Abstract:
Extracting natural occurring volatile minerals using external and internal electromagnetic fields. FIG.  1  &amp; FIG.  2 : By passing the volatile solutions ( 23 ) and feed materials ( 126 ) through a closed container ( 14 )( 128 ) in the proximity of a electromagnetic field or corona. The electromagnetic field consists of electrodes placed on appropriate material either on the inside or the outside of the metal container ( 14 )( 128 ) and energized. Volatile gases are sent to recovery. FIG.  3 : Feed materials ( 212 ) can be fed on a enclosed conveyer ( 214 ) beneath a wrapped rod tube electrode ( 218 ) suspended above and lengthwise of the belt. Volatile gases are drawn off the top of the metal container ( 128 ) and sent to recovery. FIG.  4:  An electromagnetic probe ( 304 ) is inserted into a bore hole ( 302 ). When energized volatile gases are trapped in a cone shaped cover ( 306 ) or other appropriate containment covering the top of the bore hole ( 302 ) and sent to recovery.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is tied to a preceding Patent Pending Application (PPA) serial No. 60/207,429, filed May 30, 2000. A Patent Application has since been filed Mar. 6, 2001 and is awaiting review. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    1. Field of Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates to precious metal extraction, specifically to the volatilization and recovery of precious, and other minerals using electromagnetic corona fields, induced by electricity or by other mechanical means, extracting precious metals and other minerals from solutions(s), slurries, and different typ(s) of, feed material(s) and in-place mineralized ground, by volatilizing them from these sources.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Prior Art  
           [0005]    Early inventors weren&#39;t aware of volatile metals existing in any quantities, therefore this area of mineral separation was overlooked. Although a few patents dealt with trying to volatilize stable metals, using plasma arc and lazar to melt or volatilize already stable metals. This invention covers an area that hasn&#39;t been covered, and the invention deals with the volatile aspect of high valance minerals separation in a non-polluting environmentally clean procedure. We can find no prior art that covers the essence of this invention, the exception is the PPA 60/207,429 and the corresponding patent application filed Mar. 6, 2001. U.S. Pat. No. 4,814,003; uses a lazar beam to volatilize precious metals from feed materials using extreme heat. The metals are either melted or volatilized, the metals are then collected and filtered off to be processed. Although laser beam technology can be utilized to volatilize and recover low valance precious metals, it is slow and expensive to operate. The cost is prohibitive as ore bodies get lower, and lower grade, and the cost of mining goes up and up. The mining operators have to run large tonnage to be cost effective. This process could not deal with high valance unstable precious metals liberated by the heat and could not be stabilized as metallic salt using this process. The Patent Pending Application (PPA) and the corresponding patent filed Mar. 6, 2001 deals with volatile metals, using air injection to volatilize them, removing these gasses with an air stream to a spray tower where they are separated from the air with sodium hydroxide. Although this is an efficient way to separate precious metals and other minerals. Sometimes in cases of the treatment of sewage and other volatile aqueous solutions and certain ores, the carry over of tramp minerals is quite large. It hampers the recovery of precious metals from large amounts of these contaminates.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    In accordance with the present invention utilizing, electromagnetic volatilization of minerals.  
           [0007]    Objects and Advantages  
           [0008]    Accordingly several objects and advantages of the invention are:  
           [0009]    (A) To provide a easy, cheap volatile mineral extraction and a recovery process to the minerals industry.  
           [0010]    (B) Using a electromagnetic field to strip volatile precious metals and other minerals from solution(s), including feed materia, and in-place mineralized ground in a matter of seconds.  
           [0011]    (C) To provide a clean extraction, excluding many of the problem contaminates.  
           [0012]    (D) To provide extraction of volatile precious metals and other minerals from ores without fine crushing ores.  
           [0013]    (E) Provide a process that can extract precious metals without contaminating the ore, water sources, or other aqueous solution(s) or the processing site, recovering minerals in an environmentally sound and responsible manner.  
           [0014]    (F) To provide a process that can strip highly salacious ores over six inches in size and up of volatile precious metals without crushing.  
