REPORTS 
 
 OF Tni; 
 
 Canada Consolidated Gold Mining Company's 
 
 PROPERTY 
 
 AMI OX 'inE 
 
 ^/^'/-.in/HNT OF ITS 0\^\'-^ 
 
 ■ ' ' ■ ' AT 
 
 - DELORO. ONTARIO. 
 
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 REPORTS 
 
 ON THE 
 
 PRESENT CONDITION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Canada Consolidated Gold Mining Company's 
 
 PROPERTY 
 
 AND ON THE ' 
 
 TREATMENT OF ITS ORES 
 
 AT 
 
 DELORO, ONTARIO. 
 
 NEW YORK: 
 
 MARTIN B. BROWN, PRINTER AND STATIONER. 
 
 NOS. 49 AND 51 PARK PLACE. 
 1883. 
 
REPORT OF 
 
 RICHARD P. ROTHWELL, 
 
 SUPERINTENDENT. 
 
 To the Trustees of the Canada Consolidated Gold Mining 
 Company : 
 
 The present condition of the company's property is as fol- 
 lows : No work has been done by the company on any of the 
 numerous small veins. The main vein, which has not been 
 worked since July, 1882, is opened to a depth of 170 feet, and 
 the pay chute over a length of about 750 feet by shafts and 
 levels aggregating about 1100 feet in length. The ore in the 
 vein certainly exceeds an average thickness of eight feet, and 
 probably will run very much more than this. The quantity 
 of ore in sight is sufficient to supply the present works for 
 several years. 
 
 The mines are in a position to produce 100 tons a day. The 
 double engines and boilers for permanent hoisting-works — to 
 hoist from two shafts from a central point — are on the ground 
 (the boilers being included in the chattels sold), and the 
 friction-drums are being made in Pennsylvania. 
 
 The tram-road, with its iron cars for taking the ore from 
 the mines to the mill, is in good order. 
 
 The concentrating mill has a proved capacity of fully 100 
 tons in 20 hours, crushed to a maximum size of 1.^ mm. As 
 much as 7 tons an hour have been put through. 
 
 The roasting is done in a continuous operation without 
 handling, in two revolving cylinders, which have a proved 
 
capacity of 10 tons concentrates per 24 hours. This is equal 
 to from 40 to 50 tons of ore (varying with proportion of sul- 
 phtarets in ore), or about one half the mill capacity. 
 
 The chlorinating and filtering capacity is about 10 tons 
 per day, or the same as furnace capacity. 
 
 To increase the roasting and chlorinating capacity to 20 
 tons per day, or to the possible mill output, Avould cost 
 from $15,000 to $18,000. 
 
 The entire cost of treating 50 tons of ore per day is given 
 as follows. In this I have counted wages at $1.50 per day, 
 which cost us from $1,25 to $1.40 ; and wood at $2.50 per 
 cord, while we believe it can be purchased in winter and 
 delivered for $2. I have also added one man per shift to the 
 mill, and one to each shift in the roasting and chlorinating, 
 more than are necessax'y for the Avork. Ako, the quantity of 
 wood is based on the consumption of green wood, mostly 
 basswood, which has recently been the only wood at our 
 command. 
 
 Ebtimatk op Cost (based on actual work done) of Milling, Roasting, 
 
 CULOniNATlNO, ETC., AT DELORO, OnT. 
 
 Fifty tons per day. 
 LOADING AND HAULING from mines to mill (one sliift, 10 hours)— 
 
 8 men, at $1.50 each %i m 
 
 LN. B.— Wlien mines are worliing, this will be done by two boys.] 
 oil, repairs, etc .jO 
 
 PER DAY. PER TON, 
 
 CRUDE ORB. 
 
 $5 00 $0 10 
 
 MILLING (one shift, 10 hours)— 
 
 7 men In mill, at $1.50 each $10 50 
 
 1 foreman, at $2 2 00 
 
 1 fireman, at $1.75 1 75 
 
 1 engineer, at $2 2 00 
 
 4 cords wood, at $2.50 per cord 10 00 
 
 Oil, repairs, etc 3 75 
 
 $:J0 00 60 
 
 BOASTING (10 tons concentrates pt-r 24 hours)- 
 
 4 men, hoisting, feeding, etc., at $1.60 each $6 W) 
 
 aflremen, at $1.75 3 50 
 
 Half time of 2 foremen, at $2.25 2 25 
 
 1 fireman (steam at night) 1 75 
 
 6 cords wood, at $2.50 per cord 15 00 
 
 Oil, light, etc 1 50 
 
 $80 00 60 
 
5 
 
 CHLORINATION, PHECIPITATION, ETC- 
 
 8 men at $l.r)0 $18 00 
 
 Half time of 2 foremen ' . . [ .,25 
 
 ChemiHt "' .'^... "'.".'.'.""'' 300 
 
 Chloride lime, 550 llw., at ac per lb 1100 
 
 Sulph. acid, 000 Ibw., at d>,c per lb .'..] 15 00 
 
 Assay materials, precipitants, light, etc .........!..!"" 435 
 
 $47 50 $0 85 
 
 Office expenses, superintendent, repairs, etc 12 50 25 
 
 $2 60 
 
 Mr. Koerner, then Acting Superintendent, reported the 
 actual expenses during the last week in November, as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 TiiK Canada Consolidated Gold Mining Company, I 
 Deloko, Ont., January 26, 1883. ) 
 
 To R. P. RoTUWEi.L, Superintendent : 
 
 Deak Siu : Below please find report in reference to the last week's work in Novem- 
 ber, after which the frost shut us down. I may mention that the putting in of the 
 rolls and repairs of old ones occupied from October 30th to November 21 st, so that the 
 week before the frost came on was the only week for work I had : 
 
 Loading ore ^gp Oq 
 
 Mill expenses 168 00 
 
 Furnace expenses (including chlorination) 78 00 
 
 Cutting and hauling wood "" ]0» 00 
 
 Acid and lime 110 00 
 
 Ttr u- u ^^^"^^ 
 
 Macbme-shop tir 00 
 
 $050 00 
 
 Though the last item does not strictly belong to it, as it was on other work (con- 
 struction account). 
 
 Number of tons put through the mill and concentrated, 270. 
 After the above week's work, the frost shut every thing up. 
 
