Assaying method
AssigneeInnovative MET Products (PTY) Limited
InventorsGeorge M. Cowan, Boyne F. Hohenstein, Keith S. McIntosh, Pierre K. Hofmeyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a method of assaying a mineral sample for determining the concentration of selected metals in a sample comprising the steps of providing a comminuted mineral sample; mixing such sample with a flux; preheating a reaction vessel to a temperature which approximates the melting point of the flux; introducing the mixture of the mineral sample and flux into the crucible, whereby the mixture is transformed to a molten state to capture the metal to be assayed in a collector material; and separating slag from the collector material.
Claims24
A method of assaying a mineral sample for determining the concentration of selected metals in a sample comprising the steps of:
- providing a separating vessel having an outlet duct which includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture and a linear passageway defined between said inlet and outlet apertures;
- providing a comminuted mineral sample;
- mixing the mineral sample with a flux which forms a collector material during fusion thereof;
- causing the mixture to fuse in the separating vessel whereby the mixture is transformed to a molten state to form a slag and to capture the metal to be assayed in the collector material;
- and
- separating the collector material from the slag by draining the collector material by force of gravity from the separating vessel through the linear passageway of the outlet duct while the slag remains within the separating vessel, the dimensions of the linear passageway proving the sole means which is sufficient to allow the collector material to drain therethrough by force of gravity but is sufficiently restricted to prevent the slag from draining therethrough by force of gravity, whereby the slag is retained within the separating vessel following separation of the collector material therefrom.
A method of assaying a mineral sample for the determination of the concentration of selected metals in the sample comprising the steps of:
- providing a separating vessel having an outlet duct which includes an inlet aperture, an outlet aperture and a linear passageway defined between said inlet and outlet apertures;
- preparing a mineral sample;
- mixing the mineral sample with a flux which forms a collector material during fusion thereof;
- introducing the mixture into a reaction vessel;
- causing the mixture to fuse in the separating vessel whereby the mixture is transformed to a liquid state to form a flux and to capture the metal to be assayed in the collector material;
- separating the collector material from the slag by draining the collector material by force of gravity from the separating vessel through the linear passageway of the outlet duct while the slag remains within the separating vessel, the dimensions of the linear passageway providing the sole means which is sufficient to allow the collector material to drain therethrough by force of gravity but is sufficiently restricted to prevent the slag from draining therethrough by force of gravity, whereby the slag is retained within the separating vessel following separation of the collector material therefrom;
- and
- before or after separating the collector material from the slag, contacting the collector material with oxygen or an oxygen forming material to oxidize the collector material or a portion thereof to reduce the volume of the collector material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.