2023-News about sensor-based sorting solutions for Mining

TOMRA has installed a first X-Ray Transmission (XRT) sorter at Saloro’s tungsten mine in Barruecopardo, Spain. The sorter, implemented in the beneficiation stage, is consistently delivering a much higher head grade to the processing plant, significantly reducing costs.

QMAG Pty Limited, part of the Refratechnik group, owns the Kunwarara deposit of cryptocrystalline magnesite – one of the world’s largest – located in Central Queensland, Australia. It mines the ore using and open-pit method and processes it into high quality fused (FM), dead burnt (DBM) and caustic calcined (CCM) magnesia products at the nearby Parkhurst facility. It supplies the refractory, chemical, agricultural, environmental and hydrometallurgical sectors with its high-quality magnesia products.

The global demand for lithium is soaring, driven by the growing adoption of electric vehicles and grid-scale lithium-ion batteries for energy storage. Some forecasts project the demand to reach as much as 1.5 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent by 2025 – triple what it was in 2021 – and over 3 million tons by 2030.

TOMRA Mining’s unique experience in the design and installation of large-scale ore sorting plants and its collaborative approach was the key to the successful design of the world’s largest lithium sorting plant. The installation has already started and is expected to reach completion in late 2023.

TOMRA Mining will showcase its sensor-based ore sorting solutions on Booth M30-7 at the Mining Indaba 2023 exhibition, which will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 6-9 February. Of particular interest will be its latest innovation in diamond recovery, the COM XRT 300 /FR sorter, a unique new-generation machine that has the potential to revolutionise diamond flowsheets.

The priority at the top of the list of every diamond producer is to maximize diamond recovery, whilst optimizing costs as well as acting on the growing pressure to address corporate social responsibility and environmental issues.

In the Mining industry, men still far outnumber women, but the tide is turning. At TOMRA Mining, Women like Jordan Rutledge, are making their mark across our organization, and they have an interesting story to tell!

Anna Krause, Application Engineer at TOMRA Mining Test Center in Germany, is a shining example of the increasing presence of women in various organizational roles. Her journey in the mining industry is not just a testament to her individual growth, but also a fascinating narrative that reflects the evolving dynamics of the sector. Her experiences and insights offer a unique perspective on the industry, making her story intriguing.

TOMRA Mining invests in its operations in Australia to meet the rising demand for sensor-based sorting and be close to customers on the West Coast – the heart of the country’s mining sector – with the opening of a second office in Perth.