Feed Your Geometallurgical Models with Tescan TIMA Data

Why Typical Methodologies for Locating and Evaluating Gold Ore Deposits Don’t Go Far Enough

Identifying economic gold deposits is a complex and time-consuming process, with no guarantee of success. Geological surveys, mapping and sampling are the first step, followed by geochemical analyses used to identify and verify gold occurrences. Next steps involve drilling, sampling, modeling, and applying advanced statistics to estimate gold reserves. However, it is not only the grade and volume of the deposit that determines its economic viability. It is the mineralogy of the gold which drives the amenability to mineral processing. This is the insertion point for automated mineralogy.

Tescan TIMA automated mineralogy generates the data required to assess natural limits of gold recovery and its potential variability. Gain insights into how gold is distributed within ore and its association with other materials—crucial insights for optimizing recovery processes. Automated mineralogy is the only technique that can detect fine, submicron scale particles and deliver information about the deportment of gold within the sample. TIMA’s detailed particle-by-particle analysis contributes to the definition of geometallurgical domains (zones) within the deposit.

How Tescan TIMA Automated Mineralogy Informs Gold Deportment

Tescan TIMA is an advanced automated mineralogy system. It utilizes scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) to deliver quantitative data on mineral composition, grain size and liberation characteristics. Intuitive operation and high-throughput data collection make TIMA a powerful tool for optimizing gold recovery processes.

TIMA operating in Liberation Analysis mode measures the bulk mineralogy, linking the sample to its logged geological domain and quantifying the minerals that may host refractory gold.

TIMA’s Bright Phase Search mode uses back scattered electron contrast to locate minerals of interest, even when present in only minor concentrations. However, TIMA can also selectively measure gold minerals by excluding other bright phases based on their elemental signature. This filtering reduces scan time.

TIMA Technology Contributes to the Understanding of the Reasons for Metallurgical Variability Across a Gold Resource or Operation

Tescan TIMA is a multi-functional and powerful tool for enhancing understanding of gold deposits. Mining operations are able to optimize processing strategies and improve recovery rates with Tescan TIMA’s statistically robust quantitative data.

TIMA can identify and visualize native gold or gold bearing minerals such as gold tellurides, even at submicron scale, from both concentrate and tail. TIMA grain size analysis measures particles and grain size distribution for determining the potential for gold recovery. TIMA also analyzes the degree of liberation of gold from its host minerals, data that is vital for optimizing recovery processes.

Pre-scripted and automated workflows make acquiring data fast and easy, allowing TIMA to be handled by multiple operators and implemented at various points in the gold mining process.