Sound waves could cut mining costs by predicting how ore breaks
Researchers have found that ultrasonic measurements can predict how ore will behave during crushing—without damaging samples. The discovery could help mining companies optimize processing before they invest in expensive equipment, potentially saving millions in capital and operational costs.
Originaltitel: Texture-informed, non-destructive assessment of ore comminution behaviour
<p>Ore texture and mineralogy exert a dominant control on breakage behaviour, liberation, and intrinsic mechanical properties during comminution; however, extracting texture-related information in a form suitable for geometallurgical studies remains challenging. This study investigates the potential of P-wave ultrasonic velocity as a non-destructive proxy of comminution-relevant ore properties. Samples from porphyry copper, orogenic gold, and iron oxide-apatite deposits were characterised using ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements in combination with modal mineralogy, textural analysis, rebound hardness, and small-scale comminution testing. Multivariate statistical analysis reveals systematic relationships between P-wave velocity and intrinsic ore properties, reflecting variations in mineralogy, texture, and mechanical response. Microwave-treated samples further demonstrate that P-wave measurements are sensitive to defect generation and microstructural modification. These results indicate that P-wave ultrasonic velocity provides a promising, non-destructive indicator of ore characteristics relevant to comminution performance, with potential applications in geometallurgical characterisation and ore variability assessment.</p>