PRE-CONCENTRATION & ORE SORTING models , but there will also be an upgrade package available for existing machines .
STEINERT makes its case for chrome sorting
It is the combination of an XRT sensor with three other additional sensor options that is helping Companhia de Ferro Ligas da Bahia ( Ferbasa ) avoid unnecessary processing by separating a fraction of the high-grade material from the metallurgical process feed in advance , according to STEINERT .
Ferbasa is in Ipueira , a municipality in the state of Bahia in Brazil . It operates one of the largest chromite mines in the country and is considered a pioneer in the use of SBS technology , STEINERT says . The company processes chromite obtained from an underground mine , with the extracted material pre-concentrated using sorting technology that it employs .
With a processing capacity of 12 Mt / y , the company has been using sensor-based sorting for 10 years in a completely dry process that separates waste from high-grade chromite .
Eriberto Nascimento Leite , Mining Director at Ferbasa , says the ability to avoid unnecessary processing by separating a fraction of the highgrade material from the metallurgical process feed in advance using SBS removes the requirement for additional processing . In that way , particles considered uneconomic are eliminated from the process beforehand with only valuable material undergoing the follow-on concentration steps .
At Ferbasa , the use of SBS technology has enabled an increase in production , in addition to reducing costs in the subsequent processes , such as comminution and the use of inputs ( reagents ).
“ Today , at Ferbasa , SBS technology helps us adopt ESG practices , reducing waste , maximising production efficiency and contributing to the conservation of natural resources ,” Nascimento says .
Nowadays , it is not only the mined ore that is processed , but also the stockpiles , which contain considerable amounts of chromium . The treatment of these stockpiles is only possible thanks to process automation and highcapacity levels , which reach up to 180 t / h .
Stockpile treatment has the potential to increase productivity in the mine , while , in terms of resource use , there is potential to reduce the consumption of water , energy and chemical reagents primarily because SBS is a dry separation process .
Ferbasa started operating its first sorter in 2014 and , by 2019 , it had six units installed for the processing of run of mine and low-grade stockpiles .
The production benefits from flexibility of the sorting systems , which generate waste material , pre-enriched material and high-grade material . The processing capacities are up to 120 t / h for particles of 25-76 mm , reaching up to 180 t / h for particles from 51-127 mm . In terms of the sizes processed , the combination of sensors facilitates the separation of particles up to 127 mm – a feature that , STEINERT says , reinforces the robustness and efficiency of the equipment for the detection and ejection of extremely coarse particles . In total , recoveries reach values of up to 90 %, with upgrades of up to 1.5-3 times the feed levels .
Currently , Ferbasa applies SBS technology to process 100 % of its run of mine , using two units from STEINERT – the STEINERT XSS T and STEINERT KSS | XT L – in a two-step process .
In the first step , waste material is rejected , and , in the second , pre-enriched and high-grade materials are generated . The high grade-material meets the content specifications to be sent to the metallurgic plant , while the pre-enriched material is sent to another plant to follow other concentration procedures . Furthermore , the technology is applied in the processing of lowgrade stockpiles , using two STEINERT KSS | XT L
At Ferbasa , the use of STEINERT SBS technology has enabled an increase in production , in addition to reducing costs in the subsequent processes , such as comminution and the use of inputs ( reagents )
units – which combine the XRT sensor with another additional sensor for 3D shape information and surface characteristic ( opacity and crystal ) structure – in two steps to separate waste , pre-enriched material and high-grade material . As a result , the low-grade stockpiles are processed in an economically viable way and with high sustainability gains .
Rados XRF + breakthrough in lithium sorting
Rados says the successful installation and commissioning of the Rados XRF + MODOS sorting plant module at Marula Mining ’ s Blesberg lithium and tantalum project , in South Africa , has caught the attention of lithium miners , with the technology company having since been inundated with requests for test work and project proposals from the sector .
Jason Brewer , Marula Mining CEO , said in a recent announcement : “ We are incredibly proud of the advancements made during the commissioning and optimisation of the Rados ore sorter at Blesberg . The successful commissioning and bulk testing and production not only signifies a major leap in our operational capabilities , but also positions Marula at the
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MARCH 2024 | International Mining 61