The October 2009 issue of Process highlights a range of materials characterisation tools and techniques currently under development that could help unlock the value contained in Australia’s mineral deposits, and help improve processing performance. (12 pages)
Process is written for scientists, engineers, managers, government and corporate stakeholders, and the research community in the Australian and global minerals industries.
Process magazine brings you CSIRO's research in minerals processing and metal production.
Process magazine brings you CSIRO's research in minerals processing and metal production.
The articles highlight the importance of research and development (R&D) for the minerals industry and focus on:
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current research projects
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new products and services
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technology transfer activities.
Process is published three times a year by CSIRO Minerals and is available free by subscription.
In this issue
Automated analysis creates commercial edge: using technology originally developed by CSIRO, Tiwest is looking at the potential of a more automated mineralogy process - a move that would improve the accuracy of all-important forecast and budget tools that are used across all facets of the business.
Aluminium could hold key to Ranger water purification: CSIRO staff have been working with mining company ERA in developing a process to purify water used in the processing of uranium so that it can be safely disposed of.
Machine-mounted sensors for smart mining operations: sensors being developed through the Minerals Down Under Flagship could help locate ore deposits, characterise the mining environment, and differentiate ore grades, removing the need to send samples to laboratories.
New analyser cuts complexity: a prototype currently under development combines the best features of two existing materials characterisation techniques. It is capable of measuring both mineralogy and ultra-low elemental composition directly on a process-stream, without the need for labour-intensive, time-consuming and potentially error-prone sampling.
Investigative work at the nano-scale: electron microscopy is helping solve the iron ore industry's phosphorous problem. If successful, the work could be worth billions of dollars to the Australian industry.
Element control prompts new take on analysis: even small quantities of alloying elements, such as oxygen and nitrogen, can greatly affect titanium powder's hardness and brittleness, making it critical to tightly control concentrations of these elements during processing.
New 'gold standard' for laboratory analysis: a new analysis method currently being developed – gamma-activation analysis – delivers all the benefits of neutron activation without the need for a nuclear reactor.
Elemental understanding to boost predictive capacity: armed with ore samples' mineral make-up, a mining company is using a predictive model to help determine the best processing route for its increasingly important low-grade nickel resources.
Driven to diffraction to solve anthoinite mystery: CSIRO researchers Dr Ian Grey and Mr Ian Madsen have solved a puzzle that has stumped mineralogists for more than 60 years - they have cracked the crystal structure of anthoinite, a mineral first discovered in Africa in 1947.
Ore characterisation the first step: Open Space by Mr Mark Pownceby, Principal Research Scientist, Materials Characterisation Research Program, CSIRO Minerals.
Atomic understanding: Leader's Forum by Dr Robert Robinson, Head of the Bragg Institute, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.
The art of electron microscopy as seen by a window cleaner: by Mr Tim Treadgold, Senior Resources Writer, MiningNews.net, Eureka Report, and Forbes magazine.
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