0.—3

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well H l , and plate H 2 . The crushed ore is carried on by the flow of water, assisted by the oscillation, to the wells M, M l , M 2, and M s in succession, the " douche " maintaining the contents of the wells in a state of agitation, with the result that the packing of the material is avoided, and the heaviest particles settle in the first well, the lighter in the next, and the lighter still in the next, and so on, the lightest worth retaining settling in the last well, while the valueless gangue is carried away over the end of the table. The contents of the wells may be-drawn off periodically by means of the outlet plugs, to which reference has already been made, or a continuous discharge may be obtained by allowing the accumulation of material to force its way through an adjustable opening in the bottom of any or all of the wells. The employment of the plate H 8 obviates a small loss of quicksilver or amalgam, which is sometimes liable to occur owing to the globules leaping the well H l , or being in such an extremely fine state of division that they are carried over the well with the water. When depressions such as h are present these fine globules are retained therein before they reach the well H l , and are unable to leave these depressions until by agglomeration with other retained globules they grow to a size sufficient to enable them to be carried onwards. The curved, approximately hemispherical depressions employed according to this invention have proved to be most effective in obviating all loss of quicksilver or amalgam during concentration owing to the above-described action. Compressed gas or gases or any desired fluid may be employed in the " douche " in the place of air or water. When this process has been carefully carried out, and the base metals thus reduced to a minimum in the gangue, it will be found that an extremely small proportion of solvent for the precious metals is required as compared with the solvent required when the gangue has been prepared by other methods now in use, especially when copper is among the base metals to be eliminated and the solvent used is chlorine. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,— 1. In the treatment of refractory ores subjecting them to an oxidizing and decomposing agent as a preliminary to roasting for the purpose described. 2. In the treatment of refractory ores "boiling" the roasted ore with water under pressure greater than that of the atmosphere for the purpose described. 3. A process of treatment for refractory ores in which they are first oxidized or decomposed, next roasted, and then boiled in water under pressure for the purpose described. 4. In a concentrator for the treatment of metalliferous ore or deposit the combination with one or more amalgamated plates and one or more quicksilver wells of one or more water wells with or without a " douche," substantially as described. 5. The complete process for the treatment of metalliferous ore by which the ore is first crushed, then concentrated, then oxidized or decomposed, then roasted, then " boiled " under high pressure, and lastly subjected to a solution treatment, substantially as described. 6. In a concentrator for the treatment of metalliferous ore or deposit the combination with a water well of an air, water, or other "douche," substantially as described. 7. In an amalgamator for the treatment of metalliferous ore or deposit an amalgamating-plate having depressions such as h, substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 8. In the treatment of refractory ores a furnace divided by the hearth into flues, and adapted for use either as a muffle or as a reverberatory furnace or as a half-muffle, substantially as described. 9. In the treatment of refractory ores a furnace of substantially triangular form in cross-section divided by the hearth into flues, and adapted for use either as a muffle or as a reverberatory furnace or as a half-muffle, substantially as described. 10. In this treatment of refractory ores a furnace-hearth curved transversely. 11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete furnace substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. 12. In the treatment of refractory ores the combination with a furnace-hearth of one or more ploughs or conveyors such as D 2 constructed and operating substantially as and for the purpose described. Dated this 3rd day of March, 1898. Elizabeth Barnston Parnell.

Improvements in the Treatment of Ores, Tailings, and the like, and Apparatus therefor, the Invention being also in part adapted for the Treatment of Sewage. I, John Poole, of Coolgardie, Western Australia, but at present of London, England, mining engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "Improvements in the Treatment of Ores, Tailings, and the like, and Apparatus therefor, the Invention being also in part adapted for the Treatment of Sewage," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: — . My invention relates to improvements in the treatment of pulverised ores and to apparatus therefor, the invention being particularly applicable to gold- and silver-bearing ores, tailings, slimes, and the like which are to be treated by cyanide or other like gold and silver solvent solutions, the invention being also in part adapted for the treatment of sewage. In the accompanying drawings is illustrated apparatus forming part of my invention, and for carrying same into effect. In these drawings Fig. lis an elevation of same. Fig. 2is a plan. Fig. 3is an end view looking from the right hand. Fig. 4 is a part elevation of one set of the settling-tanks employed. Fig. 5 is an elevation on an enlarged scale showing one form of the raking or harrow teeth, and Fig. 6is an elevation showing another form of tooth. The apparatus is shown as arranged in a suit-