Abstract: Opposite ends of a dry vibration-fluidized separator are moved with complex vibrations, including linear, whirl, linear plus whirl, oscillation, linear plus oscillation, pitch and roll. Near zero to large amplitudes up to about ±0.050 inches and low frequencies of about 30 Hz are used. Mixed particulate materials are fed into a first end and circulate across and along the separator in a shallow depth. More dense materials move linearly along a floor and are removed through an opening in a second end of the floor. The less dense materials flow over a weir at the second end of the separator.

Abstract: A mineral benefication apparatus having a housing, including opposed stratification hoppers arranged at its lower periphery. Particulate material and water are introduced separately into the housing, which is then oscillated to separate a portion of the particulate material. The apparatus can be modified to operate either on land or in a sea environment.

Abstract: The obdurate hard cake, loaded with gold particles, that forms on the bottom and four sloping walls of the reciprocating deep rectangular jig pan by the compaction and dewatering of the suspended solids is eliminated, and the recovery of gold is significantly improved by a combination of:1. a rectangular pressurized water manifold spaced slightly above the plane of the pan bottom and provided with at least one row of jet orifices directed at the bottom;2. four steeply sloped walls at a dihedral angle of about 65.degree. with the plane of the open top of the pan;3. a V-bottom with the valley aligned parallel to the flow of slurry;4. a broad skimmer blade on the spillway gate, oriented coplanar with the surface of the slurry and directed backwardly against the flow;5. a connecting rod in the drive train which is resiliently biased, in thrust and in pull directions, by adjustable spring means;6.