurate than the purchaser wishes, or, rather, In the first place the sea weed contains bromine as
will accept, and the upshot of ordering an instru- well as iodine, and the majority of the saltpetre of
ment in which the eccentricities of the circles cannot Tarapaca does not contain bromine, which it would
be so readily tested will often be that the purchaser do if its origin were the kelp. In the second place
will get. an inferior instrument which will require there seldom appear maritime residues in the
more work being done with it in order to realise a ground. In the third place the stones which are
degree of accuracy equal to that of a two-vernier found in these saltpetre or caliche deposits are of a
instrument in which one of the verniers is commonly rough surface and show no evidence of being rounded
used. off' by water action, as would lie the case if they
5. The attached readers for both azimuth and alti- were from a beach deposit.
tude verniers could be left out by surveyors who are Another theory as to the saltpetre deposits is that
accustomed to work with hand-lenses. Some little it is the result of guano deposits. This opinion has
economy will be effected here, but again tbe instru- been accepted by many because there have been the
ment would be crippled for the higher class of work, remains of birds found in the deposits. These birds,
e.g. triangnlations or more precise traverses, whether however, are insignificant in number and are found
above or below ground more work would have to be
:
to be living at the present time, having their nests
done with the verniers read by a band-lens to realise in tbe fissures of the ground. The gnano that exists
the higher degree of accuracy desired. in some places is insignificant. The most important
6. Rellectors to the verniers can also be omitted, objection to the theory that the deposits are the
particularly electric flash lamps or torches are
it' result of the decomposition of guano deposits is the
used. . » fact that the saltpetre deposits do not contain any
7. no steep sights arc to he taken, one plate
If phosphates, as would be the case if the deposits were
bubble would be sufficient, or, better still, could be the result of guano decomposition.
replaced by a pill-box level, which is amply accurate Other theories have been advanced, but most of
and more convenient. them are without foundation, such as their origin
S. The vernier arm bubble is a luxury except being due to volcanic action. Another theory as to
where the vertical angle is considered of great im- the origin is that they are the result of the oxidation
portance, as in precise stadia work. carrying level '
of the soil, this oxidation being due to tbe action
down shafts, etc. of microscopic organisms. Experiments were carried
9. The striding bubble can he dispensed with for out along tins line by Professor Warrington, and it
altitudes less than 50°. was proven that the conditions favourable to the
10. The adjusting device of the transit axis could formation of nitrate in this manner are a porous
be omitted if steep sighting is rale. soil, with an abundance of animal or vegetable life,
II. The low power eye piece could be relinquished. together with an alkaline base of potash, soda or
lime carbonates. The amount of saltpetre produced
12. The
sights on the telescope can be dispensed
in this manner varies with the climate, the amount
with to effect a small economy.
produced being greater in hot weather than in cold.
13. In place of two sunglasses one medium glass In agricultural soils, this saltpetre is absorbed by
only could he obtained. tbe vegetation as fast as it is produced.
14. The diaphragm adjustments could he simplified, In the Tamaiugal district may be found extensive
the vertical movement being omitted tracts of a porous and alluvial soil, which contains
15. The reticule illuminator could be dispensed organic material, principally of vegetable origin.
with. A simple makeshift can be used for work on The soil also contains lime sulphate of basic
the stars, the only case where such an aid is leally character, and sodium carbonates, where the water
necessary. has filtered through. The temperature here is
16. One plumb-bob, weighing 6 to S o/., can be favourable for the formation of nitrates, also, as
substituted for the two bobs of the specification." explained in Professor Warrington's theory. <>n
L. H. Cookk, Bulletin, Institution of Mining and account of the lack of rains in the district there is no
Metallurgy, .Ian. 16, L913. (A. R.) vegetation to absorb the saltpetre as formed, and in
'
consequence then- has been accumulated here de- given off per minute per lineal foot of entry, and tie
posits of this nature. volume of ait passing in the entry. The point to be
The topography of this district consists of a chain borne in mind i- that, with a certain emission of
of mountains running north ami south, anil to tin' gas from the roof per lineal foot of entry and a cer-
we»t of this i- a parallel range. The district between tain volume of air in circulation, diffusion i- mosl
is an alluvial valley of from 30 to 4(1 miles wide, t.ipid close to the roof and decreases in rapidity
with a gentle slope towards the coast, or to the "est. downward, each successive layer of air containing a
The water from these surrounding mountains does less and less percentage of gas a- the density rapidly
not have an outlet to the sea directly, because of approaches that of air, when diffusion practically
this coast range, which forces the waters to Mow the ceases.
length of the valley, and so is either filtered through In describing the effect of carbon monoxide on
or evaporated, depositing all of the salt- that are flame all text book- mention particularly the in-
contained on the land. In this location are situated creased brightness and the lengthening of the llame
all of the more important saltpetre beds, the de- due to the presence of this gas. It has been sue
posits being the richer towards the interior or cast. gested very properly, that this statement i- mislead-
This fact would seem to refute the theory as to ing, and may be the case of many a miner losing his
the origin of these deposits from sea weed- or guano life in the attempt to rescue others after an
beds. explosion this i- true.
;
Some year- ago the Chilian government opened It is also true that a lamp flame is visibly length-
offices in various parts of the world for the purpose ened and brightened in an atmosphere charged with
of advertising this wonderful fertilizer, and it has the line dust of an inflammable coal, which, in
since lieen introduced in large quantities in all parts contact with the flame of a lamp, generate- carbon
of the world."— Cesar Zelaya, M<>iru<> Mining monoxide that is burned at once on the surface of
/;»,rnal, December, 1912, p. 28. (K. A.) the flame to carbon dioxide. Ill this case, however,
density. tion became better known, it was found that the old
It is interesting to know that the specific gravity rule—' Pressure varies as the square of the quantitj
of marsh gas iCH,) being 0';")s>9, its square root is of air in circulation
'
—
was only true when speaking
74*. 01 say ,, which makes the inverse ratio in that of a given mine or airway but when speaking of ;
1/3, and shows that the diffusion of marsh e.a- a constant power the pressure varies inversely as the
into air would produce a mixture consisting of four quantity of air circulated. For example, to double
volumes of gas to three volume- of air. This mix- the quantity of air in an airway will require four
ture would have a specific gravity of n 74S The times tin" pressure but, in order to obtain double
;
practical point to be noticed is that when marsh gas the quantity of air with the same power, the pres-
issues from the roof strata, or from the coal face on sure must be reduced to one-half the original
a steep pitch, it i- possible for this mixture to form pressure.
and be mistaken for pure marsh gas. The question There are other important point- that the early
i- often asked :
'
If the diffusion of gas i- rapid, how writers did not explain. They failed to give the
is it that •
sharp gas is frequently found at the roof
'
mine its proper value, and to make clear the fact
while the air below is practically free fro n ",as why ; that it i- the mine resistance that establishes and
doc- not this gas diffuse and lill the entry '.'
determines the pressure which the ventilator create-.
To answer this question from a mining standpoint The same fan run at the same speed and consuming
it i- necessary to remember that the very fact that the same power will yield a different quantity and
there is a thin layer of ga- at the roof and practi- pressure operating on different mines. Keeping the
cally no indication of gas below, snow- a uniform or power on the fan shaft constant and turning the fan
undisturbed condition of the atmosphere. It i- also at practically a constant -peed, a- the pressure
nece-sary to note that as diffusion advances the den- against which the fan operate- i- increased thequan-
sity of the mixed air and ga- rapidly approaches that tilv of air is decreased and via versa, a decrease of
:
of air : when this point is readied further diffusion pre— ure give- an increase in the quantity of air de-
ceases. In plain language, the pure gas issuing from livered. If this is true it is plain that what has been
t lie strata i- so rapidly diluted with air that diffn- termed the manometrie efficiency of a fan does not
' '
-ion practically ceases a short distance from the describe the fan: because it the ratio of actual
i-
point of i-stie. The action is continuous for a depth pressure developed to the theoretical pressure .us
Delovt the roof, depending on the quantity of gas determined by the formula :
—
,320 The Journal of The ' 'hemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 19K5
claims of this lamp for mining purposes. These worked and smelted on a small scale by the natives
for a lengthy period before the British occupation in
statements are both of them wrong. The lamp will
not burn in an atmosphere of pure carbon dioxide 11100. In 1902 the Niger Company started explora-
;
tion work, and in 1904 the first mining camp was
it is dependent for its combustion on the oxygen of
the air. This is readily seen by writing the equa- established under its auspices on the banks of the
tions showing the reactions that take place first, in :
Delimi River, on the site of what is now Naraguta.
the generation of acetylene gas from calcium carbide Subsequent search has proved the presence of lodes
in the vicinity of the placers, but little or no
by the addition of a little water and, second, in the
;
scientific study has been made of them. Some of
combustion of the acetylene gas in air, forming
carbon dioxide and water vapour, thus the statements published in London have in fact
proved quite devoid of foundation. As far as in-
Calcium Carbide. Water. Calcium Hydrate. Acetylene Gas. vestigation has gone, there would appear to be some
CaC, + 2H..0 :: Ca(OH,) C.H., difference in the mineral content between the placers
Acetylene. Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide. Water Vapour. and the lodes, a difference sufficient to suggest that
2C,H 2 +
50, 4CO„ + 2H 2 the original habitat of the placer tin has not yet been
It is readilyunderstood that the acetylene generated definitely ascertained.
in this lamp by the action on calcium carbide re- bike most placers, the tin-bearing gravel of North-
quires oxygen tor its combustion, and it can get this ern Nigeria is believed to he of comparatively recent
oxygen from no other source than the air. What age, and to date from a period immediately preced-
has led to the statement that the carbide lamp will ing the establishment of the present river system.
continue to burn in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide The placers are distributed over an area of about
is the fact, observed in mining, that the carbide 9,000 square miles, mainly in Western Bauchi, but
lamp is not extinguished in blackdamp when other extending also into the adjoining provinces of Zaria
lights failed to bum. This is true the carbide ; and Nassarawa. The richer deposits are found in
Maine, like the hydrogen tiame, is more tenacious the valleys of Western Bauchi, where the cassiterite
than other flames. The hydrogen llame requites six has been concentrated by the present streams. Until
times the percentage of C0 2 in the air for its extinc- recently only these richer areas have been worked,
tion that is necessary to extinguish an ordinary and the leaner deposits and the prospecting for lodes
light the acetylene flame of the carbide lamp is
; have been neglected, owing to the high cost of
similar in this tespect. operations, especially in co -linn with transport.
It is a common mistake among mining men, who Now that railway and other communications have
generally know better, to call blackdamp carbon been improved, working conditions will be rather
dioxide, whereas the blackdamp of mines is a variable more favourable to the less profitable propositions.
mixture of air and extinctive gases, consisting In the richest places, the cassiterite is accompanied
largely of carbon dioxide. It is possible for the car- with a comparative abundance of white and yellow
bide lamp to burn in this mixture, because it con- tcqiaz, and of small pyramidal and octahedral crystals
tains available oxygen that supports the combustion. of brown zircon. These minerals may be taken as
In this respect blackdamp is very different from an indicators. Along with these, small amounts of
atmosphere of carbon dioxide, which contains no magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, garnet, and monazite are
free or available oxygen. The carbide lamp, or any collected in the concentrate, together with occasional
other flame dependent on oxygen for its combustion, specks of gold. As a rule it is not difficult to obtain
would be extinguished in pure carbon dioxide. In a concentrate assaying 70% tin. The cassiterite
.April 1913 Notices and Abstracts: Mining.
varies in colour from Mark to ruby or pale yellow, deviate either north or south in all districts. If the
ami assays about 75% metal strata are Mat and uniform the holes may do so, hut
The alluvial deposits are found in close association if the strata dip deeply this is not the case. In one
with extensive masses of alkaline granite, which district, where the dip is steep, we are certain of the
have been injected into the surrounding gneiss and course of 14 holes which deviate from the vertical.
schist. It was, at an early date, suggested that the Of these boles, one went approximately north, one
cassiterite of the gravel was probably derived from approximately south, one northeast, live northwest,
the granite, where it might be found either sporadi- one southeast, and five southwest. Putting it
cally as a rock constituent or as stockworks on the in another way, seven deviated to the north and
margins of the igneous mass. It was not, however, seven to the south, while two deviated to the east
until 1908, that the prospectors of the Niger Com- and ten to the west. If these results show anything,
pany actually discovered it in the granite, in the they only show that the majority of the holes
neighbourhood of Naragnta, where it occurs, not deviated to the west, but equally to the northwest
according to the prognostication, but on the summit and southwest.
of the plateau and in the heart of the intrusive mass. Fig. 1 shows a plan of holes which deviated con-
The granite here shows signs of fracturing and siderably from the vertical. These holes were drilled
Assuring, and of accompanying pnenmatolytic action.
The adjoining rock is chloritized and partly miners
lized. and the fissures themselves are tilled with
stanniferous pegmatite and other vein-matter. The
cassiterite associated with various sulphides, such
is
a- pyrite. chalcopyrite, tetrahedrite, blende, and
galena, no trace of which is usually found in the
placers. On the other hand the topaz and zircon are
apparently absent from the lodes so far discovered,
~o that though they are also of pnenmatolytic
origin, their exact mode of occurrence in the granite
remains doubtful. Of course other lodes may yet be
discovered that will account for these two minerals.
There is every reason to believe that the distribution
of the lodes will be found to be as wide as that of
the gravels. Fig. I.— Plan of Twelve Drill Holes in
The cassiterite in Bauchi province, in and around Lake Superior District.
the plateau, and in the Lirue and Ningi bills to the
on several ranges in the Lake Superior district. It
north, is everywhere associated in this way with
will be seen that there is no general course that can
masses of uncrnshed soda-granite. The small quan-
be predicted.
tities that have been found in Vola province, and mi
It is very difficult to keep vertical diamond drill
the Cameroons border, are probably of similar
holes straight, and I believe that a hole can be
origin. Cassiterite is also found in places as a con-
located with more assurance of striking a certain
stituent of some of the pegmatite dikes that are
point in depth if it is given an inclination of S5°
abundant in the gneiss and schist. These dikes arc
against a steeply dipping formation than if it is
frequently rich in tourmaline, but whenever this is
the case, they are, curiously enough, barren of
started in a vertical position. We
have drilled only
The stanniferous and tourmaline-bear- two holes with this inclination, the results being:
cassiterite.
ing pegmatite an- similar in structure, and probably No. 1 No. 2
Depth. Degrees. Decrees.
belong to the same general period of igneous activity
At surface 85 85'5
as the larger masses of tourmalins and alkaline
At led-e 86 86-5
granite. Probably the tourmaline granite and peg-
matite were formed during an early phase of this Jnu ft. ... S6
40Hft. 85 87-75
igneous period, while the emanations which gave ...
500 87-5
rise to the metallic lodes anil the stanniferous ft. ...
fore that in Nigeria, the presence of abundant These two holes are not enough for a generaliza-
tourmaline in granite and pegmatite is no safe tion,but they kept straighter than vertical holes in
indication of the presence of cassiterite in the same the same district. In addition, we knew in wdiat
neighbourhood."- 7'/" Minim/ Magazine, Dec, 191:2, general direction the holes would deviate, which we
p. 455. (A. R.) do not know when we start a vertical hole. In 1910
I gave a series of curves showing the curvature to be
Deflections "i7
Diamond Drill Holes.— expected in an inclined hole when dipping against a
steep jasper formation. I would change the curve
".I. S. Curtis gives an interesting theory of the
cause of bore bole deflections, with results of experi- for a hole started at 85°, since, under these condi-
ments which he made to substantiate his theory. tion-. lli.it angle seems to be a critical one, and the
II,- endeavours to -how that the influence of ter- hole does not flatten as would be expected.
