Beneficiation arrangement, method and use of the arrangement
The beneficiation arrangement improves sensor-based sorting in mining by using multiple sensors and robots to optimize energy use and separation efficiency, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- AU · AU
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- METSO OUTOTEC USA INC
- Filing Date
- 2026-06-25
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-16
AI Technical Summary
Existing sensor-based stream sorting technologies in mining are inadequate for high-throughput applications, requiring substantial energy consumption and lacking effective methods to efficiently separate valuable and worthless materials early in the processing chain.
A beneficiation arrangement utilizing multiple sensors, including a first sensor for initial assessment and a second, more accurate sensor activated when the first sensor fails, combined with a sorting station and robots to separate materials based on sensor data, optimizing energy use by minimizing high-energy sensor application.
Enhances measurement accuracy and reduces energy consumption by selectively activating high-energy sensors only when necessary, achieving efficient separation of valuable and worthless materials at high throughput rates.
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Abstract
Description
CROSS REFERENCE This patent application is a further application for an invention disclosed in Australian patent application no. 2020323233, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 5 FIELD The present invention relates to a beneficiation arrangement, for example, within the mining industry. 10 BACKGROUND When extracting minerals or other valuable materials from the earth, resource consumption, such as power and water, is coming more and more into focus. As the grade of the available global deposits is ever decreasing and most high-grade deposits are depleting quickly, more energy must be invested to obtain a given 15 amount of e.g. metal ore since processing and rejecting worthless material causes poor productivity. There is research available indicating that well above 90 % of the energy consumed in the comminution process ends in heat and does not contribute to the liberation / beneficiation process which means that if it is possible to sort out worthless material as early as possible, substantial energy savings are possible. A 20 solution is to apply coarse rejection technologies to be able to remove barren material as early in the process as possible. This will minimize the tonnage that has to be transported, comminuted, and processed. Different approaches to this dilemma have been presented throughout the years. For example, sensor based bulk ore sorting is used to separate large volumes of gangue from more valuable 25 ore volumes. Low-grade ore bodies generally contain a large proportion of liberated barren gangue, or, in other words, material of no worth which can be rejected from coarse feed which will increase the grade of the ore proceeding to the next stage of processing and avoids feeding the plant with material that only incur processing 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 costs such that less tons of ore must be treated per ton of product, thus reducing the energy and water consumption per ton of product. Since gangue tends to be high in silicates and typically harder than the minerals to be liberated, removal of this hard and barren material prior to comminution stages also has the potential to 5 significantly reduce energy consumption and processing costs and may also reduce ore transport requirements. This can be done by separating large volumes of barren gangue from a fully loaded conveyor belt based on the grade as determined by sensor measurement. A variety of sensors are available, and commonly include photometric, electromagnetic, radiometric and x-ray. The sensors are normally 10 applied to loaded truck boxes or fully loaded conveyor belts such that bulk quantities of ore can be evaluated. Another approach is to control and perform blasting of the geological body to be mined such that a beneficiation is achieved. US-2014 / 0144342 describes a 15 method for blasting which achieves that those parts of the geological body to be mined having a higher grade have the finest fraction post-blasting whereas less valuable parts, such as gangue, have larger fractions. The more valuable, finer fractions can then be separated from the less valuable fractions by means of a screening device or other separation equipment. 20 Yet another known method is sensor-based stream sorting. The concept as such is known from e.g. waste recycling and food processing and those systems have been adapted and modified to better suit the specific needs of the mining industry. However, throughput for these systems have proven to be much too small 25 to be of real relevance, often ~100 tons per hour whereas mining applications generally requires several or even many thousands of tons per hour. Any reference to prior art in the background above or elsewhere in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or any form of 30 suggestion that the referenced prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or in any other country. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 SUMMARY it would be beneficial to at least lessen to some extent the above-mentioned shortcomings, especially those related to sensor-based stream sorting. 5 This invention provides a beneficiation arrangement for use with geological material. According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a beneficiation arrangement for beneficiating a geological material, comprising: 10 a beneficiation path along which the geological material is displaced, a sensor station on the beneficiation path comprising a plurality of sensors for determining a property of the geological material and providing sensing information, wherein the sensor station comprises a first sensor for determining a property 15 of the geological material, and a second sensor for determining the property of the geological material more accurately than the first sensor, wherein the second sensor is activated in dependence upon sensing information retrieved by the first sensor, when the first sensor is unable to sense the property of the geological material with a threshold accuracy, and then sorting the 20 geological material based on the sensing information of the activated second sensor. The second sensor may be arranged in series with the first sensor on the beneficiation path, and the second sensor may be positioned downstream of the 25 first sensor. The first sensor may comprise a first sensor type, and the second sensor may comprise a second sensor type that is different to the first sensor type. 30 The first and second sensor types may be selected from a group comprising: laser sensor; camera; color sensor; photometric sensor; magnetic resonance sensor; radiometric sensor; near-infrared sensor; Lidar; Radar; x-ray; weight sensor. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 The second sensor may require more energy than the first sensor to operate. Accordingly, the second sensor is more expensive to operate than the first sensor. 