Sensor-Based Ore Sorting Technology in Mining-Past, Present and Future

While the deposit qualities for mineral raw materials are constantly decreasing, the challenges for sustainable raw material processing are increasing. This applies not only to the demand for minimizing the consumption of energy, water, and reagents, but also to the reduction of residual materials, especially fine and difficult-to-landfill materials. Sensor-based ore sorting can be used as a separation process for coarser grain sizes before the application of fine comminution and separation technologies and is applicable for a large variety of mineral raw materials. Sensor-based ore sorting applies at various points in the process flow diagram and is suitable for waste elimination, for material diversion into different process lines, for the production of pre- and final concentrates, as well as for the reprocessing of coarse-grained waste dumps and other applications. The article gives an overview of the development and state of the art of sensor-based ore sorting for mineral raw materials and introduces various applications.