System and method for collecting heavy minerals
First Claim
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1. A method for collecting heavy minerals, said method comprising:
- a) providing a material that is suspected of containing at least one heavy mineral;
b) removing at least a portion of dust from said material thereby producing a dust suppressed material;
c) providing a porous belt assembly, wherein said belt assembly is in contact with a plurality of cross members and wherein said belt assembly comprises a top layer of cotton fabric;
d) loading said dust suppressed material onto said belt assembly and forcing a gas through said belt assembly as said belt assembly rotates upward with respect to an incline;
e) wherein forcing said gas through said belt assembly fluidizes said dust suppressed material causing at least a portion of said at least one heavy mineral to gather against said plurality of cross members and wherein the remainder of said dust suppressed material flows down said incline and off of said belt assembly as said belt assembly rotates upward with respect to said incline; and
f) collecting said gathered at least one heavy mineral.
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and system for the environmental remediation of materials that are contaminated with heavy minerals, such as heavy metals. The invention finds utility in removing heavy minerals from materials such as soils, sediments, mine tailings and ores. The invention provides a means for removing heavy minerals from contaminated materials without the use of water while reducing the generation of dust. Thus, the invention provides an environmentally friendly method for the remediation of sites that are contaminated with heavy minerals.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for collecting heavy minerals, said method comprising:
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a) providing a material that is suspected of containing at least one heavy mineral; b) removing at least a portion of dust from said material thereby producing a dust suppressed material; c) providing a porous belt assembly, wherein said belt assembly is in contact with a plurality of cross members and wherein said belt assembly comprises a top layer of cotton fabric; d) loading said dust suppressed material onto said belt assembly and forcing a gas through said belt assembly as said belt assembly rotates upward with respect to an incline; e) wherein forcing said gas through said belt assembly fluidizes said dust suppressed material causing at least a portion of said at least one heavy mineral to gather against said plurality of cross members and wherein the remainder of said dust suppressed material flows down said incline and off of said belt assembly as said belt assembly rotates upward with respect to said incline; and f) collecting said gathered at least one heavy mineral. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for collecting heavy minerals, said system comprising:
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a) a particle separator capable of removing dust from a material that is suspected of containing at least one heavy mineral; b) a porous belt assembly comprising a plurality of cross-members, wherein said belt assembly has a top layer that comprises cotton fabric; c) an air box in gaseous communication with said belt assembly; and d) a motor for rotating said belt assembly around said air box. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification