A very small quantity of lime is also used in this case for some ores, but its cost would never amount to more than 4c. per ton of lead produced.
ORE RECEIVING A PRELIMINARY ROAST
| Roasters’ wages | $0.61 |
| Roasters’ coal (425 lb.) | 0.65 |
| Smelters’ wages | 1.08 |
| Smelters’ coal (75 lb.) | 0.11 |
| Peat and lime | 0.08 |
| Total | $2.53 |
It should be noted also that the smelters at the works where the ore was not roasted receive higher pay. In the eight-hour shift they produce about 1½ tons of lead; and as there are two of them to a furnace, they make $3.06 between them, or $1.53 each. The two men smelting roasted ore produce about two tons in an eight-hour shift, and therefore each receives $1.08 per shift.
Coming now to fume-smelting in the hearth, we can again compare the results obtained in smelting raw and after roasting. It is well to bear in mind, also, that, while only 6½ per cent. of the lead goes in the fume when smelting roasted ores in the hearth, a considerably larger proportion is thus lost when smelting raw ores. When fume is smelted raw, it is best dealt with when containing about 40 per cent. of moisture. One man attends to the hearth (instead of two as when smelting ore), and in 24 hours 3000 lb. of lead is produced, the amount of coal used being 2100 lb. No lime is required.
When smelting roasted fume, two men attend to the hearth and the output is 6000 lb. in 24 hours, the amount of coal used being 1800 lb. In this latter case fluorspar happens to be available (practically free of cost), and a little of it is used with advantage in fume-smelting, as well as a small quantity of lime.
The cost of fume-smelting per ton of lead produced is given herewith:
FUME SMELTED RAW
| Smelters’ wages | $2.88 |
| Smelters’ coal (1400 lb.) | 2.13 |
| Total | $5.01 |
FUME RECEIVING A PRELIMINARY ROAST