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Improving mining and minerals operations from exploration to plant emissions
Our comprehensive solutions are designed to enhance efficiency, safety, and sustainability across all stages of mining and mineral operations. From initial mineral exploration to final emissions management and environmental monitoring, we provide advanced technologies and tools that streamline processes and improve outcomes. Our solutions help mining companies maximize resource recovery, reduce environmental impact, and ensure regulatory compliance.
At the exploration stage, a quick, non-destructive analysis is often required for outcrop and soil analysis, advanced exploration and drilling, core sample analysis, mine mapping, grade control, and cuttings analysis for mud logging and reservoir characterization. This data can enable geologists and miners to make data-driven decisions on locations and sites.
Enabling fast, accurate geochemical analysis – virtually anywhere at the mine site.
Greenfield exploration
Accelerate mineral exploration with portable analyzers for faster, more informed decision-making:
- Accurately identify and quantify mineral deposits in unexplored areas.
- Perform rapid, on-site analysis with handheld XRF technology
- Enable real-time decisions by geologists in the field
- Reduce time and cost compared to traditional exploration methods
- Improve resource allocation through immediate data insights
Brownfield exploration
Enhance the evaluation of existing mining sites with advanced analytical tools to maximize resource recovery and operational efficiency:
- Identify resources using reliable, portable XRF analyzers
- Gain detailed insights into mineral composition and distribution
- Optimize extraction processes through data-driven planning
- Extend mine life by improving resource management and recovery strategies
Rock solid material verification
Thermo Scientific Niton portable handheld XRF analyzers enable miners and geologists to perform fast, accurate geochemical analysis – virtually anywhere on site. With substantial capital investments at stake, it is crucial for mining operations to identify and recover the most economically viable resources quickly. Handheld XRF analyzers help identify drill targets, increase discovery rates, enable on-site decisions, and pinpoint where to focus on the grid, ultimately guiding geochemical decisions and optimizing mining operations.
The high heterogeneity in some deposits cannot be measured at bench level, causing concentrators to face variable feedstock. Material above the cut-off grade may be wasted, while the feed stockpile can fall below the specified cut-off grade.
Improve recovery, lower costs, and achieve environmental compliance with higher quality material from the start.
Advantages of bulk ore sorting
Bulk ore sensing and sorting enables the preconcentration of the concentrator feed while simultaneously improving its consistency. It sets a foundation for better performance in all subsequent operations delivering benefits in multiple ways:
- Increasing resource utilization
- Adding throughput with no plant expansion
- Reducing water consumption per ton of product
- Reducing energy consumption per ton of product
- Increasing recovery
For a new greenfield mine, effective ore sorting could mean a smaller milling circuit and overall concentrator layout resulting in lower capital expenditures. It could also mean accessing satellite deposits of lower grades more effectively.
Accurate, representative sampling of process slurry materials is crucial to enabling elementally correct process analysis in mineral processing plants. A homogenous mix of the full material flow is passed through a series of specific flow separation stages to divide it into increasingly smaller volumes, resulting in a statistically correct sample for online or lab analysis.
Process sampling and analysis are vital in the minerals industry for efficient and accurate control.
Identification and quantification
Combined with the use of X-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology, which enables the rapid identification and quantification of elements in various mineral samples, including slurry, with minimal sample preparation. XRF technology can simultaneously analyze groups of elements, offering comprehensive data essential for optimizing processes in the minerals industry.
Crushing and milling account for just over 50% of a mine site's energy consumption. The goal is to grind the ore just enough for optimum mineral liberation without excess energy input.
Reduce energy consumption with real-time particle analysis, providing immediate feedback on grinding circuit.
Particle size analysis
Real-time particle size analysis is the key to effective grinding control in finer particle sizes prior to processing, such as froth flotation. It provides immediate feedback on how the grinding circuit is performing to provide a secure foundation for responsive control, either manual or automatic. Online particle size analysis provides the real-time measurement required, with minimal manual effort, and makes improvements possible:
- Optimize energy consumption per ton and mill throughput
- Maximize recovery and liberation
- Instantly detect process upsets in the grinding circuit
- Implement automated and feed forward mill advanced control
- Reduce grinding media consumption and liners wear
Reagents such as collectors, frothers, and pH modifiers are essential in mining workflows to maximize recovery in a froth flotation circuit. They improve separability, stabilize air bubbles, and enhance separation selectivity. Optimum control can only be achieved by the implementation of highly accurate analyzers providing real time analysis of process parameters and inputs.
Real-time analytical chemistry analysis ensures optimized reagent dosages and immediate process adjustments.
