PhD, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of the Witwatersrand, 2010 / Dual Energy X-Ray Transmission (DE-XRT) Imaging is a multi-sensor technique employed to conduct particle-by-particle sorting. The system makes use of a dual energy x-ray line scan sensor, which generates images of the transmitted x-rays, similar to images generated for suitcase inspection in airport security applications. The dual energy x-ray system allows for rapid approximation of atomic number range, which is utilised to evaluate the mineral and maceral content of a variety of minerals, including coal. The process is independent of particle surface condition, and can thus be utilised as a dry process. A unique application of this technology is in the removal of torbanite from a coal deposit located in Mpumalanga, South Africa. The separation of coal from torbanite has been a problem for the coal industry for a long time. The separation of coal and torbanite by conventional gravity separation techniques is difficult, due to the overlapping densities of torbanite and coal. The commercial value of both commodities is significantly compromised if contaminated with the other, thus impacting negatively on the financial viability of mining such a deposit. Preliminary laboratory DE-XRT testwork results on high quality coal and torbanite products were promising. In order to evaluate the separation of typical Run of Mine (ROM) material on pilot scale, a production scale Mikrosort X-Tract Sorter was purchased. This was the first DE-XRT sorter available in South Africa, and was housed at Mintek in Johannesburg. A 150t sample was provided from a box cut adjacent to the coal deposit under investigation in order to conduct bulk and pilot sorting tests, the focus of which was on obtaining coal products of low ash and torbanite content. Clear distinctions between the coal, torbanite and shale fractions were observed using this technique. The sorter feed (-80mm+20mm) could be upgraded from a CV of 22MJ/kg to 28MJ/kg. Ash content could be reduced from 26% to 10%, which meets export quality standards. Petrographic analysis of the coal product indicated that a high purity coal product (in terms of torbanite and ash content) was attainable (91% by volume) at a mass yield of 42.9% to the coal product, with shale and mixed humic/sapropelic coal as contaminants. Under these conditions, torbanite contamination was marginal. It was demonstrated that shale could be removed from the torbanite product via a second sorting stage. This however was not the primary focus of the study, and was not optimised for this investigation. Two major limitations of the sorting process were identified, viz.; poor liberation and limited sorter feed size range. These impacted on the process as follows:- • The effects of poor liberation on coal quality could be counteracted by adjusting the sorting criteria of the algorithm to reject additional material. This would result in a lower coal product mass yield. In addition, interlocked coal/shale particles would report to the torbanite fraction. • A significant proportion of the ROM feed reported to the -20mm size fraction, and therefore did not fall part of the sorter feed. This resulted in a very low coal mass yield as a proportion of the ROM feed. If this process were to be adopted, means of minimizing fines production during mining and crushing would need to be investigated to improve overall yield to coal product. The capability to process coarse materials (-80mm+20mm) allows for throughputs in excess of 40t/hr. Consequently, this technique may be applied in simpler coal upgrading processes, such as coal deshaling in arid regions.

Este trabalho avalia a afinidade da tecnologia de sensor-based sorting (SBS) assistido com sensor de imagem Charge Couple Device CCD e de Dual Energy-Xray Transmission (DE-XRT) para detectar minérios portadores de elementos de terras raras (ETR). As amostras foram coletadas in situ no depósito de Pitinga/AM-Brasil e enviadas para o LAPROM/UFRGS. Os testes foram realizados sob as mesmas condições operacionais com ambos sensores. As partículas examinadas estão na fração de tamanho entre -10 +5 (cm), limpas e secas antes dos testes. A alimentação para o sorting foi feita manualmente, uma partícula por partícula, garantindo que o sensor capturasse as imagens sob as mesmas condições para cada partícula. Os dados capturados foram processados com software COMEX OSX e CRX, tendo como primeiro estágio a identificação dos melhores parâmetros para a detecção de minérios portadores do mineral de xenotima, rico em elementos de terras raras. A caracterização do material foi realizada por análise química da espectroscopia de massa de plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS) no Actlabs - Activation Laboratories LTD, além de dados de balanço de massa e cálculos de recuperação. Os resultados mostraram que o sensor óptico reconheceu com sucesso os clastos com características de estéril, porém verificou-se que a detectabilidade efetiva para rochas com mineralização do mineral de xenotima não foi viável. Por outro lado, o sensor DE-XRT mostrou uma forte afinidade de detecção de partículas