Advanced Imaging Analytics for Gold Mining

在世界范围的努力下，相干拉曼显微镜（CRM）被开发用于生物光子学成像应用。我们提出了一个独特的机会，翻译和适应这些强大的方法，以地球科学和矿物学。我们是将CRM技术应用于地球科学和矿物学的全球先驱，开创了地球光子学的新领域。我们将与行业领先的SGS矿业公司合作，解决在黄金加工过程中降低产量的碳质抢矿问题。我们将用更快、更灵活、更强大、更便携的特定成像平台来补充行业标准（慢速）分析工具。虽然自发拉曼光谱在表征碳质样品方面有着悠久的历史，但它的缺点是信号弱，并且在样品发光或荧光时失效。重要的是，CRM通常比拉曼快10,000倍（更敏感），并且不受样品荧光的影响。此外，CRM将快速3D拉曼成像与其他非线性成像技术（如二次谐波生成）相结合，可以解析颗粒纹理、结晶度和形态，进一步表征感兴趣的矿物。CRM包括两种技术：相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射（CARS）和受激拉曼散射（SRS）显微镜。在金加工中，特定的碳质材料将具有独特的拉曼特征、非晶/结晶性质和金氰化物吸附倾向。因此，CRM提供的创新是快速、材料特定、表面和深度分辨率成像，以及对金工艺矿物学进行新的实时分析的潜力。

In a world-wide effort, Coherent Raman Microscopy (CRM) was developed for Biophotonics imaging applications. We present a unique opportunity to translate and adapt these powerful methods to Earth Sciences and Mineralogy. We are the global pioneers in the application of CRM techniques to Earth Sciences and Mineralogy, launching the new field of Geophotonics. With industry leader SGS Minerals , we will address the carbonaceous preg-robbing problem which reduces yields in Gold processing. We will supplement industry standard (slow) analytical tools with specific imaging platforms that are much faster, more flexible, robust and portable. Although spontaneous Raman spectroscopy has a long history of characterizing carbonaceous samples, it suffers from weak signals and fails when samples luminesce or fluoresce. Importantly, CRM is typically 10,000 times faster (more sensitive) than Raman and is immune to sample fluorescence. Furthermore, CRM combines rapid 3D Raman imaging with other nonlinear imaging techniques (e.g. Second Harmonic Generation) which resolve grain texture, crystallinity and morphology, further characterizing the mineral of interest. CRM comprises two techniques: Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering (CARS) and Stimulated Raman Scattering (SRS) microscopy. In Gold processing, specific carbonaceous materials will have unique Raman signatures, amorphous/crystalline properties and gold cyanide adsorption propensities. Therefore, the innovation that CRM offers is rapid, material-specific, surface and depth-resolved imaging and the potential for new real-time analytics for Gold Process Mineralogy.