REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 1898 r85 



the rolling of the inclosed steel cylinders forces the mercury through 

 the sand most effectively. When sufficient time has elapsed to 

 complete the amalgamation, the amalgamator is stopped, the cover 

 removed, and the amalgamator revolved to a definite point marked 

 on the circumference, where the sand and liquor are allowed to 

 escape, but the mercury is retained. The sand and liquor are led 

 off to vats, where the sand settles to the bottom and allows the 

 liquor to be drawn off to be used again. The sand is shoveled onto 

 the tradings dump. The amalgamator is then ready for a new 

 charge of sand and liquor. The gold is recovered from the amal- 

 gam in the usual manner. 



The mill is operated by steam power ; the boiler being of 60 

 horse power, and the horizontal engine of 50 horse power. It is 

 excellently arranged for its purpose, and is estimated to have a 

 daily capacity of 10 tons. 



Much difficulty has been experienced in obtaining a grinder that 

 would pulverize the quartz sand to the necessary degree of fineness — 

 100 mesh. Several types of machines have been tried, but the 

 quartz wore away the grinding surfaces in a short time and rendered 

 them useless. Another difficulty experienced was that oil from the 

 pulverizer permeated the sand and interfered with the amalgama- 

 tion. The Narod mill, w^hich is now in use, has proved more satis- 

 factory than any other. The Kent mill is also b&ing experimented 

 with, successfully. 



It is stated that the results obtained from three trial runs of the 

 mill have been as follows : 



1st run ; 5 tons of sand yielded $5.90 in gold a ton. 2d run ; 30 

 tons of sand yielded $7. in gold a ton. 3d run ; about 30 tons of 

 sand yielded $7.40 in gold a ton. The superintendent of the mill 

 stated that a recent trial run had been made, during which 100 tons 

 of sand were used, from which gold to the value of $460 was ob- 

 tained, at an estimated cost of $2 50 a ton. Later a quantity of 

 amalgam which had escaped was discovered, from which $70 worth 

 of gold was obtained, making the total value of the run about $530. 

 The sand used is estimated to contain on the average $7.50 worth of 

 gold and a small amount of silver to the ton. The corresponding 

 terrace on the south side of the river, opposite the mill, is said to 

 contain an average value of but 50c to the ton. 



