Tag Archives: TOMRA

TOMRA delivers the goods at Stornoway Diamonds’ Renard mine

Diamond mining, Equipment maintenance, Metallurgy, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Sustainable mining, , , , ,

TOMRA’s ore sorting technology has delivered impressive results in its first diamond processing plant application. 

The company worked with Stornoway Diamonds and its Renard diamond mine, in Quebec, Canada.

The Renard mine, in commercial production since 2017, is the first diamond mine in the province and one of six in Canada. It started with an open-pit mine and subsequently opened an underground mine.

The conditions of the mine presented Stornoway Diamonds with particular challenges that required an innovative approach, according to TOMRA.

“Due to the geology of our ore, meaning we produce very high yield, we have lots of material that we need to sort through. At times, we have the possibility of losing some of those very expensive diamonds due to inefficiencies,” explains Marie-Claude Hallé, Marketing Operations Manager for Stornoway Diamonds.

In addition, “our orebody at the Renard mine contains a high level of internal and external dilution called country rock, a significant issue for us, as it can make up to 30 to 40% of the feed to the plant.

“With that comes very, very high energy cost from crushing all this waste material that is not diamond bearing. It causes a tremendous amount of wear and tear on our equipment from screening conveyors, diamond recovery equipment, and on a dollar-per-tonne basis we spend a lot of money processing non-diamond bearing material.”

Stornoway needed to find a way to reduce its costs and optimise its operation, which is where TOMRA came in.

“You have to really envision that TOMRA has actually changed the game in terms rough diamond recovered around the world, and allowed producers to access large exceptional quality goods that perhaps in the past would be crushed to pieces,” Marie-Claude Hallé said.

TOMRA’s solution incorporates ore sorting technology into the mine’s processing plant.

TOMRA analysed the situation and worked closely with Stornoway Diamond’s team to design and install a kimberlite pre-concentration plant.

The specific conditions at the Renard mine meant the traditional Dense Media Separation method could not provide an efficient and cost-effective solution. It led to TOMRA making Renard the first diamond mine to incorporate ore sorting into its processing plant.

TOMRA addressed the mine’s recovery issue with its leading sorting technologies, developing a solution with four key objectives for the ore sorting plant: minimise diamond breakage by removing hard rocks from the crushing plant feed; upgrade the quality of the material to the process plant by increasing the proportion of Kimberlite to waste rock; reduce the energy required for crushing by removing the harder rocks; and improve circuit efficiencies throughout the plant.

TOMRA’s solution features five PRO Near Infrared (NIR) sorters in its ore sorting circuit. This technology is particularly well suited to enable discrimination between the various ore and waste materials that need separation at the Renard mine, based on their different chemical composition, TOMRA said.

TOMRA also included a COM XRT 2400 sorter, which uses X-Ray Transmission technology to separate material according to its specific atomic density, in the plant’s large diamond recovery circuit.

Hallé continued: “The TOMRA solution we have in operation has offered us a very low-cost, efficient reliable means of recovering our coarse diamonds without inefficiency, without causing diamond breakage.

“It’s a very neat way to get those diamonds out of the kimberlite at the very early stage of the process. We reduce our power consumption cost, we reduce our wear and tear on material.

“We are still optimising this unit, and we feel there are even more benefits to come in terms of how it helps enhancing the overall recovery of our diamonds.”

Geoffrey Madderson, Diamond Segment Manager at TOMRA, concludes: “The implementation of this plant proves that TOMRA waste sorting technology can successfully be used to upgrade lower grade run of mine and that sensor-based sorting can be used to further improve value recovery for our clients on lower-grade resources.”

TOMRA said the integration of the ore sorting plant into the main processing plant was completed smoothly, with its full involvement in the ore sorting plant design. TOMRA also had a team onsite for the first three months of operation to ensure a seamless transition, and will continue to provide ongoing support for the entire life of the equipment.

“We chose TOMRA because we find TOMRA’s approach to problem solving to be very innovative,” adds Hallé. “We see them as a solution provider that thinks outside the box, that doesn’t always come with ‘here’s the off-the-shelf solution to your problem’, but in fact engages with us and looks at what are the best possible options.