 Veiy truly, 
 
 F. KOERNER, 
 
 Acting Superintendent. 
 
 The total pay-roll during November, is reported by the 
 treasurer at $3655.01. The above was so much of it as 
 applied to treatment of the ore during the one week's run. 
 
 These items amount to $2.41 per ton ; adding repairs, 
 office expenses, superintendent, and all other extras, esti- 
 
mated very liberally at $100 during the week, and the total 
 cost v.ould be but $2.78 per ton. 
 
 The above figures are believed to be perfectly safe, and, as 
 justified by actual work, many of the items are even excessive. 
 If but 40 tons of fcrude ore produced 10 tons roasted concen- 
 trates, the total cost of treatment would be about $3 per ton- 
 
 The mill has treated, since it was started, but 800 tons of 
 crude ore, a portion only of which was concentrated. The 
 following is a statement of the result : 
 
 Roasted Ore. 
 
 Total 
 Value. 
 
 Average 
 
 Value 
 
 Tailings. 
 
 Total Value 
 Tailings. 
 
 Net Gold 
 
 Obtained in 
 
 Solution. 
 
 Per- 
 cent- 
 
 Tons. 
 
 Average 
 
 Value 
 
 PER Ton. 
 
 age Ex- 
 tract- 
 ed. 
 
 16Ji 
 
 47 
 59 
 
 $20 14 
 88 69 
 55 58 
 24 11 
 
 $337 29 
 
 635 50 
 
 2,611 m 
 
 1,422 49 
 
 $2 63 
 2 t8 
 2 67 
 1 41 
 
 $1 95 
 45 21 
 not 
 
 144 04 
 59 67 
 97 16 
 78 91 
 
 $292 15 
 
 579 93 
 
 2,514 67 
 
 1,344 86 
 
 86-94 
 91'24 
 96-28 
 94-54 
 
 142^ 
 
 1 
 
 6 
 
 26 
 
 $85 19 
 45 21 
 34 21 
 24 11* 
 
 $5,007 11 
 
 45 21 
 
 205 11 
 
 *fi02 7*. 
 
 $277 68 
 45 21 
 assayed. 
 
 u 
 
 $4,731 61 
 
 94-80 
 
 174>^ 
 
 
 $5,860 18 
 
 
 
 
 
 Each ton of these tailings was assayed separately. Sum- 
 marizing, we find that the chlorination which at first yielded 
 86*94 per cent improved as work progressed, and especially 
 as the ore was concentrated closer, until it reached 96 28 per 
 cent as the average of 47 tons, having an av^ oge value of 
 $55.58 per ton. It will be noted above that one ton by 
 some oversight was not chlorinated (probc.oly was badly 
 roasted, as was sometimes found to be the case before the 
 second furnace was built), and was thrown out in the tail- 
 ings. Omitting this one ton, the average of 142^^ tons assayed 
 
 ♦ Estimated. 
 
7 
 
 gave an average value of $35.20 per ton ; tailings, an average 
 of $1.95; percentage extracted and obtained in the liquor, 
 94-50 per cent. This is considered highly satisfactory for 
 the commencement of work. In addition to the above 1431 
 tons, of which we have the assays of both ore and tailings, 
 there were assayed and chlorinated six tons, average value 
 $34.21 per ton— total, $205.11, but of which the tailings have 
 not yet been assayed. Also, 25 tons chlorinated, of which no 
 assays have yet been made, but which are estimated to aver- 
 age the same as the preceding 59 tons, namely, $24.11 per tou' 
 There are also 67 tons of roasted ore on hand, which may run 
 the same as the 59 tons last assayed, but which, for greater 
 safety, I count at $20 per ton, and 18 tons raw ore ready to 
 roast, counted safely at $15. There is also a quantity of dust 
 in the chambers, some ore lying about the mill, etc., all esti- 
 mated at $250. The whole summarizes as follows : 
 
 174J4 tons chlorinated, contained $5 860 18 
 
 67 " roasted, not yet chlorinated, estimated at $80 per ton 1,,340 00 
 
 18 " raw ore estimated at $15 per ton 270 00 
 
 Dust in chambers, ore about mill, etc, estimated 250 00 
 
 Total. $9.65 per ton of crude ore milled, or $7,720 18 
 
 From the above we see that, after deducting the heavy 
 losses always incident to starting new works with men who 
 never had any experience in the work, there have been 
 obtained in the roasted ore about $9.65 per ton of crude ore. 
 The loss in concentrating has been heavy, though we have as 
 yet no exact measure of it — not having the means to do every 
 thing we desired or considered necessary. 
 
 We have about forty-five tons of crude arsenic on hand. 
 This I had analyzed, and find it contains about 97 per 
 cent of pure arsenious acid. This is remarkably pure, and, 
 with refining, will produce a very exceptionally valuable 
 product. This arsenic has a present net value of about $20 a 
 ton, or fully $1 per ton of ore milled. When re-sublimed, this 
 net value will be nearly doubled. 
 
8 
 
 The above results may be summarized in the following 
 table, which shows a fair estimate, based upon actual expe- 
 rience, of the profits obtainable in working this ore : 
 
 Pkr ton 
 Cbudb orb. 
 Net amount of gold per ton of ore ns mined, which is obtained in roasted ore, that 
 
 is, after deducting losses in concentrating, handling, roasting, etc . . $'J 65 
 
 i<M loss In chlorlnntlon, 5 per cent. $0 48 
 
 i««s loss in precipitation, say 3 per cent 37 
 
 75 
 
 $8 90 
 
 Jiet amount ol gold obtainable $8 80 
 
 Net value of crude arsenic 1 00 
 
 $9 90 
 Cost of treatment 3 00 
 
 Net profit realizable per ton, treating 40 tons per day, say $6 90 
 
 Net profits realizable, milling fifty tons per day, $7.40 per ton. 
 
 These figures do not take account of the cost of mining, 
 which will be about $2.50 per ton ; but this will probably be 
 balanced by the reduced loss in concentrating, the saving of 
 two per cent in chlorinating, and the greater profit from 
 refining the arsenic, so that the final results may be counted 
 as above. 
 
 With a treatment of only 40 tons a day, the net earnings 
 should then be $275 per day, or with 50 tons, $370 pe^' day, 
 or, say, $9500 per month, and for an expenditure of say, 
 $18,000, this output can be doubled, and arsenic refining- 
 works completed. 
 
