PROCESSING

Sotkamo starts ore sorting trial

Company targets 50% reduction of non-ore going into the grinding process.

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The trial started in May after the ore sorter was supplied and commissioned at the mine by Outotec and Tomra. 

The facility uses X-Ray Transmission (XRT) technology to scan every feed particle and identify the relative atomic density differences within particles. High-grade particles are then pneumatically separared from the unwanted material. 

The sorting process occurs after primary crushing and it is expected to reduce the amount of non-ore going into the grinding and flotation processes by about 50%, thus increasing the energy efficiency.

Leftover barren material is used as rock-fill in the underground mine.

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