Mineral Sorting

Challenge

A large mining and building materials producer sought a method for sorting rocks as they emerge from their mining operation.

Solution

Near-infrared hyperspectral imaging was proven in laboratory and on-site feasibility work to have the ability to identify and differentiate the two types of desired minerals and separate other excess rocks at the speed a conveyor belt moves them out of the mine. Fast optical identification serves as the sorting method and large-scale separation machinery then removes the unwanted rocks. Given the very large-scale of this mining operation, sorting via hyperspectral imaging achieves substantial energy savings and product improvements and simplifies the processing machinery.