Quantcast

Book VIII: Extracting Metals | Earth

Book VIII: Extracting Metals | Earth Page of 673 Book VIII: Extracting Metals | Earth Text size:minus plus Restore normal size   Mail page  Print this page
BOOK VIII.
293
right and to the left, and in this way passes through it the smaller pieces of
earth, sand, and broken rock. The larger pieces remain in the sieve, and
these are taken out, placed in a heap and put under the stamps. The
mud, together with fine sand, coarse sand, and broken rock, which remain
after the water has been drawn out of the tub, is removed by an iron shovel
and washed in the sluice, about which I will speak a little later.
The Bohemians use a basket a foot and a half broad and half a foot deep,
bound together by osiers. It has two handles by which it is grasped, when
they move it about and shake it in the tub or in a small pool nearly full
of water. All that passes through it into the tub or pool they take out and
wash in a bowl, which is higher in the back part and lower and fiat in the
front ; it is grasped by the two handles and shaken in the water, the lighter
particles flowing away, and the heavier and mineral portion sinking to the
bottom.
Gold ore, after being broken with hammers or crushed by the stamps,
and even tin ore, is further milled to powder. The upper millstone, which
Book VIII: Extracting Metals | Earth Page of 673 Book VIII: Extracting Metals | Earth
Suggested Illustrations
Other Chapters you may find useful
Other Books on this topic
bullet Tag
This Page