:: Falconbridge Expands with a New QEMSCAN^TM

Australian company Intellection Pty Ltd has installed a new QEMSCAN^TM 4300 into Falconbridge Technology Centre, Ontario. This is the second install for Falconbridge - their first was back in 1998.

As a leading low-cost producer of nickel, copper, cobalt and platinum group metals, Falconbridge are also one of the world’s largest recyclers and processors of metal-bearing materials. The move to acquire a second QEMSCAN^TM came about because of the increased demand for characterisation of new mineral deposits that Falconbridge are interested in. In addition, existing known deposits are getting more detailed ore characterisation treatment ahead of mining to forewarn the concentrators about what to expect for future feed. This acquisition is all part of a general expansion of Process Mineralogy support to Falconbridge and Noranda operations and exploration.

Falconbridge Chief Geoscientist, Dr Peter Whittaker found that the flexibility of an X-ray based automated mineral analysis system was crucial when dealing with both gangue and ore minerals simultaneously.

The capability of mapping complex mineral textures that involve gangue minerals is also imperative. Peter emphasised, "These were the features that helped to make our decision on a second QEMSCAN."

Gangue mineralogy plays an important role in mineral processing and metallurgical behaviour of an ore, so a solid capability to identify and measure gangue minerals is as important as dealing with ore minerals.

Intellection Pty Ltd is a global leader in automated, quantitative evaluation of minerals, rocks and man-made materials. Intellection's technology is built on a proud history of more than 20 years of scientific research and development at CSIRO Australia. In 2003, the company was formed to develop, market, service and support its unique QEM*SEM^® technology (Quantitative Evaluation of Materials using Scanning Electron Microscopy). Intellection continues to be the proud makers of QEMSCAN^TM with mining customers that include: Anglo Platinum, BHP Billiton, CVRD, Noranda-Falconbridge, Phelps Dodge and Rio Tinto. Intellection is based in Brisbane, Australia.