Nano-scale characterization of ore minerals for an optimized metal extraction process (NanoORE)
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Luleå tekniska universitet - Avd. Geovetenskap och Miljötekniik |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 469 000 |
| Project duration | November 2018 - April 2020 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration |
| Call | Research infrastructure - utilisation and collaboration: Industrial pilot projects for neutron and photon experiments at large scale research infrastructures - 2018 |
| End-of-project report | 2018-04426_Boliden.pdf (pdf, 324 kB) |
Purpose and goal
This project aimed to test if synchrotron-based techniques can be used in the mining industry to improve the characterization of trace elements in ore samples. With an improved characterization, the extraction of critical metals can potentially increase which would result in more sustainable mining. Another important goal for the project was to introduce the Swedish mining industry, through Boliden that is one of the leading metal producers in Europe, to the analytical capacity of a synchrotron facility.
Expected results and effects
Project partners Luleå University of Technology and Boliden Mineral have tested how a conventional method for characterization of ore minerals and trace elements, automated mineralogy, compares to an advanced analysis by synchrotron-based micro-XRF. A positive effect from the project has been that the number of different industry users of synchrotron facilities has increased as the Swedish mining industry has been made aware and tested the capacity of a synchrotron. Results from the project will be published in a scientific journal, together with the industry and MAX IV.
Planned approach and implementation
Samples that were used in this project had previously been characterized by automated mineralogy in an ongoing PhD project. Suitable samples were selected, and a test run was made at the synchrotron facility in Taiwan. After that, the analytical plans were fine tuned and the project bought analysis time at the beamline NanoMAX at MAX IV. At the analysis, ore geologists and process mineralogists from Boliden participated. Data was compiled and later evaluated. Knowledge transfer between the academy and industry has been continuous during the project, in particular during the MAX IV run.