portadores de elementos leves e pesados de terras raras (ETRL - ETRP) com recuperação mássica acumulada de aproximadamente 15% e recuperação metalúrgica superior a 79% (ETRL) e 89% (ETRP), respectivamente no segundo estágio, e com aproximadamente ~ 66% de recuperação de massa acumulada no terceiro estágio, o teor metalúrgico de ETR leves e pesados foi da ordem de 94% e 96%. Essas recuperações correspondem a um aumento de 514,79 ppm, dos ETRL e 5113,6 ppm dos ETRP, no material investigado representando um upgrade de 10.067,8 ppm nos ETRLe 118.008,3 ppm nos ETRP. Complementarmente foi possível avaliar também que o sensor DE-XRT permite detectar os clastos portadores de ETR sem presença de minérios polimetálicos e deletérios, ficando estes dois últimos associados, considerando a possibilidade de separação empregada usando o sensor de DE-XRT. / This work evaluates the affinity of optical and dual energy x-ray transmission (DE-XRT) sensors to the detection of rare earth element (REE) bearing ores. The samples were collected in situ at the Pitinga/AM-Brazil mine and sent to LAPROM/UFRGS for study. The tests were carried out under the same operating conditions to both sensors. The particles examined were in the size fraction -10 +5 (cm) and were cleaned and dried prior to scanning. The feeding to the sorter was done manually, one particle at a time, ensuring that the sensor captured the images under the same conditions for each particle. The captured data were processed using Comex OSX and CRX software, the first priority being the identification of the best parameters for detecting xenotime mineral, which are rich in rare earth elements. The characterization of the material was performed by chemical analysis of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) in the laboratory Actlabs - Activation Laboratories Ltd and mass balance data and recovery calculations. The results showed that the optical sensor successfully recognized the waste particle, but it lacked the capacity to detect rocks of mineralization of xenotime mineral. On the other hand, the DE-XRT sensor showed a strong particle detection capacity for both light and heavy Rare Earth Elements (LREE, HREE) with accumulated mass recovery of approximately 15% and metallurgical recovery higher than 79% (LREE) and 89% (HREE), respectively in the second stage, and ~66% accumulated mass recovery in the third stage with metallurgical content of light and heavy REE in the order of 94% and 96%. In addition, it was also possible to evaluate that the DE-XRT sensor allows the detection of ETR-bearing clasts without the presence of polymetallic and deleterious ores, the latter being associated considering the possibility of separation using the DE-XRT sensor.

Este trabalho avalia a afinidade da tecnologia de sensor-based sorting (SBS) assistido com sensor de imagem Charge Couple Device CCD e de Dual Energy-Xray Transmission (DE-XRT) para detectar minérios portadores de elementos de terras raras (ETR). As amostras foram coletadas in situ no depósito de Pitinga/AM-Brasil e enviadas para o LAPROM/UFRGS. Os testes foram realizados sob as mesmas condições operacionais com ambos sensores. As partículas examinadas estão na fração de tamanho entre -10 +5 (cm), limpas e secas antes dos testes. A alimentação para o sorting foi feita manualmente, uma partícula por partícula, garantindo que o sensor capturasse as imagens sob as mesmas condições para cada partícula. Os dados capturados foram processados com software COMEX OSX e CRX, tendo como primeiro estágio a identificação dos melhores parâmetros para a detecção de minérios portadores do mineral de xenotima, rico em elementos de terras raras. A caracterização do material foi realizada por análise química da espectroscopia de massa de plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS) no Actlabs - Activation Laboratories LTD, além de dados de balanço de massa e cálculos de recuperação. Os resultados mostraram que o sensor óptico reconheceu com sucesso os clastos com características de estéril, porém verificou-se que a detectabilidade efetiva para rochas com mineralização do mineral de xenotima não foi viável. Por outro lado, o sensor DE-XRT mostrou uma forte afinidade de detecção de partículas portadores de elementos leves e pesados de terras raras (ETRL - ETRP) com recuperação mássica acumulada de aproximadamente 15% e recuperação metalúrgica superior a 79% (ETRL) e 89% (ETRP), respectivamente no segundo estágio, e com aproximadamente ~ 66% de recuperação de massa acumulada no terceiro estágio, o teor metalúrgico de ETR leves e pesados foi da ordem de 94% e 96%. Essas recuperações correspondem a um aumento de 514,79 ppm, dos ETRL e 5113,6 ppm dos ETRP, no material investigado representando um upgrade de 10.067,8 ppm nos ETRLe 118.008,3 ppm nos ETRP. Complementarmente foi possível avaliar também que o sensor DE-XRT permite detectar os clastos portadores de ETR sem presença de minérios polimetálicos e deletérios, ficando estes dois últimos associados, considerando a possibilidade de separação empregada usando o sensor de DE-XRT. / This work evaluates the affinity of optical and dual energy x-ray transmission (DE-XRT) sensors