Application of PGNAA in Nickel Measurement in Ores for Improving Process Feed Quality
摘要
Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA)Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) is a representative, real time, multi-elemental analysis technique suitable for digitalizing conveyed material flow composition. It has been used in the minerals sector for over 20 years to measure ore quality after primary crushing. High performance PGNAAPrompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) allows an average analysis of each thirty seconds of conveyed flow to be determined. A high-performance system utilizes additional high-resolution detectors and digital multichannel analyzers to collect high spectral count rates of gamma ray energies emitted from elements over shorter timeframes with good measurement precisions being maintained. A configuration designed with a neutron source and comprehensive shielding is also safe to use as radiation levels are low and no access restrictions are needed during normal operation. Customized calibration and tonnage weighting of results provides more reliable data on conveyed material quality than available from any sampling protocol. Measurement data is utilized in various applications and case studies will show how these have been implemented at various mine sites. While proven in over a dozen commodities the technologyTechnology has not been widely implemented in the nickelNickel-cobaltCobalt industry despite these elements being easily measurable to low detection levels of tens of parts per million over thirty seconds increments. Applications discussed include bulk ore diversion to reject waste from plant feed for lateriteLaterites nickelNickel ore, measurement of nickelNickel at low levels to characterize and identify a waste rock type deleterious to a process in a copperCopper operation, and the use of nickelNickel measurement as a proxy in PGMPlatinum Group Metals (PGM) ore. NickelNickel measurement is also of interest in scrap steel processingProcessing as it, and chromium content, are characteristic of stainless-steel contamination in steel recyclingRecycling.