 The bullion actually produced has been only $2148.65, 
 and it represented in the above table $3684 gold in the 
 chlorine liquor, or, allowing 3 per cent loss in precipitation, 
 say, $3584, that should have been obtained. Of this difference, 
 a certain amount will yet be recovered from some rich tailings 
 from rechlorination of precipitate ; gold in crucible bottoms, 
 in slag, etc. The loss, which has been enormous, was proba- 
 bly due to careless handling, some leaks in new tanks, imper- 
 fect precipitation by sulphate of iron, and losses in melting. 
 That they are not unavoidable is shown by tlie several well- 
 
9 
 
 known experts, to whom the question was submitted and 
 whose reports are appended. 
 
 The precipitation of the -gold by filtration through char- 
 coal appears to be entirely successful, and there are now 
 some $1800 in the charcoal. The experts generally, how- 
 ever, prefer precipitation by sulphide of hydrogen. 
 
 I beg to refer to these expert repor'"s, but for con- 
 venience summarize them as follows • 
 
 Expert Tests on the Precipitation of Gold from this Chloride 
 
 Solution. 
 
 Mr. William E. Gifford, chemist, finds that AjS precip- 
 itated '0682 grm. gold per liter of solution. Ferrous sul- 
 phate, the same amount. That is the whole of the gold in the 
 solution. Some lime was also precipitated with the gold by 
 the ferrous sulphate. Charcoal also precipitated the whole of 
 the gold without other substances. 
 
 Professor Koenig found ferrous sulphate precipitated -069 
 grm. gold per liter (threw down, also, some lime). Hydro- 
 gen sulphide, -0728 grm. gold per liter. ACl and ferrous 
 sulphate practically same amount. The whole of the gold 
 seems to be precipitated by these methods. Professor Koenig 
 prefers an aqueous solution of hydrogen sulphide. 
 
 Mr. N. E. Riotte, metallurgist, New York, finds that hydro- 
 gen sulphide in gaseous form is much better than ferrous sul- 
 phate, which latter he finds does not precipitate all the gold. 
 Though the mines, the mill, the roasting- works, and the 
 clorination are all fully as satisfactory as was ever claimed 
 for them, and the cost of treatment even with wages and 
 materials far higher than when our estimates were made 
 three years ago is scarcely higher than the figures then given, 
 yet the time occupied in bringing the property into a divi.iend- 
 paying condition has been far longer than anticipated, and 
 the working capital necessarily increased in proportion. 
 
 No one can be more painfully aware than myself of the 
 
10 
 
 difficulties and disappointments that have been the causes of 
 this, and I desire here to state a fact well known to those of 
 your officers and others familiar with the case, that the cost 
 of and time occupied in the work done within the past eight 
 months have been nearly double what they should and would 
 have been had the stockholders promptly responded to the 
 urgent appeals of their trustees and subscribed for the bonds 
 when they were issued ; indeed, the work during the past 
 year has been carried on under extremely humiliating and 
 expensive conditions, that probably no amount of salary alone 
 would induce any one to submit to. 
 
 The company has had a most devoted and faithful servant 
 in Mr. F. Koerner, Master of Machinery, who acted as super- 
 intendent during my absence in Europe. Much of the success 
 of our concentrating and roasting-works is due to him. He 
 has devotedly remained at his post under most disagreeable 
 and unremunerative conditions, which also were such that 
 professionally he could not do himself justice. 
 
 The chlorination department was under the charge of the 
 company's chemist, Mr. Wilkins U. Green. Had the preci- 
 pitation of the gold been as perfect as the chlorination, 
 this department would have had a more satisfactory record, 
 and the condition of the company would to-daj- have been 
 very different from what it is. 
 
 I also desire to express my appreciation of the devotion 
 and forbearance of our foremen, and many of the rank and file 
 of our employes at Deloro, who continued working when the 
 company already owed them some months' pay, and who, 
 convinced of the ultimate success of our enterprise, are now 
 waiting patiently for the resumption of work and the liquida- 
 tion of their just claims. 
 
 EICHAED P. ROTHWELL, 
 
 Superintendent. 
 
11 
 
 REPORT OF MR. F. KOERNER, MASTER OF 
 • MACHINERY. 
 
 Wilkes-Barre, Pa., February 10, 1883. 
 R. P. RoTiiwELL, Esq., Superim^ndent: 
 
 Dear Sir : In compliance with your request for a resume of the work 
 at Deloro, as far as it was under my cliarge, I submit as follows : 
 
 After the new mill was started, toward the end of April last, and ore 
 ground, it was found that it could not be roasted, for the reason that no 
 draught could be made through the furnace and arsenic chambers ; in fact, 
 after several weeks' trial, the attempt had to be given up and an exhaust-fan 
 put up to make the necessary draught. 
 
 With the fan in operation, it was found that, while a small quantity of 
 ore could be I'oasted in the furnace, the draught had necessarily to be so 
 sharp, owing to the smallness of the openings in the arsenic chambers, that 
 most of the arsenic, instead of being lodged in the chambers, was carried 
 through the fan and up and out of the chimney and lost. "When the fact 
 that the fan exerted a pull of five eighths of an inch water-gauge is 
 remembered, an idea of the friction of the air may be formed. 
 
 Besides tlie loss of t!ie arsenic, the fierceness of the draught carried 
 fully 40 per cent of the ore back out of the roasting cylinder into the dust- 
 chambers. 
 
 These causes made it necessary to stop all the work of grinding ore and 
 roasting, fend remodel the chambers. This was done by cutting the openings 
 from one chamber to the other down to the floor, and also by making an 
 extra opening in the cross-division wall of each chamber. 
 
 These changes were found effective, and were completed by the end of 
 July last, when the boiler-house at the new mill took fire on August 6th. 
 The necessary repaira of pipes and connections occupied three weeks. 
 
 In the mean time, gearing had been applied to the Cornish rolls, and 
 their work became very successful. We were also ejecting the masonry and 
 brick-work for an additional roasting-fumace, which, when completed, 
 toward the end of October, gave us entire control of the ore roasting, with 
 a capacity of ten tons daily. 
 
