SAMPLING , ANALYSIS AND LAB ASSAY
provide an understanding of what is in the drill core to “ feed ” digital ore sorting models ; enable improved open-pit grade control analysis ; and creating indicators of acid rock drainage from a customer ’ s drill core .
It has also recently significantly upgraded its GeoCore X10 machines – one in the lab and one on site at OZ Minerals ’ operations – to be able to scan up to HQ size rock , expanding the technology ’ s prospective market by more than 40 % in the process .
This is but a fraction of the technology ’ s potential , according to Giroud , who said mining companies are just getting to grips with the way this type of near-to-real-time analysis could positively disrupt their processes .
“ We ’ re strong on promoting the transportation of information , not the transportation of core ,” Giroud said . “ The footprint associated with transporting core samples to the lab comes with emissions , risk , time and cost – it is a long time from generating drilled core to getting an analysis of that core such as a super accurate gold grade , for instance , to drive a decision .”
In this example , the use of GeoCore X10 and Insight could allow companies to be more selective with their follow-on assaying procedures , only sending off critical samples to commercial laboratories for the all-important assaying information while supporting other decisions in the field based on the available
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Insight datasets – such as rock quality designation ( RQD ) data , fault and fracture analysis , lithology , particle size information , and more .
“ We ’ re trying to put the ‘ fridges ’ ( GeoCore X10 units ) in the field and , 15 minutes after the core has been presented , give a whole new information set to our customers ,” Giroud explained . “ This cuts out the transport of core , the destruction of core , the labour , the chemicals and the risk associated with transportation .
“ It changes the business model from ‘ send your rocks to where our lab happens to be ’ to
‘ sense on site in near real time and connect your best global SMEs rapidly to speed up your decision processes ’. This puts the customers ’ deposits back in their hands – returning to them the power of time , money and assessment to get the right information to the right people at the right time .”
Minalyze ’ s upward trajectory
Minalyze ’ s Minalyzer CS patented drill core scanners have emerged all over the globe in the last few years , stretching out beyond the company ’ s Australian and Swedish core to continents as far afield as Africa and North America .
While the ability to “ pre-screen ” drill core and be somewhat selective on what core requires follow-on sampling has inevitably had an impact on the technology ’ s uptake given the welldocumented delays at commercial assay labs , an increased industry awareness of the technology ’ s ability to extract valuable data in shorter timeframes is the main reason for the broader adoption , according to Minalyze CEO , Annelie Lundström .
“ I have not made any correlations between our progress and the lab assay turnaround times ,” she told IM . “ We are not trying to replace the labs in the core analysis process ; we provide so many datasets that differ from what they are providing . If you look at geochemistry , for instance , our analysis differs from the labs as we carry out continuous X-ray Fluorescence
( XRF ) -based scanning of the entire core – which has the possibility to generate very highresolution data without destroying the sample – whereas samples sent to the laboratories are often 1-3 m sections .”
Evidence of this lack of overlap is seen through Intertek ’ s recent incorporation of a Minalyzer CS unit at its new Minerals Global Centre of Excellence in Western Australia , which is helping it provide customers with geological data acquisition tools and access to related software for data visualisation . SGS has also incorporated the technology at one of its labs in Australia .
Minalyzer CS units offer a contactless and nondestructive service able to generate geochemistry , high-resolution images , RQD , structures , specific gravity and bulk density for drill cores and other drill samples , according to Minalyze . The patented scanner and method are designed for handling large volumes of drill samples and capable of scanning drill cores directly in core trays . A LiDAR-based laser generates a 3D model of the topology of the core and trays and enables the control and precision of continuous XRF scanning .
The hardware is complemented by the Minalogger cloud-based software platform , which displays 3D information for mining and exploration , making it possible to remotely access a digital twin of core data captured by the Minalyzer CS . Combining data from images , 3D models and geochemistry , the software enables rapid data evaluation and fluid efficiency within the core processing workflow , according to the company .
On top of the 2022 deployment at Intertek ’ s facility in Perth , the company has also recently commissioned the first Minalyze-designed scanning container at Anglo American ’ s copper exploration project in western Queensland , Australia . The operators have been scanning diamond core and mud rotary chips at the project from this mobile unit , with the Minalyze data being integrated into the exploration workflow with a next-day turnaround time on XRF geochemistry , core images and densities , according to the company .
This is on top of a deployment at Glencore ’ s Kamoto copper operation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and a separate mine site installation in Botswana .
Minalyze has also made significant progress on automating its core scanning workflow through its AutoLogging concept .
“ This automated process enables you to carry out different data analytics on your core samples ,” Lundström said . “ In 2022 , we have devised a close to fully-integrated solution from data capture to data digitalisation to data analytics , which represents a large step on the way to creating a commercial automated product .”
44 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2023