Volume 08 (1864) (474 pages)

The Mining and Scientific Dress, 323 {Written fer the Mining anid Scientific Pres«} Tho Patio Amalgamation. BY J. HW. CHURCHILL, A. M. T havo been reqnested by tho editors of the Misixe AND Scigstiric [ness to undertake the task of describing the Patio process of nmalgamating. I can only do so in the hope that by placing in juxtnposition the resulis obtuined in the laboratory and hacienda some light may he obtained which may assist in solving the California preblem—how to save more than 75 per ccnt.—the npproved Gonld & . Curry standard of silver in our ores—how to snve it under the difficult conditions of high-priced, unskilled labor, nnd scarco and insuflicient supplies of fuel. Ont of this process is said to hnve grown the Freiberg barrel amalgamation. Different isprovements have superseded the latter method in Prussia, Saxony ond Anstrin. In each of them we can trace tbis essential aud distinguishing characteristic—they nre adapted to tho reduction of silver when this metal is present in the single form of chloride or snlphate— with more or less nniformity in the accompanying ores—a condition which is seenred by previous roasting. In the Putio process, theroare present at once, or there may be present, ginny ot silver, chloride of silver, metallic silver and amalgam, ns artificial productions with silver in any of its natural forms, together with an indefinite variety and equally uncertaiu proportions of other metals, minerals ond salts. both nrtihcial and origiual. It is this point which constitutes the diffienlty before us, as L think it will be also evident that it is this which bas rendered abortive many experiments, some of them desigued by men of great svientifie attainmeats, nnd even wheu these have been made ia the torta itself. Tn order to facilitate the collection of information from snch Mexicnns as may be among us who nre conversnnt with dotails,and may or may not be commnnnieative, and for the help of those going to Mexican mines, I will commence by furnishing the following explanation of the terms locally used :— Abronzado.— Yellow copper ore, sniphuret of copper. Afinacion.—Refining. ee ament for parting silver and gold. Apuradores.—Moa who wash the carth from the tinas. Arrastra.—Mill for grinding ores. Ascentado.—Term npplied to arrastras in good working order. Asciento.— Metallic residue in the bottom of the jienra. aAzogue.—Silver ore adupted for nmalgamation. Azogue eu caldo.—Qnicks'lver. Azogueria.—The wareroomn in which quicksilver and pella are kept. Azovuero.— An amalgamator ; superiatendent. Bano.—tYbe last portion of quicksilver added to the torta. Barqnina.—A large furnnce. Barquines.—Forge bellows. Batea apuradora.Large bowls 3-5 feet in diameter for receiving the cabetillaand re-washiag. Bencficiar—To extract the metal from the ore; to dregs ore. Beneficio.—Rednetion of metal from the ore. Beneficio de cazo.—lteduction of ore by amalgamation in copper pans with heat. Beneficio de bicrro.—Reduction of ore by amalgamntion with fragments of iron: Beneficio de pella de platn—Term applied when silver amalgam is added to the torta. Beneficio de la colpa—Amalgamation in whicb colpn is added to the torta iastead of magistral. Beneficio por fuego.—Smelting. Bollos—Amalgam moulded-into bricks, after pressing, for bnraing instead of retorting. Boletas.—-Tickets of acconats of sales and yields. Bronce.—Iron pyrites. Buytroa.—F urnace for smelting. Burilnda.— Assay grains. Bnseones.—Tributors ; miners on shares; prospectors ; cleaners. : Cabetilla—tThe residue nfter woshing a tora; tho heavier portions of ore very rich in amalgam. Cajou do grauza.—The pit to receive the crushed ore. Cajoa.—In Peru and Chili, two montons of thirtytwo quiatals. 5 Cal —Lime. Calviva.—Qnicklime. Calentadura—tThe first henting of the furnace; putting the furnace into blast. Calicntes—Wearai ores containing sulphurets of iron nnd copper and no lime. Culaa, ov Cal cu piedra.