NL2011971C2

NL2011971C2 - Method and system for mining or extraction.

Info

Publication number: NL2011971C2
Application number: NL2011971A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Gerben Hendrikus Zuidam
Original assignee: Almas Invest B V
Priority date: 2012-12-14
Filing date: 2013-12-16
Publication date: 2014-06-17
Also published as: EP2931433A1; NL2009989C2; WO2014092579A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for mining or extraction of materials from a substrate, comprising earth, rock or ore, the method comprising steps for: -charging the materials present in the substrate, preferably by applying a triboelectric charge, -applying an electrostatic force to the charged materials for inducing transport of the charged materials through the substrate, -preferably repeating the above steps in an alternating manner.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MINING OR EXTRACTION

The present invention relates to a method for mining or extraction, preferably of materials transportable 5 under an electrically created force, preferably metals, such as noble metals, from a substrate, comprising earth, rock or ore. The invention furthermore relates to a system for mining or extraction of materials from a substrate, comprising earth, rock or ore.

10 According to the state of the art, it is possible to mine for materials using methods that are directed at removing the ore from the ore comprising sites, grinding the ore, and using any number of physical or chemical steps to further remove materials from ore.

15 Such systems are costly and cumbersome and devas tating to the environment or very costly underground. In light of these aspects, the present inventor has devised a method and system lacking the above indicated this advantages .

20 Therefore, the present invention is directed at a

Method for mining or extraction of materials transportable under an electrically created force, preferably of materials, more preferably of materials from a substrate, comprising earth, rock or ore, the method com- 25 prising steps for: - charging the materials present in the substrate, preferably by applying a triboelectric charge, - applying an electric force, such as an electrostatic force, to the charged materials for inducing 30 transport of the charged materials through the substrate, - preferably repeating the above steps in an alternating manner.

2

One major advantage of the above method is that for removing the materials, the surrounding substrate does not require direct tampering of matter adjacent to material particles. By providing a charge to the materials pre-5 sent in the substrate, it is made possible to cause migration of such charged particles through the surrounding matter without directly needing to move such surrounding matter. The charge is preferably a triboelectric charge, generated by causing the substrate to vibrate, the mutual 10 vibration of the material particles and the surrounding matter causing the material particles to become triboelec-trically charged.

Examples of materials are chemical elements such as chemical elements of the group of metals, such as cop-15 per, iron, uranium, titanium, vanadium, thorium, actinium, samarium, yttrium, indium and lanthanum; and/or lanthanides, an actinides and/or main group metals. Also base, strategic, rare earth metals, and some of their salts, oxides, hydroxides, concentrate. A first preferred embodi-20 ment according to the present invention provides steps for applying at least one antenna for providing a signal to the substrate that is suitable for providing the charge, preferably the triboelectric charge to the materials. The use of such antennae is very advantageous as it merely re-25 quires bringing the substrate in close contact or adjacency with the antenna. This may be achieved by simply arranging the antenna next to the substrate or by drilling a hole in the substrate and placing the antenna in the hole.

According to a second preferred embodiment, the 30 signal comprises electromagnetic waves, preferably with a frequency in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, further preferably in the range of 1 GHz to 6 GHz, further preferably in the range of 2 GHz to 3 GHz, further preferably in 3 the range of 2.2 to 2.6 GHz. The electromagnetic waves have preferably a voltage amplitude of up to 100V, further preferably of up to 10V, further preferably up to IV. The electromagnetic waves have preferably a current amplitude 5 of up to 10A, further preferably of up to 1A, further preferably up to 100mA.

Depending upon specific substrate and ore situations, within the disclosure of this document, the skilled person is readily able to use simple adjustment procedures 10 without undue experimentation for individual substrate situations. Preferably, at least one frequency is used that is effective for influencing water, such as for heating thereof, such as around 2.4 GHz. In a further embodiment, the electromagnetic waves are applied with wave po-15 larization, preferably vertically and or horizontally the antenna preferably being adapted to achieve such effect.

