Hello, dear readers! Today we will plunge into the world of gold mining and examine one of the main methods of extracting this metal. After all, not everyone knows exactly how it is taken out of the ground and separated from other garbage.
The problem is that in addition to nuggets in their pure form, the noble mineral is found in the soil in the form of fine dust. For the purpose of its removal, a device was invented, which will be discussed further - a dredge for extracting gold.
Methods of gold mining in Russia
Gold is considered an expensive, but still not a rare metal. Methods for its extraction from the soil are conventionally divided into mechanical and chemical (when combined with other elements). If we talk about the Russian Federation, the following are recognized as the main ones.
- Amalgamation is based on the special property of mercury to dissolve elements in itself. The rock containing gold is placed in a container with Hg. Over time, these metals combine to form an amalgam, from which the mercury is subsequently evaporated.
- Crystallization using NaCN - this method is very similar to the previous one, only instead of poisonous mercury, the gold-bearing rock is mixed with sodium cyanide, which, when combined with gold, forms yellow crystals.
- The dredge method is the use of a special floating installation (dredge), which collects enriched rock and washes out the precious metal from it.
These are the main methods of industrial gold mining in Russia. In addition to them, manual washing using a sieve is also widespread.
The realities of gold miners
Residents of the northern regions of Russia are more often involved in illegal gold ore mining, where there are more difficulties in obtaining a stable income. In the summer, the hard work of miners is easier to bear. In permafrost areas, the method of washing gold deposits is not at all possible.
In addition, the work of a gold miner is fraught with many dangers. It is necessary to overcome hundreds of kilometers of taiga in search of a gold mine. At the same time, you have to meet animals and unfriendly people.
Of course, this type of activity does not always require specialized education or knowledge in geodesy and cartography. Repeatedly, “by chance,” the miners’ production was not limited to a few grams of precious metal. They had at their disposal large pieces of gold - nuggets.
However, we should not forget that deposits of valuable ore are depleted every year. Often, scarce areas become unprofitable, and the mined precious metal cannot always be sold at the desired prices. Firstly, its cost directly depends on the quality of the breed. For this reason, each ingot has its own marking. Secondly, this type of activity is heavily criminalized. In addition, illegal mining is prosecuted by government agencies.
What is a dredge?
Dredges are special machines designed to work with different types of soil. The main functioning element of such installations can be either a multi-bucket in-line mechanism or a suction hose (if the rock is loose). The scooping mechanism is adjusted by a staff of 10 people.
Simply put, this unit acts as an attachment that can be installed on a floating platform or ground transport, and is somewhat reminiscent of a conveyor. Only instead of a tape, movable scooping devices are attached to the frame. They are the ones who scoop out gold-bearing ore from a quarry or from the bottom of seas, oceans, rivers, etc. Subsequently, the extracted conglomerate containing the required element is transported for processing. Below is a photo of the car itself.
Passage under the bridge
Over thirty years of operation, the dredge completely exhausted the upper reaches of the river and came to rest on a railway bridge near the Berezit station. Its height was not enough for the dredge to pass, because the floating factory is a three-story structure. It was decided to raise the bridge.
Preparing the bridge for dredge passage under it
Four foundations were built near it, vertical trusses were installed on them, and powerful lifting winches were attached nearby. A dam was built below the bridge. A reservoir has formed. We calculated the water level for the dredge to pass in advance. Such a bold technical solution was implemented for the first time in the Soviet Union. The whole operation took 2 hours 20 minutes
Dredge device
If we talk about a dredge with a bucket working element, then there is nothing complicated in its design. However, there is also a vacuum type of installation, the design of which is different in many respects. It is intended for bulk deposits, which include marine gold-bearing sands. The machine consists of the following mechanisms.
- Pump - creates a suction effect.
- Sleeve - passes rock through itself under the influence of a created vacuum.
- Auxiliary hose - connected to a pump that pumps water, and directs it through a high-pressure pipeline into the hose.