 It was then found that it had become necessary to complete the putting 
 in of the mill machinery by adding one No. 2 screen and putting in the 
 second set of Cornish rolls and one new jig. After these additions, or rather 
 after completing the mill so far, it was found that it would grind, screen, 
 and concentrate the ore at the rate of from six to seven tons per hour, and 
 that the furnaces would successfully roast the resulting concentrates. 
 
12 
 
 We had by this time readied the beginning of December last. The 
 weather kept continuously so cold — as low as 20 degrees below zero, Fahr- 
 enheit — tliat furtl^er work in the mill became impossible. Having arrived 
 at tliis point, that is to say, when we could roast ten tons of concentrates, 
 worth on an average from SOO to $70 per ton, it was found that the lime 
 in the gold solution made the precipitation of the gold so difficult that only 
 a few tons could be daily chlorinated. 
 
 Legal complications forced us to suspend work entirely, as to chlori- 
 nation and roasting, for several weeks. 
 
 The substitution of charcoal filters for the ordinary process of precipi- 
 tation by iron sulphate seemed, toward the end of December and beginning 
 of January, to promise a way out of the difficulty. 
 
 Wiiile it can not be denied tiiat a great deal of work has been done at 
 Deloro, and many difficulties overcome, much more would certainly have 
 been done but for the want of money. During the summer months, with 
 new railroads building all around us, and the wages of our men in arrears, 
 we were often so short of the necessary laborers that mortar-making, ore- 
 loading, mill-work, etc., had to be done in rotation by the same men; and, 
 worae than that, the men's wages being in arrears, they worked for us as a 
 favor, as it were, and disciplftie became exceedingly difficult, if not im- 
 possible. 
 
 But the want of money affected the lousiness as seriously, to say the least, 
 in other ways. When the mason work for the new roaster was ready and 
 every thing else complete, the roaster itself could not be put in place for 
 want of tlie necessary outside rings and castings which were lying at the 
 railway station at Sterling, and could not be got for want of money to pay 
 the freight. Three weeks were lost with tliis single item. 
 
 The pipes for heating the mill and by that enabling us to go on working 
 and producing at least $2000 profits per week, were lying in the Custom- 
 House at Belleville ; but there was no money to pay the charges. 
 
 I am writing this on a bed of sickness, in the intervals when I am free 
 from pain, and I am aware that my report is not as full as it should be and 
 would have been under other circumstances. 
 
 Resiiectfully submitted, 
 
 (Signed) F. KOERNER, 
 
 Master of Machinery. 
 
i;{ 
 
 REPORT OF Fxl. WILKIiNo U GREENE, r!HE^,IT j^T. 
 
 The Canada. Consolidated Goi,d Mining Company, ) 
 DELono, Ont., January 29, 1883. , \ 
 
 R. P. RoTiiv^T-L, Esq., Superintendent: 
 
 Dear Sik : In your communication of tlie 27th inst.,you guested me 
 to make a report, as cliemist to this company from July 24.,u, Jie time I 
 entered on tliat position, to the present date. 
 
 I was cngajjjed by tlie company through you as chemist and assayer, 
 but was never placed in charge of the chlorination department. After I had 
 been here a short time, on tlie absence of Henry Bost, I started to run the 
 chlorlnator, and have since continued in tliat capacity. 
 
 As you well know, the lime that occurs in the ore has been a source 
 of endless trouble, as most precipitants of gold would precipitate the lime 
 also. In order to separate the lime from the gold, several methods have 
 been tried. 
 
 First. On experimenting, I found that sulphuric acid would crystallize 
 the lime out of the gold solution, so solutions from several tons of ore were 
 treated with sulphuric acid, and the lime allowed to crystallize out; the 
 gold solution was then drawn off, and tlie gold precipitated with sulphate 
 of iron. But still some lime was found with the gold, due to the sulphuric 
 acid not affecting some hyposulphate of lime which was in the gold 
 solution. 
 
 By tliis method most of the gold was extracted up to the time you 
 sailed for Europe. 
 
 As the quantity of sulphuric acid required to precipitate or rather 
 crystallize the lime was large, it was thought advisable to try some other 
 process. 
 
 On my return from New York, after you left, I continued chlorinating. 
 The gold solution accumulated, tilling all the tank-room, before I could 
 discover the best method to try next. As I would have to stop chlorinating 
 if some of the solution was not removed, and as stopping w?,d against the 
 orders of Mr. Loveridge or Mr. Koerner, I tried the following method ; 
 
 At this point I wish to say that I had commenced on my return to carry 
 out your orders in regard to keeping the liquor for a certain number of tons 
 separate in a tank ; but as the tank-room was full, and having no means of 
 getting rid of the liquor from each tank by itself, I was obliged to use the 
 following process : 
 
 To a tank of solution was added sulphate of iron until a very small 
 quantity of gold was precipitated, and nearly all the lime as a sulphate. 
 This was allowed to settle ; the solution containing the gold was placed in 
 another tank, and sulphate of iron added. 
 
14 
 
 Into the tank containing the lime and a little gold, more gold solution 
 was placed, which dissolved the gold already in the tank, and the same pro- 
 cess was repeated. My intention was to make a filter Ijelow these lime-tanks, 
 and after dissolving the gold from the lime, to filter tlie gold solution which 
 might be with the lime, wash it and throw it away; in this manner get rid of 
 the lime. But the necessary supplies to make this filter I applied for and they 
 were promised me, but never sent. Tiiis left me in a very bad position, as, 
 when the process was given up, it left tliree tanks half full of lime holding 
 some gold. Tlie process •would have l)een, I tliink, a success if I could have 
 carried it out as I desired to, but I was ordered by Mr. Koerner to get a brick 
 out in a week's time. In order to do this, I had to precipitate all tlie liquor 
 which had not been treated as above with sulphate of iron, and rechlorinate 
 the bulky precipitate thus produced. Of course, this time, as before, I was 
 unable to make a clean-up, owing to the gold in the tanks with the lime 
 which I had not time to separate. 
 
 As in rechlorination some lime went through the filters, some of the 
 strong gold solution was left in the tank and was afterward passed through 
 the charcoal filters. 
 
 On or about November 21st, 1882, at the one hundred and thirty-seventh 
 ton chlorinated, the charcoal filters were started, which, I was told by Mr. 
 Loveridge, was an experiment made by the company and not by me. The 
 liquors from chlorination have been since passed through them. 
 