—Limestone. Calor.—Iflent. : Calor de frio.—Term used when the reactions which are accompanied by heat when too much magistral is used, occur nnturally frou: the colduess of the air. Caparossa.—Tho person in charge of the sheds under which the fakonas are worked. Capellinus—Large iren or copper bells under which the qnicksilv.r is separated trom the silver in the amnljauu by burning. Careaimo.—The drain which cnrries off the earthy matter from the das when washing the nnalgain. Carga.—580 Ibs. Spanish ; n nile load. Cnrgadora.—Term upplied to tho dina for receiving the material from the torta. Cnsa de moneda.—The mint. Cuso.— A boiler used in hot nmalgamation. Custillo.—The frame of the stamping machine. Caxo.—A imensure containing many qnintals; it vories in bulk ; nt Potosi it is equal to 5,000 tbs. Cebar.—Verm applied to the additiou of quicksilver alter the first chargg ; it a'so means the uct of thoroughly mixiug in the whole of the quicksilver with the wet torta. Cebo.—TLhe quicksilver ao added. Cedazos.—Sieves. Cendrada.—the bottom of the refining or enpelling furnaces; made of fine earth aud vegetable ashes, which have been leached; tho materials of the enpelling test ; the test itself. Cendradilla o galeme.—The cupel. Chapas.—Iron blocks on which the stamps fall. Chino.—Iron or copper pyrites. Colorados.— Ores coutaining native silver, or ehloride, bromide or iodide of silver ; also appiied to ores colored with oxide of iron. Colpa.—Colcothar. Comalillos.—Furnages for caleining pyrites. Comillo.—A_ furnace. Consumido.—The quicksilver required to reduce the silver to the metallic state. Copola.—A_ enpelling furnace. Copos, or Paxillas.—Little globules into which the quicksilver forms when tbo patio process is too nick. 5 2 Criba.—Perforated leather throngh which the stamped ore falls into the pit. Cruces.—The cross pieces of the nrrnstra. Cachara.— A. spoon. Cachara de cnerno.—A siall horn bowl in which the earth of the tortas is washed, in order to ascertain from time to time the progress of the nmalgamation. Curtir—Term applied to the addition of lime to warm ores, or of magistral to cold ores during the amalgamation. Desecho.—Term applied to the merenry that nppears broken up in the first trial. Empleo.—The quantity of quicksilver mixed with the torta on any given occasion. Ensalmyrar.—tThe first process in amalgnmation ; mixing the saltierra with the lama. Ensayo.—A trial test. Esmanil.—Blende. Estoraque.—Brown biendo ; snlphuret of zine. Frios.—Uold ores; those coataining lime, and, therefore, requiring more magistral. Galera.—A large shed or mill-bonse ; also applied to tho bnilding in whicb the arrastras are.nrranged, geaerally in double rows. Granza.—Tbe coarse sand ns it goes from the atamps to the arrastras. Grena.—Ores in the rough before cleaning. Hncienda.—Establishment for reducing ores. Hacienda de beneficio.— Establishment for redneing ores by amalgamation. Hacienda de fondicion —Establishment for reducing ores by smelting. Horuo.—A furnnee. Torno de fondicion—A furnace for smelting. lorno de magistral—Roasting stove for pyrites. Incorporar.—In amalgamation, to add tho first charge of quicksilver. See Cebar. Jicara—A small bowl for testing the tentaduras. Lama —Selilem, or slime, from the amalgamatiou. Liamero.—Laaia thickened with saltierra. : Lameros.—Lamia pits. Lavador.—A nan employed in washing the ors nfter amalgamation, or in cleansing the ore. Lavaderos.— Washing vats or tubs for separating the amalgam from the lama, also called tinas; the sheds in which these are arranged. Ley.—Standard of the ore. Ley de oro.—Contents in gold. Ley de plata.—Contents in silver. Limadura de plata—Whitish appearance of the quicksilver on the cdge of tho amalgam when the process is going on well after the first quicksilver hns been added; small leaves of amalgam, Lis—Lista—Tbo broken up moreury which is . separates in PU a brought to the surface of the teatadura in the jicara. Macvro.