           [0015]    (G) Further objects and advantages are to provide small business an opportunity to operate their own company, form a small start-up cost.  
           [0016]    (H) Further objects and advantages are that it opens up thousands of potential ore bodies, water sources, industrial wastes, sewage, low grade mineralized ground and numerous other possibilities that could potentially have precious metals or other valuable minerals that at the present time are being volatilized and not recovered.  
           [0017]    (I) Further objects and advantages are that crushing of the feed material is not essential to the extraction of precious metals.  
           [0018]    (J) Further objects and advantages are extracting minerals in place, using an external corona probe down a bore hole. Volatilizing minerals from the area in a radius around the bore hole. 
       
    
    
     DRAWING FIGURES  
       [0019]    In the drawings  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1, shows the cut away version of the solution process. It captures the essence of the invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2, is relating to a different process, that of processing precious metal and other mineral bearing feed material.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3, shows the cut away version of an external corona field extraction process for processing feed material of undetermined size.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4, shows the cut away version of extraction of minerals from a bore hole using an electromagnetic hole probe with a external electromagnetic field. 
     
    
       [0024]    Reference Numerals in Drawings  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 1 Cut Away  
         [0026]    [0026] 10 —Negative Electrical Conductor  
         [0027]    [0027] 12 —Positive Electrical Conductor  
         [0028]    [0028] 14 —Metal Container  
         [0029]    [0029] 16 —Air Compressor  
         [0030]    [0030] 18 —Air Line To The Container  
         [0031]    [0031] 22 —Solution Trap  
         [0032]    [0032] 23 —Solution  
         [0033]    [0033] 24 —Intake  
         [0034]    [0034] 26 —Positive Electrodes  
         [0035]    [0035] 28 —Electrical Source  
         [0036]    [0036] 30 —Solution Level  
         [0037]    [0037] 32 —Solution Intake  
         [0038]    [0038] 34 —Solution Outlet  
         [0039]    [0039] 36 —Air Line To Recovery  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 2 
         [0041]    [0041] 110 —Stripped Feed Material  
         [0042]    [0042] 112 —Electrical Source  
         [0043]    [0043] 114 —Positive Electrode  
         [0044]    [0044] 116 —Negative Electrode  
         [0045]    [0045] 117 —Air Line to the Container  
         [0046]    [0046] 118 —Air Compressor  
         [0047]    [0047] 122 —Air Line To Recovery  
         [0048]    [0048] 124 —Conveyer  
         [0049]    [0049] 126 —Feed Material  
         [0050]    [0050] 128 —Metal Container  
         [0051]    [0051] 130 —Wrapped Around Container  
         [0052]    [0052] 132 —Outlet Auger  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 3 Cut Away  
         [0054]    [0054] 208 —Hood  
         [0055]    [0055] 210 —Chute  
         [0056]    [0056] 212 —Feed Material  
         [0057]    [0057] 214 —Conveyer  
         [0058]    [0058] 216 —Suction Line to Compressor  
         [0059]    [0059] 218 —Wrapped Rod or Tube Electrode  
         [0060]    [0060] 220 —Compressor  
         [0061]    [0061] 222 —Negative Electrode  
         [0062]    [0062] 224 —Positive Electrode  
         [0063]    [0063] 226 —Electrical Source  
         [0064]    [0064] 228 —Stripped Feed Material  
         [0065]    [0065]FIG. 4 Cut Away  
         [0066]    [0066] 302 —Bore Hole  
         [0067]    [0067] 304 —Electromagnetic Probe  
         [0068]    [0068] 306 —Cone Shaped Cover  
         [0069]    [0069] 308 —Positive Electrode  
         [0070]    [0070] 310 —Vacuum Line to Compressor  
         [0071]    [0071] 312 —Compressor  
         [0072]    [0072] 314 —Negative Electrode  
         [0073]    [0073] 318 —Ground  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0074]    [0074]FIG. 1 Cut Away  
         [0075]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a precious metal carrying solution enters the container  14 , through the solution intake  32 , the solution level  30  assumes the level of the solution trap  22 , the solution  23  enters the intake  24  pipe in the bottom of the metal container  14 . The solution  23  travels upward and exits through the solution outlet  34 . The solution  23  is subjected to an electromagnetic field created by a energized electrode from an electrical source  28 . The positive electrical conductor  12  goes to the metal container  14 , and the insulated positive electrode  26  is wrapped tightly around the length of the metal container  14 . The other end of the positive electrical conductor  12  where it leaves the metal container  14  goes to the air compressor  16  or other devices that would create a suitable electromagnetic field. The negative electrical conductor  10  goes directly from the electrical source  28  to the air compressor  16  or to other devices. Volatilizing gasses are drawn off the top of the tank by the inflowing air delivered by the air compressor  16  air line to the container  18 , from other sources. The pregnant air is drawn off by the air line air line to recovery  36 . This process could also be used with negative air pressure, using a vacuum to draw pregnant gases into the recovery circuit as in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.  