 In order to get the gold which was in tlie tanks I spoke of, with the 
 precipitated lime, I was obliged to pump some gold solution, strong in chlor- 
 ine and stir the lime up with it, as by tliis means the precipitated gold would 
 be dissolved. Tlie lime was then allowed to settle and the gold solution 
 
 taken off and passed through the charcoal filters. The remaining lime was 
 
 placed on a filter and washed till no gold showed itself. 
 
 The charcoal filters seem to have done very good work, precipitating the 
 
 gold and not the lime; very strict watch lias been kept on them night and 
 day. 
 
 About .January 10th, the eight upper barrels of the filter were taken down 
 
 and replaced by fresh, ones that the gold might be extracted. This charcoal 
 
 was started burning on January 26th, 1883. 
 
 It was my desire through all this time, covering a period of six months, 
 
 to make a complete clean-up, in order to ascertain how the bullion and assays 
 
 agreed; but as I received orders to get a brick out in such a limited time I 
 
 was unable to do so, much to my regret. I am sure it would have saved the 
 
 company more than it has cost them. 
 
 Tliere have been several channels tlirough which solut>ion has been and 
 
 might have been lost. 
 
 One or two of the tanks had been lined with very thin lead, and others 
 
 with very poor Icarl, througli which the solution wo uhVeat holes and thereby 
 
 a loss would occur ; all of which was repaired as soon as discovered. Tiie 
 
 rubber hose, which was used to convey the solution from the filter to the col- 
 
15 
 
 lecting tanks, was very poor, three-ply pipe. It would crack and holes 
 appeared in it. I asked for some other, better, explaining the great neces- 
 sity uf it, but it was never supplied. 
 
 In regard to the assays and sampling: Every 200 pounds was sampled 
 and the samples from each ton assayed (duplicated). By referring to the assay- 
 book, you will see that in some cases the duplicates disagreed greatly on 
 account of coarse gold: an average was taken, of course. That average 
 might have been too high or too low in many cases. Mr. Santa Maria's assays 
 were done by mixing three tons together (samples), which I do not think 
 would give correct results, as they were in the richest concentrates containing 
 coarse gold, and would differ considerably. These would make the results 
 of the assays differ from tlie bullion extracted. I have been, during my stay 
 here, under orders from yourself, Mr. Koerner, and Mr. Loveridge, which in 
 many cases have conflicted with each other, placing me in a very undesirable 
 position. I have endeavored as far as possible to have the approval of one 
 of the above-named to every detail of working I have undertaken. 
 
 Yours respectfully, 
 
 (Signed) WILKIN S U. GREENE. 
 
 CHEMISTS' REPORTS UPON THE PRECIPITATION 
 OF GOLD FROM CH.LORIDE SOLUTION. 
 
 R. P. RoTHWELL, M.E., Superintendent : 
 
 SiH : Having examined the sample of gold solution from chlorination of 
 ore, received from you February 3d, I will endeavor to answer the questions 
 there put to me : 
 
 First. Whether sulphureted hydrogen will precipitate all the gold free 
 from other substances, and at what cost ? 
 
 (The question being raised wliether the ordinary reagents precipitate all 
 the gold from this particular solution, it was obviously inadmissil>le to 
 adopt any of them as a standard, and it became necessary to resort to evapora- 
 tion, smelting, etc., to destroy any supposed peculiar combinations, however 
 well convinced /might be of the reliability of these reagents ) 
 
 I precipitated a sample of the solution by sulphureted hydrogen, and 
 obtained gold amounting to -0682 gram per liter. I could obtain no more 
 gold from the solution, and concluded that the precipitation was complete. 
 This precipitate is practically free from foreign matter, except a little sul- 
 phur, which separates after the gold, and helps to collect the latter. The 
 quantity of sulpi.ur would be greater if the solution contained more iron and 
 free chlorine. The cost of this method is difficult to estimate precisely, but 
 it need not be much greater than the method by sulphate of iron, perhaps 
 no greater. 
 
16 
 
 Second. "Does charcoal filtering very slowly take all the gold out?" 
 After filtering a quantity through charcoal, I liave not found any gold 
 re:;iaining in the solution, except traces proportionally insignificant, and up 
 to a certain point fail to detect any. I have not been able, in the time 
 allowed, to determine, even approximately, the limit to the power of tlie 
 charcoal to remove gold, etc., and this limit will depend greatly on the com- 
 position of the liquid at different times, on the amount of iron, free chlorine, 
 etc. 
 
 Third. ' ' Do you know any thing which will cheaply prevent the lime, etc., 
 from precipitating when the gold is precipitated Ijy sulpliate of iron ?" I 
 tliink of notliing practically applicable, at present. 
 
 Fourth. "Does sulpliate of iron precipitate all the gold from this solu- 
 tion along with or without lime, etc. ; also, after filtration through charcoal, 
 should there be any gold unprecipitated, will sulphate of iron then precipi- 
 tate it?" If sulphate of ironfalls to precipitate the gold under these cir- 
 cumstances it must be due to. some cliange in the condition of the solution, 
 or of the state of combination of tlie gold by the charcoal. It is liighly 
 improbable that any such change can occur as to prevent the action of sulphate 
 of iron, and to determine tliis point definitely it is necessary to continue the 
 filtration until the al>sorption by the charcoal ceases to be complete, and then 
 test tlie action of sulphate of iron. I have not had time to continue it so 
 far, but on adding a minute quantity of chloride of gold to the liquid after 
 passing through charcoal, I obtained the normal result. 
 
 By precipitating a sample of the original solution by sulphate of iron, I 
 obtained gold amounting to "0685 gram per liter. I have been unable to 
 find gold remaining in the solution, and conclude that the precipitation is 
 omplete. I consider the quantity obtained as identical with that obtained 
 by sulphuretcd hydrogen, as the sample used was only a fraction of a litet 
 (100 c. c), and the error in manipulating this quantity of gold might amounr 
 to the difference, which was less than one twentieth milligram. The action 
 of sulphate of iron is, first, to color tlie solution purple with finely-divided 
 gold. Aft'jrward, esp'jcially when agitated, the gold aggregates to some 
 extent, and the solution loses its color ; finally, a little sulphate of lime sep- 
 arates and subsides with the gold. If the solution is not slightly acidified, 
 a little basic salt of iron will separate also. 
 
 Fifth. "Do you know of any other cheap method of getting all the 
 gold without lime, etc. ?" A solution of protochloride of iron, made by dis- 
 solving scrap iron in muriatic acid may be used, and will precipitate the 
 gold without lime, and, I think, in a state of great purity. The cost of this 
 would be probably about the same as sulphate of iron. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 WILLIAM E. GIFFORD. 
 
17 
 
 University of Pennsylvania, | 
 
 West Philadelphia, Feb. 13, 11 p.m., 1883. j 
 
 R. P. RoTHWELX., Superintendent : 
 
 Dear Sir : You sent me about 1^ liters of liquid, said to have resulted 
 from the chlorination by the Mears ijrocesa, after a previous roasting of 
 the Canada Consolidated Gold Mining Company's ore. By your state- 
 ment this liquid contains per liter : 
 
 Arsenic acid _ 3 600 
 
 Hydrochloric acid ^ 5*880 
 
 Sulphuric acid = 0-800 
 
 Lime = 0-900 
 
 Ferric oxide = 0110 
 
 Gold = 0-057 
 
 It is further stated that, upon adding ferrous 8uli;)hate to this liquid, 
 an unmanageable voluminous jirecipitate will form, and that this pre- 
 cipitate is gypsum, containing the gold. A Iso, that a preciijitate of lime 
 and magnesia suli^hates will form, when sulphuric acid be added alone 
 to the liquid. A sanijile of such ijrecipitate was sent me. You propose 
 the following questions : 
 
 1st. How can the formation of the \inmanageable precipitate be 
 avoided ? 
 
 2d. Does this precii^itate carry down all the gold with it ? 
 
 3d. Which other precipitant might be iised, so that it would not take 
 down any impurity with the gold ? 
 
 In order to find answers to these questions, the following experiments 
 were made. It may here be mentioned that a larger quantity of liquor, 
 BO that one liter could have been used for each test, would have lessened 
 the error of manipulation ; but, even as it is, the results are quite trtist- 
 worthy, and enable us to base technical reasoning thereupon : 
 
 First Experiment, — To500cc. of the liquor were added 10 cc. of dilute 
 sulphuric acid = 1-73 gr. of sulphviric hydrate. From a burette was dropped 
 a solution of 1 crystallized ferrous sulphate in 10 water. After the addi- 
 tion of 3-6 cc, the yellow color is completely discharged, and at 4 cc. 
 the liquid fills with brown jirecipitate (gold). No precijjitate of gypsum 
 was noticed for thirty minutes, but next morning, when the liquid was 
 quite clear, gypsum had crystallized. It was all brought upon a filter, 
 no more water being used than necessary to clean the beaker-glass. After 
 ignition it weighed 0-663 gr. It was treated with aqua regia and precip- 
 itated by HaS. The ignited precipitate weighed 36-3 mgr. Packed with 
 borax into a paper, it was fused to a button, flattened upon the anvil, 
 and weighed 34-5 mgr. of fine gold. By the equation (AuCls)^ + (Fe 
 SO4). = Aua + (re.S30,a)3+ (HC1)„, -392 gold require 1668 parts of 
 cry St. iron suli)hate; 34-5 mg. Au therefore 34-5 x 4-25 = 146-6 mgr. In 
 the above 4 cc. there are contained 400 mgr. of sulphate, nearly 2 -7 times 
 
18 
 
 the required quantity. It will be noticed that this experiment yielded 
 69 mgr. of Au per liter, against 57, as given in the analysis. Sulphide 
 of hydrogen added to the filtrate gave no browning, but only opalescent 
 yellow after a few minutes (arsenic). 
 
 Second Exjm'iment. — To 250 cc. of the liquor was added from a 
 burette a fresh saturated aqueous solution of hydrogen sulphide. The 
 yellow color disappears after the addition of 1 cc. Then a brown color 
 appears, and at 4 cc. the color in reflected light is nearly black. Stirring 
 vigorously coagulates the gold sulphide. To be sure of a sufficiency, 6 
 more cc. were added — 10 in all. After thirty minutes, the liquid was still 
 very brown in transmitted light from numerous floating particles ; only 
 50 cc. were passed through a filter (filtrate absolutely colorless and 
 unchanged by more than H-iS) ; the bulk was left standing over 
 night, to see how far a complete settling would take place. In the 
 morning, after fourteen hours' standing, the liquid was still brown, 
 nearly as much as the evening before. Settling could not be relied upon, 
 and filtration is necessary. After collecting the precipitate upon filter, 
 (double paper always used), it was washed with about 40 cc. of wuter, 
 containing a few drops of dil. HCl. By ignition obtained 20 mgr, fused 
 to a button with borax and cleaned by flattening, weighed 18 2 mgr, 
 equal to 72 '8 mgr j-ier liter, against 57 mgr of the analysis, and 69 mgr by 
 previous experiment. 
 
 Third Expm-hnent. — To 250 cc. of liquor added first 3 cc. of dilute 
 HCl. (1 in 10); then the O'l ferrous sulphate from a burette. After the 
 yellow color x is faded, a dirty white flocculent precipitate begins to 
 form, which rapidly ass.imes a deep blue purple color on addition of a 
 second cubic centimeter. The end of the reaction can not be noted 
 here as well as in preceding experiments. But since, in Exp. 1, 4 cc. 
 had been sufficient for J liter, I added here 2 cc. for J liter. The 
 greater part of this precipitate settles rapidly ; the liquid, however, 
 retains its jDurple color from suspended particles. Consistency of precip- 
 itate is very fine, compact, flocculent. After four hours' standing, the 
 liquid was as purple as after the first half- hour. It filters very easily 
 through a double jiaper. When all was collected, I washed with about 
 50 cc. of water ; then I filled the filter with 10 cc. of 0-1 hydrochloric 
 acid (cold), and a yellow liquid ran from the filter, while the latter cov- 
 ered itself with brown gold. Washed once.'then put on 10 cc more of 
 O'l hydrochloric acid, and finished by washing with 50 cc. of cold 
 water. Ignited precipitate and ashes weighed 19*2 mgr., fused to a 
 button weighed 18 '8 mgr., the highest result of the three experiments. I 
 am not certain that this button Avas quite fine ; it may contain a small 
 quantity of arsenic, and it will yet be assayed for purity. But certainly 
 this trial gave as much gold as the hydrogen sulphide. I attribute that 
 mainly to the nature of the vehicle inclosing the gold and leaving less 
 
19 
 
 chance for a mechanical loss, sticking to glass surface or passing through 
 filter-paper. 
 
