The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for recovering mature fine tailings (MFT) from oil sands tailings ponds. Some examples include a hollow, fully enclosed around its perimeter, ideally of cylindrical form, open bottom structure (a hollow conduit), of predetermined geometry, which is placed at the pond surface. The hollow conduit can penetrate MFT deposits to or below a level at which MFT of required density is located. A width or diameter of the hollow conduit can be determined with respect to the MFT inflow velocity and the corresponding shear rate, so as to enable MFT flow into the hollow conduit at a rate matching a rate at which the MFT is removed from the pond (e.g., a recovery rate). An MFT fill level inside the hollow conduit can be kept constant and equal to a required fill level throughout MFT recovery operations. MFT can enter the hollow conduit during MFT recovery operations solely under action of hydraulic head pressure. MFT can be transferred from within the hollow conduit utilizing a mechanical device such as a pump or a siphon, for transfer to shore based facilities and further processing.

A system for excavation of magnetic regolith having a collection chamber, a transport tube, a power supply, a wiring system, a controller, and a plurality of electromagnetic coils. Embodiments according to the invention allow for the excavator to have an electromagnetic rod and a flexible tubing. Further embodiments of the invention allow for excavation along vertical and horizontal axes and for the electromagnetic coils to be energized simultaneously.

The present invention provides a dredged soil transport system including a pipe module wound with a coil applying an electromagnetic field to an internally flowing dredged soil and including a plurality of pipelines, a pump module configured to provide a transport pressure for transport of dredged soil to the pipe module, database stored with flow information on flow velocity and flow form in response to physical properties of liquefied unit, and a control module communicating with the pipe module, the pump module and the database wiredly and wirelessly and applying, to the coil, a current of waveform matching to a flow waveform of the dredged soil transported inside the pipeline, and a control method thereof.

The present invention provides a dredged soil transport system including a pipe module wound with a coil applying an electromagnetic field to an internally flowing dredged soil and including a plurality of pipelines, a pump module configured to provide a transport pressure for transport of dredged soil to the pipe module, database stored with flow information on flow velocity and flow form in response to physical properties of liquefied unit, and a control module communicating with the pipe module, the pump module and the database wiredly and wirelessly and applying, to the coil, a current of waveform matching to a flow waveform of the dredged soil transported inside the pipeline, and a control method thereof.

An insulated excavation tube preferably includes a non-conductive tip tube, a non-conductive connector tube, a first vacuum tube, a second vacuum tube, a flange member and a handle. One end of the first vacuum tube is retained in one end of the non-conductive tip tube. A distance is maintained between an end of the first vacuum tube and an opposing end of the non-conductive tip tube to provide electrical and vibration isolation. An opposing end of the first vacuum tube is retained in one end of the non-conductive connector tube. One end of the second vacuum tube is retained in the non-conductive connector tube. A gap is maintained between the opposing end of the first vacuum tube and the one end of the second vacuum tube. The flange member is attached to an opposing end of the second vacuum tube. The handle is attached to the second vacuum tube.

The invention relates to a method for mining and processing of an ore. The method comprises at least one mobile comminution device (26) comprising at least one mobile crusher unit and at least one mobile grinding unit located proximate to an ore body that is being mined (20), fragmented ore (22) from the ore body is comminuted in the mobile comminution device (26) to a size which can be readily pumped (28) without the use of special carrier fluids, preferably to a particle size p50 in the range between 0.05 to 1 mm and the comminuted ore is combined with water to form a slurry.

The invention relates to a method for mining and processing of an ore. The method comprises at least one mobile comminution device (26) comprising at least one mobile crusher unit and at least one mobile grinding unit located proximate to an ore body that is being mined (20), fragmented ore (22) from the ore body is comminuted in the mobile comminution device (26) to a size which can be readily pumped (28) without the use of special carrier fluids, preferably to a particle size p50 in the range between 0.05 to 1 mm and the comminuted ore is combined with water to form a slurry.

An elbow fitting for an excavating apparatus can include a curved cylindrical pipe that can include a first metal material. In an example, the fitting can be configured for coupling to a hose. The pipe can include an interior surface and an exterior surface. Optionally, a perimeter of the pipe does not exceed a diameter of a first end of the pipe. The fitting can include a cladding layer (e.g., a second metal material) that can be coupled to the first metal material within the interior surface of the pipe. The cladding layer can include an abrasion-resistant material. The cladding layer can be coupled to the pipe such as with a welding operation. The cladding layer can include one or more ridges. The cladding layer can corregate the interior surface of the fitting and exterior surfaces of the fitting which can come into contact with abrasive material.

An elbow fitting for an excavating apparatus can include a curved cylindrical pipe that can include a first metal material. In an example, the fitting can be configured for coupling to a hose. The pipe can include an interior surface and an exterior surface. Optionally, a perimeter of the pipe does not exceed a diameter of a first end of the pipe. The fitting can include a cladding layer (e.g., a second metal material) that can be coupled to the first metal material within the interior surface of the pipe. The cladding layer can include an abrasion-resistant material. The cladding layer can be coupled to the pipe such as with a welding operation. The cladding layer can include one or more ridges. The cladding layer can corregate the interior surface of the fitting and exterior surfaces of the fitting which can come into contact with abrasive material.

The present application relates to a suction dredger for use on an underwater hard soil layer and relates to the technical field of bridge construction equipment. The present suction dredger includes a mud suctioning mechanism, a mud-breaking mechanism, and a blockage-prevention assembly. The mud suctioning mechanism includes a pressurizing assembly and a suction dredging pipe. The suction dredging pipe passes through the pressurizing assembly and the two ends thereof at least partially extend past the pressurizing assembly. The side wall of the section of the suction dredging pipe located in the pressurizing assembly is provided with multiple pressurization holes that are inclined upward in the direction from the outer wall to the inner wall. The pressurizing assembly is used for, via the pressurization holes, forming low pressure in the suction dredging pipe. The mud-breaking mechanism includes at least two mud-breaking assemblies. The mud-breaking assemblies are provided on the bottom of the mud suctioning mechanism and are used for crushing the underwater hard soil layer to assist the suction dredging pipe in suctioning mud. The blockage-prevention assembly is provided on the bottom of the suction dredging pipe. The blockage-prevention assembly is used for preventing the suction dredging pipe from experiencing blockages during the suction process. The suction dredger for use on an underwater soil layer provided in the present application solves the problem in the prior art that when a suction dredger works on an underwater hard soil layer, suction results are poor and blockages are common.