1892-93.] NOTES ON THE AMALGAMATION PROCESS. 367 



padlocked, thus preventing the stealing of amalgam, which, as we are 

 all too well aware, has been practised too often in the past. 



Thus the amalgamation process stands to-day the result of develop- 

 ment from the old " streaming for gold " mill to the stamp mills, and 

 mills of Crawford type ; from the process of Vanoccio Biringuccio to 

 the Patio, Barrel or Freiberg, and Pan or Washoe process. The use of 

 chemicals seems to have received a fair share of consideration, although 

 we are a little startled by the statement made in an anonymous Latin 

 account of amalgamation similar to the Patio in which ground horns, 

 bricks, and sulphur are added to the usual complement of chemicals, and 

 said to have been practised in Guatemala by the writer ; the sulphur 

 astonishes us when we know the dire results of its coming in contact 

 with either the gold or mercury in the amalgamation process. The 

 applications in November, 1864, by Dr. Wurtz, of New York, and in 

 February, 1865, by Mr. Crookes, F.R.S., of London, for the patent for 

 the use of sodium amalgam in the amalgamation process, Wurtz for 

 America, and Crookes for Britain, revealed the fact that both had been 

 experimenting on the same principle for the benefit of science without 

 the knowledge of the other. This is at least one point of general interest 

 in the amalgamation process ; but although extensively tried both in 

 California and Australia, the results obtained differed greatly, and it was 

 not used as much as had been expected, although up to the present it 

 has its partisans, and to a certain extent, it had a beneficial influence. I 

 have noticed that mill men prefer mercury that has been formerly used 

 which is known to contain gold or silver amalgam, as it is supposed to 

 be more effective in absorbing the metals than the clean mercury. The 

 amalgamation process, according to some, has reached its zenith ; 

 whether this is so or not is hard to say, whether more brilliant inventions 

 and discoveries will be made in the application of the anfelgamation 

 process remains to be seen. Time alone will tell. One thing is apparent 

 to all, namely, that other chemical processes are gradually gaining 

 ground and recognition, although our dear old friend is holding the 

 ground bravely, and it may be said in conclusion that it can look back 

 at its past and honorable history, as a nobleman looks back over his 

 long line of descent, and may treat with scorn the upstart claimants 

 of a day for the honorable position of the Amalgamation Process in 

 Metallurgy. 



Note. — A number of attempts have been made to apply electricity in 



the amalgamation process by means of sending electric currents through 



amalgamated rifles, terraces and aprons ; noticeable among others was 



the machine invented by one Charles M. Dobson in 1887, in Toronto, 



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