Rapid ore analysis to enable bulk sorting using gamma-activation analysis

An apparatus for bulk ore sorting using gamma activation analysis, the apparatus comprising:

• a conveyor system comprising one or more conveyor belts and one or more radiation shields, the conveyor system being configured to transport ore material along an ore transport path between an ore input portion of the conveyor system and an ore output portion of the conveyor system that is downstream of the ore input portion, the one or more radiation shields surrounding the one or more conveyor belts between the ore input portion and the ore output portion;
• a pulsed X-ray radiation source configured to irradiate ore material located on one of the one or more conveyor belts at an irradiation region, the irradiation region being located between the ore input portion and the ore output portion of the conveyor system, and X-rays from the pulsed X-ray radiation source inducing a nuclear reaction in the ore material to generate gamma radiation;
• one or more detectors configured to detect the gamma radiation output from the irradiated ore material located on the one of the one or more conveyor belts at a detection region of the conveyor system, the detection region being located between the ore input portion and the ore output portion of the conveyor system and downstream of the irradiation region;
• wherein the ore transport path of the conveyor system has a bend, located between the irradiation region and the detection region, and about a vertical axis, of at least 45 degrees, and is configured such that there is no line of sight path between the irradiation region and the detection region of the conveyor system;
• and
• wherein the one or more detectors are configured to detect the gamma radiation output from the irradiated ore material at times between X-ray pulses of the pulsed X-ray radiation source irradiating the ore material.