The power of the antenna is preferably within the range of 1 kW to 300 kW, preferably in a range of .5 kW to 10 kW, preferably in a range from 10 kW to 100 kW, prefer- 20 ably in a range of 100 kW to 300 kW, or any subset defina ble within the outer limits of these ranges.

Furthermore, the antenna has a bar shape with a cylindrical cross-section, preferably an oval cross-section, preferably a square cross-section, further pref-25 erably a cross-section of a polygon.

Furthermore, the charging step is performed for a period of 1 second to 4 days, preferably between 10 seconds to 10 hours, preferably between 1 min. and 20 min., preferably between 2 min. and 10 min., preferably between 30 2 min. and 5 min. such ranges allow for imparting the charge to a sufficient number of material particles in a substantial rate. Preferably, the triboelectric effect is 4 applied by means of vibrating material particles in contact with surrounding material of the substrate.

During the charging step, according to a further embodiment, at least a part of moisture that is present in 5 substrate is transferred to steam.

Preferably, the electrostatic force is applied by contacting at least two electrodes with the soil and applying a signal between the electrodes that is suitable for inducing transport of the charged materials through 10 the substrate.

According to a further preferred embodiment, Method according to any of the preceding claims comprising an additional step of raising the conductivity of the substrate, preferably by means of a high voltage signal or 15 flash signal, preferably in the range of 1000- 1,000,000, more preferably in the range of 1000- 100,000, further preferably in the range of 1000-50,000, further preferably in the range of 5000-25,000, further preferably in the range of 10,000, 20,000 Volt, preferably thereby creating. 20 According to a further preferred embodiment, the potential of the electrically induced force is between IV and 100 kV, preferably between 1 V and 10,000 V, preferably between 1 V and 1 kV, preferably between 1 V and 100 V, preferably between 1 V and 24 V preferably between 1 V 25 and 12 V. According this further preferred embodiment, the induced current is between 1mA and 100A, preferably between 10mA and 50A, preferably between 100mA and 10A.

The electrodes are preferably constructed by means of a conductive material, such as graphite.

30 For obtaining a further improvement of migration of the materials, the signal on the electrodes is variable, preferably with respect to the magnitude of applied 5 voltage and or preferably an alternating current, with a period between 1 second and 1 hour.

The duration of the step for applying an electrostatic force is according to a preferred embodiment be-5 tween 1 min. and 10 hours, preferably between 1 min. and 2 hours, preferably between 1 min. and 30 min., preferably between 1 min. and 15 min., preferably between 3 min. and 8 min., preferably between 4 min. and 6 min.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the method com-10 prises steps for drilling openings in the substrate for placing the at least one antenna or the at least two electrodes .

Preferably, a space between an electrode and surrounding ore is provided, the space being between 1/10 of 15 a millimeter and 2 cm, preferably between one half of a millimeter and 1 cm, preferably between 1 mm and 1 cm.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the drilling openings has a diameter between 1 cm and 30 cm, preferably between 1 cm and 10 cm, preferably between 1 cm and 5 cm, 20 preferably between 2 cm and for centimeter, more preferably substantially 3 cm with a drilling depth of between 30 cm and 100 m, preferably between 1 m and 10 m, more preferably between 2 m and 4 m, preferably substantially around 3 m.

25 A further step of the extraction method comprises comprising steps for removing materials from either electrode. This may be achieved by mechanical, physical or chemical methods .

A further embodiment is directed at a method com-30 prising steps in which multi barrel drilling systems are used, preferably dual barrel drilling systems, further preferably applying sonic drilling, preferably ultrasonic drilling. This is highly advantageous as this technique 6 for drilling allows for very clean drilling well or holes, the advantage of which is good signal transfer between the antennae and the surrounding substrate or earth. A further advantage is that the drills are directly usable as the 5 antennae itself and therefore also a collector for the yielded materials or metals.

