Advanced Imaging Analytics for Gold Mining

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

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.