The new analyser enables accurate real-time elemental concentration measurement of gold, platinum and other valuable metals in ore feed, concentrate and tailings streams.

According to Metso Outotec, this is critical for establishing efficient process control to improve process stability and maximize recovery.

The company cited Lauri Veki, metallurgist at Agnico Eagle's Kittilä gold mine in northern Finland as saying: "Agnico Eagle Kittilä has used the new on-stream analyser for flotation control and optimisation since October 2019. Measurement information provided by the Courier 6G SL has enabled more efficient control of the pre-flotation circuit and helped to reduce gold losses." 

The Courier 6G SL on-stream analyser builds on the 6X SL product with a more powerful X-ray tube and measurement channels optimised for direct on-line measurement of gold and other elements from calcium to uranium.

The system can measure up to 24 individual process streams - each with an individually adjustable measurement time - to ensure optimal accuracy and sampling frequency in complex polymetallic flotation circuits.

The analyser combines Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (WDXRF) and Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) technologies with a high-power X-ray tube.

It also features an automatic internal reference measurement for stability under changing environmental conditions.