Spectral tomography for 3D element detection and mineral analysis


Spectral tomography for 3D element detection and mineral analysis

Da Assuncao Godinho, J. R.; Westaway-Heaven, G. J.; Renno, A.; Boone, M.

This paper demonstrates the potential of a new 3D imaging technique, Spectral Computed To-mography (Sp-CT), to identify heavy elements inside materials, which can be used to classify mineral phases. The method combines the total X-ray transmission measured by a normal pol-ychromatic X-ray detector, and the transmitted X-ray energy spectrum measured by a detector that discriminates between X-rays with energies of about 1.1 keV resolution. Analysis of the en-ergy spectrum allows to identify sudden changes of transmission at k-edge energies that are specific of each element. The additional information about the elements in a phase improves the classification of mineral phases from grey-scale 3D images that would be otherwise difficult due to artefacts or to the lack of contrast between phases. The ability to identify the elements inside the minerals that compose ore particles and rocks is crucial to broaden the application of 3D imaging in Earth sciences research and mineral process engineering, which will represent an important complement to traditional 2D imaging mineral characterization methods. In this pa-per, the first applications of sp-CT to classify mineral phases are showcased and the limitations and further developments are discussed.

Keywords: computed tomography; minerals engineering; raw materials; X-ray imaging; geometallurgy; 3D mineral classification; spectral tomography; sp-CT; 3D imaging

Related publications

  • 3D CT image
    ROBIS: 32534 HZDR-primary research data are used by this (Id 31296) publication

Permalink: https://www.hzdr.de/publications/Publ-31296
Publ.-Id: 31296