to the detection of rare earth element (REE) bearing ores. The samples were collected in situ at the Pitinga/AM-Brazil mine and sent to LAPROM/UFRGS for study. The tests were carried out under the same operating conditions to both sensors. The particles examined were in the size fraction -10 +5 (cm) and were cleaned and dried prior to scanning. The feeding to the sorter was done manually, one particle at a time, ensuring that the sensor captured the images under the same conditions for each particle. The captured data were processed using Comex OSX and CRX software, the first priority being the identification of the best parameters for detecting xenotime mineral, which are rich in rare earth elements. The characterization of the material was performed by chemical analysis of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) in the laboratory Actlabs - Activation Laboratories Ltd and mass balance data and recovery calculations. The results showed that the optical sensor successfully recognized the waste particle, but it lacked the capacity to detect rocks of mineralization of xenotime mineral. On the other hand, the DE-XRT sensor showed a strong particle detection capacity for both light and heavy Rare Earth Elements (LREE, HREE) with accumulated mass recovery of approximately 15% and metallurgical recovery higher than 79% (LREE) and 89% (HREE), respectively in the second stage, and ~66% accumulated mass recovery in the third stage with metallurgical content of light and heavy REE in the order of 94% and 96%. In addition, it was also possible to evaluate that the DE-XRT sensor allows the detection of ETR-bearing clasts without the presence of polymetallic and deleterious ores, the latter being associated considering the possibility of separation using the DE-XRT sensor.

Este trabalho avalia a afinidade da tecnologia de sensor-based sorting (SBS) assistido com sensor de imagem Charge Couple Device CCD e de Dual Energy-Xray Transmission (DE-XRT) para detectar minérios portadores de elementos de terras raras (ETR). As amostras foram coletadas in situ no depósito de Pitinga/AM-Brasil e enviadas para o LAPROM/UFRGS. Os testes foram realizados sob as mesmas condições operacionais com ambos sensores. As partículas examinadas estão na fração de tamanho entre -10 +5 (cm), limpas e secas antes dos testes. A alimentação para o sorting foi feita manualmente, uma partícula por partícula, garantindo que o sensor capturasse as imagens sob as mesmas condições para cada partícula. Os dados capturados foram processados com software COMEX OSX e CRX, tendo como primeiro estágio a identificação dos melhores parâmetros para a detecção de minérios portadores do mineral de xenotima, rico em elementos de terras raras. A caracterização do material foi realizada por análise química da espectroscopia de massa de plasma acoplado indutivamente (ICP-MS) no Actlabs - Activation Laboratories LTD, além de dados de balanço de massa e cálculos de recuperação. Os resultados mostraram que o sensor óptico reconheceu com sucesso os clastos com características de estéril, porém verificou-se que a detectabilidade efetiva para rochas com mineralização do mineral de xenotima não foi viável. Por outro lado, o sensor DE-XRT mostrou uma forte afinidade de detecção de partículas portadores de elementos leves e pesados de terras raras (ETRL - ETRP) com recuperação mássica acumulada de aproximadamente 15% e recuperação metalúrgica superior a 79% (ETRL) e 89% (ETRP), respectivamente no segundo estágio, e com aproximadamente ~ 66% de recuperação de massa acumulada no terceiro estágio, o teor metalúrgico de ETR leves e pesados foi da ordem de 94% e 96%. Essas recuperações correspondem a um aumento de 514,79 ppm, dos ETRL e 5113,6 ppm dos ETRP, no material investigado representando um upgrade de 10.067,8 ppm nos ETRLe 118.008,3 ppm nos ETRP. Complementarmente foi possível avaliar também que o sensor DE-XRT permite detectar os clastos portadores de ETR sem presença de minérios polimetálicos e deletérios, ficando estes dois últimos associados, considerando a possibilidade de separação empregada usando o sensor de DE-XRT. / This work evaluates the affinity of optical and dual energy x-ray transmission (DE-XRT) sensors to the detection of rare earth element (REE) bearing ores. The samples were collected in situ at the Pitinga/AM-Brazil mine and sent to LAPROM/UFRGS for study. The tests were carried out under the same operating conditions to both sensors. The particles examined were in the size fraction -10 +5 (cm) and were cleaned and dried prior to scanning. The feeding to the sorter was done manually, one particle at a time, ensuring that the sensor captured the images under the same conditions for each particle. The captured data were processed using Comex OSX and CRX software, the first priority being the identification of the best parameters for detecting xenotime mineral, which are rich in rare earth elements. The characterization of the material was performed by chemical analysis of inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS) in the laboratory Actlabs - Activation Laboratories Ltd and mass balance data and recovery calculations. The