Method and apparatus for recovery of magnetite and magnetite bearing elements from a slurry

An apparatus for removal of ferro-magnetic material comprising:

• a base;
• a hollow drum rotatably supported on the base around a periphery of the drum, the drum being rotatable along an axis and extending between an upstream and a downstream end;
• a slurry inlet at the upstream end of the drum for introduction of a slurry containing ferromagnetic material thereinto;
• and a magnet housing supported by the base and surrounding the hollow drum, the magnetic housing comprising:
• a lower portion extending under and around at least a lower surface of the drum;
• an upper portion extending over an upper surface of the drum and being hingedly connected to the lower portion of the magnet housing through a hinge;
• at least one actuator operatively coupled to the upper portion of the magnet housing;
• and
• an array of magnets mounted around the housing and arranged so that magnetic fields corresponding to the array of magnets act to magnetically attract the ferromagnetic material from the slurry as the drum rotates;
• and
• a recovery vessel freely selectably slidable into the downstream end of the drum to a position operable to capture the Ferro-magnetic material falling from the interior wall of the drum,
• wherein the array of magnets extend from at least around the lower portion of the magnet housing,
• wherein the upper portion of the magnet housing is rotatable relative to the lower portion of the magnet housing by the at least one actuator to form an opening through which the drum is removable from therethrough once the recovery vessel is removed therefrom.