Tag Archives: Geoscan

Newmont showcases sensing tech developments at Mill Operators’ Conference

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, , , , , , ,

The recent 16th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference, in Perth, Western Australia, saw Newmont share details of some of the sensing technologies it is deploying at its operations to improve sustainability and processing plant outcomes.

In a presentation titled, ‘Redefining the Battery Limits of Processing Plants – Improving Sustainability through the Deployment of Sensing Technologies,’ the paper authors (Futcher, W, Seaman, D, and Kelin, B) showcased the implementation of MineSense’s ShovelSense XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) technology at its Red Chris mine in British Columbia, Canada.

The technology, which is mounted on shovels operating in the open pit, allows for real-time grade estimation of every scoop of material, enabling immediate separation of ore and waste, Newmont says. It provides a much higher resolution of measurement (approximately 16-25 times) than conventional grade control systems, the miner added.

“The system accumulates the grade loaded into each truck,” Newmont said. “If the resulting material classification is different to that expected from grade control, the truck is diverted to a new destination.”

Some of the key statistics for a 12-month period the authors shared from the Red Chris implementation were 1.6 Mt of ore recovered from material classified as waste in traditional grade control; 825,000 t of waste removed from the ore stream; a 0.40 reduction in tonnes of waste per tonne of ore recovered; and an 800 hour XRF head service life, with most heads reaching the expected service life before failure.

In addition to mentions of ShovelSense, the authors also shared details on how Newmont is leveraging belt scanning technology equipped with Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis on the conveyor system after crushing at three operations. To illustrate this, the company shared an image of a Scantech International GEOSCAN unit.

Newmont said: “This technology measures key ore properties before ore reaches the mill, providing vital data such as estimated ore hardness and tailings neutralisation potential. Integration with the process plant control system allows for feed-forward control and optimisation.”

In block caving, the scanners can be used to track drawpoint grades and enable bulk ore sorting methods, Newmont added.

Epiroc spots further agnostic automation opportunities

Automation, Communications in mining, Environmental, Mining equipment, Mining finance, Mining services, Mining software, Power supply for mines, Sustainable mining, , , , , , , , , ,

Having convinced iron ore miner Roy Hill to move ahead with plans to create the world’s largest autonomous mine, Epiroc and ASI – which the OEM owns 34% of – are ready to take on new equipment-agnostic automation opportunities, Helena Hedblom says.

Speaking after the company’s December quarter and 2022 results were released, Hedblom, President and CEO of Epiroc, said the company and ASI had progressed through three years of rigorous testing of the system, with the solution now entering the “scale” phase.

The Roy Hill project’s Production Verification phase was recently completed with 10 converted haul trucks fitted with vehicle automation kits and in cab clients using ASI Mining’s Mobius traffic management and on–board automation systems to navigate the mine’s virtual map, communicating with ancillary vehicles and the control room.

From March, the companies will start converting the mixed fleet of 96 conventional haul trucks to driverless operation, which is an increase from the 77 trucks originally set to be converted to running autonomously.

“There are certainly opportunities to deploy such solutions elsewhere,” Hedblom told IM. “If you look at how we started autonomous drilling with BHP, we took a step-by-step approach ahead of rolling that out to our customer base.

“We and ASI hope to be able to do that for this type of autonomous haulage solution too.”

Epiroc’s financial results highlighted another robust quarter where orders received increased 18% year-on-year to SEK13.7 billion ($1.3 billion), representing an organic decrease of 4% and organic growth of 3% when excluding Epiroc’s Russian business (which has now ceased). Revenues increased 25% to SEK13.9 billion, an organic increase of 8%, and operating profit increased 25% to SEK3.2 billion.

While this quarter saw fewer large orders than previous three-month periods, it did see the easing of supply challenges and good output levels, Epiroc said, adding that operating profit was at a record high.

The period also saw the company complete the acquisition of four companies – Remote Control Technologies (RCT), Wain-Roy, Radlink and Geoscan – continuing the acceleration of M&A activity Epiroc has become known for.

The purchase of RCT also offers another automation in-road, with the Australia-based company known as an OEM-agnostic automation specialist.

Listing off several of these acquisitions, Hedblom also highlighted the planned acquisition of CR, which has an offering covering surface and underground mining, and products including cast lips, teeth, and protective shrouds installed on mining buckets and loaders.

“CR and ground engaging tools represent a new niche for us,” she said.

When Epiroc announced the planned acquisition in December, it said the move was predicated on expanding its “first-rate offering” of essential consumables and digital solutions.

Hedblom, meanwhile, said the company would continue to evaluate further M&A opportunities as they appeared.

Outside of automation and digitalisation, Hedblom remained confident the company would hit its electrification goals in 2025 – goals that include offering a complete range of emission-free underground products.

“We actually had our first order for the underground tunnelling sector recently,” she said. “We are very well positioned to achieve these targets.”

Epiroc grows orebody knowledge portfolio with Geoscan addition

Automation, Mineral exploration, Mining equipment, Mining mergers and acquisitions, Mining services, , , , , ,

Epiroc has agreed to acquire Geoscan Pty Ltd, an Australian provider of digital geological imaging solutions to mining companies, as it looks to bolster its orebody knowledge solutions.

Geoscan is based in Perth, Australia, and has presence in Australia, Latin America, North America, Europe and Africa. Its main offerings are Corescan and Coreshed.

Corescan (a unit pictured) is a leader in hyperspectral scanning, core photography and 3D laser profiling of drill core, rock chips and other geological samples with the associated processing and interpretation, according to Epiroc. It offers an automated solution that increases both the speed and reliability of imaging, processing and data delivery.

“Providing a rapid and reliable mineralogical profile of each drill core, Corescan improves mining companies’ decision making across exploration, resource modelling and ore processing,” the company said.

Coreshed complements this by providing an advanced digital core storage, visualisation, management and data integration solution for drill core and other geological samples, according to Epiroc.

Geoscan has about 50 employees and had revenues in 2021 of about A$9 million ($5.8 million).

Helena Hedblom, Epiroc’s President and CEO, said: “Mining companies continue to strive for greater orebody knowledge to strengthen productivity and consistency in their operations, and Geoscan’s solutions play a vital role in achieving that. This acquisition will complement our existing offerings well. We look forward to welcoming the strong team at Geoscan to Epiroc.”

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the December quarter of 2022.