SAMPLING , ANALYSIS AND LAB ASSAY
for copper to decompose a solid sample into a liquid state also requires multiple steps and takes hours to complete .
ColdBlock Technologies says it has a method that is quicker , safer , more accurate and less expensive than this multi-stage status quo .
ColdBlock digestion uses focused , short-wave infrared heating and a cooling zone to dissolve solid sample matter into solution .
ColdBlock ’ s Strong Acid Digestion Method has been tested against a range of certified reference materials ( CRMs ) from African Mineral Standards , CDN labs , Geostats , & OREAS . This work , completed and verified by several leading commercial mining labs , shows excellent comparison to certified 4-Acid Digestion results for all CRMs , across all elements of interest including base metals , rare earth elements , battery metal elements like lithium , as well as radioactive elements like uranium & thorium , ColdBlock says . It also requires just 30-40 minutes , versus the 2-4 hours for traditional 4- Acid Digestion .
ColdBlock ’ s aqua regia digestion methods for gold analysis take less than 20 minutes , and ColdBlock digesters can accommodate samples sizes up to 30 grams , the company claims . These methods have been confirmed with testing on over a dozen different CRMs and are being used around the world – including numerous leading global commercial laboratories .
Some customers have reported that digestion using ColdBlock , followed by analysis using an ICP-MS , results in fast , accurate , repeatable results and has allowed them to reduce or eliminate their dependence on fire assay . “ They report significantly shorter turnaround times , reduction in lead waste and employee leadexposure-testing , and a circa-50 % reduction in cost per sample ,” ColdBlock says .
These cost savings can be even greater in a polymetallic precious / base metal mining operation where two methods are normally run – fire assay for gold and hot digestion for base metals . New Gold is a case in point here . The company introduced ColdBlock digestion technology several years ago at its New Afton copper-gold mine in British Columbia , Canada , with its lab operations using the single assay process for both gold and copper .
Craig West , CEO , ColdBlock Technologies Inc , said : “ We have had a positive experience working with the lab team at New Gold and appreciate this supportive and collaborative working relationship . We have been pleased to hear about the positive impact that ColdBlock has had on lab operations at New Afton .”
����������������������
It ’ s fair to say 2024 was a transformational year for Finland-based IMA Engineering .
The company has long preached the need to re-evaluate sampling procedures , and the resultant analysis , and 2024 will be remembered for the biggest vindication of this approach with the signing of an alliance with Caterpillar .
Back in September , Caterpillar announced the pact with IMA Engineering , saying it would enhance its Cat ® Precision Mining initiative : an advanced vision to improve every step of the mining process , from extraction to processing .
Caterpillar said at the time that the collaboration aimed to use cutting-edge technology to provide real-time , detailed information about ore , enabling sites to improve the efficiency and accuracy of mining operations . It also mentioned relevant IMA Engineering technologies including its Blast Hole Sampler- Analyzer , which provides Analyze While Drilling and Measure While Drilling data , for accurate elemental analysis and rock / ore hardness information . This takes representative samples from the drill cuttings continuously and introduces these samples to an online analyser , which has an advantage in being able to make instant analysis of drill cuttings while drilling .
Speaking to IM in late December , Ilpo Auranen , Chairman of IMA , said of the alliance : “ We have had the same vision for the last 15 years , so it ’ s very pleasing to find that a company like Caterpillar sees the world the same way we do .”
While this was the only alliance the company publicised in 2024 , Auranen said many other players in the mining technology space are also acknowledging the relevance of IMA ’ s strategy .
“ More and more , companies are recognising that industry-standard sampling processes are not obtaining representative samples ,” he said . “ If they continue following these same routes , it doesn ’ t matter if the analysis improves – it will just be analysing a biased sample . Furthermore , autonomous mining with no human interference prevents standard sampling altogether .”
Online analysis is the avenue IMA is employing to help improve sample representativeness across the board , starting with the drill core – with its IMA ScanMobile solution – and going through to the plant with its IMACON 100 onstream analyser .
To this point , XRF has been the sensor of choice for IMA , but Auranen said IMA is now looking at other sensor technologies it can include in a sampling and analysis ‘ platform ’.
“ We are looking into further mineral and elemental analysis options ,” he said . “ The target is to get more accurate or , say , carry out ‘ lowergrade ’ analysis – to parts per million levels . When we get to this point , we can start to look at lighter elements where XRF has some limitations and contaminants that have an influence on the process efficiency of concentrators .”
While this R & D and integration work continues , IMA is progressing the rollout of its AutoSampler technology for both the surface and underground mining sectors .
The IMA AutoSampler automates the sampling , sample splitting and sample bag change process for drill cuttings from production and RC drill rigs , helping preserve the geological structure of the sample in the sample bag for detailed ore , waste border recognition and visual chip logging .
On top of the sampling accuracy benefits , the AutoSampler solution can improve a site ’ s health and safety practices , removing people from unsupported ground underground or from airborne contaminants in an open-pit mining scenario .
On surface , the company has delivered AutoSampler units to major mining companies , particularly for gold and silver operations . Underground , the AutoSampler solution has progressed through the EU Horizon 2020 IlluMINEation project , which , after 42 months , concluded in February 2024 . The IlluMINEation project aimed to support the digital transformation of the mining sector , through improvements in safety , environmental sustainability , talent attraction and industry collaboration .
Auranen said the company was currently working on a new XRF-based analysis method for the AutoSampler platform that would both improve the sample analysis turnaround time and cost of analysing these samples . “ This new solution is now being piloted in mines in both the Nordic and South American regions ,” he said .
At the other end of the flowsheet , IMA continues to register orders for its IMACON 100 on-stream analysis solution for slurry analysis . Auranen said the recent addition of Automatic Window Rollers ( AWRs ) that keep the flow cell window clean and free of scaling caused by active slurry contact – all without the need for personnel to interact with the analysers – had led to increased industry interest .
“ Within the IMACON offering , we have both primary and secondary samplers ,” Auranen explained . “ We leverage a solution from a third party for the former , but we have developed a multiplexer-type system for the latter that is a bit of a rarity in this sector .”
Auranen says the ease of installation and maintenance – the latter benefitting from the incorporation of AWRs – on top of obvious analysis capabilities , were making the IMACON 100 increasingly popular among the process plant community .
������������������
Since acquiring the designs of the REFLEX™
60 International Mining | FEBRUARY 2025