550 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
two size ranges for sorting: input material 10–50 mm and
input material 50–70 mm. Each size fraction is processed
by a separate equipment, which uses sensors to identify and
separate valuable minerals from waste material. The valu-
able minerals are collected as pre-concentrate, containing
a higher concentration of valuable minerals for further
processing, while the non-valuable material is discarded.
This pre-concentration process enhances the efficiency of
mineral processing by reducing the volume of material that
requires further processing, lowering operational costs, and
minimizing environmental impact.
BACKGROUND
Sensor-based sorting (SBS) as indicated applies sensors that
collects data from objects in dynamic mode. The detected
data is classified according to pre-classified ore character-
istic of the specific customer. The classified objects would
then either be dropped or ejected by the separation system.
The most relevant detection sensors applied in ore sort-
ing operations include X-Ray Transmission (XRT), Colour,
Laser, Induction, and Near Infrared detection, and X-Ray
Fluorescence (XRF). Steinert has developed a multi-sensor
sorter which can incorporate four sensors in one machine.
This provides additional possibilities to classify complex
ore sorting applications by processing data for different
material characteristics from four different sensors. For
example, a quartzite vein gold deposit could utilize XRT
to detect dense gold-bearing sulphides, and the laser can
detect bright reflecting gold bearing quartzite. This sensor
combination is very efficient in separating less-dense waste
from a gold rock concentrate consisting of quartzite and
sulphides.
Samples are scanned in dynamic mode with a belt
speed at 2.8 m/s using the Steinert KSS XT CLI multi-
sensor sorter equipped with Colour, Laser, Induction and
XRT systems (Figure 2). During test work, data acquisition
is performed at speeds equivalent to production rates for
sorting operations and one or more of the sensors can be
active simultaneously, depending on the sorting task and
requirements. This allows for easier material adaptability as
well as flexibility.
The separation generates two materials that will be
referred as Eject and Drop. The ejected material (“Eject”)
consists in the particles that are shot by the valve bar and
are directed to the right side of the splitter shown in the
equipment schematic. The drop fraction (“Drop”) consists
in the material that is not shot by the valve bar and drops
by gravity at the left side of the splitter. To evaluate material
properties during a test, multiple pass can be generated in
a cascade. After each pass in the cascade scenario settings
Figure 2. Schematic of a multi-sensor SBS equipment (Steinert KSS)
two size ranges for sorting: input material 10–50 mm and
input material 50–70 mm. Each size fraction is processed
by a separate equipment, which uses sensors to identify and
separate valuable minerals from waste material. The valu-
able minerals are collected as pre-concentrate, containing
a higher concentration of valuable minerals for further
processing, while the non-valuable material is discarded.
This pre-concentration process enhances the efficiency of
mineral processing by reducing the volume of material that
requires further processing, lowering operational costs, and
minimizing environmental impact.
BACKGROUND
Sensor-based sorting (SBS) as indicated applies sensors that
collects data from objects in dynamic mode. The detected
data is classified according to pre-classified ore character-
istic of the specific customer. The classified objects would
then either be dropped or ejected by the separation system.
The most relevant detection sensors applied in ore sort-
ing operations include X-Ray Transmission (XRT), Colour,
Laser, Induction, and Near Infrared detection, and X-Ray
Fluorescence (XRF). Steinert has developed a multi-sensor
sorter which can incorporate four sensors in one machine.
This provides additional possibilities to classify complex
ore sorting applications by processing data for different
material characteristics from four different sensors. For
example, a quartzite vein gold deposit could utilize XRT
to detect dense gold-bearing sulphides, and the laser can
detect bright reflecting gold bearing quartzite. This sensor
combination is very efficient in separating less-dense waste
from a gold rock concentrate consisting of quartzite and
sulphides.
Samples are scanned in dynamic mode with a belt
speed at 2.8 m/s using the Steinert KSS XT CLI multi-
sensor sorter equipped with Colour, Laser, Induction and
XRT systems (Figure 2). During test work, data acquisition
is performed at speeds equivalent to production rates for
sorting operations and one or more of the sensors can be
active simultaneously, depending on the sorting task and
requirements. This allows for easier material adaptability as
well as flexibility.
The separation generates two materials that will be
referred as Eject and Drop. The ejected material (“Eject”)
consists in the particles that are shot by the valve bar and
are directed to the right side of the splitter shown in the
equipment schematic. The drop fraction (“Drop”) consists
in the material that is not shot by the valve bar and drops
by gravity at the left side of the splitter. To evaluate material
properties during a test, multiple pass can be generated in
a cascade. After each pass in the cascade scenario settings
Figure 2. Schematic of a multi-sensor SBS equipment (Steinert KSS)