Induced recovery of particles from sub-surface formations

Claim 2

In the recovering of metallic particles from a subsurface formation, the process that includes a. rotatably cutting downwardly into the sub-surface formation to at least one of two spaced sub-surface localities and producing a flow of liquid in the sub-surface formation extending between said spaced sub-surface localities, and sufficient to displace metallic particles from within the formation to one of said localities, and b. retrieving metallic particles displaced to said one locality, said retrieving step including separating at said one locality said metallic particles from loose non-metallic material and also effecting flow of liquid with metallic particles carried therein in a stream upwardly to the surface.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said producing step includes creating a pressure differential between liquid at said one locality and liquid at another of said localities.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said producing step includes reducing the liquid pressure at said one locality.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein said reduction of liquid pressure at said one locality is effected by withdrawing liquid upwardly therefrom.

Claim 6

The process of claim 3 wherein said producing step includes increasing the liquid pressure at another of said localities spaced from said one locality.

Claim 7

The process Of claim 4 wherein said increase of the liquid pressure at said other locality is effected by delivering water in a pressurized stream thereto.

Claim 8

The process of claim 5 wherein said retrieving step includes providing a collector at said other locality to collect metallic and non-metallic particles, and rotating the collector at said other locality to effect centrifugal displacement of non-metallic particles from the collector.

Claim 9

The process of claim 1 wherein said effecting step includes introducing gas into the sub-surface stream.

Claim 10

The process of claim 1 including providing a duct to receive the stream for said upward flow, and filtering oversize granules from the stream flowing into the duct.

Claim 11

The process of claim 9 that includes intermittently flowing liquid downwardly in said duct to said one locality for flow into the formation.

Claim 12

The process of claim 10 wherein the metallic particles include gold particles.

Claim 13

The process of claim 1 wherein said separation step includes providing a collector at said one locality to collect metallic and non-metallic particles and rotating the collector at said one locality to effect centrifugal displacement of non-metallic particles from the collector.

Claim 14

The process of claim 11 wherein said retrieving step also includes displacing the collector up and down.

Claim 15

The process of claim 1 wherein said metallic particles consist of precious metal.

Claim 16

The process of claim 1 including the step of intermittently effecting flow of liquid away from said one locality into said formation.

Claim 17

In the recovering of metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the steps that include a. rotatably drilling downwardly into the formation to a sub-surface locality near which said particles are found, and laterally reaming the formation during and above the locus of said drilling to enlarge said locality, b. effecting upward flow of water in a stream from said locality to the surface in a manner to cause upward displacement of the particles by the stream to the surface, and c. filtering at said locality oversize granules from the stream.

Claim 18

In the recovering of metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the steps that include a. rotatably drilling downwardly into the formation to a sub-surface locality near which said particles are found, and laterally reaming the formation during and above the locus of said drilling to enlarge said locality, b. effecting upward flow of water in a stream from said locality to the surface in a manner to cause upward displacement of the particles by the stream to the surface, and c. filtering at said locality oversize granules from the stream.

Claim 19

The process of claim 16 that includes providing a duct to receive the stream for said upward flow, said filtering step carried out to filter oversize granules from the stream flowing into the duct.

Claim 20

The process of claim 16 that includes intermittently flowing water downwardly to said locality for flow into said formation.

Claim 21

The process of claim 16 wherein said effecting of upward flow includes introducing gas into the sub-surface stream.

Claim 22

In a system for recovering metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the combination that comprises a. first means for producing a flow of liquid in the sub-surface formation situated between spaced sub-surface localities and sufficient to displace metallic particles from within the formation to one of said localities, b. other means at said locality to effect separation of loose non-metallic material from the metallic particles displaced to said locality, c. said first means including ducts extending underground to openly terminate at said localities, and apparatus at the surface to supply liquid to one of the ducts and withdraw metallic particles in a stream of liquid from the other duct, and d. rotary cutting means at the lower end of one of the ducts, and actuator means to effect displacement of the cutting means both downwardly and laterally to loosen the formation at and about one of said localities.

Claim 23

In a system for recovering metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the combination that comprises a. first means for producing a flow of liquid in the sub-surface formation situated between spaced sub-surface localities and sufficient to displace metallic particles from within the formation to one of said localities, b. other means at said locality to effect separation of loose non-metallic material from the metallic particles displaced to said locality, c. said first means including ducts extending underground to openly terminate at said localities, and apparatus at the surface to supply liquid to one of the ducts and withdraw metallic particles in a stream of liquid from the other duct, and d. rotary cutting means at the lower end of one of the ducts, and actuator means to effect displacement of the cutting means both downwardly and laterally to loosen the formation at and about one of said localities.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 20 wherein said other means includes a filter proximate the lower terminus of at least one of the ducts.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 20 wherein said other means comprises an upwardly opening collector carried on one of the ducts to be rotated for centrifugally displacing non-metallic material outwardly away from metallic particles received in the collector.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 20 wherein said actuator mEans also includes means to oscillate said one duct and said collector up and down.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 20 wherein said cutting means includes a rotary reamer carried at the lower end of said one of the ducts.

Claim 28

In a system for recovering metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the combination that comprises a. first means for producing a flow of water in the sub-surface formation and between spaced sub-surface localities and sufficient to displace metallic particles from within the formation to at least one of said localities, said means including ducts extending underground to terminate at said localities and in water passing communication therewith, b. said first means including means to alternately supply water to, and withdraw liquid from, at least one of the ducts, c. separator means for separating non-metallic material from metallic particles displaced to at least one of said localities, d. and actuator means to oscillate said one duct up and down and laterally.

Claim 29

In a system for recovering metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the combination that comprises a. first means for producing a flow of water in the sub-surface formation and between spaced sub-surface localities and sufficient to displace metallic particles from within the formation to at least one of said localities, said means including ducts extending underground to terminate at said localities and in water passing communication therewith, b. said first means including means to alternately supply water to, and withdraw liquid from, at least one of the ducts, c. separator means for separating non-metallic material from metallic particles displaced to at least one of said localities, d. and actuator means to oscillate said one duct up and down and laterally.

Claim 30

In a system for recovering metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the combination that includes: a. a duct extending from the surface downwardly to terminate at an underground locality, b. means to effect flow of water alternately upwardly and downwardly in the duct, c. collector means carried on the duct to extend externally thereof for rotation so as to centrifugally displace non-metallic material outwardly away from metallic particles received in the collector means, and d. actuator means to oscillate the duct and collector means upwardly and downwardly and also laterally.

Claim 31

In a system for recovering metallic particles from a sub-surface formation, the combination that includes: a. a duct extending from the surface downwardly to terminate at an underground locality, b. means to effect flow of water alternately upwardly and downwardly in the duct, c. collector means carried on the duct to extend externally thereof for rotation so as to centrifugally displace non-metallic material outwardly away from metallic particles received in the collector means, and d. actuator means to oscillate the duct and collector means upwardly and downwardly and also laterally.

Claim 32

The system of claim 26 including means at the surface to separate metallic particles from the water withdrawn from the duct.