Ore tag assembly and system and method re same

A system comprising:

• at least one ore tag assembly positionable in ore that is movable along a path, said at least one ore tag assembly comprising:
• at least one tube subassembly comprising:
• a flexible outer tube extending between first and second ends thereof;
• a flexible inner tube received in the outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being unsecured to each other to permit movement of the inner tube and the outer tube relative to each other, the inner tube extending between first and second ends thereof, the inner tube comprising an inner surface defining a cavity in the inner tube;
• an elongate RFID device loosely positioned in the cavity, the RFID device being unsecured to the inner surface, to permit movement of the RFID device relative to the inner surface;
• plug elements positioned in the respective first and second ends of the outer tube and inner plugs positioned in the respective first and second ends of the inner tube, to prevent ingress of liquids and materials into the cavity;
• at least one reader subassembly, comprising:
• at least one reader for generating an initial signal to which the RFID device is responsive, and for reading a response signal generated by the RFID device in response to the initial signal, the response signal comprising location data identifying the RFID device and a location of the RFID device on the path;
• at least one antenna for directing a radio wave to the RFID device, to transmit the initial signal to the RFID device, and for receiving the response signal from the RFID device;
• a processor, for processing the location data, to determine the location of the RFID device and the identity of the RFID device when the response signal is transmitted to said at least one antenna;
• and
• a transmission subassembly, for transmitting the location data to the processor.

A method of determining a source location from which ore originated, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a plurality of ore tag assemblies, each said ore tag assembly comprising:
• a flexible outer tube extending between first and second ends thereof;
• a flexible inner tube received in the outer tube, the inner and outer tubes being unsecured to each other to permit movement of the inner tube and the outer tube relative to each other, the inner tube extending between first and second ends thereof, the inner tube comprising an inner surface defining a cavity in the inner tube;
• an elongate RFID device loosely positioned in the cavity, the RFID device being unsecured to the inner surface, to permit movement of the RFID device relative to the inner surface;
• plug elements positioned in the respective first and second ends of the outer tube and inner plugs positioned in the respective first and second ends of the inner tube, to prevent ingress of liquids and materials into the cavity;
• (b) distributing the ore tag assemblies in the ore at one or more preselected first locations on a path from the source location to a mill;
• (c) when the ore tag assemblies are distributed in the ore at the one or more preselected first locations on the path, generating release data identifying the distributed ore tag assemblies, and identifying the one or more preselected first locations at which the distributed ore tag assemblies are respectively distributed;
• (d) providing at least one reader subassembly, located at a preselected second location on the path downstream from the one or more preselected first locations;
• (e) with said at least one reader subassembly, obtaining location data identifying the RFID devices in the ones of the ore tag assemblies that are present at the preselected second location, and identifying the preselected second location;
• and
• (f) providing a processor, for processing the release data and the location data to determine the source location of the ore at the preselected second location.