MAKING GOLD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1236, 23 April 1914, Page 4

MAKING GOLD.

SECRET SAID TO BE

BY AH

SOLV KD

AID PR ALIA NT AL C H KM IS’*

One of the world's greatest proolr/r,: (.-ays lhe Sydney Sun), to solve which the brainiest men of all ages since the dawn of civilisation devoted thei r lives without success, has been mastered by an Australian amateur —at least the Australian amateur says so. A man who has taught himself the secrets of chemistry has found the “Philosopher’s Stone,” or its equivalent, in the realm of chemistry. He can, he says, manufacture gold, and as soou as he can have .the necessary machinery erected in Sydney he will begin to turn out chunks of the precious metal, building up a fortune for'himself that will make the Count of Monte Christo a domain-dosser by comparison.

MISFORTUNE TURNED THK TIDE

The alchemist who claims to have made this wonderful discovery is Mr J. B. Mitchell, oi Bajool, near Rockhampton, Queensland, one time kuown in Sydney trades union circles, whose handiwork even now remains here in the lorm of the stone turnings on the newest section of the Lands Office. That work, indeed, indirectly played an important part in Mr Mitchell's researches, for had he not inh.ued sufficient dust to compel him to relinquish that occupation he would probably have still been giving an attractive appearance to building fronts. As it was, be says, misfortune turned the tide of bis life, lie ceased to take dust into his system, and he retired to a quiet little farm, where he was able to replenish bis wasted frame and to concentrate, bis whole attention on the study of chemicals and their influence on metals, always bis hobby. He read pro liGcal 1a be always did —and learning the methods of the ancient and more rrcent alchemists, he was able to follow his investigations at the most advanced point, undeterred by the knowledge that the scientists had agreed that the line of research along which he proposed to travel would lead him to failure and despair. Now, after many years of study, of mingled hope and disappointment, the end is said to have been achieved.

HOW COLO IS MAJH

Naturally it i« not proposed to put forward the recipe for gold with the same unconcern that the housewife distributes her discovery of a new and successful process of scoue making. It will be kept a secret as far as the vital processes are concerned, but Mr C. W. Mitchell, a city contractor, with au office at Pendeunis Chambers, who is a son of the discoverer, volunteers the information that the basic metal is refined silver. Here, again, is the scientific text hook teaching turned topsy-turvey. University professors have adopted the hypothesis that lighter metals may be evolved from heavier ones, but that there is evidence against any hope of the opposite process. Yet Mr Mitchell says he makes gold—a heavy metal—from silver —a lighter one. How is it done ? Mr Mitchell knows. The refined silver, the younger Mr Mitchell said, is submitted to chemical treatment which reduces it to liquid form. Then ii is consolidated, chemically treated again, and placed in a furnace. After three weeks it is removed, once more cheuNcally treated, then reduced to liquid form, and finally distilled. The distilling is the most interesting process of all, because it is by this means that the change is noted. During the various operations the metal retains its silvery appearance, but when the distilling process is reached the change has occurred and the transmutation of metals, to bring about which alchemists of centuries ago would have sacrificed their lives, is claimed to be an*accomplished fact. “will stand the test.” The distilling process is really the process ot purification, and the reward is in the production,

drop by drop, of what is described ! by Mr Mitchell, juu., as “the real < bluff.” It is not the work of a < day. It takes six months from i the time the silver is first treated ' before the last d-’op of gold is re- ' ceived from the still, but when it : begins to > ield it goes on as long i as it is fed. The quality of the gob l is not absolutely the same as the thoroughly refined metal taken from the earth, but it is declared to be better than the sovereign which we carefully fold away in our little leather purses, and it is consequently of as good a standard as is required, Mr Mitchell says it will stand any test —acid as well as fire. It falls short of the natural metal only because it hardly reaches the specific weight standard. In the same way that constant experimenting has improved the quality of the gold in the past, however, the quality could no doubt be raised in the future ; but Mr Mitchell points out Ural the gold is already as good as any gold the public sees, aud even if it were brought up to the stan dard of absolute purity by re-treat-ment, it would have to be mixed with an alloy before it could be put to use, so that no good purpose would be served by rendering the manufacture more laborious. COST NOT HEAVY. The cost of turning out a pound’s worth of gold by Mr Mitchell’s process is between ns and ias, aud as the present methods are admittedly crude it is anticipated that this figure will be very much reduced when the machinery is improved aud the production is in pounds weight instead of in ounces. It is claimed ihat an ounce weight of silver can he con verted into an ounce weight of gold, so that nothing is lost in the operation, aud the building up process is solely due to chemical influence. The immediate intention of Mr Mitchell is to have a plant erected in Sydney and to go right ahead with the making of the precious metal. There is no need to solicit the support of the public. The process is a family secret, and though it is expected that it will ultimately become known to the world, at present it is intended to give nothing away. manufacture of radium. In the course of his investigations, Mr Mitchell, senr., is reported to have discovered another secret. He says he has found a way to dissolve certain metals. He has not found a universal solvent which, by some of the alchemists, was made the basis of their inves , tigatious, but he discovered a chemical which reduces gold, , silver, and many other metals, to a liquid, although it has no effect : upon iron or lead, or any of the compositions of iron. But be did | not pursue his researches to a conclusion, and he has not satis , fled himself that it is beyond him to give the world that secret. At present, however, be is not worry- ' jng about that. He is coucentrat- ’ ing his attention upon a higher ■ rung in the ladder of fame. He is making radium his special [ study. What his hope is is not . known.