Optimise your operation with precise ore characterisation and process mineralogy


Our Ore characterisation and process mineralogy labs are your best single source for mineralogical support services related to geo-metallurgy, heap leaching, concentrator optimisation and characterisation of other materials. Our mineralogy work is high quality, cost efficient, reliable and performed by a team with decades of mining and production experience.

 


Lab capabilities 


FLSmidth’s OCPM lab is one of the most advanced integrated mineralogy service labs in the industry. Our senior staff is well versed in mining processes, and can assist you and your operation with any mineralogical challenges – from the exploration site to the tailings pond. We offer:


  • Quantitative FTNIR/NIR model building
  • Optical microscopy
  • SEM-EDS/WDS analysis
  • XRD Rietveld
  • Clay analysis
  • QEMSCAN/TIMA mineralogy

 


Mineralogy for exploration and mine-site geology


As part of the continuous effort to optimise exploration, mine site geology and ore profiling (geo-metallurgy), FLSmidth has established the most advanced commercial mineralogy service center available. Our commitment is to provide customers with the best ore characterisation during early, advanced and feasibility phases. For existing operations, our services are focused on assisting in best practices and understanding the variance inherent in ore bodies. A robust mineralogical analysis is the best risk-reduction method.

 

  • Metals deportment
  • Alteration mineralogy
  • Quantitative XRD & FT NIR
  • Leach residue mineralogy
  • FT-NIR spectral data bases
  • Quantitative clay mineralogy
  • Geo-metallurgy - ore profiles
  • Bulk mineralogy - core/cuttings/blast holes


Plant and process support


With changing, deeper and lower-grade ore bodies, current and future plants are required to continuously optimise their circuits and/or troubleshoot unexpected metallurgical problems. That effort applies to both heap leaching and concentrator operations. Mineralogical work is targeted to optimise ore routing, better hardness control and forecasting of problem minerals, such as reagent consumers and/or minerals impacting flotation. Surveys for heaps, grinding and flotation circuits are critical to improved processing. The FLSmidth mineralogy labs provide extensive production experience from mining operations in mineralogical plant survey projects.

 

  • Heap leach mineralogy
  •  Mineralogy for metallurgical testing
  • Acid consumption forecasts
  • Concentrator & heap surveys
  • Optimise ore blending/routing
  • Plant debottlenecking, restarts and expansions


Automated mineral analysis QEMSCAN & TIMA


Our labs operate some of the most advanced automated mineral analysis capabilities in the mining industry. The supervisory staff has mine-site process mineralogy experience for both daily concentrator and heap leach support.

 

  • Metal deportment
  • Liberation/locking
  • Bulk model mineralogy
  • Leach residue mineralogy
  • Material balanced mineralogy

Stories from FLSmidth