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Im Rahmen von UPNS4D+ wird von mir der Teilbereich der automatisierten untertägigen Detektion von Gangerzlagerstätten und seltenen Erden bearbeitet. Dies erfolgt mittels eines Multisensoransatzes, der aus einer Hyperspektralkamera, einer RGB-Kamera und einem Laserscanner besteht. Die Grundlagen für die Kombination von hyperspektraler Bildverarbeitung und einer RGB-Kamera sind in der Industrie im Bereich von automatisierten Sortieranlagen zu finden. Im Bereich der Fernerkundung ist der Einsatz hyperspektraler Bilder für die Detektion geologischer Merkmale seit einigen Jahrzehnten üblich. Hier kann im Rahmen meiner Forschung gezeigt werden, dass mittels hyperspektraler Bilder Pyrit unter Tage detektiert werden kann. / In my research I work on a system which detects automatically the ore and rare earth element in a mine. This is part of UPNS4D+. For the detection I use a multi sensor system which consists of a hyperspectral camera, a RGB camera and a Laser scanner. Basics of this combination can be found in the industry. The combination of a RGB camera and a hyperspectral camera enables an automatic sorting of for example waste materials. Landsat satellites in the 1970 uses spectral information in order to detect the geology of the surface. I have tested the hyperspectral imaging in the Reiche Zeche and I can now show that Pyrite can be detected.

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The research presented in this dissertation consists of four topics. The first of these topics is an experimental study of rock fracturing due to rapid thermal cooling, and the other three topics are related to mine-to-optimization. This includes the development and testing of a site-specific model for blast fragmentation, the development of a technique for utilizing digital image processing and ground-based LIDAR for rock mass characterization, and an experimental study of the effects of ore blending on mineral recovery. All four topics are related through the subject of rock fracturing and rock fragmentation. The results from this research are important and can be used to improve engineering design associated with rock excavation and rock fragmentation. First of all, a successful set of laboratory experiments and 3D numerical modeling was conducted, looking at the effects of rapid thermal cooling on rock mechanical properties. The results gave the unexpected finding that depending on the rock type and the thermal conditions, rapid cooling can result in either overall crack growth or crack closing. Secondly, a site-specific model for predicting blast fragmentation was developed and tested at an open-pit copper mine in Arizona. The results provide a practical technique for developing a calibrated blasting model using digital images and digital image processing software to estimate in-situ block size, and a calibrated Schmidt hammer to estimate intact tensile strength. Thirdly, a new technique was developed to conduct cell mapping in open-pit mines using the new technologies of digital image processing and ground-based LIDAR. The results show that the use of these new technologies provide an increased accuracy and the ability for more sophisticated slope stability analyses with no increase in field time only a moderate increase in data processing time. Finally, a successful set of laboratory experiments was conducted looking at the effects of ore blending and grinding times on mineral recovery from a set of six ore from a copper mine in Arizona. The results gave the unexpected finding that for a fixed grinding time, the mineral recovery of the blended ores exceeded the average of the individual recoveries of the same ores unblended.

The Giant and Con deposits, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, represent a classic Archean lode-gold deposit now offset by a major Proterozoic fault (West Bay Fault). The link between the Giant and Con deposits is supported by their similarities. However, there are distinct differences between the two deposits in terms of the offset of stratigraphy, response to D2 deformation, geometry, gold mineralization styles, and depth of gold mineralization. Gold mineralization in the Giant-Con system formed over a protracted history of deformation and hydrothermal activity. Early D1 extension resulted in offset and excision of stratigraphy and the formation of refractory gold mineralization within strongly deformed schistose zones and quartz-carbonate veins. The main D2 deformation in the district resulted in the strong overprint of D1 refractory gold mineralization and was associated with the northwest-southeast flattening of the Giant deposit and progressive reverse-dextral shear of the Con deposit. Free-milling gold mineralization is associated with the D2 event, forming deeper in the Giant-Con system, creating a vertical zonation of free-milling quartz-carbonate veins overprinting earlier refractory gold mineralization that formed higher in the system. Ore plunge in the Giant deposit is controlled by the interaction of the original geometry of D1 deformation zones with the effects of D2 flattening. Ore plunge in the Con deposit is controlled by the orientation of F2 fold and B2 boudin axes in auriferous quartz-carbonate veins. D3 reactivation of the deformation zones (probably related to the end of the D2 compressive event) caused local reactivation of structures and is not associated with gold mineralization. D4 Proterozoic faulting offset and segmented the two deposits, including the major offset by the West Bay Fault. A new reconstruction of the West Bay Fault shows that the Con deformation zone is the down dip extension of the Giant deposit and not the Campbell deformation zone as previously thought.

