Idaho Jim Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Went down along the Utah border last weekend. Visited an old gold/silver mine looking for pyrite nuggets. Ran the Sweep Jig (patent pending) dry to see if it could recover the pyrite. Obviously, it did OK. I'm wondering about the "coppery" color. If anybody knows what that is, I'd appreciate the info. The GMT doesn't detect the nuggets, but easily "sees" the coppery sand. https://youtu.be/UDATYX62tt4 Jim 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morlock Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 My guess is it wasn't pyrite you were finding that is coppery looking. It was chalcopyrite which is copper iron sulphide. Just my thoughts. Certainly an interesting looking piece of equipment you were using. I never seen one like that before. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 18, 2018 Author Share Posted July 18, 2018 (edited) 1 hour ago, Morlock said: My guess is it wasn't pyrite you were finding that is coppery looking. It was chalcopyrite which is copper iron sulphide. Just my thoughts. Certainly an interesting looking piece of equipment you were using. I never seen one like that before. AAhhh, that's what it is. I wondered about the copper color. Many thanks! BLM's records show no mention of copper at that mine. That's really interesting. The sweep jig is something I developed late last summer, and through the winter. It is the absolute nuts! Works wet or dry, and recovers a very high percentage of flour gold. I applied for a patent in January. We'll see how it goes. It allows me to prospect places I'd passed by before. I've sold two of them...one to a guy in Edmonton who is using it on the NSR, and one last week to a guy in Arizona. He's got an old mine tailing pile, with gold, but no water. I'm looking forward to his reports. He also plans on taking it to the beach in Oregon next month. Here's a pic of another rock I found a few years ago about a mile from the mine. It also has a coppery sheen, and feels waxy. I thought it might be a mica schist, but now you've got me wondering. These rocks are only found in a small area of maybe an acre. really strange. Some of them are as big as a bathtub. A detector does not see them. Edited July 18, 2018 by Idaho Jim 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisski Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 I've reached the end of the internet with this. You seem to be the only one with anything on sweep jigs on google. Good luck on the patent; it does seem to be a new piece of gear. I like the fact of not classifying on it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul R W Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 That's quite a contraption. I like your concept, and like Morlock, I've never seen one like it. That bushing, though ... (Where's the grease-gun smiley?) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 18, 2018 Author Share Posted July 18, 2018 Many thanks, guys! I hate greasing these bushings...it just collects dust, but I'm making an exception in this case...LOL. Actually, I need to either go back to the UHMW plastic bushings, or try the HDPE. obviously, the Delrin against aluminum isn't going to work...LOL Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoJack Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Could that be graphite on the surface in your pan? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 18, 2018 Author Share Posted July 18, 2018 (edited) I have no idea, Jack. The tailings are all a dark gray color. The geo report said the mine had limonite, shale, metasedimentary quartzite, etc. Whatever it is has a really oily look to it, and the material I dumped out of the tubs last night has a very black, shiny appearance this morning. I know it's hard to get off my hands....really gets into the pores of the skin. I'm assuming the dark gray material was the shale. I find it a little strange that ALL the tailings are the same dark gray material....very little other gravel, like quartz, etc. I know the belt of material it comes from is a metasedimentary quartzite. That belt extends about 6 or 7 miles into Idaho, and is about 1 mile wide. Lots of quartzite intrusions in the belt. Lots of prospecting of the belt, but not much to show for it, at least in Idaho. Jim Edited July 18, 2018 by Idaho Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisski Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Perhaps you found a new fracking site for oil. Some of it is stored in shale. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoJack Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 I've worked slate here in California that had the same situation as a section of the ledge responded to my Gold Bug. I've read / heard about graphite enrichment zones in slate. Heavily populated with pyrites as well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 (edited) Yup...I'm starting to believe there's graphite in this stuff. The sand is definitely conductive, but not at all magnetic. None, zero, nada response to a magnet. That means it's conductive, without iron, and it's probable the conductive element is graphite. I retried the GMT on it, and it detects both the nuggets and the dried sand. But, the GMT indicates the probability of iron at 70%. But that just means the phase shift is close to the iron range. Doesn't mean definite proof the material has a high iron content. Another thing arguing in favor of graphite is the streak test....almost black, and it glides across the surface as easily as a pencil. So, probably the black in the sand is graphite, and the coppery color is some sort of pyrite....judging by the color maybe chalcopyrite. What I'm the happiest about, however, is how well the Sweep Jig recovered those fines while running dry. If there was free gold there, it would have recovered it. That's what the trip was all about. That, and the recovery of some nice pyrite specimens. I'm sure I'll go back, but I'm taking the chainsaw next time...LOL Jim Edited July 19, 2018 by Idaho Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
