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
- T Cell Activation and Proliferation: The Three Signal Processon May 16, 2024 at 3:00 am
The immune system provides an integral defense against cancer growth and progression. Activating an anti-tumor immune response relies on several biological | Cancer ...
- Gamma-Ray Bursts: What Do They Tell Us About the Universe?on May 15, 2024 at 11:49 pm
Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) stand as enigmatic phenomena, shedding light on the universe's most energetic events. Explored since their accidental discovery in the 1960s, GRBs offer profound insights into ...
- Scripps Research chemists develop new method for making gamma chiral centers on simple carboxylic acidson May 15, 2024 at 5:00 pm
C-H activation-based method should speed drug molecule design and diversification.
- PlayStation emulator Gamma lands on the Apple App Storeon May 14, 2024 at 4:13 am
Things got off to a rocky start after an app called iGBA was pulled from the App Store less than a week after its debut over ...
- 10 Best CBD Creams, Balms And Lotions Of 2024on May 7, 2024 at 10:16 pm
To choose the best CBD creams, the Forbes Health editorial team analyzed data on more than 50 CBD cream products made from plants grown in the U.S. All have a certificate of analysis (COA), are ...
- The Secret to Anxiety in Young Women's Brains May Have Been Foundon March 25, 2024 at 3:04 pm
A recent analysis conducted by psychologist Nicola ... of neurology depends on competition between chemicals that activate nerve cells and molecules that block their paths. Glutamate and ...
- 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, ...
- 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 ...
- MIT Technology Reviewon August 1, 2020 at 8:26 am
Founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1899, MIT Technology Review is a world-renowned, independent media company whose insight, analysis, reviews, interviews and live events ...
- 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 ...
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
- Pure laziness and greed – GAA slammed by furious fans for using AI art in match programmes to promote upcoming clasheson May 18, 2024 at 5:57 am
GAA FANS are far from impressed after the Association used Artificial Intelligence to promote upcoming matches. Twitter/X user Barry Masterson called attention to the promotion by sharing the AI ...
- New single ‘Cutu Gaa Sweetu Gaa’ from Honeymoon Express outon May 18, 2024 at 2:08 am
The makers of upcoming Chaitanya Rao starrer Honeymoon Express released their new single titled ‘Cutu Gaa Sweetu Gaa’ on Saturday. Kalyani Malik has composed the soundtrack for Honeymoon Express. Sung ...
- GAA hugs, Edwin Poots and the worry of being rammed up the Aurora Borealis - Jake O’Kaneon May 17, 2024 at 10:00 pm
Edwin Poots claimed that Covid had been six times more prevalent within nationalist districts, arguing that excessive celebratory hugging during GAA matches was responsible. I was crestfallen hearing ...
- Wexford icon Martin Storey claims GAA are leaving older generation behind with broadcast strategyon May 17, 2024 at 9:16 pm
MARTIN STOREY says the GAA are leaving the older generation behind by introducing cashless systems at turnstiles and putting games behind a paywall on GAAGO. The association has come under ...
- Colin Sheridan: Cork-Limerick game another GAA classic not on your TVon May 17, 2024 at 6:00 pm
GAAGO, we said, so the GAA went. But where? Nobody is quite sure in what philosophical direction the organisation and its pay-to-view streaming service is headed. What started out as a conduit to ...
- Mick Clifford: Let's cut the GAA some slackon May 17, 2024 at 6:00 pm
Corralling off Cork’s first three matches could be seen as a conspiracy on Leeside, but the GAA is supposed to be about more than elitism. Patrick Horgan of Cork celebrates after the Munster GAA ...
- GAA consider statement of support for ceasefire in Gaza in what would be a clear shift in approachon May 17, 2024 at 12:31 pm
The GAA is to consider a statement of support this weekend for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The conflict is on the agenda for a Central Council meeting in Croke Park and follows a ...
- Your complete guide to a bumper weekend of GAA actionon May 17, 2024 at 10:15 am
Shane Ryan returns for Shane Murphy in goals for Kerry, who field a familiar looking attack with Paul Geaney reinstated for Cillian Burke. Mícheál Banningan and Seán Jones should bolster the Monaghan ...
- Mayo GAA club to raise funds through event based on Netflix's Squid Gameon May 17, 2024 at 8:07 am
Garrymore GAA has announced that they will host an action-packed fundraising event in Claremorris’ McWilliam Park Hotel on August 4, 2024. “Quid Game” will be based on the popular Netflix series Squid ...
- Cashless GAA could 'wait' until there is 'nobody' who can't use a phone - Cllron May 17, 2024 at 1:24 am
Cashless GAA matches should happen once you are sure every person interested knows how to use a phone, according to one Cavan councillor.
The Latest Google Headlines on:
GAA
[google_news title=”” keyword=”GAA” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]