Study of thermo-mechanical effects of microwave irradiation for excavation and processing of rocks

含矿硬岩的开采和加工对采矿业提出了技术挑战。到目前为止，矿工们一直使用钻孔和爆破方法挖掘这些矿床，这种方法非常耗时且不连续。由于粉碎设备的高能量和磨损强度，这些矿石的加工更具挑战性。本研究旨在为硬岩矿床的开采和选矿开发一种新的采矿技术。这项新技术的基础是通过微波感应热在岩石和矿石中产生裂缝。这种微波辅助预处理方法将减少连续采矿机和矿物加工设备的能量和磨损。在这项研究工作中提出的广泛的实验，分析和数值研究将建立建立下一代连续采矿机所需的工程知识和工具。最终，这项研究将有助于加拿大矿业降低其运营成本，减少其环境足迹，提高其生产力和竞争力。

Excavation and processing of mineral bearing hard rocks presents technological challenges to mining industry. So far, miners have excavated such deposits using drilling and blasting method which is extremely time consuming and discontinuous. Even more challenging is the processing of such ores due to the high energy and wear intensity of the comminution equipment. The research proposed here aims at developing a new mining technique for excavation and mineral processing of hard rock deposits. This new technology is based on creating cracks within rock and ore by means of microwave induced heat. This microwave-assisted preconditioning method will reduce energy and wear in continuous mining machines and mineral processing equipment. The extensive experimental, analytical and numerical studies proposed in this research work will establish the engineering knowledge and tools required for building the next generation of continuous mining machines. Eventually, this research will help Canadian mining sector with lowering its operating costs, reducing its environmental footprint, improving its productivity and competitiveness.