A NEW QUARTZ - CRUSHING AND GOLu-SAVING HUGH MACHINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2009, 25 August 1892, Page 21

A NEW QUARTZ - CRUSHING AND GOLD-SAVING HUGH MACHINE.

A number of persons interested in mining visited Messrs A. and T. Buits' foundry on Wednesday for the purpose of witnessing the trial of a new quartz-crushing and gold-saving machine, invented by Mr David Mudie, of Victoria. The machine is remarkable for its simplicity of construction. It consists of three semi-cylindrical chambers, each oue a few inches lower than the other, so that the milled material and water flow from oue to the othor. Inside each chamber there is a large iron cheese-shaped crusher, which rolls from side to side when the machine is set in motion and pulverises the quartz. Between each crusher there is a copper-lined well for the quicksilver, ovor which tho mushed material passes. The machine is feil at the top or highest end, the material being reduced in the first chamber to pass through a grating of about 30 mesh, in the second to 80 mesh, and in the third to 200 mesh The machine is worked on the principle ot oacilldtiun like d cudle, and the

quicksilver has the same backward and forward motion, and is brought into close contact with the sand, so that the gold is amalgamated very readily and in a perfect manner. As friction is reduced to the lowest possible point, very little power ia required to work the machine. It will crush from 10 to 50 tons a week, according to the nature of the quartz, and it is said that one-horse power is sufficient to work it. The machine weighs only about seven tons, and being constructed in sections it is very portable. It can also be easily put together by any intell'gent man in a very short space of time. The principal advantages claimed for the machine are a great saving in first cost, transit, erection, and working ; a more perfect amalgamation of the gold than by, the old system of copper plates and wells, and a return of 20 per cent, more gold. A much smaller quantity of water is sufficient, and there is a great reduction in the cost of wear and tear. The hiachine is admirably suited to small parties of miners taking up a claim, being very inexpensive ana easily worked. It has also the further advantage that it does not require to be housed, there being a cover provided for each of the wella, which may be locked ; so that no person except tho one having the key to the lock of the covers can possibly interfere in any way with the amalgam. The machine at Messrs A. and T. Burt's has been constructed by the firm from plan 3 brought from Melbourne by Mr Charles Coote, the patentee's agent for the colonies, and it will be at work at the foundry yurd in Cumberland street until the 31st inst. The trial, which took place on Wednesday, was highly satisfactory, a numher of pr.ctical miners who were present expressing themselves well pleased with the machine. We understand that Mr Coote intends leaving for Melbourne On September 1, by the Wnirawpa, but he will be glad tpgiveany one any information about the niachiue at Messr3 A and T. Burt's up to the day of his departure.