Patents Assigned to Placer Dome Technical Services Limited
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Patent number: 8597399Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2011Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Paul George West-Sells, Ralph Peter Hackl
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Patent number: 8097227Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ heap leaching or lixiviants that include one or more blinding agents.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2010Date of Patent: January 17, 2012Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Ralph Peter Hackl, Jinxing Ji, Paul George West-Sells
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Patent number: 8029751Abstract: The present invention is directed to a precious metal recovery process in which basic ferric sulphates and/or jarosites are controlled by a number of mechanisms, including control of the oxidation reaction conditions in the first autoclave compartment, hot curing of the autoclave discharge slurry, and/or contacting of the autoclave feed slurry with the hot cured discharge liquid.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: James A. King, Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Cesare Giosue Ferron
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Patent number: 7722840Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ heap leaching or lixiviants that include one or more blinding agents.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Ralph Peter Hackl, Jinxing Ji, Paul George West-Sells
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Publication number: 20100111751Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ heap leaching or lixiviants that include one or more blinding agents.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2010Publication date: May 6, 2010Applicant: PLACER DOME TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITEDInventors: Ralph Peter Hackl, Jinxing Ji, Paul George West-Sells
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Patent number: 7704298Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Paul George West-Sells, Ralph Peter Hackl
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Patent number: 7604783Abstract: The present invention is directed to a precious metal recovery process in which basic ferric sulphates and/or jarosites are controlled by a number of mechanisms, including control of the oxidation reaction conditions in the first autoclave compartment, hot curing of the autoclave discharge slurry, and/or contacting of the autoclave feed slurry with the hot cured discharge liquid.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: James A. King, Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Cesare Giosue Ferron
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Publication number: 20080105088Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Applicant: PLACER DOME TECHNICAL SERVICES LIMITEDInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Fleming, Paul West-Sells, Ralph Hackl
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Publication number: 20070089566Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ heap leaching or lixiviants that include one or more blinding agents.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2006Publication date: April 26, 2007Applicant: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Ralph Hackl, Jinxing Ji, Paul West-Sells
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Patent number: 7192093Abstract: In one embodiment, an excavation method is provided that includes the steps of: (a) contacting a rotating powered cutting head 440 of an excavator 400 with an excavation face 452, wherein, at any one time, a first set of the cutting elements is in contact with the excavation face and a second set of the cutting elements is not in contact with the excavation face, the cutting head excavating the excavation face in at least a first direction; and (b) during the contacting step, using an elongated support member 404 extending from the excavator 400 to a powered device 118 to apply a force to the excavator 400 in at least the first direction to provide at least a portion of the cutting force. The powered device 118 is located at a distance from the excavator 400.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2005Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Eric Jackson, Jim Friant
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Patent number: 7066983Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2003Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Paul George West-Sells, Ralph Peter Hackl
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Publication number: 20060133974Abstract: The present invention is directed to a precious metal recovery process in which basic ferric sulphates and/or jarosites are controlled by a number of mechanisms, including control of the oxidation reaction conditions in the first autoclave compartment, hot curing of the autoclave discharge slurry, and/or contacting of the autoclave feed slurry with the hot cured discharge liquid.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2005Publication date: June 22, 2006Applicant: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, James King, Christopher Fleming, Cesare Ferron
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Patent number: 7033480Abstract: The process of the present invention recovers platinum group metal(s), such as platinum and palladium, from PGM-containing materials containing base metals, such as copper and nickel. The process controls sulfur levels by using solvent extraction 306 to remove acid in the nickel recovery circuit. The acid product 326 can then be neutralized and/or recycled as desired.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2002Date of Patent: April 25, 2006Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventor: James A. King
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Publication number: 20060016621Abstract: The present invention is directed to an underwater drilling system that includes a shuttle for transporting drill rods, geophysical tools, and/or core barrels from the underwater drilling platform to a surface vessel and/or a robotic vehicle to provide power to the underwater drilling platform and monitor and/or control the operation of the underwater drilling platform.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2005Publication date: January 26, 2006Applicant: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Eric Jackson, Peter Kowalczyk
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Publication number: 20060000121Abstract: In one embodiment, an excavation method is provided that includes the steps of: (a) contacting a rotating powered cutting head 440 of an excavator 400 with an excavation face 452, wherein, at any one time, a first set of the cutting elements is in contact with the excavation face and a second set of the cutting elements is not in contact with the excavation face, the cutting head excavating the excavation face in at least a first direction; and (b) during the contacting step, using an elongated support member 404 extending from the excavator 400 to a powered device 118 to apply a force to the excavator 400 in at least the first direction to provide at least a portion of the cutting force. The powered device 118 is located at a distance from the excavator 400.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2005Publication date: January 5, 2006Applicant: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Eric Jackson, Jim Friant
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Patent number: 6857706Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mining method for steeply dipping orebodies. In the method, an excavator 152 is tethered to a deployment system 120 by one or more cables/umbilicals 144. The excavator 152 excavates slices 172a-h of the orebody 100 by moving generally up-dip, down-dip or a combination thereof. The excavator can be automated.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Marilyn Patricia Ann Hames, Timothy B. Dimock, Edward William Drew Anwyll, Donald Duncan Young, Fredric Christopher Delabbio, Eric Jackson, Simon Mark Jackson
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Publication number: 20040206207Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2004Publication date: October 21, 2004Applicant: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Paul George West-Sells, Ralph Peter Hackl
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Patent number: 6761416Abstract: A plasma-hydraulic excavation system suitable for use in connection with mining operations is provided. According to the system, one or more groups of plasma-hydraulic projectors that include a reflector and a pair of electrodes are used to break an area of rock. The projectors include a connection box within which high voltage connections between the electrodes of the projector and a power supply cable may be made. Groups of projectors and supporting componentry may be housed within a common frame, to form an excavation module. Electrode insulators interconnected to the projector reflector in compression are also disclosed. A trigger circuit providing a voltage transformer for each projector in a group of projectors is utilized in connection with a series connected current source circuit to provide for the ignition of the projectors. According to an embodiment of the invention, multiple groups of projectors may be operated using a single current control switch.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2003Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventor: William M. Moeny
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Publication number: 20040035252Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2003Publication date: February 26, 2004Applicant: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Paul George West-Sells, Ralph Peter Hackl
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Patent number: 6660059Abstract: Processes are provided for recovering precious metals from refractory materials using thiosulfate lixiviants. The processes can employ lixiviants that include at most only small amounts of copper and/or ammonia and operate at a relatively low pH, reduction of polythionates, inert atmospheres to control polythionate production, and electrolytic solutions which provide relatively high rates of precious metal recovery.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2001Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Placer Dome Technical Services LimitedInventors: Jinxing Ji, Christopher Andrew Fleming, Paul George West-Sells, Ralph Peter Hackl