Blogs

Automatic Ore Sampling Systems

Table of ContentsOre Sampling System AOre Sampling System BOre Sampling System CTHE LABORATORY SAMPLERSAMPLE MIXER & DIVIDERDO Automatic MILL FEED SAMPLERS WORK The correct sampling of ores is a subject of far greater importance than is usually conceded to it. Of the little which has been published on this subject, the recent paper, is the latest and best, and well worthy

Read More »

Electro Magnetic Separator

The magnetic concentration of iron-ores has been so often and so widely studied and discussed among the members of the Institute that any remarks concerning its general importance, from an economic standpoint, would be superfluous; but it is thought that a description of the Ball and Norton ore-separator, designed for cobbing and separating magnetic iron-ores, indicating its essential differences from

Read More »

Tellurides Process Method

The occurrence of the tellurides of gold and silver, even in small quantities, is so rare that their metallurgical treatment has engaged little attention. A residence of several months at one of the few mines in North America the product of which consists entirely of such ore, has led me to arrange a method for its economical treatment. The mine

Read More »

French Pocket Compass

The Transactions of the Institute contain nothing, as yet, on the subject of pocket-compasses; and in the belief that American miners, explorers, geologists, and engineers will gladly welcome any information about new forms of apparatus, simple in construction and adapted to rapid use, I offer a short description of an improved French combination pocket-compass, which, if once introduced into use,

Read More »

Electrical Accumulators or Storage Batteries

Table of ContentsTHEORYChargeDischarge The broad general distinction between primary and secondary batteries lies in the fact that in the former the current is produced by the consumption of one or both of the elements composing the cell, while in the latter the elements retain their form as such, and merely pass from one state of chemical combination to another. Much

Read More »

Lethal Dose of Cyanide

The chemistry of cyanide solutions is complicated because the cyanide ion forms compounds and complexes with many elements. Some cyanide species are highly toxic whereas others are relatively inert and harmless. Molecular hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is the most toxic form of cyanide. Under most conditions, HCN exists as a gas which readily dissipates or reacts with the environment to form less

Read More »

Roasting Furnace

Invented and first put into use, a “new and useful improvement in rotary ore roasting furnaces,” which was intended “to increase the capacity, effectiveness and working economies of such furnaces.” The following description and accompanying figures are taken from the patent papers: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the feed-end of the Howell rotary furnace, with parts broken away,

Read More »

Testing Aluminum & Metal Alloys

Table of ContentsAluminium Weight-Testing MachineAluminium Impact-Testing MachineAluminium VS Rigidity, Hardness, Brittleness and TemperAluminium ElasticityAluminium ResilienceComparative Bar Elasticity Under Stress by Dead Weight & Live LoadProportions of the Test-BarPHYSICAL TESTS OF METALS AND ALLOYSLeadTinAntimonyZincCopperALLOYS OF THE PRECEDING METALSLead and TinLead and AntimonyCopper and ZincGurley’s BronzeALUMINUMIncrease of Strength and Rigidity of AluminumALUMINUM ALLOYSAluminum and TinAluminum and CopperAluminum BronzeThe Effect of Silicon and Iron on

Read More »

How to Assay Gold Jewellery Scrap

Table of ContentsPROCEDURE FOR ASSAYING GOLD IN GOLD BULLIONPROCEDURE FOR ASSAYING GOLD IN JEWELLERYGOLD ASSAY REPORT This standard prescribes the cupellation or fire assay method for assaying of gold in gold bullion, gold alloys, and gold jewellery and artefacts covered in IS 1417 “How to Assay Gold” Procedure. The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute

Read More »

Magnetite Processing & Extraction Jig

Table of ContentsFrameTubJigElevatorsJigging This Conkling Jig (ore-concentrating machine or jig), as it is called, is not entirely unknown, having been used at several places with more or less success; but as yet, I believe, no drawings of it or records of its work have found a place in print. Although the jig will be found to be merely an adaptation

Read More »

Mineral Identification by Spectroscopy

Table of ContentsSpectroscope to Identify RARE METALSThallium by SpectroscopyTungsten by SpectroscopyRhodium by SpectroscopyPalladium by SpectroscopyOsmium by SpectroscopyIridium by SpectroscopyTellurium by SpectroscopySelenium by SpectroscopyMolybdenum by SpectroscopyBeryllium or Glucinium SpectroscopyZirconium SpectroscopyThorium by SpectroscopeYttrium SpectroscopySpectroscopy of TitaniumSpectroscopy of UraniumLithium by SpectroscopeAPPARATUS FOR Spectroscopic ASSAYINGSpectroscopy Laboratory FIG. 35 gives an idea of the spectroscope and of its different parts. P is a flint glass prism, having a refracting angle of 60° and resting on a brass plate fixed

Read More »

PREPARATION OF BASE SOLUTIONS

PREPARATION OF SOLUTION FOR BASES 1. Boil the finely-divided substance in distilled water. 2. If insoluble, add ¼ its bulk of strong HCl and boil for two or three minutes. 3. If still insoluble, treat a fresh portion with strong HCl and boil for five minutes ; then add an equal volume of water and warm. The majority of substances will dissolve

Read More »

PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION FOR ACIDS

Note 1. Do not boil with Na2CO3 unless necessary. If only alkalies are present it is unnecessary. Note 2. If organic acids and Groups I. and II. or H2CrO4 are present add HCl, and pass H2S before boiling with Na2CO3 to make solution (4). The following should be tested for separately:— HNO3.—Black ring test, with solution of FeSO4 and H2SO4

Read More »

Oxygen Gas

Table of ContentsOxygen Gas Laboratory Experiment IOxygen Gas Laboratory Experiment IIOxygen Gas Laboratory Experiment III Take a few crystals of potassium chlorate (KClO3), place them in a clean dry test-tube, and heat them gently over a small bunsen flame; the salt begins to split, then fuses. Insert into the test-tube a splint of wood, glowing at the point, but do not allow

Read More »

Hydrogen Gas

Table of ContentsHydrogen Gas Laboratory Experiment IHydrogen Gas Laboratory Experiment II Our Hydrogen Gas experiment involves taking one or two grams of zinc, put them in a test-tube, and add a few drops of dilute sulphuric acid; an effervescence takes place, and bubbles of gas rise through the liquid. Put a lighted taper into the test-tube ; a slight explosion takes place, and

Read More »

Nitrogen Gas

Table of ContentsNitrogen Gas Experiment INitrogen Gas Laboratory Experiment II Nitrogen exists in the air, mixed principally with oxygen, so the simplest way to prepare it is to take away the oxygen from the air. Fill the pneumatic trough as before with water, and on the tray stand a bell jar, under which float a small porcelain dish containing a little amorphous phosphorus, as shown

Read More »

Carbon Dioxide Gas

Table of ContentsLaboratory Experiment ILaboratory Experiment IILaboratory Experiment IIILaboratory Experiment IVLaboratory Experiment V Carbon dioxide is about one and a half times heavier than air, so it can be collected by downward displacement. Fit up a flat-bottomed flask with  a thistle funnel and delivery tube, and set up your apparatus as shown in fig. 31. Weigh out about 25 to 30 grams of marble,

Read More »

Nitric Acid Gas

Table of ContentsNitric Acid Gas Laboratory Experiment INitric Acid Gas Laboratory Experiment IINitric Acid Gas Experiment III Take a glass-stoppered retort with a capacity of about 250 c.c. and a long beak; clean and dry it. Weigh out 25 to 30 grams of potassium nitrate and transfer it to the retort through either a glass funnel or an improvised paper funnel, taking care that

Read More »

Nitrogen Monoxide – Nitrous Oxide Gas

Table of ContentsNitrogen Monoxide Laboratory Experiment INitrous Oxide Laboratory Experiment IILaboratory Experiment IIILaboratory Experiment IVNitrogen Dioxide – Nitric Oxide GasNitrogen Dioxide Laboratory Experiment INitric Oxide Laboratory Experiment IILaboratory Experiment IIILaboratory Experiment IV This gas can be prepared from ammonium nitrate, which can be made by neutralising dilute nitric acid with ammonium hydrate. Take some of the nitric acid left over from the last experiments, dilute it with a little water,

Read More »

Ammonia Gas

Table of ContentsAmmonia Gas Laboratory Experiment IAmmonia Gas Laboratory Experiment IILaboratory Ammonia Gas Experiment IIILaboratory Experiment of Ammonia Gas IVLaboratory Experiment with Ammonia Gas V Ammonia Gas is so soluble in water that it cannot be collected as before over water in the pneumatic trough, and as it is lighter than air, fix up your apparatus as shown in fig. 29 and collect it by upward displacement. Mix a

Read More »

Carbon Monoxide Gas

Table of ContentsCarbon Monoxide Gas Laboratory Experiment ILaboratory Experiment with Carbon Monoxide Gas II Take a few crystals of oxalic acid and put them into a dry test-tube, then add a few drops of strong sulphuric acid to them and heat gently over a bunsen flame; an effervescence takes place and a gas is given off, which upon applying a lighted taper

Read More »

Chlorine Gas

Table of ContentsChlorine Gas Laboratory Experiment ILaboratory Chlorine Gas Experiment IILaboratory Experiment Chlorine Gas IIIChlorine Gas Laboratory Experiment IVChlorine Gas Laboratory Experiment VChlorine Gas Laboratory Experiment VILaboratory Experiment with Chlorine Gas VIILaboratory Experiment using Chlorine Gas VIIIOxygen Derivatives of ChlorineLaboratory Oxygen Derivatives of Chlorine Experiment IOxygen Derivatives of Chlorine Laboratory Experiment IILaboratory Experiment Oxygen Derivatives of Chlorine IIILaboratory Experiment IV with Oxygen Derivatives of Chlorine Chlorine is a heavy gas, being about 2½ times heavier than air, so that it can be

Read More »

Hydrochloric Acid Gas

Table of ContentsLaboratory Hydrochloric Acid Gas Experiment ILaboratory Experiment Hydrochloric Acid Gas IIHydrochloric Acid Gas Laboratory Experiment III Our Hydrochloric Acid Gas experiment starts when you place a little sodium chloride in a test-tube and add a drop or two of strong sulphuric acid; an effervescence follows and a gas is given off with a strongly acid pungent odour. NaCl + H2SO4

Read More »