The Metallurgy of Lead & Silver
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BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME FROM THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF ^.. Henrg W. Sage 1891 AdSJu -L 'i.j.kj.m^. * Cornell University Library The original of tiiis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924004582619 THE METALLURGY OF LEAD AND SILVER. ^^7^12)4(0 GRIFFIN'S METALLURGICAL, SERIES. EDITED BY SiK W. C. ROBERTS-AUSTEN, K.C.B., F.R.S., D.C.L., Chemist and Assayer o/the Royal Mint; Professor ofMetallurgy in the Boyai College of Science. In Large 8to, Handsome Cloth. With Illustrations. Fourth Sdition, Revised and Enlarged. 15s. INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF METALLURGY. BY SIK W. C. ROBEBTS-AUSTEN. With additional Illustrations and Micro-Photographic Plates of Different Varieties of Steel. " No English text-hook at all approaches this in the completeness with which the most modem views on the subject are dealt with. Professor Austen's vnlume will be ikvaluable."—Cft«m. JVeiw.?. Third Edition. 21s. rrxxE: GOX^X*. BY T. KIBKE KOSB, D.SC, Assist. Assayer of the Royal Mint. Thoroughly Revised, Enlarged, and partly Re-written. Including the most recent Improvements in the Cyanide Process. With new Frontispiece and additional Illustrations. "A contribution to Metallurgical Literature of classical value."—iVaiure. In Two Volumes, Each Complete in itself. By H. F. COLLINS, ASSOO.R.S.M., M.lNST.M.M. ' Part I.— LKAD. 16s. Part II.—SILVER. A Complete and Exhaustive Treatise on Comprising Details Regarding the THE MANTJFACTTTRE OF LEAD, SOURCES AND TREATMENT OF SILVER ORES, WITH SECTIONS ON TOGETHER WITH nSSCRIPTIONS OP SMELTING AND DESILVBRISATION, PLANT, MACHINERY, AND PROCESSES OF MANHFACTURE, And Chapters on the Assay and Analysis of the Materials Involved. Refining of Bullion, Cost of Working, <tc. With numerous Illustrations. 16s. ^xxe: IWET.S.lL.Jl.XJHG'*' Olf xxcoia'. By THOMAS TURNER, F.I.C., Assoc. B.S.M., Director of Tech. Edncationfor Staffordshire. " A THORODGHLT USEFUL BOOK, which brings the subject up to ba.^^."—Mining Journal. To be followed shortly by Volumes on STEEL, hy F. W. Haebord, F.I.C, A.R.S.M. ; ALLOYS, by the Editor; and METALLURGICAL MACHINERY, by H. C. Jenkins, A.E.S.M., Wh.Sc, A.M.Inst.C.E. GETTING GOLD. A Practical Treatise for Prospectors and Miners. By J. C. F. Johnson, A.I.M.E., F.G.S., Life Member Australian Mine Managers' Association. Numerous Illustrations. Second Edition. 3s. 6d. "Practical from beginning to end . deals thoroughly with the prospecting, sinking, crushing, and extraction of go\d.."—British Austrdtasian. PROSPECTING FOR MINERALS. A Practical Hand-book. By S. Herbert Cox, Assoc. R.S.M., M.Inst.M.M., E.G.S., &c. With Illustrations. Second Edition, Revised. Cloth, 6s. ; Leather, 6s. 6d. " Written with scientific accuracy. CLBA.R and LVClD."~TJte Mining Journal. ASSAYING. By J. J. Beringee, F.I.C, F.C.S., and C. Berinser, F.C.S. Sixth EDITION, Revised. With Diagrams. 10s. 6d. " This work is one of the best of its kind."— Engineer. THE CYANIDE PROCESS OF GOLD AND SILVER EX- TRACTION. By James Park, F.G.S., M.Inst.M.M., Late Geological Surveyor and Mining Geologist to the New Zealand Government. First English Edition, Revised and Enlarged, from the Third (New Zealand) Edition. With Plates and Illustrations. ELECTRIC SMELTING AND REFINING: A Ppactlcal Manual of the Extraction and Treatment of Metals by Electrical Methods. Being the " Elektro-Metallurgie " of Dr. W. Borchers. Translated from the Second German Edition by Walter G. McMillan, F.I.C, F.C.S., Secretary to the Institution of Electrical Engineers. With numerous Illustrations and Three Folding Plates. 21s. "Comprehensive and Authoritative,"—.EZficfriciaw, liONDON: CHARLES aRIFFIN & CO., Ltd., Exbtbb Stebkt, Strand. THE METALLURGY OF LEAD & SILVER. HENRY F. COLLINS, ASSOCIATE OF THE BOYAL SCHOOL OF MINES, ASaOCIATE-MKMBEB OF THE INSTITUTION OP CIVIL KNGINEEK8, MEMBER OF THE INSTITUTION OF MINING AND METALLUKGT, MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN INSTITDTE OF MINING ENGINEERS, OF THE MINERALOQICAL SOCIETr OF GRKAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. ETC. PART II. -SILVER. Being one of a Series of Treatises on Metallurgy written by Associates of the Royal School of Mines. EDITED BY Sui W. C. ROBERTS- AUSTEN, K.C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S. mitb mumerous Jllustratione. LONDON: CHARLES GRIFFIN & COMPANY, LIMITED; EXETER STREET, STRAND. 19 00. [All Rights Rtserved.