 In the acid filtrate from tlic gold I found — 
 
 Arsenic acid —■ 0-0588 gr. 
 
 Ferric oxide — 0340 gr. 
 
 Calcium sulphate = 00G5 gr. 
 
 We have here the atomic ratio of AsjOs : FcaOs = 50: 4-25, that is, a 
 true basic iron arseniate, mixed witli about 7 per cent of gypsum. This is 
 the composition of the precipitate I anticipated when you wrote that it was 
 chiefly a mixture of lime and magnesia sulphate. This observation is of con- 
 siderable scientific interest. We iidve here a true iron purple of cassius ; that is, 
 this purple is not a chemical combination of stannic hydrate and gold, but a 
 mere mechanical mixture ; it requires only an enveloping white flocculent 
 vehicle to bring out the metallic gold with a purple color. I reserve the 
 right to make a public announcement of this observation. The precipitate 
 can only form in a perfectly neutral or Jicarly neutral solution, such as 
 your liquor is. By these experiments, I believe that the two first questions 
 have been satisfactorily answered. But of this anon. 
 
 It remained now to determine how thorough, ly each precipitant, the gold 
 will be removed from the solution. A solution was required as nearly as pos- 
 sible like the one in question, containing a known quantity of gold. Accord- 
 ingly four liters were made of such a liquid by the analysis, although there 
 were some grave douljts regarding its accuracy. For, if we calculate the 
 acids and oxides as to their combining weights, it follows that CaO : AsaO. 
 as 3'8 : 1"1, as 4 : 1, which is chemically impossible. The ratio should 
 be as 1 : 1. This was proved by the fact. 
 
 Solution: 12'2 grs. of white arsenic were oxidized by aqua regia, 
 evaporated to dryness, 60 grs. of marble-dust dissolved in IICl, and boiled 
 so that a residue remained; 7"2 gr. magnesium carbonate likewise. 0'3l 
 gr. metallic iron oxidized and evaporated, and 5 cc. of the dilute sul- 
 phuric acid added. When the iron and arsenic acids came together, they 
 precipitated, and HCl had to be added to maintain solution. The gypsum 
 dissolved completely in 3 liters of water : 240 mgr. of fine, precipitated gold 
 were then dissolved and mixed with the other ingredients, so that the whole 
 measured just 4 liters. In one liter there is, hence, 60 mgr. of gold. The 
 color of solution is light yellow, not the rich brown yellow of the solution 
 you sent. I do not know at present the cause for this difference, unless it be 
 the greater neutrality of the latter, caused by the pressure in the chlorinator. 
 This must be the cause, because, with my solution, I could not obtain the 
 purple precipitate. 
 
 The following tests were made : 
 
 Fourth Experiment. — To 500 cc. of solution were added 3 cc. of con- 
 cent, hydrochloric acid, and 10 cc. of 01 ferrous sulphate. Did at first 
 
20 
 
 not socin to precipitate ; but 8taiulin<^ over night, a brown sediment was 
 oliservecl. Filtered and waslied witli 40 cc. of water, and 3 of TO IICl. 
 Ignited, weighed ;il8"» mgr. ; fused with borax, the buttou weighed 27-7 
 instead of JJO iikji'. 
 
 Fifth Ki-pei-i7netif.— To 5(H) cc. of .solution w(M'e added 6 cc. of ferroxiH 
 solution and no acid whatever. Liijuid bcciune colorlcHs when 2 cc. had 
 been dropped into, and brownish turbid when 4 iiad boon added. 
 Total equals 6 cc. Aftcn- waHhing with water without acid, the ignited 
 precipitate weighed HO-Omgr. ; fused with borax, the button weighed 
 27-85 nigr. 
 
 Si.rth Expei'iineiit.—'Ho 500 cc. of solution added 5 cc. of fresh satu- 
 rated chlorine water. The mixture smelled very strongly of chlorine. 
 Upon the addition of 4 cc. ferrous solution, color disajipeared. But even 
 after adding 40 cc. of fcrrons solution iu all, no turbidity was visible. 
 Stood twenty hoii?'s. Now the gold could be seen among the crystals of 
 gypsum, of which about O-,") gr. had falhui out ; it dissolved in 250 cc. 
 of water. Ignited, the precipitate weighed 304 mgr. ; the button, fused 
 with borax, weighed 28 4 mgr. ' The jiresence of free chlorine, nor the 
 addition of large excess of ferrous sulphate, interferes, therefore, with 
 the i)reci2)itation of the gold. 
 
 Seventh Krjmriineiit. — To 500 cc. of solution, at a temperature of 10** C. 
 were added 6 cc. of fresh saturated solution of HjS. Precii)itate does 
 not coagulate so rapidly as when previously the teini)erature had been 
 about 17** C. It stood twenty hours, had settled comijletely and filtered 
 well. In the perfectly colorless filtrate, HjS cansed no coloration. 
 Ignited, the preciiiitatc weighed 38 8 mgr.; the button, fused with 
 borax, weighed 29 85 mgr., instead of 30 mgr. 
 
 Eighth Experiment. — To 500 cc. of solution added 6 fc. of chlorine- 
 water and 14 cc. of solution HjS, was allowed to stand for two hours, 
 then filtered, the great bulk having settled in flocculont state. Precipi- 
 tate ignited gave 34.4 mgr ; the fused button weighed 29 15 mgi". instead 
 of 30 mgr. 
 
 NoTB.— There Is rcaHoii to believe that a loss occurred in the fusing operation. 
 