”In fact, it will develop technology if needed to address those specific problems. We always have outstanding service as well, from TOMRA technicians, from engineers, from every aspect of TOMRA Sorting.”

Ore sorting has role to play in ‘Green Mining’ developments, TOMRA says

Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Sustainable mining, Water management, , , , , , ,

TOMRA says its advanced sensor-based sorting technologies can provide mining operations with the energy efficiency and ore recovery benefits they require to reduce their environmental footprints.

The ability to recover valuable ore from even sub-economic deposits or dumps has become increasingly relevant as the energy-intensive mining industry shifts towards a ‘Green Mining’ approach, according to the company.

Tord Svensson, TOMRA’s Head of Sorting Mining, explains: “For a mining company to become more sustainable and profitable, it requires a shift in focus that places more value on potentially limited commodities like water and ore.

“To achieve an environmentally-focused and efficiency-oriented production process – which is integral to Green Mining – it is necessary to implement solutions right from the beginning of the process. This is where ore sorting equipment comes in: using these technologies in the early stages of mining reduces waste material and shrinks the carbon footprint, while increasing profitability.”

TOMRA is a pioneer of sensor-based sorting technologies, offering smart technologies for sorting and separating a variety of valuable substances. Its solutions range from industrial mineral processes to sorting gemstones, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, coal and other fuels and slag metal.

The sensor-based sorting technology not only significantly reduces the amount of energy and water required, compared with more traditional methods such as grinding and dense media separation, but also maximises the efficiency and quality recovery of valuable ores, according to TOMRA.

X-ray transmission (XRT), one of TOMRA’s leading solutions, separates dry material of various ore and minerals based on their atomic density, irrespective of surface properties and thickness. This means it is not necessary to crush or grind every rock into smaller particles, which results in massive savings of energy, water, and their related costs, according to the company.

“Considering that grinding is the most energy-intensive part of the production cycle, as an estimated 50-75% of the energy used in mining is for the liberation and comminution of ore and minerals, this technology can have a significant impact on the sustainability and profitability of a mining operation,” TOMRA said.

Pre-concentration techniques like sensor-based sorting are proven to reduce energy consumption by about half, resulting in a considerable reduction of the CO2 footprint and providing a highly cost-effective solution, the company added.

TOMRA has created a Green Counter on its website that displays the total amount of CO2 reduced through the use of its sorting machines in real time. It uses the smart technology within the equipment, which records the amount of rock sorted and eliminated, as well as throughput and total hours of operation.

“With this data, TOMRA and mining companies are able to calculate the energy in kWh saved by not treating the waste which has been removed by the sorters,” the company said. “The amount of energy saved is converted into CO2 equivalents, which in turn are converted into CO2 metric tonnes.”

Through the use of TOMRA sorting machines, client companies have saved 123,696 t of CO2 in 2018 alone, the company said.

The company concluded: “TOMRA’s sorting solutions have proven to be more than just technological innovation – they are also considered the benchmark for industry standards in both efficiency and sustainability. TOMRA remains committed to evolving its technology with a clear focus towards preserving our shared natural resources.”

Turkey’s Mikroman ups product quality, throughput with TOMRA ore sorters

Comminution of minerals, Diamond mining, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , ,

Turkish quartz miner, Mikroman has been able to both improve product quality and increase capacity at its three processing plants in the country thanks to the installation of four TOMRA Sorting Solutions high-capacity sensor-based sorting systems, the technology company said.

Mikroman mines quartz from its open-pit operations in Turkey, with the company running its own mineral processing plants for crushing, washing and sorting the raw materials.

In 2018, the company installed a TOMRA PRO Secondary LASER sorting machine in two of its three plants, in Muğla and Aydin Provinces. The third plant, in Usak Province, invested in a LASER sorter plus a COLOR sorter, according to TOMRA.

TOMRA says: “In addition to being the most efficient way to sort particles, sorting machines deliver a wide range of commercial advantages to industrial mineral sorting businesses. These include a decrease in mining and haulage costs; reductions in energy and water consumption; improvements in quality and productivity; and increases in recovery.”

The company added: “Sensor-based sorters also make it possible to significantly increase the lifetime of a mining operation.”

