Bechtel International Corporation

Pierre J Chassagne

Irving Leibson

Charles A Lambly

A method for preparing industrial ores, e.g., coal, for pipelining and pipelining the ores to a site for subsequent processing or use. Ore from a mine is screened into two fractions, one having a large size particle distribution and one having a small size particle distribution, each fraction retaining both the ore and the refuse. The large size particle fraction is cleaned of refuse and the clean ore therefrom crushed to a size distribution of the smaller size or small size ore fraction. The separated refuse from the large size particle fraction is ground to provide superfines to the extent required for the proper particle size distribution for pipelining. The ore and superfine refuse are combined in a water slurry for pipelining. After pipelining the ore, the ore is cleaned and dewatered conveniently as known in the art for fine ore. The resulting ore may then be stockpiled or directly used.

Coal slurry pipelining

A method of separating and removing magnesium chloride hexahydrate from deep subterranean salt formations containing magnesium chloride hexahydrate, such as a carnallite bed or a bischofite bed, wherein one or more holes are drilled or provided through an overburden and into the bed. A solvent formed from any one of the lower saturated monohydric aliphatic alcohols having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, such as methanol, is directed downwardly in the hole and into contact with the bed, then upwardly through and out of the cased hole. Magnesium chloride hexahydrate is dissolved selectively by the solvent, but other salts, such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride, remain substantially insoluble in the solvent. The insolubles may be elevated out of the hole simultaneously with the lifting of the solvent-magnesium chloride hexahydrate solution or subsequent to such lifting. The flow is continued until the solvent is sufficiently lean to warrant the discontinuance of recovery of magnesium chloride hexahydrate, at which time the operation can be terminated or a second phase operation can be undertaken in which the slurry comprised of the solvent and the insolubles in the cavity of the bed is removed from the hole by conventional techniques, such as pumping or gas lifting.

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San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Pierre J Chassagne