THE LA MONTE GOLD SAVING PROCESS.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1558, 8 June 1885, Page 2

THE LA MONTE GOLD SAVING PROCESS.

I • ♦ Our telegrams on Satnrday informed as that a company is about to be formed to work the La Monte Gold-saving Process. The following description of the method wa take from the Auckland Herald ? — A large number of oar readers wbo are interested in the mining iu<lustry have heard of the discoveries of Mr John D. La Monte, who has perfected a method of obtaining the gold, silver, or copper, or other precious iu*Ui« from quartz, &c, by the use of tire. Mr La Monte is now in Auckland, and intends to visit the Thames district. He is to leave Auckland »n Satnrday morning, and will not only visit the Thames mines proper, bat those in the Karangahake, Ohinemuri, and Te Aroha districts. The result of a conversation with Air La Monte is favourable to the opinion that his visit (• the Thames district will be attended with benefit to the mines, as well as to the shareholders. The difficulties to be encountered woe freely discussed, and the invention appears well calculated to dispose of them all. The qnartz by this process, is reduced to a fluid state, and the gold melted out nrider conditions which prevent its loss. The fuel required is comparatively limited, the sulphur, &c, in the qnartz supplying much ot the reducing heat required upon an average, about 95 per cent, of gold in the stone is saved by this process, aud the cost of working is comparatively smalL In some cases, where the ore* are not so refractory, even a higher precentage of the gold or silver in the stone is obtained, bnt an averase of 95 per cent saved will wor* a revolution -it tl»« Thames. The i:iV ntion is known as " The Water

Jacket Air Blast Smelting Furnace. As an instance of what can be done by its use, we may state what has takes place at the Sunny Corner Silver-mining Company, New boutn 'Wales. When Mr La Monte went there the Company's mine was comparatively valueless, owing to the refractory character of the ore. He told the directors what he conld do for them, bat they would not believe him. They ; said they would incur no expense in erecting the furnace, &c, and at last he erected one at his own cost, under an arrangement with the Company. Ninety day's running of that furnace aot only enabled the Company to pay for the furnace and all expenses connected with it, but for the assaying apparatus, &.■»., and paying dividends to the value of £16,000 besides. This is a Startling result. The furnace is so constructed that it may be run night and day continuously for any length of time. The smallest si2e used is one capable of dealing with 10 tons of ore per diem, bat Mr La Monte considers thoso of a capacity of 30 to 40 tons of ore per day a far more, profitable size. Furnaces, however, have been constrnuted capable of dealing -with 140 t«ns of ore per diem. i