middleforkminer2 Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 May put some of that oily stuff on the bushing??? Then I might take a propane torch and see if it burns??? That "sweep jig" is interesting...have you ever tried it in a known "free gold" spot? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 LOL...there's a thought! Yes, this has been used at Bonanza bar on the Snake River to recover flour. Video here:Sweep Jig at Bonanza Bar The biggest gold on the Snake is about 50 mesh, and not much of that. Most is sub-100 and smaller. I also ran it at the LDMA/GPAA outing at the Blue Bucket in May. Actually recovered black sand and gold from damp tailings without water. Using water, in a demo, recovered 100% of black sand and gold in front of several miners. Asked to re-run the tails and found zero black sand or gold. Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzNuggetBob Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Nice Jim, I like the whole concept of your Sweep Jig. AzNuggetBob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 Thanks, Bob. The actual concept occurred to me last August, but I'd been working on dry gem recovery for about 8 years, building 8 or 10 different designs. As it turns out, you can't recover gems dry. A physics phenomenon called "Granular Convection" aka "the Brazil Nut Effect, prevents it. So I built this for that purpose (not being aware of GC), and when it didn't work for gems I tried it for gold, and it worked great. A few bugs to work out, and it's now a pretty nice little wet/dry gold machine that can be built in almost any size. I sell the 18" unit for $550 + shipping, with a solid body of HDPE corrugated pipe. That model weighs 19lbs. The one I use myself is a skeletonized version that sells for $650 + shipping. It only weighs 11lbs. I'm amazed myself at how well these perform. They only draw about 1 amp, so can get by with a fairly small battery pack, and when used wet, they require very little water...just enough to keep the material on the diaphragm sort of soupy. Water has no impact on the recovery...that's all in the mechanical action. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edge Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Good job, keep inventing. But if you don't oil that bushing you could find yourself surrounded by angry elk in rut. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 (edited) LOL...my poor hearing is a blessing at times, but I had no trouble hearing that squeak. tried to get rid of it as best I could in the viodeo, but I guess from what I'm hearing from everybody, I failed....Ha. Maybe I should be marketing an elk bugle. Jim Edited July 20, 2018 by Idaho Jim 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saul R W Posted July 20, 2018 Share Posted July 20, 2018 Same here, Jim -- my hearing isn't quite what it used to be. But there are certain high-frequency sounds that seem to pierce the deafness, including bad bearings, slipping belts and angry daughters. 1 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted July 20, 2018 Author Share Posted July 20, 2018 Ya know, Saul, I've noticed that "selective" hearing isn't all it's cracked up to be...LOL In my case it seems to select what I don't want to hear instead of the other way around. Jim 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micro Nugget Posted September 6, 2018 Share Posted September 6, 2018 Jim: I just love it when folks such as yourself think outside the box. A few tweaks here and there no doubt will occur to you over time. Emotionally I can feel your passion. It energizes my own imagination. Thanks for sharing and best of luck progressing your idea. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted September 8, 2018 Author Share Posted September 8, 2018 Thanks, Micro. I'm already making some changes. The bungee doesn't hold the diaphragm tight enough, so it needs a winch-tightening strap. Not a big deal, but an improvement. We also found out it draws more current than we thought....roughly 4 amps, so I need to advise customers they'll want a bigger battery pack. I put a 10mil visqueen diaphragm on mine, and I've run almost 5 hours dry, so far. Running dry is harder on the diaphragm than running wet. I'm also working on a different version that may become the standard version I sell. I won't get really involved with that until the weather goes to cr-p...probably in November. I'm waiting to hear on the recovery of gold from black beach sand. The run is done, but still waiting to find out the results. The run was done without water, so I don't have high hopes. Trying to recover gold from black sand is tough, wet. Much more difficult dry, so I'm not optimistic, but we'll see. Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micro Nugget Posted September 8, 2018 Share Posted September 8, 2018 Have you thought about mounting wheels atop the jig arms? Might reduce frictional resistance and lessen wear and tear on the diaphragm. Just a thought. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted September 9, 2018 Author Share Posted September 9, 2018 3 hours ago, Micro Nugget said: Have you thought about mounting wheels atop the jig arms? Might reduce frictional resistance and lessen wear and tear on the diaphragm. Just a thought. The prototype had rollers on the arms. I may end up going back to that, but every extra detail adds to the complexity, labor time, materials, and thus the cost. I'm trying to keep the price under $600, and it's not easy. If I used rollers, they'd have to be omni-directional, as the direction of rotation changes as the position along the arms changes. Also, using rollers doesn't help much with the diaphragm wear. The ease of rotation is offset by the point-loading of the rollers. The spot where the roller rubs has moire load, and thus more friction, and wear on the diaphragm. The whole thing works well as it is....wet or dry. Currently, I'm working to get the weight down. Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nugget Shooter Posted September 19, 2018 Share Posted September 19, 2018 Interesting and following.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idaho Jim Posted November 2, 2018 Author Share Posted November 2, 2018 YEEEHAA!!!! i was notified by mail today that my patent application has been approved! I need to send them a check for $250, and my patent will be issued. Only 5% of the patent applications are approved on the first run-through, so I'm really pleased to be in that group. I put 250 hours into the application. I'm really happy all that effort paid off. I may never make any money from the machine, but it's still nice to have a patent. Jim` 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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