results showed that the optical sensor successfully recognized the waste particle, but it lacked the capacity to detect rocks of mineralization of xenotime mineral. On the other hand, the DE-XRT sensor showed a strong particle detection capacity for both light and heavy Rare Earth Elements (LREE, HREE) with accumulated mass recovery of approximately 15% and metallurgical recovery higher than 79% (LREE) and 89% (HREE), respectively in the second stage, and ~66% accumulated mass recovery in the third stage with metallurgical content of light and heavy REE in the order of 94% and 96%. In addition, it was also possible to evaluate that the DE-XRT sensor allows the detection of ETR-bearing clasts without the presence of polymetallic and deleterious ores, the latter being associated considering the possibility of separation using the DE-XRT sensor.

O COMEX Lab-Sorter MSX-400-VL-XR-3D (Sorter) foi avaliado, sob diferentes condições operacionais em relação a sua capacidade de realizar testes de pré-concentração em escala laboratorial, visando o uso dos resultados gerados para aplicação industrial. Para tal, 24 testes de separação (bem como mais testes de calibração) foram realizados para dois minérios diferentes (a base de ferro e zinco). Nesses testes, aproximadamente 73 kg de minério foram avaliados para fins de separação no equipamento acima citado. Este mostrou a capacidade de aumentar o teor do minério de ferro acima de 60% Fe, aproveitando assim de 46% da massa do material no tamanho Lump (-31 +12,7mm) que era anteriormente classificado como rejeito pela mina e tinha um teor de apenas 53% de Fe. Com respeito do Zinco, o equipamento recuperou 93% do minério de zinco, aumentando seu teor acima de 27% Zn. Dessa forma, o Sorter eliminou 27% da massa do ROM a ser alimentado na planta de benefíciamento da mina de zinco. As configurações de porcentagem ideal para o ferro eram de 150-220 threshold e 75% porcentagem, e para o zinco as configurações ideais eram de 0-100 threshold para a granulometria maior (-50 +19 mm) e de 0-150 para a granulometria menor (-25 +8mm), ambos com 75% porcentagem. / The MS-400-VL-XR-3D COMEX Lab-Sorter (Sorter) was evaluated under different operating conditions for its ability to carry out pre-concentration tests at the laboratory scale, with the intention of using the results generated for industrial application. To this end, 24 separation tests (and many more calibration tests) were performed for two different ores (iron and zinc). In these tests, more than 73 kg of ore was passed, particle per particle in the equipment. The Sorter showed the ability to increase the iron ore content to over 60% Fe, thus taking advantage of 46% of the mass of the Lump size material (-31 + 12.7mm) that was previously classified as waste and had a grade of only 53% Fe. With respect to Zinc, the Sorter recovered 93% of the zinc ore, increasing its content above 27% Zn. In this way, the Sorter eliminated 27% of the ROM mass to be fed into the zinc mine beneficiation plant. The ideal percentage configurations for the iron were 150-220 threshold and 75% percentage, and for zinc the ideal configurations were 0-100 threshold for the large particle size (-50 +19 mm) and 0-150 for the small particle size (-25 + 8mm), both with 75% percentage.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nesta dissertação de Mestrado do programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia dos Materiais é apresentado um estudo para a caracterização do concreto reforçado com fibras de polipropileno e de aço pela análise das imagens de microtomografia computadorizada por transmissão de raios X (μCT). Foram produzidos corpos de prova de concreto para determinar a sua resistência mecânica à compressão. As imagens foram obtidas no sistema Skyscan, modelo 1174, reconstruídas e analisadas. Foi possível observar na análise das imagens a estrutura da fibra de aço dispersa na matriz do concreto e quantificá-las pelo programa de análise de imagens Ctan e perceber um ganho na resistência mecânica em relação ao concreto sem fibras. Não foi feito a quantificação das amostras de fibras de polipropileno dispersas na matriz de concreto, mas foi observada a presença de aglomerados dessa fibra que resultaram na perda da resistência mecânica em relação ao concreto sem fibras. / In this dissertation Masters Program Graduate in Science and Technology of Materials is presented a study for characterization of concrete reinforced with polypropylene fibers and steel by image analysis of computed microtomography X ray transmission (μCT). Concrete samples were produced to determine their mechanical resistance to compression. The images were obtained in the SkyScan model 1174, reconstructed and analyzed. It was possible, in image analysis, to observe the structure of steel fiber dispersed in the concrete matrix and quantify them by image analysis program Ctan and observed a gain in strength compared to concrete fiber less. The quantification was not did to samples of polypropylene fibers dispersed in the matrix of concrete, but we observed the presence of clusters fibers resulting in the loss of mechanical strength compared to concrete fiber less.

Korean coals are typically high rank anthracite characterized by high ash content and difficult cleaning characteristics. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of treating various size fractions within the coal using an assortment of physical coal cleaning technologies. Dry cleaning is preferred due to the friability of the coal. As such, three pneumatic processes were tested including Ore Sorting for the plus 10 mm material, Air Table Separation for 10 x 1 mm fraction and Tribo-electric Separator for - 1 mm fraction. The Dense Medium Cyclone is known to be one of the most efficient separation processes and thus was evaluated for the cleaning of 10 x 1 mm coal. To realize the optimum performances from the Air Table and Rotary Tribo-electric Separator, their operational variables were systematically studied using a parametric experimental design. In addition, the dense medium cyclone and X-ray Transmission Sorting trials were performed under various medium densities and separation settings, respectively. A comparison of the cleaning performance revealed that the Dense Medium Cyclone and X-ray Transmission Sorting proved to provide the most effective results with maximum ash rejection and combustible recovery. The tribo-electric separation process was ineffective while the air table provided modest ash reduction potential.

O COMEX Lab-Sorter MSX-400-VL-XR-3D (Sorter) foi avaliado, sob diferentes condições operacionais em relação a sua capacidade de realizar testes de pré-concentração em escala laboratorial, visando o uso dos resultados gerados para aplicação industrial. Para tal, 24 testes de separação (bem como mais testes de calibração) foram realizados para dois minérios diferentes (a base de ferro e zinco). Nesses testes, aproximadamente 73 kg de minério foram avaliados para fins de separação no equipamento acima citado. Este mostrou a capacidade de aumentar o teor do minério de ferro acima de 60% Fe, aproveitando assim de 46% da massa do material no tamanho Lump (-31 +12,7mm) que era anteriormente classificado como rejeito pela mina e tinha um teor de apenas 53% de Fe. Com respeito do Zinco, o equipamento recuperou 93% do minério de zinco, aumentando seu teor acima de 27% Zn. Dessa forma, o Sorter eliminou 27% da massa do ROM a ser alimentado na planta de benefíciamento da mina de zinco. As configurações de porcentagem ideal para o ferro eram de 150-220 threshold e 75% porcentagem, e para o zinco as configurações ideais eram de 0-100 threshold para a granulometria maior (-50 +19 mm) e de 0-150 para a granulometria menor (-25 +8mm), ambos com 75% porcentagem. / The MS-400-VL-XR-3D COMEX Lab-Sorter (Sorter) was evaluated under different operating conditions for its ability to carry out pre-concentration tests at the laboratory scale, with the intention of using the results generated for industrial application. To this end, 24 separation tests (and many more calibration tests) were performed for two different ores (iron and zinc). In these tests, more than 73 kg of ore was passed, particle per particle in the equipment. The Sorter showed the ability to increase the iron ore content to over 60% Fe, thus taking advantage of 46% of the mass of the Lump size material (-31 + 12.7mm) that was previously classified as waste and had a grade of only 53% Fe. With respect to Zinc, the Sorter recovered 93% of the zinc ore, increasing its content above 27% Zn. In this way, the Sorter eliminated 27% of the ROM mass to be fed into the zinc mine beneficiation plant. The ideal percentage configurations for the iron were 150-220 threshold and 75% percentage, and for zinc the ideal configurations were 0-100 threshold for the large particle size (-50 +19 mm) and 0-150 for the small particle size (-25 + 8mm), both with 75% percentage.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Nesta dissertação de Mestrado do programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia dos Materiais é apresentado um estudo para a caracterização do concreto reforçado com fibras de polipropileno e de aço pela análise das imagens de microtomografia computadorizada por transmissão de raios X (μCT). Foram produzidos corpos de prova de concreto para determinar a sua resistência mecânica à compressão. As imagens foram obtidas no sistema Skyscan, modelo 1174, reconstruídas e analisadas. Foi possível observar na análise das imagens a estrutura da fibra de aço dispersa na matriz do concreto e quantificá-las pelo programa de análise de imagens Ctan e perceber um ganho na resistência mecânica em relação ao concreto sem fibras. Não foi feito a quantificação das amostras de fibras de polipropileno dispersas na matriz de concreto, mas foi observada a presença de aglomerados dessa fibra que resultaram na perda da resistência mecânica em relação ao concreto sem fibras. / In this dissertation Masters Program Graduate in Science and Technology of Materials is presented a study for characterization of concrete reinforced with polypropylene fibers and steel by image analysis of computed microtomography X ray transmission (μCT). Concrete samples were produced to determine their mechanical resistance to compression. The images were obtained in the SkyScan model 1174, reconstructed and analyzed. It was possible, in image analysis, to observe the structure of steel fiber dispersed in the concrete matrix and quantify them by image analysis program Ctan and observed a gain in strength compared to concrete fiber less. The quantification was not did to samples of polypropylene fibers dispersed in the matrix of concrete, but we observed the presence of clusters fibers resulting in the loss of mechanical strength compared to concrete fiber less.

O COMEX Lab-Sorter MSX-400-VL-XR-3D (Sorter) foi avaliado, sob diferentes condições operacionais em relação a sua capacidade de realizar testes de pré-concentração em escala laboratorial, visando o uso dos resultados gerados para aplicação industrial. Para tal, 24 testes de separação (bem como mais testes de calibração) foram realizados para dois minérios diferentes (a base de ferro e zinco). Nesses testes, aproximadamente 73 kg de minério foram avaliados para fins de separação no equipamento acima citado. Este mostrou a capacidade de aumentar o teor do minério de ferro acima de 60% Fe, aproveitando assim de 46% da massa do material no tamanho Lump (-31 +12,7mm) que era anteriormente classificado como rejeito pela mina e tinha um teor de apenas 53% de Fe. Com respeito do Zinco, o equipamento recuperou 93% do minério de zinco, aumentando seu teor acima de 27% Zn. Dessa forma, o Sorter eliminou 27% da massa do ROM a ser alimentado na planta de benefíciamento da mina de zinco. As configurações de porcentagem ideal para o ferro eram de 150-220 threshold e 75% porcentagem, e para o zinco as configurações ideais eram de 0-100 threshold para a granulometria maior (-50 +19 mm) e de 0-150 para a granulometria menor (-25 +8mm), ambos com 75% porcentagem. / The MS-400-VL-XR-3D COMEX Lab-Sorter (Sorter) was evaluated under different operating conditions for its ability to carry out pre-concentration tests at the laboratory scale, with the intention of using the results generated for industrial application. To this end, 24 separation tests (and many more calibration tests) were performed for two different ores (iron and zinc). In these tests, more than 73 kg of ore was passed, particle per particle in the equipment. The Sorter showed the ability to increase the iron ore content to over 60% Fe, thus taking advantage of 46% of the mass of the Lump size material (-31 + 12.7mm) that was previously classified as waste and had a grade of only 53% Fe. With respect to Zinc, the Sorter recovered 93% of the zinc ore, increasing its content above 27% Zn. In this way, the Sorter eliminated 27% of the ROM mass to be fed into the zinc mine beneficiation plant. The ideal percentage configurations for the iron were 150-220 threshold and 75% percentage, and for zinc the ideal configurations were 0-100 threshold for the large particle size (-50 +19 mm) and 0-150 for the small particle size (-25 + 8mm), both with 75% percentage.