Editing Comstock Lode (section)

===Processing===
[[File:PSM V49 D771 Alta mine mill and dump on gold hill.jpg|thumb|Alta Mine mill, {{Circa|1896}}]]

In 1859 the Americans knew nothing about silver mining. John D. Winters Jr., and J.A. Osborn built two [[arastra]]s, for the [[patio process]], at the Ophir claim, and Gabriel Maldonado, a Mexican of Spanish descent, "began to smelt some of his rich ore in little adobe furnaces, Mexican fashion", after purchasing Penrod's share of the "Mexican" mine.<ref name=Smith/>{{rp|16}} These methods proved to be too slow for the Americans and could not process the quantities of ore being extracted. The Americans introduced [[stamp mill]]s for crushing the ore, and pans to hasten the process of [[Pan amalgamation|amalgamation]]. Some of the German miners, who had been educated at the [[Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg|mining academy of Freiberg]], were regarded as the best then existing to work with [[argentiferous]] ores. 

Bagley introduced a variation of the Freiberg process, using the revolving barrel process of amalgamation, and chloridizing-[[Roasting (metallurgy)|roasting of ores]], after the stamp dry-crushed. While the barrel process was an improvement on the patio, it was found not to be well adapted to the rapid working of the Comstock ores as pan amalgamation. The Comstock eventually developed the [[Washoe process]] of using steam-heated iron pans, which reduced the weeks required by the patio process to hours.<ref name=Smith/>{{rp|41–45,80}}

In the early days of pan processing of ores, there were tremendous losses in precious metals and quicksilver (mercury). Almost every millman was experimenting with some secret process for the amalgamation of ore. They tried all manner of trash, both mineral and vegetable, including concoctions of cedar bark and sagebrush tea. At that time, untold millions in gold, silver and quicksilver were swept away into the rivers with the tailings. The Carson river and the [[Lake Lahontan (reservoir)|Lake Lahontan]] carry warnings against mercury. Although many patterns and forms of amalgamating pans were invented and patented, there was much room for improvement. Improvements were made from time to time, resulting in reductions in losses of metals, but none of the apparatus in use on the Comstock was perfect.