TOMRA’s Area Sales Manager, Jens-Michael Bergmann, said TOMRA’s COLOR sorting machines employ a high-resolution camera that recognises materials based on their color. “Rocks with surficial and visible contamination are detected and sorted out, resulting in better recovery rates and higher quality than is possible with manual sorting,” he said.

“Our unique multi-channel LASER sorter delivers even greater benefits for Mikroman in achieving the highest purity levels and maximum profits. The scattering effect of multiple laser beams distinguishes a rock containing quartz from its identically coloured neighbor. Under the laser beam, a pure or non-contaminated quartz rock registers as a glow crystal, whereas similar looking rocks with no quartz content remain dark, without any visible scattering.”

Mikroman combined these two technologies for best results and recovery, according to TOMRA.

Of all three Mikroman processing plants, the one in Usak Province demands the most precise mineral sorting. Before sorting, the feed material is screened by size, with the 40-100 mm stones treated with a higher priority and stones measuring 20-40 mm in size sent down the sorting line in a separate batch. Here, the combination of a TOMRA COLOR sorter and TOMRA LASER sorter is used to differentiate products according to four predetermined qualities. These are:

  • White and light grey quartz, with low iron oxide content, for use as artificial stones (A);
  • Grey and yellow quartz, for use by the glass industry (B);
  • Coloured quartz, for ferrosilicon used by the metallurgical sector (C), and;
  • Coloured gravel (D), also for ferrosilicon, currently goes with the waste.

After crushing and washing (through a trommel screen), Mikroman’s sorting process consists of four key steps. In the first step, minerals are screened by size, with only stones measuring 40-100 mm going through to the next stage.

In the second step, the LASER machine sorts out the waste and coloured gravel from the quartz pieces at about 70 t/h capacity. In the third stage, the remaining minerals are sorted into two streams: one for colored quartz; the other for the white and light grey quartz, and the grey and yellow quartz. Finally, these two streams are hand-sorted into product types, with some further removal of remaining gravel and waste.

“These precise distinctions, resulting in higher product quality, were not possible before the acquisition of the TOMRA machines,” TOMRA said, adding that its service team worked on-site with Mikroman, as it does with all customers, to optimise the performance of the machines.

Nazmi Çetin, Mine and plant Manager at Mikroman, said: “Before having TOMRA sorters, we were worried about quality and low capacity, but now we have achieved the desired quality standard and we have seen a decrease in waste, which means productivity has increased. The system design is quite successful and the TOMRA service team are good at their job.”

North Arrow brings in Imilingo, TOMRA, Microlithics for modular diamond recovery

Diamond mining, Mineral exploration, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

North Arrow Minerals says it has engaged Imilingo Mineral Processing of Pretoria, South Africa, TOMRA, and Microlithics Laboratories of Thunder Bay, Ontario, to investigate modular diamond recovery design options incorporating TOMRA’s X-Ray Transmission (XRT) sorting technology at its 100% owned Naujaat diamond project in Nunavut, Canada.

The engagement is with a view to recovering diamonds greater than 3 mm (nominally >0.5 ct) in size from a diamond recovery plant, it said.

North Arrow is currently planning for collection of a 10,000 t bulk sample from the Q1-4 deposit at Naujaat and, as part of this work, has initiated an engineering design and costing study of a small-scale mobile diamond recovery plant. The purpose of the sample will be to evaluate diamond size distribution and value characteristics, with emphasis on a distinct population of high-value, fancy, yellow to orangey-yellow diamonds that have been identified in the deposit, the company said.

Ken Armstrong, President and CEO of North Arrow, said: “We are pleased to be working with Imilingo, TOMRA and Microlithics to study diamond recovery plant design options for use in our continued evaluation of the Q1-4 diamond deposit.

“Over the last number of years, TOMRA’s XRT sorting technology has changed the diamond mining landscape by providing an XRT sorting solution that improves diamond recoveries while reducing breakage and water use compared to more traditional diamond recovery circuits. We believe XRT sorting technology can also be used for the evaluation of diamond deposits and is an ideal recovery solution for the Q1-4 diamond population.

“Locating a small-scale diamond recovery plant at or near the project site will also reduce costs, improve logistics and increase local employment and business opportunities for the residents of Naujaat,” he said.

