THE PARKES FURNACE, KARANGAHAKE. [From a Special Correspondent.] Karangahake, Saturday,

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 314, 7 November 1888, Page 2

THE PARKES FURNACE, KARANGAHAKE. [From a Special Correspondent.] Karangahake, Saturday,

Operations are proceeding steadily at this furnace, but so far they have been confined only to the smelting of the ore, Ifc is expected that the refining of the regulus now on hand will be commenced early next week, and when this has been clone the practical utility of the furnace will be demonstrated. The ores put through last week were from the Tui mines and some from the Kenilworth and Woodstock. The ore bein* treated from the Tui is estimated to be worth about £12 per ton. MrParkesand Mr Chambers, jun., are at present superintending the operations, but Mr Parkes will leave in about three weeks' time, when Mr J. Napier, who has had much experience in the reduction of ores, will take control of the works. The furnace has been erected in the building put up for the La Monte process, which has been considerably altered, and is now fitted up with all the conveniences necessary for the carrying 1 out of smelting by Mr Parkes process. There are about twenty men employed, working in three shifts. The process of treatment as described to me by Mr J. M. Chambers is as follows : — The first stage is the damping of the ore, which is then crushed to a fine dust, after which assays are taken / of its value. The ore is then mixed ' with fluxes and is passed by means of a hopper into the bed of the furnace, and spread over with a rabble. The charge consists of a ton of the pulverised ore, and the smelting occupies four hours. After the ore has been under fire for this space of time the slag is skimmed off with a rabble at the upper end of the furnace, and the regulus is tapped at the side. The regulus is then calcined, one half being reduced to lead, which is cupelled in an ordinary cupelling furnace. The refining mainly consists of cupelling the lead containing the bullion. In this process the lead to be treated is placed in a bone ash crucible, and upon being reduced to a moulten state a jet of steam is thrown upon ir r which diives off the dross in the shape of litharge, leaving the bullion at the bottom . One of the advartsges Mr Parkes claims for his process is that there are only three operations connected with it, no roasting 01 calcining being required as in other processes. The three processes are :—(1): — (1) Smelting for regulus j. (2) reducing the reguius with lead ; (3> the refining of the lead bullion. When the appointments and conveniences are complete, it is expected' the bullion will be obtained in twentyfour hours from raw ore. Some 16 tons of very rich ore from the Kenilworth will be shoitly pufcthrough. The coal being used is a mixture oi Grey mouth and Kamo.