US 8,410,397 B2 · Mineral processing

Abstract

The present invention concerns itself with a dry, free of toxic chemicals, and thus, environmentally safe, mineral processing technique. It uses ore elements' specific heat differences as the basis for separating valuable minerals from ores. No EPA approval, no environmental pit and no expensive monitoring are required in order to practice the teachings of the present invention. Furthermore, the technique described herein is economically attractive since it is a low cost approach to mineral processing.

Drawings

Drawings are temporarily unavailable. Open the PDF at USPTO

Drawings

Claims12

Dependent claims

A system of ore processing comprising:

means for loading a substantially precise volume of the ore in a plurality of cups, wherein the volume of each cup is about the same as the substantially precise volume of the ore;
means for a first measuring of the temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore in each cup;
means for changing the temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore, after the first measuring of the temperature, by exposing the substantially precise volume of the ore to controlled means for adding or extracting a precise amount of heat to or from the substantially precise volume of the ore;
means for a second measuring of the temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore, the second measuring being performed immediately after the means for changing the temperature have been disengaged;
and,
means for determining whether or not the substantially precise volume of the ore is a pure valuable ore constituent, based on the difference between the first and second temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore, by comparing the temperature difference with a look up table containing all the possible temperature differences for the expected valuable constituents, wherein the look up table accounts for variations in the volume of the ore and in ambient temperatures, and wherein the data for the look up table was gathered from a previously conducted assay of the ore.

3 more elements

A method of ore processing comprising the steps of:

assaying the ore to determine what ore constituent has to be separated;
loading a substantially precise volume of the ore in a plurality of cups, wherein the volume of each cup is about the same as the substantially precise volume of the ore;
measuring a first temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore in each cup;
changing the first temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore, immediately after the measuring of the first temperature, by exposing the substantially precise volume of the ore to a first controlled means for adding or extracting a precise amount of heat to or from the substantially precise volume of the ore;
measuring a second temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore immediately after the first controlled means for adding or extracting a precise amount of heat have been disengaged;
determining the mass of the substantially precise volume of the ore;
after the measuring of the second temperature, exposing the substantially precise volume of the ore to a second controlled means for adding or extracting a precise amount of heat to or from the substantially precise volume of the ore, wherein the amount of heat is a predetermined number of times greater than the amount of heat used during the changing of the first temperature;
measuring a third temperature of the substantially precise volume of the ore immediately after the second means for adding or extracting a precise amount of heat have been disengaged;
and,
determining that the substantially precise volume of the ore in the cup consists of the ore constituent that has to be separated if the difference between the third and the second temperature is either the same predetermined number of times greater than the difference between the second and the first temperature or equal to the expected temperature change based on the mass previously calculated.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description6,852 words

Summary442 words

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates generally to mining technology and more particularly to environmentally safe mineral processing. 2. Description of the Related Art

#Currently, minerals in ore bodies can be extracted using environmentally unsafe techniques. Such a technique is the cyanide leaching. Expensive and still risky, lined environmental pits have to be designed and constructed in order to attempt to catch and hold the toxic chemicals, and prevent them from leaking into the ground water. Monitor wells have to be drilled and continuous monitoring have to be performed by highly trained staff. Often, the liner of the environmental pits breaks and the dangerous chemicals infiltrate and compromise the ground water.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#For exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes, embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

#FIG. 1 illustrates the top view of a pilot plant for processing ores.

#FIG. 2 illustrates the side views of the same pilot plant for processing ores.

Detailed description6,074 words

#What follows is a detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in which the invention may be practiced. Reference will be made to the attached drawings, and the information included in the drawings is part of this detailed description. The specific embodiments of the invention, which will be described herein, are presented for exemplification purposes, and not for limitation purposes. It should be understood that structural and/or logical modifications could be made by someone of ordinary skills in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention is defined only by the accompanying claims and their equivalents.

#It is to be understood that the terms dump box, dump bucket and cup are used herein interchangeably as they mean the same thing in this context.

#FIG. 1 illustrates the top view of a pilot plant for processing ores. This is a diagrammatic representation of a sample plant structure that may be used to practice the present invention. FIG. 2 illustrates the side views of the same pilot plant for processing ores.

Facts

Application

12/819,152Filed 18 Jun 2010 · us provisional application

Priority

18 Jun 2009

Published

US 2010/0320181 A123 Dec 2010

Granted

2 Apr 2013

Term ends

14 Jul 2031

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 391 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

G01N 25/005
Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means: by investigating specific heat
B65G 65/23
Loading or unloading: devices for tilting and emptying of containers
G01N
Investigating or analysing materials by determining their chemical or physical properties
B65G
Transport or storage devices

Timeline

18 Jun 2009Priority claimedParent application 61/268,916
18 Jun 2010Application filedUS 12/819,152
23 Dec 2010PublishedUS 2010/0320181 A1
22 Feb 2011Assigned to A N Enterprises, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
2 Apr 2013GrantedUS 8,410,397 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
14 Jul 2031Term endsEstimated, includes 391 days of adjustment

Mineral processing

Life of this patent

Mineral processing

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims12

Description6,852 words

Drawings

Description6,852 words

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent