Method and apparatus for the in situ analysis of marine ore concretions
First Claim
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1. A method for the in situ analysis of ore concretions on the sea floor, comprising the following steps:
- a. guiding a means defining a suction opening along and immediately above the sea floor at a predetermined, constant height thereabove;
b. hydraulically aspirating the ore concretions off the sea floor through said suction opening by entraining the concretions in a water stream;
c. separating undesirable substances from the ore concretions by entraining the aspirated material along a substantially horizontal path by said water stream for causing material having a relatively high sinking speed to be introduced by gravity into an upwardly open sample container positioned laterally below the horizontal path and for causing material having a relatively low sinking speed to travel past the sample container;
d. irradiating the ore concretions in the sample container with neutron radiation for inducing therein a secondary radiation characterizing the elements contained in the ore concretions;
e. measuring said secondary radiation;
f. determining the quantity of the individual elements contained in the ore concretions; and
g. determining the bulk density of ore concretions in the sample container by gamma ray absorption.
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Abstract
For the in situ analysis of marine ore concretions, ore samples are aspirated from the sea floor and introduced in a sample container aboard a carrier body travelling underwater along and in the vicinity of the sea floor. While in the sample container, the ore concretions are exposed to radioactive rays for inducing a secondary radiation emanating from the ore concretions. The secondary radiation is measured for determining the quantity of the individual elements contained in the ore concretions.
17 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for the in situ analysis of ore concretions on the sea floor, comprising the following steps:
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a. guiding a means defining a suction opening along and immediately above the sea floor at a predetermined, constant height thereabove; b. hydraulically aspirating the ore concretions off the sea floor through said suction opening by entraining the concretions in a water stream; c. separating undesirable substances from the ore concretions by entraining the aspirated material along a substantially horizontal path by said water stream for causing material having a relatively high sinking speed to be introduced by gravity into an upwardly open sample container positioned laterally below the horizontal path and for causing material having a relatively low sinking speed to travel past the sample container; d. irradiating the ore concretions in the sample container with neutron radiation for inducing therein a secondary radiation characterizing the elements contained in the ore concretions; e. measuring said secondary radiation; f. determining the quantity of the individual elements contained in the ore concretions; and g. determining the bulk density of ore concretions in the sample container by gamma ray absorption.
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2. An apparatus for the in situ analysis of ore concretions on the sea floor, comprising in combination:
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a. a carrier body; b. means for guiding said carrier body closely above the sea floor; c. aspirating means for picking up said ore concretions off the sea floor, said aspirating means including a suction-generating device aboard said carrier body, a suction hose attached to said carrier body and communicating with said suction-generating device, and means defining a suction opening in said suction hose; d. supporting means connected to said suction hose in the zone of said suction opening for guiding and maintaining said suction opening immediately above the sea floor at a predetermined, constant distance therefrom; e. separating means aboard said carrier body for separating undesirable substances from the ore concretions, said separating means communicating with said suction hose; f. a sample container, constituting a measuring chamber, aboard said carrier body and communicating with said separating means, said sample container receiving the ore concretions from said separating means; g. a radiation source aboard said carrier body for emitting a radioactive radiation directed on the ore concretions in said sample container; and h. a radiation detector aboard said carrier body for receiving secondary radiation emitted by the ore concretions. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification