Qualitative identification of copper bearing minerals using near infrared sensors

Abstract

Application of sensors for on-site fast identification and discrimination of dominant ore bearing particles from associated gangues in a complex ore is an important route in minerals exploration and extraction industries. This paper considers identification and discrimination of copper bearing minerals from associated gangues using near infrared sensors. Different copper bearing minerals in the Akiri copper ore are differentiated on the basis of their near infrared spectra behaviour. The near infrared spectra of individual samples are correlated with their mineralogy and chemistry as analysed by X-Ray diffraction and X-Ray fluorescence equipment, respectively. The obtained results indicated that the detection limit of the near infrared sensor is better than that of both X-ray diffraction and X-ray fluorescence equipment used. Hence, in addition to the minerals identified by the X-ray diffraction equipment, other near infrared active minerals with concentration below the X-ray diffraction detection limit were also detected by the near infrared sensors.