PRE-CONCENTRATION & ORE SORTING
GEOSCAN GOLD specification analyser measuring each 30 seconds of conveyed flow for bulk ore diversion
plant or reporting to product stockpiles ,” he says .
In this context , Scantech ’ s role is to provide measurement solutions to help solve customer problems . Here , data is not a solution in itself but an enabler , enriching knowledge about the material it measures . “ It is the starting point of a potential solution , which usually involves other processes ( diversion , feed proportioning , etc ),”
Kurth explains . “ Once the quality of the material analysed is quantified then opportunities to understand , control and improve arise in the classic continuous improvement cycle .”
Kurth provides an example involving pebble circuits , whereby mill oversize is recirculated , often via a pebble crusher , back into the mill feed . “ Here , we question : why is hard to grind material recirculated if it is below economic cutoff grade quality ? It can occupy up to 30 % of a mill ’ s capacity at some sites , meaning throughput is significantly reduced and costs per tonne of product are higher .”
This is where Scantech ’ s PGNAA analysers would provide the reading on the value of the pebbles , with those below cut-off grade able to be diverted through a mechanism after bulk analysis to a waste dump or even a particle sorter to recover what few particles of ore quality may be present , if any .
This is the type of customisation and collaboration that Scantech routinely offers clients .
“ This includes configuration ( different sizes ), specification ( a range of features , components , measurement times , minimum 24-month warranty ), customised calibration by element to their composition ranges ( performance guarantees ) and combinations of sensors ( elemental , moisture and PSD ) to ensure we offer the optimal solution ,” Kurth said .
Scantech claims to be the only provider of representative direct gold measurement in primary crushed conveyed ore through its GEOSCAN GOLD analysers , and measures carbon directly in conveyed flows , so this is one commodity , specifically , where Kurth sees much interest .
Most of the GEOSCAN GOLD installations the company has installed to date are measuring the yellow metal – as opposed to diverting characterised material – yet Kurth sees gold ore