Solution mining using subsurface burner

Claim 1

IN THE RECOVERY OF SOLUBLE MINERALS FROM A SUBTERRANEAN FORMATION BY CIRCULATING AN UNSATURATED SOLVENT DOWNWARD THROUGH AN INPUT CONDUIT HAVING AN OUTLET WITHIN SAID FORMATION, AND CIRCULATING ENRICHED SLOVENT UPWARD THROUGH AN OUTPUT CONDUIT HAVING IN INELET WITHIN SAID FORMATION WHEREBY SOLUBLE MATERIAL IS DISSOLVED AND A CAVITY IS FORMED, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING DISPOSING A SUBMERGED COMBUSTION BURNER WITHIN SAID FORMATION ADJACENT SAID OUTLET, PROVIDING CONDUIT MEANS COMMUNICATING SAID BURNER WITH THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH, FLOWING FUEL AND A FREE-OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS DOWNWARD THROUGH SAID CONDUIT MEANS TO SAID BURNER, CONCOMITANTLY WITH THE CIRCULATION OF SAID SOLVENT BURNING SAID FUEL TO HEAT SAID SOLVENT, SAID FUEL AND FREE-OXYGEN-CONTAINING GAS BEING SELECTED TO FORM A VOLUME OF NON-CONDENSABLE COMBUSTION PRODUCTS, WHEREBY SAID COMBINATION PRODUCTS COLLECT AT THE TOP OF SAID CAVITY, AND FLOWING SAID COMBUSTION PRODUCTS FROM THE TOP OF SAID CAVITY INTO SAID OUTPUT CONDUIT IN ADMIXTURE WITH SAID SOLVENT, WHEREBY A LIFTING FORCE IS EXERTED ON THE SOLVENT IN SAID OUTPUT CONDUIT.