416 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Metallurgical Reconciliation
Further validation was performed by comparing daily aver-
age copper grades as calculated by the MRA with metal-
lurgical reporting balances for the primary copper sulphide
feed line. As shown in Figure 4, the sampling point for met-
allurgical sample collection is located at the cyclone over-
flow following the primary sulphide comminution circuit.
The coarse ore stockpile ahead of the SAG mill fluctuated
in size up to 70,000 tonnes, or just over 1 day of full feed to
the circuit. This fluctuation could not be reliably monitored
and calculated, and consequently the comparison of MRA
grades to metallurgical balances can only be used roughly,
and only over a sufficiently large time scale.
Figure 11 shows 16 days of 24-hour average grade
comparisons between MRA grade readings and KMP met-
allurgical reporting using assays of samples collected from
the cyclone overflow sampling point.
Dynamic Testing
KMP applied a novel methodology for full-scale validation
procedure not seen at any other operation. BOS activi-
ties were undertaken for a period of approximately two
weeks prior to 19 May 2021. During this period of time, a
diverter cut-off grade of 0.20% copper was applied and an
estimated 10,000 tonnes of reject material reported to the
Figure 10. Example measurement of signal magnitude for crushed ore samples over time for calculation of precision. Note
these tests were performed with a layer of accumulated fine ore at the bottom of the sensor, leading to a residual signal
magnitude observed between sample measurements
Figure 11. MRA grade measurements versus KMP metallurgical sampling and assays for 24-hour average periods. Maintenance
occurred on 21 February and therefore no MRA data was available for the day
Metallurgical Reconciliation
Further validation was performed by comparing daily aver-
age copper grades as calculated by the MRA with metal-
lurgical reporting balances for the primary copper sulphide
feed line. As shown in Figure 4, the sampling point for met-
allurgical sample collection is located at the cyclone over-
flow following the primary sulphide comminution circuit.
The coarse ore stockpile ahead of the SAG mill fluctuated
in size up to 70,000 tonnes, or just over 1 day of full feed to
the circuit. This fluctuation could not be reliably monitored
and calculated, and consequently the comparison of MRA
grades to metallurgical balances can only be used roughly,
and only over a sufficiently large time scale.
Figure 11 shows 16 days of 24-hour average grade
comparisons between MRA grade readings and KMP met-
allurgical reporting using assays of samples collected from
the cyclone overflow sampling point.
Dynamic Testing
KMP applied a novel methodology for full-scale validation
procedure not seen at any other operation. BOS activi-
ties were undertaken for a period of approximately two
weeks prior to 19 May 2021. During this period of time, a
diverter cut-off grade of 0.20% copper was applied and an
estimated 10,000 tonnes of reject material reported to the
Figure 10. Example measurement of signal magnitude for crushed ore samples over time for calculation of precision. Note
these tests were performed with a layer of accumulated fine ore at the bottom of the sensor, leading to a residual signal
magnitude observed between sample measurements
Figure 11. MRA grade measurements versus KMP metallurgical sampling and assays for 24-hour average periods. Maintenance
occurred on 21 February and therefore no MRA data was available for the day