Powerful x-rays can now be used to rapidly and accurately detect gold in ore samples, thanks to a new technique developed by CSIRO – a move that could save Australia’s minerals industry hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
Working with Canadian company Mevex, CSIRO has conducted a pilot study that shows that gamma-activation analysis (GAA) offers a much faster, more accurate way to detect gold than traditional chemical analysis methods.
This will mean mining companies can measure what’s coming in and out of their processing plants with greater accuracy, allowing them to monitor process performance and recover small traces of gold – worth millions of dollars – that would otherwise be discarded.
GAA works by scanning mineral samples – typically weighing around half a kilogram – using high-energy x-rays similar to those used to treat patients in hospitals. The x-rays activate any gold in the sample, and the activation is then picked up using a sensitive detector.
According to project leader Dr James Tickner, CSIRO’s study showed that this method is two-to-three times more accurate than the standard industry technique ‘fire assay’, which requires samples to be heated up to 1200°C.
“The big challenge for this project was to push the sensitivity of GAA to detect gold at much lower levels – well below a threshold of one gram per tonne,” he says.
Dr Tickner explains that a gold processing plant may only recover between 65 and 85 per cent of gold present in mined rock. Given a typical plant produces around A$1 billion of gold each year, this means hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gold is going to waste.
“Our experience suggests that better process monitoring can help reduce this loss by about a third,” he says.
Last year, Australia produced over A$10 billion worth of gold. Even if GAA only led to a modest 5 per cent improvement in recovery, that would be worth half a billion dollars annually to the industry.
Dr Tickner says that the other major benefit of GAA is that it is easily automated, allowing for much quicker analysis of ore samples.
“Fire assay usually involves sending samples off to a central lab and waiting several days for the results. Using GAA we can do the analysis in a matter of minutes, allowing companies to respond much more quickly to the data they’re collecting.”
“A compact GAA facility could even be trucked out to remote sites for rapid, on-the-spot analysis.”
The Latest Bing News on:
Gamma-activation analysis
- Key role found for gut epithelial cells in the defense against deadly diarrheal infectionson May 7, 2024 at 7:14 am
Intestinal epithelial cells line the inner wall of the gut, creating a barrier against dangerous bacteria like enteropathogenic E. coli that seek to attach to and destroy this barrier. Such pathogens ...
- Neural circuits revealed as key regulators in body's immune response, study findson May 6, 2024 at 10:18 pm
A recent study in Nature reveals how specific neural circuits within the body-brain axis regulate immune responses, highlighting potential new therapeutic approaches for immune disorders.
- The axis of interleukin 12 and gamma interferon regulates acute vascular xenogeneic rejectionon April 5, 2024 at 5:00 pm
C57BL/6 mice deficient in interleukin12 or gamma interferon showed faster acute vascular rejection than did wild-type mice. Furthermore, mice defective in B-cell development showed no acute ...
- Workout in a pill: Scientists move one step closer to an exercise-mimicking drugon March 21, 2024 at 2:09 pm
Related: 11 minutes of moderate exercise a day cuts early death risk by 20%, huge analysis suggests In previous research ... ERRs come in three flavors — alpha, beta and gamma — and in the past, ...
- Activate Your Deviceon March 16, 2024 at 5:57 pm
Enter the activation code displayed on your TV screen to sign into the PBS Video app on one of the following devices: It looks like you are trying to enter a Passport activation code. To activate ...
- Database for Prompt Gamma-ray Neutron Activation Analysison August 13, 2020 at 6:23 am
This database offers a variety of tables for all natural elements and includes the following data: isotopic composition, thermal radiative cross section (total and partial), Westcott g-factors, energy ...
- Database of Prompt Gamma Rays from Slow Neutron Capture for Elemental Analysison February 12, 2018 at 8:58 am
Neutron-capture prompt-gamma activation analysis (PGAA) is particularly valuable as a non-destructive nuclear method in the measurement of elements that do not form neutron capture products with ...
- Neutron Facilitieson March 30, 2015 at 2:21 pm
For research and evaluations requiring fast neutrons fluences with minimal slow neutrons and gamma ray components, a range-thick, metallic lithium target is bombarded with protons from the 5.5 MV ...
- Prompt Gamma Processon November 24, 2013 at 1:12 am
The nitrogen measurement on the prompt gamma neutron activation system takes 30 minutes to complete. (The nitrogen signal is weaker than some of the other gamma signals measured in the Bodycomp Lab; ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
Gamma-activation analysis
[google_news title=”” keyword=”gamma-activation analysis” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
The Latest Bing News on:
GAA
- GAA fans around the world slam lack of hurling fixtures on free-to-air TV as games behind paywallon May 7, 2024 at 11:29 am
Co Antrim hurlers leave Gaelic Park with historic win over New York GAA GAA footballer Jude McAtamney signs for New York Giants Adding salt to the wound, last Saturday's double hurling header ...
- GAA confirm two big All-Ireland SFC first round ties to be screened on GAAGOon May 7, 2024 at 9:26 am
The GAA have this afternoon confirmed that two big first round All-Ireland senior football round robin games fixed for Saturday May 18 will be shown on GAAGO.Kerry’s clash with Monaghan, in Killarney ...
- GAA president Jarlath Burns enthused by 'most open' Tailteann Cupon May 7, 2024 at 7:07 am
The third season of the Tailteann Cup was launched at Croke Park today, with GAA president Jarlath Burns describing it as "the most open it has been".
- GAA.ie Footballer of the Week nomineeson May 7, 2024 at 4:36 am
Damien Comer, Tony Brosnan, and Mattie Ruane are this week's nominees for GAA.ie Footballer of the Week. The voting process is simple: like their image on the GAA's official Instagram page. Voting ...
- GAA legend delivers brutally honest verdict on Kerry’s All-Ireland chances after ‘really poor’ showingon May 7, 2024 at 4:32 am
OISIN McCONVILLE was so unimpressed by Kerry in the Munster final that he’s confidently written them off as All-Ireland contenders. The Kingdom only had a winning margin of seven points ...
- GAA.ie Hurler of the Week nomineeson May 7, 2024 at 3:34 am
Wexford’s Rory O’Connor, Tipperary’s Mark Kehoe, and Waterford’s Darragh Lyons are this week’s GAA.ie Hurler of the Week nominees. The voting process is simple: like their image on the GAA's official ...
- Limerick GAA star Cian Lynch and girlfriend Dayna Slattery are expecting twinson May 7, 2024 at 3:01 am
The four in a row All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winner and his girlfriend will welcome two babies this summer, it has been announced this morning ...
- Limerick GAA hero Cian Lynch and girlfriend to welcome twins as loved-up couple share baby news in cutest way possibleon May 7, 2024 at 2:31 am
CIAN LYNCH and girlfriend Dayna Slattery have announced that they’re expecting twins. The two-time Hurler of the Year and his other half shared their joy at the prospect of becoming parents ...
- Caoimhín Reilly: When it comes to national coverage of Louth GAA, can it get any lazier?on May 6, 2024 at 9:00 pm
When Conor Grimes was ushered towards the interview area after Louth’s Leinster semi-final victory over Kildare, Mickey Harte and his departure as senior football team manager last September was ...
- Samsung Gears Up for High-Performance Galaxy S25 Series with First 3nm GAA Processon May 6, 2024 at 4:59 pm
This complex chip, designed for high-end phones, boasts a CPU, GPU, and various modules. Samsung collaborated with Synopsys, who provided AI-powered design tools (Synopsys.ai) to optimize the chip’s ...
The Latest Google Headlines on:
GAA
[google_news title=”” keyword=”GAA” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]