^ PREFACE The Father of English metallurgical literature has said,* " Of all the branches of Metallurgy that of which Silver forms the subject is the most extensive, the most varied, and the most complicated." It will, therefore, be obvious that in order to cover the ground embraced by such a wide subject within the modest compass allotted to this volume, it was necessary to condense and summarise to the greatest possible extent. It is, however, hoped that the digest now presented will be found to combine the requirements of accuracy and " up-to-dateness " with such measure of completeness as the limitations of space have permitted. As in the case of Part I. on "Lead," obsolete processes have received only casual mention, it being felt that the student of what may be termed "historical metallurgy" will do better to consult the pages of authorities who were more nearly contemporary with the processes they describe. The aim throughout has been to consider the subject from the practical standpoint of the working metallurgist; how far this attempt has been successful it is for working metallurgists to judge. Among others, the Chapters on " Hyposulphite Leaching Practice " and on " Blast Furnace Matting " will be found to contain information hitherto unpublished. There can, however, be little which is absolutely novel in a volume of this character, and the freest use has been made of * Preface to Percy's Metallurgy of Silver and Oold, Part I. , London, 1880. PEEPACE. published literature bearing on the subject so far as it has been available to the Author. The source of most of the contributions is given in the footnotes, but special indebtedness must be acknowledged to the works of Percy (already referred to), Schnabel {Handhuch der Metallhuttenkunde, Berlin, 1894), and Egleston (Metal- lurgy of Silver, Gold, and Mercury in the U.S., vol. i.. New York, 1887), to the Transactions of the American Institute of Mining Engineers, the Engineering and Mining Journal of New York, and the Columbia Oollege School of Mines Quarterly; as well as to those gentlemen referred to in the body of the work who have privately, and with the greatest kindness, supplied valuable details of actual practice. Errors have crept in here and there, principally through the fact that owing to distance it was not possible for the Author to see any of the proof-sheets. Some of these errors have been corrected in a list of " Errata," and for any which have remained undiscovered the Author begs the kind indulgence of his readers. HENRY F. COLLINS. MiNA DE Santa Fb, Chiapas, Mexico, December, 1899. — — CONTENTS. SECTION I.—SILVER AND ITS ORES. CHAPTER I. Properties of Silver and its Peincipal Compounds. FAQE Physical Properties, 1 Chemical Properties, Alloys of Silver, Compounds of Silver : Silver Oxide, Silver Sulphide, . Reactions of Metal upon. Reduction of, . Silver Sulphate, . Silver Chloride, . — . CONTENTS. CHAPTER III.—The Patio Pkocess. PAGE PASE 46 Patio Treat- Mode of Working, . Ores suitable to 49 34 Time Occupied, ment, . • 50 : Loss of Mercury, . Crushing 51 By Stamps, 35 Reactions of the Process, Washing the Torta, 53 By Bolls, .... 36 55 Mills, 36 Treatment of Residues, . By Chilian hi By Arrastras, 39 Loss of Silver, Refractory Ores Extraction of Gold in Arrastras, 41 Treatment of 57 Roasting, . Use of Silver and Copper after 41 Use of Hyposulphite, 58 Amalgam, . in S. America, 59 of Ore to Patio, 42 Patio Working Removal 60 Reagents, .... 43 Cost of Process, Proportions Employed, . 44 CHAPTER IV.—The Cazo, Fondon, Kbohnkb, and Tina Processes. The Cazo or Fondo Process, . 62 Plant Employed, Mode of Working, Examples and Reactions, Cost and Losses, . The Fondon Process, Plant Employed, Mode of Working, Cost and Losses, . The Krohnke Process, . — CONTENTS. CHAPTER VI. Roast Amalgamation Pbocessbs in Pans — . —— —— , — 5 — ——— . CONTENTS. SECTION III.—LIXIVIATIOlf PEOCESSES. INTRODUCTORY. PAOE PAGE General Remarks, 172 Analyses of Suitable Ores, 173 I CHAPTER X.—The Augustin, Clattdbt, and Zibevogel Peocbssbs* The Augustin Process, 174 Preliminary Roasting, . 180 . 181 At Kosaka, . 175 Roasting to Sulphate, . At Kapnik, 177 Roasting Reactions, . .183 The Claudet Process, 178 Leaching, ... 184 The Ziervogel Process, 179 Treatment of Cement Silver, 185 CHAPTER XI. Hyposulphite Leachqtg Processes. The Patera and Kiss Processes : Percentage of Extraction, . 200 : General Remarks, . 186 The Russell Process Dissolving Power of Hypo. 186 Composition of Double Salts, 200 Interference of Various Sub- Action of Russell's Solution, 201 stances, . 187 Separate Precipitation of 203 The Patera Process, . 188 Lead, .... Preliminary Roasting, . 188 Scheme of Operations, 204 Leading : Method of Leaching, . 204 Base-metal Leaching, 189 Strength of Solutions, . 205 Silver Leaching, . 191 Decomposition of Extra Solu- Stock Solution : tion,. .... 207 : Strength of, . 192 Preoipitants Deterioration of, . 193 Sodium Carbonates, 207 Preoipitants ; Chemical Reactions, . 208 Sodium Sulphide, . 194 Percentage Extraction of Calcium Sulphide, . .195 Silver, .... 210 Relative Advantages, . 197 Comparison of Results ob- Precipitation, . 197 tained by Amalgamation Chemical Reactions, . 198 and Lixiviatlon, 211 Reversion of Silver Chloride, 198 CHAPTER XII. Hyposulphite Leaching Practice. Preliminary Preparation, . 212 Examples of Russell Process, . 226 Arrangement of Leaching Plant, 213 Russell Process at : Leaching Tanks, Construction, 214 Las Yedras, . 228 „ Mode of Working, 2 1 Marsac, .... 229 Hofmann Leaching Vat, . .217 Aspen, .... 230 Precipitating Tanks, . .218 Treatment of Tailings by, . 231 Other Plant, . .219 Patera Process at : Trough Lixiviatlon, .