Improve productivity, safety and results with an automated mining laboratory

摘要

When extracting minerals, such as iron ore, copper amongst others, there is an increasing requirement to focus on productivity, optimizing extraction and controlling operating costs in order to remain internationally competitive. This situation will encourage mines to maximize extraction and increase productivity. Considering the importance of accurate analytical information to concentration process there will be increased pressure for the mining laboratory to provide regular mineralogical and elemental information. Therefore, the typical mine laboratory will be required to provide more information than previously. Consequently, process and plant managers will request timely and reliable mineralogical and elemental information, increased productivity and a safe, healthy working environment for employees.From the experience in the supply of automated laboratory solutions for the minerals industry, for more than a quarter of a century working with the world's largest mining companies, IMP has challenged conventional sample processing techniques to develop ground breaking innovative automated sampling and laboratory solutions for the mining industry. Automated laboratories are being used successfully in copper, platinum, iron ore and gold mines, to mention a few.This paper will firstly review how automation of a minerals laboratory can improve productivity, the work environment and analytical results. Using information obtained from installations that, use one or more of these analytical methods, it will be demonstrated that automation has contributed significantly to improved analytical performance, reduced labor inputs and improved occupational health and safety outcomes. Finally, it will discuss options available including automated sample collection, automated sample delivery, automated sample preparation for the automated analysis of XRD, NIR, SEM, XRF and wet chemistry samples.