—The man who has charge of grinding the ores in the ¢ahonas before the nmalgamation. Magistral.—Roasted copper pyrites containing sulphate of copper. ; Manga.—A_ bug or strniner for straining the quicksilver froin the pella, often nade of saileloth covered with leather. Manganesa.—Manganeso. Muquila.—faute paid te the proprietor of the mill for reducing ore on nnother man's account ; applied ebiefly to reduction by amalgamation. Marco.— Might ouuces or one pound Spanish, eqnul to 3,552 grains English ; used ag well of standard as of unrefined metals. Mnrquesitas.—Mundie iron pyritea. Maza.—Stamp head for pounding ores. Merma.—tLoss of quicksilver in amalgamating, or of lead in smelting. Metules plomoscs—Ores impregnated with lead. Metapiles—Stones for grinding of the tahonas ; also pigs of copper used in the hot nmalgamation. Molienda.—Yhe act of grinding or pouudiag ores. La molienda.—The ores ground. Molino, or Mortero.—Stamping mill. Monton.— A heap of ore ; n batch under amalgamation ; a measure varying in different districts—at Cntorce, 36 quiutals ; nt Guanaxato, 35 quintals ; at Real del Moute, Pachuca, ete, 30 quintals ; at Zacatecas and Sombrerete, 20 quintals; at Fresnillo, 18 quintals ; nt Bolaaos, 15 quintals ; aud at Valenciana, 32 quintals. tteetNe, Samples. Mofla.—A_ tuyere. Negros.—Ores containing sulphnr, nntimony and arsenic. Oere colorado.—Red ochre. Pacos.—Iarthy ores mixed with vnrious ores of silver ; when red, frequently called colorados; generally found near the surface. Partido.—Division of ores between tho owners and buscones. Pasilla —Dry-gilver amnlgam sqneezsd ont in tbe jicara from the tentadura. Patio de amalgamatiou—The yard or court on which the ores are amalgamated. ; Pella.—The silver amalgam when nll the quicksilver which can be pressed out has been removed. Pepeuado.—Cleaned ores. Pepenadores.— Laborers for clenning ores. Pepitas——Small grins of gold or silver. Perdidu——The loss of mereury beyoad the amonnt allowed ns consumido. ' Pila apnradora.—The washing tonk for separating the amnigam. Pina—The cake of silver left after distillation. Planilla—Aa inclined plane used for a second washing after separation of the heaviest orcs. Plata pina.—silver after distillatiou. Plata nixta.—Pina containiag gold before parting at the mint. ni : Polvillos.—Ores fragile and rich ;-nlso the metallic sulphurets contnining gold not amalgamated. Polvorilla—lack silver disseminated ; sulphuret of silver. Quilate—Synonymons with carat. It is nlso nn abgolute measure, eqnal to four grains Spnnish. Quintal.—Four arrobas or 100 ths, Spanisb, eqnal to 101.45 ibs. English. Raspando.—Scraping or cleaning np the arrastra. Reboltnra.—Tbe mixture of ground ore and fluxes, or re-agents. Rendirze.—Term applied to the torta when tho amalgamation is finished. Repasar.—Tbe mixing together of the ore, quicksilver and otber materials of tbe torta by treading, either by man or mules. Repasadores.—Men who tread the torta. Sala.—The principal room of the hacienda. Sal mineral.—Minernl salt for amalgamation. Sal tierra.—Impure or earthy salt. Salineros.—Ores requiring much salt to effect tbe amalgamation. ahona.—A mill of small horizontal stonse. Tentadura.—Axr assay or trial, : Tepetate.—Rubbish after cleaning ores. Tinn.—AA. vat ; stone tank. Tina cargadora, ditto Descargadora.—TVhe receiving and discharging tanks as arranged for scparating ; the nmalgam in tbe lavadero. ‘Tiro de mulas.—A. set of mules. Torta.—The qnantity of ore under amalgamation, forming a flat heap or cake. Torta rendida,—The yield ready for washing. Vitriolo aznl—Blue vitriol; sulpliate of copper. Vitriclo blanco. White vitriol ; sulphate of zinc. Vitriolo verde.—Green vitriol; sulphate of iron. Voladoras.—Grinding stones of tbe arrastra. Vuelta.—he bright glow on the surface of the silver when the last film of oxide of lead suddenly To be Continued.)

