Improving mining and minerals operations from exploration to plant emissions

Through the application of advanced technologies at every stage of the process, we can help you operate more efficiently, safely, and profitably.  We provide a comprehensive range of solutions to mining and minerals operations in the areas of exploration, bulk materials handling, field and laboratory analysis, worker safety, and environmental monitoring.  Discover ways to address the challenges your operation faces and achieve meaningful advances in business performance.


Exploration

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 & sites.

 

Enabling fast, accurate geochemical analysis – virtually anywhere at the mine site.

Rock solid material verification Thermo Scientific Niton portable 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 quickly identify and recover the most economically viable resources. Portable 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.

Thermo Scientific Niton XL5 Plus Handheld XRF Analyzer

Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t GOLDD+ Handheld XRF Analyzer

Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 Plus Handheld XRF Analyzer


Mineral processing

During the mineral processing stage, the ore must be crushed, milled, separated, screened, and treated to remove impurities and help ensure the highest quality of material. Continuous online analysis and monitoring of raw material composition is key to improving product quality and integrity, maximizing resources, and meeting customer specifications.

 

Improve recovery, lower costs, and achieve environmental compliance with higher quality material from the start.

Beneficiation, sampling, and analysis Mineral processing solutions from Thermo Fisher Scientific supply companies with reliable, accurate data and critical input for metallurgical accounting and particle size analysis. This allows operators to optimize their process, realize significant savings, and improve profitability. Online slurry analysis provides accurate, real-time elemental analysis for process control of slurry streams for both light and heavy elements in minerals processing operations. Accurate, high-availability elemental analysis helps enable improvements in product quality and recovery, and lower production costs. Our analysis and metallurgical sampling systems can be configured for all plant sizes to meet technical constraints and provide the lowest total cost of ownership.

Thermo Scientific AnStat-330 Online Sampling and Elemental Analysis Station

Thermo Scientific SamStat-30 Representative Slurry Sampling Stations

Thermo Scientific CB Omni Agile Online Elemental Analyzer

Thermo Scientific GS Omni Analyzer

Thermo Scientific MSA-330 Multi-Stream Slurry XRF Analyzer

Thermo Scientific Particle Size Analyzer PSM-500

Thermo Scientific Pressure Pipe Sampler

Thermo Scientific Gravity Feed Sampler

Thermo Scientific DDG3 Digital Density Gauge

Coal analysis

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 batches 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 batches.

Thermo Scientific CQM FLEX Coal Analyzer

Thermo Scientific ECA-3 Elemental Crossbelt Analyzer

Thermo Scientific COBOS Coal Blend Optimization System

Thermo Scientific CB Omni-R Upgrade


Mineral analysis

Spectrometers utilizing efficient analytical techniques such as X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) help mining laboratories determine mineralogy and phase composition of geological materials so mining operators can make faster decisions.

Precise elemental analysis of mineralogical samples to enhance the value of your mineral extraction operations.

Investigate a wide range of elements and compounds Our powerful and efficient analyzers help you to better understand the composition of your raw materials, ore bodies, enriched minerals and processed products, and give you more control over downstream production processes.

Thermo Scientific CB Omni Agile Online Elemental Analyzer

Thermo Scientific ARL PERFORM'X Sequential X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

Thermo Scientific ARL 9900 Simultaneous-Sequential XRF Series Spectrometer

Thermo Scientific ARL QUANT'X EDXRF Spectrometer

Thermo Scientific ARL OPTIM'X WDXRF Spectrometer

Thermo Scientific ARL EQUINOX 100 X-ray Diffractometer

Thermo Scientific ARL SMS-XY Automation for XRF

Thermo Scientific ARL SMS-3300 Automation for single or dual OES or XRF

Thermo Scientific ARL SMS-3500 Automation for Twin OES or XRF

Thermo Scientific ARL X’TRA Companion X-ray Diffractometer

Dust monitoring

Air quality is a major concern for mining operations.  Whether it’s mineral dust, fugitive dust, natural radiation, or other harmful environmental pollutants, continuous air quality monitoring is crucial at mine sites. Thermo Fisher Scientific supplies monitoring systems for numerous air quality concerns found at the mine site, and technology that helps customers with regulatory compliance and process control.

 

The health impacts on personnel in contact with fugitive dust can be severe.

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.

Thermo Scientific PDM3700 Personal Dust Monitor

Thermo Scientific PDR Personal DataRAM pdr-1500 Aerosol Monitor

Thermo Scientific ADR1500 Area Dust Monitor

Emissions monitoring

Because mining sites are usually remote, they often utilize coal-fired power plants to supply power to a mining site. To comply with environmental guidelines, emissions should be continuously monitored for toxic fumes and other pollutants.

Using coal power can complicate regulatory and environmental concerns.

Continuous emissions monitoring systems (CEMS) Thermo Fisher Scientific offers a variety of products to help customers with regulatory compliance and process control. Our specialty Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS) include Particulate Matter (PM) CEMS and Mercury (Hg) CEMS. These probes are installed in stack and transfer gas to PM and Hg analyzers in the shelter, helping customers to comply with local PM and Hg emission regulation and achieve optimal process performance.

Thermo Scientific iQ Compliance Monitoring Systems

Thermo Scientific Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS)

Thermo Scientific Mercury Freedom System

Radiation detection

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 Thermo Scientific personal radiation detectors alert workers to potential radiation exposure at greater distances so they can respond quickly and decisively to real radiation threats. Our dosimeters monitor radiation exposure over time to ensure safe working conditions for all staff.

Thermo Scientific RadEye SPRD Personal Radiation Detector

Thermo Scientific RadEye X Series Survey Meters

Thermo Scientific EPD TruDose Electronic Personal Dosimeter

Tailings Management

Identify harmful tailings, meet regulations, and generate additional revenue

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.

Generate long-term savings and additional revenue

Our handheld XRF elemental analyzers, online sampling and elemental analysis stations, and slurry analyzers help enable detailed, analysis of tailings material in the field and throughout the mining workflow, and have become invaluable tools in tailings management for mining companies.

Thermo Scientific Niton XL5 Plus Handheld XRF Analyzer

Thermo Scientific Niton XL3t GOLDD+ Handheld XRF Analyzer

Thermo Scientific Niton XL2 Plus Handheld XRF Analyzer

Thermo Scientific™ AnStat-330 Online Sampling and Elemental Analysis Station

Thermo Scientific™ MSA-330 Multi-Stream Slurry XRF Analyzer