The Prairie Creek Mine, NWT, is a non-producing Zn-Pb-Ag mine located within the Mackenzie Mountains. The 320 km2 area is surrounded by the Nahanni National Park Reserve, and is found approximately 40 km upstream of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Geochemical characterization of weathered material in the area is useful from both an exploration geochemistry and environmental geochemistry perspective. This investigation attempted to characterize geochemical and mineralogical controls on metal mobility in natural and manufactured environments. Surface waters and sediments were sampled, analyzed, and interpreted. Detailed mineralogical analyses were also performed, including SEM, XRD, and synchrotron-based µXRF and µXRD. Prairie Creek contains sulphide and supergene mineralization hosted in carbonate rocks, which supply the area with a high pH, as well as a wealth of alkalinity and buffering capacity. This study aims to provide some insight as to the geochemical and mineralogical controls on the weathering processes which may enhance or inhibit mobility of metals downstream of known mineralization. Results show that the metals are found in much higher concentration in the stream sediments than in the stream waters. Pb and Zn show the highest concentrations, and Zn appears to be more mobile than Pb. Based on water versus sediment chemistry, it may be possible to differentiate between mineralization types. Dissolution textures and alteration of detrital grains indicates that chemical weathering does occur within the streams and releases metals to the aqueous environment, though they are likely quickly attenuated through adsorption or co-precipitation. The mine site hosts a historic ore stockpile and waste rock pile, established in the early 1980’s. Geochemical characterization of the reactions occurring within these piles and of the mineralogical controls on metal mobility can contribute to the mitigation of risk from leachate. Metal concentrations are variable and do not support a trend, which indicates that metal mobility within these piles may be attributed to micro-environments. There appears to be a trend in increasing alkalinity and decreasing sulphate towards the bottom of the piles. Therefore, metals appear to have limited mobility in the studied environments, although small scale chemical reactions are occurring which may release and attenuate metals. / Thesis (Master, Geological Sciences & Geological Engineering) -- Queen's University, 2013-07-04 20:00:21.774

For future development of automated sensor-based sorting in the mining industry, an improvement in the separation efficiency of the equipment is desirable. This could be achieved through a better understanding of the identification and separation aspects of the automated sorter. For automated sorters that undertake separation through the use of compressed air jets, the problem of poor separation efficiency has been linked with co-deflection losses. Co-deflection losses occur as particles meant to pass on to the ‘accept’ bin are co-deflected with the particles (which are to be deflected) meant to go to the ‘reject’ bin. To study co-deflection losses and suggest means of improving automated sorter separation efficiency, this research investigates the effects of particle size, shape, throughput, together with the proportion of particles (out of the total test batch) required to be deflected on separation efficiency. The effect of the air valve configuration on separation efficiency was also studied. Presented also is a mathematical model which could be used to predict automated sorter separation efficiency. All separation efficiency investigations were undertaken using a TiTech Combisense© (BSM 063) automated sorter. Samples of granite were sized into -20+15mm, -15+10mm and -10+6mm size fractions and grouped into cubic and flaky shape fractions. These fractions were then divided into two with one portion painted for colour separation efficiency investigations. The separation efficiency results confirmed earlier research indicating that particle size and the fraction requiring deflection affects separation efficiency, with separation efficiency decreasing with a decrease in particle size and an increase in throughput. It was observed that co-deflection loss occurs when correctly identified ‘accept’ particles are co-deflected due to their close proximity to ‘reject’ particles that are to be deflected. Observations from the tests indicate that an increase in the proportion of particles requiring deflection increases the probability of finding ‘accept’ particles in close proximity to ‘reject’ particles leading to co-deflections. Monte Carlo simulations were used to produce a random distribution of particles on the conveyor belt as would be obtained from actual investigations. From these simulations particle proximity relationships and particle co-deflections were studied. Results indicate that the Monte Carlo simulations under-predicts particle proximity associations. The effect of shape on co-deflection was investigated with results indicating that flaky shaped particles produce higher number of co-deflections compared to cubic shaped particles. It was also observed that the valve sensitivity determined from valve opening and closing times is of importance to the selectivity (precision) of the separating air jets. A mathematical separation efficiency model is presented which contains two variables, the belt loading (calculated using particle size, shape and throughput) and the particle fraction of the total test batch that are to be deflected (% deflection). The separation efficiency can be calculated once these two variables are determined.