The innovative sensing solution, GEOSCAN GOLD by SCANTECH, offers representative accurate data on the quality of gold ore feed at the start of mineral processing in real-time.
Gold mining companies now have access to a new capability that aids in representative grade measurement in conveyed plant feed. Combining elemental measurement with moisture and fragmentation data can enhance plant control through improved ore management, early waste rejection, process improvements by reducing consumption of resources (such as energy, water, and reagents), and minimizing fine tailings production. Achieving higher and more consistent feed grades can lead to increased metal recoveries and greater product yield with the same throughput capacity, resulting in significant revenue growth and cost reductions. Processing less waste unnecessarily can lead to a considerable reduction in GHG emissions.
Material crushed on a conveyor can be continuously and accurately measured in real time using high specification prompt gamma neutron activation analysis (PGNAA). Scantech’s GEOSCAN GOLD has been successfully used in gold ores due to recent advancements and ongoing improvements. It has demonstrated successful performance in challenging bulk ore sorting applications for base metals and PGMs. The GESOSCAN-GOLD is currently in use in gold mines across North America, Latin America, Australia, Asia, and Africa. The average gold concentration in the ores is 1 gram per tonne or 1 part per million.
The analyzer measures a range of elements over each 30-second increment of conveyed flow, including proxies for gold where available. It also directly measures gold over 5-10 minute increments with precisions suitable for decision making (achieving as low as 0.2 – 0.3ppm Au). Process informed decisions can be made for ore blending changes, bulk increment diversion, and feed forward control. The measurement data can also be used for metal accounting and ore reconciliation. The analyser measures elements in primary crushed rock in conveyed flows at <100 t/h to >10,000 t/h irrespective of belt speed, particle size, mineralogy, dust, moisture, or segregation/layering.
Benefits of GEOSCAN GOLD
Higher quality measurements (e.g. precisions) enable tighter process control and improved outcomes. Customised analyser configurations and calibrations for specific applications produce the most useful, timely data possible to meet each client’s measurement requirements for effective process control.
Metal recoveries can reduce by 10% or more due to feed quality variability alone. Major gold companies are now measuring feed quality variability to develop a better understanding of its controls and consequences, and introducing systems to manage and improve it. Other benefits include:
- Unmatched proven performance;
- Customised calibrations;
- Operational at completion of commissioning;
- Patented non-contact design means minimal maintenance and no wear parts ;
- No sampling necessary during normal operation;
- Data directly transmitted to plant control system and owned by site;
- Proven short paybacks in a few months and sometimes weeks
- Measurement data can be used simultaneously for various applications: bulk sorting, ore blending, ore reconciliation, ore tracking, feed forward control, metal accounting, etc.
- Immediate feedback to mining operations helps confirm grade delivered against expected quality so schedules can be adjusted in real time,
- Feed forward control can be used to identify quality parameters that affect processing in real time:
- ore hardness for mill feed control,
- mineralogy and deleterious content for reagent dosing control to optimise recoveries, e.g. clays, talc, sulphides, carbonates, carbonaceous, etc.,
- sulphur content for diverting sulphide ore to flotation and oxide ore to leaching, segregating acid generating waste from clean waste, smelter feed chemistry control, etc.
Scantech is calling on all gold mining companies in Africa – and indeed, worldwide – to contact them should they require more information regarding the high performance GEOSCAN GOLD for the minerals industry.
Contact: George Tabi, Sales and Marketing Manager – Africa
Email: g.ndohtabi@santach.com.au, sales@scantech.com.au
