Patent US4017731A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4017731A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for prospecting for buried mineral deposits
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1976-04-12
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Granted: 1977-04-12
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Expires: 1996-04-12
Abstract
Abstract Radioactive gaseous decay products emanating from a buried deposit of uranium or other radioactive ore migrate upwardly through the earth and are exhaled into the atmosphere. These products may be trapped at the surface in a series of low profile, dome-shaped plastic shelters 5 to 20 feet in diameter. Radiant energy permeating each shelter cover heats the soil beneath the enclosed surface area to accelerate the escape of gas through the soil. The air confined within the shelters is continuously recirculated over the exposed surfaces of a plurality of highly adsorbent discs. After equilibrium decay conditions are reached, the discs are analyzed to determine the radioactivity of the discs, which is proportional to the concentration of radioactive gas in the vicinity.
Inventors
- 👤 Eddie P. Howell
- 👤 Orland J. Gant, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01V; G01V5/00; G01V5/04; G01V5/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S250/00; Y10S250/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of detection of the presence of soil gases which migrate upwardly through the earth's structure comprising the steps of: a. enclosing respective air spaces above each of a plurality of predetermined spaced apart areas at the surface of the earth in a location of interest so that said soil gases exiting into the atmosphere over said surface areas are confined within said respective air spaces and so that external atmospheric contaminants are excluded from entry therewithin; b. employing a like plurality of shelters for enclosing said respective air spaces, each such shelter comprising a material which is highly permeable to infrared radiation, so that said surface areas are exposed to said radiation with sufficient intensity to raise significantly the temperature of the subsoil therebeneath and thus in turn to increase the rate of escape of said soil gases from the earth; and c. measuring the level of concentration of said soil gases within said air spaces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of detection of the presence of soil gases which migrate upwardly through the earth's structure comprising the steps of: a. enclosing respective air spaces above each of a plurality of predetermined spaced apart areas at the surface of the earth in a location of interest so that said soil gases exiting into the atmosphere over said surface areas are confined within said respective air spaces and so that external atmospheric contaminants are excluded from entry therewithin; b. employing a like plurality of shelters for enclosing said respective air spaces, each such shelter comprising a material which is highly permeable to infrared radiation, so that said surface areas are exposed to said radiation with sufficient intensity to raise significantly the temperature of the subsoil therebeneath and thus in turn to increase the rate of escape of said soil gases from the earth; and c. measuring the level of concentration of said soil gases within said air spaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said soil gases are indicative of the presence of buried mineral deposits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said soil gases include hydrogen sulfide, helium or methane.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of exploration for buried mineral deposits of the type having gaseous radioactive decay products which migrate upwardly through the earth's structure comprising the steps of: a. enclosing respective air spaces above each of a plurality of predetermined spaced apart areas at the surface of the earth in location of interest so that said gaseous decay products exiting into the atmosphere over said surface areas are confined within said respective air spaces and so that external atmospheric contaminants are excluded from entry therewithin; b. employing a like plurality of shelters for enclosing said respective air spaces, each such shelter comprising a material which is highly permeable to infrared radiation, so that said surface areas are exposed to said radiation with sufficient intensity to raise significantly the temperature of the subsoil therebeneath and thus in turn to increase the rate of escape of said gaseous decay products from the earth; and c. measuring the level of radioactivity within said air spaces after a condition of decay equilibrium has been reached.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of exploration for buried mineral deposits of the type having gaseous radioactive decay products which migrate upwardly through the earth's structure comprising the steps of: a. enclosing respective air spaces above each of a plurality of predetermined spaced apart areas at the surface of the earth in location of interest so that said gaseous decay products exiting into the atmosphere over said surface areas are confined within said respective air spaces and so that external atmospheric contaminants are excluded from entry therewithin; b. employing a like plurality of shelters for enclosing said respective air spaces, each such shelter comprising a material which is highly permeable to infrared radiation, so that said surface areas are exposed to said radiation with sufficient intensity to raise significantly the temperature of the subsoil therebeneath and thus in turn to increase the rate of escape of said gaseous decay products from the earth; and c. measuring the level of radioactivity within said air spaces after a condition of decay equilibrium has been reached.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shelter material is flexible, translucent, vinyl plastic.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said shelter material is polyvinylchloride.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method is claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said shelters is geometrically configured to minimize reflection of radiant energy downwardly incident thereon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein each of said shelters is provided with a relatively low profile to lessen wind resistance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method as claimed in claim 4 including the additional steps of: a. estimating the average density of available upward escape paths for said radioactive decay products in said location of interest and b. selecting the magnitude of each of said spaced apart surface areas in relation to said average density so that each of said surface areas encompasses a predetermined minimum number of said escape paths, thereby insuring that a substantial concentration of said radioactive decay products will collect in the air space above any of said surface areas situated directly above such a buried mineral deposit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-04-11 | 1980-10-11 | 1981-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-11 | 1984-10-11 | 1985-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-11 | 1988-10-11 | 1989-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |