| Patio Process |
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| industrial processes | |
| mercury element | |
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Silver ores were crushed in arrastras to a fine slime which was mixed with Salt , water, Copper Sulfate , and Mercury , and spread in a shallow-walled, open enclosure or Patio . Horses were driven around on the patio to further grind and mix the solution, and, after about five weeks of mixing and soaking in the sun, the silver sulfides oxidized and the resulting silver could then amalgamate with the mercury and be recovered. WASHOE PAN PROCESS Stamp mills were used for the crushing process, iron shoes, or mullets replaced the horses, and small iron tanks (pans) replaced the patio. This reduced the processing time to a few hours. Salt and copper sulfate amounts varied from one-quarter to ten pounds of one or the other, or both, per ton of ore treated. |
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