SEPARATION OF GOLD FROM QUARTZ.

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 598, 25 December 1869, Page 2

SEPARATION OF GOLD FROM QUARTZ.

A short time ago a lecture was delivered in Ballarat, on the use of caustic soda in the separation of gold from quartz. The experiment was afterwards tried at the Thames, the result being narrated in the Times as follows:

" The attention of certain gentlemen interested in mining matters at the Thames was arrested by reading an article on the separation of gold from quartz, and a few experiments were tried, under difficulties at first, one of which was that the caustic soda had to be manufactured on the spot, which completely corroborated the statements made by Mr Shires, and it is strongly recommended to machine owners to give it a trial.

" Our own experiment was in a small berdan, and the effect was really magical in cases where mundic was almost the larger part of the stone, and where, on previous occasions, it had been almost impossible to amalgamate the gold. On adding the solution of caustic soda, the amalgamation of the free gold was effected at once.

" Its good effect was especially seen at the cleaning up, when, instead of the pan containing a considerable quantity of a drossy mixture of mundic and silver, it was found to be quite smooth and clear, and little difficulty was met with in washing off the the remaining loose mundic and sand. " Our modus operandi was simply to have a large tank containing sufficient water for the time that the berdan was in use, containing the soda in solution, and communicating tvith the berdan by means of a pipe and stopcock. In a battery of course some other means would have to be made use of, and we should think it would be a matter of small difficulty to have a somewhat similar arrangement. For instance, the solution of caustic soda might be contained in a tank to itself, independent of the water supply, and might be supplied by means of a pipe and tap communicating with the water trough in front of the stamper box. The amount of the solution required would thus be completely at the command of the amalgamator."