- A sluice is a kind of container that calibrates the rock and throws away large debris.
- Butara - acts as a flushing mechanism.
All these elements work harmoniously, that is, together. Most often they are installed on a floating gold mining platform that operates on water. They are rarely used in quarries.
Place of Birth
One of the largest deposits in Russia, one of the top five in the world ranking, Olimpiada, is located in the Krasnoyarsk Territory; gold mining here began in the 80s of the last century. The following regions of the Russian Federation belong to gold mining areas:
- Yakutia (Verkhoyansk and Aldan regions);
- Amur region;
- Eastern part of Siberia (Bodaybo, East Transbaikal, Yenisei and Prilensky regions);
- Far East;
- Primorsky Krai.
Gold in the total mass of the earth's crust is only 0.000001%; it is a component of many chemical and physical substances, even in the human body, however, it is found in the earth in atomized form. And deposits of the precious metal are the places with the highest concentration. Such deposits are divided into two types:
- indigenous;
- placer.
Deposits of the precious metal of the indigenous type were formed in the bowels of the earth many thousands of years ago under the influence of magmatic processes. In such places, gold can rarely be found in its pure form; most often it is a component of a complex alloy.
Secondary or alluvial deposits were formed as a result of various types of impacts on primary deposits (chemical or physical).
As a result of the activity of microorganisms, temperature fluctuations, and under the influence of wind and water, the metal in the bedrock begins to descend into river valleys and settle there, forming a placer deposit. Here, gold is more accessible to mining, since the bedrock must be extracted from the ground, sometimes the depth of its deposits reaches several hundred meters. The largest Russian deposits of the indigenous type, of which the following can be distinguished:
Geographical location of the gold deposit, Sukhoi Lug
- Sukhoi Log;
- Berezovskoe;
- Vorontsovskoe.
The sites of significant gold deposits discovered in the Eastern part of Siberia were united into one mining zone - Sukhoi Log, industrial production here began in 1961 and continues to develop actively.
The deposit is one of the largest in Russia, however, its vein is characterized by a low metal content, and for gold mining to be effective it is necessary to process large volumes of earth rock. The average precious metal content is 2.7 grams per ton of ore, although there are places with a high gold content of up to 10 grams per ton.
The Berezovskoye deposit is unique; it was discovered in the 17th century, and the first significant mining work began in 1748. Since its foundation, about 140 tons of yellow metal have been mined here; it is dusty, small, it is classified as industrial grade C1 and C2, partial inclusions are noted in sulfide compounds, very rarely in the form of nuggets. However, according to expert estimates of specialists in the Berezovskoye field, reserves amount to 90 tons.
The Vorontsovskoye field is located in the Sverdlovsk region
The Vorontsovskoye deposit is located in the Sverdlovsk region, it was discovered in the 80s, but active gold mining here began at the end of 2000. The precious metal is represented by oxidized friable ores and gold-sulfide rocks.
The metal is found in the form of alloys with rock minerals, and in rare cases nuggets are found, but small ones, mostly up to 0.5 mm thick. This is the first deposit in the country where the technology of leaching metal from ore in winter was used, which made it possible to mine all year round.
Operating principle of the dredge
Dredge equipment, regardless of whether it is a pump or a bucket, is designed for one purpose - the extraction of ore containing valuable minerals and its transportation to the destination, that is, to the place where the mined material is either processed or immediately washed (as in the case with gold).
For example, a bucket dredge most often simply dumps the mined conglomerate into a heap, but a floating pumping station immediately washes and collects pure gold, throwing unnecessary debris to the bottom. But the principle is the same - extract, transport and sift.
Drag Racing - driver disqualification
A driver will be disqualified if he leaves the starting line before the green light turns on. In this case, the red light will come on, indicating disqualification.
Numerous measurements are taken for each race, which includes reaction time, elapsed race time and speed. Reaction time is the time between the light turning green and the start of the race.