Precise control over reagent dosages
Elemental analysis, in combination with particle size data, provides a foundation for the development of better process understanding. It supports the efficient manipulation of process parameters such as aeration rate and pulp level in response to changes in, for example, ore minerology, feed rate, pulp density and particle size. Optimizing control of the flotation circuit makes it possible to make multiple improvements:
- Reduce reagent consumption
- Quickly detect changes in the feed material, or process upsets
- Ensure target concentrate quality
- Track target minerals, as well as other valuable and deleterious elements, to assess process performance and maximize recovery
Online elemental coal analyzers and blending software provide accurate, reliable data to control coal blends, and the process information needed to manage your operation to its greatest efficiency. You and your customers can rest assured that you are shipping—and they are receiving—the tonnages of on-spec shipments required.
Continuously monitor your most critical coal streams to help ensure accurate coal blends.
Analyzing to meet specifications From the mine to loadout, we’ve got everything you need to meet quality specifications and ship a more consistent, quality coal product. Thermo Scientific online elemental coal analyzers and blending software provide coal producers with accurate, reliable data to control coal blends and help ensure on-spec shipments.
Guide extraction and grade control are critical components in the mining industry, ensuring that the extraction process is optimized to maximize resource utilization and maintain consistent ore quality.
Effective grade control helps in identifying high-quality ore, minimizing waste, and improving overall operational efficiency.
XRF ensures quality
Handheld XRF analyzers play a vital role in this process by providing rapid, on-site elemental analysis. These portable tools provide immediate data on mineral composition, allowing for precise adjustments during extraction. By enabling real-time analysis, handheld XRF analyzers help in maintaining high standards of ore quality, optimal resource utilization, and reduces the risk of processing low-grade material.
Using laboratory XRF and XRD in mine-site operations offers significant benefits that enhance efficiency, profitability, and sustainability. Sophisticated spectrometers are able to accurately characterize a broad spectrum of elements and compounds.
Precise elemental analysis of mineralogical samples to enhance the value of your mineral extraction operations.
Informed decision making with elemental analysis
These instruments provide detailed insights into the elemental and mineralogical composition of samples, ensuring optimal extraction and utilization of valuable minerals. By delivering accurate and comprehensive data, they enable informed decision-making and operational adjustments, leading to more efficient mining processes. This helps in maximizing ore recovery rates and reducing waste, ultimately improving the overall profitability of the mining operation.
Ensure real-time air quality assessment with our portable dust monitoring instruments. Our portable air samplers offer dual wavelength nephelometer technology, allowing for monitoring and logging of real-time concentrations and median particle sizes of airborne dust, smoke, mist and fumes.
Accurate measurement of particulate matter maintains air quality and regulatory adherence.
Reduce health hazards from coal dust
Thermo Fisher Scientific supplies real-time dust monitoring with continuous personal dust monitors (CPDMs) to limit coal dust exposure – which is a Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) rule for underground mines. Continuous personal dust monitoring is key to limiting coal dust exposures and reducing health problems, like Black Lung Disease or permanent tissue damage from silica.
Because mining sites are usually remote, they often utilize coal-fired power plants to supply power to a site. To comply with environmental guidelines, emissions should be continuously monitored for toxic fumes and other pollutants.
Adopt advanced emissions monitoring technologies to meet tightening regulatory standards and improve operational efficiency.
Continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS)
Deployment of continuous emissions monitoring systems, or CEMS, can help mining sites comply with environmental regulations and minimize the environmental impact of mining operations. These systems provide real-time data on emissions, allowing for immediate corrective actions. This helps to ensure regulatory compliance and supports sustainable mining practices.
Coal miners can be exposed to radiation emitted from naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) such as uranium and thorium. Personal radiation detectors (also called handheld Geiger counters) can be used to monitor radiation exposure. Dosimeters provide data that can be used to help coal mines introduce additional radiation protection measures.
The combined effects of natural and man-made radiation at facilities requires multiple monitoring systems.
Protect Miners from Radiation Exposure
Used properly, personal radiation detectors and survey meters help safeguard miners from potential radiation hazards. These devices provide real-time monitoring of radiation levels, ensuring immediate detection and response. This enhances worker safety and ensures compliance with radiation safety standards.
Tailings often contain harmful substances such as heavy metals and toxic chemicals, which, if not properly contained, can leach into the surrounding ecosystem, affecting flora, fauna, and human health. Governments and regulatory bodies have stringent guidelines and standards for collecting and managing mining waste. In addition, analyzing mining waste could discover new revenue opportunities enabled by the recovery of valuable minerals that might have been overlooked during initial processing.
Identify harmful tailings, meet regulations, and generate additional revenue
Generate long-term savings and additional revenue
Tailings can be managed effectively by integrating advanced analyzers and monitoring systems. These instruments provide comprehensive data on tailings composition and environmental impact, supporting safe and efficient management practices. This ensures environmental compliance, enhances operational safety, and improves profitability by reducing waste and optimizing resource recovery.
