Process Mineralogy

Process Mineralogy aims to identify and diagnose processing characteristics, which provide a basis for understanding process efficiencies and limitations posed by mineralogical attributes and variations. In this context, quantitative mineralogy involves techniques of measuring size-dependent variations in mineral distributions, liberation and liberation distribution analysis, and characterizing particle populations. This information then provides the mineralogical basis for diagnosing performance, product purity and dilution effects, as well as providing a mineralogical account of penalty- or deleterious - elements as well as credit-elements.

Process Mineralogy therefore provides a link between product characteristics and performance, and plays an important role in process design and optimization, as well as diagnosing the reasons for losses within a mineral processing plant

Ideally, methods of process mineralogy are typically applied to several size fractions created from a single sample. The greater the number of size fractions and the narrower the size range of the fractionated products, the greater the accuracy and diagnostic value of the results. As a consequence, both the global liberation value (mass balanced according to mineral distribution by size) and the liberation distribution become significant measurable indices by which differences between ores and their performance can be judged.

At Actlabs, we leave the choice of sampling up to you, the client, but we will  provide you with the best possible data notwithstanding. We perform basic screening in-house and will sub-contract other detailed screening needs. We will also accept pre-screened samples and will accept accompanying assay data when fully accredited. Nevertheless, with the extensive range of in-house assay techniques, we are well placed to perform the analyses on site in Ancaster or by Actlabs laboratories closest to the client. As assay-reconciliation between mineralogically calculated and direct data is a key quality benchmark, we reserve the right to repeat assays in-house at the clients expense if available data not performed by Actlabs do not meet quality control guidelines.

X-ray Diffraction Analysis is available on site to augment process mineralogical investigations, as is optical microscopy.