MAGNETIC SEPARATION OF IRON SAND.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3194, 23 September 1881, Page 4

MAGNETIC SEPARATION OF IRON SAND.

One of the American contributions for the Electric Exhibition at Paris ia a modification of Mr Edison's magnetic separator for the treatment of iron sand found in large quantities on tho south of Long Island, and in other localities on sea coasts. According to Vr Ratchelor'a statement to the Yaw York Evening Post, the ' ong Island sand contains 26 per cent, of the finest iron known. Innumerable atfc?'tni?B !mvp been made to separate the sand, and magnetic plate* have been us-ed before, but with no success on account of the presence of what is known as titani-e iron, a substance which spoils iron. Stdison discovered that titanite iron wiw less magnetic than tho pure iron particles, and constructed his separator with that fact in view. The sand falls a distance of fo infect, in a thin stream, frnm a slit in a V shaped box holding aboufc a ton. Under this box is a receiver divided into two compartments, the dividing partition being placed nearly under the slit in the eand reservoir and parallel with it. If no magnet ia brought into play, the sand all falls into one side of the box ; but when a powerful magnet is brought near enough to act upon the falling shower, the pure iron particles are deflected in their fall, and fly on tho other side of the partition. Tho particles of titanite of iron are not attracted equally with the iron, and are not deflected sufficiently to fall into the compartment with the pure iron. A company has been formed for the extraction of iron from Long Island sand, and is now afc work with its first machine at Quogue, near Moriches, on the Great Bouth Bay. This machine, which cost $700 to make, is managed by one boy, who keeps six men and two carts busy bringing sand for his hopper. It treats 100 tons of sand a day, producing about 20 tons of pure iron, costing $1 a ton to produce and selling for $6.