Application of microwave probing to increase the efficiency of metal ore sorting

 

A. L. Dzardanov¹, V. V. Tikhonov², O. N. Polyakova¹, V. V. Mityashkin³, M. V. Sidorova¹, S.V. Antipov³, G. N. Gol'tsman¹

¹Moscow Pedagogical State University

²Space Research Institute (IKIRAN), Moscow

³Limited liability company «Microwave technology of ore beneficiation and separation», Moscow

Received October 3, 2013

Abstract: The paper discusses results of reflectivity measurements of copper ore samples in the 12....38 GHz frequency range. The «rich» sample contains more than 3 % by weight of mineral chalcopyrite, and the "poor" sample contains less than 3 % by weight of one. The difference of reflection coefficients for "rich" and "poor" copper samples is used to create a sorting method of copper ore based on microwave probing.

Authors express sincere gratitude to the companies of Open Company TECHNOROS and Open Company RADOS (Krasnoyarsk) for given samples of minerals.

The work was supported by FTP "Scientific and scientific-pedagogical personnel of innovative Russia" for 2009-2013 years.

Key words: microwave radiation, reflectivity, copper ore.