Abstract: A hydraulic mining system for a mine including a plurality of horizontal stopes each of which has a mining face. The apparatus comprises a main slurry mix tank at the lowermost stope, a hydraulic mining device in each stope, slurry forming mechanism in each stope for converting mined ore into slurry form, a flexible conduit extending from each stope to the main slurry mix tank for conveying mined ore in slurry form to the mix tank, an upflow tube having its lower end at said slurry mix tank and extending upwardly to the ground surface, and a pump for moving slurry upwardly in said tube.

Abstract: Water is discharged from spray nozzles toward cutting tools of a drum-cutting mining machine only during the actual time when material is released from the face of a mine. A pulse generator is driven by the traversing drive of the mining machine. The pulse output is fed to a controller which may include a computer that also receives an enabling signal produced by the secondary winding of a transformer in the power supply lines for the drive motor which is used to rotate the cutting drums of the mining machine. The enabling signal indicates an actual mining operation on the basis of the flow of current to the drive motor about a predetermined idle current load. Additional signals are fed to the controller such as a signal representing properties of the mine materials, and a signal representing characteristics of the drive system for the mining machine such as the dimensions of the capstan's chain drive wheel.

Abstract: A sectional scraper device which is foldable in zig-zag position by remote pulling means and which can be let down through a clad bore hole and can be deviated to follow layers of mineral to be mined by a to and fro movement of the scraper device combined with transport of loosened minerals by liquid circulation through the bore hole. The scraping action may be strengthened by the action of liquid jets emanating from the scraper device.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of cutting spallable material such as rock using high pressure water jets. Two jets which preferably diverge cut slits in the material face. These slits are close together so that the material between them spalls out. The invention also provides apparatus for providing such jets.

Abstract: A self-decentralized hydra-jet tool for jet treating the face of a formation penetrated by a well bore which tool includes a jet treating head assembly adapted to be lowered into a well bore and supported therein by a flexible conduit assembly communicating between the jet treating head assembly and a source of pressurized treating fluid, the jet treating head assembly including a plurality of jet nozzles therein arranged such that a force imbalance is imparted to the jet treating head assembly by the reaction forces resulting from the jet action of the nozzles thereby urging the jet treating head assembly into close proximity to the formation face being treated.

Abstract: Hydraulic mining of tar sands in a formation wherein water is introduced into a plurality of spaced cavities in the bottom of a tar sands formation and above a number of tunnels communicating with respective cavities by openings. In one embodiment of the method, water is sprayed onto exposed tar sands surfaces in the cavity and further creates a moist atmosphere in those regions of the cavity where the water is not directly sprayed on the surfaces. The moist atmosphere can be in the form of suspended water droplets or can be saturated water vapor at a temperature above the ambient temperature of the tar sands or a combination of both. The water on the exposed surfaces penetrates the formation along paths of preferential wetability, causing adjacent portions of the formation to separate and break loose from the formation itself in a direction in which the portions are free to expand.

Abstract: Viscous petroleum including bitumen may be recovered for subterranean petroleum containing unconsolidated said formations such as tar sand deposits by hydraulic mining. Hot water or steam is introduced into the subterranean deposit with sufficient velocity to dislodge bitumen and particles of sand therefrom. The process is a single wellbore operation using rotatable vertically moveable injection string with one or more jets near the bottom thereof, with separate return flow path to surface, the inlet to which may be on the bottom of the injection string. Injection string may be raised or lowered while rotating and jetting so full vertical thickness of tar sand interval is contacted by aqueous mining fluid. Jet pump may be used to pump petroleum to surface. Injected aqueous hydraulic mining fluid may contain alkaline material such as sodium hydroxide or ammonium hydroxide.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for excavating and removing a settled body of discrete mineral solids (e.g., a tailings pond from a mining operation) by procedures which progress downwardly from the surface of the body. High pressure streams of liquid are traversed along a path in a pulping zone lowermost in first region of the body. The liquid forms a pumpable slurry with the mineral solids in the zone, and the slurry is then pumped from the zone leaving an undercut cavity sufficient to cause collapse of the overburden of solids. The collapsed overburden is then formed into additional pumpable slurry which is removed by pumping. Successive stages of excavation are carried out by moving the streams of liquid downwardly to a second region where the foregoing steps are repeated. In the apparatus a caisson is disposed vertically in the body and stabilized by means of a plurality of circumferentially positioned pilings.

Abstract: Hydraulic underground mining system adapted to operate through a small diameter well bore and into a subterranean body and including a mining capsule carried on the lower end of an elongate support structure. The mining capsule includes a liquid jet nozzle at its upper end for forming a laterally directed jet stream to impact material in the ore body and to pulp the same into a slurry. An orifice having a grate for preventing entry of excessively large material is positioned below the jet so that freshly pulped slurry flows into the orifice, the latter being connected to an elongate positive displacement pump mounted below the orifice. Suitable hydraulic power means are provided for operating the pump and for progressively moving the jet stream .[. .]. .Iadd.through .Iaddend.at least a portion of an arc. Fixed liquid jets are also provided at the pump inlet for flushing and priming and to the lowermost portion of the capsule and to facilitate movement of the apparatus in the well bore.