Authors:
Marcus Félix Magalhães, Ana Carolina Chieregati, Dusan Ilic, Rodrigo Magalhães de Carvalho, Mariana Gazire Lemos, Homero Delboni Jr.
Abstract:
Cross-stream cutters are widely used in the mining and resources industry to obtain representative samples of particulate flows. Discrete element modelling (DEM) and analysis can be used to investigate influences of operational parameters, sampler design and material physical properties in the generation of the Increment Extraction Error (IEE) which, when present, results in a frequently biased, non-representative sample.
The study investigates the practicality of the rules and recommendations proposed by Dr. Pierre Gy that were developed and established as principles for the correct extraction of samples in industrial sampling equipment. Results validate Pierre Gy’s sampling theory using DEM in a cross-stream cutter of a sulphide gold plant. Importantly, the outcomes indicate that careful consideration must be given to physical ore properties and, consequently, that sampling systems should be developed specifically for each application.
Keywords:
Sampling, discrete element modeling, processing, gold plant