5 The first sensor type may comprise a laser sensor, a camera sensor, or a color sensor. The second sensor type may comprise an X-ray sensor. 10 The beneficiation arrangement may comprise a control unit that receives information from the first and second sensors, processes the sensing information, and sends out instructions based on the sensing information. The sensing information received by the control unit may be combined by the 15 control unit in a fusion process. The beneficiation arrangement may further comprise a sorting station that is positioned downstream of the sensor station along the beneficiation path. The sorting station may sort the geological material based on the sensed property of the 20 geological material. The sorting station may carry out its sorting function based on information received from the first and second sensors of the sensor station. 25 The sorting station may comprise at least one robot that is arranged so that it can sort geological material transported along the beneficiation path. The beneficiation arrangement may further include a separation arrangement upstream of the sensor station on the beneficiation path. The separation 30 arrangement may divide the geological material into a plurality of material flows. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 The geological material mqay be divided into a plurality of material flows by means of a screening arrangement that divides the geological material into different material flows based on particle size. 5 The geological material may be divided into a plurality of material flows based on the structure of the geological material. The beneficiation arrangement may comprise a further sensor station downstream of the sorting station along the beneficiation path. The further sensing 10 station may comprise at least one sensor for sensing the property of the geological material and relaying the sensing information back to the control unit. The further sensor station may comprise a first sensor for determining the property of the geological material, and a second sensor for determining the 15 property of the geological material more accurately than the first sensor. The second sensor may be activated in dependence upon sensing information retrieved by the first sensor, when the first sensor is unable to sense the property of the geological material with a threshold accuracy. 20 The beneficiation arrangement may further comprise a further sorting station downstream of the further sensing station along the beneficiation path. The beneficiation arrangement may include any features or combinations of 25 features, of a beneficiation arrangement in any other aspect or embodiment in the summary section. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for beneficiating a geological material, comprising: 30 transporting the geological material along the beneficiation path to a sensor station comprising a plurality of sensors, including a first sensor for determining a property of the geological material, and a second sensor for determining a property of the geological material that is arranged downstream of the first sensor, 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 - wherein the second sensor more accurately determines a property of the geological material than the first sensor, and the second sensor is activated in dependence upon sensing information retrieved by the first sensor when the first sensor is unable to sense the property of the 5 geological material with a threshold accuracy, and - sorting the geological material based on the sensing information of the activated second sensor. The second sensor may be positioned downstream of the first sensor. 10 The method may further include transporting the geological material from the sensor station to a sorting station along the beneficiation path. The method may further include sorting the geological material at the sorting 15 station. The method may include feeding the geological material through an entrance onto the beneficiation path. 20 The method may further include transporting the geological material from the sorting station to an exit, where the geological material leaves the beneficiation arrangement. The beneficiation arrangement may include any features or combinations of 25 features, of a beneficiation arrangement in any other aspect or embodiment in the summary section. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a beneficiation arrangement for use with geological material, comprising an entrance area for the 30 geological material and a first sensor station comprising a plurality of sensors for determining a property of the geological material. It further comprises a first sorting station for sorting the geological material as well as an exit area where the geological material leaves the beneficiation arrangement. The beneficiation arrangement 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 further comprises a conveying system for transportation of the geological material. The conveying system extends between the entrance area and the exit area, and the first sensor station is arranged along this conveying system, downstream of the entrance area. Further, the first sorting station is also arranged along the conveying 5 system downstream of the first sensor station and the operation of the first sorting station is based on information retrieved by the first sensor station. A first sensor for determining a property of the content of the geological material is arranged upstream of a second sensor and the second sensor may be 10 activated depending on information retrieved by the first sensor. In an embodiment, the arrangement may provide the advantage that the outcome of the first sensor is used to determine if the second sensor should be applied at all and if so, to what extent it should be used. For example, if information 15 retrieved from the first sensor results in non-activation of the second sensor, the energy requirement may be reduced, and available computational capacity may be used for better purposes. Further, the sensor station can be used to obtain relevant parameters about the geological material, such as metal ore, and the data obtained at the sensor station is then used to control the downstream sorting station where 20 the geological material can, for example, be sorted into one stream of more valuable material, which can be forwarded to further treatment and one stream of less valuable material which can be transported for disposal. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the 25 entrance area comprises a separation arrangement for dividing the geological material in a plurality of material flows before reaching the conveying system. This has the advantage that each part-flow can be treated optimally in the beneficiation arrangement. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the conveying system comprises separate tracks for each of the material flows. By providing separate tracks it is possible to convey and sort the material in parallel flows. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a track bypasses the first sensor station and the first sorting station. Sometimes, if other, previous pre-concentration means have been sufficiently successful, it is possible 5 to guide a part of the geological material past the sensor station and sorting station and directly to subsequent treatment facilities, such as a downstream comminution line. The purpose of beneficiation is to only treat those parts of the flow of geological material that requires treatment. Usually, what is meant by treatment in this field is comminution but if a part of the material has already been determined to have a 10 sufficient grade, there is no point in having it pass the sensors and sorting station. This would only consume beneficiation capacity that could be better used for other parts of the flow, or you could even argue that it would cause increased energy needed with no benefit. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the plurality of material flows is divided by means of a screening arrangement dividing the flow of materials based on particle size. This has several advantages. Often, particle size post blasting can be used to estimate grade. As discussed in US-2014 / 0144342, the teachings and content of which is incorporated by reference 20 herein, more valuable parts of the ore body will have finer fraction whereas less valuable, barren material, gangue, will break into coarser fractions. One possibility is, for example, to have the finest particles, or particles in a finer range, bypass the sensor station and sorting station and continue directly to further comminution. 25 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the first sensor station comprises a plurality of sensors. By using multiple sensors, measurement accuracy can be improved. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the 30 plurality of sensors comprises different sensor types. By measuring different properties of the geological material, measurement accuracy can be further improved, and the sorting station can be fed with information of higher quality. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the plurality of sensors comprises sensor types selected from a group comprising but not limited to laser sensor; camera; color sensor; photometric sensor; magnetic resonance sensor; radiometric sensor; near-infrared sensor; Lidar; Radar; x-ray; 5 gamma ray spectrometers; weight sensor. These are all applicable and the type of sensors could be selected depending on which geological material is to be evaluated. Different sensors have different benefits in the evaluation process, some measure based on outside parameters, like laser scanner and cameras, some screen the internal parameters, like x-ray sensors. 10 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, at least a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second type are arranged in series within the first sensor station. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a plurality of sensors is arranged in series within the first sensor station, in particular 2-10 sensors, more particularly 2-7 sensors, even more particularly 3-6 sensors. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a first 20 sensor is arranged upstream of a second sensor and wherein the second sensor is activated depending on information retrieved by the first sensor. This has several advantages. The application of sensors will always imply certain power requirements. By arranging the sensors in a way that the outcome of a first, upstream sensor is used to determine if a second, downstream sensor should be 25 applied at all and if so, to what extent it must be used. If the first sensor can determine with a probability that exceeds a given threshold value that a particle of geological material has a certain property, for example that it is of no value, then any downstream sensors need not to be applied and thereby energy requirements is reduced, and available computational capacity can be used for better purposes. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the sensors are serially arranged in an upstream-downstream arrangement and wherein 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 a downstream sensor is activated depending on information retrieved by one or more of upstream sensor / s. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the 5 sensors comprise sensors of different types. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, at least two of the sensors are arranged in parallel with each other. In some situations, it can be advantageous to have two or more sensors perform their measurements 10 simultaneously, for example to enhance measurement accuracy. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the at least two sensors arranged in parallel with each other are arranged in series with at least one further sensor. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the output data of the sensors is arranged to be combined in a fusion process. Each of the sensors used has certain advantages and disadvantages. The aim of sensor fusion is to use the advantages of the individual sensor to precisely understand the 20 environment. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the fusion process is done as direct fusion. 25 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the direct fusion is done by using sensor data from heterogeneous and / or homogeneous sensors and / or soft sensors and / or history values of sensor data. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the 30 fusion process is done as indirect fusion. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the indirect fusion is done using previous knowledge about the environment and / or human input. 5 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the fusion process is done as a combination of direct fusion and indirect fusion. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the fusion process is done in a centralized manner. In this embodiment, the sensors 10 forward their output data to a central computational unit which takes care of the correlating and fusing of the data as well as any decision making based on the outcome. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the 15 fusion process is done in a decentralized manner. In this embodiment, the sensors do not simply forward their output data to a central computational unit. Instead, each or at least some of the units handle correlation and fusing themselves and they have a certain amount of autonomy when it comes to how the outcome is used and what decisions to make based thereon. 20 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, some of the sensors are arranged in a competitive configuration. This can, for example, be used to detect sensors that are not working correctly. For example, a sensor station may comprise more than one sensor capable of determining the size of a 25 particle of geological material, e.g. a laser scanner and a camera. It is then possible to have these two sensors work in a competitive configuration to see if they deliver comparable results. If not, error correction could be considered. It is thus not necessary or even required that the sensors work in a competitive configuration all the time. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, at least some of the sensors are arranged in a complementary configuration. In a complementary configuration, a plurality of sensors supplies different information 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 about the same geological material. During continuous operation, this is often more energy efficient than the competitive configuration. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, sensors 5 are arranged in a manner such that less energy requiring sensors are arranged upstream of more energy requiring sensors. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a more energy requiring sensors is activated in dependence of information retrieved by a 10 less energy requiring sensor. This arrangement makes considerable energy-saving possible. Some sensor types are extremely energy intensive, for example x-ray, and if those sensors should be applied to the entire flow of material, which can exceed 3500 tons per hour, sometimes more than 6000 tons per hour and in certain applications even more than 15000 tons per hour, enormous amounts of energy 15 would be required. Thus, even if x-ray is a good way of improving measurement accuracy, its energy consumption makes it impossible to apply continuously. The present invention instead makes it possible to apply sensors with high energy consumptions only in cases where previous, upstream and less energy intense sensors have not been able to establish the characteristics of a geological particle 20 with a sufficiently high probability. Only when the data of previous sensors is not enough to determine if a particle is valuable or not, more energy intense sensors, such as x-ray, should be applied. This brings about considerable energy savings while maintaining excellent measurement accuracy. 25 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the first sorting station comprises at least one robot arranged to sort geological material being transported by the conveying system. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the first 30 sorting station comprises a group of robots. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the robots of the first sorting station comprise deflectors. Sometimes, deflectors are better suited to divert particles into the correct stream. 5 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the group of robots are arranged in an upstream-downstream arrangement along the track of the conveying system. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, 10 separate tracks of the conveying system comprise separate first sorting stations. Since different tracks will convey geological material having different properties, e.g. particles of different size, it is advantageous to have separate robot sorting stations for each track. Smaller particles will probably require less powerful robots but instead speed is more relevant to being able to handle more particles per hour. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the at least one robot arranged to sort geological material comprises gripping means for picking and placing geological material. 20 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the at least one robot arranged to sort geological material comprises vacuum suction means for picking and placing geological material. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the at 25 least one robot arranged to sort geological material comprises pushing means for moving geological material during sorting thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the entrance area comprises openings having pre-defined width and / or height. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the width and / or height of the openings are adapted to a particle size of the respective tracks such the particles can only pass through the openings one at the time. The information of the sensors will be much more reliable if they can perform their 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 measurements on individual particles. The solution with openings having predetermined opening size will prevent particles of geological material from entering the conveying system in groups. Instead, the particles will enter one by one such that the system can differentiate between the individual particles. 5 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the conveying system comprises one or more conveyor belts per track. Conveyor belts are a convenient way of transporting geological material, such as ore. 10 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, at least one of the tracks comprises more than one conveyor belt and wherein the conveyor belts are arranged to be operated at different speeds. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a 15 conveyor belt of the tracks is operated at a speed exceeding the feed rate of geological material. This will ensure that the adjacent particles will become distanced from each other such that the system will be able to evaluate each particle individually. If the sensors are allowed to measure one particle at a time, measurement accuracy will be greatly improved. 20 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the conveying system comprises one or more conveyor belts per track. Using two or more conveyor belts per track makes it possible to provide continuous sorting of material. A first conveyor belt can, for example, transport the particles that have 25 been considered valuable towards further comminution. A second conveyor belt can transport the particles that have been considered to have little or no value towards gangue dumps or similar. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a 30 further sensor station and / or sorting station is arranged between the first sorting station and the exit area. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a further sensor station and a further sorting station are arranged between the first sorting station and the exit area. 5 In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the beneficiation arrangement is arranged to use information retrieved by at least the further sensor station for system optimization. The further sensor station can be used as quality assurance and can operate continuously as a last stage sensor and sorting station or can be applied at regular intervals as a control stage to determine 10 if the system with the first sensor station and first sorting station is operating as intended. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, the information retrieved by at least the further sensor station is relayed back into the 15 system for quality check purposes. In accordance with an embodiment of the beneficiation arrangement, a control unit is provided. The control unit is arranged to obtain information from all other parts of the beneficiation arrangement and to process the information and 20 send out instructions to the parts of the beneficiation arrangement based on that information. According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for beneficiation of geological material, comprising the following steps: 25 - feeding the geological material through an entrance area; - transporting the geological material from the entrance area to a first sensor station comprising a plurality of sensors by means of a conveying system, wherein a first sensor is arranged upstream of a second sensor and wherein the second sensor is activated depending on information retrieved by the first sensor; 30 - determining a property of the geological material by means of said plurality of sensors; - transporting the geological material from the first sensor station to a first sorting station by means of the conveying system; 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 - sorting the geological material; and - transporting the geological material from the first sorting station to an exit area where the geological material leaves the beneficiation arrangement, wherein the operation of the first sorting station is based on information 5 retrieved by said first sensor station. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of separating the geological material in a plurality of material flows at or near the entrance area before reaching the conveying system. 10 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of having at least one of the material flows bypassing the first sensor station and the first sorting station. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of using a screening arrangement for dividing the flows of materials based on particle size. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further 20 comprises the step of applying a plurality of sensors in the first sensor station. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of applying different sensor types. 25 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of selecting type of sensors from a group comprising: laser sensor; camera; color sensor; photometric sensor; magnetic resonance sensor; radiometric sensor; near-infrared sensor; Lidar; Radar; x-ray; weight sensor. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging at least a first sensor of a first type and a second sensor of a second type in series within the first sensor station. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging a plurality of sensors in series within the first sensor station, in particular 2-10 sensors, more particularly 2-7 sensors, even more particularly 3-6 sensors. 5 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging a first sensor upstream of a second sensor and such that the second sensor is activated depending on information retrieved by the first sensor. 10 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging the sensors serially in an upstream-downstream arrangement and such that a downstream sensor is activated depending on information retrieved by one or more upstream sensor / s. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of applying sensors of different types. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further 20 comprises the step of arranging at least two of the sensors in parallel with each other. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging the at least two sensors arranged in parallel with 25 each other in series with at least one further sensor. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of combining the output data of the sensors in a fusion process. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of performing the fusion process in a centralized manner. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of performing the fusion process in a centralized manner. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further 5 comprises the step of arranging at least some of the sensors in a competitive configuration. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging at least some of the sensors in a complementary 10 configuration. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging sensors in a manner such that less energy requiring sensors are arranged upstream of more energy requiring sensors. 15 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging sensors such that a more energy requiring sensors is activated in dependence of information retrieved by a less energy requiring sensor. 20 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging at least one robot arranged to sort geological material being transported by the conveying system at the first sorting station. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further 25 comprises the step of arranging a group of robots at the first sorting station. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging the group of robots in an upstream-downstream arrangement along the track of the conveying system. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the method further comprises the step of arranging separate first sorting stations at the separate tracks of the conveying system. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the at least one robot arranged to sort geological material comprises gripping means for picking and placing geological material. 5 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the at least one robot arranged to sort geological material comprises vacuum suction means for picking and placing geological material. 10 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the at least one robot arranged to sort geological material comprises pushing means for moving geological material during sorting thereof. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the conveying system 15 comprises separate tracks for each of the material flows. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the entrance area comprises openings having pre-defined width and / or height. 20 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the width and / or height of the openings are adapted to a particle size of the respective tracks such the particles can only pass through the openings one at the time. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the conveying system 25 comprises one or more conveyor belts per track. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, at least one of the tracks comprises more than one conveyor belt and wherein the conveyor belts are arranged to be operated at different speeds. 30 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, a conveyor belt of the tracks is operated at a speed exceeding the feed rate of geological material. 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 In accordance with an embodiment of the method, a further sensor station and / or sorting station is arranged between the first sorting station and the exit area. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, a further sensor station 5 and a further sorting station are arranged between the first sorting station and the exit area. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the beneficiation arrangement is arranged to use information retrieved by at least the further sensor 10 station for system optimization. In accordance with an embodiment of the method, the information retrieved by at least the further sensor station is relayed back into the system for quality check purposes. 15 Similarly, and correspondingly to the arrangement disclosed above, the embodiment of this method in accordance with this second aspect will provide substantial advantages over prior art solutions. 20 Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features. Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their 25 ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to “a / an / the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. 