PRECONCENTRATION AND ORE SORTING
Focused on the data flow
Another bulk sorting compatriot that has been widening its gaze beyond the pit is MineSense, who recently showcased a significant collaboration at the MINEXCHANGE 2026 SME Annual Conference & Expo, in Salt Lake City, USA.
In a session titled,‘ Mine Planning Enhanced by Integrating Sensor Data’, Hannah Lang, Manager – Digital Solutions at MineSense, and Tim Norris, Services Software Expert Specialist at Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA, illustrated how nontraditional datasets can be integrated into mine planning by connecting MineSense’ s ShovelSense data with GEOVIA Surpac.
This integration, the companies say, enables Surpac, a 3D mine planning and geological modelling software, to ingest and visualise high-resolution, bucket- and truck-level grade data from the XRF-based ShovelSense platform, allowing planners and geologists to use real-time information in short-term planning.
Lang told IM that MineSense has been building strong momentum in developing integration partnerships across the entire mine‐to‐mill value chain, from upstream sensing through to planning, execution and downstream processing systems.
Currently, ShovelSense data can be used seamlessly within existing mine workflows, such as with FMS, material tracking and
Advanced Process Control platforms.“ This collaboration( with Surpac) will mark our first formal integration with a mine planning platform, and we are excited to be able to work with a leading provider, such as GEOVIA,” Lang said.
Ralph Smith, GEOVIA Sales Management Director, added:“ By integrating MineSense’ s real-time ore data with the precision of GEOVIA Surpac, we are effectively bridging the gap between the block model and the bucket. This collaboration is more than just data integration; it’ s about empowering our clients to make critical decisions that maximise both value and sustainability at speed.”
The information pairing has already been demonstrated at an operating open‐pit mine where ShovelSense was in action and where Surpac is used for short‐term planning and reconciliation.
A key benefit of a technical collaboration with GEOVIA is that functionality has been built directly into Surpac to ingest and visualise ShovelSense data, according to Lang, dramatically reducing the friction compared with previous workflows.“ Historically, if a mine planning team wanted to use ShovelSense data inside a planning tool, they would need to manually export data from the MineSense portal, import it into Surpac, configure datasets and manage updates a process that could take up to an hour, which can now be completed in a matter of seconds through the click of a button,” she explained.
With the new integration, bucket‐ and truck‐level grade data are available directly within Surpac in near‐real time after blasting and loading. This enables planners and geologists to review high‐resolution post‐blast data as part of their normal short‐term planning cycle rather than as a separate, offline exercise.
At this stage, the mine planning team has identified several initial use cases they are incorporating into existing workflows, including: improving reconciliation between short‐term plans and plant performance during shift and month‐end reviews; reducing ore loss and dilution at the individual truck level by improving visibility into grade variability within blocks; and quicker identification of deviations / inaccuracies in the expected mine plan.
MineSense is, more widely, witnessing a greater“ openness” from both mine operators and technology partners to share data, build integrations and collaborate across traditional system boundaries, helping facilitate the mine-to-mill visibility that has been the subject of much discussion for at least a decade.
Frank Hoogendoorn, MineSense’ s Chief Data and Product Officer, concluded:“ We believe MineSense is uniquely positioned in
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