In view of the sometimes surprising curvature of
restrial magnetism should cause vertical drill holes
to deviate to the north in the southern hemisphere, drill holes, I feel that all holes should he tested both
for course and for inclination at Inn ft or 200 ft.
and alii iiis tint this i> the case in the great majority
i
of holes, although tin- direction may be changed by intervals, whether started vertical or at an angle,
In' character of the country rock.
i
otherwise there is no ceitainty ns to the exact place
In our experience the latter feature is much the at which the ore or other strata is acta illy cut.
more important, ami from results of our drilling 1 We recent ly started a vertical hole which, at a depth
mi 800 ft., was found to have an inclination of only
would not say that the great majority of drill hole-
— —
522 The Journal of The > 'hemicai, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. April 1913
51° from the horizontal. Another hole, started at from oxide of iron places the Indian magnesite under
an an^le, N. 54 W., was found to lie running N. 64° this disability, it gives it the advantage of being
E. at the bottom. A third hole, started vertical, usable in a lightly calcined state and even when
deviated 377 ft. in a total depth of 1,290 ft., and was crude.
only 47" from the horizontal at the bottom." E. E. — From the report the lecture would seem to have
White, Mining Science, January 2, 1913, p. 5. been comprehensive in detail with respect to the
(R. A.) production ot dead burnt magnesia as well as fully
descriptive of the works to which this product is
Dressing of Winding Ropes. —
"In putting on usually applied, and of the methods to be adopted in
a new rope should be passed through a bath of hot
it carrying out such works, which comprise the manu-
lubricant. One bushel of fleshly slacked lime to facture of refractory bricks and the preparation of
one barrel of pine or coal tar makes a good mixture. magnesite hearths for basic furnaces. But the most
With pine tar, which contains no acid, tallow may important point dealt with in the lecture was per-
be used instead of lime. Another mixture contains haps that relating to the technical use of lightly
tar, summer oil, axle grease, and a little pulverised calcined or caustic magnesia, that is the product of
mica. It may lie made of any desiied consistency, magnesite calcined in a gas-fired kiln at a tempera-
penetrates thoroughly between the wires, and does not ture of from 700 to 900' C.
dry or strip oH'. All lubricants of this nature should This caustic magnesia — MgO— mixed with mag-
be used sparingly after the first application, as the — —
nesium chloride MgCl 2 and sand in varying mul-
rope should be kept clean and free from grit. The tiples, makes the hardest of all known cements.
lubricant should not be so thick as to render difficult Co-mingled with four parts of sea sand to one part of
a thorough periodical inspection. At some mines the oxychloride mixture, the cement has been tested
the ropes are examined daily by allowing them to to attain a crushing resistance of N,u9r> lb. per sq. in.
pass slowly through the hands. If there are broken when 10 days old, or eleven times the resistance
wires they are likely to be felt, if not seen." attained in the same time by Portland cement mixed
Mexican Mining Journal, Dec, 1912, p, 22. (R. A.) with four parts of sand to one part by weight of that
cement, which at least closely approaches the maxi-
Condition ok Gold in Quartz.— "On mixing mum multiple of sand allowable for Portland cement,
together solutions of sodium silicate and sodium whereas magnesian cement will carry up to 20 parts
ot sand, anil it has taken IS parts by weight of sand
aurichloride, the mixture, at first colourless, slowly
becomes pink, then lilac, and finally blue, and on with a crushing resistance of 2,060 lb. per sq. inch.
standing exposed to the air, a precipitate appears at Of the various purposes, specified in the lecture,
the surface, which is at first dark blue, but as it for which magnesium oxychloride may be used, the
dries, becomes liist black, and then usually golden. manufacture of artifical stone and of xylolith, or
These results show that if gold silicate is formed, woodstone flooring, should especially appeal to the
it slowly undergoes spontaneous 'reduction' with
engineer.
formation of colloidal gold, which on precipitation Woodstone floorings, which are prepared in two
and drying, changes gradually into ordinary metallic layers, give a crushing resistance of from 3,900 to
gold. The conclusion drawn is that the presence of 1,200 atid a tensile strength of from 550 to 800 lb.
a reducing agent is not necessary for the separation per sq. in varying apparently according to the com-
,
of metallic gold under the. experimental conditions of position of different detailed recipes. These floors
Hatschek and Simon (Journal Society of Chemical consist of magnesium oxychloride with sawdust oi
industry, 1912, 139), namely in a dispersion medium asbestos substituted for sand. They are noiseless,
containing silicic acid and its salts in a highly dis- dustless, jointless and elastic and, as may be inci-
:
perse condition. It is considered probable that in dentally mentioned, they are used for some of the
the formation of auriferous quartz veins the simul- carriages on the London underground railway-.
taneous separation of quartz crystals and gold silicate With respect to the all-important matter of fine
(which gradually undergoes spontaneous 'reduction ') grinding Mr. Dains, in prescribing a sieve of 120 in.
plays a part. Tin- author states also that be has mesh with not more than I residue, considers
,
obtained crystals of silver of the ordinary form from millstones to he adequate for powdering purposes.
a silver sol on prolonged standing." P. P. VON — And it is true that the Rock Manufacturing Com.
puny of Grays, Essex, use nothing else, while the
Weimarn, Journal of the Society of Chemical In-
dustry (from Z. Chem.Ind. Kollide, 1912, 11, 287-290), result of their work i- considered by at least one
Jan. Ml, 1813, |k 88. (F. W. W.) London firm to be good enough for magnesite
flooring.
