THE CHEMICAL LABORATORIES. The chemical laboratories, built in 1889 (Report Aust. Assoc. A. Sci., 1888), are contained in a plain rectangular structure, about 170 feet long by 86 feet wide (Plate 1). There are two lecture rooms, two principal laboratories, and several other rooms for special purposes. The large lecture room will seat 180, and the smaller one about 120 students. The junior laboratory (Plate 4) contains 40 benches, and the senior laboratory (Plate 3) has accommodation for 48 advanced students (Plate). There are also separate rooms for spectroscopic and gas analysis and photography. Two rooms have been specially provided and fitted up for research work; another room is set apart as a museum for chemical collections, and old forms of apparatus, &c., which are of historical interest. The building is provided with the electric light throughout the upper floor, and the gas engine for driving the dynamos is also attached to the shafting connected with the crushing, grinding, and concentrating machines, the apparatus for the liquefaction of gases, and other appliances. Leads are carried to convenient places in the laboratories, so that if necessary the full power of the dynamos may be used for experimental purposes. Special efforts have been made to give the students the benefits of modern improvements and appliances, and particularly those which tend to save time. Draught cupboards, filter-pumps, exhaust-pumps, and similar conveniences are fitted to each bench. A number of large hoods and draught cupboards for combustions, sulphuretted hydrogen gas, water baths, and ovens are also provided. There are three balance rooms, each 21 feet x 16 feet, provided with balances for different purposes, which, to prevent vibration, rest on slate benches, supported upon stone brackets. METALLURGICAL LABORATORY. Milling and Leaching Buildings. The plant for the crushing, concentration, and other treatment of metalliferous ores is contained in the new building, and it includes a set of three small stamps by Krupp, presented by Messrs. Noyes Bros., Sydney; Gate's rock-breaker, Roger's crushing-rolls, trommels, samplers, amalgamating plates, a Frue vanner, plunger jigs, settling tanks, drilling and planing machines, &c.; also vats and the necessary appliances for the extraction of gold and silver ores by chlorine, cyanide, hyposulphite, and other similar leaching processes (see Plates). These have been constructed of such a size as to permit of their being worked by students. The milling and leaching room is about 35 by 100 feet; there are also verandahs and open yard space for outdoor operations. The experimental roasting furnace, with a bed 6 feet x 4 feet, is placed out of doors, but under a tiled roof for coolness and protection from the weather (see Plate 2, fig. 2, 9, 10, 11, and 12), and the fuel bins are arranged alongside of it (Plate 2, fig. 13). Assay Laboratory. The new assay laboratory (Plates 1 and 2 and 8) is a lofty room, with 40 feet x 54 feet floor space; the walls are 22 feet high, and the roof 30 feet high. It is well ventilated. It contains 20 fusion and 12 muffle furnaces, arranged down the middle of the room. The flues are carried beneath the floor to a central stack (Plate 2, figs. 2 and 3). For cleanliness and strength the furnaces are completely enclosed in iron plates, and the muffles are closed by sliding double iron doors, in addition to the usual fireclay door. Iron racks are arranged over the fusion furnaces for drying crucibles, and for the reception of the tongs, pokers, &c., when not in use. (Plates 8 and 10 and Plate 2, figs. 3, 6, 7, 8, and 9, for sections and details.) In addition, there are 12 fusion and four muffle furnaces in the main building. The working benches (Plates 8 and 9) are fitted with drawers, shelves, and draught cupboards with hot plates, and fixed bunsen burners. They are also provided with gas and water and exhaust pumps, in much the same way as those in the chemical laboratory. By using a staple and brass disk, which covers the angles of the three drawers, one padlock is made to securely close all three drawers. One disk also closes the two cupboards allotted to each student; the multiplicity of locks and the usual loss of keys are thereby avoided. A feature in the assay laboratory, as well as in the chemical laboratory, is that all the water baths and water ovens are kept full by means of constant supply cisterns fitted with ball-taps, so that there is no danger of their running dry; neither is there the usual unnecessary waste of water, which is the fault of most systems. There is no limit to the number of water baths and ovens, which can be supplied by one cistern and ball-tap. It is supplied with gas furnaces and gas muffles; also with leads and meters for electrolytical processes. The Mining School at the University of Sydney has been opened to the public since 1892, and at present there are about 80 students working for the degree in Mining Engineering, or for certificates in some branch of that profession. |