Continuous cycle apparatus for separating precious metals from concentrate

A continuous cycle apparatus for separating particles of precious metals from concentrate comprising:

• a sump for holding a quantity of water;
• a funnel-shaped hopper having a smaller bottom opening and a larger upper opening for initially receiving a quantity of concentrate to be processed and for discharging any overflow from said hopper into said sump;
• a pump for circulating a flow of said water from said sump;
• at least one jet receiving a first portion of said flow of water from said pump and directing said flow into said hopper to create a vortex of water and concentrate in which less dense material tends to overflow from said hopper into said sump and denser material tends to gravitate toward said bottom opening of said hopper;
• a tube having an opening sealed in fluid communication with said bottom opening of said hopper, said tube carrying a second portion of said flow of water from said pump and receiving a flow of concentrate and water through said bottom opening of said hopper;
• a sluice box for collecting particles of precious metals from said flow delivered by said tube, said sluice box further having a discharge to circulate said flow back into said hopper.

A continuous cycle apparatus for separating particles of precious metals from concentrate comprising:

• a sump for holding a quantity of water;
• a funnel-shaped hopper having a smaller bottom opening and a larger upper opening for initially receiving a quantity of concentrate to be processed and for discharging any overflow from said hopper into said sump;
• a pump for circulating a flow of said water from said sump;
• at least one jet receiving a first portion of said flow of water from said pump and directing said flow in a tangential direction into said hopper to create a vortex of water and concentrate in which less dense material tends to overflow from said hopper into said sump and denser material tends to gravitate toward said bottom opening of said hopper;
• a tube having an opening sealed in fluid communication with said bottom opening of said hopper, said tube carrying a second portion of said flow of water from said pump and receiving a flow of concentrate and water through said bottom opening of said hopper;
• a metering valve having a rod extending through said hopper and an enlarged lower end located in said tube adjacent to said bottom opening of said hopper to regulate the rate at which concentrate and water flow out of said bottom opening of said hopper into said tube;
• a sluice box for collecting particles of precious metals contained in said flow delivered by said tube, said sluice box further having a discharge to circulate said flow back into said hopper.