88 TRANSACTIONS OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. [VOL. II. 



53.00 Sulphur, 

 a product was obtained which held — 

 55 per cent. Nickel, 

 15 per cent. Cobalt, 

 6 per cent. Copper, 

 2 per cent. Iron, 

 20 per cent. Sulphur, 

 which is given over to the electrolytical process. 



We now come to thp conversion of Speisses and mattes into crude 

 Nickel. This can be done indirectly in two ways, a dry and a wet. Let 

 us first take the dry way. The Speisses and mattes are roasted strongly 

 with constant stirring in the furnace described before, till a test piece, 

 taken from the mass, does not smell any more of Arsenious or Sulphurous 

 Acid; the last traces of Arsenic and Sulphur are removed by a fusion 

 with Saltpetre and Soda. The fusion can take place in any furnace 

 which is built in such a way as to exclude the formation of reducing 

 gases ; the following reaction takes place : The Sulphur combines 

 with Sodium to form Sodium Sulphate, and sets free Carbon Dioxide. 

 As the heat increases the Sodium Sulphate fuses, the whole mass 

 swells up and Carbon Dioxide escapes, and the remaining traces of 

 Sulphides and Arsenides are laid bare and oxidized by the Saltpetre. 

 When the process is finished no smell of Sulphur Dioxide or Arsenious 

 Acid can be detected. 



We now come to the conversion of Speisses and mattes to Nickel 

 Oxide in the wet way. This is simply a laboratory process on a large 

 scale, and is not often employed. Briefly, it consists in dissolving in Sul- 

 phuric or Hydrochloric Acid, precipitation of Copper, Lead, Arsenic, 

 &c., with Hydrogen Sulphide ; oxidation of Iron by Chlorine or Chlor- 

 ide of Calcium and precipitation of Iron with Carbonate of Calcium ; 

 separation of Cobalt by Chloride of Calcium (in warm and neutral 

 solution) (or Ammonium Sulphate separates Nickel) ; precipitation of 

 Nickel with Chalk or Soda. 



Then the Nickel-hydrate precipitate is ignited in order to convert it 

 into a difficultly soluble condition. The Gypsum which is formed during 

 the process must be removed. This can be done by fusing with Car- 

 bonate of Soda, thereby forming a Sulphate of Sodium and Carbonate of 

 Calcium, both of which can easily be extracted by water containing 

 Hydrochloric Acid. 



The next step is the reduction of oxide to metal. Either Nickel 

 powder is made or small cubes. To make the powder the oxide is 

 stamped together with charcoal and fused in a crucible. To make the 