Further preferably, any drill or barrel is directly applied as an electrode, preferably in which a 1st or in a drill barrel is used for the charging step and or the 10 conductivity racing step. This provides for better efficiency as steps for removal of the drill and insertion of the electrode or antenna may be omitted.

Further preferably, any drill or barrel is provided with openings and or through holes. An advantage there-15 of is that the direction of signals is directable towards the part of the substrate to be treated with the signal resp. towards a counter electrode or antenna.

A further aspect according to the present invention is directed at a system for performing a method ac-20 cording to the above claims, the system comprising a control unit comprising: - means for connecting to a power supply, - generation means for generating a signal for charging materials present in a substrate, 25 - outputting means for outputting the signal for charging the materials, - generation means for generating a signal for applying an electrostatic force to the charged materials, - outputting means for outputting the signal for 30 applying an electrostatic force to the materials.

Such a system provides advantages as indicated in the above description directed at the methods.

7

According to a 1st preferred embodiment, the system comprises at least one antenna for charging materials present in a substrate and at least 2 electrodes for applying an electrostatic force to the materials.

5 Further advantages, features and details of the present invention will be described in greater detail with reference to the annexed drawings and based one or more preferred embodiments. The drawings show as follows. Similar, yet not necessarily identical parts of several pre-10 ferred embodiments are referred to with the same reference numerals .

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of two holes for holding electrodes for extraction of materials according to a preferred embodiment of the present inven-15 tion.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention .

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a meth-20 od placing and removing an electrode.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of an electrode .

Fig. 5 shows a top view of a mining pattern with the present invention.

25 A first preferred embodiment (Fig. 1-2) according to the present invention relates to a system for executing a method according to the present invention. The system comprises two electrodes 2, each with an integrated antenna 2'. An advantage of such integration is that the same 30 element may be used as both an antenna and an electrode.

In other embodiments, a separate antenna may be used, which may be especially optimized for the purpose of the antenna. An advantage of the combination in this embodi- 8 ment is that it saves at least drilling of one hole per operation .

In this sense, an operation is intended to mean a cycle of method steps directed at extracting noble metals 5 from a patch of substrate as indicated in the above. Such operation may require a series of repetitions of steps in which firstly, the noble metals are charged, thereof to secondly the noble metals are extracted by means of the electrodes. Charging and extraction may be performed sub-10 sequently and during the same time.

The boreholes are preferably cylindrical and a minimum of 2 is required. A number of electrodes may be used as well as a number of antennae. An arrangement of such elements may be chosen based on undue experimentation 15 depending on circumstances of the substrate. A very rich substrate may require a smaller scale distance between electrodes, extending up to one or two meters in order to limit the gain of noble metals on the electrodes to a certain maximum indicated by the space in the openings around 20 the electrodes, whereas a very lean substrate may require quite a distance between the electrodes, extending up to hundreds of meters in order to obtain any gain of noble metals on the electrodes. It is also possible to interrupt the method, extract the electrodes, remove the noble met-25 als from the electrodes, and reinserted the electrodes into the openings of the substrate.

The control unit 3 preferably comprises a timer unit, a power unit for powering the antennae, and a power unit for powering the electrodes. Depending on the power 30 and frequency to be applied to the antennae, the skilled person will adapt the power unit to be able to provide the relevant microwave energy. Depending on the signal to be 9 provided to the electrodes, a suitable generator, such as a vandergraaf generator will be required.

A typical example of a substrate is a substrate comprising 2-25 g per cubic meter. For charging the noble 5 metals, with the electrodes at a distance of for example 2 m, it is presently expected that 1 min. is required to obtain a sufficient charge of the noble metals, where after the electrodes may be provided with the signal for 5 min.

It is presently anticipated that 50KV suffices for 10 distances up to 200 meters, 2V for 2 meters, 12 V for 10 meter and 24 V for 30 meter.