Imilingo’s iPlant packages combine XRT solutions from the likes of TOMRA to sort and deliver feed material in a clean and well classified state, Managing Director, Jaco Prinsloo, told IM recently. Microlithics Laboratories, meanwhile, provides a number of diamond-specific services to clients in North America.

The focus on recovery of diamonds greater than 3 mm is an important component of the study, the company said, with a significant amount of the cost associated with processing past Q1-4 kimberlite samples related to ensuring and documenting the recovery of smaller diamonds (down to 1 mm in size).

Armstrong added: “While information on the 1 mm to 3 mm diamonds is important, most often the value of these diamonds does not impact the potential viability of the deposit being tested. This is certainly the case for Q1-4 where the value and size distribution of the fancy coloured diamond population will be critical in determining the economic potential of the deposit.

“We are therefore looking to design a small-scale mobile plant that can produce a hand-sortable concentrate for the recovery of +3 mm diamonds while saving significant costs and time delays associated with shipping bulk samples south for processing.”

Locating a diamond recovery plant at Naujaat as part of the Q1-4 bulk sampling program is possible due to the deposit’s proximity to marine transportation infrastructure and the improved accessibility that will be provided by a proposed new community access trail, the company said.

HPGR and ore sorting stack up for Vista Gold’s Mt Todd gold project

Comminution of minerals, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining project news, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , , , , ,

Toronto and New York-listed Vista Gold reports recent high pressure grinding roll (HPGR) crusher and ore sorting tests on high-grade samples at its Mt Todd gold project, in the Northern Territory of Australia, have confirmed previous test results.

The company has also announced plans to complete fine grinding and leaching tests in the March quarter and to follow these results with updated prefeasibility study (PFS) economics in the June quarter.

Vista said additional HPGR and ore sorting tests were completed on two, 2.5 t samples from Mt Todd’s Batman deposit containing 1.39 g/t and 1.70 g/t gold, respectively. This testing programme confirmed two important results:

  • HPGR crushing, followed by screening, results in increased concentration of gold in the fine fraction, and;
  • The small amount of gold lost in the rejected material is proportionally lower when sorting higher-grade material.

As with previous tests, the samples were HPGR crushed at the facilities of ThyssenKrupp Industries in Germany and screened at 16 mm. The coarse fraction (+16 mm) was sent to the facilities of Tomra Sorting Solutions in Germany, where two-stage (X-ray Transmission and laser) sorting tests were completed using production-sized and commercially available equipment. The following table summarises the results of the testing programme for each of the samples and compares these results to previous bulk tests on low-grade samples:

Sample

(g Au/t)

 Sorter Feed (+16mm) Sorter Product Sorter Reject Gold Loss (%)
Fraction of Total Sample (%) Grade

(g Au/t)

 Fraction of Total Sample (%) Grade

(g Au/t)

 Fraction of Total Sample (%) Grade

(g Au/t)
1.39 17.8% 0.731 9.4% 1.238 8.4% 0.158 1.0%
1.70 18.6% 0.737 10.3% 1.239 8.3% 0.110 0.7%
Previous Results
0.63 17.5% 0.533 10.5% 0.817 7.0% 0.103 1.1%
0.34 17.8% 0.255 11.0% 0.365 6.8% 0.075 1.5%
0.67 18.7% 0.619 11.3% 0.901 7.4% 0.192 2.0%

Frederick Earnest, President and Chief Executive Officer, said the tests confirmed the benefit of ore sorting for Mt Todd and demonstrated lower gold losses with higher grade crusher feed.

“We attribute these results to the favourable characteristics of the Batman deposit. Simply stated, the gold-containing sulphide minerals and quartz/calcite veining are more easily broken into small particles than the non-mineralised host rock,” he said. “Where this breakage does not result in clean separation from the host rock in the first pass of HPGR crushing, the gold-bearing minerals are easily identified and separated in the ore sorting circuit.”

The results complement Vista’s previously announced fine grinding and leaching test results, Earnest said, adding that he expects them to support additional improvements in the economics of the Mt Todd gold project when the PFS is published later this year.

The crushed and sorted samples have been transported to the facilities of Resource Development Inc, where sample preparation has been completed for assaying and additional fine grinding, leaching and tailings characterisation tests.

