Next page Previous page

alunitization

Introduction of, or replacement by, alunite. AGI

alunogen

A triclinic mineral, Al2 (H2 O)12 (SO4 ) (sub
3) .5(H2 O) ; in fibrous masses or crusts; white, tinged yellow to
reddish, with sharp acid taste; in acid environments filling crevices in
coals, slates, gossans, and fumaroles. Syn:feather alum; hair salt.

alvanite

A monoclinic mineral, (Zn,Ni)Al4 (VO3 )2 (OH) (sub
12) .2H2 O ; forms light-blue-green rosettes in the vanadium
deposits of Karatau, Kazakhstan.

alveoli

The lungs can be thought of as two elastic bags containing millions of
little distensible air sacs. These air sacs or alveoli are all connected
to the air passages, which branch and rebranch like the twigs of a tree.
Hunt

alvite

A zirconium mineral; a source of hafnium, containing 16% HfO2 ;
tetragonal. Obtained from Alve, Norway. Kirk; Webster 2nd

amalgam

a. A naturally occurring alloy of silver with mercury; mercurian silver.
It is found in the oxidation zone of silver deposits and as scattered
grains in cinnabar ores. Syn:argental mercury
AGI
b. A general term for alloys of mercury with one or more of the well-known
metals (except iron and platinum); esp. an alloy of mercury with gold,
containing 40% to 60% gold, and obtained from the plates in a mill
treating gold ore. AGI

amalgamate

a. To unite (a metal) alloy with mercury. Standard, 2
b. To form an amalgam with; as, mercury amalgamates gold.
Standard, 2

amalgamated claims

Eng. Mining claims adjoining one another that have been grouped into one
claim for more economical working.

amalgamating barrel

A short, cylindrical vessel or barrel, with solid ends turned to fit
bearings, used for amalgamating battery accumulations and other material.
See also:amalgamator

amalgamating table

A sloping wooden table covered with a copper plate on which the mercury is
spread in order to amalgamate with the precious metal particles.
CTD

amalgamation

a. The production of an amalgam or alloy of mercury.
b. The process by which mercury is alloyed with some other metal to
produce an amalgam. It was used at one time for the extraction of gold and
silver from pulverized ores, but has been superseded by the cyanide
process. Barger

amalgamation process

A process of gold or silver recovery in which the ore, finely divided and
suspended in water, is passed over a surface of liquid mercury to form an
amalgam that is subjected to fire-refining processes for the recovery of
the gold or silver. Syn:amalgam treatment

amalgamator

An apparatus used in mining for bringing pulverized ore into close contact
with mercury to extract free metal from it by amalgamation.
See also:amalgamating barrel

amalgam barrel

A small, cylindrical batching mill used to grind auriferous concentrates
gently with mercury. Pryor, 3

amalgam pan

A muller mill with a horizontal rotating disk bearing on a fixed plate.
Gold-bearing material and mercury flow pulpwise between them.
Pryor, 3

amalgam plate

A sheet of metal with an adherent film of mercury that seizes gold from
flowing pulp. Pryor, 3

amalgam retort

The vessel where mercury is distilled from gold or silver amalgam.
Nelson

amalgam treatment

See:amalgamation process

amang

A term used in Malaysia for the heavy iron and tungsten minerals (and
associated minerals) found with placer cassiterite deposits. AGI

amarantite

A triclinic mineral, Fe(SO4 )(OH).3H2 O .

amargosite

The trade name for a bentonite from the Amargosa River, CA.
Syn:montmorillonite