A further preferred embodiment (Fig. 3) according to the present invention relates to a method for placing and removing an electrode.

15 In figure 3A an electrode 10 named a core barrel is inserted, preferably by means of sonic drilling, in a substrate 5 comprising soil, preferably holding a layer with ore 6, domestic or industrial dump material, or tailing. The electrode 10 is inserted in the substrate using 20 drilling preferably rotational and/or ultrasonic drilling. The electrode is moved during drilling in a direction A to insert the electrode in the substrate. The charging and transport of minable materials is possible with the present invention with the electrode inserted in the layer 25 with ore.

In figure 3B an outer barrel or overcasing 20 is placed over the electrode 10. The hollow drill is placed in the substrate using drilling preferably rotational and/or ultrasonic drilling. The hollow drill is moved dur-30 ing drilling in a direction A to place it over the electrode in the substrate preferably at the same depth as the electrode. It is provided that during drilling a drilling fluid is used to ease the force to move the drill in the 10 direction of A during at least part of the drilling. The drilling fluid is preferably water and is preferably used for drilling through hard layers like rock.

In figure 3C the hollow drill is moved further 5 over the electrode.

In figure 3D the hollow drill is at its end position and the retraction of the electrode is started. The electrode is retracted in the direction of B. A space between the hollow drill and the electrode contains a re-10 trieved part of the substrate. Preferably the space is large enough to contain a substantial amount of the transported materials. Preferably the space is between 0.1cm and lm, by further preference between 0.5cm and 10cm, by further preference between 1cm and 2cm.

15 In figure 3E the retraction of the electrode pro gressed further. As a further preference the electrode and the hollow drill are retracted at the same pace.

A benefit of ultrasonic over rotational drilling is that the sides of the bore hole are not polished. A 20 polished bore hole has a lower contact surface with an electrode placed in the bore hole which results in a lower conductivity which results in less transport of minable materials. A further preferred embodiment (Fig. 4) according to the present invention is an electrode.

25 Figure 4A shows an elongated cylindrical electrode 2. The electrode is preferably perpendicular to the surfaced of the substrate placed in the substrate. The electrode comprises a front side 41 and a back side 43. The front side comprises holes 40. The barrels emit the radio 30 waves for charging the minable materials by the triboelec-trical effect. The openings are preferably faced in the direction of the second electrode for charging the minable materials preferably between the electrodes.

11

The holes have preferably a size like a diameter equal to a quarter of the multiple of the radio signal frequency used by the triboelectrical effect. By preference a frequency of the emitted radio waves is around 5 2.4GHz. A quarter wavelength of the frequency is prefera bly 31,25mm in vacuum. Due to a lower propagation speed of the radio wave in a substrate, the quarter wavelength may be longer than 31.25mm.

Figure 4B shows an elongated cylindrical electrode 10 2 after the present mining method is applied. The elec trode shows multiple areas 42 with minable materials deposited on the electrode.

A further preferred embodiment (Fig. 5) according to the present invention relates to a method of mining.

15 This method is improves mining efficiency. Figure 5 shows a top view of this mining pattern.

Before the step of harvesting, the earth is preferably subjected to a high voltage flash from the barrel, preferably the outer barrel, but the inner barrel may be 20 used before the outer is lowered. This flash creates lower resistance by creating or recreating p-n or n-p bridges or tunnels between crystals or particles in the earth. Especially man handled substrates are subject to the positive effect of this procedure and will yield high reductions in 25 resistance. The flash is preferably characterized by a block wave of direct current. The flash is preferably envisaged to recreate natural diodes in the substrate. An alternating current is under testing. During the harvesting phase, this flashing step allows for a raise in the 30 through put current. During testing, the harvesting current was raised from 20 mA to 2,5 A over a distance of 1,2 meter. Therefore, it is envisaged to raise the harvesting 12 or transport current by 10-1000 times, preferably 10-500 times, further preferably 1-200 times.

