Craig B Shumaker

Title: Craig B. Shumaker: Precious-Metals Refining Inventor

Introduction

Craig B. Shumaker is an inventor associated with Columbus, Ohio. His work includes a patented method for refining precious metals, designed to improve purity and recovery while reducing refining time and metal loss. The available information lists 1 patent for him.

Latest Patents

Shumaker’s patent, “Method for Refining Precious Metals,” describes a process for removing base metals, other oxidizable impurities, and volatile impurities from silver- and gold-bearing materials. The method aims to produce precious metal with purity exceeding 99.9% while improving recovery.

The process uses controlled heating to keep the molten material slightly above its melting point. An oxidizing agent remains in contact with the molten metal, supplying dissolved oxygen that reacts with impurities such as copper, zinc, iron, and lead. The resulting oxides are absorbed by a flux layer on the molten metal’s surface.

The method also controls the concentration of impurity oxides in the flux to support their continued transfer from the metal. In one embodiment, flux is applied and removed in successive treatments, with each increment reused in a later batch at an earlier stage of refinement. The patent describes this approach as a way to enhance precious-metal recovery and purity while reducing processing time and losses.

Career Highlights

The available information identifies Shumaker’s patented refining method as a notable contribution to precious-metals processing. It does not provide further details about his professional roles or career history.

Collaborations

George R. St. Pierre and Carroll E. Mobley, Jr. are listed as Shumaker’s coworkers. The available information does not specify their roles in developing the patented method.

Conclusion

Craig B. Shumaker’s patent presents a staged, flux-based approach to refining gold- and silver-bearing materials, with the goal of achieving high purity and recovery more efficiently.