         [0076]    [0076]FIG. 2, Additional Embodiments  
         [0077]    Certain volatile dry feed material minerals are susceptible to the external corona electromagnetic volatilization of precious metals and other minerals. Referring now to FIG. 2. Dry feed material  126  is fed into the metal container  128  through the chute  38  which in turn feeds the conveyer  124 . The feed material  126  is subjected to a electromagnetic field that is induced by a positive electrode  114  wrapped around the container  130 . The feed material  126  exits through the out let auger  132  or other suitable discharge devises. The feed material  126  now striped of minerals is ejected by outlet auger  132  or other suitable devices. The waste ends up in the stripped feed material  110  pile. The positive electrode  114  goes to the metal container  128  where the insulated positive electrode  114  is wrapped around the container  130 . The positive electrode goes from the metal container  128  to the air compressor  118  or other devices where it energizes it and creates a electromagnetic field. The negative electrode  116  goes straight to the air compressor  118  or other devices. The air compressor  118  sends air down the air line to the container  117 , where it sweeps the volatile gasses out through the air line to the recovery  122  unit. It could also be utilized with negative air, using a vacuum to draw the gases into recovery at in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.  
         [0078]    [0078]FIG. 3 Additional Embodiments  
         [0079]    Certain mineralized material can be processed cheap and quickly by this exterior electromagnetic corona process. Now referring to FIG. 3, dry to moist feed material  212  is fed into chute, then fed down onto the belt of a conveyer  214  where the feed material  212  is exposed to the external electromagnetic corona effect of the wrapped rod or tube electrode  218 . It is suspended above or under and lengthwise over the moving belt. Volatile gases are trapped by a hood  208  where they are drawn off and sent to recovery through suction line to compressor  216 . From the electrical source  226 , a positive electrode  224  is wrapped around wrapped rod or tube electrode  218 , it terminates at the end of the wrapped rod or tube electrode  218  and is then wired into the compressor  220  or other devices to create an amperage load. The greater the amperage load, the greater the electromagnetic field. The greater the field the more diverse minerals will be volatilized and at greater distances. The negative electrode  222  goes directly to the compressor or other devises. The feed material  212  travels down the conveyor  214  and dumps off the end as stripped feed material  228 .  
         [0080]    [0080]FIG. 4 Additional Embodiments  
         [0081]    Mineralized ground can be stripped of minerals in place using drilled holes in the surface of the ground. Now referring to FIG. 4, extracting minerals in place by drilling a bore hole  302  in the ground  318 , and inserting a electromagnetic probe  304  into the bore hole  302 . The electromagnetic probe  304  is energized by positive electrode  308 . From there the positive electrode  308  goes to the compressor  312  or other suitable devices that will increase or control amperage. To increase or decrease the electromagnetic field as need be. The electromagnetic probe  304  when energized liberates volatile minerals which are trapped by the cone shaped cover  306  or by other suitable containment. The minerals are drawn off to recovery by the vacuum line to the compressor  310 . The negative electrode  314  goes directly to the compressor  312  or other devices.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 Alternative Embodiments  
         [0083]    There are also additional possibilities with regard to different types of magnetism. A.C. or D.C. voltage on a rheostat or some other devise to control the amount of current and the electro magnetic field intensity. Also the possibility of controlling the amount of volatility, selectively volatilizing certain minerals. Also electrostatic energy fields can achieve results volatilizing the volatile minerals in both FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 applications.  