Shown are a first electrode 61 preferably a cathode and a second electrode 62 preferably an anode placed 5 at a first location 63, where both electrodes are placed some distance from each other. The electrodes are used to transport and preferably also to charge the minable materials. An electrical field transports the charged materials in the direction of A.

10 After some time the second electrode is retrieved from the first location 63 and repositioned to a second location 63'. Preferably the minable materials are recharged before transport of the minable materials in the direction of B.

15 After some time the second electrode is retrieved from the second location 63' and repositioned to a third location 63''. Preferably the minable materials are recharged before transport of the minable materials in the direction of C.

20 The process of retrieving and repositioning the second electrode is repeated preferably up until a complete circular pattern around the first electrode is formed.

A yield example is e.g. Substrate contents 5 gram 25 gold per M delivers a production on daily bases of 576 gram. Three exemplary embodiments of antenna uses are introduced : 1. the distance between the antennae is 20 meter, length of the barrel 2,4 meter and the width of the mate- 30 rial to be processed 2,4 meter (1,2 to the right and 1,2 to the left from the antenna).

2. distance between antenna 75 meter. Other distances remain the same as in point 1.

13 3. distance between antennae 200 meter. Other distances remain the same as point 1.

In such examples, the core barrel, dual wall and single is provided. A side discharge or front discharge 5 can be used for the system to adjust the emitted HF orientation. The core barrel for our system can be applied as antenna and simultaneously as collector (electrode). The core barrel over casing for he can be applied as a bridge maker. Flush or muddy puffy is envisaged as catalyst 10 source.

Herebelow, some test results are provided of the mixture of metals adhered to the electrodes after harvesting in a per test differently composed substrate or soil.

Test 1; Sm 0,78 %; 15 K 0,80 %; Gd 1,56 %;

Ca 61,24 %; Cu 0,48 %;

Ti 0,88 %; 35 As 0,12 %;

Mn 0,43 %; Pb 0,51 %;

Fe 32,96 %; Ac 0,15 %.

20 Cu 1,08%;

Zn 0,22%; Test 3;

As 1,47 %; 40 Ni 0,66 %;

Sr 0,67 %; Fe 0,57 %; Y 0,04 %; Cu 96,04%; 25 Pb 0,20 %; Pb 0,24 %;

Ac 0,01% Ag 2,48%.

45

Test 2; Test 4;

Mn 0,42 %; Cu 98,15%; 30 Fe 94,72 %; Ag 1,45 %.

La 1,26 %;

In the above, the present invention is described 50 with reference to one or more preferred embodiments. Sev- 14 eral aspects of several distinct preferred embodiments are described in the above. Furthermore, the features of distinct embodiments are deemed described in combination with each other in order to provide a description of all combi-5 nations that are considerable within the scope of this description by an expert of the field. The above disclosure these preferred embodiments are not limiting to the scope of protection of this document. The rights sought are determined in the annexed claims, o * * * * *

Claims

Method for mining or extraction of materials transportable under an electrically generated force, preferably, of metals, more preferably of precious metals from a substrate, comprising earth, rock or ore, the method comprising steps of: - loading of the metals present in the substrate, preferably by applying a triboelectric charge; 10. applying an electric force, such as an electrostatic force, to the materials for inducing transport of the materials through the substrate; preferably repeating the previous 15 steps in an alternating manner.

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, comprising steps for applying at least one antenna for providing a signal to the substrate which is suitable for providing the charge, preferably the triboelectric charge to the materials.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the signal comprises electromagnetic waves, preferably in the range of 300 MHz to 300 GHz, more preferably in the range of 1 GHz to 6 GHz, more preferably in the range of 2 GHz to 3 GHz, more preferably in the range of 2, 2 to 2, 6 GHz.

Method according to claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic waves are applied with wave polarization, preferably vertically and / or horizontally.

