ANTIMONY EXTRACTION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6489, 8 April 1908, Page 9

ANTIMONY EXTRACTION

A Xi;\V I'KOCKSS. The A b-.xaudi:v Antimony Co., Htd., bus obtained the Now Zealand rigld-s ol: u very interesting now process {or extracting antimony from the ore. Tho process is I,ht* invention of an Australian, Air Frank Cotton, ami m known as tho otv-hydm process. ’J he ore, which conrshds of stibiniie (antimony ) is i/Iju'wl on Urn Door of a lurtiace, am m brought to a <in.ll red-heat under reducing < , on<l itions. M rxsi of tlm metal melts and runs oil’ the Flowing floor of the fiimaoo. Whim it coo is it. assumes a beautiful crvofulline form, known no needle anfimVmy. which consists partly of the pure metal ami partly of the sulphide*. Whim this .sUwe of Urn prore.-*? has been completed the fnrnac© i/j raised to much grealer temperature under oxidising conditions, ami the rojimimlur of the antimony is driven off in tho form of vai<onr of the oxide of tho mehil. 'i’he oxide then condenses in tlio form of a dark-grey powder, which is of considerable value as a. haso for nonfouling paints. Turn “.Star” antimony can be obtained by a simple refining pn>ce.ss, Which consists of healing together the oxide ami two needle antimony. The oxygen ot ono combines with the sulphur of the other, to form the volatile compound sulphur dioxide, which instantly passes ou in the form of gas, leaving* the pure molten metal. The company does not intend at present to carry out the last stage of tho process, but to export the needle antimony and the oxide. Tne m*w process, besides lK*ing interesting from a scientific point of view, is a great improvement on the old roasting process, which extended over alK>ut nine- hours, whereas tho whole operation can now he completed in alxMit, on hour and a half. A plapt is to bo at once installed at Alexandra, and work will be in full swing in a few months. Yesterday Mr Charles RiMsfono, a well-known figure in mining circles in Ouago, was apa ted mine-manager.