56
A
Down-Hole Probe for Real-Time Ore Grade Assessment in “Look
Ahead” Mining--Resonon,
Inc., 611 N. Wallace, Suite 7, Bozeman, MT 59715-3082;
406-586-3356, www.resonon.com
Dr.
Rand Swanson, Principal Investigator, swanson@resonon.com
Dr.
Michael R. Kehoe, Business Official, kehoe@resonon.com
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83766
Amount:
$750,000
The removal, sorting, disposal, and treatment of waste
rock in mining operations are expensive processes, wasteful of energy,
hazardous, and environmentally damaging. The
best possible remedy is to avoid creating the waste rock in the first place.
This could be accomplished with existing mining techniques if
“look-ahead” ore grading were used to evaluate unmined rock in real time. This
project will develop a down-hole sensor that will use recently developed optical
techniques with induced polarization and resistivity sensors, to provide
look-ahead ore grade assessment. The
probe will allow miners to assess the local ore grade before blasting, thereby
enabling selective mining. In Phase
I, proof-of-principle
demonstrations showed that a down-hole probe for hyperspectral imaging will
provide good spatial resolution. An
improved design eliminated the need for moving parts.
Measurements taken on ore samples indicate induced polarization
measurements will indicate ore grade. In
Phase II, a prototype down-hole sensor system will be built, calibrated, and
tested. The system will be evaluated
in an underground platinum/palladium mine to grade ore in real-time.
Finally, benefits provided by the down-hole system will be documented,
refinements in the system will be made, and the range of applications will be
expanded to include gold mining.
Commercial
Applications and Other Benefits as
described by awardee: The down-hole
probe, initially targeted for “look-ahead” mining applications, should
enable selective mining and local morphology mapping.
The system should decrease the amount of waste rock generated, improve
mine safety, decrease energy usage, improve productivity; and decrease the
environmental impacts of mining. The
technology should become increasingly important as near-surface ore bodies are
depleted and smaller, deeper ore bodies must be found.