Shining a new light on mining: developing spectral metrics for decision support in mining exploration and operation

采矿业的新曙光：开发光谱指标以支持采矿勘探和运营的决策

• 批准号: RGPIN-2015-04853
• 负责人: Rivard, Benoit
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=613208
• 关键词: Shining; new; light; mining; developing

For mining exploration firms and mine operators limited near real-time knowledge of the characteristics of geologic materials manipulated in and around mines impedes the development of efficiencies during exploration and mine exploitation. This applies to the characteristics of drill core, the quality of ore and froth, and the state of tailings. A long-term goal of my program is to meet these needs by conducting fundamental research in the analysis of hyperspectral imagery and later work the findings into an enabling technology. Thus I will conduct studies focusing on three themes: (i) the characterization of drill core mineralogy, (ii) the detection of mine wall alteration and characterization of the ore,  and (iii) the characterization of tailings mineralogy and evaporative state. Integration of these themes along with recent progress from imaging of flotation processes has the potential to provide completely new near real-time decision pathways in mines (from drill core, mine walls to tailings) and in many instances new views of deposits.    To develop the real time characterization of drill core for a range of metrics I will focus on these fundamental research questions: i) Can one predict bulk rock major element geochemistry from imaging spectroscopy? If so which elements provide strong predictions.  The outcome would be an ability to invert spectral imagery (mm resolution) into geochemical predictors enabling vectoring investigations at a range of scales; ii) Beginning with oilsands, can on detect the presence and abundance of swelling clays in core and ore? Swelling clays in flotation cells and tailings can have a detrimental effect on process performance. To develop mine wall spectral imaging I will start by using a model that I developed to predict bitumen content from spectra of crushed oil sand ore and aim to adapt it to imagery of mine wall. I will need to develop methods for the calibration of mine wall imagery where the deployment of calibration targets can be challenging and a safety concern.  This research will guide the selection of imaging platforms that will operate in mines.  Lastly I will develop models to predict tailings characteristics. Fluid fine tailings are a costly mining and environmental challenge. My research aims to constrain where the tailings material lies on the drying curve without putting people at risk. Laboratory work has led to moisture estimation models using spectra from tailings samples. To ultimately develop operational monitoring fundamental research is required on how these models perform in outdoor conditions at tailing ponds, when the illumination field and other environmental variables degrade.

对于采矿勘探公司和矿山运营商而言，对矿山及其周围操纵的地质材料特征的特征有限的实时知识阻碍了勘探和矿山开发期间效率的发展。这适用于钻头，矿石和远方的质量以及尾矿状态的特征。我计划的长期目标是通过在分析高光谱图像的分析中进行基本研究来满足这些需求，然后将发现将结果纳入有利的技术中。我将进行关注三个主题的研究：（i）钻芯米拉学的表征，（ii）检测矿物壁的改变和矿石的特征，以及（iii）尾矿mineraology和蒸发状态的表征。这些主题的整合以及从浮选过程的成像中的最新进展，有可能在矿山（从钻头，矿井到尾矿）以及许多情况下提供全新的近近实时决策途径。    为了开发一系列指标的钻芯的实时表征，我将重点介绍这些基本研究问题：i）一个人可以通过成像光谱来预测散装岩石主要元素地球化学吗？如果是这样，哪些要素提供了强大的预测。结果将是将光谱图像（MM分辨率）倒入地球化学预测因子的能力，从而在一系列尺度上进行矢量研究。 ii）从油砂开始，可以在核心和矿石中检测出肿胀粘土的存在和抽象吗？浮选细胞和尾矿中的肿胀粘土可能对过程性能产生不利影响。 为了开发地雷墙光谱成像，我将使用我开发的模型来预测碎油砂矿石光谱的沥青含量，并旨在使其适应地雷墙。我将需要开发用于校准矿井图像的方法，在这些方法中，校准目标的部署可能具有挑战性和安全问题。这项研究将指导将在地雷运行的成像平台的选择。 最后，我将开发模型来预测尾矿特征。流体细尾矿是昂贵的采矿和环境挑战。我的研究旨在限制尾矿材料位于干燥曲线上的地方，而不会使人们处于危险之中。实验室工作导致了使用尾部样品的光谱进行水分估计模型。为了最终开发操作监测，需要在照明场和其他环境变量下降时这些模型在室外条件下如何在室外条件下执行的基础研究。