Abstract: A vehicle for separating a mixed debris stream is disclosed. The vehicle may include an elongate vehicle frame; a separating structure mounted on the vehicle frame and configured to contact the mixed debris stream with a fluid stream to separate the mixed debris stream into at least a first debris stream and a second debris stream; a first conveyor; a second conveyor; and a fluid collection structure configured to receive fluid from at least one of the separating structure, the first conveyor, and the second conveyor, the fluid collection structure including an upper tank, a lower tank, and one or more conduits fluidly connecting the upper and lower tanks, wherein the one or more conduits are free from a valve configured to regulate flow from the upper tank toward the lower tank.

Abstract: A precious metal recovery system utilizing an amalgamation process which results in substantially complete recovery both of the precious metal sought and of the mercury utilized in the process. Mercury has undesirable health and environmental characteristics and the system of the invention assures its substantial containment. In the operation of the system, ore is classified and sorted out into a plurality of bins or holds containing ore having a substantially uniform particle size. The ore is then delivered, bin by bin, beginning with the smallest particle size, to apparatus which assures substantially complete amalgamation of all of the precious metal present in the ore. Thereafter, a resulting slurry of water and tails is first removed from the amalgamation apparatus and any residual mercury removed before its return to the environment.

Abstract: A drum is supported for rotation between two shafts having gears thereon engaging a ring gear around the outer periphery of the drum. A crushing and milling cylinder is journalled for rotation upon a vertically adjustable shaft extending freely through the entrance and exit apertures in the side plates of the drum and this shaft is supported within stationary bearings one upon each side of the drum. The sludge comprising finely crushed rock and water is discharged through the exit in one side wall and into a hopper where it is conveyed by a conveyor system over and through a bed of mercury which extracts the gold in the form of an amalgam. The sludge is then discharged from the other side of the mercury bed.