Company news

Published: 12/08/2010
Category: Press Releases
Source: OMER Spring 2009

Optical, electromagnetic and X-ray sorters improve efficiencies for the mineral industry

The company’s sorting applications increase efficiencies and lower a mine’s environmental footprint in the extraction of diamonds, gem stones, gold, platinum and other minerals. Optical, Electromagnetic (EM) and X-ray Transmission (XRT) sorters enable operators to separate waste rock from raw minerals, prior to the milling process, which increases yields and reduces operating costs.

Optical sorters involve linescan cameras and complex sorting software and hardware equipment. These sorters can separate minerals and waste rock if there are sufficient colour differences visible on the clean surfaces of the rock. For example, calcium carbonates (white) can be distinguished from shale (brown).

With the latest XRT sensors, the sorter generates X-ray images of each and every rock flowing through the sorter. One literally looks inside rock to determine its composition and the presence or absence of especially dense metal-bearing minerals.

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