At the Salem magnesite mine in the Madras Presi-
MISCELLANEOUS. dency from whence magnesia forcement is exported to
MAGNESITE.- " Mr. II. H. Dains, F.I.C. i n a Europe, there is at present no grinding plant estab-
lecture delivered on the Sth November before the lished beyond such as is required for laboratory
London Section of the Association of Technologists, experiments; consequently the lightly calcined
said that the mineral magnesite might be broadly material leaves India in the lump, and as the bulk
divided for commercial and technical purposes into of it goes to Germany it is for the most part line
two classes : ground in that country or in Holland.
(1) The type which contains a low percentage As concerning the use of magnesite in the crude
i i . not over I of iron oxide, as in the state, the lecture treats of the manufacture of
Greek and Indian deposits. aerated water, in America. This is effected by pro-
(2) The type which contains over 1 of iron — —
ducing carbon dioxide CO., in the process of cal-
oxide, as represented by the Styrian variety. cination, and catching it by suitable apparatus. If
The peculiarity of the second class is hat it. is used
I soda water makers in India would see lit to turn
only in a dead burn condition, which can lie attained
l their attention to he preserval ion of carbon dioxide
i
under calcination at a temperature of 1,500 C. — a commodity which is now allowed to run to waste
The first class cannot be dead binned at under for want of a demand —
they might find their enter-
1,700° C. But, although its comparative freedom prise to he a profitable one. The production of
—
A
carbon dioxide would seem to be an important respiration itself becomes a grave danger. If possible,
industry in America, for, as mentioned by Mr. it is well to have an assistant hold a watch and
Pains, the residual oxide of magnesium MgO — regulate the number of respiratory cycles per minute,
which the manufacturers of aerated waters sell to with 14 as an average.
the makers of refractory bricks, or to those of arti- The operator should rely upon assistants to
ficial stone, is made to cover the cost of the carbon loosen the clothing on the patient's neck and do any
—
dioxide." C- H. B. Burlton, Indian Engineering, other work which is necessary, including keeping
Dec. 14, 1912, (R. A.) space free so that the patient will have plenty of
air. It should he especially noted that absolutely
no liquids of any kind should be given the patient
First Aid rsr Electrical Accidents.— •' until he is full}' conscious. It should he further noted
sorrespondent whose professional relations and ex- that after the patient becomes conscious he should
perience give him warrant of authority to discuss not he allowed to try to arise immediately, as the
accidents due to electric shock, emphasises the heart is liable to be very much weakened and it may
seriousness of shocks from comparatively low vol- produce a relapse, which is even more dangerous than
tage currents (say 110 to 500 volts), but calls atten- '
the first shock. Holding a cloth saturated with aro-
tion to the fact that the Schaefer or Prone Pressure'
matic spirits of ammonia near the nose of the
method of resuscitation lias been recently adopted patient acts as a respiratory stimulus.'
by the joint commission of the American Medical For further and more complete information regard-
Association and the National Electric Light Associa- ,'
by electrolizing a non-gold solvent solution of a salt Co., Ltd. (3). Improvements in explosives. 5.3.13.
of potassium, .'-odium or ammonium in contact with (P.) 113/13. Frederick Haisman. Improvements
the ore. The solution drained from the oie charge in spraying dei ices. 6.3.13
is regenerated by the reaction taking place in the (C.) 114/13. Gustaf Andersson. Improvements
mixing of the anode and the cathode liquors result- in rock drilling machines. 6.3.13.
ing from the electrolysis.
nozzle for use in mine workings for allaying dust. Gympie G. M., Ltd., Gympie, Queensland,
It consists of a bead, of conical or spherical form,
Australia.
carried on a spindle passing down the centre of the MlLLIGAN, J. T., l/o Benoni ; P. 0. Rooiberg, via
nozzle opening and capable of longitudinal movement Warm baths.
so as to vary the size of the annular opening and PEARCE, F. S., l/o Langiaagte Ginsberg G. M. ;
arrangement has a lixed central spindle and a mov- SCATTERTY, P., l/o Krugersdorp ; Geduld Proprie-
able nozzle producing the same effect. tary Mines, Ltd., P. O, Box 41, Springs.
