AMICS Presentation MM2017

Hitachi 2018
Think Outside the Lab

Hitachi High Technologies
Advances in Automated Mineralogy and

Geo-Metallurgy using AMICS on Hitachi
SEM
Dr. Patrick Woo - Hitachi High-Tech. Canada, Inc.

Dr. Samuel Scheller – Bruker Nano, Germany
Hitachi Think Outside the Lab
2017
Presentation Overview
• Introduction to AMICS – automated mineralogy package

• General workflow
• SEM application examples
– Standard mineralogy in mining
– Advance characterizations in shale
• New workflow via Bruker’s MicroXRF
• AMICS live-demo thru Hitachi Table-top SEM TM3030plus
Introduction
2017
Introduction to AMICS
AMICS stands for Advanced Mineral Identification and Characterization System
Software package that automate/integrate the SEM and EDX system
Program to drive the SEM to survey

around the sample, then each part/feature
of the image will then be sub-divided for
further EDX analysis
Each part/feature are then be X-rayed and

indexed by a comprehensive mineralogical
database
2017
Particles are segmented/divided

based on local variation in BSE
signal grey scale
- Different color represent different

segment were x-ray will be
collected
Post processing
Each segment of the x-ray

spectra is compared against a
standard reference library for
feature classification
Features detected
BSE Image
Segmented Image image
02
AMICS applications
Typical work – Mining
applications
2017
Processes involved in a Typical Mineral Extraction Plant
SEM and Automated Mineralogy is one of the key tool for plant design
2017
FYI
2017
2017
Typical applications for AMICS
• Understand the grade/quality of the ores

• Standardization and Benchmarking
• Plant design and optimisation
• Degree of crushing of the ores
• Mineral liberation/locking
• Floatation/leaching design
• Waste management
2017
Liberation analysis with AMICS

Fe Ore Particle Grid showing Fe-Oxide~100% 2017
“Fully Liberated”
Fe Ore Particle Grid showing 50%<Fe-Oxide≤70% 2017
2017
Precious Metal Analysis with AMICS

2017
Precious Metal Studies

• Typically Au/Ag and Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru –type ores
• Due to the low-concentration nature of this type of
deposits, and the fact that particles are typically fine-
grained (<10 µm), need a fast but accurate approach –
Bright Phase Search method
• The overall modal composition of the sample is also
important to identify
– Minerals such as talc, mica, serpentine
– Deleterious elements such as As, Hg etc.
PGM
– Minerals/elements that could influence effectiveness and
increase use of leaching solution (i.e: Cu or Zn)
2017
Precious Metal Type – Post Analysis

– This information is important for
• Grade calculation
• Response of the mineral to flotation/leaching reagents
• Presence of any problematic elements such as As, Hg etc.
Type Distribution
(wt.%)
Gold (Au) 2.5
Electrum (AuAg) 1.8
PtPd-sulphides 46.6
PtPdsulphur- 2.8
arsenides
Pt-Alloy 15.7
PtPd-tellurides 30.6
2017
Size (big influence in processing method)

• Fine particles (<10 µm) in floatation a problem as it is more difficult to recover
• On the other hand, finer particles is better for leaching and large particles will consume more leaching
reagent
• For example this Au-containing particles are fine-grained and ideal for leaching (finer than 15 µm in size)
Gold Particle Size distribution

03
AMICS applications
Advance mineralogy
– O&G applications
2017
Interesting Facts about Shale
• Shale are abundance in

US
• More than 30 states
overlie shale
formations
• ~4.5M barrels per day of

crude oil were produced
directly shale oil. This is
about 45% of total US
crude oil production (Jan-
June 2017)
Source: EIA
2017
Understanding its Mineralogy - Automated SEM
Shale is fragile, fine-grained and complex.

Understanding the mineral content would
require lots of data sampling at high
magnification
This is where advanced sample prep and

automated mineralogy comes into play!!!
Shale – sample preparation using Ion milling
Specimen
processed
area
Specimen
Stub
Mask
Inspire Innovation Through Collaboration Copyright © 2014 Hitachi High Technologies Canada, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 21
Taking one image field as an example 2017
15µm
BSE segmented Mineral Identified
X-ray collection region are automatically done by looking at the local

variation in BSE contrast.
Approximately 5000 x-rays are collected per frame
Correlate with EDX mapping 2017
Zircon
Albite
Quartz/clay mix
Calcite
Pyrite
Kaolinite (no K)
Illite (with K)
Lower Bakken Shale (Prepared using IM4000) – Data from EERC North Dakota
Hitachi
2017
Think Outside theAutomated
Advance Lab Mineralogy with AMICS
5kV SEM image 20kV
(1) No classification
due to x-ray overlap
between the
organics and
mineral underneath
Lower kV could also

provide better special
resolution for fine grained
materials (minimize
overlap between
neighboring crystals)
The same spot collect at 20kV, overlapped with orthoclase below resulted as no classification
Spectrum collect at 5kV, no overlap (classified as organics)
2016
Analyzing shale at low voltage…..
 Better special resolution
! Much slower measurement speed

20kV – 20ms/x-ray
5kV – 80ms/x-ray
Example: 5000 x-ray/field = 100s (20kV) vs 400s (5kV)

2017
How to speed up the x-ray acquisition
Collect x-ray with a better solid angle

using an annular X-ray detector
Gain compared to other detector

Solid angle:
10 mm²: 100 X
30 mm²: 30 X
60 mm²: 16 X
2017
Standard 60mm x-ray – 60ms

BFQ – 60mm annular – 7ms
X-ray acquisition
time speed up by
~8x
55 fields – 5h20min
40µm

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Hitachi 2018

Think Outside the Lab

Advances in Automated Mineralogy and

Dr. Patrick Woo - Hitachi High-Tech. Canada, Inc.

• Introduction to AMICS – automated mineralogy package

AMICS stands for Advanced Mineral Identification and Characterization System

Software package that automate/integrate the SEM and EDX system

Program to drive the SEM to survey

Each part/feature are then be X-rayed and

Particles are segmented/divided

- Different color represent different

Each segment of the x-ray

Processes involved in a Typical Mineral Extraction Plant

Typical applications for AMICS

• Understand the grade/quality of the ores

Liberation analysis with AMICS

Precious Metal Analysis with AMICS

Precious Metal Studies

Precious Metal Type – Post Analysis

Size (big influence in processing method)

Gold Particle Size distribution

Interesting Facts about Shale

• Shale are abundance in

• ~4.5M barrels per day of

Understanding its Mineralogy - Automated SEM

Shale is fragile, fine-grained and complex.

This is where advanced sample prep and

BSE segmented Mineral Identified

X-ray collection region are automatically done by looking at the local

5kV SEM image 20kV

Lower kV could also

Analyzing shale at low voltage…..

 Better special resolution

! Much slower measurement speed

Example: 5000 x-ray/field = 100s (20kV) vs 400s (5kV)

How to speed up the x-ray acquisition

Collect x-ray with a better solid angle

Gain compared to other detector

Standard 60mm x-ray – 60ms

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