Ore sorting using microwave irradiation
Master Thesis
1989
Permanent link to this Item
Authors
Supervisors
Journal Title
Link to Journal
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher
University of Cape Town
Department
License
Series
Abstract
Automatic ore sorting machines are in common use in the mining industry. These machines generally separate valuable mineral-bearing rocks from waste rocks. At the Premier Diamond Mine in South Africa kimberlite, a diamond-bearing rock is separated from gabbro which is a waste rock. Work had been conducted previously in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Cape Town to find a viable method for discriminating between gabbro and kimberlite. A technique using microwave irradiation attenuation was successful when using parallel-sided smooth-surfaced rocks. This technique used linearly polarized square antennas at 35GHz. Problems were experienced, however, with irregu1arly shaped rock s. The aim of the present study was therefore to deve1op a technique which will sort irregularly shaped rocks and eliminate the problems associated with them.
Description
Bibliography: leaves 99-101.
Reference:
Booi, M. 1989. Ore sorting using microwave irradiation. University of Cape Town.