Schlesinger, B., Ijo Krugersdorp Cinderella Con- ;
(P.) 343/12. William Calder. Improvements in solidated Mines, Ltd., P. O. Box 225, Boksburg.
means for discharging comminuted matter from SMITH, .1. H., l/o Germiston c/o J. B. Kilpatrick,
:
This application has reference to the discharge of TAYLOR, A., to Simmer and Jack Proprietary
J.
ground pulp from tube mills and consists of a per- Mines, Ltd., P. O. Box 192, Germiston.
forated plate through which the pulp enters a lift Ten x ant, A., l/o Krugersdorp Van Eyn Deep, ;
chamber having means, such as radial arms, to Ltd., P. O. Box 225, Benoni.
elevate the |>"lp and discharge it into the discharge WATSON, E. S., to Mines Department, P. 0. Box
trunnion of the mill. Its usefulness lies in the free 164, Germiston
and rapid discharge of comminuted ore from the White, H. A., l/o Roodepoort Geduld Proprietary :
mill, giving the effect of a peripheral discharge. Mines, Ltd., P. O. Box 41, Springs.
—
THE JOURNAL
Chemical, JHctallurgical aitb Jtltmng <§ocictg
of South Africa.
The Society, as a body, is not responsible for the statements and opinions advanced in any of its publications.
Reproduction from this Journal is only allowed with full acknowledgment of the source.
accuracy in the figures given by Pettenkofer's many determinations had beenmade the colour
method and arising from the solubility of BaC0 3. of the solution had faded.
In no case did a
According to Fresenius the solubility of BaC0 3 distinct colouration persist longer than two hours.
in distilled water at 1B"C is 1:14400. The A considerable number of samples of mine air
solubility of BaC0 3 in the solution of Ba(OH) 2 were tested in the laboratory with freshly pre-
can hardly be more than one fourth of this or pared working solutions, and it was found that
say 1 57000, and the amount of BaC0 3 dissolved
: the end point was so indistinct that it could not
in the 10 cc. from the original 30 cc. taken for be determined.
an estimation would be entirely negligible. Theoretically an indicator should show the
BaC0 3 which has been washed thoroughly free point when Na.,C0 3 is completely changed to
of alkali, and suspended in cold water, is neutral NaHC0 3 and tin- slightest excess of free CO.,
,
son of the colour given by the two indicators meanwhile I would be obliged if
this later, but
with a few drops of alkali in extreme dilution Dr. Heymann would experiment with thymolph-
will show that even in diffused daylight the thalein and Bi(OH)., as suggested last month.
red colour of the phenolphthalein remains This mixture does not fade.
visible to the eye at a distance where the
blue of the thymolphthalein is imperceptible.
The working solution of thymolphthalein pre- FARMING WITH DVNAMITE.
pared in accordance with Dr. Moir's prescription
loses its colour to such an extent in 1 1 hours, (Read at October Meeting, 1912.)
that it is hardly visible underground, so that it
is quite impossible to make any determination By Wm. (Yi.lkn (Past-President.)
with it. Upon several occasions, my colleague
Mr. J. Thorburn and myself have motored to one REPLY TO DISCUSSION.
of the local mines with freshly prepared solutions Mr. Wm. Cullen
(Past-President) I am :
and found that the duration of the journey and afraid there is very the discussion on my
little in
of changing and reaching the working places wis paper to reply to. If I hail been writing it
sufficient to give us a faded solution from which afresh there are one or two small alterations
we repeatedly tried to obtain definite results which I should make, but they are really un-
without success. Even when the stock solutions important. Here and there I have heard doubt-
of thymolphthalein and Na.,C0 3 were mixed to ing references to the incredible quantities of
form the working solution immediately before explosives which appear to be used in America in
going underground, it was found that before farming operations. I have just come back from
May 1913 fVm. Macdonald— Vacuum Filtration at the Victoria Mill of the Waihi Gold Mining Co. 527
that wonderful country and from enquiries which and the results achieved with the movable or
I have made, I am inclined to think that the Moore type. The figures quoted for " extrac-
figures I give, large as they are. are rather under tions " and " operating cost" will be of intere.it
than over the actual quantities. All the same, T to engineers who are unconvinced of the econ-
am the last to suggest the universal use of omic advantages of a process of vacuum filtration
dynamite for South A'rica, because even in over pressure filtration and decantation processes.
America to get economic results, it must be As applied to the ores from this Company's
employed with the greatest discrimination. Al- property, the vacuum filter has been an unquali-
though six months have elapsed since I wrote fied success, but it might not be applied with
the paper and there h is been a seed time and equal success to all ores. In a few cases it
harvest, the local results have not been so uni- would not be applicable with any degree of suc-
formally successful as to justify my quoting them cess. In the case of heavy pyritic ores or slimed
here. In individual cases, however, the success concentrate, for instance, the capacity of this
has been phenomenal. type of filter would be so low and the difficulty
I shall follow up witli great interest the of obtaining a satisfactory wash so accentuated
experiments which Mr. Hume is carrying out on as to put filtration by vacuum out of the ques-
the Selborne Estate. hardly think, however,
I tion. On the other hand, where the process was
that with a crop much
less expensive than suited to an ore, and particularly where an " all
lucerne, dynamiting can ever possibly pay. Mr. sliming " policy was considered profitable, a
Thomas asks me if the nitrous fumes have any plant similar to the one under review might have
affect on the growth of the plant, but, I am a greater capacity and thus work at a reduced
afraid, even although I did admit that a little cost per ton of slime treated.
