Mercury, water, and oil are poured into a glass jar. The mercury goes to the bottom, the oil floats at the top, the surfaces of contact are seen to be horizontal.

Phial of the Four Elements

Mercury, water, and oil are poured into a glass jar. The mercury goes to the bottom, the oil floats…

This furnace is used to purify a gold concentrate. The gold concentrates, if non-pyritic, are treated in grinding pans in the bottom of which mercury is placed. The amalgam (mercury alloy), after squeezing out the excess mercury, is heated in the retort, to distil (separate) off the rest and leave the gold, which is then melted and cast into bars of gold bullion of varying fineness.

Retort Furnace for Gold Bullion

This furnace is used to purify a gold concentrate. The gold concentrates, if non-pyritic, are treated…