Mineral Research Centre works with MIM remotely
Mineral processing experts from the Sustainable Minerals
Institute's Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre have overcome
COVID-19-related travel restrictions to do remote testing via video streaming.
The JKMRC at the University of Queensland in Brisbane said
their remote survey coordination method allows them to engage with the copper
processing team and metallurgical laboratory at Glencore's Mount Isa mines site
in the same way they would have in person.
JKMRC Senior Research Fellow and Process Performance
Specialist Lizette Verster said surveying, diagnosing and identifying
improvement opportunities for processing plants generally requires hands-on
testing alongside mine personnel.
"Usually when one conducts a survey like this, it would
involve a team of researchers travelling to a site, staying there for a minimum
of a week, and working closely with site personnel," Ms Verster said.
"In this case, rather than us having a representative
attend the site who coordinates the work, Glencore nominated an on-site
representative who took responsibility and worked with us to ensure they had
the information required to perform the survey."
She said the JKMRC team set up a video link between the
copper processing team and metallurgical laboratory so they could observe and
direct the test work as it was being performed.
"The most important aspect of this is establishing a
safe mobile link that is in line with the site's safety requirements," she
said.
"All remote viewing equipment allowed for hands-free
operation and was protected against dust and water exposure. "We opted to
mount a smartphone on a hard hat or, alternatively a chest harness, that
allowed site personnel to freely move around the plant while continuously
streaming audio-visual data, and allowing for two-way communication."
Ms Verster said the experience the JKMRC team had at Mount
Isa bodes well for using the method in the future.
"We are definitely pursuing this method going forward
as it allows for the effective remote coordination of site work," she
said. "It also provides greater flexibility of survey timing which means
one can make better use of operational windows for successful survey execution
that doesn't have to be pre-determined weeks in advance.
"The key to success is communication and lots of
upfront planning and we are fortunate to have a close relationship with
Glencore and are working with them on a number of projects."
Glencore's Mount Isa Mines Senior Process Engineer, Roxanne
O'Donnell, was impressed with the ease in using video streaming to enable the
remote testing.
"This approach minimised the need for people to come
onsite and proved very effective in streamlining the analysis of our mineral
processing operations," Ms O'Donnell said.
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