The Mining and Scientific Dress, 323 {Written fer the Mining anid Scientific Pres«} Tho Patio Amalgamation. BY J. HW. CHURCHILL, A. M. T havo been reqnested by tho editors of the Misixe AND Scigstiric [ness to undertake the task of describing the Patio process of nmalgamating. I can only do so in the hope that by placing in juxtnposition the resulis obtuined in the laboratory and hacienda some light may he obtained which may assist in solving the California preblem—how to save more than 75 per ccnt.—the npproved Gonld & . Curry standard of silver in our ores—how to snve it under the difficult conditions of high-priced, unskilled labor, nnd scarco and insuflicient supplies of fuel. Ont of this process is said to hnve grown the Freiberg barrel amalgamation. Different isprovements have superseded the latter method in Prussia, Saxony ond Anstrin. In each of them we can trace tbis essential aud distinguishing characteristic—they nre adapted to tho reduction of silver when this metal is present in the single form of chloride or snlphate— with more or less nniformity in the accompanying ores—a condition which is seenred by previous roasting. In the Putio process, theroare present at once, or there may be present, ginny ot silver, chloride of silver, metallic silver and amalgam, ns artificial productions with silver in any of its natural forms, together with an indefinite variety and equally uncertaiu proportions of other metals, minerals ond salts. both nrtihcial and origiual. It is this point which constitutes the diffienlty before us, as L think it will be also evident that it is this which bas rendered abortive many experiments, some of them desigued by men of great svientifie attainmeats, nnd even wheu these have been made ia the torta itself. Tn order to facilitate the collection of information from snch Mexicnns as may be among us who nre conversnnt with dotails,and may or may not be commnnnieative, and for the help of those going to Mexican mines, I will commence by furnishing the following explanation of the terms locally used :— Abronzado.— Yellow copper ore, sniphuret of copper. Afinacion.—Refining. ee ament for parting silver and gold. Apuradores.—Moa who wash the carth from the tinas. Arrastra.—Mill for grinding ores. Ascentado.—Term npplied to arrastras in good working order. Asciento.— Metallic residue in the bottom of the jienra. aAzogue.—Silver ore adupted for nmalgamation. Azogue eu caldo.—Qnicks'lver. Azogueria.—The wareroomn in which quicksilver and pella are kept. Azovuero.— An amalgamator ; superiatendent. Bano.—tYbe last portion of quicksilver added to the torta. Barqnina.—A large furnnce. Barquines.—Forge bellows. Batea apuradora.Large bowls 3-5 feet in diameter for receiving the cabetillaand re-washiag. Bencficiar—To extract the metal from the ore; to dregs ore. Beneficio.—Rednetion of metal from the ore. Beneficio de cazo.—lteduction of ore by amalgamation in copper pans with heat. Beneficio de bicrro.—Reduction of ore by amalgamntion with fragments of iron: Beneficio de pella de platn—Term applied when silver amalgam is added to the torta. Beneficio de la colpa—Amalgamation in whicb colpn is added to the torta iastead of magistral. Beneficio por fuego.—Smelting. Bollos—Amalgam moulded-into bricks, after pressing, for bnraing instead of retorting. Boletas.—-Tickets of acconats of sales and yields. Bronce.—Iron pyrites. Buytroa.—F urnace for smelting. Burilnda.— Assay grains. Bnseones.—Tributors ; miners on shares; prospectors ; cleaners. : Cabetilla—tThe residue nfter woshing a tora; tho heavier portions of ore very rich in amalgam. Cajou do grauza.—The pit to receive the crushed ore. Cajoa.—In Peru and Chili, two montons of thirtytwo quiatals. 5 Cal —Lime. Calviva.—Qnicklime. Calentadura—tThe first henting of the furnace; putting the furnace into blast. Calicntes—Wearai ores containing sulphurets of iron nnd copper and no lime. Culaa, ov Cal cu piedra.