Sub-surface particle recovery

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 including the step of simultaneously rotating the cutter at said locality.

Claim 4

The method of claim 2 wherein said cutter is rotated in a crevice in the formation at said locality.

Claim 5

The method of claim 2 wherein said delivery step includes releasing the pressurized water stream downwardly into the formation directly below the collector to displace the formation therebelow enabling progressive lowering of the collector therein.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are trapped in rock crevices, and wherein said water delivery step includes locally releasing the pressurized water stream into said crevices.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein an elongated tube is employed to deliver the pressurized stream to a nozzle below the collector at said locality, and including the step of exerting force on the tube to effect generally lateral movement of the nozzle and collector progressively into a series of sub-surface localities.

Claim 8

The method of claim 1 wherein the particles consist of gold.

Claim 13

The method of claim 9 including the preliminary step of hydraulically drilling a downward passage in the formation, and thereafter introducing said rotary turbine type drill into the formation via said passage for subsequent drilling, as defined.

Claim 14

The method of claim 9 wherein said drilling is carried out to comminute gold nuggets in situ, thereby to produce said particles.

Claim 17

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles in a formation at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, c. a cutter carried by said means and located below the collector for rotation to cut into said formation and loosen the particles for said displacement, and d. other means to effect rotation of the collector at speeds characterized in that non-metallic formation particles are thrown outwardly from the collector while metallic particles are retained in the collector.

Claim 18

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles in a formation at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, c. a cutter carried by said means and located below the collector for rotation to cut into said formation and loosen the particles for said displacement, and d. other means to effect rotation of the collector at speeds characterized in that non-metallic formation particles are thrown outwardly from the collector while metallic particles are retained in the collector.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means includes tubing extending to said locality and supporting the collector, and including retrieval means at the surface and connected with the tubing to retrieve same and thereby retrieve said collector.

Claim 20

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, and c. including a rotary cutter operable to drill into the sub-surface formation, a turbine rotor connected in rotary driving relation with the cutter, and tubing supporting the turbine rotor to deliver said pressurized water stream thereto to rotate the turbine, the turbine rotor also connected to rotate the collector at speeds characterized in that non-metallic formation particles are thrown outwardly from the collector while metallic particles are retained in the collector.

Claim 21

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, and c. including a rotary cutter operable to drill into the sub-surface formation, a turbine rotor connected in rotary driving relation with the cutter, and tubing supporting the turbine rotor to deliver said pressurized water stream thereto to rotate the turbine, the turbine rotor also connected to rotate the collector at speeds characterized in that non-metallic formation particles are thrown outwardly from the collector while metallic particles are retained in the collector.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the collector is supported directly above the cutter for rotation therewith, thereby to centrifugally displace non-metallic particles from the collector.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the collector has frusto-conical shape and tapers downwardly toward the cutter, the collector being upwardly open about the tubing, which extends axially therethrough, to receive particles tending to settle as the particles are displaced upwardly about and above the collector in the water stream delivered to said locality.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the tubing includes a flexible hose of a length to allow generally horizontal travel of the cutter at the sub-surface location.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 15 including means for hydraulically drilling a guide passage in the formation to initially receive the cutter.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 15 including a tubular metallic guide loosely extending about said tubing to pass the tubing, cutter and collector vertically in a body of water.

Claim 27

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for disPlacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, and c. there being at least one additional collector carried by said means above said first mentioned collector, said collectors being upwardly open and tapering downwardly, and there being a fluid motor responsive to water pressure delivery thereto to effect rotation of the collectors, and d. other means to effect rotation of the collectors at speeds characterized in that non-metallic particles are thrown outwardly from the collectors while metallic particles are retained in the collectors.

Claim 28

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for disPlacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, and c. there being at least one additional collector carried by said means above said first mentioned collector, said collectors being upwardly open and tapering downwardly, and there being a fluid motor responsive to water pressure delivery thereto to effect rotation of the collectors, and d. other means to effect rotation of the collectors at speeds characterized in that non-metallic particles are thrown outwardly from the collectors while metallic particles are retained in the collectors.

Claim 29

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, c. a rotary cutter carried by said means and operable to drill into the sub-surface formation, a turbine rotor connected in rotary driving relation with the cutter, and tubing supporting the turbine rotor to deliver said pressurized water stream thereto to rotate the turbine, d. the collector being supported directly above the cutter for rotation therewith, thereby to centrifugally displace non-metallic particles from the collector, and e. a metallic particle absorbing medium carried by the tubing to extend above the collector for absorbing lightweight particles entrained in upward water flow.

Claim 30

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, c. a rotary cutter carried by said means and operable to drill into the sub-surface formation, a turbine rotor connected in rotary driving relation with the cutter, and tubing supporting the turbine rotor to deliver said pressurized water stream thereto to rotate the turbine, d. the collector being supported directly above the cutter for rotation therewith, thereby to centrifugally displace non-metallic particles from the collector, and e. a metallic particle absorbing medium carried by the tubing to extend above the collector for absorbing lightweight particles entrained in upward water flow.

Claim 31

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, and c. the collector being generally frusto-conical and containing a normally plugged port to pass flush-out fluid, and riffle means being located within the collector upwardly open interior to promote metal particle retention within the lower interior of the collector.

Claim 32

In apparatus for recovering metallic particles at a sub-surface locality, a. means to deliver water in a pressurized stream to said locality for displacing particles at said locality in the water delivered thereto, b. a collector carried by said means at a position to collect the displaced particles at said locality, and to be upwardly retrievable in response to upward displacement of said means, and c. the collector being generally frusto-conical and containing a normally plugged port to pass flush-out fluid, and riffle means being located within the collector upwardly open interior to promote metal particle retention within the lower interior of the collector.

Claim 33

In combination, a. a rotary bit adapted to cut into a sub-surface formation, b. an upwardly open rotary collector located at a higher elevation than the bit to receive and collect formation particles displaced upwardly from the bit, and c. means to support the bit and collector for simultaneous vertical movement in the sub-surface formation and to rotate the bit and collector at speeds characterized in that non-metallic formation particles are thrown outwardly from the collector while metallic particles are retained in the collector.

Claim 34

In combination, a. a rotary bit adapted to cut into a sub-surface formation, b. an upwardly open rotary collector located at a higher elevation than the bit to receive and collect formation particles displaced upwardly from the bit, and c. means to support the bit and collector for simultaneous vertical movement in the sub-surface formation and to rotate the bit and collector at speeds characterized in that non-metallic formation particles are thrown outwardly from the collector while metallic particles are retained in the collector.

Claim 35

The combination of claim 24 wherein said means to rotate the bit and collector comprises a rotary table.

Claim 36

The combination of claim 24 wherein said means to rotate the bit and collector comprises a power swivel.

Claim 37

The apparatus of claim 24 including a downward projection carried by the bit in eccentric relation to the bit axis of rotation, to be rotated against the uneven upper face of sub-surface bedrock, thereby to move the bit up and down during rotation thereof.

Claim 38

The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said means to rotate the bit and collector comprises an electric motor proximate the bit and collector.