30 As used herein, the term “comprising” and variations of that term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 The invention will be described in more detail and with reference to the appended drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic structure of the beneficiation arrangement in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention. 5 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplifying embodiments of the invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many 10 different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout. 15 Referring now to figure 1, it can be seen that the beneficiation arrangement 100 may start with a feeding arrangement, such as a feeding conveyor 10 which feeds geological material, such as ore or other geological material which may benefit from the invention. The feeding conveyor 10 may obtain the material from an intermediate storage of material, directly from dump trucks or in any other suitable 20 manner. The material is typically run of mine ore coming directly from blasting and no previous crushing or similar has yet been performed. However, to avoid damage to the equipment, some type of size check is required. This could be done by using a so-called grizzly feeder. The feeding conveyor 10 may then, if necessary, transport the material to a primary crusher 20, such as a jaw crusher or gyratory crusher which 25 reduces the particle size prior to further processing. Typically, a primary crusher reduces particle size to <250mm, often to a size between 100-200mm. After the primary crusher 20, the material arrives at a screening arrangement 30, which splits the flow of material into for example three different material flows F1, F2 and F3. The difference between these material flows being the size of the particles. In one 30 embodiment, F1 may comprise particles having a size between 150-250mm; F2 may comprise particles having a size between 100-150mm and F3 may comprise particles having a size between 75-100mm. However, it should be noted that these 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 particle sizes are only exemplary, and large variations may occur depending on the geological material to be treated, blasting methods and equipment used. Further, the invention is by no means limited to three flows of material. In some situations, a single flow will suffice whereas in other cases more than three will be necessary. 5 Further, in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, an additional flow of material FG is provided. As discussed earlier, it is possible to use other pre-concentrations technologies in combination with the beneficiation arrangement of the invention. One example is to 10 use an optimized blasting method, as described in e.g. US2014 / 0144342, which will cause higher grade parts of the ore body to break into relatively fine fractions whereas parts of the ore body having lower grade will typically break into coarser fractions. This can be utilized such that the finest fractions will be extracted in the screening process at 30 and immediately transported towards further comminution. 15 If it is confirmed that the pre-concentration, for example by applying suitable blasting methods, is successful, there is no need for this material to be further beneficiated, it can be fed directly into a comminution step. This saves energy consumption and / or makes it possible to increase throughput per hour. The flows of material F1, F2, and 20 F3 enter an entrance area 40 comprising three entrances 41, 42, and 43, one for each material flow F1, F2, and F3, each entrance being fed by a corresponding output from the screening arrangement 30. Each of these entrances 41, 42, and 43 comprises an opening having a pre-defined width and / or height. The width and / or height of these openings are adapted to the particle size of the respective material 25 flow F1, F2, and F3 such that the particles can only pass through the openings one at the time. This is advantageous in that it ensures that particles don’t leave the entrances 41, 42, and 43 lying on top of each other or in heaps. Instead, they will leave the entrance area 40 and enter a respective first conveyor belt of the conveying system CS one by one. 30 The openings of entrances 41, 42, and 43 can be provided in the form of combshaped elements, i.e. pipes or similar extending in a generally vertical plane keeping the particles laterally spaced apart. After leaving the entrance area 40, the particles 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 will be transported by the conveying system CS comprising one track per flow of material F1, F2, and F3. The conveying system CS typically comprises several conveyor belts, and at least one conveyor belt per track. The conveyor belts are preferably arranged to operate at a speed which is higher than the feeding rate 5 through the respective entrances 41, 42, and 43. This means that the particles will become laterally separated by the openings of the entrances 41, 42, and 43 and longitudinally separated by means of the higher speed of the conveyor belt. Together, these arrangements make sure that the particles are kept separated. 10 In a next step, the particles enter the first sensor station 50, 51, and 52. Note that in this embodiment, there are three first sensor stations 50, 51, and 52. One for each flow of material F1, F2, and F3, i.e. one for each particle size range. The first sensor stations 50, 51, and 52 each comprises several different sensors arranged to determine the content of the particles, i.e. to determine the amount of valuable 15 material, such as iron, gold, copper, or other material, present in each particle. The sensors are typically arranged in an upstream-downstream arrangement and are arranged such that the application of a downstream sensor is made dependent on the outcome of one or more upstream sensors. 20 It may be the case that some sensors are very accurate when it comes to determining the content of a particle but will have substantial energy requirements. One such sensor type is x-ray sensors. X-ray can determine the content to a high degree and could, if used to every particle, deliver very reliable output. But the drawback is that it requires large amounts of electricity. Other sensors, such as laser 25 scanners or cameras are less energy intensive but also less reliable in some situations. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, sensors using less energy are applied first and if they can deliver results, with a pre-defined level of 30 certainty, the use of downstream, more energy intensive sensors need not be used. For example, if an upstream sensor, such as a laser scanner, can establish that a given particle comprises valuable material in an amount above a pre-defined limit and that this information is at a level of certainty above a given threshold, there is 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 no need to apply downstream sensors, such as x-ray sensors. Thereby, energy can be saved. However, if upstream sensor / s are not capable to determine the amount of valuable material in a particle, downstream sensors are applied one after the other until a decision can be made. It is, however, also possible to apply the sensors 5 in more intricate manners. For example, if a first sensor determines that a particle seems to have a specific set of properties, it may, based on the outcome of previous measurements, be determined that this particle is best evaluated by a specific sensor or specific set of sensors of the sensor station. For example, a sensor arranged at a most upstream position, i.e. closest to the entrance area 40, 10 determines that a particle seems to have properties identical or at least similar to previously sensed particles which properties in the end were best determined by a specific sensor, such as an x-ray, or specific set of sensors, the system can activate that or those sensors immediately and avoid using sensors that previously have proven to be unsuccessful. It should also be noted in this respect that the sensors 15 applied in the sensor station need not all be actual, physical sensors. In addition, so-called soft sensors or virtual sensing means can be applied. These use information available from other measurements and process parameters to calculate an estimate of the quantity of interest and may be used to provide feasible and economical alternatives to costly or impractical physical measurement 20 instruments. The sensors can be arranged in a sensor fusion process. In accordance with one embodiment, direct fusion may be applied. Direct fusion is the fusion of data from a set of sensors, soft sensors, and historical values of sensor data. In accordance with one embodiment, indirect fusion may be applied which also uses information sources like a priori knowledge about the environment and also 25 human input. After leaving the first sensor station 50, 51, and 52 the first conveyor belt of the conveying system CS further transports the particles to first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62 comprising one or more sorting robots. It is advantageous if these conveyor 30 belts have a certain minimum length. This will give the system enough time to process the data obtained at the first sensor stations 50, 51, and 52 and decide on what action is required. Based on the data from the sensors, the system will send instructions to the first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62. At or near these first sorting 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 stations 60, 61, and 62, the conveying system CS comprises an additional conveyor belt running in parallel with the first conveyor belt. The robots of the first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62 will receive instructions to either leave a given particle on the first conveyor belt or to move this particle to the additional conveyor belt. Each 5 of the first and additional conveyor belts are assigned to either particles deemed valuable enough for further comminution or to particles which are deemed less valuable, and which will therefore be transported to a gangue dump or similar. The different first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62 each comprise one or more robots capable of sorting particles of the sizes of the respective material flows F1, F2, and 10 F3. Thus, the robots of a first sorting station 60, 61, and 62 may be arranged to handle larger particles than the robots of another first sorting station 60, 61, and 62. Generally, but not necessarily, the first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62 handling particles of smaller sizes, must be able to handle larger number of particles per time unit than the first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62 handling particles of larger sizes. 15 The robots may work in accordance with principle of pick and place by lifting the particle using any of a gripping means; a vacuum means; a magnetic means or any other suitable means or they may work as a deflector, guiding, or knocking the particles to a correct position on the first or additional conveyor belt. By arranging a plurality of robots in an upstream-downstream arrangement along the conveying 20 system, the system can be dimensioned to handle high volumes of material. And since the invention allows the use of conveyor belts having substantial lengths, there will be enough space for a high number of robots arranged in series, one after the other. Obviously, robots can be arranged on both sides of the conveyor belts as well. 25 After leaving the first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62, the particles continue to move along the first or the additional conveyor belt, towards a second sensing and sorting station 70, 71, and 72. This second sensing and sorting station 70, 71, and 72 may comprise a sensor station having, for example, an x-ray sensor and a sorting station 30 having a sorting robot. This second sensing and sorting arrangement may be in constant use evaluating the particles deemed to be of less value and if the system, based on the data from the second sensor station, indicates that a particle is indeed of interest for further comminution, the second sorting station may move the particle 2026204979 25 Jun 2026 back to the conveyor belt for valuable particles. The data obtained in this second sensing and sorting station 70, 71, and 72 may be used for quality check of the first sensor stations 50, 51, and 52 and first sorting stations 60, 61, and 62 and the results may be looped back into the system such that function will improve over time. 5 It is also possible to use this second sensing and sorting station 70, 71, and 72 in an intermittent manner, e.g. for regular quality checks or when processing geological material where the system has little or no previous experience and where the knowledge needs to be gathered in order to run-in the system properly. It can also be applied when new types of sensors are applied in the first sensor stations 50, 51, 10 and 52 which need to be fine-tuned. When leaving the second sensing and sorting station 70, 71, and 72, the particles of less value are transported to a gangue dump or similar and the valuable particles are transported for further beneficiation and comminution. 15 A control unit 100 is arranged to receive information from all other parts of the beneficiation arrangement, such as sensor data, robot sorting statistics, conveyor belt speed, feeding rate from primary crusher, flow ratio between the different material flow F1, F2, and F3 etc. Based on this input, the control unit decides on which actions are to be taken, i.e. instructions to the robots of the sorting 20 stations; required conveyor belts speeds; which sensors are to be applied and in which order, etc. The skilled person realizes that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the 25 invention, which is defined in the appended claims. For example, the skilled person realizes that the arrangement may not necessarily be connected to a central control unit which processes all the information and takes all the decisions in a centralized manner. Instead, the parts of the arrangement, such as the sensors, may themselves be responsible for processing the information obtained thereby, or even 30 by other parts of the arrangement, and take actions for correlating and fusing the data and may have a certain autonomy in decision making in a decentralized manner. Combinations of centralized and decentralized systems may also be applied.
