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How to Automate Sampling and Analysis of Ores and Mined Materials

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Automated on-belt sampling and analysis for mining operations

Accurate chemical analysis can provide vital data to enhance mining operations, such as improved extraction at mine sites and the optimized blending of mined material.

However, sending samples to remote laboratories can cause delays ranging from hours to days. In addition, manually collected samples may not be representative of the bulk material. Automating this process and bringing the laboratory to the samples increases productivity. This can be done by adopting an automatic on-belt sampling solution.

An Introduction to Automated On-Belt Sampling and Analysis

Automatic on-belt sampling solutions provide instant chemical analysis of bulk mined material, such as coal, aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu) ores. For instance, our on-belt sampling solution integrates the powerful Vanta™ in-line XRF analyzer to provide a fast, automated, and accurate analysis:

  • Real-time chemical analysis of mining feed material on belt
  • Excellent sensitivity to trace elements
  • Quantification of up to 30 elements in one measurement
  • Detection down to 1 ppm for key elements
  • Analysis of light elements, including magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), silicon (Si), and sulfur (S)

Learn more about the Vanta iX analyzer by watching the video below:

3-Step Process for Automated On-Belt Analysis

To help you understand how automated on-belt analysis works, here is the process in three simple steps:

1. Collect

Samples are collected from the belt automatically using a cross-belt sampler, without the need to stop or slow the belt. The system can be designed to meet relevant sampling and preparation standards, including ISO 12743, ISO 13909, ASTM E877, and ASTM D7430.

Automated collection of mined materials

2. Prepare

The collected samples are crushed to the required size. The moisture content is measured and recorded to remove measurement bias. The samples are pressed and ready for chemical analysis using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The entire preparation process is automatically controlled and monitored.

Automated sample preparation for XRF analysis of mined materials

3. Analyze

The prepared samples are analyzed using the Vanta iX in-line XRF analyzer. The data collection and analysis are fully automated. After analysis, the results can be seamless integrated into a plant workflow and data management system. This enables the right person to have the right data at the right time.

Automated XRF analysis of mined materials

Key Benefits of Automated On-Belt Analysis for Mining Operations

Automated on-belt analysis has many benefits for mining operations, including:

  • Fully automated and continuous to maintain high productivity
  • Can be seamlessly integrated into existing plants
  • No radioactive material used unlike alternative methods
  • High-quality results from direct sample analysis compared to methods that perform through-belt measurements
  • Real-time laboratory-quality measurements
  • Modular design for ease of maintenance

How to Optimize Your Inspection Workflow Further

Automated inspection solutions can be customized for your specific workflow needs. Simply reach out to Olympus with your inspection needs, and we can help design an automated on-belt analysis solution tailored to your requirements.

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Faster Soil Sampling for Copper-Silver Projects Using Portable XRF—An Explorer’s Story


Get In Touch

Head of Customized Solutions, Evident EMEA

Dr. Christopher Lane graduated from the University of Bristol with a first-class degree in mechanical engineering in 2007 and earned an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) from the same university in 2011. His EngD focused on the development of ultrasonic arrays for aerospace inspection. 

Christopher has worked in the inspection industry for the last 12 years, first as the leader of the in-service nondestructive testing (NDT) team at Rolls-Royce, UK, and later as a team leader developing advanced inspection systems at ARTC, a research centre in Singapore. 

Christopher joined Evident in 2018 as the sales manager for NDT systems and integration for the Asia Pacific region. In 2021, he set up and then managed the APAC Technology Centre in Singapore before joining Evident EMEA in 2022. 

Christopher has also been awarded the British Institute of NDT Young Person's Achievement Award and the Rolls-Royce Award for Technical Innovation. He is a Chartered Engineer with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Certified Project Management Professional from the Project Management Institute, and an Honorary Technical Editor of the Insight journal from the British Institute of Nondestructive Testing (BINDT). 

January 13, 2022
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