Investigation on the relationship between ore grade and size fraction in the Kalgoorlie-Boulder region

Project completed by CRC ORE: Optimising Resource Extraction which receives allocation of MRIWA funds.

The Challenge

While small to medium size gold and nickel miners in the Greater Goldfields region are trying to improve productivity and increase the amount of metal recovered from their operations through particle sorting, a full metal balance on samples being tested through a particle sorter is not being conducted.

By disregarding metal deportment in all size fractions, it is not possible to assess the value proposition of this approach and whether the upgrading impact obtained is due to particle sorting or sample preparation screening processes.

The Solution

Development of a natural deportment database, populated with samples from different geological styles and mineralogical signatures within the Western Australian Goldfields.

This database can then be used to identify potential deposits and deposit styles that are:

• amenable to natural grade by size deportment.
• likely to deliver maximum benefit when natural deportment is integrated with particle sorting.
• non-amenable to screening and/or particle sorting options.

Proposed Benefit to WA

A better understanding of deportment of value within their deposits for small to medium producers in the greater Goldfields region of WA, resulting in higher efficiency of metal recovery.