CSIRO Minerals Down Under Flagship scientists are currently developing new analysers to unlock mineral value.
These analysers include, machine-mounted sensors that could help locate ore deposits, characterise the mining environment, and differentiate ore grades.
These sensors would enable automated mining machines to respond ‘intelligently’ to the changing detail of the environment and offer real-time amendments to the mine plan.
Another prototype in development combines the best features of two existing materials characterisation techniques — x-ray diffraction and x-ray fluorescence — into a new slurry analyser.
The new prototype, dubbed XRDF for its dual origins, is capable of measuring both mineralogy and ultra-low elemental composition directly on a process-stream, without the need for labour-intensive, time-consuming and potentially error-prone sampling.
CSIRO scientist Dr James Tickner said the new prototype could offer a number of benefits over existing on-stream analysers.
More information on these technologies can be found in the October issue of Process, which will be released on 8 October 2009.
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