GEOSCAN-M Use For Process Improvement in Phosphate Plants

Abstract

Real-time on belt analysis of minerals is becoming increasingly important in mining operations to ensure optimal economic outcomes. Prompt gamma neutron activation analysis has long been utilised for real-time elemental analysis in bulk materials, with Scantech’s GEOSCAN being the instrument of choice in the minerals sector. The GEOSCAN has been successfully adapted to a wide range of commodities, with its use in the phosphate sector one of the fastest growing areas for use of the technology. Using data for both feedback and feedforward control has seen improvements in efficiency at the mine, at the beneficiation plant, and in the production of phosphoric acid and fertiliser products. This paper introduces the GEOSCAN for the phosphate industry, and provides a case study for its use at an example Middle Eastern plant. A series of results are provided for various applications, demonstrating the instrument’s performance, and some of the key benefits of the equipment are discussed.