Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A liquid carrier having mineral ore in the form of free particles or a salt dissolved therein is contained within a suitable container. A box member which has walls which are pervious to the liquid by virtue of apertures formed therein or the porous nature of such walls is filled with a collection material such as carbon which may be in the form of filaments or particles. This box member is suspended in the liquid carrier. An elastic member which may be a plate of steel has an orbitting mass oscillator attached to the top end thereof. This elastic member is suspended in the liquid in opposing relationship to the box member. The rotor of the oscillator is rotatably driven so as to generate sonic energy in the elastic member. The carbon particles provide an electrode of an electrolytic system such that the mineral in the carrier, e.g. gold migrates to the carbon particles and deposits thereon. The sonic energy enhances the migration of such mineral particles to the collection material and also tends to clean off impurities such as fine clay from the carbon. Further, excess accumulations of mineral are peeled off from the collection material and dropped to the bottom of the container from where they can easily be removed.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim