a case study; mmd’s material bulk sorting plant open’s new ... · a case study; mmd’s...

A case study; MMD’s Material Bulk Sorting Plant Open’s New Doors

Chris Pearson, Mobile Equipment Projects Director (Group) MMD

Bulk Ore Sorting

CHANGING THE

FUTURE OF MINING

Chris Pearson | Group Business Development Director

Future of Mining, October 22nd 2019, Denver

DISCLAIMER

© Copyright MMD GPHC Ltd.

Except as permitted by law, you may not reproduce any of the

content of this presentation without the permission of the copyright

owner.

While the Information in this presentation is considered to be true

and correct at the date of submission of this presentation to the

organiser of this conference, changes in circumstances after the

time of submission may impact on the accuracy of the Information.

• World leaders in mining machinery technology

• Established in 1978

• Over 17 companies, and 600+ employees worldwide

• Sold over 3000 machines

• Manufacturing facilities in six continents

We believe passionately about pushing the boundaries of Mining Technology & Innovation

MMD GROUP OF COMPANIES

Key Advantages

• Increased Production Rates

• Reduced Truck Requirement

• Consistent Truck Fill Factor

• Improved Equipment Utilization

• Less Wear & Tear on the Trucks

• Improved Safety

MMD FULLY MOBILE SURGE LOADER (FMSL)

Patent Pending; UK Patent Application No. 1806086.3.

MMD BULK ORE SORTING SYSTEM

What is it?

Essentially..

.. Bulk process of

Separating Ore

from Waste

BULK SORTING

ORE WASTE

So what are MMD doing that’s different?

We Deploy the ore analysers in a completely new set-up to

traditional methods.

• Bring the sensors to the face

• Reduce potential of diluting materials.

BULK SORTING ..

In a world where Everyone is trying to….

Achieve more form Less.

There becomes a point where there’s no more

to give …. Unless

Strip Back & Re-think the Process

… and Achieve more by do it differently

BULK SORTINGWhat benefits does it offer?

• Improved Ore and Waste Management

• Ability to upgrade the Ore

• Less energy and water consumption

• More efficient and sustainable mining

method

• Downstream Benefits in the SAG Mill

Several different types of technology:

XRF – X-Ray Fluorescence

PGNAA – Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis

PFTNA – Pulsed Fast Thermal Neutron Activation

MR – Magnetic Resonance

BULK SORTING – ORE ANALYSERS

Ore Analyser Technology Summary:

XRF – X-Ray Fluorescence

Surface monitoring – Lower accuracy, immediate result:

Primary Assessment

PGNAA – Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation

Analysis

PFTNA – Pulsed Fast Thermal Neutron Activation

MR – Magnetic Resonance

Penetrative - Highly accurate, but results take longer

There’s a compromise somewhere

Trade-off: Accuracy V’s Time


Important to see the full picture

… but it comes at a cost (time)

How they Work… in short

Some minerals more sensitive than others

• Material is continuously irradiated from a

beam of neutrons from a radioactive source

• Elements within the material absorb the

neutrons and emit gamma rays

• Energies of the gamma rays emitted are

measured by a gamma ray spectrometer

• Different intensities and peaks identify

elements being targeted.

Element PGNAA

SENSITIVITY

Gold (Au) Very Good

Cobolt (Co) Very Good

Iron (Fe) Good

Nickel (Ni) Good

Copper (Cu) Good

Silver (Ag) Good

Molybdenum (Mo) Satisfactory

Lead (Pb) Satisfactory

Platinum(Pt) Satisfactory

Zinc (Zn) Satisfactory

Lithium (Li) Poor


Neutrons

• Special permits required for importing

& siting the sensors

• Safe clearance zones, work areas and

operating interlocks

…Some sensors are safe once de-energised

or automatically retract into safe storage

• Powerful and Dangerous … it must be Safe

BULK SORTING – CONSIDERATIONS

Precautions:

• Acquisition time

• Key driver behind system

design

• Impractical and

unmanageable for at face

Longer the acquisition time the greater ‘live’ material required in the system

BULK SORTING – Moving Forward

Live Tonnes

requirements

500tph =

0.138T/sec

10,000tph =

2.78T/sec

0.4T/

4T

Time

(Sec) 3s 30s

8.3T/

83T

Differences in design can either help or hinder the system

CROSS BELT

BULK SORTING – ORE ANALYSER DESIGN

OVER / BETWEEN BELT

CROSS BELT

Differences in design can either help or hinder the system

BULK SORTING – ORE ANALYSER DESIGN

OVER / BETWEEN BELT

Demonstration where costs in mining process lay

Main Cost Areas Targeted

Drill5% Blast

5%

Crush2%

Load & Haul37.5%

Mill37.5%

Float & Filter13%

BULK SORTING – WHY SO IMPORTANT?

Drill5% Blast

5%

Crush2%

Load, Haul & Mill75%

Float & Filter13%

Demonstration where costs in mining process lay

BULK SORTING – WHY SO IMPORTANT?

Bulk Sorting System comprises of 6 modules:

1. Feeder Module

• Receives material

• Controls system Capacity

• Configurable with Scalping Grizzly to reject

oversize material

BULK SORTING – SYSTEM MODULES


1. Feeder Module

2. Sizer Module

• Produces necessary cubical product

• Configurable with fines grizzly toby-pass

undersize materials and help reduce wear



1. Feeder Module

2. Sizer Module

3. Intermediate Conveyor Module

• Houses the Ore Analyser,

Belt Scale, PSD Camera’s,

Moisture sensors etc.



1. Feeder Module

2. Sizer Module


4. Elevating Conveyor Module

• Provides acquisition time buffer

• Elevates material



1. Feeder Module

2. Sizer Module



5. Grizzly Sorting Gate Module

• Diverts Ore & Waste

• Configurable with Fines Grizzly



1. Feeder Module

2. Sizer Module



5. Grizzly Sorting Gate Module

6. Radial Stackers • Stockpiles Ore & Waste materials


Adaptable Improvements:

• Grading of ore stockpile

• Blending possible

Continuous monitoring

and refinement of data

logging

Dial able Cut-off grade

Commodity price driven

BULK SORTING – DEVELOPMENT

Additional Benefits:

• Ability to revisit old stockpiles

to recover valuable Ore

• Extend the Life of Mine

• Mobile & Scale able Solution


Results:

• Not too much Published to date

• However ..

.. International Mining Magazine article

dated 7th June 2019, Anglo American

quoted:

“We thought we would see a 5% uplift

in head grade, but in fact we have seen

about 20%”


Key Advantages:

• Improved Ore & Waste Management

• Ability to upgrade the Ore

• Reduction of Energy usage and Water Consumption

• SAG Mill Benefits

• Revisit Stockpiles

• Extend Life Mine


Thank you for your time!

Please come and visit us at Booth #1

© Copyright MMD GPHC Ltd.

Chris Pearson

MMD GPHC:

Group Business

Development

Director

Brad Puckett

MMD USA:

Vice President

Paul McCarthy

MMD USA:

President

David Pitchford

MMD USA:

Business Development Director

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