Ore sorting using microwave irradiation
Bibliography: leaves 99-101. === Automatic ore sorting machines are in common use in the mining industry. These machines generally separate valuable mineral-bearing rocks from waste rocks. At the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa kimberlite, a diamond-bearing rock is separated from gabbro which i...
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| Format: | Dissertation |
| Language: | English |
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University of Cape Town
2014
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/8336 |
| Summary: | Bibliography: leaves 99-101. === Automatic ore sorting machines are in common use in the mining industry. These machines generally separate valuable mineral-bearing rocks from waste rocks. At the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa kimberlite, a diamond-bearing rock is separated from gabbro which is a waste rock. Work had been conducted previously in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town to find a viable method for discriminating between gabbro and kimberlite. A technique using microwave irradiation attenuation was successful when using parallel-sided smooth-surfaced rocks. This technique used linearly polarized square antennas at 35GHz. Problems were experienced, however, with irregu1arly shaped rock s. The aim of the present study was therefore to deve1op a technique which will sort irregularly shaped rocks and eliminate the problems associated with them. |
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