—Limestone. Calor.—Iflent. : Calor de frio.—Term used when the reactions which are accompanied by heat when too much magistral is used, occur nnturally frou: the colduess of the air. Caparossa.—Tho person in charge of the sheds under which the fakonas are worked. Capellinus—Large iren or copper bells under which the qnicksilv.r is separated trom the silver in the amnljauu by burning. Careaimo.—The drain which cnrries off the earthy matter from the das when washing the nnalgain. Carga.—580 Ibs. Spanish ; n nile load. Cnrgadora.—Term upplied to tho dina for receiving the material from the torta. Cnsa de moneda.—The mint. Cuso.— A boiler used in hot nmalgamation. Custillo.—The frame of the stamping machine. Caxo.—A imensure containing many qnintals; it vories in bulk ; nt Potosi it is equal to 5,000 tbs. Cebar.—Verm applied to the additiou of quicksilver alter the first chargg ; it a'so means the uct of thoroughly mixiug in the whole of the quicksilver with the wet torta. Cebo.—TLhe quicksilver ao added. Cedazos.—Sieves. Cendrada.—the bottom of the refining or enpelling furnaces; made of fine earth aud vegetable ashes, which have been leached; tho materials of the enpelling test ; the test itself. Cendradilla o galeme.—The cupel. Chapas.—Iron blocks on which the stamps fall. Chino.—Iron or copper pyrites. Colorados.— Ores coutaining native silver, or ehloride, bromide or iodide of silver ; also appiied to ores colored with oxide of iron. Colpa.—Colcothar. Comalillos.—Furnages for caleining pyrites. Comillo.—A_ furnace. Consumido.—The quicksilver required to reduce the silver to the metallic state. Copola.—A_ enpelling furnace. Copos, or Paxillas.—Little globules into which the quicksilver forms when tbo patio process is too nick. 5 2 Criba.—Perforated leather throngh which the stamped ore falls into the pit. Cruces.—The cross pieces of the nrrnstra. Cachara.— A. spoon. Cachara de cnerno.—A siall horn bowl in which the earth of the tortas is washed, in order to ascertain from time to time the progress of the nmalgamation. Curtir—Term applied to the addition of lime to warm ores, or of magistral to cold ores during the amalgamation. Desecho.—Term applied to the merenry that nppears broken up in the first trial. Empleo.—The quantity of quicksilver mixed with

the torta on any given occasion. Ensalmyrar.—tThe first process in amalgnmation ; mixing the saltierra with the lama. Ensayo.—A trial test. Esmanil.—Blende. Estoraque.—Brown biendo ; snlphuret of zine. Frios.—Uold ores; those coataining lime, and, therefore, requiring more magistral. Galera.—A large shed or mill-bonse ; also applied to tho bnilding in whicb the arrastras are.nrranged, geaerally in double rows. Granza.—Tbe coarse sand ns it goes from the atamps to the arrastras. Grena.—Ores in the rough before cleaning. Hncienda.—Establishment for reducing ores. Hacienda de beneficio.— Establishment for redneing ores by amalgamation. Hacienda de fondicion —Establishment for reducing ores by smelting. Horuo.—A furnnee. Torno de fondicion—A furnace for smelting. lorno de magistral—Roasting stove for pyrites. Incorporar.—In amalgamation, to add tho first charge of quicksilver. See Cebar. Jicara—A small bowl for testing the tentaduras. Lama —Selilem, or slime, from the amalgamatiou. Liamero.—Laaia thickened with saltierra. : Lameros.—Lamia pits. Lavador.—A nan employed in washing the ors nfter amalgamation, or in cleansing the ore. Lavaderos.— Washing vats or tubs for separating the amalgam from the lama, also called tinas; the sheds in which these are arranged. Ley.—Standard of the ore. Ley de oro.—Contents in gold. Ley de plata.—Contents in silver. Limadura de plata—Whitish appearance of the quicksilver on the cdge of tho amalgam when the process is going on well after the first quicksilver hns been added; small leaves of amalgam, Lis—Lista—Tbo broken up moreury which is . separates in PU a brought to the surface of the teatadura in the jicara. Macvro.