 Now, it seems to me clearly proved that sulphide of hydrogen precip- 
 itates the gold completely (Experiment Seven), and that the purple pre- 
 cipitate gave a higher result even than the suliihide of hydrogen, which 
 I only attribute to the mechanical condition of the precipitate. Sul- 
 phide of hydrogen takes down no impurities if applied in proper quan- 
 tity, which is best done when water is charged with that gas. Acid is 
 required to make HaS and acid also to decompose the purple. The 
 latter offers better guarantee against loss, and reqiiires no special appa- 
 ratus. It will work with your solution, becau.so this is very neutral. If 
 not more of the iron saltis atlded than necessary, no gypsum of any con- 
 sequence will fall out. Any workman of average intelligence can readily 
 
21 
 
 Tip trained to perform the w -)rk. L(>t him tiike a liter of the liquor after 
 the latter iH thoroughly mixed in tlio tank. Have the cojjperaH dissolved 
 1 in 10 water, and let him add from u burette until the purple forms, 
 then lot him pour some of liquid upon a double filter, and try with HjS 
 water, if a browning occurs ; if not, he has added enough of the iron salt; 
 if, thou he adds a f(iw drops more. This operation will not take more 
 than ton minutes. If now the iron solution bo in a cylindrical tank, with 
 a .rod in it graduated to one quarter liters, he cau let in the proper 
 (piantity into the precii)itiite tank without any troul)le. To decompose the 
 purple, you use warm one tenth sulphuiic acid, and less acid will be 
 required than if dry hydrogen sulphide be generated for the purpose. 
 I do not advocate this plan as a i)ot one, because the sul})hide of hydro- 
 gen is equally good, but recjuires the attendance on a special api)aratus. 
 Shotild you decide upon the latter method, I Avould advise the use of 
 satiirated water, which yoii get by fitting a good-sized iron stovepipe, 
 barred inside and outside twenty feet high, filled with coke of nut size, 
 over which the water trickles against the current of the gas. If there be 
 no free chloi-ine or only little, six liters per 500, or twelve jjer cubic 
 meter, will be quite sufficient. But the attendant will have to test a liter 
 exactly as before with the iron solution ; and good stirring is retpiired. 
 If yoii desire, I will furnish you with a detailed diagram and measures 
 for the ajjparatus, as I should build it. But you must let mo know the 
 daily production in liters. 
 
 To do any thing with the roasted ore, I have noi, had time to attend 
 to that yet. I shall continue, also, my experiments from a scientific 
 stand-point, operating with larger quantities, to get a ; et truer value of 
 ferrous sulphate versus HaS. 
 
 Your telegram asking for my results to-day Avas received at noon. 
 But having to attend to teaching duties, I could not ^vrite down my 
 notes. Yoiirs truly, 
 
 Geokge a. Konig, Ph.D., 
 
 Prof, of Metallurgy. 
 
 P. S. — No elevation of temjierature was made use of in any of thoi 
 experiments. The action of SOj was not mentioned, because it acts 
 with satisfaction only at the boiling-ijoint. The filtrates were always 
 tested for gold. 
 
 New Yobk, February 7, 1883. 
 R. P. RoTHWKLL, Superintendent : 
 
 Sib: 
 
 Fh'st Sdviple. 
 
 One ton of liquor equal to 31 "7 cubic feet of liquor, contains, 
 according to evfl()oration lest, 194 ounce gold, equal to $40.19 (equal to 
 
22 
 
 66-5 gramH gold per 1000 kilos liquor). By precipitation with sulphureted 
 hydrogen, from crude solution, 2 ounces gold, equal to $41.34 (pqual to 
 68 56 grams per 1000 kilos), can be extracted. 
 
 Second Sample. 
 
 One ton of liquor gives 2 '19 ounces (75 '07 grams) gold, equal to $45.96, 
 by precipitation with sulphate of iron ; and 1'95 ounces (66 '84 grams) 
 gold, equal to $40 30, by precipitation with sulphate of iron from a 
 boiled solution ; and 2-43 ounces (equal to 83-29 grams) gold, equal to 
 $50.23, by jirecipitation with sulphureted hydrogen from the cold 
 solution. 
 
 Slight inconsistencies above to be noted, are to be placed to the 
 account of "limit of accuracy." 
 
 OUSEIIVATIONS. 
 
 1. Sulphate of iron does not precipitate all the gold, especially not if tlic 
 solution still contained some fioe chlorine. Evaporation test showed gold 
 still present in precipitated liquor. 
 
 2. Beltling and filtration are very slow, perfect filtration almost 
 impossible. 
 
 3. Cost about the same as sulphureted hydrogen. 
 
 4. Gold is mixed with some lime, but more alumina, and product is 
 difficult to melt. 
 
 5. Sulphureted hydrogen precipitates the gold perftctly, quickly, and 
 in a floccular state, making filtration easy. The gold is pure sulphuret, with 
 possibly a little sulphuret of arsenic, and easily smelts to pure gold. After 
 filtration, the solution can be saturated with sulphureted hydrogen, and thus 
 a heavy percentage of beautiful sulphuret of arsenic (auri pigii.ent) obtained, 
 which may possibly pay for the entire operation. 
 
 Test in filtering through charcoal and electrical test, and estimate of 
 cost will follow to-morrow. 
 
 Solution contains but very little lime. The alkaline earth is 
 
 alumina. (Probably as a lime, iron and magnesia alum, or even arseniate. ) 
 
 The analysis shown must be wrong. In sample No. 1 the percentage 
 
 of gold is but 0-006 per cent ; in sample No. 2, 0-0075 per cent ; while 
 
 the French analysis calls for per ton of liquor. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 MATHEY & RIOTTE. 
 
 New Yobk Feb. 14, 1883. 
 
 Sib : I have just completed the experiments with the gold solution, 
 and the ijossibility of precipitating by electricity. I made two trials. 
 One to collect the gold on the anode pole in a bath of mercury, and 
 another to simply precipitate in the solution. 
 
S3 
 
 The first trial gave results that were very accurate, but too much 
 time was required. The little gold amalgam was easily handled, and 
 the solution needed no filtering. 
 
 The second trial was made with a porous cup and platin wire anode. 
 The gold was quickly precipitated, but the collection necessitates fil- 
 tering, or decantatiori and filtering, and the gold is in a very fine state. 
 
 Taking the different methods, I should say that the choice fell 
 between two— precipitation with sulphureted hydrogen (generated from 
 paraflSne and sulphur), and by means of a dynamo. 
 
 The plant for the first is very inexpensive, the cost of sulphur and 
 paraffine nominal, and the possibility of making the by-products (realgar) 
 profitable good ; filtering easy and perfect. The cost of a dynamo is at 
 least $1000. Eunning cost very little, but filtering and collection 
 difficult. 
 
 I should counsel you to make a trial with sulphureted hydrogen 
 before all others. Very respectfully, 
 
 E. N. EIOTTE or 
 
 MaTHEY & ElOTTE.