Nuclear measuring techniques in mining and processing of manganese nodules

Abstract

By utilizing characteristic interaction processes of nuclear radiation with matter and by applying automatic data acquisition and reduction methods, various analytical problems encountered in mining and processing of manganese nodules can be solved. Development work performed at the Geesthacht research center demonstrates that \gamma -ray transmission spectrometry allows a reliable quasi-continuous and nondestructive determination of both the nodule drift velocity and the space concentrations of nodules, sediment, and water in a conveyer flow. Such data are representative of the efficiency of collector or hydraulic lift systems and are of considerable importance in economy deliberations. Measuring devices have been designed which may be attached to a conveyer pipe in the deep sea. For elemental analyses of manganese nodules, a rapid nuclear method based on fast-neutron activation techniques has been developed that allows determinations of the most relevant metals without sample treatment, thus being particularly suited for quasi-continuous applications.