US4876206A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods for detecting rare earth minerals
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1989-02-10
•
Granted: 1989-10-24
•
Expires: 2009-02-10
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to methods for quickly and accurately detecting the presence of rare earth minerals which can be performed in the field. An ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals is contacted with both a basic reagent, preferably containing an alkali metal, and with a halide acid such as hydrochloric acid. Once the treated ore sample is dry, it is examined under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color. If rare earth minerals are present, fluorescence of a red-orange color will occur. If no rare earth minerals are present, no red-orange fluorescence is observed. The sensitivity of the disclosed methods to rare earth minerals may be varied by altering the basic reagent to permit the user to "zero in" on the most concentrated source of rare earth minerals.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne L. Sayer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/62; G01N21/63; G01N21/64; G01N21/6428; G01N21/643
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 55
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals; (b) mixing the ore sample with a basic reagent to form a mixture; (c) treating the mixture with a halide acid; (d) allowing the mixture to react and dry; and (e) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
75 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals; (b) mixing the ore sample with a basic reagent to form a mixture; (c) treating the mixture with a halide acid; (d) allowing the mixture to react and dry; and (e) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the ore sample contains ore granules up to about one quarter (1/4) inch in diameter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises an alkali metal hydroxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 3, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide comprises sodium hydroxide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises an alkali metal carbonate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 5, wherein the alkali metal carbonate comprises sodium carbonate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises trisodium phosphate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium dichloro-S-triazinetrione.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium chlorite.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium sulfite.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium bicarbonate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium hypochlorite.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the basic reagent comprises an aqueous basic solution.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 13, wherein the basic reagent comprises an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite having a concentration in the range from about 5% to about 15%.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 14, wherein the sodium hypochlorite solution further comprises sodium chloride.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the halide acid comprises hydrochloric acid.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the ore sample is examined under a shortwave ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 254 nanometers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 1, wherein the volume of ore sample obtained is in the range from about one quarter (1/4) to about two tablespoons.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals; (b) mixing one volume measure of the ore sample with an approximately equal volume measure of basic reagent to form a mixture; (c) treating the mixture with a quantity of a halide acid in the range from about one volume measure to about three volume measures; (d) allowing the mixture to react, cool off, and dry; and (e) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
102 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals; (b) mixing one volume measure of the ore sample with an approximately equal volume measure of basic reagent to form a mixture; (c) treating the mixture with a quantity of a halide acid in the range from about one volume measure to about three volume measures; (d) allowing the mixture to react, cool off, and dry; and (e) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises an alkali metal carbonate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 20, wherein the alkali metal carbonate comprises sodium carbonate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises trisodium phosphate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium dichloro-S-triazinetrione.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium chlorite.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium sulfite.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium bicarbonate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises sodium hypochlorite.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises an aqueous basic solution.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 28, wherein the basic reagent comprises an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite having a concentration in the range from about 5% to about 15%.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 29, wherein the sodium hypochlorite solution further comprises sodium chloride.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the halide acid comprises hydrochloric acid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the ore sample is examined under a shortwave ultraviolet light having a wavelength of about 254 nanometers.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 19, wherein the basic reagent comprises an alkali metal hydroxide.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 33, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide comprises sodium hydroxide.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals comprising the steps of: (a) treating an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals with approximately equal volume measures of an aqueous basic reagent solution and a halide acid; (b) allowing the ore sample to react, cool off, and dry; and (c) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color indicating the presence of rare earth minerals.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals comprising the steps of: (a) treating an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals with approximately equal volume measures of an aqueous basic reagent solution and a halide acid; (b) allowing the ore sample to react, cool off, and dry; and (c) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color indicating the presence of rare earth minerals.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the halide acid comprises hydrochloric acid.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises an alkali metal hydroxide.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 37, wherein the alkali metal hydroxide comprises sodium hydroxide.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises an alkali metal carbonate.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the alkali metal carbonate comprises sodium carbonate.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises trisodium phosphate.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises sodium dichloro-S-triazinetrione.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises sodium chlorite.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises sodium sulfite.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the basic reagent aqueous solution comprises sodium bicarbonate.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the quantity of aqueous basic reagent solution and the quantity of halide acid which treat the ore sample result in a pH in the range from about pH=3 to about pH=7.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 46, wherein the resulting pH is in the range from about pH=4 to about pH=6.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the aqueous basic reagent solution comprises an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite having a concentration in the range from about 5% to about 15%.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 35, wherein the sodium hypochlorite solution further comprises sodium chloride.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals; (b) treating the ore sample with a quantity of aqueous basic reagent solution and a quantity of halide acid, such that the resulting mixture has a pH in the range from about pH=3 to about pH=7; (c) allowing the ore sample to react and dry; and (d) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color indicating the presence of rare earth minerals.
Claim 54
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining an ore sample to be tested for the presence of rare earth minerals; (b) treating the ore sample with a quantity of aqueous basic reagent solution and a quantity of halide acid, such that the resulting mixture has a pH in the range from about pH=3 to about pH=7; (c) allowing the ore sample to react and dry; and (d) examining the ore sample under a shortwave ultraviolet light for fluorescence of a red-orange color indicating the presence of rare earth minerals.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for detecting rare earth minerals in the field as defined in claim 50, wherein the resulting pH is in the range from about pH=4 to about pH=6.
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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) | 1992-10-23 | 1993-04-24 | 1993-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-10-23 | 1997-04-24 | 1997-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-10-23 | 2001-04-24 | 2001-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |