US 9,069,093 B2 · Method and apparatus for determining the local spatial extent of the phase of valuable mineral in a rock

Abstract

A method and an apparatus are provided for determining a local mineral grain size of a valuable mineral in a rock of a deposit or an occurrence, where the rock comprises at least one other mineral, and wherein the valuable mineral has a higher density than the at least one other mineral. The method may include: performing a drilling operation using a drill in the rock, with cuttings being produced, forming an aerosol comprising the cuttings and a gas stream, transferring the aerosol from the drill to at least one air classifier, performing stream classification, wherein at least two fractions comprising in each case particles of the cuttings that sink at the same speed are formed, and determining a property of at least one of the fractions, which fraction is used as a measure for the local mineral grain size of the valuable mineral in the rock.

Claims17

Dependent claims

A method for determining a local mineral grain size of a valuable mineral in a rock that comprises at least one other mineral having a lower density than the valuable mineral, the method comprising:

performing a drilling operation in the rock using a drill, wherein the drilling operation produces drill cuttings,
forming an aerosol comprising the drill cuttings and a gas stream,
conveying the aerosol from the drill to at least one air classifier,
performing hydraulic classification to form at least two fractions each comprising equal-settling particles of the drill cuttings, and
determining a property of at least one of the fractions, and using the determined property as a measure for a local mineral grain size of the valuable mineral in the rock.

2 more elements

An apparatus for determining a local mineral grain size of a valuable mineral in a rock that comprises at least one other mineral having a lower density than the valuable mineral, the apparatus comprising:

a drill configured to perform a drilling operation in the rock, wherein the operation produces drill cuttings,
a unit for providing a gas stream for forming an aerosol comprising the drill cuttings, the unit being connected to the drill via at least one gas line,
an air classifier connected to the drill via at least one aerosol line, the air classifier being configured to perform a hydraulic classification to form at least two fractions each comprising equal-settling particles of the drill cuttings,
at least one device for determining a property of at least one of the fractions, and
at least one processor unit connected to the at least one device by a data link and configured to record the determined property and correlate it with a local mineral grain size of the valuable mineral in the rock.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for determining the local spatial extent of the phase of valuable mineral in a rock

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for determining the local spatial extent of the phase of valuable mineral in a rock

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17