Apparatus for the measurement of ore in mine ore benches

An apparatus for the measurement of ore in mine ore benches or ore stockpiles, the apparatus comprising:

• a mobile platform, defining a platform zone, wherein the mobile platform is positionable on or above a mine ore bench or stockpile;
• at least one magnetic resonance (MR) sensor positioned in the mobile platform, the magnetic resonance sensor comprising:
• a main loop positionable in the platform zone above or on a mine ore bench or ore stockpile;
• and
• a drive loop located above the main loop and electrically isolated from and magnetically coupled to the main loop, wherein a radio frequency (RF) transmitter is couplable to a feed terminal of the drive loop to drive an RF drive current in the drive loop and a radio frequency receiver is couplable to the drive loop to monitor an RF response current in the drive loop;
• the apparatus further comprising:
• a magnetic resonance sensor control system configured to control at least one of:
• positioning of the at least one MR sensor relative to the platform zone and/or mine ore bench or ore stockpile;
• positioning of the main loop relative to the drive loop;
• electromagnetic suppression characteristics of the at least one MR sensor;
• or
• sensitivity of the at least one MR sensor as a function of distance of the sensor from the mine ore bench or ore stockpile.