| 摘要 |
An improved apparatus and method for hydraulically mining unconsolidated subterranean mineral formations is disclosed wherein the hydraulic mining tool and surface drilling equipment is supported upon elongate structural beams releasably affixed at opposite ends to laterally spaced concrete foundations positioned upon the drilling site. The structural beams prevent the mining tool from canting or subsiding during the hydraulic mining process and may be reused for consecutive mining operations at differing locations upon the drilling site. An improved mining tool configuration is additionally disclosed which is specifically adapted to agitate and maintain the mined minerals in suspension within the mining slurry and further direct the slurry toward the mining tool for subsequent transport to ground surface. To increase the mining/recovering rate, the present invention further disclose the use of plural cutting jet conduits which are positioned radially outward from the hydraulic mining tool and submerged within the mineral formation. During the mining operation, a high velocity cutting stream is simultaneously applied through each of conduits and directly radially inward through the formation to transport mined mineral particles toward the mining tool.
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