Samples are being sent to Core Metallurgy Pty to obtain additional fine grinding data simulating grinding in the horizontal IsaMill and to the FLSmidth Minerals Testing and Research Center to obtain data simulating grinding in the vertical VPX Mill.

“Both tests will target a final product size of 38-45 microns and will generate a sufficient volume of material for subsequent leach tests,” the company said, adding the fine grinding and leach tests were expected to be completed in the March quarter, with final results expected in the following quarter.

The company has completed additional tailings characterisation tests and concluded that no material design changes are required to proceed to the economic analysis using a final grind size of 38-45 microns.

TOMRA upgrades bulk samples at Novo’s Karratha gold project

Metallurgy, Mineral exploration, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Precious metals, , , , ,

Novo Resources has announced gold-rich assay results from concentrates generated by mechanical sorting trials conducted on four bulk samples from its Karratha gold project in Western Australia.

In order to test the potential viability of mechanical rock sorting as a means of concentrating gold from conglomerates at Karratha, four bulk samples were collected, crushed, screened and tested using a TOMRA mechanical rock sorter. High-grade assays from sorted rock concentrates have provided a first indication that this technique is effective at upgrading gold into small volume concentrates.

Mechanical sorting was conducted on material ranging from 6 to 63 mm. Fractions larger than 63 mm and finer than 6 mm are currently undergoing assaying and, once all analyses have returned, an assessment of the effectiveness of mechanical rock sorting will be made, Novo said.

Mechanical rock sorted concentrates range from 0.07-0.48% of total sample mass, a remarkably small fraction. Given the high-grade assays of these concentrates, ranging from 92.1-792.4 g/t Au, it appears gold is being significantly upgraded by mechanical rock sorting, the company added.

“Optimising crushing to reduce volumes of fines and oversize, effectively maximising the amount of material being sorted, should further improve the potential of this technology,” Novo said, adding that mechanical sorting technology could be a critical component of the Karratha gold project moving forward.

Rob Humphryson, CEO and Director of the company, said: “Concentrate grades received from the recent TOMRA mechanical rock sorting trials are impressive, reflecting the capability of the scanning and sorting technology to differentially select gold bearing rock.

“Total system gold recovery efficiency will be fully understood upon receipt of assay results from all process streams and feed size ranges, with these results expected during January 2019.”

TOMRA division reflects on 25 years of sensor-based sorting in mining

Base metals, Energy minerals, Gem stone mining, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , , ,

TOMRA’s sensor sorting systems are celebrating 25 years of operation in the mining space.

The past quarter of a century has seen high-value, high-quality recovery and innovation led by sustainability and record-breaking achievements, the company said.

TOMRA Sorting Mining’s history and success dates back to 1993 when Commodas applied its core sensor-based technology to a mining application.

The optical sorting solution was tested on an industrial scale to separate calcium carbonate (CaCo3) from other materials in order to recover higher values of CaCo3, which is an essential element used in everyday products, such as paper.

In this application, the sorting technology automatically removed grey and dark rocks from the bulk feed and achieved excellent results. This led to, in 1994, two large-scale machines featuring this technology being introduced to Hermsdorf (Erzgebirge), Germany. This installation successfully ran for eighteen years.

In 2006, Commodas joined the TOMRA Group forming part of TOMRA Sorting – a leading solution provider in mining, recycling and food industries.

“Today, TOMRA Sorting Mining equipment can be found in a variety of challenging environments and extreme climates around the world. Our combined strengths of expert industry knowledge, proprietary technology and qualified engineer support service significantly benefit our customers in this dynamic industry,” the company said.

“TOMRA Sorting Mining solutions have enabled the recovery of the world’s largest diamond in over 100 years, the world’s largest sorting plant with an 1,880 t/h feeder, the industry’s highest sorting plan at 4800 metres above sea level, many additional notable diamond recoveries and the Innovation Award of Peru.

During the 25th anniversary year, TOMRA Sorting Mining will introduce the new COM Series XRT 2.0 (pictured). Based on the successful XRT sorter, the new COM Series XRT 2.0 is a true evolution with industry-leading standards for robustness, throughput and availability, according to the company.

 

Newcrest Mining after Telfer profitability jump with ore sorting technology

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Environmental, Metallurgy, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, , , , , , , ,

Newcrest Mining has confirmed ore sorting technology is one of several innovations it is currently investigating at group level to increase profitability and build on its substantial resource base.

