Abstract: A process for recovering mineral particles, metal particles or small precious stones from an aqueous slime associated with an ore body or mineral deposit or processing thereof, said aqueous slime containing mineral particles, metal particles or small precious stones in suspension with slime particles. The process includes adding a sufficient amount of deflocculating agent to the aqueous slime to cause deflocculation of the slime particles and produce a deflocculated suspension containing the mineral particles, metal particles or small precious stones. The deflocculated suspension is allowed to settle, and the settled material containing the mineral particles, metal particles or small precious stones is recovered.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 25, 1999
Date of Patent:
February 22, 2000
Assignee:
Ateba Mines Inc.
Inventors:
Roberto Berardi, David Krofchak, Peter A. C. A. Howe, David M. Howe
Abstract: A process for recovering precious metal particles or small precious stones from aqueous clay suspensions containing said precious metal particles or precious stones in suspension with clay particles includes adding a sufficient amount of deflocculating agent to cause deflocculation of the clay particles, and allowing the deflocculated suspension to settle. The settled material containing the precious metal particles or small precious stones is then removed.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 16, 1997
Date of Patent:
April 13, 1999
Assignee:
Ateba Mines Inc.
Inventors:
David Krofchak, Peter A.C.A. Howe, David M. Howe