—The man who has charge of grinding the ores in the ¢ahonas before the nmalgamation. Magistral.—Roasted copper pyrites containing sulphate of copper. ; Manga.—A_ bug or strniner for straining the quicksilver froin the pella, often nade of saileloth covered with leather. Manganesa.—Manganeso. Muquila.—faute paid te the proprietor of the mill for reducing ore on nnother man's account ; applied ebiefly to reduction by amalgamation. Marco.— Might ouuces or one pound Spanish, eqnul to 3,552 grains English ; used ag well of standard as of unrefined metals. Mnrquesitas.—Mundie iron pyritea. Maza.—Stamp head for pounding ores. Merma.—tLoss of quicksilver in amalgamating, or of lead in smelting. Metules plomoscs—Ores impregnated with lead. Metapiles—Stones for grinding of the tahonas ; also pigs of copper used in the hot nmalgamation. Molienda.—Yhe act of grinding or pouudiag ores. La molienda.—The ores ground. Molino, or Mortero.—Stamping mill. Monton.— A heap of ore ; n batch under amalgamation ; a measure varying in different districts—at Cntorce, 36 quiutals ; nt Guanaxato, 35 quintals ; at Real del Moute, Pachuca, ete, 30 quintals ; at Zacatecas and Sombrerete, 20 quintals; at Fresnillo, 18 quintals ; nt Bolaaos, 15 quintals ; aud at Valenciana, 32 quintals. tteetNe, Samples. Mofla.—A_ tuyere. Negros.—Ores containing sulphnr, nntimony and arsenic. Oere colorado.—Red ochre. Pacos.—Iarthy ores mixed with vnrious ores of silver ; when red, frequently called colorados; generally found near the surface. Partido.—Division of ores between tho owners and buscones. Pasilla —Dry-gilver amnlgam sqneezsd ont in tbe jicara from the tentadura. Patio de amalgamatiou—The yard or court on which the ores are amalgamated. ; Pella.—The silver amalgam when nll the quicksilver which can be pressed out has been removed. Pepeuado.—Cleaned ores. Pepenadores.— Laborers for clenning ores. Pepitas——Small grins of gold or silver. Perdidu——The loss of mereury beyoad the amonnt allowed ns consumido. ' Pila apnradora.—The washing tonk for separating the amnigam. Pina—The cake of silver left after distillation. Planilla—Aa inclined plane used for a second washing after separation of the heaviest orcs. Plata pina.—silver after distillatiou. Plata nixta.—Pina containiag gold before parting at the mint. ni : Polvillos.—Ores fragile and rich ;-nlso the metallic sulphurets contnining gold not amalgamated. Polvorilla—lack silver disseminated ; sulphuret of silver. Quilate—Synonymons with carat. It is nlso nn abgolute measure, eqnal to four grains Spnnish. Quintal.—Four arrobas or 100 ths, Spanisb, eqnal to 101.45 ibs. English. Raspando.—Scraping or cleaning np the arrastra. Reboltnra.—Tbe mixture of ground ore and fluxes, or re-agents. Rendirze.—Term applied to the torta when tho amalgamation is finished. Repasar.—Tbe mixing together of the ore, quicksilver and otber materials of tbe torta by treading, either by man or mules. Repasadores.—Men who tread the torta. Sala.—The principal room of the hacienda. Sal mineral.—Minernl salt for amalgamation. Sal tierra.—Impure or earthy salt. Salineros.—Ores requiring much salt to effect tbe amalgamation. ahona.—A mill of small horizontal stonse. Tentadura.—Axr assay or trial, : Tepetate.—Rubbish after cleaning ores. Tinn.—AA. vat ; stone tank. Tina cargadora, ditto Descargadora.—TVhe receiving and discharging tanks as arranged for scparating ; the nmalgam in tbe lavadero. ‘Tiro de mulas.—A. set of mules. Torta.—The qnantity of ore under amalgamation, forming a flat heap or cake. Torta rendida,—The yield ready for washing. Vitriolo aznl—Blue vitriol; sulpliate of copper. Vitriclo blanco. White vitriol ; sulphate of zinc. Vitriolo verde.—Green vitriol; sulphate of iron. Voladoras.—Grinding stones of tbe arrastra. Vuelta.—he bright glow on the surface of the silver when the last film of oxide of lead suddenly To be Continued.)