Method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the power of the antenna is in the range of 1 kilowatt to 300 kW, preferably in the range of 5 kilowatt to 10 kW, preferably in the range of 10 kW to 5 100 kW, preferably in a range of 100 kW to 300 kW, or any subset definable within the outer limits of these ranges.

6. Method as claimed in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, wherein the antenna has a beam shape with a cylindrical cross-section, preferably an oval cross-section, preferably a square cross-section, preferably a cross-section of a polygon.

Method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an additional step for increasing the conductivity of the substrate, preferably by means of a high voltage signal or a flash signal, preferably in the range of 1000-1 million, at Further preferably in the range of 1000 - 100,000, more preferably in the range of 1000 - 50,000, more preferably in the range of 5000 - 25,000, more preferably in the range of 10,000 - 20,000 volts.

A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the charging step is performed for a period of 10 seconds to 10 hours, preferably between one minute and 20 minutes, preferably between 2 minutes and 10 minutes, preferably between 2 min. and 5 min.

9. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the triboelectric effect is applied by vibrating noble metal particles in contact with surrounding material of the substrate.

10. Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein during the loading step, at least a part of moisture present in the substrate is converted into steam.

11. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein the electrostatic force is applied by contacting at least 2 electrodes with the bottom and applying a signal between the electrodes which is suitable for inducing of transport of the charged materials through the substrate.

A method according to claim 1 or 10, wherein the potential of the electrostatic force is between 1 volt and 100 kV, preferably between 1 volt and 10,000 volt, preferably between 1 volt and 1 kV, preferably between 1 volt and 100 volts, preferably between 1 and 24 volts, preferably between 1 and 12 volts.

13. A method according to claim 1, 10 or 11, wherein the electrodes comprise a conductive material such as graphite.

A method according to claims 1, 10 - 12, wherein the signal on the electrodes is variable, preferably with respect to the magnitude of applied voltage and / or preferably an alternating current, with a period between 1 second and 1 hour.

Method according to claim 1, 10-13, wherein the duration of the step of applying an electrostatic force is between one minute and 10 hours, preferably between one minute and 2 hours, preferably between 15 minutes and 30 minutes, preferably between 1 minute and 15 minutes, preferably between 3 minutes and 8 minutes, preferably between 4 minutes and 6 minutes.

16. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, comprising steps for drilling openings in the substrate for placing the at least one antenna or the at least two electrodes.

17. Method as claimed in one or more of the foregoing claims, wherein a space between the electrodes and surrounding ore is provided, wherein the space is between a tenth of a millimeter and 2 cm, preferably between half a millimeter and a centimeter, preferably between a millimeter and a centimeter. 20

18. Method as claimed in the foregoing claims, wherein the drill openings have a diameter between an centimeter and 30 cm, preferably between an centimeter and 10 cm, preferably between an centimeter and 5 cm, preferably between two centimeters and four centimeters, preferably substantially 3 cm with a drilling depth of between 30 cm and 100 meters, preferably between 1 meter and 10 m, more preferably between 2 and 4 m meters, preferably substantially around 3 m.

A method according to any of the preceding claims, comprising steps for removing materials from any of the electrodes.

20. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein multi-pipe drilling systems are used, preferably wherein dual pipe-drilling systems, further preferably use of sonic drilling, further preferably ultrasonic drilling.

21. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein any word or pipe is used directly as an electrodes, preferably wherein the first or only drill pipe is used for the loading step and / or the conductivity-increasing step.

22. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein some farmer or pipe is provided with openings and / or openings.

23. System for performing a method according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the system comprises a control unit, comprising: - means for connecting to a power supply, - generating means for generating a signal for charging of materials present in a substrate, - output means for outputting the signal for loading the materials, - generating means for generating a signal for applying an electrostatic force to the charged materials, - output means for outputting applying the signal for applying an electrostatic force to the materials.

24. System as claimed in claim 23, comprising at least one antenna for charging materials present in a substrate and at least 2 electrodes for applying an electrostatic force to the materials.