Sorting materials using a pattern recognition, such as upgrading nickel laterite ores through electromagnetic sensor-based methods

At least one tangible computer-readable medium carrying instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, determines a composition of a mineral sample, comprising:

• measuring reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by exposing an unblended mineral sample to electromagnetic radiation;
• comparing the measured reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy to previously recorded response data from samples of known composition to identify a composition of the unblended mineral sample;
• and
• assigning a compositional value to the unblended mineral sample based on the comparison.

A system for sorting minerals, comprising:

• a device to introduce unblended mineral samples to a sensor;
• a device to generate electromagnetic energy to apply to the unblended mineral samples and thereby generate reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy from the unblended mineral sample;
• a scanner configured to measure the reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy generated by applying electromagnetic energy to the unblended mineral samples;
• a means for comparing the reflected, absorbed or backscattered energy to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine a composition of the unblended mineral samples.

A method of maximizing the recovered value of mineral ores, comprising:

• extracting unblended mineral ore from a mine bench or pit using a mechanical excavator or similar earthmoving device;
• delivering the unblended mineral ore to a haul truck or conveyor belt using the excavator;
• transporting the unblended mineral ore to a first mineral sorting system, the first mineral sorting system configured to:
• apply electromagnetic radiation to the unblended mineral ore,
• detect a response of the mineral ore to the electromagnetic radiation, and
• compare the response data to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine the composition of the unblended mineral ore;
• classifying the unblended mineral ore, based on the comparison, into a first mineral product and a second mineral product;
• transporting the first mineral product to a second mineral sorting system, the second mineral sorting system configured to:
• apply electromagnetic radiation to the first mineral product;
• detect a response of the first mineral product to the electromagnetic radiation, and
• compare the response data to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine the composition of the first mineral product;
• classifying the first mineral product, based on the comparison, into a final first mineral product and waste product;
• transporting the second mineral product to a third mineral sorting system, the third mineral sorting system configured to:
• apply electromagnetic radiation to the second mineral product;
• detect a response of the second mineral product to the electromagnetic radiation, and
• compare the response data to previously determined response data of samples of known composition to determine the composition of the second mineral product;
• classifying the second mineral product, based on the comparison, into a final second mineral product and waste product.