Patent · US Expired

Methods for treating ores

US6131836A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
26References
9Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 29, 1999
Grant dateOct 17, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S977/90
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Metals are rendered analyzable, extractable or recoverable from materials, such as complex or refractory ores, by applying shear deformation forces to the materials. The shear deformation forces are generated by methods such as mechanical attrition. Through this process, the precious element-bearing amorphous colloidal silica and other fractions of these ores are reformed and crystallized into what are essentially nanophase materials that show a change of chemical, mechanical, and thermodynamic properties as compared to their original natural state. During or after this transformation, the precious element content of these ores may be reduced to a recoverable state and/or analyzed or detected.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.