Rock Sorting via Color and Linear Form Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods are inadequate for effectively sorting pieces of rock containing quartz veins from other types of rock, particularly in gold mining where gold is often concentrated near the edges of quartz veins, making it difficult to identify and separate narrow quartz veins.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize image processing to identify rocks with specific color criteria and linear formations, generating a control signal to direct a deviator device to sort rocks with quartz veins by determining the number of pixels with a predetermined color value and identifying linear forms between these areas and the rest of the rock, allowing for precise separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sorting methods are used, then sorting process is simple, but sorting precision for narrow quartz veins is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sorting process is divided into multiple sequential steps: color criteria evaluation, linear form detection, and sorting decision. This segmentation allows each step to focus on specific features, improving overall sorting precision for narrow quartz veins while managing system complexity through modular processing
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from conventional single-feature sorting to multi-dimensional analysis by evaluating both color criteria and linear forms simultaneously. This dimensional expansion enables detection of narrow quartz veins that would be invisible to conventional methods
2Productivity
If narrow quartz veins are targeted, then gold concentration efficiency improves, but detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different evaluation criteria to different aspects of the rock pieces: color criteria are applied to identify quartz-containing areas, while linear form detection is applied specifically to identify vein structures. This localized quality approach enables effective detection of narrow quartz veins for improved gold concentration
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses linear form detection as an intermediary feature to bridge the gap between color criteria and actual quartz vein identification. This intermediary approach makes narrow veins detectable by first identifying linear patterns that characterize vein structures
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus and non-transitory computer readable medium for sorting out pieces of rock containing quartz vein includes receiving an electric signal representing an image of a piece of rock to be sorted; determining the number of pixels in the image having a predetermined color value that is indicative of presence of quartz; and in case the number of the pixels having said predetermined color value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the method comprises as step for identifying from the image linear forms between the area of the pixels having said predetermined color value and the area of pixels representing the rest of the piece of rock, and in case linear forms is, the method comprises a step for generating a control signal for controlling a deviator device to perform a sorting action.