Use of backscattering ultrasound parameters for iron ore varieties recognition

Purpose. Development of the method for recognizing the main mineral-technological varieties of iron ore in the deposits being developed by selecting an analytical model for the spectral characteristics of the received ultrasonic echo signals and quantitative assessment of their parameters. Methodology. The work uses methods for modeling the processes of propagation of ultrasonic waves in a randomly heterogeneous medium. The process of backscattering of ultrasound in mineral structures formed by inclusions of iron ore of various varieties and associated rock was considered. The estimated parameters of the spectral characteristics of the inversely scattered probing ultrasound pulse were studied. Findings. A method for recognizing the main mineral and technological varieties of iron ore of the deposit being developed, based on the parameters of the propagation of ultrasonic waves in the studied samples, was proposed. This is achieved by selecting an analytical model for the spectral characteristics of the received echo signals and quantifying their parameters. The amplitude of the echo signal and its spectral properties depends on the size and concentration of the scatterers, i.e., the structural and textural features of the iron ore sample under study. Taking into account these factors, the extracted parameters of the model were used to identify the main mineralogical and technological varieties of iron ore of the studied deposit. Originality. The proposed method for recognizing mineral-technological varieties of iron ore differs from the known ones in that the amplitude, central frequency, and bandwidth of the amplitude spectrum of the Gaussian parametric model of the measured echo signals are used as evaluation parameters. Practical value. The proposed scientific and technical solution allows for operational non-destructive control of the main mineralogical and technological types of iron ore in the process of its extraction and processing.