press release : 3 May 2005

Falconbridge expands with a new QEMSCAN™

ONTARIO, CANADA March 2005 - Australian company Intellection Pty Ltd has installed a new QEMSCAN™ 4300 into Falconbridge Technology Centre, Ontario.  This is the second install for Falconbridge – their first was back in 1998.

As a leading low-cost producer of nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals, Falconbridge are also one of the world’s largest recyclers and processors of metal-bearing materials.  The move to acquire a second QEMSCAN™ came about because of the increased demand for characterisation of new mineral deposits that Falconbridge are interested in.  In addition, existing known deposits are getting more detailed ore characterisation treatment ahead of mining to forewarn the concentrators about what to expect for future feed.  This acquisition is all part of a general expansion of Process Mineralogy support to Falconbridge and Noranda operations and exploration. 

Falconbridge Chief Geoscientist, Dr Peter Whittaker found that the flexibility of an X-ray based automated mineral analysis system was crucial when dealing with both gangue and ore minerals simultaneously.

The capability of mapping complex mineral textures that involve gangue minerals is also imperative. Peter emphasised, “These were the features that helped to make our decision on a second QEMSCAN.”  

Gangue mineralogy plays an important role in mineral processing and metallurgical behaviour of an ore, so a solid capability to identify and measure gangue minerals is as important as dealing with ore minerals.

For more information contact FEI