Analysis of ore samples with X-rays

An X-ray detector can be used by the mining industry to quickly and accurately detect minerals present in ore samples.

The device is about the size of a postage stamp, developed by researchers at the Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) in Australia, using counting photons to produce high-resolution images. of minerals.

Although X-ray techniques have long been used to analyze images of mineral ore samples, with gray nuances describing the density of different components, however, these images do not help. Identify the mineral composition exactly as it is today.

With this device, beam X-ray tubes penetrate through ore samples and a sensor mounted on the other side of the ore sample will show the extent of the energy reduction of the X-ray beam passing through the ore sample. For example, gold will change the spectrum of X-ray rays passing through it other than nickel or molybdenum.

The device then captures detailed images of the mineral composition in the ore sample, the resulting image will be colored in proportion to the minerals contained in the ore sample.

"So far this has been done primarily using electron microscope scanning , " said Dr. Josef Uher, working at the Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO). You take the ore sample, place it in flexible plastic, make a cylinder containing small ore samples inside, cut half the cylinder, polish the surface and then look at the surface with an electron microscope. These operations take hours.

This device can provide images of ore samples almost instantaneously for monitoring and control in the mining industry. This is the result of the design coordination of several universities and laboratories under the direction of the European Nuclear Research Organization (CERN).

Researchers working at the Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) are also looking for ways to use laser-sensing analytical spectroscopy (LIBS) to accelerate on-site analysis of ore quality. at the mines.