Pumpable product hydraulic mining apparatus and method

An hydraulic mining apparatus comprising, in combination:

• a perforate continuous loop belt conveyor having upstream and downstream sections and a reach extending over the length of said sections, the belt of said conveyor being sufficiently open to permit the substantially unrestricted passage of mined aggregate therethrough and having an upstream support extending beneath said reach over the length of said upstream section and a downstream support extending beneath said reach over the length of said downstream section, at least said upstream support having openings therein sized to permit aggregate of a pumpable size to pass therethrough while preventing the passage therethrough of aggregate greater than pumpable size;
• primary breaker means disposed intermediate said sections to reduce the size of oversized aggregate passing from said upstream section to said downstream section;
• secondary breaker means disposed downstream from said primary breaker means to reduce oversized aggregate departing from the latter means to a pumpable size;
• collection means disposed to receive fluid and pumpable aggregate from said conveyor and secondary breaker means;
• and, pump means communicating with said collection means to withdraw and pump fluid and aggregate therefrom and convey the same under pressure.

A method of treating and conveying hydraulically mined aggregate, said method comprising:

• conveying said aggregate over an elongate perforate continuous loop belt conveyor having upstream and downstream sections and a reach extending over the length of said sections, the belt of said conveyor being sufficiently open to permit the substantially unrestricted passage of mined aggregate therethrough and having perforate supports extending beneath said reach and over the length of said upstream and downstream sections, said supports having openings therein sized to permit aggregate of a pumpable size to pass therethrough while preventing the passage therethrough of aggregate greater than pumpable size;
• subjecting oversized aggregate received on said conveyor to breakage at a point intermediate said upstream and downstream sections to reduce the size of oversized aggregate;
• collecting the aggregate and fluid which passes through said perforate supports;
• and, pumping the collected fluid and aggregate under pressure.