Dear Listers.
I have been reading with interest the mails re Precipitation of Copper from mine water?
We were very lucky, as their are many photo's of the system used at the Moonta & Wallaroo Copper Mines in South Australia still in excistance.
A expert named Delgardo?? from the Rio Tinto Mines was hired by the Moonta Co. to build/layout a system at Moonta First then at Wallaroo, it was quite a big job as he spoke no English/Cornish, and the miners no Spanish.
Simply they pumped sea water from Rossiter Point on the coast two miles to the several large skimp/Tailing heaps; Ryans, Hancocks ect, all holding 1000 tons of low grade jig tailings, the top of the heaps were devided into flat bunded paddocks into which the sea water was pumped, to perculate down through the heaps, to then be carried by many miles of channels to the Cementation Workes.
I can not give exact dates but think it all started in the period 1870's.
The old scrap iron can still be seen in the woodlined cementation tanks to this day.
Sorry I have not been quite exact with my details, but wanted to mainly say that their are MANY photo's in the system showing the above.
In my Web page; www.miningmodels.netfirms.com
I show a small train outside the tunnel under Ryan's Heap, which carried firstly the water from the heaps on its way to the cementation works, then the Moonta Co.' Mine railway above it.
Hope the above is of interest.
Take Care.
Roger.B.Bradford
22 Short Rd.
Elizabeth,
S.A, 5112
Australia
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