         [0084]    [0084]FIG. 2 Additional Alternative Embodiments  
         [0085]    The added advantage of not crushing down to a fine consistency is an added factor. Electromagnetism releases volatile minerals while still locked up in rock the size of foot balls, making this process almost unique in its inception. In some cases not even needing a crusher feeding this dry system. Systems could be designed to hold feed material fragments up to several feet in diameter. It don&#39;t seem to make any difference what size the feed is, the electromagnetic field strips it of its precious metals in a matter of seconds.  
         [0086]    [0086]FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 Additional Embodiments  
         [0087]    The external corona field shown both in FIGS. 3 and 4 leads to exciting new innovative extraction using the continuous mining methods using the process shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows extraction of mineral in place using a bore hole. Holes could be drilled in a grid, to any depth and systematically extract minerals using the electromagnetic probe  304  and varying of amperage or voltage intensity to increase the electromagnetic field to over lap volatile mineral extraction between bore holes. Giving a whole new meaning to underground mining.  
         [0088]    Advantages  
         [0089]    From the description above, a number of advantages of the electromagnetic process becomes evident  
         [0090]    (A) Providing a low cost extraction process to the minerals industry.  
         [0091]    (B) Providing a clean, environmentally sound process to extract minerals.  
         [0092]    (C) Provide a process for municipalities to use the air injection process on municipal water intakes and sewage and storm water to extract minerals and metals. The extraction process could offset the cost of providing water and sewer to the municipality.  
         [0093]    (D) It would also provide an opportunity for conventional mineral extraction operations to use the electromagnetic process on their waste water to increase their profitability.  
         [0094]    (E) Open up thousands of ore bodies and water sources to be utilized to produce precious metals or other minerals.  
         [0095]    Operation—FIGS. 1 and 2  
         [0096]    The manor of using this process, the creating an electromagnetic field around a container  14 . The electromagnetic field can be either Alternating Current, or Direct Current or it can be electrostatic current. Each of these cause a corona electric field surrounding the container. Now referring to FIG. 1: In which is fed a mineral rich solution  23  is fed into the metal container  14 . The electromagnetic corona field is energized by a insulated positive electrical conductor  12  wrapped around the metal container  14 . When energized, creates an electromagnetic field or corona. The positive electrical conductor  12  exits from the metal container  14  to the air compressor  16 , or other suitable devises. The negative electrical conductor goes straight to the compressor or what ever devise energizes the electromagnetic field. The solution  23  is fed into the metal container  14  through the solution intake  32 . The electromagnetic field volatilizes the precious metals and other minerals from the solutions  23 . Low volume air from the air compressor  16  is swept across the top of the solution level  30  in the metal container  14  The volatile gasses are swept through the air line  18  to the recovery circuit. Now referring to FIG.  2 : Ore or other feed material  126  is fed into the metal container  128  through the conveyer  124 . The feed material  126  is subjected to a electromagnetic field, energized by a positive electrical conductor wrapped around the metal container  128 . The positive electrical conductor goes from the metal container. It is used to energize the compressor  118  or what ever devise is used to produce the amperage amount necessary for the electromagnetic field. The precious metals and other minerals are volatilized to the top of the container and are swept out by a low volume of air. It may also be swept out by a vacuum, or negative air pressure rather than positive air pressure. In FIG. 2 it is delivered by the air compressor  118 , through the air line to the container  117 . The gasses are swept up into the air line to the recovery  122  circuit.  
         [0097]    Operation of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4  
         [0098]    Now referring to FIG. 3, feed material  212  is fed into chute  210 . Feed material  212  is fed down into the conveyor  214 . The feed material  212  is stripped of its minerals as it passes underneath the energized wrapped rod or tube electrode  218 . The wrapped rod or tube electrode  218  is energized by positive electrode  224 . The stripped feed material  228  is discharged off the end of the conveyer  214 . The volatile gases rise to the top of hood  208  and is drawn off by a vacuum from a suction line to the compressor  216  and to recovery. From the electrical source  226  the negative electrode  222  goes directly to the compressor  220 .  
         [0099]    Now referring to FIG. 4. A bore hole  302  is drilled into the ground  318  and a electromagnetic probe  304  is inserted into the bore hole  302 . A suitable containment or cone shaped cover  306  is placed over the hole to catch the volatile gases. The gases are drawn off to recovery through negative air pressure through the vacuum line to the compressor  312 . The process is energized by the positive electrode  308 . The positive electrode  308  goes from the electromagnetic probe  304  to the compressor  312  or other devises that creates the amperages to create a sufficient electromagnetic field. The negative electrode  314  goes directly to the compressor  312 . The volatile gases are drawn off to be processed.  
         [0100]    The main embodiment of the present invention, shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 has several advantages. For example, heavy metals are stripped from solutions and feed material in a environmentally clean manner. Leaving the solution and feed material cleaner, devoid of volatile minerals. It also opens up possibilities of cleaning up volatile heavy metals out of sewage, runoff or irrigation waters, municipal water supplies or possibly from super fund sites, or from other similar applications.  
         [0101]    The effectiveness of the present technique for the extraction and recovery of precious metals and other volatile minerals, is further enhanced by the short retention time of the solutions, slurries and feed materials and stripping bore holes using the electromagnetic volatilization process. Letting the operator run larger volumes of solution, slurries or feed materials through the process in a short time. Or in the case of FIG. 4, large acreage amounts to the depth of the drill holes can be ran in a relative short time. The process is further enhanced by the cost of setting up the processing plant and processing the solutions or feed materials at a fraction of the cost of conventional processing.  
       CONCLUSION, RAMIFICATION, AND SCOPE OF INVENTION  
       [0102]    Thus the reader will see that electromagnetic volatilization as pertaining to recovery of volatile precious metals is a major mile stone in the mining industry&#39;s recovery of precious metals. The environmental ramifications of this invention will be an asset to the industry and the county. Not only is it a environmentally clean process, it is cheap and cost effective in the recovery of precious metals. Furthermore, the electromagnetic volatilization process has the additional advantages in that:  
         [0103]    The invention not only works for solutions but it also works for waste, run off, or sewage water, and dry or wet feed materials as well, it also can be used in bore holes.  
         [0104]    While I believe, but will not be bound by, that even conventional ore bodies contain appreciable amounts of volatile metals. These metals are now being, and have been lost in the processing of these ores by conventional means, that can now be recovered.  
         [0105]    It also may be utilized by municipalities to be used as striping process in industrial application. Many sewage lagoons ro other containment ponds may find the above applications a viable part of their process, offsetting their cost of running their operation by recovering precious metals.  
         [0106]    This Invention will open the door to many small miners, showing them the way to mine and recover minerals in an environmentally sound manner.  
         [0107]    Stripping minerals from the earth by drilling bore holes, leaving the earth undisturbed is a major environmental achievement. Not to mention the cost factor in being able to mine without disturbing the ground.  
         [0108]    Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the embodiment(s) illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.  
         [0109]    While my above description contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as an exemplification of one preferred embodiment thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example the above process may be:  
         [0110]    Changed in size.  
         [0111]    Connected or associated with its adjacent elements in a different manner.  
         [0112]    Made integrally or separately.  
         [0113]    Use different combination of electromagnetic&#39;s.  
         [0114]    Not limited to just one type of magnetic field.  
         [0115]    Not limited to the size of the feed or the moisture content.  
         [0116]    Not limited to the temperature of the solution or feed material.  
         [0117]    Not limited to the temperature of air or gasses.  
         [0118]    Mineral rich gases can also be controlled using negative air flow.  
         [0119]    Not limited to the amount of amperage or voltage required to extract minerals