Elapsed time is the time between the vehicle leaving the starting line and reaching the finish line. The speed of the vehicle is measured using a speed trap,
located near the finish line, which indicates the approximate maximum speed of the vehicle while it was in the race.
The first car to cross the finish line is declared the winner. The winner is the racer with the lowest reaction time and elapsed time. The elapsed time does not determine the winner. It only measures performance.
Elapsed time excludes reaction time, so the car can be considered to have passed faster, but the driver did not react quickly enough to the green light.
During practice, it is useful for the driver to start the car within a few seconds before the green light. This is the process where the car starts at split second intervals, that is, the moment the yellow light goes out and the green light comes on.
In the event that the vehicle removes the front light beam before the light turns green, the driver will be illuminated in red and since no further possible rule violation will be permitted, the driver will be disqualified.
Classification
The global specification distinguishes two main types of machines.
- 1st class (quarry dredges) - work in artificially created reservoirs on floating platforms.
- Class 2 (water dredges) - designed for the extraction of bulk rocks from the bottom of seas, lakes, etc.
In addition, dredge installations can be divided depending on their design features and capabilities.
- By type of energy used.
- According to the method of movement.
- Depth of extraction.
- Depending on the type of bucket.
- According to the size of the scoop.
- Method of operation of the bucket chain.
There are quite a few different classifications of installations, but the main one is considered to be the world one, that is, 1st and 2nd classes.
Mini dredge
Another variety is a compact unit that resembles a full-fledged pumping dredge platform. At its core, this is the same installation, only in a smaller version and, accordingly, with limited productivity. It is used mainly by hired miners engaged in legal gold mining.
How to check the flushing unit?
Before mining gold, the equipment should be thoroughly checked. The bottom line is to test the gateway for performance, namely, the capture of small particles of gold from the ore. To do this, take some dense metal, for example, lead, and paint it in a bright color. After this, it is poured into a portion of soil and washed.
Thus, the dredge will catch brightly colored metal no worse than gold. If only 2-3 pieces are lost in the process, then the unit can be considered quite serviceable, and in practice it will perform well.
Relationships with LGBT
Historically, homosexuals in the United States have viewed this phenomenon with well-founded prejudices, accusing representatives of the genre of being “too outrageous” or giving gays a “bad name.” However, it is recognized that gay and lesbian social movements in the United States can be traced back to the night of June 28, 1969, when the Stonewall riots began with the instigation of drag queens in Greenwich Village in Manhattan to oppose police raids leading to the arrest of homosexuals. It is believed that these riots gave rise to a massive movement for human rights against LGBT people in the United States and around the world.
Let's look at the most popular representatives of this genre.
Is it possible to make a dredge with your own hands?
Based on what was written above, it is theoretically possible to make a mini dredge, but you will have to buy some additional parts. In any case, it will be much cheaper than purchasing a new device (about 3 times). However, it is not a fact that a device assembled by yourself will work well. When designing, you need to take into account many nuances.
Required tools, materials and components
Self-production only involves assembling all the mechanisms into one whole, since it is almost impossible to construct them with your own hands. The list of what you will have to buy consists of the following units.
- Motor - it will turn the main elements.
- Pump - a centrifugal water pump is suitable.
- Compressor - needed to produce air for breathing underwater.
- Pipes are a readily available material.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the pump and compressor must be attached to the motor and use its energy to function. Therefore, when purchasing, you need to ensure that their installation is as simple as possible.
You can also buy a gateway, but it’s quite possible to make it yourself. To do this, you will need aluminum profiles, galvanization and metal of various shapes.
General form
Conventionally, mini dredges are divided into portable and stationary (more productive). The latter are considered more cost-effective because they can operate in deeper bodies of water and are equipped with a compressor to generate air so that the miner can remain under water for a long time. General diagrams and drawings of such installations are presented below.
Gateway drawing
Gateway diagram
General scheme of dredge operation
General view of the installation
In addition to these, there are also so-called hand dredges, which are convenient to work with in shallow water or in streams. The principle of operation is the same, only all the equipment is attached very compactly, which allows you to carry it in your hands. The unit itself is somewhat reminiscent of a vacuum cleaner for gold.
Famous Bottlenose Dolphin 1000
About technology
The width of the face is approximately 60 meters. Having worked one, the dredge steps forward - moves forward 2.5-3.5 m to work a new face. Three or four of them are worked per shift.
The volume of each scoop is 250 liters. A total of 82 scoops move along the chain
A scoop chain of 82 scoops with a volume of 250 liters (before the reconstruction of the dredge in the mid-70s, this value was 210 liters) removes rock from the surface of the earth. The maximum depth is 11 meters. While developing the thickness of the placer, the dredge delivers all the removed rock for washing. Particles with the highest specific gravity (this is gold) are retained and accumulated during this washing on the rubber mats of the sluices.
Rinsing (eating the enriched product) is carried out by the so-called “rinsers” and closers (there are five of them on the dredge). The work is not complicated - the technology has been proven for a long time - but it is monotonous and requires patience, attentiveness and accuracy. Many women have been working here for many years and passing on their skills to young people.
But for other processes, strong male hands are needed. Machinists, mechanics and electricians, mechanics, gas-electric welders... Winter major repairs do not require the involvement of third-party specialists: the same team works. Therefore, versatility is especially valued here.
After going through the entire mining and beneficiation process, the metal is brought to purity on a concentration table. The rest of the rock goes into dumps. The resulting gold is delivered to a non-ferrous metals processing plant; the bullion is sold to the bank.
Work progress
So, you need to start building a dredge for gold mining with a frame for which metal profiles are suitable. It can be of any shape, but it is advisable to make it so that it is easy to install attachments later.
After collection, floating elements (tanks, barrels, hollow pipes) are installed on the created base, which will allow the entire installation to move freely on the surface of the water.
When the main part is ready, you can attach the motor to the frame, and then the pump and compressor to it. Then, accordingly, install pipes - one for collecting water, the second for supplying it under pressure, the third, the most massive, for collecting ore, sand, etc.
The last thing to install is a gateway, which is connected to the main hose, after which the homemade mini dredge is checked. To better understand exactly how it works, you can watch the video.
How to pan or mine gold yourself using a mini dredge?
Before engaging in such a business, you need to know that the mining of precious metals is considered illegal and is punishable in accordance with current legislation. However, this does not stop gold miners, which results in the widespread spread of this fishery in the eastern part of Russia.
You can work with such a device both on land and in reservoirs, but in both cases a water supply is required. In the first, the ore will enter the gateway under the influence of injection, and in the second, it will be done manually, that is, you will have to work with a shovel. There is no particular difference between these methods, and they are both applicable.
Christmas tree
In an informal drag race, the race can be started in any way that includes waving the flag and lowering the hand. Professional racing starts across the Christmas tree. Each driver's track consists of a Christmas tree, which represents a series of lights. The Christmas tree is used to start professional racing.
Each path has one Christmas tree, which consists of columns of lights. Each column has two top lights, which are small yellow lights and are connected to the light beams on the track. If it is damaged by the vehicle's front tire or both tires, it indicates that the driver has previously walked approximately 7 inches or 180 mm from the starting line and then stood on the starting line.
Below the spotlights are three large yellow lights: green and red. With both drivers ready, the race will begin as the tree activates, illuminating three large yellow lights, with a green light coming on at the end. There are two standard light sequences −
- All three yellow lights flash simultaneously. This is followed by a green light after 0.4 seconds, also known as Pro Tree
.
- The amber lights light up in a sequence from top to bottom at 0.5 second intervals. The green light comes on after 0.5 seconds. This is also known as athlete
or
full tree
.
All three yellow lights flash simultaneously. Followed by a green light after 0.4 seconds, also known as Pro Tree
.
The amber lights light up in a sequence from top to bottom at 0.5 second intervals. The green light comes on after 0.5 seconds. This is also known as athlete
or
full tree
.
