Electric Furnace For Gold Refining At The Alaska-Treadwell Cyanide Plant (364d7714-f04a-41bb-a014-d059065b892c)

Discussion of the paper of W. P. LASS, presented at the San Francisco meeting, September, 1915, and printed in Bulletin No. 103, July, 1915, pp. 1443 to 1447. ROBERT M. KEENEY, Somersville, Conn. (communication to the Secretary *).-There is not only a possibility of improvement in present methods of treatment of the byproducts of refining in the cyanide plant by the use of the electric furnace, but also in melting and refining of gold precipitate. This interesting paper by Mr. Lass shows an electric furnace in successful operation in a large plant for the treatment of by-products. Electric melting of cyanide precipitate is a cheaper form of treatment in many cases than any of the combustion methods now used because of the high cost of oil, coke or coal in many camps, while on the other hand electric power may be had cheaply, especially in a place where there is possibility of development of high-head hydro-electric plants for power purposes. Also, if the oil-fired tilting furnace is used for direct melting of the precipitate, as is the case at many small mills, a great saving in cost is made by the use of the electric furnace because of the high crucible cost in melting with the tilting furnace. A study of this paper indicates the cost of the operation approximately. Consider all the fluxes to be turned in as byproducts and coke at $18 per ton.