nitrous fume is formed, that we have not yet The plant at this mill has been in continuous
sufficient experience to justify us in saying that operation since the beginning of 1908, and is in
it has any effect at all. as good working condition to-day as when
Coming now to Mr. Pooler's contribution to erected. Previous to its installation filter-press-
the discussion, I see that his questions have been ing was in vogue, two types of press being used,
in the main answered by Mr. Donaldson, but I viz., the Martin and the Johnston, this being be-
wish to be perfectly frank and state here that we fore improvements were introduced by Merrill and
have a great deal of experience to gain in South others. This process left nothing to be desired
Africa before we can dogmatise on any single as regards the mechanical displacement of the
point, and even in America, where there is a gold and silver bearing solution in the slime pulp,
much wider experience, there are still a great but the presses were cumbersome to operate
many unsolved problems. When we speak of and the working costs too high to be viewed with
dynamiting lasting for five years, the statement complacency by the management. For this
is more or less of a guess, because, as has been reason, and concurrently with the large increase
pointed out by Mr. Donaldson, we are indebted in the output of slime, due to the introduction
almost entirely to our American friends for of tube mills, experiments were carried out with
definite information. During the next few years various kinds of vacuum filters. At first these
we shall naturally watch the many experiments experiments were directed towards the develop-
which are now being carried out all over the ment of a continuous type of filter, but they
country, and I am inclined to think that the proved unsuccessful. The type now used and des-
experience gained will be of material value to the cribed was introduced by Mr. E. G. Banks, metal-
small holder who goes in for intensive cultivation. lurgist to the company, who had seen it in opera-
In conclusion, I have to thank all those who tion at the Mercur Mine, LTtah, U.S.A., in 1905.
took part in the discussion. Some important modifications in connection with
thefilter leaves or frames were made, whichrendered
them much more efficient and superior to what
VACUUM FILTRATION AT THE were then used as the Moore filters. The plant
VICTORIA MILL OF THE WAIHI GOLD eventually laid down was designed for treating
MINING CO, LTD, NEW ZEALAND. 600 tons per day, but it is now capable of dealing
with a much larger tonnage.
By William Macdonald, A.R.S.M.
DESCRIPTION OF PLANT.
(Associate).
General Arrangement. —
The building covering
General. —
It is not proposed in this paper to the filtration plant proper is a wooden structure
enter into the question of the merits or demerits 90 ft. x 88 ft, with concrete foundation and
of any particular type of slime vacuum filter, enclosed with galvanized iron. An annex built
but simply to give an account of local practice along one side encloses driving engines, dynamos,
528 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa. May 1913
vacuum pumps, and compressors, some of the means of light steel girders. Stout wooden
machines in this building being used for purposes trestles are built inside and along two opposite
not connected with the vacuum filtration plant sides of each vat, each trestle supporting two
The sketch plan, Fig. 1, shows the general ar- cast iron cradles or guides, into which the ends
rangement. of the I-beams of the "bisket" fit when the
The main building is divided into three units filter leaves are immersed. To support the
or bays in parallel, each designed for and provided baskets over the discharge hoppers four stout
with an overheid electric travelling crane which wooden blocks, capped with iron, are provided,
can cover the whole length of the bay. Each on the tops of which the ends of the I-beams
bay comprises two central V-discharge hoppers, rest. The blocks are hinged to the wooden
two wash vats, and two pulp or " filling " vats, structure supporting the discharge hoppers and
Fig. 1 Plant.
arranged as shown in the figure. A chute below are laid Matwhen necessary to allow of the fre
each discharge hopper runs transversely across passage of the basket to and from the discharge
the building connecting up the corresponding A compressed air service is provided for all pulp
hoppers in the other bays. The vats are of vats for the purpose of keeping the pulp homo-
jV in. mild steel plate and rectangular in shape. geneous and preventing settlement of fine sand
The pulp vats are 18 ft. 6 in. x 12 ft. 6 in. x on the bottom. The pipes are § in. diameter
6 ft. deep ; the wash vats 18 ft. 6 in. x !3 ft. spaced about 8 in. apart and rest on the bottom
x 8 ft. deep at one end and !) ft. at the other, an of the vat. Originally these were laid right
inclined bottom being provided to the wash vats across, but difficulty was experienced in clearing
to facilitate sluicing out when required. All the the air holes once they were blocked. This was
vats are braced vertically with 3 in. x 3 in. x in.
.', got over by dividing the air service into two
angle iron and stiffened round the top edge by sections, each extending half way across the vats.
May I! 13 '!"„<. MacdonaUl— Vacuum Filtration at tht Victoria MUl of the IVaihi Gold Minii; 529
If a block occurs the air pressure is concentrated as shown. The effective filtering area of each
on the particular section affected. leaf is 124 sq. ft., or 1,488 sq. ft. per basket.
All tlie vats are fitted with sluice valves for The in. cast iron pipe marked "A" in draw-
•'}
the purpose of discharging them when necessary. ing connected with all the frames.
is This pipe
The wash vats discharge directly into the tailing is brought round ending with a cock within easy
chute at the bottom of the V-discharge hoppers reach of the operator and is used for admitting
The pulp vats discharge into a Monteju from air, at atmospheric pressure, when about to dis-
which the pulp can be returned to the agitator charge the cake.
systei The filtered solution is drawn off through "B."
