The La Monte Process.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1588, 22 December 1885, Page 4

The La Monte Process.

The Thames Advertiser of Wednesday, •> , • m an account 1 of the smelting operations, says :— " The ore intended for treatment -^Hs m the place pulverised m the \,, gtpn«-crusherto about the size. ®f large pebbles. It is then carefully sorted and -sampled, .and- assays are. made for the purpose of ascertaping its value (for pur:l''"'6liase ;i frbm'.ithe;^rQdiicer»)',.and analyses V. '.m, prder, to decide; upon the natn re and quantity and fluxes required. , These consist chiefly of. iron-stone and . lime, the Htter being obtained either .-»■ from the 'bed discovered near Tararu ■•-' Cemeter^, or by-the use i of ordinary sea- -• The J fire being, lighted, tbe» ore arid fluxes are iritrbdQceS into the furnace.in the required proportions .through \ „ the feed doors. atthe level of the upper floor of. the building. The powerful blast from the rotary blower is admitted to the furnace by iuyers, or openings ;in the Water-jackets. • As ; the ores are smelted, the metals which they contain ,'. fall ihfo the lead. bath m the base of the ! ? . : furnace, forming : ari alloy with the ; mbl- . , . lea^ • wifch'^hica the receptacle is '< ■''■'" charged. The 1 bullion gradually overflows into the square well situated diit- .<.; .-j 'side theifumaee, whence it is ladled out/; i- and r run" into moulds, forming 'ignots of <r •'•: about 801bs weight. These are* removed to the refinery, where the bullion: is i »?par».ted w frpni.the lead, and finally puri- ■■■. fied m readiness for the market; The slag formed by the refuse runs continually from the ends of the furnace, which are tapped alternately; by the workmen;' the red hot liquid passes down an iron V tgattfr, wherefit^ is^augh>/V» large yes- ? sels/ahdißonveyedpTiL irollies to the rear of the smelting shecj.:>^During yesterday the bullisn v "flowlH i freeiy, and large nuraben of igriots were moulded, containing •*>.t large"^ proportions of-lead/anda'smaUer percentage of -gold and silver. There? ■X' are leasthatf ipOftonsof ore oh hand; but j^-iMrAL'a'tfiß' informs l us^ that this wiiribe •nfliciidnt'"to kfeep "the fafnace supplied for nearly a week. The consumption of • 1 >om -yesterday m the 'early; 'staged -wjas • very large, approaching, to his estimate, m6rethanf2o'tijns i a day; butthis ratelis • > vjot. expected» to be\ maintained. , The '/ Snjelting^operatibnrare f being v carritd on ..under, the > supervision. of Mr;Stern«j the head smelter of Mr. LaMonte's staff, and, „..:'. should ,,nto t accident occur, they will he j epntinu«d until all. the :ore ;purchased by^ m the.companyhas been disposed of. Ina-'* mense interest m the operations is shown*, and Beverai hundred persons visited the premises yeiterday. ; ;