The gold and copper miner’s technology and innovation team spoke at length at the company’s recent investor day about how new developments could enable the miner to produce more, lower costs, increase mine lives and improve safety across the group.

Next generation caving and hydrometallurgical processing, plus robotic mining, was part of the company’s five breakthrough strategies target by 2020, as was selective processing and what it called “sustainable mines”. The latter could see an increased focus on mine electrification and the use of renewable energy.

X-ray ore sorting tests carried out by TOMRA on the company’s Telfer operation in Western Australia had already shown impressive results, according to Executive General Manager of Gosowong and Telfer, Phil Stephenson.

Results to date indicated ore sorting could triple the grade and recover nearly 80% of the gold in the scats stream, according to Stephenson.

Over three months from August, 100,000 t of feed had been tested in a >160 t/h pebble sorting circuit at an average gold and copper feed grade of 0.18 g/t Au and 0.04% Cu. Some 79% of gold and 60% of copper had been recovered with a mass recovery to product of 26% and product grades of 0.56 g/t Au and 0.08% Cu, according to Newcrest.

Following these results, feasibility work had already commenced to design and install a full-scale plant at the scats stream expected to increase overall gold recovery at Telfer by 2-4%, Newcrest said.

And, Stephenson admitted the company is already weighing up the use of this technology on Telfer ore, with a sample from the West Dome open pit recently sent off for testing.

Stephenson didn’t want to say too much on the results, but indicated they had “exceeded our expectations”.

“If we can get this to work at the front end, we could go from two [processing] trains to one,” he told investors last week, adding this would take a big chunk out of the operation’s cost base.

The ore from the Telfer mining operations is processed by a large, dual train, communition circuit followed by flotation and cyanide circuits, which produce gold doré and a copper-gold concentrate. In the financial year ending June 30, 2016, Telfer produced 462,461 oz of gold and 18,940 t of copper.

Should the technology prove worthwhile at Telfer, expect Newcrest to look to apply it elsewhere across its operations.

AusTin Mining weighing up ore-sorting at Taronga following positive tests

Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Industrial minerals, Mineral exploration, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining services, , , , , , , ,

TOMRA is continuing to win praise for its sensor-based ore sorting technology, with AusTin Mining being the latest company to say pilot test work indicated the process could remove a significant amount of waste and boost grades.

The company had previously carried out a 60 kg trial with TOMRA on material from the Taronga project in New South Wales, Australia, which indicated X-ray Transmission (XRT) ore sorting was effective.

The latest test work went a step further, with 1.6 t of material grading 0.15% Sn from the Northern Zone of the Taronga deposit being crushed and run through an XRT-1200 sorter in a series of tests for different sizes.

In summary, the latest result indicated:

  • Significant mass rejection (up to 66%) to waste may be achieved. This could either reduce the scale of the downstream processing plant and/or enable an increased plat throughput;
  • Uplift (up to three times) in the grade of sorted product, which could increase the tin units reporting to a downstream processing plant;
  • Increase (over three times) in the grade of fines (-8 mm) material, highlighting the potential for preliminary beneficiation in conjunction with ore sorting, and;
  • Consistent waste grades across all tests, indicating the potential to increase tin recovery with increasing feed grade.

CEO, Peter Williams said of the results: “Aus Tin Mining is encouraged by the benefits ore sorting could deliver for the Taronga tin project, not only including the potential uplift in grade, but also the scope for lower costs and the long-term potential opportunity to exploit more of the mineral resource.”

Williams added that the Stage 1 project at Taronga would provide an “ideal opportunity to test and optimise the technology”.

In 2015, the company announced it would commence a Stage 1 development comprising a 340,000 t trial mine within the Northern Zone ore reserves and pilot processing plant able to produce a saleable concentrate over an 18-24 month period. The company is currently in the process of progressing outstanding regulatory approvals and contractor negotiations for this project.

In the coming weeks, AusTin intends to evaluate whether to proceed with an ore-sorting trial in conjunction with the Stage 1 project, including considerations for additional costs and existing approvals.

“The company will also transport the residual material from the ore-sorting test work to the Granville tin project to assess the material for downstream gravity and flotation processes,” the company said.

