Minerals & Mining Application
Know your ore grade — before it leaves the belt
From the crusher to the loadout, minerals and mining operations depend on accurate, continuous grade measurement. ETI online analyzers deliver real-time elemental data directly on the conveyor — so operators can sort, blend, and route material based on measured composition, not lab results that arrive hours later.
The Challenge
Spot sampling tells you what was there. Online measurement tells you what's there now.
Traditional sampling and laboratory analysis introduce delays of hours or more. By the time a grade result arrives, the material has moved — into a stockpile, onto a conveyor, or into a process vessel. Decisions made on delayed data lead to dilution of high-grade reserves, off-spec product, and lost recovery.
ETI online analyzers measure the full material stream continuously on the conveyor belt, reporting updated results every minute. Process engineers see grade changes as they happen and can route or blend material before it reaches the next stage.
From Crusher to Loadout
Continuous grade data at every process decision point
Continuous measurement can support decisions at key points throughout the mining and processing chain — from primary crushing to product loadout.
At the crusher or primary conveyor
Measure run-of-mine or crushed ore grade as it leaves the primary crusher. Direct high-grade and low-grade material to separate stockpiles based on measured Fe, SiO₂, or target element content.
At stockpile & blending
Monitor grade entering and leaving blending stockpiles. Know the composition of each pile before committing to a blend or a processing sequence — reducing the risk of sending off-spec material to the next stage.
At the processing plant feed
Use real-time elemental data to proportion feed from different ore sources and hit target grade specifications before grinding, flotation, or beneficiation — reducing reagent consumption and improving recovery.
At product loadout
Confirm that product chemistry meets customer specification continuously on the loadout conveyor. Respond to grade deviations before material is loaded onto rail, truck, or ship.
ETI Instruments for Minerals & Mining
The right instrument for your measurement point
ETI offers instruments for elemental analysis, material weighing, and high-speed sorting — each suited to a different point in the mining and minerals processing chain.
Model 730 FSEA
The Model 730 FSEA uses PGNAA technology to measure the full elemental composition of ore and minerals on the belt — Fe, SiO₂, Al₂O₃, W, Cu, Ni, and more. The primary instrument for grade control across iron ore, metals, and aggregate operations.
- Fe
- SiO₂
- Al₂O₃
- CaO
- MgO
- P
- S
- K₂O
- Na₂O
- TiO₂
- Moisture
Model 500 Belt Scale
The Model 500 Nuclear Belt Scale measures material weight and flow rate continuously on the conveyor — providing the tonnage data needed to track production, manage stockpiles, and proportion blends accurately alongside elemental analysis.
- Material weight (tons/hour)
- Cumulative tonnage
- Belt speed
Model 2000 Sort Gate
The Model 2000 Sort Gate diverts material at high speed based on measured grade or composition — enabling operators to separate high-grade ore from waste or low-grade material in a single pass at full belt speed.
- High-speed diversion
- Grade-based sorting
- Reject stream separation
- Continuous operation
Where ETI Analyzers Are Used
Applications across minerals and mining operations
Iron ore mining & processing
Measure Fe and SiO₂ content on the primary conveyor to direct high-grade ore to the processing plant and low-grade material to waste or low-grade stockpiles. Monitor penalty elements P and Al₂O₃ to confirm product meets customer specification before loadout.
Copper & nickel/cobalt mining
The Model 730 FSEA measures copper and nickel in ore streams. ETI is actively developing and optimizing analyzer configurations for operations where these elements are the primary grade target. If you are evaluating online elemental analysis for a copper or nickel/cobalt application, we would like to hear from you.
Aggregate & construction materials
Monitor product chemistry and grade on the conveyor to confirm specification compliance before loadout. Use sort gate technology to separate on-spec and off-spec material streams at full production rates.
Tell us about your minerals or mining application
Our engineers can help you identify the right measurement point and instrument for your operation. Most inquiries receive a response within one business day.