Archibald Drummond Carmichael (born 24 February 1859) was an industrial chemist who made important advances in processing mine tailings to recover valuable metals.

History

Carmichael was born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and educated in Glasgow. He studied chemistry under Professor Dittmer at the Andersonian College ("The Place of Useful Learning"), and gained experience at city analysts Wallace, Tatlack, and Clarke. He worked at Charles Tennant's "St Rollox" laboratories adjacent the Monkland Canal for 14 years, rising to the level of chief technical chemist.

In 1889 left for Victoria, Australia, where he found employment with Felton, Grimwade & Co and with the Australian Explosives and Chemical Company.[1]

He joined the Metals Extraction Company, and was sent to Broken Hill with metallurgist Askin Nicholas to troubleshoot one of Junction North mine's processes.[2] In 1894 he joined Broken Hill's Block 10 Company as assayer, then in October 1896 joined "The Proprietary" (BHP). Around this time he began experimenting with ways of converting refractory zinc sulphide to the oxide.[3]

In 1901 he worked with Leslie Bradford in developing the Carmichael–Bradford desulphurisation process for conversion of sulphide ores to their oxides prior to smelting,[4] which enabled recovery of valuable metal from the great piles of tailings at the mines,[5] and the manufacture of sulphuric acid, leading to the founding of the Zinc Corporation.[6]

They floated the Carmichael-Bradford Desulphurising Co. in 1908 to manage international patents; apart from BHP little interest was shown and the company was wound up in 1912.[7]

Carmichael's subsequent activities have not as yet come to light, and his date and place of death have not been found.

References

  1. ^ "A New Desulphurising Process". Australian Town and Country Journal. Vol. LXIV, no. 1676. New South Wales, Australia. 22 March 1902. p. 25. Retrieved 4 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "The Barrier Mines". The Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser. Vol. LV, no. 1704. New South Wales, Australia. 4 March 1893. p. 471. Retrieved 4 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "The Sulphides". The Barrier Miner. Vol. 9, no. 2649. New South Wales, Australia. 13 October 1896. p. 2. Retrieved 4 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Advertising". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXVI, no. 17, 108. South Australia. 12 September 1901. p. 2. Retrieved 25 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "The Revival of Broken Hill". The Barrier Miner. Vol. XVIII, no. 5453. New South Wales, Australia. 23 December 1905. p. 5. Retrieved 25 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "The Barrier Mines". Supplement to The Leader (Melbourne). No. 2617. Victoria, Australia. 3 March 1906. p. 7. Retrieved 25 December 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Carmichael-Bradford Company to be Wound Up". The Age. No. 17873. Victoria, Australia. 29 June 1912. p. 17. Retrieved 4 March 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
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