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THE WEEKLY AKIZOMAN,
S. J. JONES & Co., Editors and Proprietors.
TTTBAO, ARIZONA, JULY 21, 1859.
Vol. t-r-No. 22.
HE ARIZONIAN,
A WfiEKIiY PAPER,
devoted to the general interests
op Arizona.
teu.ms:
Thrco Dollars per annum, in advance
KATES OP advertising:
Ono Square, of 10 linos, or less, ono insortion, $2 00
" " " " thrco " 4 00
" " " " ono quartor, 10 00
" . " " " " one year, 30 00
All communications and business lotters must bo
addressed to The Arizokiak, Tubac, Arizona.
oro is generally roasted and passed onco on available for this process, they have to undergo
twice through the furnace, to separate from tltfLtho process of roasting in a reverberating fur-
metal tne accompanying rocic ot tne vein, anu i nacc.
to expel most ot the volatile metals, lh re';
sultinsr metallic product is then smelted toj
thor, with certain proportions of lead. This,:
mixture is run into cakes, which are then sul&
jected to a species of sweating process under
For tho Arizonian.
The Reduction of Silver from its Ores.
To many of your readers engaged in mining
operations, a few notes on the different meth
ods employed to reduce silver from its ores may
not be uninteresting, but these necessarily must
bo confined to the general principles of the met
allary of silver ouly.
Tho reduction of some of the useful metals
from their ores by fusion was well known by the
ancients, reaching beyond the time when regu
lar records were made in writing, and probably
even beyond that period when this was invented.
The reduction by the aid of quicksilver is, how
ever, comparatively new, and if quicksilver was
used at ally- it was only employed for the extrac
tion of virgin gold from its ores. Fusion also
must have been an uncertain and mysterious
operation, simply based on experiments or ac
cidental discovery, and not as in our days on
well established and proved principles of chem
istry. The first successful application of mer
cury for the extraction of silver from its ores was
made in the sixteenth century by Bartolome de
Medina in Mexico, whence it was transplanted
by Fernandez Velasco to Peru. Attempts to
introduce it into the mines of Europe failed, and
only two hundred yedrs afterward the subject
was revived by Baron Bern of Vienna. In the
seventeenth century Alo.izo Barba, an Anda
luz, while in South America, discovered a con
siderably modified process, by which the ores
were treated in a copper kettle, from whence it
received the name of Caze (a kettle) amalga
mation. Baron-Bern's experiments were based
on this discovery. His modified plan was par
tially successful, but still the process was im
perfect. This partial success, however, caused
intelligent miners to investigate the matter fur
ther, and resulted finally in tho erection of tho
greatest, and even now most perfect, amalga
mation works, at Halsboucken, near Freyburg
in Saxony, from which it was universally called
the Freyburg amalgamation. After great alter
ation, barrels were substituted for kettles, and
in place of agitation, these were so arranged as
to revolve on an axle. By tar the greatest
mass ot silver is extracted by either of the fore
going process of amalgamation, It must, how
ever, not be supposed that they can be indiscri
minately applied ; on the contrary comparison
of ores, climate, and locality and material
have to determine which is the most proper
method to make mining pay. In most instan
ces the Freyburg or barrel process will succeed
where others fail, provided this is under the
surveillance ot a good, practical chemist.
During the last fifteen years a new process to
extract the silver, without tho use of quicksilver,
has been introduced by Mr. Augustiu, a metal
lurgist, from the Mansfield mines in Germany,
which for products of the furnace and certain
classes of ores, promises complete success, and
an abolishment of all amalgamation : it is called
Augustin's process of extracting silver.
Another new process has lately been intro
duced by a Mr. Ziervogel, irom tho same loca
lity. Wo find then in use
1st. Tho Furnace.
2d. The Mexican or patio amalgamation.
2d. The Caze (or kettle) amalgamation.
4th. The Freyburg or barrel do.
5th: Augiistin's method by salt, without mcr
cury.
Cth. Ziervogol's method, without salt or mer
cury.
NO. 1 FURNACE.
