Sorting materials using a pattern recognition, such as upgrading nickel laterite ores through electromagnetic sensor-based methods
First Claim
1. A method of sorting a stream of minerals, comprising:
- irradiating a mineral sample with electromagnetic energy to thereby generate reflected, absorbed, or backscattered energy from the mineral sample;
measuring the reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by irradiating the mineral sample with a sensor configured to measure reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy;
determining spectral characteristics of the mineral sample by performing spectral analysis on the measured reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by irradiating the mineral sample,wherein the spectral characteristics include at least one of frequency content, wavelength content, or amplitude of the response data;
identifying a composition of the mineral sample by comparing the spectral characteristics of the mineral sample to previously developed spectral characteristics of samples of known composition,wherein the spectral characteristics of samples of known composition are developed using at least one of;
conditional random field algorithms, Bayesian network, one or more Markov models, neural networks, or fuzzy logic techniques; and
generating a sort decision for the mineral sample based on the comparison,wherein the sort decision is used in diverting the mineral sample to a desired destination.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method of sorting mineral streams, for example laterite mineral ores, into appropriately classified valuable and waste streams for maximum recovery of value from the mineral stream, e.g., a stream of minerals includes receiving response data indicating reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy from a mineral sample exposed to a sensor, where the mineral sample is irradiated with electromagnetic energy. The system determines spectral characteristics of the mineral sample by performing spectral analysis on the response data of the mineral sample and identifies a composition of the mineral sample by comparing the spectral characteristics of the mineral sample to previously developed spectral characteristics of samples of known composition. The system then generates a sort decision for the mineral sample based on the comparison, where the sort decision is used in diverting the mineral sample to a desired destination e.g. pyrometallurgical treatment stages, or to a waste stream.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method of sorting a stream of minerals, comprising:
-
irradiating a mineral sample with electromagnetic energy to thereby generate reflected, absorbed, or backscattered energy from the mineral sample; measuring the reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by irradiating the mineral sample with a sensor configured to measure reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy; determining spectral characteristics of the mineral sample by performing spectral analysis on the measured reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by irradiating the mineral sample, wherein the spectral characteristics include at least one of frequency content, wavelength content, or amplitude of the response data; identifying a composition of the mineral sample by comparing the spectral characteristics of the mineral sample to previously developed spectral characteristics of samples of known composition, wherein the spectral characteristics of samples of known composition are developed using at least one of;
conditional random field algorithms, Bayesian network, one or more Markov models, neural networks, or fuzzy logic techniques; andgenerating a sort decision for the mineral sample based on the comparison, wherein the sort decision is used in diverting the mineral sample to a desired destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. At least one tangible computer-readable medium carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, determines a composition of a mineral sample, comprising:
-
measuring reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by exposing an unblended mineral sample to electromagnetic radiation; comparing the measured reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy to previously recorded response data from samples of known composition to identify a composition of the unblended mineral sample; and assigning a compositional value to the unblended mineral sample based on the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A system for sorting minerals, comprising:
-
a device to introduce unblended mineral samples to a sensor; a device to generate electromagnetic energy to apply to the unblended mineral samples and thereby generate reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy from the unblended mineral sample; a scanner configured to measure the reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by applying electromagnetic energy to the unblended mineral samples; a means for comparing the reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine a composition of the unblended mineral samples. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method of maximizing the recovered value of mineral ores, comprising:
-
extracting unblended mineral ore from a mine bench or pit using a mechanical excavator or similar earthmoving device; delivering the unblended mineral ore to a haul truck or conveyor belt using the excavator; transporting the unblended mineral ore to a first mineral sorting system, the first mineral sorting system configured to; apply electromagnetic radiation to the unblended mineral ore, detect a response of the mineral ore to the electromagnetic radiation, and compare the response data to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine the composition of the unblended mineral ore; classifying the unblended mineral ore, based on the comparison, into a first mineral product and a second mineral product; transporting the first mineral product to a second mineral sorting system, the second mineral sorting system configured to; apply electromagnetic radiation to the first mineral product; detect a response of the first mineral product to the electromagnetic radiation, and compare the response data to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine the composition of the first mineral product; classifying the first mineral product, based on the comparison, into a final first mineral product and waste product; transporting the second mineral product to a third mineral sorting system, the third mineral sorting system configured to; apply electromagnetic radiation to the second mineral product; detect a response of the second mineral product to the electromagnetic radiation, and compare the response data to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine the composition of the second mineral product; classifying the second mineral product, based on the comparison, into a final second mineral product and waste product. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
Specification