Claims
1. A beneficiation arrangement for beneficiating a geological material,comprising:a beneficiation path along which the geological material is displaced,5 a sensor station on the beneficiation path comprising a plurality of sensorsfor determining a property of the geological material and providing sensing information,wherein the sensor station comprises a first sensor for determining a property of the geological material, and a second sensor for determining the property of the 10 geological material more accurately than the first sensor,wherein the second sensor is activated in dependence upon sensing information retrieved by the first sensor, when the first sensor is unable to sense the property of the geological material with a threshold accuracy, and then sorting the geological material based on the sensing information of the activated second 15 sensor.
2. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the second sensoris arranged in series with the first sensor on the beneficiation path, and the second sensor is positioned downstream of the first sensor.
203. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the firstsensor comprises a first sensor type, and the second sensor comprises a second sensor type that ais different to the first sensor type.25 4. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the first andsecond sensor types are selected from a group comprising: laser sensor; camera; color sensor; photometric sensor; magnetic resonance sensor; radiometric sensor; near-infrared sensor; Lidar; Radar; x-ray; weight sensor.30 5. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein thesecond sensor requires more energy than the first sensor.2026204979 25 Jun 20266. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 5, wherein the first sensortype comprises a laser sensor, a camera sensor, or a color sensor.
7. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the5 second sensor type comprises an X-ray sensor.
8. A beneficiation arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprisinga control unit that receives information from the first and second sensors, processes the sensing information, and sends out instructions based on the sensing 10 information.
9. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 8, wherein the sensinginformation received by the control unit is combined by the control unit in a fusion process.1510. A beneficiation arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a sorting station that is positioned downstream of the sensor station along the beneficiation path, wherein the sorting station sorts the geological material based on the sensed property of the geological material.2011. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the sorting station carries out its sorting function based on information received from the first and second sensors of the sensor station.25 12. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 10 or claim 11, wherein thesorting station comprises a robot that is arranged so that it can sort geological material transported along the beneficiation path.
13. A beneficiation arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further 30 including a separation arrangement upstream of the sensor station on the beneficiation path, wherein the separation arrangement divides the geological material into a plurality of material flows.2026204979 25 Jun 202614. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the geological material is divided into a plurality of material flows by means of a screening arrangement that divides the geological material into different material flows based on particle size.
515. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the geological material is divided into a plurality of material flows based on the structure of the geological material.10 16. A beneficiation arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 12,comprising a further sensor station downstream of the sorting station along the beneficiation path, the further sensing station comprising a sensor for sensing the property of the geological material and relaying the sensing information back to the control unit.1517. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the further sensor station comprises a first sensor for determining the property of the geological material, and a second sensor for determining the property of the geological material more accurately than the first sensor, wherein the second sensor is activated in 20 dependence upon sensing information retrieved by the first sensor, when the first sensor is unable to sense the property of the geological material with a threshold accuracy.
18. A beneficiation arrangement according to claim 16, further comprising a 25 further sorting station downstream of the further sensing station along the beneficiation path.
19. A method for beneficiating a geological material, comprising: transporting the geological material along the beneficiation path to a sensor30 station comprising a plurality of sensors, including a first sensor for determining a property of the geological material, and a second sensor for determining a property of the geological material that is arranged downstream of the first sensor,2026204979 25 Jun 202610- wherein the second sensor more accurately determines a property of the geological material than the first sensor, and the second sensor is activated in dependence upon sensing information retrieved by the first sensor when the first sensor is unable to sense the property of the geological material with a threshold accuracy, and- sorting the geological material based on the sensing information of the activated second sensor.
20. A method for beneficiating a geological material according to claim 19, wherein the second sensor is positioned downstream of the first sensor.