PRECONCENTRATION AND ORE SORTING relevant bulk samples, and the intention is to proceed from here to get the device into the field,” Beal said.
Copper is by far a much bigger market than the hard-rock lithium space, but there is still a significant opportunity for the type of bulk sensing NextOre is working on, according to Beal.
“ The heterogeneity of the lithium deposits we have seen is an order of magnitude higher than what we’ ve seen in copper deposits,” he said.“ At the same time, there is no direct lithium detection solution out there – for particle or bulk sensing – and some forward-looking producers are looking to differentiate themselves from the pack with premium products. We think we have a solution to help them.”
Weir’ s mobile sensing pivot
Of all the mining OEMs looking into the potential of sensor-based sorting / analysis solutions in the pit or plant, Weir appears to be out in front.
Weir’ s ESCO ® and MOTION METRICS development teams have delved into using HSI sensors and machine-learning algorithms to create“ fixed sensing” solutions that monitor post-crusher conveyor belts and haul trucks. These trials validated the technology by characterising over 1 Mt of conveyed ore and around 1,000 truck trays’ worth of material at the same copper operation.
In addition to this work – which involved the use of a commercial, off-the-shelf HSI sensor – the R & D team has been working on a solution involving a Weir-patent pending hyperspectral sensing system coupled with finely tuned AI algorithms.
This new system has now been“ fully vetted in the lab”, According to Chris Carpenter, VP of Technology for Weir’ s ESCO division.
“ Over the past year, we have really advanced our understanding of the capabilities of this system,” he told IM, adding that the Weir teams in Venlo, the Netherlands, and British Columbia, Canada, have scanned and analysed over 200 customer ore samples – including copper, iron ore, rare earths, lithium, gold and“ deleterious clays” – as part of the validation process.
“ We remain incredibly excited about what we have on our hands in terms of moving the needle relative to mining efficiency, energy usage and, more widely, sustainability,” he added.
As the list of ore samples tested would indicate, Weir is looking beyond elemental analysis with this new system.
“ This really harks back to what we have been talking about for a few years; we are creating a premium product that can provide real time, precise mineralogical feedback
Hyperspectral scan of stockpile with mobile unit
at the face,” Carpenter said.“ We see hyperspectral imaging’ s ability to go beyond elemental analysis as a key differentiator when it comes to providing high-value data in real time to the customer. That is achieved through the AI algorithms’ ability to ingest data from sensors and make the connections
When your geological model and your plant don’ t agree, you don’ t have a mining problem.
You have a measurement problem.
NextOre bulk magnetic resonance delivers high-precision, on-conveyor grade measurement that closes the feedback loop between plant performance and geological models. www. nextore. com. au info @ nextore. com. au
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