408
Bulk Ore Sorting Using Magnetic Resonance Sensing:
Kansanshi Mine Case Study
Chris Beal
NextOre
Peter Coghill
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation “CSIRO”
Andre Prinsloo
Kansanshi Mining Plc “KMP”
ABSTRACT: Grade is critical to profitability in a mining operation but it is a naturally occurring characteristic
that is beyond the control of the miner. As global grades decline, and new high-grade discoveries become
increasingly rare, operating mines and development projects are facing mounting pressure to materially improve
the efficiency of mining systems.
Any resolution to this problem needs to deliver a combination of improved revenue and decreased cost without
introducing excessive complexity, and all while maintaining or improving upon the social and environmental
performance of the mine and its owner. Where applied properly, bulk ore sorting systems represent an opportu-
nity for miners to simultaneously achieve these outcomes.
This paper presents a case study of successful bulk ore sorting (BOS) trial at the Kansanshi mine. BOS effective-
ness was confirmed and validated at a rate of 2,800 tonnes per hour, with measurements of mineralogical grade
provided at intervals of 4 seconds corresponding to 3.1 tonne pods using a magnetic resonance analyser (MRA).
The primary findings of this case study are 1) validation that the MRA technology functions as claimed and is
well suited to chalcopyrite dominant copper sulphide orebodies 2) validation of the fundamental theory of bulk
ore sorting, that bulk heterogeneity in ore persists after the primary crusher and effective bulk separation can
effectively preconcentrate ore at significant tonnages 3) quantification of BOS results for the given orebody 4)
provision of technical details for retrofitting of BOS to an operating mine and 5) description of a new valida-
tion methodology that is believed to be genuinely novel and successful.
INTRODUCTION
Background
Sensor based bulk ore sorting is an emerging technology
with potential to deliver a step-change in environmen-
tal impact and metal extraction economics to the mining
industry. Bulk ore sorting seeks to provide a capital efficient
mechanism, capable of handling throughputs of the world’s
largest mines, to preconcentrate ore by autonomously inter-
rogating the grade of mined material and separating that
which is high value from that which is low.
Bulk Ore Sorting Using Magnetic Resonance Sensing:
Kansanshi Mine Case Study
Chris Beal
NextOre
Peter Coghill
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation “CSIRO”
Andre Prinsloo
Kansanshi Mining Plc “KMP”
ABSTRACT: Grade is critical to profitability in a mining operation but it is a naturally occurring characteristic
that is beyond the control of the miner. As global grades decline, and new high-grade discoveries become
increasingly rare, operating mines and development projects are facing mounting pressure to materially improve
the efficiency of mining systems.
Any resolution to this problem needs to deliver a combination of improved revenue and decreased cost without
introducing excessive complexity, and all while maintaining or improving upon the social and environmental
performance of the mine and its owner. Where applied properly, bulk ore sorting systems represent an opportu-
nity for miners to simultaneously achieve these outcomes.
This paper presents a case study of successful bulk ore sorting (BOS) trial at the Kansanshi mine. BOS effective-
ness was confirmed and validated at a rate of 2,800 tonnes per hour, with measurements of mineralogical grade
provided at intervals of 4 seconds corresponding to 3.1 tonne pods using a magnetic resonance analyser (MRA).
The primary findings of this case study are 1) validation that the MRA technology functions as claimed and is
well suited to chalcopyrite dominant copper sulphide orebodies 2) validation of the fundamental theory of bulk
ore sorting, that bulk heterogeneity in ore persists after the primary crusher and effective bulk separation can
effectively preconcentrate ore at significant tonnages 3) quantification of BOS results for the given orebody 4)
provision of technical details for retrofitting of BOS to an operating mine and 5) description of a new valida-
tion methodology that is believed to be genuinely novel and successful.
INTRODUCTION
Background
Sensor based bulk ore sorting is an emerging technology
with potential to deliver a step-change in environmen-
tal impact and metal extraction economics to the mining
industry. Bulk ore sorting seeks to provide a capital efficient
mechanism, capable of handling throughputs of the world’s
largest mines, to preconcentrate ore by autonomously inter-
rogating the grade of mined material and separating that
which is high value from that which is low.