Method of recovery of precious metals & heavy minerals

Claim 2

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) introducing said raw material into said chamber and causing said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow upwardly in said chamber; (iv) adjusting the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii) in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 3

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 4

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 5

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) directing raw material containing precious metals and/or heavy minerals downwardly onto impelling means located within said chamber such that said raw material collides with said impelling means and is driven thereby against said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 6

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) directing raw material containing precious metals and/or heavy minerals downwardly onto impelling means located within said chamber such that said raw material collides with said impelling means and is driven thereby against said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 7

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; and to a separator (iv) directing particles carried upward in the air flow into said separator for separating particles of a size within said range from particles of size larger than said range; (v) recycling particles larger than said range from step (iv) to step (ii); and (vi) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); and (c) the size of particles of step (iv) separated by said separator in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (vii) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 8

A process for recovering precious metals and/or heavy minerals from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of precious metals and/or heavy minerals and which are of a size in the range at which any precious metals and/or heavy minerals therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less precious metals and/or heavy minerals and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; and to a separator (iv) directing particles carried upward in the air flow into said separator for separating particles of a size within said range from particles of size larger than said range; (v) recycling particles larger than said range from step (iv) to step (ii); and (vi) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); and (c) the size of particles of step (iv) separated by said separator in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (vii) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of precious metals and/or heavy minerals therefrom.

Claim 9

The process of claim 4 further including the step of: (viii) sealing said comminuting chamber from the atmosphere.

Claim 10

The process of claim 3 wherein said impelling means rotates about an axis and has a tip which is the furthermost point from said axis, said method including the step of: (vi) adjusting the speed of said tip to between about 440 and about 880 feet per second.

Claim 11

The process of claim 4 further including the step of: (viii) forming said side wall such that the area of said side wall against which said raw material is directed in step (ii) is smooth and free of cracks, edges or corners in which particles of raw material may collect.

Claim 12

The process of claim 4 further including the step of (viii) discharging the particles from step (vii) through an opening formed in said lower wall.

Claim 13

The process of claim 8 further including the step of: (ix) forming, an opening in said lower wall and providing an air-lock in communication with said opening; and (x) continuously discharging the particles from step (vii) through said opening and said air-lock.

Claim 14

The process of claim 3 further including the step of: (vi) providing chains as impelling means in step (ii).

Claim 15

The process of claim 10 further including the step of: (vii) providing impelling means consisting of a plurality of rigid elements interconnected by flexible elements in step (ii).

Claim 16

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) introducing said raw material into said chamber and causing said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow upwardly in said chamber; (iv) adjusting the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii) in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 17

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) introducing said raw material into said chamber and causing said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow upwardly in said chamber; (iv) adjusting the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii) in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 18

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 19

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 20

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) directing raw material containing gold downwardly onto impelling means located within said chamber such that said raw material collides with said impelling means and is driven thereby against said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 21

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) directing raw material containing gold downwardly onto impelling means located within said chamber such that said raw material collides with said impelling means and is driven thereby against said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; (iv) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); and (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (v) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 22

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; and to a separator (iv) directing particles carried upward in the air flow into said separator for separating particles of a size within said range from particles of size larger than said range; (v) recycling particles larger than said range from step (iv) to step (ii); and (vi) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); and (c) the size of particles of step (iv) separated by said separator in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (vii) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 23

A process for recovering gold from raw materials comprising the steps of: (i) providing a comminuting chamber having an interior space defined, in part, by side and lower walls; (ii) causing said raw material to strike said side wall with sufficient velocity to cause said raw material to fracture into a first fraction of particles which contain a substantial proportion of gold and which are of a size in the range at which any gold therein are substantially liberated from the remainder of said raw material, a second fraction of particles which are of a size in the same range but which contain substantially less gold and a third fraction of particles which are of a size larger than said range; (iii) causing air to flow into said chamber and along a path including: upwardly along the side wall; and to a separator (iv) directing particles carried upward in the air flow into said separator for separating particles of a size within said range from particles of size larger than said range; (v) recycling particles larger than said range from step (iv) to step (ii); and (vi) adjusting at least one of: (a) the rate of upward flow of air of step (iii); (b) the velocity of the raw material of step (ii); and (c) the size of particles of step (iv) separated by said separator in order to cause substantially all of the particles in the first fraction to fall onto said lower wall while particles in the second and third fractions are carried upward in the air flow; and (vii) recovering particles which collect on said lower wall for separation of gold therefrom.

Claim 24

The process of claim 15 further including the step of: (viii) sealing said comminuting chamber from the atmosphere.

Claim 25

The process of claim 14 wherein said impelling means rotates about an axis and has a tip which is the furthermost point from said axis, said method including the step of: (vi) adjusting the speed of said tip to between about 440 and 880 feet per second.

Claim 26

The process of claim 15 further including the step of: (viii) forming said side wall such that the area of said side wall against which said raw material is directed in step (ii) is smooth and free of cracks, edges or corners in which particles of raw material may collect.

Claim 27

The process of claim 15 further including the step of (viii) discharging the particles from step (vii) through an opening formed in said lower wall.

Claim 28

The process of claim 19 further including the step of: (ix) forming an opening in said lower wall and providing an air-lock in communication with said opening; and (x) continuously discharging the particles from step (vii) through said opening and said air-lock.

Claim 29

The process of claim 14 further including the step of: (vi) providing chains as impelling means in step (ii).

Claim 30

The process of claim 14 further including the step of: (vii) providing impelling means consisting of a plurality of rigid elements interconnected by flexible elements in step (ii).