A Review of Standard Physical Ore Property Determinations

The physical properties of an orebody require determination for virtually all mining projects, new and existing. The extent and regularity of such determinations being subject to the size and homogeneity of the orebody. Such properties have an impact at the design stage of new plants, with respect to equipment specification, and thus effects capital costs; and also impacts on the operating costs of new and existing plants, with respect to power consumption, production levels and part replacements. All of these can severely alter the bottom line and can be the determining factor in the economic viability of many projects.This paper examines some of the most common properties that are measured, the procedures utilised in determining these properties, and their variability under conditions of reproducibility, and to a lesser extent repeatability.