The Future of 3D Characterisation in Automated Mineralogy

Process Mineralogy '22, MEI's first face to face event in 3 years is only just over 4 weeks away and it is good to see the interest in this conference, which will be held in Sitges, Spain from November 2-4.

We are very pleased that the partners of the EIT Raw Materials funded project 2D3Dscopy will be running a workshop on "The Future of 3D Characterization" immediately prior to the conference. The workshop will provide insights into the latest developments in 3D particle characterization and particle-based process optimization. The workshop is organised by Metso:Outotec, Tescan, Ghent University and the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology.

The world is 3-dimensional, but resource characterization is limited to 2-dimensional data. Being able to use 3D instead of the common 2D data is a major breakthrough in minerals processing and metal extraction. It helps to image the reality and  enable the reliable prediction of information about mineral recovery as well as the improved characterization of material residues.

An important new measuring routine and software, that combines 2D and 3D data and allows for an unprecedented optimization of mineral recovery and energy efficiency as well as the minimization of residues, has been created. By applying the new technique it is estimated to save 5% of the energy in the entire process from metals exploitation to refining. It can be used for material quality control but also for the prediction of material behavior.

In  developing this breakthrough, the partners merged quantitative 2-dimensional data from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with 3-dimensional data from spectral computed X-ray tomography. SEM-based image analysis tools are standard in resource characterization and provide chemical information about mineral distribution or structural parameters such as particle size or mineral association, but in 2D only. Computed X-ray tomography, on the other hand, provides direct structural 3D information in a non-destructive manner, but lacks any chemical information. However a new type of detector will obtain additional chemical 3D information, a technique which will be unique for the resource sector.

There is much to look forward to in Sitges, and we invite you to register for the workshop, and for the conference.  The full programme can be found on the website and we thank once again our valued sponsors.

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