Ores are generally turned over to the furnace
when they contain considerable quantities of
ieaa, copper, ana some other metals ; also when
fuel IS VCrV cheat) and ll.hunrln.nt wlinn n rirrrv.
rous climate prevents chemical action in tlio
patio, and tor some other reasons. Tho ores
are then smelted for tho predominating metal
If this bo lead, a simple refining after fusion
will oxidize the lead, forming litharge, and
leave the silver nearly pure on tho herd of the
icuoiDg furnace. If copper predominates, tho
NO. 3 AMALGAMATION (PE CAZE,) IN KETTLES.
This mode of amalgamating silver ores was
discovered in the seventeenth century by Alonzo
Barba in South America. It i3 as follows :
After tllfi orn U finolv rrrnnnrl in tlin nrrAatrn
moderate fire, which causes tho greatest quar&j UDOUt 150 pounds 0f it is pincoa ;n a copper
tityofthc lead in combination with the silver tij Icettlo, and the sides heightened by wooden
ooze out of the cakes, leaving these honojSffl staves. Salt is added, and the whole mixed
combed skeletons behind, consisting of the ortfi? with a wooden shovel, with a sufficiency of wa
ginal material, (deprived of its silver) with som ter to give it a pasty consistence. To this is
lead. The silver lead is then refined in thq;then added from six to eight times the quantity
same way as tnac optaineu irom tne mrnacQj pf quicksilver as silver is supposed to be in the
from lead ores. This proce.ss of separation hnav
been superceded in most largo establishment
of tho barrel amalgamation.
most remarkable that such a complicated pro-!
i.i i i :.. ii '
uusa. uuuiu rnivu uuuu bu iiu pei luuiuu in uiusu
ore, as proved by assay. A slow fire is then
lighted, and the mass stirred with the wooden
St shovel. From time to time trial siskrvr urn
no. z Mexican ou patio amalgamation. made in the horn spoon to sec whether more
No material alteration has been made sinceJ quicksilver is required. This mauipulation
its discovery in the sixteenth century, and it lgu justs irom two to lour hours, when the mass is
emptied into tho washing apparatus, where the
earthy matter is washed off. The kettle is at
times without the aid of chemistry. This pro-once filled with new material. By this process
cess is principally used in the Spanish AmericanRjlQss quicksilver is lost than by that of the patio,
countries, aud excellently adapted for theniHgbut the residue of tho earthy matter contains
their climate and their sterile plains and barrenjftnuch more silver. For this reason it is only
mountains, their want ot tuel and difficult acccssfcused for very rich ores, and the residue is re-
for transportation of heavy machinery. By farworked in the patio. Mazistrul is used at times,
the greatest portion of the silver is reduced by
this process, lhe process is as lollows :
but with little profit, owing to its injurious ef
fects on the copper kettle.
The ore is first freed from any valueless rockJ-ifo. 4 the VREYnuhG ou barrel amalgamator.
ii i-.i i 1 T riM j:cv - !. u.. r ii t...
then they are separated and sorted, thencei
crusneu, anu nnany ground to an impalpable
powder, in the rude but well known arrastras.if from its small, loss of quicksilver. I have only
or horse-mills. I his powder is transferred to room to give the general routine ot this process ;
This differs principally from the patio by the
rapid reduction of tho silver from its ores, and
tho " Patio," a floor closely paved with rocks
It is there spread over circular surfaces of dif
ferent sizes, and but eight inches or ono toot-!
thick. Here they are mixed with from two to
five per cent, of salt, first with shovels, and af
terwards by treading it well with horses, mules
or oxen. Next day this is renewed for half an
hour, and then one-half or one per cent, of raa-
zistral (copper pyrites) is added, alter which
mixing is continued. These additions are called
"incorporation." After this, mercury is.sprin-
kled over, by being poured through a canvass
bag, after which the whole mass is again well
trodden by animals. Their treading is resumed
every other day, until a trial is made in a horn
spoon, by washing of the mixture, shows that
all the quicksilver has been taken up by the
silver. It requires generally two more addi
tions of mercury and the necessary mixing of
the ores before the silver is all converted into
amalgum. This process requires careful watch
ing, and a skilful, experienced operator. Maz
istral has the property of heating the mass ; if
used in excess, this will be too hot (as it is
called,) if not enough, the mass will be " cold."
The consequence of the mass being too hot, will
be a loss ot quicksilver, by conversion into chlo
ride, or calomel. It too cold, the chemical ac
tion upon the whole process ceases more or less.
