TABLE XI.—Typical Charging Tables at Pyritic Smelter.

B.F. No. 3—Night Shift.
Typical Green Ore Charges.
I.II.III.IV.
Lbs.Lbs.Lbs.Lbs.
Coke, 180 240 240 400..
Ore A.,5,000........
Ore B.,..5,000......
Ore C.,....5,000....
Slag,......4,000..
Lime rock,..........
Green ore (low grade) matte, ..........
Flue-dust,..........
Quartz (for flux), 950........
 Total weight of charge,6,1305,2405,2404,400..
Hours of Charging—No. of
Charges 		No. of
Charges 		No. of
Charges 		No. of
Charges 		Total
per Hr
6–7,22....4
7–8,2..226
8–9,22....4
9–10,2, 2..2, 2..8
10–11,..2..24
11–12,2..2..4
12–1,2, 22....6
1–2,2..226
2–3,22....4
3–4,2..2..4
4–5,2....24
5–6,2, 222..8
 Total No. of charges daily,281214862
B.F. No. 5—Day Shift.
Typical Concentrating Charges.
I.II.III.
Lbs.Lbs.Lbs.
Coke, 150 400 extra 700 ..
Ore A.,........
Ore B.,........
Ore C.,........
Slag,..4,000....
Lime rock, 700......
Green ore (low grade) matte, 3,500......
Flue-dust,........
Quartz (for flux),1,050......
 Total weight of charge,5,4004,400700..
Hours of Charging—No. of
Charges 		No. of
Charges 		Total
per Hr
6–7, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2 ....14
7–8,2, 2, 2, 22..10
8–9,2, 2, 2, 2, 2....10
9–10,2, 2, 2, 2, 2....10
10–11,2, 22, 2, 2, 2..12
11–12,2, 2, 2, 2, 2....10
12–1,2, 2, 2, 2, 2....10
1–2,2, 2, 2, 2, 2....10
2–3,2, 2, 22, 2..10
3–4,2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2....12
4–5,2, 2, 2, 2, 2....10
5–6,2, 2, 22, 2, 2, 2..14
 Total No. of charges daily,12012..132

It will be observed that the concentrating furnace works twice as quickly as the green ore matting furnace, and hence one furnace only is required for the concentration of the matte product from two of the matting furnaces.

The Isabella smelter comprises two furnaces of moderate size, 17 feet by 3 feet 4 inches at the tuyeres, having a joint capacity of 500 to 600 tons daily. The furnaces are about 9 feet high, and are water-cooled. Air at only 20 to 30 ozs. pressure is supplied through 3-inch tuyeres. The smelting scheme is somewhat analogous to that adopted at Copperhill, the first smelting producing a 20 per cent. copper matte from the 2 per cent. ore, whilst the re-concentration results in a converter-grade matte assaying 50 per cent. The coke proportions are somewhat similar to those used at Copperhill, being 5·0 per cent. for the first smelting, and 3·5 per cent. for the second. The furnace management at this small plant is exceedingly efficient, and the campaigns are long, it being claimed that the furnace operations have never had to be completely stopped on account of crusting or gobbing. This is held to be due to the results of special care in feeding and charge distribution, the ingenious Freeland charger already described being used. The charge is kept low (6 to 8 feet above the tuyeres), and is evenly red hot all through. The slags assay 35 to 36 per cent. silica, 38·8 per cent. iron, and 8·0 per cent. lime—with moderate copper losses. The annual output is equivalent to about 3,000 tons of metallic copper. An acid-making plant is also attached to these works.

The Manufacture of Sulphuric Acid from Pyritic Furnace Gases.—Modern legislative requirements make severe demands upon the managements of smelter-works where sulphury ores are dealt with, by reason of the disastrous effects of the sulphurous gases upon the conditions of life generally in the vicinity. In other cases, litigation by neighbouring farmers and others impose restrictions on the amount and character of the gases which the smelters are allowed to emit from their furnace stacks. So serious has the problem become that several smelters have had to cease operations altogether, others have been mulcted in enormous costs by law suits, by claims for compensation, or by the installation of plant and processes which they have been compelled to adopt for dealing with the gases. These matters have become subjects of historical importance in the development of smelter practice.

As has been the case in analogous circumstances elsewhere, when interference with the uncontrolled dispersion of then-considered waste products has often proved of ultimate benefit and a source of much profit to their producers, the enforced treatment of highly sulphurous furnace gases has in several instances resulted in considerable gain to the copper smelters.

Among the methods which are at present economically practicable for dealing with the smelter gases, those of dilution, and of utilisation for acid manufacture are the most important.

The considerations which decide the best course of treatment depend on the numerous economic and local factors which are always of such prime importance in connection with industrial undertakings demanding large capital outlay. The installation of a plant for making sulphuric acid from the gases largely depends on—