The Taronga tin project comprises two major zones of quartz-cassiterite, sheeted vein-style mineralisation. The Northern Zone accounts for approximately 70% of the total mineral resource (27 Mt at 0.15% Sn for 40,100 t contained tin) and is open at depth. The Southern Zone (9.3 Mt at 0.19% Sn for 17,100 t contained tin) comprises a very coarse cassiterite demonstrating superior metallurgical properties plus contains higher tin, copper and silver grades.

TOMRA’s COM XRT 2.0 mineral ore sorter tackles even higher throughputs

Automation, Base metals, Bulk handling, Comminution of minerals, Energy minerals, Metallurgy, Mine operation news, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Steel and iron ore, , , , ,

X-ray ore sorting is already making great waves across the mineral processing industry by reducing plant throughputs, increasing head grades and cutting operating costs. One of the leaders in this growing field, TOMRA, believes its new COM XRT 2.0 sorter takes these attributes to another level.

This upgraded model features higher belt speed and throughput, translating directly into increased productivity in mineral processing. It also offers increased wear resistance and longer component lifetime, with quick and safe maintenance through providing easier access to replaceable components.

Ines Hartwig, Product Manager at TOMRA Sorting Mining, said the valuable experience gained over the past 15 years, through monitoring and maintaining the TOMRA COM XRT units operating in the field, has been incorporated into the design of the TOMRA COM XRT 2.0.

“Our sorters have been operating under harsh conditions in both hot and cold climates, sorting wet and dry feed across a wide range of commodities,” Hartwig said.

The speed of the belt in the new design has been increased from 2.7 m/s to 3.5 m/s, while the more powerful X-ray system accommodates the sorting of larger-sized material due to better X ray penetration.

“Higher levels of belt occupancy are facilitated by our improved data processing capacity, and this allows the particle size of the feed to be increased,” she said. “The maximum size of the particles that the TOMRA COM XRT 2.0 can handle is between 100 mm and 125 mm, depending on the material, which also contributes significantly to throughput capacity.”

She notes these higher levels of capacity are particularly valuable for larger mines, as they reduce the number of machines required, and therefore also decrease capital and operating expenditure.

The unit boasts a highly selective ejection system, using data processing in combination with precise control of the pneumatic valves which eject the selected material from the stream. Driving this system is TOMRA’s proprietary data processing pipeline that links sensors, image processing and the valve control boards.

The performance of this ore sorting technology has been proven at Ma’aden Phosphates’ new $560 million processing plant at the Umm Wu’Al project in Saudi Arabia, one of the largest integrated phosphate fertiliser facilities in the world, according to TOMRA. TOMRA Sorting Solutions has installed nine of its TOMRA COM XRT sorting units, each with an operational width of 2.4 m, to process a 1,850 t/h sorter feed at this facility (pictured, top).

The objective of the sorters is to reduce the milling and flotation of silica in the plant process, using a dry technology at a low cost per tonne. The TOMRA units achieve this by removing more than 90% of the chert in the +9 mm fraction, which makes up half of the plant feed, before the phosphate is fed to the milling and flotation circuit. This leads to the removal of over 1.2 Mt/y of SiO2, which does not have to be crushed, ground and floated.

This installation considerably improved the mill performance by reducing the consumption of energy, water and chemicals per tonne of final product, TOMRA said. All of this was achieved with a smaller sorting plant footprint. The saving in flotation reagents, alone, amounts to almost $8 million/y, according to the company.

In Botswana, TOMRA Sorting Solutions has installed two TOMRA COM XRT 2.0/1200 sorters in the mega-diamond recovery (MDR) circuit of Lucara Diamonds’ Karowe mine. Located directly after the primary crusher and ahead of the process plant, the MDR circuit treats material in the size range between 50 mm and 120 mm. It maximises the upfront recovery of exceptional diamonds before the ore reaches the comminution processes, where diamond damage may occur.

“The machine has proven itself through its high availability throughout its first year of operation there,” Hartwig said.

TOMRA Sorting Solutions also has several smaller units in portable and containerised configurations in many different countries, where they must operate in a variety of climatic conditions from arctic to tropical. These machines sort minerals ranging from copper, iron ore and coal to industrial minerals, chrome and diamonds.