This last is remedied by adding more mazistral,
the lormer state by adding small quantities ot
lime, bimple as this may seem, it is not so la
practice, and requires a great deal of experi
ence. The quantity of quicksilver used for tho
ores depends upon their richness. In some
parts of Mexico, if the ton of ore averages three
pounds of silver, about thirty pounds of quick
silver is used, of which four pounds or more are
invariably lost. When the amalgamation in
completed, that is, when all the silver in the
ground oro has entered into combination with
the mercury, the mass is brought into large vats,
where, by a process of washing, the earthy par
ticles are floated off, while, owing to specific
gravity, the silver and mercury remains behind.
This residue is pressed through a canvass bag,
which permit tho passage of the liquid mercury,
but not ot that com Dined with tne silver as
amulgam, which remains behind in proportion
of six to one per cent of silver. This silver
amalgam is subjected in an iron or earthen re
tort to a red heat for some time, which causes
the mercury to evaporate, and in this gassy
state it is conducted by iron pipes or other con
trivance, into a vessel under water, where it
condenses, assuming its original liquid lorm.
The silver remains behind in a beautuul porous
mass, called Plata Pina in Mexico, in which
shape it is ready for market, or it is run into
bars by simple lusion. The whole process, after
taking tho ground ore into the patio, lasts from
twelve days to two and thrco months. This
difference is caused by manipulation, compo-
i. -t ii - ii ! r
suion oi me oi us, unu uiu I'lumuu, wius winuu
will consume only twenty days in tho summor
to be reduced, may require two or three months
in the winter, In order to make some ores
more would be out of place, and useless. The
ore, as in tho patio, is first sorted, crushed,
ground fine, and sifted. Then the ore is mixed
.with from live to ten per cent, ol salt, and tor
four to five hours roasted in a large reverbera
ting furnace: additions of other substances are
needed at times. The object of roasting is to
expel most of the volative metals, as sulphur,
arsenic, antimony, &c, to convert others into
ijxides, and the silver into chloride, which takes
"lace, when the salt decomposes. This requires
d cavel'ul watch. The ore requires continual
stirring up, to expose constantly new surfaces to
the action of the heat. Roasting may be defi
cient, or it may have been carried on to excess.
in which case it is termed to bo dead. Either
state will cause the loss of silver and quicksil
ver, and moreover produces a very impure sil
ver, other metals having gone in the amalgam
of the operation next to be described. If this is
the case, another operation of separating and
refining is needed. After roasting, the ores are
ready for the barrels, which are generally of a
size to hold halt a ton ot ore, and nearly as
much more ot other matter, lo this halt u ton
of ore, water is added, sufficient to produce a
kind ot paste. Alter some time some fifty lbs
of mercury are added, regulated by the. richness
of the ores; also a small quantity of iron or
copper. Whether copper' or iron is to be used,
can only :bo ascertained by a practical chemist,
as it donends entirely on the comnosition of the
ores. After this the barrels are slowly revolved
around, on iron axles for a space of eighteen or
twenty hours, in which time all the silver is amal
gamated with the mercuiT. lhis is now settled
by a slower motion, then tapped, filtered and
retorted, as in the usual mode by the patio
process. The earthy mass is then run into the
vat, where, by the aid ot continued agitation and
water, it is worked off. leavincr anv strav narti-
cles of silver amalgam and mercury behind.
The whole operation, alter the ore is roasted,
occupies from twenty-two to twenty-four hours.
Tho silver is more pure as that from the patio,
and the loss of mercury is . far less, being but 3 J
ounces to 8 ounces ot silver produced
' The barrel process, to be successful, requires,
however, in tho very start, the outlay of largo
capital and powerful machinery ; when these are
wanting, and other things are lavorable, the
patio is to be preferred. In these different me
thods of silver extraction, some silver is always
lost. This loss is not permanont m tho same
mine, nor aliko in different localities. No rule
for estimating it can be given. But experience
has proven it to be greatest m kettle amalga
nmtion, next in the furnace, next in tho patio,
and last in the barrels.
5 DISSOLYINO OF ORES WITHOUT MERCURY.
Ores containtng lead cannot be subjected to
this process, but those of coppery composition
may be profitably treated by it. Tho process
was discovered by the mining engineer Augus
tin, in Germany, and has been named Augustin's
silvpr extraction The ores by this process aro
subjected to the same treatment as those used
in the barrel amalgamation, until after roasting.
But here, in place of rotation in barrels, it is
daawn red hot from the furnace, and thus
thrown into large wooden vats partially filled
with a strong ley of salt and water. Here it
remains for some time, and the chloride of sil
ver is taken up by the solution, which, after a
while, is filtered, and the silver precipitated with.
cement copper : it is then washed, melted, and
run into bars. The solid- residue, if rich in
copper, is then smelted, and any copper held
in solution in the ley is precipitated, as cement
copper with iron. But little more time is re
quired for this process than for that of the bar
rels ; little more wood is consumed ; no quick
silver is used nor lost, and tho use ot powerful
machinery is dispensed with. As an offset, how
ever, more salt is used up, and the reputation of
tho whole process is not yet so well established
as that of lhe Freyburg amalgamation. Immense
establishments, however, are now- in successful
operation in Germany, having in some places
been substituted for amalgamation. It would
be ridiculous for any one but an experienced,
practical chemist, to attempt a trial of it on a.
large scale.
SILVER EXTRACTION WITHOUT SALT OR MERCURY.
A now process called Ziervogels,' has lately
been introduced, where even salt is dispensed
with: it only diners from the foregoing in tho
roasting. The silver, in place of being conver
ted into a chloride by the addition of salt, is
changed into sulphate, in which state it is so
luble in water. For products of the furnace it
has been successful in the Mansfield mines,
where Mr. Ziervogel, an engineer, is operating
on a large scale ; but for ores, no such result
can yet be claimed in its favor : future experi
ments, however, may remove all difficulties.
Should this be so, an immense revolution in tho
raetajluiery of metals will take place, and no
country will reap greater benefits by it tbaiT
Arizona.
There is mo doubt but that we are on the eve
of great changes and discoveries in the reduc
tion of the useful and the precious metals. Tho
old clumsy horses, the uncertain and often un
fathomable mysteries of the furnace, will have
to make place for tho exact chemical labora
tory, and its new operations. Most of our pre
sent methods in use in metallurgy are certainly
behind the present strte of chemistry. H. E.
NO.
This process of extracting silver from furnace
products and from silver ores is comparatively
new, having only come in uso within tho last
fifteen years ; but for certain classes of ores, it
Eromises to supercede all tho other methods
creafter. A great many of the Arizona ores
accm i so particuiary iVUpWU ivr wu 1'WWVM.
TnE World as seen through the Press.-
The world just now in spite of its churches, its
ministers, and its religious institutions, seems
in a bad way. In the newspapers there is not
much except wife-killing, and other descrip
tions of murder, swindling, burglary, defalca
tions of confidential clerks, eloppment of wives,
husbands, and daughters; marriages of white3
to negroes. The whole social life of the coun
try seems out of geer, domestic virtue broken
up, and the people intent only on the gratifica
tion of lust, avarice and passion. Why is this,
and what has led to it? We believe one great
cause is in the laxity of family discipline,, and
in the gradual decay of the stern religious prin
ciples of our fathers, the prevalence of sham
piety and hypocrisy. Much of this may be at
tributed to the abominable "isms" of the day,
behind which so jnany find refuge. We have
had a full surfeit of all sorts, setting out with a
kink in the brain, a crazy, mistaken philan
thropy about freedom for niggers ; the next
brood was Fourierism, or the herding of people
in masses like sheep, with none of the sacred
privacies of a home. Next came "spiritual
ism, in which some foolish people regard as or
acles certain raps and curious noises on tables,
bureaus and walls. Then we have women's
rights lecturers, who induced women to believe
that nature had fitted her for man's avocations,
and that she was oppressed and trampled upon
by her husband a slave which it was a sin to
endure. The next step was "affinity," or tho
right to select tho father of her children as
though sho had not had tho JrigLt from tho
dawn of civilization. This lead3 to "free love,"
on a basis little less open and brazen than that
of the outcast courtesans of society. We have
now the fruits of all this miserable stuff 4in the
uprooting of social virtue, Sickles tragedies,
wife murders, seductions, elopements,., white
and negro marriages, until tUO lflind. sickens at
tho coiuemplata,.
