Blasting method for beneficiating minerals

Abstract

A blasting method for beneficiating minerals comprising mining of a geological body ( 10 ) including a value portion ( 20 ) having at least a threshold content of a mineral to be extracted and a waste portion ( 30 ) relatively lean in content of a mineral to be extracted wherein mining comprises controlled blasting of the geological body ( 10 ) such that the value portion ( 20 ) fragments differently than the waste portion ( 30 ), the difference in fragmentation between the value portion ( 20 ) and the waste portion ( 30 ) enabling separation of a mineral stream concentrated in the mineral to be extracted from the waste portion ( 30 ).

1 . A blasting method for beneficiating minerals comprising mining of a geological body including a value portion having at least a threshold content of a mineral to be extracted and a waste portion relatively lean in content of a mineral to be extracted wherein mining comprises controlled blasting of the geological body such that the value portion fragments differently than the waste portion, the difference in fragmentation between the value portion and the waste portion enabling separation of a mineral stream concentrated in the mineral to be extracted from the waste portion. 
     
     
         2 . A method of  claim 1  wherein separation of the mineral stream concentrated in the mineral to be extracted is achieved by physical separation. 
     
     
         3 . A method of  claim 2  wherein physical separation is separation on the basis of fragment size. 
     
     
         4 . A method of  claim 3  wherein physical separation is by screening. 
     
     
         5 . A method of  claim 3  wherein blasting produces a fine material and a coarse material, said fine material having a higher concentration of said mineral to be extracted than said coarse material, the fine and coarse fractions being separated by physical separation. 
     
     
         6 . A method of  claim 5  wherein said blasting is controlled through a blasting design such that said waste portion of the geological body is fragmented to produce coarser material than material from said value portion of the geological body. 
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6  wherein blasting design comprises charge regulation to ensure highest explosive charge density corresponds with said value portion of the geological body and lowest explosive charge density corresponds with said waste portion of the geological body. 
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 7  wherein blasting involves use of a conventional pattern of blast holes and additional infill blast holes to increase explosive energy distribution in said value portion of said ore. 
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 2  wherein separation of the mineral stream concentrated in the mineral to be extracted is achieved by sorting, preferably dry sorting. 
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 1  wherein said geological body includes an ore body. 
     
     
         11 . A method of  claim 10  wherein said ore body contains at least a base metal or a precious metal.