A on rails runs across the ends
light travellei The connections between the baskets and the
of the three bays any basket needing repairs is
;
vacuum pump mains are made through lengths
transferred by the overhead crane to this traveller of in. vacuum hose fitted at each end with
'_'.',
and moved along to the small extension used as swivel joints. Thus one end of the hose is fixed
a repair shop. whilst the other end moves freely with the
Each overhead crane is operated by a 15 h.p.
basket. The fixed end connects, through the
(nom.) D.C. motor, the one motor doing the swivel to a three-way-cock so tnat connection
work of both traversing and hoisting. Each with either the " weak " or " strong " end of the
crane is provided with a magnetic brake enabling vacuum pump can be made according to whether
the motorman to pull up when exactly in the
it
the basket is " filling " or washing. The posi-
right position over the vat and minimising the tion of these cocks is indicated in the sketch
wear and tear on the motors and gearing. This plau Fig. 1. A
vacuum gauge is c mnected to
block brake held in the off position by
illy a each three-way-cock by h in. piping and placed
an electro-magnet and the opening of the motor in a suitable position for being seen by the
switch simultaneously brings the brake into operator.
operation. (See sketch below.)
Vacuum Pumps. —
These are eight in number
*~VL C *{•*- two which are held in reserve but can be
of
connected up with any basket at short notice.
They are all of the double acting type. This
J'eei ftnive gives 12 vacuum chambers and allows of the
crt-mic* separation of the "strong" solution from the
pulp vats and the "weak" solution from the
wash vats, and also provides for separate vacuum
Fig. 2. for each " filling " and washing basket, a neces-
sary arrangement on account of the unequal
The bask ts of which there are
of filter leaves,
resistance offered to the percolating solution by
four to each bay, consist of two 8 in. x \ in. x
different thicknesses of cake.
\ in. I-steel girders held together with distance
pipes and rods. As at present working 12 filter The pumps were constructed in the Company's
leaves are bolted equidistant across the girders own workshops and are all of the same pattern.
in the manner indicated in the drawing (Fig. 2). Diameter of cylinder 12in.
The ends the girders are drilled to receive
of
Length of stroke 33in.
bolts to which hooks are fastened connecting the No. of strokes per min. 28.
basket by means of lour chains to the overhead h pump takes about 10 h.p.
crane. The solution is delivered from the pumps into
Filler Frames or Leaves. — The dimensions and two open launders for " weak " and " strong "
construction of frames are as shown in
filter respectively and can be here seen and a sample
drawing (Fig. Sheets of light corrugated
3). taken if required.
steel (protected with coating of cyanide paint), Power. —
The motive power for driving the
form the chief support of the canvas filter cloth. whole plant is provided by a Crossley gas engine
These are of 26 gauge, the corrugations being of -'HO h.p.
vertical I in. deep and 1 in. apart. The top
CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE PRODUCTION
edge of the steel sheets is here shown let into a
.' in tli" headpiece, but a more convenient
AND CHARACTER OF SLIME PULP.
arrangement is simply for the edge to butt The following is a brief outline of the general
against the headpiece, a wooden strip on either conditions of the milling and treatment plant
side holding it in position. The filter cloth is of governing the production and character of the
16 oz. canvas seamed down one side and along slime pulp.
the bottom. They are made to fit tightly over Size of feed to stamps : 2in. cube.
the frame and are secured by caulking with rope Weight of stamps : 1,000 to 1,250 lb.
530 The Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of. South Africa. May 1913
—
May 1913 fVm. Mwdonald Vacuum Filtration at the Victoria Mill of the Waiki Gold Mining Co. 531
Screen on mortar boxes: 10 mesh (aperture The ratio of stamps to tube mills is kept as
178 mm.) with small proportion of 15 to 20 near as practicable at 20 1, this being considered
:
slime passing direct to slime plant, the other 7-"> Per cent.
comprising the coarser product passing to the Sand 18-63
tube mill plant, thence over Muntz metal amal- Slime 8009
gamating plates and AYilrley concentrators to a Concentrate .. ... 1'28
"?id series of classifiers. The overflow from
these constituting 55% of the original ore and 10000
consisting largely of finely ground sand, joins tic Tic surplus water in the slime pulp is separated :
'utTtumjf \\ \/)a/rAT<
From the disintegrator the pulp is elevated to
LiQuOHS
-
U_*VlCuU~7 WASH/KG f^AHT
I
conicalbottomed vats and agitated by means of
compressed air for four to six days, prolonged
Sli*ie ffeswitt- &oX agitation being necessary in order to get a satis-
FIG. 4.— Flow Diagram. factory extraction of the silver.
10000
— —
53-2 Tin" Journal of The Chemical, Metallurgical and Minimi Society of South Africa. May 1913
The division of the product finer than the 200 ROUTINE WORK OF PLANT.
mesh is arbitrary and depends upon the working The usual time occupied in a cycle of opera-
conditions of two hydraulic cone classifiers. tions by any basket is 144 minutes, made up as-
follows :
CONSTANT HSMO
Minutes.
"Filling" ... ... ... 50
Washing ... ... ... 60
Discharging... ... ... 24
Transferring (3 operations)... 10
Total 144
These times have been fixed after exhaustive
trials with different times for "filling" and
washing and apply to pulp of about the av